Chapter 1790: Spring and Autumn Ceremony Appears

Zhang Xuan's state of mind had previously reached 29.99, just one step away from a final breakthrough. He had originally intended to use the Bodhi Tree to cultivate and achieve an early breakthrough. Unexpectedly, after reading so many books, he directly surpassed the Ancient Sage level of 30.0! In the blink of an eye, it reached 31.9 before slowly stopping.

In an instant, his state of mind increased by nearly 2.0 points.

*Boom!* His state of mind surged dramatically, and a storm brewed in his mind. It was like an aborigine from the countryside entering a bustling metropolis, filled with dazzling lights and entertainment. Old and new ideas clashed, and his very life seemed to undergo a fundamental transformation.

Previously incomprehensible techniques and cultivation methods now rapidly unfolded in his mind, becoming simple, easy, and completely clear. Not only that, but he could also perceive the existence of Ancient Sage power, and even harness it to temper his body and elevate his life essence. In other words, with this ability, his chances of breaking through to the Ancient Sage realm significantly increased!

"No wonder they say a breakthrough in the state of mind is necessary for a chance at the Ancient Sage realm..." Feeling this change, Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. His father had previously told him about the many conditions required to break through to the Ancient Sage realm, emphasizing the importance of the state of mind. Now, it was clear that his father had been right.

If the Ancient Sage realm was a grand gate, then a breakthrough in the state of mind was like a crack appearing in that gate. As long as he had enough power, he could enter at any time and enjoy the scenery within. This meant that if he were to reach the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm right now, coupled with a sufficient supply of Ancient Sage blood, he could potentially reach the Ancient Sage realm in one go!

"Although I haven't reached that realm yet, at this moment, no one would be able to discern my disguise as an Ancient Sage, and even the oppressive aura of an Ancient Sage can no longer harm me..." Zhang Xuan smiled slightly. Although he was still an unknown distance from the pinnacle of the Master Teacher Continent, his breakthrough in state of mind, combined with his disguise technique, meant that even if he pretended to be an Ancient Sage, no one would see through him. Furthermore, the oppressive aura of an Ancient Sage could no longer affect him in the slightest.

Feeling refreshed and with clear thoughts, the negative emotions he had accumulated from reading too many books were completely swept away.

"Continue!" With renewed vigor, his eyes continuously scanned the mountain of books. Countless volumes fell into his perception, transforming into his own knowledge.

He soon reached the summit. There was nothing special here, only a stone platform. He approached it and touched it with his palm.

*Boom!* He was once again enveloped in light and, just like before, vanished from his spot.

The mountain of books and all the volumes were gone. Before him now was a small boat on a vast, boundless ocean. Lying on the small boat, he swayed constantly with the tides. Looking far into the distance, the ocean seemed immeasurably vast, stretching endlessly in every direction. The blue sky merged with the seawater, offering no discernible direction or path forward.

"The mountain of books has a path, diligence is the way; the sea of learning is boundless, hardship is the boat..." He murmured, no longer flustered, but with a sudden realization: "It seems this must be the so-called Sea of Learning..." Previously, it was the Mountain of Books, where reading created steps for slow progress. This Sea of Learning likely followed the same principle: without learning, the boat would not advance, and the other shore would never be found.

The sea breeze rustled the boat's gunwales, playing a melody like a resonant magical tune. The surging waves resembled a rich, vibrant painting. Beneath the surface, countless schools of fish swam, forming unique patterns that seemed to be evolving into some kind of formation. After watching for a while, Zhang Xuan slowly immersed himself. Understanding worldly affairs is knowledge; all things in the world can increase wisdom. Gazing at the vastness of the universe and observing the abundance of fish, the knowledge filling the sea before him, combined with what he had learned on the Mountain of Books, instantly gave him a sense of complete comprehension.

As the boat drifted, Zhang Xuan's heart grew quieter with the current, and his soul became more expansive. Various forms of knowledge flooded into his mind. At this moment, Zhang Xuan was like a shriveled sponge, continuously absorbing the flowing water.

He didn't know how much time had passed. His body trembled, and he stood up. Calligraphy, demonic tunes, artifact forging, beast taming, spirit awakening, medicine, formations... All the numerous professions he had previously studied had returned to their essence, reaching the Nine-Star level! At this moment, even without applying to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters, he could easily pass assessments for nine auxiliary occupations and become a true Nine-Star Master Teacher. Furthermore, his understanding of these professions now rivaled that of Kong shi in his prime, far surpassing that of so-called geniuses or guild leaders.

The more professions he learned, the clearer his mind became. After continuously learning an unknown number of professions, and feeling proficient and knowledgeable in everything, he was once again enveloped in light. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself still standing in the passage. From the moment he left until his return, only one or two minutes had passed! His experience in the Mountain of Books and the Sea of Learning felt like at least ten days, yet he never dreamed that such a short time had passed in the outside world. It was truly like a vivid, fleeting dream.

He turned to look around and saw Luo Qiqi and two other Master Teachers still standing in place, their bodies constantly swaying, as if still enduring the trials and not yet awakened.

"Where's Luo Ruoxi?" He looked around, a puzzled expression in his eyes. Six people had entered behind him: Zhao Ya and Wei Ruyan hadn't passed the assessment and had been teleported out. Luo Qiqi and the remaining two were still there, so why was Luo Ruoxi the only one missing? Could it be... that she didn't pass the assessment and was teleported away?

As he pondered this, the voice of Kong shi's stone statue resounded in his ears once more.

"Assessment passed! Please continue forward. Once you exit the passage, you will see the Spring and Autumn Codex! Refine it, and you will be eligible to receive my legacy."

"I'll find the Codex first!" Hearing the voice, Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief. He no longer paused, rapidly advancing along the passage. Having undergone the trials of the Mountain of Books and the Sea of Learning, his state of mind had reached the Ancient Sage level, and the oppressive feeling in the passage no longer had any effect on him.

Before long, he reached the end of the passage. It was another seal, blocking the cultivators' progress. Zhang Xuan flicked his palm, and the small Fulu appeared in the air. It gently touched the seal, which slowly opened, revealing a gap. He flickered and stepped inside.

Immediately, a vast hall came into view. In the center of the hall, a stone platform lay horizontally, with a book resting flat on it, emitting a dazzling light. On the book's cover, two large characters "Spring and Autumn" were written in ancient script. Time seemed to flow across its surface, making it impossible to discern whether the book belonged to the past or the future, giving the impression that it could leap into a time rift and disappear from the present at any moment.

"This is the Spring and Autumn Codex?" His eyes lit up, and Zhang Xuan clenched his fists, about to rush over and find a way to refine it. Then, he saw a figure suddenly appear on the stone platform, gently grasp the Spring and Autumn Codex, and pick it up.

"Ruoxi..." Upon clearly seeing the figure's appearance, Zhang Xuan froze.