Chapter 1778: Yan Qing Ancient Sage

Seeing the girl's expressionless face, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched. He walked up to her and said, "I just met her in the sleeping quarters, and then brought her out with Wei Ruyan..."

"Let's go!" Luo Ruoxi's delicate body swayed, and she flew first towards the main hall.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head and quickly followed.

The main hall was even more magnificent than the subsidiary halls. In front of it was a vast square, now packed with people. A large number of the powerful experts who had previously been trapped in various worlds had gathered, numbering in the thousands. Even if they couldn't enter the main hall, witnessing the marvels of the Spring and Autumn Rites would undoubtedly make the trip worthwhile.

"Master, I've recovered my memories. All six subsidiary halls must be opened to activate the seal on the main hall..." Little Talisman's voice rang out. "I can take Master inside, but it hasn't opened yet!"

"Hmm!" Seeing that this simpleton had only just recovered its memories, Zhang Xuan helplessly shook his head. He took a few steps to Luo Ruoxi's side. Seeing that she was still as cold as ice, he couldn't help but say, "This... I really just encountered her by chance..."

Just as Luo Ruoxi was about to speak, an excited voice rang out. "Teacher Zhang, I knew you'd come..." Immediately after, a figure rushed forward, her face full of excitement.

"Fei'er, you're here too..." Luo Qiqi's eyes also lit up. It was none other than her friend, Princess Yu Fei'er of the Illusionary Feather Empire!

"I already know that it's because of you that I could become Teacher Ji's student..." Yu Fei'er was full of gratitude upon seeing her old friend. She was just a minor princess of the Illusionary Feather Empire. To gain the favor of Elder Ji Ruochen from the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters and be accepted as his direct disciple, it was naturally at the request of this little princess. Otherwise, no matter how talented she was, no one would have known her!

"Don't mention it..." Luo Qiqi smiled.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Fei'er twisted her delicate body and came before Zhang Xuan, a complex look in her eyes. "Teacher Zhang... long time no see!" She also harbored special feelings for him, but having heard of Luo Qiqi's situation, she understood that there was no longer any possibility between them. Though her heart was filled with unwillingness, she still wore a smile.

"Long time no see..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head, then turned to look at Luo Ruoxi beside him. "See... it really was a chance encounter..."

Seeing his bewildered expression, trying to explain but not knowing how, Luo Ruoxi smiled faintly, said nothing, and continued looking forward.

On the square outside the main hall, there were now four distinct camps: the Master Teacher Pavilion allied with various clans, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, and numerous Saint Beasts. There were many people from each faction, gathered together, each wary of the others.

Zhang Xuan looked around, carefully sensing, and indeed felt countless powerful auras hidden nearby. The ability of the four major powers to coexist peacefully was undoubtedly the result of their mutual deterrence.

"Senior Brother..." Just as he was wondering if he could find an opportunity to strike down another Ancient Sage twice for some fresh blood, he heard a shout. Turning his head, he saw Teacher Yang flying over with a smile.

"You... broke through to Ancient Sage?" Zhang Xuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. Teacher Yang's aura was faint, impossible to gauge its depth. At first glance, he seemed only slightly stronger than Zhang Xuan himself, but upon closer inspection, he was like a vast ocean, its far shore unknown. Without needing to think, he knew that his junior brother must have encountered some opportunity and was the first to break through to the Ancient Sage level.

"Just good luck, a fluke!" Teacher Yang smiled faintly. With the opening of the Temple of Confucius, he had naturally come, and his fortune was good, allowing him to break through the long-desired shackles in one fell swoop and reach this realm.

"Cultivation leaves nothing to chance..." Zhang Xuan nodded. Teacher Yang had long reached the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm and had been traveling the world specifically to seek Ancient Sage Qi and opportunities. Now that the Temple of Confucius had opened and an opportunity arose, his breakthrough was only natural.

"Everyone..." At that moment, a resonant voice rang out. Everyone looked in unison and saw an old figure suddenly appear in the void in front of the main hall.

"It's an Ancient Sage from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers!" Their attire was identical to that of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. Without needing to think, it was clear this was one of their super-experts.

"The main hall has opened. There's no need for anyone to hide anymore, everyone come out!" The voice echoed all around.

"Indeed, no need to hide!" "Everyone came for the main hall. Since it has appeared, there's no point in hiding anymore..." "Come out..." Boom! As voices rang out one after another, dozens of figures suddenly appeared in the sky. There were six or seven above each faction.

"So many?" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched. He had thought it would be good if seven or eight Ancient Sages came this time, but unexpectedly there were over twenty people. The one he had previously injured was conspicuously among them. The purpose of Ancient Sages coming here was for the Spring and Autumn Rites. When the subsidiary halls opened, they could hide nearby to protect their kin from harm. But now that the main hall had opened, it was like reaching the finish line, and continuing to hide was meaningless.

"After the six subsidiary halls, you must have largely deduced that while the main hall has appeared, it still requires a crucial procedure before it can truly open!" said the Ancient Sage from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers.

"It does require a final procedure. Ancient Sage Yan Qing, you are the strongest among us here, tell us what to do!" said an Otherworldly Demonic Tribe Ancient Sage.

"Ancient Sage Yan Qing? Is he also a descendant of Ancient Sage Ziyuan?" Zhang Xuan frowned. Ancient Sage Ziyuan was the head of the Seventy-Two Sages, Confucius's direct senior disciple. Yan Xue was his descendant, so this 'Yan Qing' might be Yan Xue's elder.

"Junior Brother, do you know this Ancient Sage Yan Qing?" Zhang Xuan secretly transmitted his voice.

"I don't know him... Although our Master Teacher Pavilion and the Hundred Schools of Philosophers both inherited from Confucius, we've always had little interaction..." Teacher Yang's voice came from the sky.

"You don't know him... but the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe immediately recognized him..." Zhang Xuan frowned. Teacher Yang, the highest-ranking member of the Master Teacher Pavilion present, didn't know Ancient Sage Yan Qing, yet the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe directly addressed him and knew he was the strongest... It would be a lie to say it wasn't strange.

"What else can be done? Since we're all here, it's only fair that everyone gets a share! Our Saint Beast tribe hasn't gotten anything yet. If any of you want to abandon us, then... we'll fight to the death!" A giant Saint Beast snorted. This Saint Beast had also reached the Ancient Sage level, and the space around its body seemed to solidify.

"Venerable Bai, don't be anxious. My asking everyone to come out is precisely to address this, isn't it? We can discuss how to enter the main hall and how to allocate the spots. As for who gets what opportunity after entering, and what those opportunities are, that will be up to individual destiny!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing smiled.