Chapter 1344: Secrets of the Zhang Family (Part 1)

"That's right. After they use their bloodline power, they have a special sensitivity to treasures. Even if there's a formation hiding them, they can detect them!"

Luo Xuanqing nodded, envy in his eyes: "Because of this, although the Yun family is only a second-class family, their status is no lower than that of the Shui or Mu families!"

For cultivators, treasures are indispensable for progress. The world contains countless hidden treasures, and many ruins are concealed by powerful techniques. Being able to detect them through formations alone is a skill worthy of envy.

"Is this... a special profession?"

Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

"Of course not! They rely on bloodline power to search, which cannot be generalized!" Luo Xuanqing laughed.

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan understood.

Back then, when Confucius established special professions, two criteria had to be met for qualification: first, it could form a system and be perfectly inherited; second, it could be widely promoted and learned by ordinary people.

Medicine cultivators met the second condition—ordinary people could learn—but their inheritance was inconsistent and couldn't form a system. The Yun family had a system, but it relied on bloodline, which ordinary people couldn't learn. Thus, neither could be called a special profession.

"Looks like I can't learn it..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head, unable to hide his regret.

What he lacked most now were treasures. If he had such an ability, he could explore for treasures everywhere and make great discoveries... But since it wasn't a special profession, he couldn't learn it.

The Heavenly Path Library condensed books because ordinary people could learn them. Bloodline power... couldn't be learned.

"Yes, if it were a special profession, it would surely be bustling with countless people wanting to learn!"

Luo Xuanqing nodded.

After further explanation, Zhang Xuan learned about everyone's abilities.

This brother-in-law was a peak Saint Realm Seventh Layer Entering Void Stage expert. Among the remaining three, Bi Hongyin had the highest strength, reaching the late Entering Void Stage. The fat man seemed good at defense but weak in combat; he might not even be able to beat Yun Lianhai. However, with his physical strength, even Luo Xuanqing would find it hard to defeat him.

"Since we've decided, let's set off!"

After the explanation, everyone understood what was going on. Without further delay, they landed on the back of the Colorful Heavenly Crane. With a sharp cry, the crane turned into a streak of colorful light and flew toward the horizon.

The crane was extremely fast, and its back had no protective structure. Luo Xuanqing and the others, being strong, were unaffected by the wind. But seeing Zhang Xuan standing steady as a mountain, they were all secretly amazed.

Even though he had made a breakthrough to the peak of the Out of Body Stage, his actual strength still lagged far behind theirs. Being able to do this showed extraordinary talent and strength.

"Brother Zhang, with such high attainment in formations and considerable strength, you must have done well in the mountain gate assessment, right?"

The short man Yun Lianhai looked over with a smile.

The others were also curious.

With their strength, they no longer paid attention to new student admissions. Although this man had caused quite a stir at the mountain gate, they were unaware of it.

"Not bad," Zhang Xuan nodded. "I ranked fiftieth, just enough to enter the elite class."

"Fiftieth?"

Yun Lianhai was stunned. "Who are the entrants this year, that they're so strong?"

With this man's attainment in formations, by previous years' standards, he should have no problem entering the top three. How could he be... only fiftieth?

At this rank, a slight mistake could get him eliminated.

"There are indeed a few with considerable talent this year."

Before Zhang Xuan could answer, Luo Xuanqing spoke: "You should have heard of Zhang Xu from the Zhang family. He's in this year's intake."

"Zhang Xu? The Earth-grade bloodline? I've met him once. He's indeed very strong. Given enough time, his achievements might even rival yours!" Yun Lianhai couldn't help but admire.

"Hmph!"

Luo Xuanqing snorted, seeming displeased.

"Don't be angry. I know you dislike the Zhang family, but in recent years, the Zhang family's bloodlines have become purer and purer, with geniuses emerging. If the Luo family hadn't had the little princess appear, they might have been overshadowed!"

Yun Lianhai said.

When mentioning the little princess, his eyes were full of admiration.

"Brother Yun, the little princess you speak of... is she the one said to have refined the Stillness Void Pearl and be unmatched in talent?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fist under his sleeve and asked casually.

"Exactly, she is Xuanqing's own sister!"

With a light laugh, Yun Lianhai ignored Luo Xuanqing's dark expression and looked over with gossipy interest: "By the way, Xuanqing, I heard your sister was betrothed to that little genius of the Zhang family before she was even born. Is that genius really as unmatched in talent as the legends say?"

"Shut up!"

Luo Xuanqing narrowed his eyes, anger flaring: "I said, don't bring that up. Whoever does, I'll kill them!"

"Whether you bring it up or not, it's a fact. The family made the decision, and you can't change it!"

The fat man Yuan Xiao spoke.

As a descendant of the Yuan family, second only to the three great families, he knew the details well. He knew that this man was a sister-obsessed maniac who didn't want his sister to be unhappy in a marriage alliance, but he also knew that as a family junior, there was nothing he could do.

Such a decision must have passed through the elders' council. In that case, even the family head couldn't easily change it.

"I can't change it, but I can still spar with the younger generation. If I run into that guy, I'll beat him until he voluntarily calls off the engagement!"

A flash of determination in his eyes, Luo Xuanqing gritted his teeth.

"Why bother?" Yun Lianhai smiled bitterly. "If that little genius is as the legends say, with a bloodline purity comparable to your sister's, do you think you can be his match?"

"I..."

Luo Xuanqing's face turned red.

Although he was very strong, compared to his sister... the gap was enormous!

His sister, though more than ten years younger, surpassed him in both cultivation and strength.

If that little genius was truly like her... he indeed wouldn't be a match.

"By the way, I've heard a secret about that little genius of the Zhang family. Do you want to hear it?"

Bi Hongyin, who had been silent, spoke up.

"A secret?"

Everyone looked over, and Luo Xuanqing also pricked up his ears.

"Twenty years ago, my teacher was invited to the Zhang family as a guest. One night, she was suddenly called by the Zhang family head to save someone."

Bi Hongyin frowned, as if recalling what her teacher had told her.

"The Zhang family head? You mean that 'Dream Sword Saint'?" Yuan Xiao's expression turned serious, and he showed respect.

"Yes, it was him!" Bi Hongyin nodded. "At the time, my teacher thought she was just a Sound Master, not skilled in healing, so why was she asked? When she saw the patient, she understood."

"The patient was an infant. Whether poisoned or something else, his soul was extremely weak, on the verge of dissipating. The Dream Sword Saint hoped she could use sound magic to stabilize his soul and prevent it from collapsing."

Everyone nodded.

Sound magic could captivate the soul, causing mental collapse, but it could also stabilize the soul, helping one break through bottlenecks and greatly increase cultivation.

For an infant who hadn't cultivated, with a weak body and a soul difficult to control, taking medicine was inappropriate. In such a case, a Sound Master was indeed more suitable than a physician.

"My teacher knew that saving a life was more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, so she acted. However, the effect was not very obvious. Even so, the Sword Saint gave a large fee to thank her. Later, my teacher was sent away that night and didn't know much about what happened afterward..." Bi Hongyin continued.

"You mean... the child your teacher treated back then was most likely... that little genius of the Zhang family?"

Realizing this, Yuan Xiao couldn't help but say.

"Whether it was him, my teacher doesn't know. The timing just matches, and it was the Dream Sword Saint who personally invited her. However, under normal circumstances, this Zhang family genius was detected to have an extremely pure bloodline while still in the womb, so he should have been thoroughly protected, with no one able to harm him!"

Bi Hongyin said: "At the time, my teacher didn't think much of it. Later, hearing that this little genius of the Zhang family had never appeared, she began to suspect."

If he was truly healthy and fine, how could such a super genius be hidden for twenty years without anyone seeing him?

Not even coming to the Saint Child Hall?

It would be strange not to find it suspicious.

"If it really was that little genius, then twenty years ago, shortly after birth, he was severely injured... to the point where his soul was nearly extinguished. That injury was indeed very serious..." Yuan Xiao frowned.

They were all family juniors and knew how thoroughly families protected descendants with pure bloodlines. How could a genius with a bloodline comparable to the ancestor, which appeared only once in tens of thousands of years for the Zhang family, be attacked right after birth?

"Could it be internal family strife?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but interject.

If what they said was true, and the seriously ill one was the Zhang family's little genius, that would be great... In that state, he naturally couldn't marry Luo Ruoxi, and Zhang Xuan wouldn't be so passive.

"Impossible! The Zhang family, as a sage clan, places great importance on face. Internal strife is absolutely impossible!"

It was Luo Xuanqing who spoke.

As a genius of the Luo family, he knew many inside stories of sage clans.

"Not allowed doesn't mean it can't happen. What if some elder coveted the position of family head and deliberately attacked that little genius?" Zhang Xuan's imagination ran wild.

After all, in his previous life, he was a library administrator and had read many books and stories.

Many clan conflicts were written that way.

"You're not a family junior, so you don't understand the rules of sage clans... I can tell you clearly that the situation you just described is absolutely impossible!"

Before Luo Xuanqing could speak, Yuan Xiao shook his head.

"Impossible?" Zhang Xuan blinked.

Power corrupts; even nine-star master teachers are not immune, let alone some family elders. Why would it be impossible?

This was a classic trope, wasn't it!

"Speaking of families, you might not understand. Let me ask you..."

Seeing his confusion, Yuan Xiao looked at him: "As a student of the Saint Child Hall, do you know the hall master of the Saint Child Hall?"