Chapter 1930: Ancient Sage I as the Teacher of Heaven and Earth (Part 2)

Half a year ago, Zhang Xuan left to travel the world because he felt lost. Master Kong was simply too powerful; anyone who learned of his accomplishments would feel intimidated and shrink from comparison. Rising from an ordinary person to a global titan in just a few years, expelling the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe from the continent, sealing them in the ancient battlefield, gathering disciples across the land, and establishing a legacy for millennia—each of these feats was astounding and brilliant.

Yet, when he looked at himself, he knew that becoming a Heaven and Earth Master was the path to becoming an Ancient Sage, but how could he achieve it? Heaven and Earth were so vast, governed by heavenly principles, and could not understand his words; becoming their disciple was impossible! The more he dwelled on it, the more disoriented he became, losing his direction and path forward. Although this was a necessary experience for cultivators, he still couldn't overcome it internally.

His cultivation had always relied on collecting and organizing cultivation manuals, with little original creation. While this brought rapid progress, it also limited his development, particularly when he no longer had access to existing techniques. The techniques he organized were flawless, but without any techniques to draw inspiration from, he was unable to cultivate, which became his greatest limitation. The Heavenly Dao itself has imperfections; nothing can be perfect.

He traveled the world, observing everything around him. Having witnessed countless acts of human indifference and the harsh realities of life, he finally understood when he heard Shen Biru speak about self-realization. The answer he had been seeking for the past six months was not found elsewhere but lay within himself. He simply needed to be himself, rather than concerning himself with others.

Master Kong had his own opportunities, and others had their unique paths in life. He didn't need to be identical to Master Kong or anyone else; he merely had to follow his own heart and press onward. While cultivation techniques might not be perfect, he only needed to perfect himself.

"Thank you, Shen Biru!"

Sensing the changes within his body, he knew he had found the "answer" and could now break through to the Ancient Sage realm. He smiled faintly.

Silence fell over the surroundings. Although Zhang Xuan's voice wasn't loud, it captured the attention of countless people. Hearing his voice, Shen Biru looked over, her beautiful eyes widening in surprise. "Master Zhang, why are you here?"

Zhang Xuan had been in disguise, not wanting to be recognized; even his closest acquaintances couldn't identify him. Now, to express his gratitude, there was no need for concealment. Thus, the young woman recognized him at a glance: the person before her was indeed Zhang Xuan, the despised figure from Hongtian Academy two years ago, who had been on the verge of losing his teaching qualification! After two years, his appearance hadn't changed significantly, though he was taller, his skin fairer, and his eyes deeper.

"I was cultivating here. It's been a long time..."

With a gentle smile, Zhang Xuan nodded and slowly ascended the platform.

"It's been a long time..." Shen Biru's delicate frame trembled. She had believed their worlds were miles apart, with no chance of ever meeting again, yet here they were. He was still the same as before, without any pretense, his smile radiating sincerity.

"Master Zhang?"

"She just claimed to be Master Zhang Xuan's colleague, and now she's feigning such surprise. It's obvious she's trying to imply this person is the Master of a Myriad Generations, Master Zhang, isn't she?"

"It was bad enough that she was boasting earlier, but insulting our intelligence like this is simply too much!"

"Exactly! She's practically rubbing our patience in the dirt! If he's Master Zhang, then I'm the Hall Master of the Master Teacher Pavilion!"

"Master Zhang is a dragon among men; how could he possibly come to such a remote town? This woman might look pretty, but she's clearly manipulative..."

Their conversation wasn't deliberately concealed, and the crowd below erupted in an uproar, on the verge of exploding. Master Zhang was revered by all, but everyone also knew he was far beyond their reach. Like parallel lines, they would never intersect. For this woman to casually address someone as "Master Zhang"—did that imply this seemingly unremarkable fellow was Zhang Xuan?

What a joke! While boasting might be tolerable, insulting Master Zhang's reputation was an unforgivable offense!

"Impersonating Master Zhang is a grave taboo for all master teachers! He must be severely punished; otherwise, what authority would the Master Teacher Pavilion have to govern the world?" a master teacher-like figure in the crowd shouted.

"Precisely! Everyone, seize these two impostors..." another person yelled. However, before his shout finished, a trembling voice rang out: "Stop quarreling, look quickly..."

The furious crowd collectively turned their gaze towards the platform, witnessing a sight that left them in disbelief. The young man who had allegedly impersonated "Master Zhang" had a faint smile on his face as his body slowly ascended into the air. He simply flew into the sky before everyone's eyes, hovering calmly. The ability to fly... indicated he had already reached the Saint realm! Could this alleged impostor truly be a Saint realm expert?

Before the gasps of shock subsided, the sky rumbled, and countless dark clouds began to gather. The dark clouds were vast, quickly enveloping the entire city and continuously spreading, as if stretching to the horizon with no end in sight.

"Is this... a lightning tribulation?"

"How can a lightning tribulation be so immense?"

"I've heard that even the most powerful Ancient Sage tribulation only covers tens of thousands of mu. This... this must be millions, or even tens of millions of mu, right?"

Everyone below was stunned, speechless.

"To summon such a colossal lightning tribulation... could it really be Master Zhang?" A voice rang out from the crowd, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Only the true Master Zhang could cause such an unprecedented stir, shocking the entire world.

At Glacier Palace.

"Mother, please don't worry. I'll take care of myself and never act recklessly!" A girl, resembling a figure carved from ice, smiled faintly as she looked at a middle-aged woman before her. This was Zhao Ya, the Palace Master of Glacier Palace. The woman before her was the previous generation's Saintess, her mother. After establishing her identity within the Empire Alliance, she returned and freed her mother. Six months prior, upon returning to Tianxuan Kingdom, she brought her father to live with them, and the family had been happily reunited ever since.

"Constantly secluded, neither eating nor drinking, cultivating non-stop... Your mother and I are worried you're exhausting yourself mentally!" A middle-aged man walked over. This was Zhao Feng, Zhao Ya's father and the Lord of Baiyu City in Tianxuan Kingdom. After Master Zhang disappeared, their daughter frantically searched for him. When she returned, she immediately went into secluded cultivation, neither eating, drinking, nor resting. It pained them deeply to witness her relentless pursuit. Although their daughter's current power had long surpassed anything they could hope to achieve, her frantic cultivation—driven solely by the desire for improvement, regardless of danger—concerned them greatly. Without intervention, they feared she would eventually face peril.

"I'm fine," Zhao Ya replied. "I just want to be stronger when Teacher returns, to show I haven't wasted his teachings..." She smiled, recalling her memories with her teacher, and her heart filled with renewed strength. Just as she was about to reassure her parents and continue her seclusion, she suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked up sharply. Immediately, she saw countless dark clouds spreading from the distance, enveloping the entire Glacier Palace in the blink of an eye.