The beast that Xiu Ru had tamed was an Eaglebeak Beast. It boasted a massive physique, such that it was not cramped even with so many people sitting on its back.
Zheng Yang and Wei Ruyan had been thinking of flying over to the destination on their own, which would have made a much faster journey, but recalling their teacher’s low-profile personality, they eventually abandoned the thought and sat down quietly on the back of the beast.
Seeing the group of three controlling their breathing, Xiu Ru asked with a doubtful look in her eyes, “You are cultivators too?”
She had thought that the group before her were no different from the villagers, ordinary humans devoid of zhenqi. Who knew that they would be able to absorb spiritual energy?
“You can say so!” Zheng Yang replied with a smile.
Xiu Ru heaved a sigh of relief before continuing on with a prideful smile. “Not bad! Just to let you know, I have also cultivated before. Of everyone in the village, I am the only one who has cleared the examination and inherited the true heritage of the old village chief!”
“Not bad,” Zheng Yang remarked nonchalantly.
“You might not be aware of this, but the old village chief is someone who has inherited Ancient Sage Zi Chi’s lineage!” Xiu Ru said.
“Oh?” Zhang Xuan shot a curious glance over.
“The old village chief went to Fan City in his earlier years and received the guidance of the experts there. Even though he has aged since then, he’s still the strongest individual in the village. It’s a pity that you didn’t meet him, or else you would surely be filled with admiration for him, just like me!” Xiu Ru explained.
They had only met the incumbent village chief so far, but the strongest person in their village was actually the old village chief. It was because she had cultivated with the old village chief that she had managed to achieve such accomplishments to date.
“May I know… what cultivation technique you practice? Were you taught by a master teacher?” Zhang Xuan asked out of curiosity.
The heritage left behind by Ancient Sage Zi Chi could not possibly be anything ordinary. Even if Xiu Ru had only come into contact with a small sliver of it, he should still be able to tell something about it.
“Master teacher?” Xiu Ru frowned in confusion.
It seemed to be a foreign term to her.
“It’s an occupation that specializes in imparting knowledge and clarifying the doubts of others,” Zhang Xuan said.
“I have never heard of it before.” Xiu Ru shook her head. “Aren’t cultivation techniques all family heirlooms that can’t be leaked to outsiders? Why would anyone ever impart it to an outsider? Other than in the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism, there shouldn’t be any place where anyone would impart cultivation techniques to outsiders. In any case, I have never heard of a master teacher before…”
After asking a few more questions, Zhang Xuan finally came to a realization.
There was no Master Teacher Pavilion in the Hundred Schools of Philosophers!
If one wanted to cultivate, one needed to inherit the heritage from their clan or earn the right to enter the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism.
The Great Phrontistery of Confucianism was not too different from the academies on the Master Teacher Continent. However, the requirements to enter were extremely harsh, such that only the most talented of individuals were accepted. Even the village belle before them was unlikely to stand a chance.
The members from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers whom he had met previously, Xue Yan, Nangong Feng, and the others, were all experts from the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism.
“Are you trying to seek new opportunities in Fan City? Let me tell you, it isn’t as simple as that. I’ve been there a few times, but I still haven’t had a chance to meet any experts yet,” Xiu Ru said as he looked at Zhang Xuan and the others with a look of pity in her eyes.
Cultivation techniques were the bare necessity required for one to cultivate, but cultivation techniques were exclusive. They were not readily available just because someone wanted one.
The only reason that she had managed to become a cultivator was due to her innate talent and a bunch of coincidences working in her favor.
When she realized that the three of them were just trying their luck, her attitude toward them swiftly became cold. As such, the rest of the journey ended up in silence.
Roughly two hours later, a massive city came into sight.
They had arrived at Fan City!
The village belle had described it as an incredible city of massive proportions, but having witnessed the grandeur of the Master Teacher Continent, Zhang Xuan and the others could not help but shake their heads in disappointment.
In terms of size, Fan City was nothing in comparison to the Zhang Clan’s Dracotiger City or the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. At the very most, it could only be said to be at the level of Tianxuan Royal City.
There was an inspection at the entrance, but the group managed to enter the city without any hiccups. They walked down the streets before finally stopping before a massive residence.
Xiu Ru pointed to the residence and said, “This is Ancient Sage Zi Chi’s residence. There are plenty of people who knock on the doors in hope of a fortuitous encounter. Look over there, those are the people who wish to learn their arts. However, it’s a pity that they are dreaming of the impossible. No matter how long they camp out here, they won’t receive anything!”
Looking at the outer perimeters of the residence, there was a large group of people kneeling all around.
From young children to teenage youths, the kneeling group were dressed in different attires, which hinted that they had come from far and wide. However, one thing they had in common was the determined glint in their eyes.
There were some of them who had kneeled for so long that their bodies were shaking nonstop. They were already approaching their limits, but they gritted their teeth and forced themselves to persevere.
Seeing such a sight, a frown crept onto Zhang Xuan’s forehead.
There were so many people who desired knowledge and would go to great lengths to it, but the massive gates of the residence still remained unforgivingly sealed. It was as if their prayers would never be answered.
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“Kong shi preached the right to education. Considering that the entire Hundred School of Philosophers are his students, why are they so unwilling to pass down their cultivation techniques?” Zhang Xuan could not understand what he was seeing.
It was due to Kong shi’s magnanimity that he had eventually become the World’s Teacher. Since the lineage of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers originated directly from Kong shi, why would they maintain such tight control over their heritage, refusing to share it with others?
Jiya!
While Zhang Xuan was still wondering about this matter, the massive gates to the residence suddenly opened, and several tall, slender figures walked out.
They were three youths and a middle-aged man. The youths seemed to be barely in their twenties whereas the middle-aged man had his brows sternly furrow.
“A Great Sage cultivator,” Zheng Yang murmured.
The middle-aged man was actually a Great Sage cultivator whereas the three youths were at Saint 9-dan. Without a doubt, all four of them were highly talented geniuses.
“The examination of the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism is fraught with difficulties. Take my teachings to heart, and do your best to clear it!” the middle-aged man instructed the three youths in front of him.
“Yes!” The three of them nodded solemnly in response.
“The Great Phrontistery of Confucianism?” Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows shot up upon hearing that familiar term.
“That’s the current head of the Fan Clan and his juniors! Are they going to the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism to challenge the trial? That’s incredible!”
“Those who are permitted to step through the doorways of the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism are the most talented of geniuses. If I could receive even just a single pointer from a person of that caliber, all my effort wouldn’t have been in vain!”
“It’s a pity that their cultivation techniques aren’t imparted to outsiders. Given our standing, there’s no way we will ever be able to lay our hands on them!”
…
Such discussions could be heard amid the crowd.
Ancient Sage Zi Chi was an honorary title; his real name was Fan Xu. The Fan Clan whom the crowd were speaking about referred to the clan of his descendants.
“Good. I wish you all the best!” the middle-aged man said with a wave of his hand.
Hu!
The three youths soared into the air and flitted into the distance. All it took was a few moments for them to vanish without a trace.
Watching as the silhouettes of the three youths vanished, Zheng Yang turned to look at Zhang Xuan anxiously. “Teacher…”
“Un, let’s follow them. I think the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism holds the key to all of the secrets we have been wondering so far!” Zhang Xuan said.
Previously, the experts who had snuck into the Master Teacher Continent had all been from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. Instead of posing questions to the not-too-beautiful village belle, it would be much better to them to simply follow those three youths.
Hearing their words, the village belle scoffed. “Follow them? Have you eaten the wrong medicine? They are Saint experts! Given the speed that they are traveling at, even if my spirit beast snapped its wings, it would still be unable to catch up with them! You won’t be able to even see their silhouettes…”
She also desired to learn from the three youths… but they simply were not even close to being at the same level as those three youths. Putting aside seeking guidance from them, they would not be able to reach them even if they ran with all of their might!
It was not as if she could not understand Zhang Xuan and the others’ agitation at seeing the three experts, but they should be realistic! They would never achieve anything great with their heads in the air!
“Thank you for bringing us here. We won’t be riding your aerial spirit beast back. Farewell!” Interrupting Xiu Ru’s words, Zhang Xuan clasped his fist with a smile before turning around.
Hu!
He rose into the air, and as if teleporting through space, he abruptly disappeared into thin air.
“You…”
The eyes of the village belle nearly popped out of their sockets upon seeing Zhang Xuan’s vanishing act. She quickly turned to look at Zheng Yang and Wei Ruyan, only to see the two of them smiling at her.
Hu!
They vanished as well.
Putong!
Xiu Ru’s bottom fell to the ground as she sat in a daze over what had just happened, dumbstruck.
She had thought that they were weaklings, but contrary to her expectations, they turned out to be experts… top-notch experts who far surpassed her imaginations!