Chapter 1628: Space Gyroscope

"It's quite simple," NanGong Yuanfeng said with a faint smile. "I have a spatial top here that can measure the stability of space and one's understanding of it. Whoever can keep this top standing the longest will prove to have a more profound comprehension of space!"

NanGong Yuanfeng smiled faintly and pointed his finger forward. A top, about a foot long, appeared before everyone and landed motionless on the elevated platform. Although no power was actively being released, numerous subtle spatial cracks still appeared around the top.

The presence of these cracks indicated spatial instability. To make it stand upright, one would have to stabilize the surrounding space or, in other words, repair the fractured areas.

Despite its apparent simplicity, it involved the fourth level of the Yanjong Heavenly Tome: Creation. Indeed, it was not that easy.

"This..."

Luo Qianzhen also saw this point, and his expression immediately turned grim.

What the other party called simple was, in fact, extremely difficult.

Even though the disciples of the Luo Clan had a profound understanding of spatial laws and possessed special talents, achieving this was still far from easy for them.

"Mo'er, come forward first and demonstrate for the esteemed experts of the Luo Clan!"

Seeing his expression, NanGong Yuanfeng remained silent, simply offering a faint smile and a gesture.

"Yes..."

The young man named Mo'er, who appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, moved swiftly and stepped out from the crowd. With an air of defiance, he approached the spatial top and made a grabbing motion in the air.

The air hummed as streaks of unique spatial energy spread directly towards the top.

The fragmented space around the top was instantly repaired, and the object, which had been lying down, gradually stood upright. However, in less than three seconds, it wobbled twice and fell back onto the ground.

After accomplishing this, Mo'er's forehead was beaded with sweat. He panted heavily a few times, cupped his fist in salute, and returned to the crowd.

"The goal is simply to make the top stand like that. Mo'er is the weakest among my junior disciples, so he found it a bit challenging. Please excuse his less-than-perfect demonstration..."

NanGong Yuanfeng smiled faintly, looking towards Luo Qianzhen. "Luo Clan Head, please begin!"

Luo Qianzhen's face was ashen.

It was clear the opponent was trying to corner them. By having their own person demonstrate in front of so many and then issuing the challenge, the Luo Clan members had no choice but to step forward, even if they were reluctant.

"Clan Head, I'll give it a try!" a middle-aged man who had been on stage earlier said, cupping his fist.

"Thank you, Elder Luofu!" Luo Qianzhen nodded.

"Alright!" Elder Luofu said no more. He stepped forward, took a deep breath, raised an eyebrow, and like Mo'er before him, made a grabbing motion in the air.

The space around the top also hummed. The object swayed like a drunkard, but ultimately failed to stand upright.

Sweat streamed down his forehead. He persisted for a moment, then spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered back several steps, and Elder Luofu's face turned as white as paper.

"Forgive me, Clan Head..." His body trembled constantly, and Elder Luofu was filled with disappointment.

Seeing a young man in his twenties from the opposing side accomplish it so easily, he had thought it would be simple. He hadn't expected that even with his full strength, he couldn't succeed. No wonder the Hundred Schools of Thought had come to challenge them; they indeed possessed extraordinary abilities.

"I'll try!"

A second elder also stepped forward. A moment later, he too spat out blood, and like Elder Luofu, he couldn't make the top stand.

Without experiencing it firsthand, one might think this task was simple. But upon actually exerting spatial power, they realized that this seemingly small top was heavier than a mountain. If one's understanding of space was insufficient, it would be difficult to even budge it, let alone make it stand upright.

Seeing two clan members fail consecutively, Luo Qianzhen's expression grew even more unsightly.

The other party wanted to take their family's ancestral Heavenly Talisman. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to hand it over, as their ancestors had painstakingly acquired it. However, the other party had produced an ancient sage's decree left by the Hundred Schools of Thought and invoked the rules set by Master Kong, leaving them no choice but to compete.

They had initially thought that even if none of their clan members had grasped the True Understanding of Sealing, they could remain undefeated based on their comprehension of space. They never dreamed they would lose so easily.

It was simply terrifying.

"Heh heh, Clan Head Luo, is there anyone else who can make the top stand?" NanGong Yuanfeng stroked his beard and smiled faintly, as if he had long anticipated this outcome. "If not, we shall take it without further ado!"

"Wait!"

Before he could finish, a shout rang out. Luo Xuanqing stepped forward. "This treasure is yours. Who knows if you've tampered with it, deliberately making it impossible for our clan members to succeed? What's this talk of understanding space? Frankly, it's only truly useful when applied in battle! So, let's compete at the same level. If you can defeat us, then you win. If not, it's all fake!"

"You mean a martial arts contest?" NanGong Yuanfeng looked over.

"Precisely!" Luo Xuanqing nodded.

The purpose of controlling space is to improve cultivation and enhance combat power. Why bother with so much trouble and effort, spinning a top, when fists can do the talking?!

"Since you have such confidence," NanGong Yuanfeng chuckled softly, a strong sense of confidence shining on his face, "we, the Hundred Schools of Thought, are naturally happy to oblige!"

The Hundred Schools of Thought, directly taught by Master Kong, and whose legacy had never been broken, had juniors who were all students of the Great Confucian Hall. They feared combat the least, capable of fighting one against a hundred. To dare challenge them... was simply asking for trouble.

"Clan Head Luo, does what he say count?" He looked over again.

"Of course!" Luo Qianzhen nodded.

From the current situation, making the top stand upright was something even he might not be able to do, let alone clan members under a hundred years old. Rather than waiting for a definite loss, it was better to compete.

Perhaps there was still a chance of winning.

"In that case, Mo'er, you may continue!"

Hearing his agreement, NanGong Yuanfeng nodded. "Mo'er sustained some minor injuries from activating the spatial top just now, but competing against your juniors shouldn't be too strenuous for him!"

Upon hearing his words, Luo Qianzhen's face nearly dropped, and he was so enraged he felt like exploding.

Blatant contempt!

They had just been humiliated by the Zhang Clan, and now the Hundred Schools of Thought had come to humiliate them again... Was the Luo Clan destined by heaven to decline from this point forward?

"Come on then, let me see your impressive moves!" Also on the verge of exploding with rage, Luo Xuanqing could no longer hold back. With a roar, he stepped into the center of the elevated platform.

"Heh heh!" The young man named Mo'er smiled faintly, and with a slight sway, appeared before Luo Xuanqing. "You are at the Void Glimpse realm, Saint 8-dan initial stage. I won't take advantage of you. I will now suppress my cultivation to the same level!"

Whoosh!

As his words ended, the opponent's power rapidly diminished, matching Luo Xuanqing's level in the blink of an eye.

"Begin!"

Seeing that he had suppressed his cultivation, Luo Xuanqing swayed and sent a palm strike his way.

Crack!

The air thundered, and a mighty surge of energy immediately spread forth.

Compared to when he disciplined Zhang Xuan at the Saint Son Hall, his strength had advanced once more. Although he hadn't achieved a breakthrough, he was not far from the Void Glimpse realm, middle stage.