“Courting death? Look who’s speaking here!”
Floating in the air, Zhang Xuan glared down at the eight youths beneath him with utterly cold eyes.
“You kidnapped my students and limited their freedom. With no regards to her will, you forced her to expend her strength to help you decipher the seal on the painting… Is this the kind of propriety that the Hundred Schools of Philosophers abide by? Is this what you have inherited from Kong shi?”
Even the final shred of goodwill that Zhang Xuan harbored toward the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had vanished by that point.
Not only did they go around forcing the Luo Clan and the Zhang Clan to accept their challenges to acquire the Celestial Amulets of Legacy, they even captured his students and collaborated together with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. It seemed like they had already lost sight of what they stood for at the very start.
“We’re doing this for mankind!” one of the youths amid the group shouted angrily.
“For mankind? What a coincidence! What I’m going to do right now is for mankind as well. Get them!” Zhang Xuan replied with a cold sneer.
Knowing that it was meaningless to argue with the other party, he flicked his wrist.
Huala!
The Five Monarchs and countless weapons materialized around the area and charged for the eight youths from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers.
“You…”
The eight youths did not think that Zhang Xuan would make a move on them without any hesitation. They were angered by his actions, but given the current situation, they had no choice but to focus their effort on fending off the incoming enemies.
“Teacher…” Seeing that her teacher was confronting the youths from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers directly, worry rippled in the depths of Zhao Ya’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m not so weak as to be done in by them! Tell me how you were kidnapped by them and what happened afterward. I’ll redress your grievances!” Zhang Xuan said.
“This was what happened…” Zhao Ya began to recount her story.
Back to the time at the Empire Alliance City, she ordered the members of the Glacier Plain Court to return back to the City of Glacier while she remained in the Empire Alliance for a period of time to reinforce her cultivation. Wei Ruyan also stayed behind to protect her during her cultivation. Thinking that there would be few who were able to pose a threat to the two of them, Zhang Xuan did not think much about it and returned to the Zhang Clan.
But just when the two of them were finally about to leave Empire Alliance City, they encountered a young man.
The young man did not make a move on them right away. Instead, he informed them that he was from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, and there was something important that he needed their help with. However, due to confidentiality issues, he could not tell them what it was yet.
Naturally, the two of them could not possibly accept such a questionable request. Thus, they ended up battling one another, and they swiftly found themselves being outmatched and captured.
By the time they realized that they were in a dire situation, it was already too late for them to send any help messages out.
After that, they were confined in a solitary location. However, the other party did not mistreat them. Instead, they supplied them with sufficient cultivation resources to further their cultivation, and there were even experts who helped them on the difficulties that they were facing with their cultivation.
On top of that, they imparted the method to deciphering the seal to them.
As for the reason that Zhao Ya had been in a trance earlier, it was actually in order to protect her. The seal on the Canvas of Four Seasons was extremely powerful, and it would inflict tremendous pressure on one’s mind while trying to decipher it. Through placing her in a trance, the chances of her losing concentration and sustaining irrecoverable damage would be significantly lowered.
“Despite their forceful measures, you went along with them and did whatever they asked you to. Why?” Zhang Xuan frowned.
He knew Zhao Ya’s personality very well. She was an obstinate individual who would never yield to force. When had she become so obedient as to obey the orders of someone who had kidnapped her?
This was completely unlike the Zhao Ya that he knew.
“They said that…” At this point, Zhao Ya’s face reddened as she bit her lips. “As long as I helped them to decipher the seal, they would offer you an opportunity to push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage…”
“Offer me an opportunity to push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
“That’s right. They said that you are the most talented master teacher on the Master Teacher Continent. The roots of both the Hundred Schools of Philosophers and the Master Teacher Pavilion trace back to Kong shi, and they be considered close allies. As long as we were willing to do them this favor, they would reciprocate as well,” Zhao Ya replied awkwardly.
“So, you followed their instructions…” Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan felt both a little angry and touched at the same time.
Sighing deeply, he shook his head and said, “I appreciate your intentions, but when have I ever succumbed to a challenge before? It might be difficult to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage, but I haven’t fallen so far that I need to sacrifice my own students in exchange for an opportunity for a breakthrough! Rest assured, if there’s truly such an opportunity in the world, I will be able to obtain it with my own strength!”
“Teacher, I was wrong…” Zhao Ya’s voice grew a little meek.
“Alright!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand. “Considering that you had good intentions, I won’t pursue this matter any further!”
After which, he turned in the direction of the eight youths and ordered, “Stop!”
Hu la!
The Five Monarchs and his many Great Sage artifacts swiftly returned to Zhang Xuan’s side, leaving eight incapacitated youths lying powerlessly on the ground. The pummeling that they had been put under had completely ruined their dashing appearance.
“This is just a small punishment for kidnapping my students. Anyone who dares to touch my students will have to bear the consequences of their actions. Since Zhao Ya hasn’t sustained any injuries as a result of your doings, I’ll spare your lives. However, I want you to answer my questions first before I set you free.”
Looking at the eight youths on the ground coldly, he asked, “Firstly, what is the Hundred Schools of Philosophers intending to achieve by snooping around and kidnapping my students? Secondly, has the Hundred Schools of Philosophers already allied with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe… or could it be that you have converted those Otherworldly Demons into your subordinates?”
Upon learning that those of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers did not intend to harm Zhao Ya, a thought surfaced in his mind.
Could it be possible that the Otherworldly Demons whom he had seen alongside the Hundred Schools of Philosophers were actually their subordinates?
He, for example, had managed to forge a Soulless Metal Humanoid out of an Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sage, and he had Vicious subdued in his Book of Heaven’s Path as well. However, that did not mean that he was working with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
The Hundred Schools of Philosophers might have something similar to that.
“We are only obeying the orders from our superiors. We aren’t too sure about the specific details of the matter, so pardon us for being unable to answer your question,” one of the youths answered while hissing in pain.
“You are unable to answer my question?” Zhang Xuan gazed down at the youth intently, as if peering right into his mind.
Faced with Zhang Xuan’s eyes, the youth hesitated for a moment before replying affirmatively, “… Yes!”
“It’s fine if you are unwilling to speak. I’ll find out soon enough. Now, scram!” Zhang Xuan turned around and flung his sleeves coldly.
He was indebted to Kong shi, and Ancient Sage Bo Shang and Ancient Sage Ran Qiu had indirectly helped him as well. Since these youths were their descendants, and it did not seem like they had forsaken mankind to ally themselves with the Otherworldly Demons, there was no need for him to claim their lives.
“We aren’t leaving,” one of the youths protested resolutely.
“Throw them out!” Zhang Xuan commanded imposingly.
The Five Monarchs and the many Great Sage artifacts charged forward once more, and it did not take long for the eight youths to be thrown right out of the Hall of Great Accomplishment.
Without Zhao Ya’s unique constitution escorting them in, they would not be able to enter the Subordinate Hall again.
After dealing with the youths from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, Zhang Xuan finally turned his gaze back to the Canvas of Four Seasons. The snow in the painting had mostly melted, and the seal had assumed another form. It was completely different from the seal that Zhao Ya had spent so much effort deciphering earlier.
“Teacher, the seal has changed… The seal releasing technique that I have learned won’t work on it anymore,” Zhao Ya said anxiously with a pale face.
She tried to channel her cold energy toward the seal, but she realized that she was unable to control the seal anymore.
The attribute of the seal placed on the painting had already changed accordingly to match the season of the painting.
“Don’t worry, I have my own ways!” Zhang Xuan chuckled softly as he flicked his finger.
Weng!
The icy crystal that he had obtained earlier materialized before him, and he lightly pushed it forward.
Hu!
The icy crystal immediately surged toward the seal, and as soon as it came into contact with the seal, it began to revolve on the spot. It swiftly formed a vortex that devoured the seal on the painting in the blink of an eye.
Seeing that the icy crystal was indeed effective against the seal, just as Little Amulet had said, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. He quickly beckoned the Xingmeng Sword Saints over.
“Let’s head in to take a look!”
Following which, he took the lead and stepped into the unsealed painting. The others also quickly followed suit without any hesitation.
Silence returned to the majestic hall.
