Chapter 1782: Zhang Xuan Unconscious

"Hongtian Ancient Sage..."

Looking at the corpse before them, everyone fell silent, their expressions solemn.

Especially the members of the Master Teacher Hall, who were completely silent.

They had fought together for ten thousand years and had long known that this day would come, but when it actually arrived, they still felt a deep sorrow.

"Even as powerful as an Ancient Sage, one cannot escape the laws of time!"

Shaking his head, Yanqing Ancient Sage sighed.

"Aren't Ancient Sages beyond the Heavenly Dao? How can they still be bound by time?" Zhang Xuan turned around.

Ancient Sages are existences that transcend the Heavenly Dao. If so, how could they be subject to time, unable to control their own lifespans?

"Ancient Sages have surpassed the Heavenly Dao, but... surpassing only refers to the laws they have comprehended! Take Zhang Hongtian, for example. He comprehended the sword dao, surpassing the Heavenly Dao, but in terms of lifespan, he still couldn't achieve it!"

Yanqing Ancient Sage said.

"Sword dao? Do you mean that as long as a part of the laws one comprehends surpasses the Heavenly Dao, one can step into the realm of Ancient Sage?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He had heard about how to break through to Ancient Sage from his father, Xingjian Sage, but the latter was only at the Great Sage level and only knew hearsay. Yanqing Ancient Sage, a true peak expert from the Hundred Schools of Thought, would surely have more accurate knowledge.

"Indeed, only by comprehending laws that break through the Heavenly Dao can one become an Ancient Sage. Otherwise, how could an Ancient Sage possess such power?" Yanqing Ancient Sage nodded.

"Isn't the Zhang Clan skilled in time? Why not use the time law to break through?" Zhang Xuan asked again.

The bloodline of the Zhang Clan contains the law of time.

If so, if one's mastery of time surpasses the Heavenly Dao, could one greatly extend one's lifespan? Breaking free from the shackles of time?

"The law of time flows not only in the Master Teacher Continent but also in the ancient battlefield of the Otherworldly Tribe and the higher plane where that Spirit God resides... At most, you can only comprehend the laws of one world. To surpass it... it's almost impossible! Even Confucius couldn't accomplish it back then, let alone later generations."

Yanqing Ancient Sage gave a bitter smile.

Time is the most fundamental law in the universe. Even if the world collapses, the five elements sink, and space ceases to exist, time still remains.

How could something so powerful be casually comprehended by anyone?

Even Confucius, who could comprehend it, eventually vanished into the river of history, leaving no trace.

"That's true!"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

With the power of his bloodline, he could manipulate time and even control changes in speed, but in terms of the essence of time, there was no change.

For example, he couldn't set a different time flow in a folded space compared to the outside world!

"The law of time is too difficult. If I could comprehend it, perhaps I could have saved Ancestor Hongtian just now..."

Sighing inwardly, he pondered the content he had comprehended from the True Interpretation of Time. Just as he was deep in thought, his mind suddenly shook violently. The Library trembled like an earthquake, emitting a rumbling sound.

"Oh no..."

His pupils contracted, and Zhang Xuan felt his vision go black. Without pausing for long, he fell to the ground with a thud and lost consciousness.

"Senior Brother..."

Yang Xuan quickly rushed to his side.

"It seems his soul has suffered some kind of damage..."

After observing for a while, Yanqing Ancient Sage also frowned.

A Great Sage-level expert, with no one attacking him and no assault, had his soul damaged and fainted. What exactly had happened?

"I am skilled in the soul; let me take a look..."

The Ancient Sage of the Jiang family approached, extending his soul power. Before it even entered Zhang Xuan's body, his body began to tremble involuntarily. He quickly retreated a few steps, his face turning pale!

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his state, everyone looked at him.

"His soul is being protected by a special power. I... cannot probe it!"

The Jiang family Ancient Sage clenched his fists.

"Special power protection? What power could keep even you out?" Yan Qing, the Ancient Sage, was perplexed.

An Ancient Sage skilled in souls, at the same level, would find it hard to resist if he wanted to probe. The other party had fallen into a coma—what power could block him and even injure him?

"It is..." The Jiang family Ancient Sage's body stiffened. "Heaven's Dao."

"Heaven's Dao protection?"

Standing frozen in place, everyone looked at Zhang Xuan again, too shocked to speak.

A minor figure at the Great Sage level, yet protected by Heaven's Dao...

What was going on?

"Teacher Yang, guard him. Contact me directly if anything happens. The others and I will go reinforce the space around us. Without the Spring and Autumn Ceremony and Confucius's seal to suppress it, the entire Confucius Temple has fallen into a temporal rift. If we don't bring it back quickly, no one can leave!"

Glancing at the sky and seeing that the stars had vanished, Yan Qing, the Ancient Sage, spoke with a worried expression.

"Yes!"

Teacher Yang nodded.

"Hmm..."

Yan Qing, the Ancient Sage, said no more and turned to leave with the remaining experts.

Although the emergence of the Spring and Autumn Ceremony had damaged the Confucius Temple considerably, and there had been successive battles, it was still a relic personally left by Confucius and could not be harmed.

"Senior Brother... what exactly is wrong with you?"

After the others left, Teacher Yang looked again at the unconscious Zhang Xuan, his face filled with deep concern.

...

Unaware of the outside world, Zhang Xuan was now in a daze, as if his consciousness had been剥离 from his body.

"Ruo Xi..."

Before his eyes, the figure of a girl appeared again, looking at him with deep worry—it was Luo Ruoxi.

"Don't worry, I'm fine..."

Zhang Xuan hurriedly spoke.

"Take good care of yourself. Make sure you wear the gift I gave you at all times, never separate from it..."

The girl's voice rang out.

"You mean that pendant? I'll always wear it..." Zhang Xuan nodded hastily.

Before entering the Confucius Temple, Luo Ruoxi had given him a pendant, saying it was a gift from her father and could save his life at a critical moment.

Although he found her gesture somewhat inexplicable, he had kept it with him all along, still carrying it close to his body.

"That's good. I'm really leaving now. The extra things in the library are gifts from me. Use them well. I hope we can meet soon..."

Hearing that he had always worn it, Luo Ruoxi's figure grew increasingly faint, on the verge of disappearing.

"The library... you know I have a library?"

Zhang Xuan's body stiffened.

Possessing the library was his greatest secret, which he had told no one. He had thought Luo Ruoxi was unaware, but unexpectedly, she knew.

"Goodbye, Zhang Xuan!"

With a gentle smile, Luo Ruoxi did not explain, her eyes showing reluctance as she vanished.

"Don't go..."

With a cry, Zhang Xuan sat up abruptly, only then realizing it had been a dream.

"Teacher, you're awake..."

Zhang Xuan turned and saw Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and the others standing not far away, their eyes filled with worry.

His parents and Xingmeng Sword Sage were also present.

"Have we left the Confucius Temple?"

Looking around at the surroundings, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.