Chapter 1753: Words Manifest the Dao, One Word Decides Spring and Autumn

Stepping into the apricot grove, the one taming many sacred beasts was none other than Zhang Xuan.

So many sacred beasts, no less formidable than the five kings, naturally could not be missed. Seeing the branches wildly lashing, he immediately took pity and rescued them, then... beat them himself!

Sure enough, the Heavenly Dao true qi helped heal their wounds and eliminate hidden injuries, instantly making these creatures grateful and willing to become spirit pets.

Seeing the encircling apricot trees glaring fiercely, as if ready to strike him down at any moment, Zhang Xuan was not flustered. Instead, he flipped his wrist, and a jade-like tree root appeared in his palm.

Rustle!

Seeing the tree root, the many apricot trees, as if recognizing a token, cleared a path in unison.

"Hold on. You can be this powerful because you've heard Confucius's lectures. Well, I'll give you a lecture too!"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

These trees before him were so formidable because they had heard Confucius's lectures. He suspected that the other party also cultivated the Heavenly Dao technique. Since the trees had heard lectures, they could certainly compare whether his lecture or the former's was better.

That would better help him judge whether Confucius's cultivation was indeed at the Heavenly Dao level.

"Rustle?"

Shaking their branches, the many apricot trees were full of confusion.

You have the token, we let you pass—why do you suddenly want to give a lecture?

"The path of cultivation is not only for humans and beasts; plants can also advance..."

Ignoring their confusion, Zhang Xuan's voice transmitted over.

"Rustle?"

At first, the apricot trees found it strange, but after listening for a while, they became excited, dancing with joy, unable to contain themselves.

His explanation of cultivation was as profound as Confucius's, hitting the mark for them!

In other words... this fellow might not seem like much, but in lecturing, he was on par with Confucius.

While he lectured, Yan Xue and the many alien spirit clansmen all frowned.

They had thought that once this fellow entered, he would be beaten black and blue like the previous sacred beasts, no longer looking human. But unexpectedly... the many apricot trees did not attack; instead, they stood dumbfounded...

"He sat down, as if saying something... Could he be... lecturing?"

Someone shouted out.

Hearing this, the crowd indeed saw the youth trapped among the many trees, his mouth opening and closing, saying something unknown, appearing to be lecturing or conversing with them.

Rustle!

Before their shock subsided, several more trees ran over, all their branches pressed flat against the ground, looking devout.

"These trees have heard Confucius's lectures... and now they listen to this fellow's lecture in such a manner?"

Everyone was stunned.

Trees that had heard Confucius's lectures, each with cultivation reaching the Immortal Realm Great Perfection... How could such powerful trees listen to this fellow and appear so docile?

Rumble!

While they were shocked, the ground shook, and then they saw the withered leaves that had fallen on the ground also stand up one by one, trotting over, enraptured.

"Leaves can also listen to lectures?"

In an instant, everyone felt their worldview overturned.

Trees listening to lectures was one thing—after all, Confucius had taught here for many years, and under subtle influence, it was understandable for them to gain sentience. But these leaves... they were already withered, about to turn into mud... yet they also came to listen—wasn't that too exaggerated?

"These trees have all reached the Immortal Realm Great Perfection... How could they shed leaves? And why would the fallen leaves wither?"

Yan Xue suddenly spoke.

"This..."

The people behind him were all stunned.

Right, trees that had reached such a level—every branch and leaf was comparable to a Great Sage treasure. How could the changing seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter affect them?

"The falling leaves, including their withering, is just a form. That is to say... come spring, these leaves will automatically fly back to the branches, not grow anew!"

As if perceiving something, Yan Xue explained.

As soon as he spoke, they indeed saw the many withered leaves listening to the lecture suddenly shake a few times, then fly in unison onto the branches, their original yellow turning verdant green again.

The trees also seemed to regain their youth.

"Words manifest the Dao, one word decides spring and autumn... This is an ability only Confucius possessed..."

Swallowing saliva, a youth from the Hundred Schools of Thought thought of something, his pupils contracting.

Legend has it that when Confucius once traveled and saw an ancient tree withered to death, he took pity and lectured under the tree. After a while, the ancient tree blossomed, withered wood revived, and the tree grew new leaves and even bore fruit for him to taste.

Many disciples were astonished, leaving behind the allusion of 'one word decides spring and autumn'...

Could it be that this fellow could also do such a thing?

"This is not 'one word decides spring and autumn'! The withered tree Confucius lectured to was already dead, while these are all Immortal Realm experts—how can they be conflated?"

Yan Xue gritted his teeth.

Their Hundred Schools of Thought preserved the most complete inheritance of Confucius, yet here, they could do nothing but wait, while this fellow made astonishing moves every time...

It made him feel deeply humiliated.

"Yan Xue... these trees and leaves are listening to the lecture. Can we take the opportunity to pass? Otherwise, how long must we wait?"

A youth transmitted.

"This..."

Pausing, Yan Xue showed hesitation.

Indeed, the greatest obstacle blocking their path was these apricot trees. Now that these creatures were attracted by this fellow named Zhang Xuan, it was indeed a good opportunity for them.

"You go try..."

After a pause, still somewhat uneasy, he pointed at the one who had just spoken.

The youth nodded and stepped forward.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Before he could approach, a whistling sound rang out rapidly, and then a large swath of leaves came flying at him!

Pfft!

The next moment, dozens of leaves had pierced his chest, blood spurting wildly!

In one blow, he was severely injured, unable even to resist!

Silence!

Unexpectedly, the leaves were also so ferocious; no one dared to step forward again.

Yan Xue's lips trembled, unable to utter a word.

He thought it was an opportunity, but even while listening to the lecture, these leaves would not let anyone set foot there.

"The wind is rising..."

Amidst the silence, a gentle breeze brushed their faces, then grew stronger, rustling the leaves.

The ground shook again.

"Look!"

The crowd quickly looked up and saw that the platform in the distance had somehow emitted a dazzling light, with a figure seemingly suspended above. Then a grand voice slowly resounded.

"It's... the Sacred Sound! The Sacred Sound has finally come..."

Yan Xue's eyes lit up, his body trembling with excitement.