Chapter 1751: The Apricot Trees

“Master Zhang!”

As soon as he approached, he saw Master Ren from the Hall of Masters walking over.

Then Luo Qianzhen of the Luo family, Jiang Fangyou of the Jiang family, and others also came up.

These people had all obtained opportunities, their cultivation profound, and like his parents, they had all reached the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he understood that the Confucian Temple ruins contained not only many worlds but also special temporal regions where time flowed differently and cultivation barriers became simpler.

Because of this, they had all gained considerable benefits.

As for himself, he had been wandering around without much time to cultivate, appearing the most destitute.

“First, rescue Yuan Tao…”

After chatting for a while, Zhang Xuan indeed spotted Yuan Tao among the crowd of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

At this moment, like Zhao Ya and Wei Ruyan before, his six senses were sealed, and he did not know that Zhang Xuan was nearby.

“Just now, an ancient sage transmitted a message: all major forces are forbidden from fighting, or they will be executed on the spot!”

Seeing him about to go over, Master Ren quickly dissuaded him.

“This should be a decision made by the ancient sages for the safety of their descendants. Otherwise, if a battle breaks out and all the geniuses with the potential to become ancient sages die, what use would the treasures inside the Confucian Temple be?”

Luo Qianzhen said, “Now is not the time to clash with them. Besides, with the ancient sages’ decree, they probably won’t dare to harm Yuan Tao.”

“This…” Zhang Xuan stopped.

“They are right!” Luo Ruoxi smiled slightly and said, “Don’t rush to rescue him. Wait until we enter the Apricot Altar. Although Yuan Tao’s six senses are sealed, this might not be a bad opportunity for him!”

“Opportunity?” Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

“Yes. The Apricot Altar is where Confucius once taught and lectured, filled with his golden words of teaching. Since the Hundred Schools of Thought have borrowed his dragon-vein bloodline, they must have made thorough preparations. Rescuing him now would be counterproductive!”

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

He had thought it was just an ordinary palace, but it turned out to be where Confucius once taught.

Back in the Hongyuan Empire, his own divine teaching had moved the world, enabling animals and spirit beasts to break through. Confucius, with his greater cultivation, must have been even more formidable.

No wonder a single tree root, serving as the array’s core, could trap so many powerful beings. It was likely that this root had gained intelligence and supernatural abilities after listening to Confucius’s lectures.

“It’s about to open!”

As they communicated telepathically, rumbling thunder sounded from the ground, and the seal on the Apricot Altar palace before them blazed with light.

Having experienced the Dacheng Hall earlier, Zhang Xuan knew this was a sign that it was about to open, so he said nothing more.

Hum!

After a short while, the great door before them slowly opened, leaving only the seal standing within.

“Go!”

With a loud shout, a drop of Yuan Tao’s blood flew out, enveloping the people of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and shot straight toward the seal. Upon contact, they entered without any hindrance.

The many alien clansmen also stepped forward and, using some secret technique, entered inside.

“The alien clans also have special physiques similar to Yuan Tao’s…” Seeing Zhang Xuan’s confusion, Luo Ruoxi transmitted to him.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Special physiques were not exclusive to humans; it was not surprising that a few appeared among the alien clans.

Whoosh!

After the alien clans entered, many sacred beasts also flew in.

Unlike the previous two, a talisman hovered in the air—the last of the World-Transmitting Heavenly Talismans.

Unexpectedly, it was in their hands.

“Let’s go in too!”

Seeing all the major forces entering, Zhang Xuan flipped his palm, and Little Talisman appeared, enveloping the group. Before they could move, Wu Chen clasped his fists: “Miss, Master Zhang, I’ll wait outside…”

After speaking, he stepped back, leaving the area covered by Little Talisman.

“Alright, let’s go!”

As if she had long known he would make this decision, Luo Ruoxi nodded.

“He…” Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

“He has already broken through to the Ancient Sage realm, so even with the protection of the World-Transmitting Mother Talisman, he cannot enter!”

Luo Ruoxi explained.

“I see…”

Hearing her confirmation, Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had suspected as much earlier, and now it was confirmed.

It seemed that not only had he encountered an opportunity, obtaining the ancient sage aura from the Dacheng Hall, but Wu Chen had also been quite fortunate.

Whoosh!

Bringing Luo Qianzhen, Jiang Fangyou, and the others along, Zhang Xuan followed behind and entered the hall before them.

Inside the door, unlike the other branch halls, it was not a spacious room but a courtyard several hundred meters in diameter. In the center stood a high altar, seemingly sealed, exuding a sense of oppression that made it impossible to approach.

On one side of the altar stood dozens of apricot trees in a row. Since it was winter, their leaves had long fallen, covering the ground, leaving only bare branches.

In front of the altar, meditation cushions were densely arranged, numbering as many as three thousand, exactly matching Confucius’s three thousand disciples.

“This is the Apricot Altar?”

Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had imagined it to be far more sacred, but it looked so ordinary.

“Yes. In those days, Confucius taught here, and his students listened below!” Luo Ruoxi nodded. “Don’t underestimate this place. Though it looks simple, it is the most important location in the entire Confucian Temple, aside from the main hall!”

“Important?” Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Apart from the high altar and some trees, there was nothing else—not a single decent treasure. Where was the importance?

“Confucius’s divine teaching was unmatched in power. These cushions and trees have likely long since gained life. Otherwise, the people of the Hundred Schools of Thought would have rushed forward already. But they haven’t moved at all, clearly waiting for the right moment!”

Luo Ruoxi transmitted.

Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows twitched.

At the Hongyuan Academy, his divine teaching had granted weapons intelligence. It was not surprising that Confucius had given life to these cushions and trees.

“Are you going or not? If not, we’ll go first…”

Seeing that the Hundred Schools of Thought, who had entered first, were standing still and not advancing after waiting so long, a sacred beast grew impatient and spoke.

“If you’re not going, we will. When we get the treasures, don’t try to take them from us!”

Another sacred beast said.

“If you wish to go, feel free. We’ll wait a while longer!”

A young man at the head of the Hundred Schools of Thought smiled and said.

He was none other than the fair-skinned youth they had encountered at Baixi Mountain, Yan Xue, a descendant of the Ancient Sage Ziyuan.

“If you’re not going, fine. We’ll go take a look first…”

Seeing no movement from them, the sacred beast that had spoken earlier snorted and called out, “Cowards! They dare not go. We’ll go!”

With that, it charged toward the direction of the cushions.

In its view, something that had remained intact for tens of thousands of years must be extraordinary.

Whoosh!

Before it could get close, a sharp wind sounded, and a tree branch lashed out straight, tearing a black rift in space.

Woo-woo-woo!

Then, several apricot trees swooped over, surrounding the sacred beasts in the middle.