Chapter 1567: The Secret of the Zhang-Luo Marriage Alliance

The fierce wind howled in the sky, carrying a hint of icy cold.

Winter had now set in. Although this place was not as snow-covered as the Ice Plain Palace, many high peaks were already blanketed in white snow, reflecting against the white clouds in the sky, creating a unique scenery.

Standing in the room on the beast's back, Zhang Xuan frowned. After a long while, unable to hold back any longer, he looked at the two sword sages, Xing and Meng, who were not far away: "The marriage alliance between the Zhang and Luo families—what is the real reason? Now that I am the clan leader, shouldn't you give me a detailed explanation?"

At first, he thought it was just his parents worrying about his marriage and rushing to arrange it. But after flying for some time, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off.

The gifts of forty flying sacred beasts, elixirs, magical treasures, secret manuals, beast hides, inner cores... all kinds of items, everything one could imagine. Even if the Zhang family was wealthy, it was impossible to produce all this overnight.

The only possibility was that the other party... had prepared it long ago!

They had prepared the betrothal gifts in advance, even before being sure whether this little genius of theirs could be found...

From Luo Xuanqing, he had learned that the marriage alliance between the Zhang and Luo families was inevitable. Coupled with the earlier clan selection meeting for the Zhang family disciples... if he still couldn't sense something was wrong, he would truly be foolish!

Moreover, even if parents were anxious for their son to marry, they wouldn't be in such a rush!

A married son forgets his mother. After finally seeing their long-lost child again, instead of spending quality time together, they push him to get married... No matter how you look at it, it feels off.

"This..."

Hearing him ask this, knowing he had guessed something, Sword Sage Xing hesitated.

"I told you not to hide things from our son, but you wouldn't listen. Xuan'er is so clever, how could he not see through it?" Sword Sage Meng snorted and looked over: "We did all this for the sake of the human race!"

"For the human race? What's going on?"

Zhang Xuan became more and more confused.

It was just marrying Luo Ruoxi—how could it involve the human race?

"Let me explain!"

Yang Shi, who had been silent all along, sighed and spoke.

"Hmm!"

Seeing that he was about to speak, the two Sword Sages, Xing and Meng, stopped talking and fell silent.

"The bloodline talent of the Zhang family is time, and that of the Luo family is space. Senior Brother, you should be very familiar with this, right?"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had been extremely shocked at first, but now he already knew, so there was nothing strange about it.

"When time and space are combined, it becomes the power of spacetime, and this power is the key to unlocking the Confucian Temple's seal!" Yang Shi continued.

"The Confucian Temple's seal?"

"Legend has it that Confucius sealed the Spring and Autumn Ceremony within the Confucian Temple. To unlock it, one not only needs the World-Transmitting Heavenly Talisman but, more importantly, must master this spacetime power! And this power is possessed only by the most peak ancient sages."

Yang Shi said slowly: "Unfortunately, for nearly ten thousand years, no one has been able to break through to become an ancient sage. The remaining ancient sages have also reached the end of their lifespans. They can still fight for short periods, but sending them to explore the Confucian Temple, where the flow of time and space are unknown, they would likely die before even finding the so-called ceremony! Most critically, ancient sage-level experts are not allowed to enter!"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was puzzled: "If the ancient sages forbade entry, why did they leave behind the power of time and space that only such strong individuals could master?"

What exactly did this Master Kong intend to do?

After all the trouble of creating a treasure like the Spring and Autumn Ceremony, not giving it to humanity was one thing, but to enter, there were all sorts of restrictions—did he want people to discover it or not?

Did he want people to know or not?

As for Master Kong's intentions, later generations could not fathom them. Master Yang couldn't help shaking his head and continued, "I don't understand the reason either. Normally, even with enough hereditary celestial talismans, without this power of time and space, one cannot enter. But the fusion of the Zhang and Luo bloodlines can achieve it!"

"Bloodline fusion?"

"The two bloodlines of the Zhang and Luo families, when perfectly and flawlessly fused, can produce the power of time and space, no less than that of a true peak ancient sage!" Master Yang nodded. "For this reason, the Zhang and Luo families have been preparing for your marriage since birth! No one can stop it!"

"But... my bloodline has now disappeared. Even if we marry, it's useless..."

Zhang Xuan couldn't help saying, having never expected the purpose of the marriage to be this.

Under normal circumstances, involving the Spring and Autumn Ceremony and the Confucian Temple, which concerned the rise and fall of humanity, indeed no one dared to obstruct it, and the Master Teacher Academy would strongly promote it.

But... now that his Zhang bloodline was completely lost and his mastery of time was not profound, the marriage would have no effect!

"Although your Zhang bloodline has disappeared, you once possessed it. As long as blood is bestowed, you should be able to use it easily without much impact... Besides, you and the little princess of the Luo family are deeply in love, with no estrangement between you. Fusing will be more suitable and easier to manifest the power of time and space!"

Master Yang smiled. "So, you are the best candidate—there is no second choice!"

In fact, there was one more thing he didn't say: that the other party was a Heaven-recognized master teacher.

Master Kong was also a recognized master by heaven; others could not obtain the Spring and Autumn Canon, but perhaps this person before him could easily acquire it.

Therefore, no matter what, even if the Zhang family already had purer bloodlines, the marriage alliance had to proceed with him.

"Grant bloodline and use it easily?"

Zhang Xuan remained puzzled.

He did not deny that being compatible with Luo Ruoxi made it easier to harmonize, but what did granting blood and being able to use it mean?

"Your current situation, though your bloodline has been stripped, can actually be considered a blessing in disguise. First, you are no longer restricted by bloodline and have the opportunity to surpass the strength of the bloodline's originator!"

Master Yang explained: "Inheriting a bloodline is like inheriting the legacy of a predecessor. In terms of talent, it gives you an unparalleled advantage over others, but the drawback is also great! That is, being bound by the bloodline's shackles, making it harder than ordinary people to surpass one's ancestors! And the purer the bloodline, the greater the shackles!"

"This..." Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

This was somewhat similar to the so-called "no destruction, no construction." Although bloodline allowed rapid improvement, it also acted as a shackle, making breakthrough... difficult!

One could say it was nearly impossible!

"Could it be... that Master Kong used innate fetal poison to strip his bloodline back then, not because he couldn't produce an ancient sage, but... to surpass his ancestors?"

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

Previously, he couldn't understand why Master Kong also stripped his bloodline, to the point of having fetal poison. If this was the reason, then it was indeed possible!

After all, Master Kong's final achievements were unmatched, certainly surpassing the ancestor who granted the bloodline.

"Back then, I agreed to strip my bloodline because they assured me that you would be fine and would have the chance to reach higher..." Dream Sword Saint interjected, his eyes reddening.