Chapter 1556: Secrets of the Continent

"Ancient Saint?"

His pupils contracted, Zhang Xuan filled with disbelief: "Wasn't it said that Ancient Saints cannot break through?"

Previously, Teacher Yang had said that the Ancient Saint level was difficult to break through; even he was stuck in place, unable to progress, and could only wander the world seeking opportunities. If so, how could this Spirit Emperor be so powerful?

"Saying he has the Ancient Saint level is the most conservative estimate; I'm afraid his cultivation is even higher!"

Seeing his confusion, Teacher Yang also looked solemn. He paused and explained: "It is indeed difficult to break through to Ancient Saint on the Master Teacher Continent, but the life level and physique of the Spirit race are completely different from humans! Their methods of breakthrough are also different. As for whether they can break through, I'm not entirely sure, but... this Spirit Emperor definitely did not break through in the last ten thousand years!"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Not breaking through in the last ten thousand years—could it be that this guy had already reached the Ancient Saint level ten thousand years ago?

That couldn't be!

Although the Ancient Saint level was profound, their lifespan was not infinite; otherwise, Confucius and his many disciples would not have disappeared.

"I even suspect that this Spirit Emperor is actually... the one who once fought against Confucius!" Teacher Yang narrowed his eyes.

"The one who fought against Confucius? That... Confucius left the continent tens of thousands of years ago..."

Zhang Xuan was startled.

Confucius had left the Master Teacher Continent tens of thousands of years ago; could the Spirit Emperor who fought him still be alive?

"The Spirit race has a naturally long lifespan, and they might also possess certain time-related secret techniques. Sleeping for ten thousand years should not be difficult!" Teacher Yang explained. "There are also many human giants on the continent who have survived this way."

Zhang Xuan's heart surged with turbulent waves.

He had thought that whether cultivators or Spirit race, when their lifespan ran out, they could only choose death... He never dreamed that such secret techniques existed!

That's right, the Ruthless One was an existence who had fought against Confucius, and he had revived tens of thousands of years later.

The Spirit Emperor, whose status was at least as high as the Ruthless One's, having a way to survive was only natural.

"This Spirit Emperor infiltrated the continent, probably for the Spring and Autumn Ceremony, and has hidden somewhere. Where exactly, even the Master Teacher Pavilion is in the dark! So, it's best to be cautious. A Heaven's Favorite Master Teacher appears only once in tens of thousands of years. If he finds out and attacks, with our current strength, we simply cannot withstand it!"

Teacher Yang looked worried.

"Mm."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had hidden his identity as a Heaven's Favorite Master Teacher for so long; hiding a little longer wouldn't matter.

He just hadn't expected this Spirit Emperor to be so powerful.

"If this one is so formidable, and the Master Teacher Continent no longer has Ancient Saints, why don't they attack and reclaim the continent?"

This world no longer had Confucius or his many disciples. With the Spirit Emperor being an Ancient Saint, leading the Spirit race to attack again would be normal, wouldn't it?

"They have attacked many times, but suffered great losses. Otherwise, the Master Teacher Pavilion and the War Teacher Pavilion wouldn't be on constant alert." Seeing his confusion, Teacher Yang explained. "Moreover, although no one on the Master Teacher Continent can break through to Ancient Saint now, that doesn't mean there are no Ancient Saints..."

"This..." Zhang Xuan blinked, growing more confused.

If they couldn't break through, how could there be any?

"Didn't I just say? There are also many human giants on the continent who have survived through time secret techniques... Your Zhang family has become the number one family on the continent, with no one daring to bully them, and the Master Teacher Pavilion giving them some face, because... they also have such surviving giants! However, they have been in a state of slumber and are only awakened when the continent is truly in danger."

Teacher Yang said.

"The Zhang family has... Ancient Saint-level giants?"

Zhang Xuan was astonished.

He had thought that the strongest in the Zhang family were only Dreamsword Saint and Grand Elder Zhang Wuhen; he never expected they had hidden secrets.

"Yes, these involve the deepest secrets of the continent. Only those who become true Nine-Star Master Teachers are qualified to know. I hope you won't spread this, Senior Brother..." Teacher Yang clasped his hands.

"Rest assured, I understand!"

Zhang Xuan replied.

"The Ancient Saints on the continent are basically all in slumber. Each time they fight, their lifespan decreases, and in the end, they might completely fall. Therefore, they cannot be awakened to protect you at all times. So, since the matter of the Heaven's Favorite Master Teacher hasn't been leaked, don't rush to reveal it. Otherwise, no one knows what form this Spirit Emperor might take, where he might appear, and unpredictable dangers could arise."

At this point, Teacher Yang paused, his expression sincere: "Any of us can fall, can die, but you cannot, Senior Brother... You are a Heaven's Favorite Master Teacher, an existence comparable to Confucius. Whether the human race can thrive again and usher in a golden age of Ancient Saints depends solely on you!"

Zhang Xuan's heart trembled.

He hadn't expected the man before him to value him so highly.

"I understand!"

Knowing the other's expectations, Zhang Xuan nodded, inwardly relieved.

Fortunately, he was naturally low-key and hadn't loudly proclaimed the matter of being a Heaven's Favorite Master Teacher; otherwise, he would have long attracted the Spirit Emperor's covetousness and died without knowing how.

"Junior Brother, you just said this Spirit Emperor came for the Spring and Autumn Ceremony. What exactly is going on?"

Zhang Xuan looked at him again.

Legend has it that the Spring and Autumn Ceremony is a supreme secret manual left by Confucius, possessing earth-shattering abilities. The Heritage Celestial Talisman that the Qingtian royal family sought before was related to it.

"The Ceremony is a supreme secret manual left by Confucius, capable of altering spring and autumn, changing time. After Confucius left the continent, he placed it in the Confucian Temple in Qufu... But where exactly the Confucian Temple is, no one knows. Countless master teachers in later generations have searched but found nothing."

"Legend says that only by gathering the Heritage Celestial Talismans can one open the path to the Confucian Temple and enter to find the Ceremony... However, a year ago, for some unknown reason, the space in Qufu experienced disturbances, and someone seemed to vaguely see the Confucian Temple like a mirage. When the news came out, the continent was in an uproar. The Master Teacher Pavilion immediately sealed off the source of information, but... the Spirit race still found out!"

"The Spring and Autumn Ceremony is a supreme treasure. If the human race obtains it, their strength will surely increase greatly. But if the Spirit race gets it, they might break the seal and return to the mortal world, bringing disaster to all living beings!"

Teacher Yang's face was grave.

"Since this is a treasure refined by Confucius, why didn't he entrust it to the Master Teacher Pavilion for safekeeping, instead sealing it away and placing it in the Confucian Temple?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Confucius refined it to benefit humanity, so why lock it away?

"I don't know the specific reason either! I'm afraid we can only find out by entering the Confucian Temple!"

Teacher Yang said.