Chapter 1785: The Four Realms of the Ancient Sage

Zhang Hongtian slowly explained, "The specific levels haven't been definitively set; they are merely temporary designations given by later generations based on differences in power and characteristics, so they should only be used as a reference!"

He continued, "Upon breaking through to Ancient Sage, one's bloodline can be passed down, just like in our Zhang Clan! The reason our bloodline power has been preserved within the clan is precisely because we had an ancestor who reached this level. Therefore, this realm is also called 'Bloodline Continuation,' and it is a mark of advancing to Ancient Sage!"

"'Bloodline Continuation'?" Zhang Xuan nodded. Reaching this realm allowed one's bloodline to continue. It now seemed that Yuan Tao, the Ethereal Xuan Blade, and the Ruthless Man were all roughly at this level. The Ancient Sage of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, whom he had once killed with a single book, also possessed a similar cultivation. They belonged to the weakest group among Ancient Sages.

Zhang Hongtian continued, "The second realm was achieved by sixty-two of Confucius's disciples, excluding the Ten Sages, among the Seventy-Two Sages. Therefore, later generations called it 'Philosophers of a Hundred Schools.'"

"'Philosophers of a Hundred Schools'? This is a realm?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"It's just a designation representing the realm; the name itself isn't important," Zhang Hongtian continued. "The third realm is called 'Blood Rebirth.' This means that upon reaching this realm, as long as one's lifespan hasn't ended, even if one's head is severed, one can still revive! I am at this realm, which is why my blood is far more potent than that of other Ancient Sages!"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. He had thought that merely reaching Ancient Sage allowed for 'Blood Rebirth,' but it now seemed that was not the case. Those capable of achieving this were likely at the pinnacle even among Ancient Sages.

"What about the last realm?" he couldn't help but ask.

"The last realm, whether on the Master Teacher Continent or among the Philosophers of a Hundred Schools, almost no one besides Confucius has been able to reach it," Zhang Hongtian explained. "It is said that upon reaching this realm, one can shatter the void and compare to an Immortal Envoy! Therefore, it is also called 'Void Shattering' or 'Immortal Envoy Realm'! Of course, I am still very far from this realm, so I don't know the specifics."

"'Immortal Envoy Realm'?" Zhang Xuan's heart stirred. He had heard of it! When he first encountered the Ruthless Man in the Subterranean Tunnel, that fellow had claimed to be an expert of the Immortal Envoy Realm. At the time, not understanding the realms, he hadn't paid much attention. He never dreamed it was the absolute pinnacle of Ancient Sages! This meant that the Ruthless Man, who now seemed unremarkable, was indeed a supreme figure at the continent's peak in his lifetime. No wonder even Confucius was trapped and unable to escape.

"Then... what is the strength of Ancient Sage Yan Qing?" he continued to ask. Ancient Sage Yan Qing should be the most cultivated among this group of Ancient Sages, but what realm exactly had he reached?

"He is also at the Blood Rebirth realm, but just a minor realm higher than me!" Zhang Hongtian said. "However, he still hasn't reached the pinnacle of Blood Rebirth! At this level, it's very difficult to make further progress without sufficient Ancient Sage power to sustain it!"

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized, a hint of doubt in his eyes, "So, does that mean I should ask for more Ancient Sage blood of the Blood Rebirth level?"

"Precisely! Ancient Sage blood of this level has the greatest power and the greatest effect!" Zhang Hongtian nodded.

"Good!" Zhang Xuan understood. Their conversation was through spiritual transmission, incredibly fast, taking only about ten breaths. As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Venerable Bai's gruff voice ring out, carrying an air of looking down on the world: "Fifty drops of Ancient Sage blood, fine, my Saint Beast clan will buy it!"

"Venerable Bai, don't be so quick," Zhang Xuan said with a faint smile. "The fifty drops of Ancient Sage blood I mentioned are of the Blood Rebirth level, not ordinary blood!"

"'Blood Rebirth' level? Why don't you just rob us..." Venerable Bai's whiskers bristled, and he almost exploded. The surroundings erupted in an uproar before quickly falling silent. Fifty drops of ordinary Ancient Sage blood were already an exorbitant price, but this fellow actually demanded fifty drops of Blood Rebirth realm blood...

"This is practically robbery!" "The price is too high; no one should pay it!" "Spending so much for just one spot seems a bit unworthy..." The hushed voices of the Ancient Sages could be heard.

Though one spot could increase a faction's chances of obtaining the Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony, it only increased the *chance*. To spend so much for just one chance was, strictly speaking, indeed a bit unworthy.

"Whether it's worth it or not, you yourselves must decide," Zhang Xuan said with a slight smile, seemingly having seen through their hesitation. "The Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony is Confucius's most powerful artifact. Once obtained, creating Blood Rebirth realm experts wouldn't be difficult, would it? But once you lose this opportunity, you will be completely cut off from such a fortunate encounter... How to choose is up to you. You don't have to buy it; worst case, I'll just arrange for a few more people on our side, and our chances of obtaining it will increase significantly!" In an auction, once the price is set, it cannot be lowered even if it goes unsold; otherwise, it loses its meaning.

"This..." Everyone fell silent. One spot represented one more opportunity; how to decide was up to their own thoughts.

"This spot, my Philosophers of a Hundred Schools will buy!" Just as silence permeated the surroundings, Ancient Sage Yan Qing's voice rang out.

"Bought it?" Everyone looked over in unison, full of shock.

Without further ado, Ancient Sage Yan Qing flicked his finger, and a jade bottle flew towards Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan casually caught it, uncapped it, and glanced inside. The blood had a rich aura, and there were exactly fifty drops. He secretly glanced at Zhang Hongtian and saw him nod subtly, confirming these were indeed of the Blood Rebirth realm. His heart filled with joy, he put them into his ring: "Good, the first spot goes to the Philosophers of a Hundred Schools!"

"Now, for the second spot," Zhang Xuan said, raising an eyebrow, "this spot requires sixty drops of Blood Rebirth realm Ancient Sage blood!"

"Why is it sixty drops now?" "Wasn't it fifty drops just now?" "Why is the price increasing for the same spot?" The surroundings almost exploded. They had thought the second spot would be the same price, but this fellow had increased it by twenty percent with a single announcement!

"You can choose not to buy it, but currently, we Master Teachers have seven spots, the Philosophers of a Hundred Schools have three, and each of you only has one. How you decide is up to you..." With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan looked at the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe and the Saint Beast clan: "Furthermore, the last two spots will be even more expensive. After all, the fewer there are, the higher the price will go..."

"Sixty it is then, I'll buy it..." Venerable Bai gritted his teeth, making a 'click-clack' sound. Those who reached their level of cultivation usually dedicated themselves to rigorous study and solely focused on cultivation. Yet, this super genius, who had obtained the Mother Talisman and the five Great Formation Cores, was actually a shrewd merchant... The thought alone was depressing.

"If it's sixty, I'll take it too!" Before Venerable Bai had even finished speaking, Old Ghost Yu, from the side, snorted and also spoke up.