Chapter 1682: Confucius Ancestral Hall

Zhang Xuan wasn't a great person; he could even be selfish at times. His initial goal in becoming a Master Teacher wasn't to save humanity, but rather to gain status and access to more books. However, this didn't deter him from making the decision he just did.

If humanity were truly on the brink of destruction, what good would strength be?

He was no longer a lone wolf; he now had family, students, and many others he wished to protect.

His previous efforts to gain recognition from the Luo Clan were also for this reason.

Since the Otherworldly Demons could appear at any moment, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

"It's excellent that you've agreed..."

Hearing his agreement, Ren Qingyuan and the others were momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

They had been wondering how to persuade him, but he had agreed so easily.

"I will issue the order immediately: the three clans shall follow the Master Teacher Pavilion's directives!"

Seeing his straightforward agreement, Ren Qingyuan said no more. After giving instructions to everyone, the many 9-star Master Teachers hastily departed.

"Clan Head Zhang, what brings you to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters?"

With the help of the three clans, the Otherworldly Demons should be temporarily contained. Ren Qingyuan sighed in relief, then looked at him with curiosity.

When he first heard of this young man, he was merely an insignificant figure impersonating Yang Shi's student. Now, he had become a prominent individual who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, or even surpass him.

In less than a month, the continent had undergone dramatic changes, with Zhang Xuan at the very center of it all. As long as he didn't perish, it was possible he could even surpass Yang Shi.

"I came here with a request..." Zhang Xuan clasped his fist. "I wish to visit... the Kong Shi Ancestral Hall!"

Luo Ruoxi had told him on their way here that if a top-tier method for breaking through to Great Sage existed within the Master Teacher Pavilion's domain, it would certainly be found here.

The Kong Shi Ancestral Hall was a memorial hall established by later generations to commemorate Kong Shi's achievements. It contained his personal writings, clothes, and various other precious items he had left behind.

"Oh, I thought it was something serious. All 9-star Master Teachers are permitted to visit it... Clan Head Zhang, you are certainly qualified. I'll take you there now!" Ren Qingyuan smiled upon hearing this, realizing it was not a difficult request.

"There's no need for Teacher Ren to accompany us. I'd like to take Luo Ruoxi inside with me for a private visit, if that's permissible?" Zhang Xuan asked.

The cultivation method for breaking through to Great Sage was undoubtedly highly secretive. Merely touring the place, especially with an escort, would make it very difficult to find. He needed to act alone.

"This..."

Ren Qingyuan frowned, then after a moment, said, "Under normal circumstances, entry to the Kong Shi Ancestral Hall requires an escort... However, Clan Head Zhang, as a 9-star Master Teacher, and having your clan guard the underground cavern, your merits are beyond compare... Very well then, I'll grant you one day. Try not to stay too long!"

"Thank you!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he hastily clasped his fist.

The Kong Shi Ancestral Hall contained his personal writings and items, which were of immense help to cultivation. Many visitors gained insights and and improved their cultivation after spending an hour there. However, staying alone for an entire day was unheard of.

Ren Qingyuan had truly done his best by granting such an arrangement.

"I'll go there now!"

Having received permission and clarified the Kong Shi Ancestral Hall's exact location, Zhang Xuan left the main hall, found Luo Ruoxi, and together they proceeded.

The Kong Shi Ancestral Hall was established by Kong Shi's direct disciple, Ancient Sage Ziyuan, after Kong Shi's disappearance. It housed numerous manuscripts, clothes, and used items, including weapons. Its primary purpose was to allow future generations to feel the spirit and comprehend the greatness of this Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations.

The treasures within were not offensive nor did they possess great power, yet they offered profound enlightenment and inspiration.

Walking through the hall, Zhang Xuan was speechless for a long time as he saw the blood-stained robe Kong Shi wore while battling the Otherworldly Demons, and the final letter he left when trapped in Chen and Cai.

Even someone as powerful as Kong Shi had faced near-death situations and endured countless hardships when battling the Otherworldly Demons back then.

"This is the 'Consecration Platform' Kong Shi left behind when he broke through to the God-Sealing realm. If there's a cultivation method, it must be here!"

After walking around the room for a while, Luo Ruoxi pointed forward.

Zhang Xuan quickly looked and indeed saw a circular stone platform displayed not far away, shimmering with colorful light, like jade.

"This... was it scorched by heavenly flames?"

He recognized it, and his eyebrows involuntarily rose.

The platform's material appeared to be ordinary bluestone, but for some reason, it was seamlessly whole, giving off a crystal-clear, translucent quality, like a flawless piece of beautiful jade.

For an ordinary stone to appear like this, only scorching by heavenly flames could achieve it.

Most importantly, his soul had been tempered by heavenly flames, so he knew the terror of this heavenly tribulation and could sense a resonance from the stone.

"It's the power of heavenly flames!"

Luo Ruoxi nodded.

With confirmation, Zhang Xuan asked no further questions. He activated his Eye of Insight, scanned the stone, and then his brows furrowed.

He understood how heavenly flames had scorched the bluestone into its current state, but how Kong Shi broke through to Saint 9-dan and attracted the heavenly flame tribulation remained a complete mystery to him; he found no clues.

"If... there truly is a cultivation method here, so many formidable Master Teachers from the Master Teacher Pavilion must have examined this stone. Wouldn't any secret have been discovered by now?"

He looked at the girl with doubt.

Master Teachers were renowned for their keen eyesight. While his Eye of Insight was excellent, nearly ten other experts in the Saint Son Hall also possessed it.

Since so many powerful individuals had examined it without finding anything, what could he possibly discover?

"Do you have the Consecration Platform that Kong Shi left behind when he broke through to the Saint realm?" Luo Ruoxi didn't explain, but turned to ask instead.

"Yes, I do!"

Zhang Xuan paused, then with a flick of his wrist, a stone platform appeared before him.

Before giving the Qiuwu Palace crystal ball to Luo Qianzhen, he had already put this item into his storage ring. As it concerned Kong Shi, he didn't want the Luo Clan members to know about it.

"Try using the zhenqi from the Consecration Art to activate this platform!"

Luo Ruoxi nodded.

Although he didn't understand her intention, Zhang Xuan still nodded, took a deep breath, and unleashed a torrent of zhenqi from within him.

As the zhenqi landed on the Consecration Platform, it immediately emitted a seven-colored glow and slowly floated upwards. In an instant, it merged with the stone platform scorched by heavenly flames nearby.

Within moments, they became one, indistinguishable from each other.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

The two platforms being able to merge was something he had never dared to imagine before.

Just as he was about to ask what was happening, a sudden flash of light illuminated the platform, and a translucent dark silhouette appeared above it, floating cross-legged with eyes closed.

"This is the image Kong Shi left behind when he broke through to Great Sage. The method for breakthrough is contained within it!"

Luo Ruoxi's voice rang out urgently.