Chapter 1891: Farewell

Xiuru's tamed beast was a large griffon-beaked creature. Several people could sit on its back without feeling crowded.

Zheng Yang and the others had initially planned to fly, but remembering their teacher's modest nature, they ultimately decided against it. Instead, they sat upright on the beast's back and rested with their eyes closed.

“Are you cultivators as well?” Xiuru looked over, puzzled. She had assumed these individuals were like the villagers, unfamiliar with true qi, but to her surprise, they could absorb spiritual energy.

“You could say that,” Zheng Yang replied with a smile and a nod.

Xiuru breathed a sigh of relief, and a proud smile spread across her face. “I’ve also cultivated,” she said, “and I received the true teachings from the old village chief. Among all the people in the village, I was the only one who passed the assessment…”

“Impressive!” Zheng Yang praised.

“The old village chief actually received a legacy from a descendant of Ancient Sage Zichi!” Xiuru added.

“Oh?” Zhang Xuan looked over, intrigued.

“When the old village chief was young, he visited Fan City and received guidance there,” Xiuru explained. “Although he’s old now, he’s still the strongest in the village. It’s a shame you didn’t get to meet him; you would have been deeply impressed!”

The group had only met the current village chief, but in truth, the strongest person in their village was the old village chief. She herself had cultivated under him, which was how she achieved her current progress.

“I wonder... what kind of cultivation technique did you practice?” Zhang Xuan asked, curious. “Was it guided by a Master Teacher?”

Ancient Sage Zichi’s legacy surely wasn't simple. Even if Xiuru had only grasped the superficial aspects, Zhang Xuan believed his insight would still allow him to discern something significant.

“A Master Teacher?” Xiuru frowned, clearly not understanding.

“It’s a profession, specifically teaching and helping people resolve doubts…” Zhang Xuan explained.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Xiuru said, shaking her head. “Aren’t cultivation techniques always passed down within families and kept secret? How could there truly be someone teaching them openly? Even if such places exist, they would probably be within the Great Confucian Hall. I’ve certainly never seen one…”

After asking a few more questions, Zhang Xuan finally understood that the Hundred Schools of Philosophers actually had no Master Teacher Pavilion! To learn cultivation techniques, one needed either a family legacy or the qualifications to enter the Great Confucian Hall. The Great Confucian Hall was similar to an academy, but it primarily recruited the most exceptional geniuses. The 'village beauty' before him likely had no hope of entering. Yan Xue, Nangong Yuanfeng, and the others from before were all experts from the Great Confucian Hall.

“You’re asking so many details,” Xiuru said, her sympathy showing. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going to Fan City to seek opportunities!? Let me warn you, it’s not that simple. I’ve been there several times, and I haven’t even seen a single one of those experts!”

Cultivation requires techniques, but these resources weren't transparently available. It wasn't a matter of simply wanting to learn and finding someone willing to teach. Her own ability to learn and achieve her current strength was due to a fortunate coincidence. Realizing they were just a group hoping for a stroke of luck, she lost her initial enthusiasm.

An hour later, a massive city appeared before them. Fan City – they had arrived!

While the 'village beauty' had described it as an exceptionally large city, Zhang Xuan and the others, having witnessed the grandeur of the Master Teacher Continent, couldn't help but shake their heads. At most, this city bore some resemblance to Tianxuan City. Compared to the cities where the Zhang Clan and the Master Teacher Pavilion were located, it was utterly insignificant.

After passing through inspection and entering the city, the group walked for a while before arriving in front of a grand mansion. Xiuru pointed ahead. “This is the mansion of Ancient Sage Zichi,” she said. “Many people come here every day seeking opportunities. Look at them; they all wish to learn, but sadly, they can only wait here and gain nothing!”

Following her gaze, they indeed saw a group of young people kneeling outside the mansion’s perimeter. Each individual had a resolute gaze. Some had been kneeling for so long that their bodies trembled, seemingly on the verge of collapsing. Yet, they still gritted their teeth and persevered.

Zhang Xuan frowned. So many people desired to learn and were willing to persist for it, yet the mansion before them remained tightly shut, as if its gates would never open.

“Confucius advocated teaching without discrimination and spreading his legacy throughout the world. The Hundred Schools of Philosophers were all his students. Why aren’t the cultivation techniques being passed on?” He was full of confusion. It was precisely due to Confucius’s broad-mindedness that he gained disciples throughout the world and became the eternal teacher. Since the Hundred Schools of Philosophers inherited his teachings, why were they now so possessive, unwilling to impart their cultivation techniques?

While he was pondering these questions, the grand gates before them creaked open. Immediately, several tall, slender figures emerged. They were three youths and a middle-aged man. The youths appeared to be in their early twenties, while the middle-aged man had a serious demeanor, and his cultivation was unfathomably deep.

“A Grand Saint expert…” This middle-aged man was indeed a Grand Saint-level expert, and the three youths had all reached Saint Realm Ninth Layer, true super geniuses.

“The Great Confucian Hall assessment is extremely rigorous,” the middle-aged man instructed the three youths before him. “You must remember my teachings and strive to pass!”

“Yes!” The three of them nodded simultaneously, each with a solemn expression.

“The Great Confucian Hall?” Zhang Xuan’s heart stirred.

“That’s the current Head of the Fan Clan and his descendants,” someone whispered from the crowd. “They are actually all going to take the Great Confucian Hall assessment… that’s incredible!”

“Anyone who can enter the Great Confucian Hall is a genius among geniuses, a true expert…” another person commented. “If such a person were to offer just a single word of guidance, it would be worth dying for!”

“Alas, cultivation techniques aren’t passed down to outsiders,” another voice lamented. “Our backgrounds aren’t sufficient; we can’t learn them even if we want to!”

Ancient Sage Zichi was merely an honorific title; his real name was Fan Xu. The Fan Clan, spoken of by the people, was indeed the family that carried the ancient sage’s legacy.

“Very well, a smooth journey to you!” Without further ado, the middle-aged man waved them off.

The three youths soared into the sky, flying straight and swiftly into the distance, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

“Teacher…” Seeing the group disappear into the distance, Zheng Yang looked towards Zhang Xuan.

“Yes, let’s follow them,” Zhang Xuan nodded. “If we want to uncover the secrets of this world, the Great Confucian Hall should be our breakthrough point!”

Nangong Yuanfeng and the others who had previously entered the Master Teacher Continent were all experts from the Great Confucian Hall. Rather than questioning the not-so-impressive ‘village beauty’ here, it would be better to follow these individuals. Once they reached the Great Confucian Hall, all secrets should cease to be a problem.

“Follow them? Have you lost your minds!?” the ‘village beauty’ scoffed, hearing their conversation. “They are Saint Realm experts, flying at such speed! My spirit beast couldn’t possibly catch up, even if its wings broke from exhaustion! You wouldn't even see a shadow…”

She, too, wished to learn from those three geniuses, but the two groups were simply not on the same level. Those individuals could fly without needing spirit beasts, and if she couldn’t even catch up, how could she learn? One had to be realistic, even when wanting to learn.

“Thank you for bringing us here. We won’t be needing your flying sacred beast any further. Farewell!” Interrupting her, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, and with a flicker of his body, he instantly soared into the sky. Like an instant teleportation, he vanished.

“You…” The ‘village beauty’s’ eyes nearly popped out, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She quickly turned to look at Zheng Yang and Wei Ruyan, who were still in front of her. She saw them smile. Then they, too, vanished.

Thud!

She plopped down onto the ground, Xiuru, completely disregarding her 'village beauty' status, was utterly dumbfounded. She had thought they were mere bronze players. She never dreamed they were kings, and even supreme-tier ones…