Previously, he had been wondering why Ancient Sage Yan Qing, despite being the strongest Ancient Sage in the area and in possession of the Prime Amulet, would offer to distribute the slots, thus giving other powers the opportunity to lay their hands on the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn.
However, he swiftly understood why after hearing those words.
Even with the Prime Amulet in hand, it would be futile if the Hundred Schools of Philosophers was unable to open the entrance to the Prime Hall.
And the key to opening the Prime Hall were the cruxes of the six outer dimensions!
As far as he knew, it seemed like… he had obtained four of the cruxes all by himself.
“It seems like Little Amulet isn’t completely useless after all!” Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in realization.
He had been rather perplexed when he heard that his parents had been teleported right to the vicinity of the Prime Hall due to the Celestial Amulet of Legacy in their possession. He had thought that Little Amulet was not working properly—there should not have been any reason for him to be teleported into the outer dimensions. However, when he looked back, there was indeed no mistake at all!
He had to enter the outer dimensions in order to obtain the cruxes because they were crucial to opening the Prime Hall. Otherwise, even with the Prime Amulet, he would only have been able to stand helplessly outside the Prime Hall, unable to do a thing at all.
“The Ancient Sages are restricted from entering any of the six outer dimensions, so I can’t verify where the cruxes are at the moment. However, the fact that the Prime Hall has surfaced shows that the cruxes of the six outer dimensions have been taken away. I have no doubt that the cruxes are among us now. As long as you are willing to take it out, you’ll be able to exchange it for a slot for your own power!” Ancient Sage Yan Qing announced.
Due to the restrictions on Ancient Sages, he was unable to travel freely within the Temple of Confucius, so he could not be certain who was in possession of the cruxes.
If Ancient Sage Yan Qing had been able to ascertain the whereabouts of the cruxes, he would have been able to approach the owners privately and strike deals with them. It was precisely because they could not ascertain the whereabouts that they had been left with no choice but to gather everyone in the square and propose an open distribution of the slots.
“Why don’t I start first?”
Seeing that there was no movement from the crowd, Ancient Sage Yan Qing smiled lightly as he tapped his finger in front of him. A book materialized before him, and he flicked it lightly.
Wuuuuuuuu!
The book immediately flew for the Prime Hall. It fitted perfectly in one of the apertures by the side of the entrance before emanating a light glow, seemingly indicating that it was a correct fit.
Taking a closer look at the entrance, Zhang Xuan realized that there were three apertures on both sides of the entrance. All in all, they corresponded to the cruxes of the six outer dimensions.
“That is the crux of the book ocean dimension, which corresponds to the Great Kui Hall of Literature. Our Hundred Schools of Philosophers managed to obtain it, so we are entitled to another slot!” Ancient Sage Yan Qing said.
The Hundred Schools of Philosophers had five slots due to their possession of the Prime Amulet, and they had just obtained an additional one. With this, they had taken nearly half of all fifteen slots. In other words, no matter how the remaining slots were distributed, they would still be the greatest winner there, so there was no need for them to worry.
After slotting the book into one of the six apertures, Ancient Sage Yan Qing turned to the crowd and said, “Those who have obtained any of the other cruxes, I’ll have to ask you to please take them out. Don’t worry. With the Ancient Sages from the four major powers standing here, no one will dare rob you of your slot and possession. If you feel that your cultivation is lacking and would like to relinquish your slot, you can trade it for other resources. As long as it’s within our means to do so, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers will fulfill your demands!”
“This…”
“Where are the remaining cruxes?”
“Argh! If I’d known in advance, I would have tried my best to search for the cruxes. At the very least, I would have been able to obtain at least a single slot for my power…”
“Who would have thought that the six outer dimensions would play such a crucial role?”
…
Intense discussions could be heard amid the crowd.
The cultivators present were glancing at one another, hoping to know where the cruxes were and who had taken them away.
Seeing that no one was stepping out from the crowd, an inconspicuous frown appeared on Ancient Sage Yan Qing’s forehead, and he continued his persuasion. “Are you worried that we won’t keep our promises? With so many Ancient Sages here, we can put our honor on the line to promise you that whatever artifact the crux is, we’ll only use it to open the Prime Hall. Once the entrance to the Prime Hall opens, we’ll return your possession to you!”
If only he had the cruxes in his possession, he would have activated the Prime Hall immediately. There would have been no need for him to waste his breath on this.
At this moment, an eerie voice suddenly sounded from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
“I know where the cruxes of the forest dimension and desert dimension are…”
The person who had just spoken was none other than Old Geezer Yu.
Ancient Sage Yan Qing immediately shifted his gaze over and anxiously asked, “Where are they?”
If even a single crux was missing, they would never be able to open the Prime Hall and enter its midst. In other words, the expedition would come to a standstill.
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“It’s in the hands of the lad who tamed the White Overlord’s descendants!” Old Geezer Yu harrumphed coldly.
“Him?”
Ancient Sage Yan Qing and the other Ancient Sages swiftly turned to Zhang Xuan.
“This…”
Seeing that everyone’s eyes were upon him, he could not help but scratch his head awkwardly. He was still in the midst of assessing the current situation when Old Geezer Yu suddenly rooted him out.
“My young friend, may I ask if the cruxes of the forest dimension and desert dimension are really in your hands?” Ancient Sage Yan Qing asked.
Knowing that there was no way that he could hide it anymore, he honestly replied, “I believe so. However, the cruxes of the two dimensions are living beings, so I’m a little skeptical as to whether they can fit into the apertures there.”
The crux of the forest dimension was the Five Monarchs, and the crux to the desert dimension was the tree root. Considering that both of them were living beings, how could they be stuffed into the aperture by the door?
“It doesn’t matter whether they are living beings or not. As long as you take them out, they’ll automatically fit into the aperture once they come into proximity with the Prime Hall,” Ancient Sage Yan Qing replied.
“I see…” Zhang Xuan nodded contemplatively.
With a flick of his wrist, he took out the Five Monarchs and gestured them forward.
Hu!
As if attracted by some kind of mysterious force, the bodies of the Five Monarchs were drawn uncontrollably toward the entrance of the Prime Hall. At the same time, their figures kept contracting until they became something similar to the round plate of a Yin-Yang compass.
Kacha!
The round plate fixed itself onto the aperture and emanated a light glow.
“This…”
Surprised by the happenings, Zhang Xuan could not help being taken aback for a moment.
Seeing that it was working, Ancient Sage Yan Qing heaved a sigh of relief. “Since you are in possession of the crux of the forest dimension, you have just won an additional slot for the Master Teacher Pavilion. If the crux of the desert dimension is still with you at the moment, you should quickly take it out as well.”
Zhang Xuan nodded in response.
With a flick of his wrist, a tree root appeared on his palm.
Similar to the Five Monarchs, it was swiftly drawn to the entrance of the Prime Hall before finally being embedded into one of the apertures. The light shrouding the entrance suddenly intensified, as if heralding the impending opening of the Prime Hall.
“Great!” Ancient Sage Yan Qing nodded in agitation. “We are still lacking the cruxes of the poison dimension, stone forest dimension, and four seasons dimension. May I invite those who are in possession of those cruxes to step forward and help us open the Prime Hall?”
His voice echoed across the square, but no one amid the crowd stepped forward. It was as if the cruxes of the three remaining outer dimensions had vanished without a trace.
“Could it be that the cultivators who have obtained the cruxes of those three dimensions didn’t come to this square? Or perhaps, have the three cruxes not yet been obtained?”
“That’s impossible. Without retrieving the cruxes, the gates of the six outer dimensions wouldn’t have connected with one another!”
…
Seeing that no one was stepping forward, all of the Ancient Sages could not help but frown.
Taking a deep breath, Ancient Sage Yan Qing declared once more, “Allow me to reassure whoever’s in possession of the cruxes that no one will make a move on you. I, Yan Qing, promise with the honor of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers that I’ll ensure your safety, and anyone who dares to make a move on you will have to suffer my wrath!”
By then, a seed of worry had sprouted in the depths of his mind. Things were not going well. As long as those in possession of the cruxes refused to step forward, the Prime Hall would never be opened. At this rate, they might have to resort to other means.
Ancient Sage Yan Qing was just about to make one last reassurance when Zhang Xuan timidly raised his hand and said, “I think that the cruxes of the poison dimension and four seasons dimension might be with me as well!”
“They are with you? In other words, you have single handedly obtained the cruxes of four outer dimensions?”
Utter silence filled the surroundings.