Chapter 1761: The Array Core

He had been wondering all along why Yan Qing, an ancient sage with the strongest strength and the 'Hereditary Mother Talisman,' would still distribute the名额 to other forces, giving them a chance at the Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony...

Only now did he understand.

Even with the Mother Talisman in hand, if one couldn't find a way to open the main hall, they could only gaze at it helplessly.

And the key to opening the main hall was the array cores of the six worlds!

This thing... it seemed he alone had obtained four of them.

"It seems Little Talisman isn't useless after all..."

At the same time, Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Earlier, when he heard from his parents and others that because he carried the Hereditary Heavenly Talisman, he was directly teleported near the branch hall, he had found it strange—was his little talisman no longer effective? Why had he entered the jungle first? Only now did he realize... the sequence was perfectly correct!

Only by entering these worlds first could one find the array cores; then, when the main hall appeared, one could find a way to activate it and enter.

Otherwise, even holding the Mother Talisman, one could only stand outside the door, helpless.

It was like the sequence of unlocking a lock—missing any step would not do.

"The six worlds, even with the strength of ancient sages, cannot be entered. That the worlds are now connected means the array cores have been taken and must be in the hands of you all. As long as you bring them out, you can exchange them for a spot for your own faction!"

After explaining, Yan Qing, the ancient sage, looked down.

Limited by their strength, they had not entered the many worlds and did not know who had taken the so-called array cores.

However, since the worlds were connected and the main hall had appeared... it meant the array cores had left their original worlds and must be in the hands of the many people below.

Precisely because they couldn't confirm, they had cut through the knot and gathered everyone to publicly distribute the spots.

Otherwise, they would have long since made private deals.

"Let me go first!"

Seeing no one moved, Yan Qing smiled again, pointed a finger, and a book appeared. He flicked it lightly.

Woo woo woo!

The book immediately flew toward the main hall before them and fit perfectly into a groove on one side of the door, emitting a faint glow.

Zhang Xuan looked and indeed saw three grooves on each side of the door, totaling six, corresponding to the array cores of the six worlds.

"This is the array core of the Book Sea World corresponding to the Kuiwen Pavilion, obtained by us, the Hundred Schools of Thought. Therefore, the Hundred Schools of Thought gains another spot!"

Yan Qing said.

Having the Mother Talisman earned them five spots, one from the equal share, and now another one—fifteen spots, they had taken nearly half. That meant no matter how the rest were distributed, they were the biggest winners and no longer had to worry.

"Those who have obtained array cores, please bring them out. Rest assured, with the ancient sages of the four major forces present, no one will seize your spot or property. If you feel your cultivation is insufficient and don't want the spot, you can exchange it for resources. As long as it's within our power, the Hundred Schools of Thought will not refuse!"

Having embedded his own array core into the door, Yan Qing continued.

"This..."

"Who has the array cores?"

"If only I had known, I would have tried to find the array cores. That way, I could at least secure a spot for my side..."

"Who could have thought of this..."

...

The crowd below buzzed with discussion.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering where the array cores were and who had taken them.

"What, still worried? With so many of us ancient sages here, we can swear on our lives: your array core will only be used to open the Confucian Temple. Once successful, it will be returned to its owner. We will never embezzle the treasure!"

Seeing no one still moved, Yan Qing continued.

If they had the other array cores, they would have activated the main hall long ago and wouldn't have spent so much effort and words.

"I know who has the array cores of the Jungle World and the Desert World..."

Suddenly, a sinister voice sounded from among the Heterodox Clan.

It was that old ghost Yu.

"Where?"

Yan Qing quickly looked over.

Without finding the array cores, they could never open the main hall, and the current situation would remain unresolved.

"In the hands of that descendant of the Zhang family who tamed the White Venerable!" Old ghost Yu snorted coldly.

"Him?"

Yan Qing and the other ancient sages all turned their gazes sharply onto Zhang Xuan.

"This..."

Under everyone's attention, Zhang Xuan felt awkward.

"Young friend, are the array cores of the Jungle World and the Desert World really in your hands?" Yan Qing asked.

"They should be, but... these two are living things. How can they be embedded into the door?" Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

The Jungle World had the five kings, and the Desert World had the tree root... both were alive. How could they be placed into the grooves on the door?

"It doesn't matter if they're alive. As long as you bring them out, they will naturally enter the main hall when they approach it!" Yan Qing said.

"Alright."

After a pause, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, and the five kings appeared before everyone. He pushed them forward.

Whoosh!

The five kings indeed seemed attracted by something, their bodies shrinking continuously. Before they reached the main hall, they turned into a yin-yang disk that clicked into a groove, also emitting light.

"This..."

Unexpectedly, the five sacred beasts had turned into something like a Taiji fish, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be stunned.

"You have the array core of the Jungle World, earning a spot for the Master Teacher Academy side. If you also have the array core of the Desert World, bring it out quickly!"

Seeing it was indeed the array core, Yan Qing breathed a sigh of relief and continued.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He flipped his wrist, and a tree root appeared in his palm. He shook it again.

Like the sacred beasts earlier, it also embedded into a groove. With three array cores placed in succession, the surrounding light shone brightly, and the main hall of the Confucian Temple before them seemed ready to open at any moment.

"Excellent..."

Clenching his fist, Yan Qing looked around excitedly again: "There remain the array cores of the Poison Gas World, the Stone Forest World, and the Ice and Snow World. Please, friends who have them, bring them here to open the main hall!"

His voice echoed around, but after a while, still no one moved, as if the array cores of these three worlds had vanished into thin air.

"Could it be that the people who obtained these three array cores didn't come here? Or perhaps the three array cores were never obtained?"

"Impossible. Without obtaining the array cores, the six worlds couldn't be connected..."

...

Seeing no one step forward, all the ancient sages frowned again.

"Friend who has the array cores, don't worry. I, Yan Qing, swear on the reputation of the Hundred Schools of Thought that no one will attack you. Otherwise, they will be opposing the Hundred Schools of Thought, and I will be the first to not forgive them!"

Seeing still no one came out, Yan Qing thought the person with the array cores was afraid of retaliation, so he said.

After calling out twice with no response, just as he found it strange, he saw Zhang Xuan, who had come to the front of the main hall, timidly raise his hand: "It seems... the array cores of the Poison Gas World and the Ice and Snow World are also with me!"

"All with you? You alone obtained four array cores?"

The surroundings fell silent.