Chapter 1924: 神棍

How awkward.Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

Yan Qing Ancient Sage and the others present had all lived for tens of thousands of years. Asking them to become his disciples was clearly impossible, and he felt too awkward to even suggest it. Yan Xue already had a conflict with him. The only person who met the criteria, Kong Shiyao, had refused him directly without any hesitation.

In fairness, he couldn't blame her. As a descendant of Master Kong and having studied his legacy, she already stood on the shoulders of giants. Even Yan Qing Ancient Sage wasn't qualified to be her teacher, let alone anyone else!

Even though the person before her was a Celestial Master Teacher.

While her talent might not surpass his, she still possessed that bit of pride.

"This concerns whether we can resolve the issues in Kunxu Realm..." Zhang Xuan shamelessly explained, "And it's not about taking you as a direct disciple; simply acknowledging me as your teacher in your heart will suffice!"

The Tome of Heaven's Path had been tested many times. As long as someone sincerely acknowledged him as their teacher and felt genuine gratitude, the tome would form; it didn't require them to be direct disciples.

"Becoming your disciple can resolve the current situation?" Kong Shiyao frowned.

If he hadn't just slain a deity and solved a major problem, she would have genuinely thought he was a charlatan.

"Alright, how about this: I'll give you some pointers first, and you can decide whether or not to become my disciple!"

Glancing at the dark clouds overhead, which were gathering increasingly fast, Zhang Xuan knew that the Heavenly Tribulation would descend again.

Time didn't allow for a detailed explanation. Besides, the Tome of Heaven's Path involved the Library of Heaven's Path, which couldn't be explained. Rather than attempting to, it was better to simply impress her with knowledge.

Looking at the girl before him, he didn't wait for her to speak, continuing, "You possess Master Kong's purest bloodline. Any martial art or cultivation technique, you learn immediately and master quickly. Your cultivation speed far surpasses ordinary people's. Furthermore, if I'm not mistaken, although you reached the Great Perfection of the Immortalizing Realm less than three years ago, you've already attracted three Heavenly Tribulations, and you've suppressed your cultivation each time without breaking through to the Ancient Sage realm!"

Kong Shiyao nodded.

These were not secrets; almost all experts from the Hundred Schools of Thought knew about them, so it wasn't surprising that he could discern them.

"You've faced three Heavenly Tribulations, and while your cultivation has grown stronger with each one, which will greatly assist you in breaking through the void and transcending the Heavenly Dao in the future... have you also noticed that with the increasing number of attempts, a significant hidden danger has emerged!"

Zhang Xuan continued, "That is... the power of the Heavenly Tribulation has integrated into your bone marrow. Even now, an unremovable power lingers within you, like thorns in your back! If I'm not mistaken... your third Heavenly Tribulation attempt was about two years ago. This means you faced three lightning tribulations within one year, but then you remained silent for two full years regarding the fourth attempt. Given the current situation, it's likely not that you haven't tried, but rather that you don't dare to..."

Kong Shiyao's face paled, and she involuntarily took a step back, her eyes filled with disbelief.

This was her greatest secret, one she had never dared to reveal. She never dreamed that the man before her would expose it so casually.

Three years ago, upon reaching the Great Perfection of the Immortalizing Realm, she had aimed to achieve the brilliance of her ancestor by attempting four Heavenly Tribulations before breaking through to Ancient Sage... The first three attempts, though perilous, ultimately succeeded without major mishap. However, after the third one, she suddenly discovered that the power of the Heavenly Tribulation had integrated into her bone marrow and couldn't be expelled no matter what she tried!

If she were to attempt another tribulation, even if it wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, it would assimilate the power within her, making her a complete part of the Heavenly Tribulation. Not only would she be unable to break through to Ancient Sage, but she might even lose her sense of self and ultimately die.

Precisely because she understood this situation, she, who had faced three lightning tribulations in one year, completely stopped, not daring to continue. For two whole years, she hadn't found a better solution, and with the passage of time, the assimilation of the power had only worsened.

To solve this problem, she had consulted countless books, all to no avail. Could it be that since he spoke of it so readily... he had a solution?

"Since I can see it, I naturally know the solution and the root cause!" Zhang Xuan smiled and said, "You should be able to tell that I've also faced several Heavenly Tribulations, but I don't have this symptom in my body!"

Kong Shiyao suddenly understood, and her eyes involuntarily lit up.

He, like her, was at the Great Perfection of the Immortalizing Realm, yet he could fight against experts who had shattered the void without falling behind in the slightest.

Apart from his identity as a Celestial Master Teacher, he must have also, like her, faced several Ancient Sage tribulations and suppressed his cultivation instead of breaking through.

"May I ask... how can my situation be resolved? If your solution is correct, then becoming your disciple wouldn't be an issue..." Kong Shiyao said, gritting her teeth.

If this hidden danger could be resolved and she could face a fourth lightning tribulation, it would mean she could catch up to her ancestor and ultimately break through the void!

With such strength, she wouldn't have to worry if problems arose with the seal again.

She could even follow in her ancestor's footsteps, entering higher worlds and journeying further.

"Actually, it's quite simple. The Ancient Sage tribulation you experienced wasn't unleashed by the Heavenly Dao of the Master Teacher Continent. Instead, it was an inherent power of the Kunxu Realm. This world was created by Master Kong using a channel, and it contains his power... For others, it's no different from Heavenly Tribulations from the outside world, but for you, given your fundamental origin, it's very easy to assimilate and then impossible to expel!"

Zhang Xuan stated.

The Kunxu Realm's two great seals blocked the Master Teacher Continent's Heavenly Dao from prying. The Ancient Sage tribulation, attracted by a breakthrough to Ancient Sage in this realm, was naturally not released by the Heavenly Dao.

The reason it appeared similar was entirely due to Master Kong's legacy.

To use the analogy of a greenhouse, this Heavenly Tribulation is like artificial rainfall or manipulated weather within the greenhouse. For the plants, it's no different from the outside world, but for the one causing the rain, it becomes a bit awkward.

The more Heavenly Tribulations you experience, the stronger the homologous power becomes, and the more you absorb. Naturally, it becomes increasingly difficult to advance further.

"What should I do?"

Kong Shiyao quickly looked at him.

She hadn't fully understood until he explained it, but now, realizing the reason, her heart filled with panic.

"To completely solve it is actually not difficult, and that is... to face the Ancient Sage tribulation again on the Master Teacher Continent! Of course, your current cultivation is already so profound that attempting it again might very well result in death! This is a double-edged sword: if you don't try, the power will accumulate more and more, eventually making you lose the chance to break through entirely; but if you do try, the lightning tribulations of the Master Teacher Continent, which you've never encountered, could easily obliterate you on the spot!"

Zhang Xuan smiled and looked at her, "However, if you become my disciple, I can teach you a method to deal with the Master Teacher Continent's Ancient Sage tribulation!"

"This... alright, I'll become your disciple, but I hope you won't hold back your knowledge!" Kong Shiyao wasted no more words. She immediately knelt down and kowtowed several times.

Glancing at the newly formed Tome of Heaven's Path, knowing that her gratitude wasn't entirely genuine, Zhang Xuan sighed and said, "Actually, facing the Master Teacher Continent's Ancient Sage tribulation isn't complicated. The most important thing is to treat it like a pet: cherish it, care for it, consider its needs in every way, feel it with your heart, and warm it with love..."

Kong Shiyao's face contorted. She wished she could punch the guy in front of her to smithereens.

How... how is he so much like a charlatan?