“The Great Codex of Spring and Autumn?” Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows shot up.
“The Great Codex of Spring and Autumn is said to be the strongest artifact that Kong shi left behind. There are those who say that it’s a book, there are those who say that it’s a weapon, and there are also those who say that it’s a spatial artifact. In any case, no one has seen the true form of the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn before. So, wouldn’t it be possible for it to be a painting?” Sword Saint Xing analyzed.
“Otherwise, why would the experts of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers rush right here as soon as the Hall of Great Accomplishment opens in order to decipher this seal? Furthermore, it’s apparent that they are aware that Zhao Ya’s strength is crucial to deciphering this seal, which explains why they kidnapped her!”
Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.
There was some sense to what Sword Saint Xing was saying.
Most information available about the Temple of Confucius came from rumors, so it might not necessarily be true. While the name ‘Great Codex of Spring and Autumn’ suggested that the artifact existed in the form of a book, the artifact might be able to assume multiple forms.
This was similar to how the Dragonbone Divine Spear was able to alternate between the form of a spear and a skeletal dragon.
Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back to the magnificent painting on the wall and scrutinized it closely through the Eye of Insight. While its contents were a little obscure due to the seal, he was still able to make out the scenery of a barren snowfield. It seemed like a world of permafrost lay on the other side of the painting.
“There are temporal laws infused within the painting…”
Through examining the painting carefully, he could feel the power of space and time infused within the painting. It was likely that the flow of time within the painting was different from that of the real world.
If a separate concept of time existed within the painting… could the painting really be the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn?
If that was the case, he would have to snatch the painting regardless of the cost. Even if the other party was the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, he would not pull his punches!
An idea suddenly flashed across Zhang Xuan’s mind. Even though I might not recognize the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn, Little Amulet should be able to discern it!
He was lacking in knowledge concerning the ancient era, but Little Amulet was different. It had specially been forged by Kong shi to serve as the key into the Temple of Confucius, so it should be able to recognize the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn!
Thus, he sent a telepathic message to Little Amulet to ask about the matter.
“Great Codex of Spring and Autumn? Hahaha, that’s the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard in my life! That’s the Canvas of Four Seasons, which Kong shi drew personally!” Little Amulet replied amid guffaws in the Myriad Anthive Nest.
There was a light breeze in the Myriad Anthive Nest, which caused Little Amulet to flutter.
“Canvas of Four Seasons?”
“Didn’t you notice the four pavilions prior to entering the Hall of Great Accomplishment? Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—those are the four seasons of the world!” Little Amulet explained.
Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Thinking back, Kong shi’s superior breakthrough method to Great Sage also involved conceptualizing one’s body as the world to emulate the four seasons of nature. He had thought that it was on a whim that those pavilions were named after the seasons, but it seemed like there was more to it.
“What use is the Canvas of Four Seasons that those of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers would go to such lengths for it?”
While Zhang Xuan was slightly disappointed to learn that the painting was not the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn, there was no denying that he was intrigued by the painting.
Even if it was not the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn, it was likely a formidable artifact of some sort. It would not have caught the attention of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers otherwise.
“The Canvas of Four Seasons harnesses the concept of the four seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—allowing one to use the forces of nature to temper oneself,” Little Amulet replied. “On top of that, time flows faster within the painting compared to the external world, roughly around twofold. In other words, a cultivator who cultivates for two years in the painting would find that only one year has passed in the real world… As such, it’s the ideal artifact to groom aspiring talents!”
Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.
The reason that the Zhang Clan had been able to remain the number one Sage Clan even after the passing of so many years could mostly be credited to its Blood Reservoir. Utilizing the difference in the flow of time, the offspring of the Zhang Clan were able to comprehend secret arts and master occupations much faster than their counterparts.
The same went for the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. Of course, the pointers of 9-star master teachers were invaluable in reducing the detours in one’s cultivation, but more than that, the difference in the flow of time in the Hall of Spring and Autumn ensured that the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters would have powerful experts in every generation.
In fact, it was largely due to cultivating in the Hall of Spring and Autumn that Zheng Yang had been able to advance his cultivation far faster than the rest of his students.
Given how the Canvas of Four Seasons allowed one to cultivate for two years within the span of a year, it could be considered a decently powerful artifact.
“However, based on what I know, what is truly valuable about the Canvas of Four Seasons isn’t the difference in the flow of time but that Kong shi has sealed a fragmented piece of the world within it!” Little Amulet added excitedly.
“Sealed a piece of the world?” Zhang Xuan contemplated for a moment before nodding in agreement. “I see. Considering how the cycle of seasons in the painting is still persisting to this day, I suppose it’s to be expected that it contains a fragmented piece of the world!”
There were several tiers to folded spaces. The most ordinary folded space involved creating a dimension that was suited for storing objects but insufficient to sustain life. An example of that would be storage rings.
Folded spaces that were of a tier higher could be viewed as greenhouses. It was possible to create conditions capable of sustaining life in these folded spaces, but they were highly dependent on external inputs in order to maintain these conditions. If one persistently neglected to supply spiritual energy to these folded spaces, their condition would gradually deteriorate to the point that it would be hard to sustain life.
Zhang Xuan’s Myriad Anthive Nest was at such a tier. He had to supply his spiritual energy into it in order to ensure that it developed positively. This was different from the Master Teacher Continent, which was able to produce its own spiritual energy and breed new life dynamically.
The fact that the painting was able to emulate the cycle of the four seasons likely meant that it was a space similar to that of the forest dimension. It could produce its own spiritual energy to support life, which placed it at a higher tier than his Myriad Anthive Nest.
Considering the strength that Kong shi had wielded, his ability to seal a fragmented piece of the world into his painting was not surprising.
“It’s to be expected? You don’t seem to understand the significance behind this. The fragmented piece of the world infused into the painting is not the same as the world you see before you right now,” Little Amulet explained. “It’s a fragmented piece of the ancient world!”
“A fragmented piece of the ancient world? Is there anything different about it? At the very most, won’t the difference simply lie in the concentration of spiritual energy…” Zhang Xuan did not think too highly of the matter.
It was likely that the concentration of spiritual energy had been much higher in the ancient era, considering how the world had been able to support the rise of Kong shi, the seventy-two Sages, and so many powerful experts. However, what about it? Even if Kong shi had sealed a fragmented piece of the ancient world into the folded space, it was ultimately just a fragmented piece. It could not be compared to the vast lands of the current Master Teacher Continent!
Before Zhang Xuan could finish his sentence, his eyes suddenly narrowed as a thought rose from the depths of his mind. “No, that’s not all. You are saying that the fragmented piece of the world sealed within the painting comes from tens of thousands of years ago, back in the era when cultivators were still able to advance to Ancient Sage. So, if one were to cultivate within the Canvas of Four Seasons, there’s a chance that one could achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage, right?”
Yang shi and Sword Saint Xing had shared several pieces of information with him regarding Ancient Sages. Around ten thousand years ago, a certain ‘quality’ seemed to have vanished from the atmosphere of the world. Without this quality, the many Sempiternal realm consummation of the world found themselves unable to take the final step forward to reach Ancient Sage.
It was due to this change that human Ancient Sages willingly went into hibernation in order to prolong their lifespan as much as possible so as to protect mankind from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
Considering that this ‘quality’ had only gone missing in the last ten thousand years, if the fragmented piece of land that Kong shi had sealed within the Canvas of Four Seasons was truly from his era, did that not mean that it would harness the ‘quality’ required for one to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage too?
“That’s right! Why else do you think they would go so far for this painting?” Little Amulet nodded smugly in agreement.
“I see… This painting represents an opportunity to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage… Since that’s the case, I should give it my all to acquire it!” Zhang Xuan nodded determinedly.
Given his rate of cultivation, while he was only at Aureate Body realm consummation, it was likely that he would be knocking on the bottleneck of Ancient Sage soon enough. If he could not advance any further than that, it would truly be torture for him!
Since the opportunity was right in front of him, he had to seize it by hook or by crook!
“Thanks for your reminder. Little Amulet, you aren’t as useless as you seem after all…” Zhang Xuan burst into hearty laughter.
If not for Little Amulet explaining the significance of the Canvas of Four Seasons to him, it might have slipped right through his fingers!
“…” Little Amulet.
On the other hand, Sword Saint Xing stared speechlessly at his son, who had abruptly broken out in huge peals of laughter amid the tense silence between both sides.
Did his son just lose his mind due to sheer joy?
