Chapter 1883: Kong Shi Is Dead?

Lying in the coffin was none other than Kong Shi, the eternal teacher who had stood for eons in the Master Teacher Pavilion!

Hadn't he ascended to a higher dimension?

How could his corpse be lying here?

Shivering all over, Zheng Yang dared not think too much, fearing that overthinking might cause the entire Master Teacher Pavilion to collapse.

Kong Shi was the spiritual pillar of the Master Teacher Pavilion. When he disappeared, everyone believed he had ascended to a higher world, becoming a god or immortal. They never dreamed he would die here, his lips curved into a faint smile, just like his statue outside, as if he were in the middle of a lecture.

It was as if he had been struck down while teaching.

Who could possibly kill someone of his power?

And who buried him here, completely unknown to the Master Teacher Pavilion and the Hundred Schools of Thought?

His heart pounding and throat dry, Zheng Yang wanted to say something but felt utterly speechless. He could only sit cross-legged on the ground, not daring to move.

Seeing the corpse of Ancient Sage Ran Qiu had only shocked him, but this sight filled him with terror.

Anyone else in the world could die, but news like this concerning Kong Shi... it would undoubtedly shatter the faith of countless people.

For a moment, he felt disoriented, not knowing what to do.

“I'll understand once Teacher arrives...”

Struggling to his feet, Zheng Yang dared not ponder further.

Having followed his teacher for many years, he knew that no matter how difficult a matter was, it seemed trivial in his teacher's presence. Since he couldn't figure it out, he decided to wait patiently. Just as he was about to leave along the passage, his feet suddenly froze.

It was as if he was enveloped by some force, and everything went black.

Thud!

Zheng Yang lost consciousness.

Sitting in the room where he had previously given lectures, Zhang Xuan felt his mind at peace, his thoughts quickly spreading outwards.

In his previous life, he had merely been a librarian at an ordinary university. He never dreamed that after dying, he would transmigrate to a world like this.

When he first arrived, he was filled with apprehension and confusion, unsure what to do, only hoping to survive.

Now, he had completely stabilized, attuned himself to this world, and become a part of it.

Transmigration, rebirth, accompanied by...

As the memories of his past life slowly merged with his present one, an inexplicable emotion arose, and a realization dawned on Zhang Xuan. It felt as if a power transcending the Heavenly Dao was beginning to sprout, ready to pierce through the soil and emerge from the ground at any moment.

While immersed in this epiphany, he heard an urgent call ring in his ears. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Wei Ruyan.

“You said... you found the corpse of Ancient Sage Ran Qiu?”

After hearing her words, Zhang Xuan abruptly stood up.

Ancient Sage Ran Qiu, the most powerful of Kong Shi's many disciples, a figure he had always revered—how could he have died here, with his corpse buried tens of kilometers underground?

“Let's go see!”

Unable to contain himself any longer, he followed closely behind Wei Ruyan, flying directly towards the corpse. Soon, they entered the underground palace and saw the coffin.

He took a careful look, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. “Judging by his appearance and aura, he is indeed an Ancient Sage...”

He had once seen a remnant soul of an Ancient Sage at Baixi Mountain, so he had a prior encounter. This corpse before him was identical, not differing in the slightest.

It seemed Wei Ruyan was correct; this was indeed his corpse.

“Come take a look!”

With a flick of his wrist, the Dragonbone Divine Spear transformed into a divine dragon, hovering overhead. It lowered its head to look at the coffin below, then swayed and dropped directly to the ground.

“Master...”

It whimpered incessantly, its massive dragon body trembling uncontrollably.

It had been refined by the figure before them and had assumed the latter had long ascended with Kong Shi. It never dreamed that his corpse would remain here, lifeless.

“It seems it’s true...”

Seeing the Dragonbone Divine Spear confirm it, Zhang Xuan frowned again and looked at the girl beside him. “Where’s Zheng Yang?”

“I don’t know either. He should have been here...” Wei Ruyan was also taken aback.

Since he had asked her to report, he should have been guarding the place. Why was there no one around?

Zhang Xuan looked around but found no trace of Zheng Yang. Only then did he approach Ancient Sage Ran Qiu’s corpse and gently touch it with his palm.

To figure things out, the best method was to use the Library of Heaven’s Path.

“Flaws!”

The library trembled, and Zhang Xuan immediately shook his head.

No book was generated.

He wasn’t sure if it was due to the corpse or if there was a power present that severed connections to the Heavenly Dao.

“It must be that this place possesses a power that severs connections to the Heavenly Dao...”

Zhang Xuan looked around.

He had examined corpses before; while he couldn't ascertain their lives prior to death, discerning their cultivation level was usually easy.

This was somewhat similar to examining treasures.

The fact that nothing appeared now indicated that this place isolated the Heavenly Dao. This was precisely why countless Heavenly Diviners couldn't deduce anything, or even know that Kong Shi's most formidable disciple had died here.

“This is an ancient land, said to have never experienced the baptism of battle with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe... It's supposedly capable of allowing decaying bloodlines to recover. Is there some significance to Ancient Sage Ran Qiu's corpse being here?”

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and Zhang Xuan fell into contemplation.

Aside from its sparse spiritual energy making it unsuitable for cultivation, this ancient land held many mysteries. Ancient Sage Ran Qiu’s corpse was found here, and he himself had transmigrated here. Could there be some connection?

Activating his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan circled the coffin once more.

“There’s still a passage below...”

His eyebrows rose slightly. Suddenly, he stepped down in a particular spot.

Creak!

The coffin moved, just as it had when Zheng Yang was there, and an underground passage slowly appeared before them.

Exchanging a glance with Wei Ruyan, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate and stepped inside.

The girl followed closely behind.

The second stone chamber was identical in layout to the first, and the stone coffin’s position was also exactly the same, exuding an ancient and vast aura.

The room was empty; there was no one inside.

“Teacher, Senior Brother Zheng Yang seems to have been here...”

Wei Ruyan suddenly said after looking around.

“He was here?”

Zhang Xuan looked over.

“Yes, there are marks on the wall where someone crashed into it. Judging by the shape, it should be from Senior Brother...”

Wei Ruyan pointed.

Zhang Xuan quickly looked and indeed saw a deep indentation on the wall. Its size was similar to Zheng Yang’s, confirming his guess that Zheng Yang had crashed into it with his back.

“He was indeed here. He must have seen the corpse in the coffin and reacted out of fear...”

Zhang Xuan analyzed the situation with a glance, a look of curiosity in his eyes.

What exactly was in this coffin that could cause more terror than the corpse of Ancient Sage Ran Qiu?

“Let’s open it and see!”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Zhang Xuan took two steps forward and exerted force with his palm.

Creak!

The coffin lid slowly opened, revealing a figure lying peacefully and serenely, as if they had just ceased breathing.

Zhang Xuan’s pupils contracted, and his entire body stiffened.

The corpse in the coffin was, shockingly... Zheng Yang!