Hu!
A book appeared in his mind.
With a tap of his finger, countless pieces of knowledge flowed into his mind.
"The Golden Character Inscription was left behind by the first sanctum head of the Sanctum of Sages, Sage Kui. It possesses the effect of sealing, turning the ordinary into the mystical. There were seven flaws. First, it could only seal inanimate objects. Living objects would die from suffocation. Secondly, it has poor defensive capabilities. As long as I attack with my sword qi, it will be able to break through it … "
"Uh …"
After taking a look, Zhang Xuan facepalmed.
He wanted to see the flaws of the pottery urn and find out what was inside, but the runes had appeared instead. He felt stifled.
However, when he thought about it, he came to a realization.
The urn was an inanimate object. It needed to be touched by fingers in order to form a book. At such a distance, it was impossible to touch it. The rune was in a state of activation, so its weakness naturally appeared.
My Eye of Insight isn't able to tell what it is, and there isn't any pattern to it either. However, I should be able to deduce it through the flaws of the inscriptions …
After a pause, Zhang Xuan thought to himself.
Zhang Xuan had already scanned the area with his Eye of Insight, but perhaps it was due to the passage of time or some other reason, there were no traces of the contents of the urn at all.
From the looks of it, he might be able to deduce some clues based on the runes.
According to the first flaw, the talisman could only seal inanimate objects. That meant that there was no life within the urn. If there really was a life, it would have died long ago.
The second flaw was that its defense was poor. Sword Qi could break through it, which meant that the items inside were not that valuable. Otherwise, anyone could break through it, and there would be no point in its existence.
The third flaw …
His mind was constantly circulating as he carefully deliberated.
A moment later, he couldn't help but shake his head.
Even if he knew the flaws of the runes, it would still be difficult for him to deduce the items within.
After all, it was the urn that held the item, and it had nothing to do with the seal.
Zhang Xuan frowned. Even I am unable to deduce the flaws in it, so how can others who possess the same Eye of Insight as me possibly see through it?
With his Eye of Insight, he was able to discern traces and see through concealment. In other words, he had reached the 3-dan of the Eye of Insight. If even he was unable to see through such an ability, surely other 3-dan experts wouldn't be able to do so either, right?
If he could not even see through it … how was he supposed to clear this so-called examination?
"Time's up, what do you think? Did you discover what was inside? "
Just as Zhang Xuan was feeling conflicted, Sage Kui's chuckling voice sounded.
"Senior, I can only speculate that there's a high possibility that it's filled with a type of liquid. As for what it is exactly, I have no way of knowing …"
Zhang Xuan had thought that given his strength, he would be able to clear the examination in a single try. Who could have thought that he would end up suffering such a setback? Zhang Xuan's face reddened in embarrassment.
"You speculated that it was filled with liquid? Do you have any proof of that? "Sage Kui was taken aback.
"These golden runes can only seal liquids!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"You understand golden runes?" Sage Kui was surprised.
"I don't understand. In fact, I can't even tell how it's written. All I can do is sever the energy emanating from it and try to decipher it," Zhang Xuan replied.
"Hmm, you're right. What's inside is liquid! Furthermore, putting aside the Eye of Insight 3-dan, even the Eye of Insight 4-dan won't be able to see through it! "
Sage Kui nodded in satisfaction. "Actually, this trial isn't testing one's eye of discernment but one's disposition and moral character. The Eye of Insight can be cultivated, so it doesn't matter much whether one reaches the 3-dan or not. However, one's disposition and moral character are two things that are difficult to change. The Sanctum of Sages is inherited from my teacher and Kong Shi's will, so I don't want to pass it down to a person with an unstable disposition!
"I intentionally said that only those who reach the 3-dan are qualified to become a sanctum head candidate, and I took out this clay jar for you to examine … It's to see your reaction!"
"I can't tell, I can't tell. I can't tell the truth just because I want to clear the examination. If I were to do so, it would mean that my disposition and moral character are worthy of consideration, "Sage Kui said with a smile.
"However, you have cleared the examination. For you to have such a disposition at such a young age, not bad, not bad!"
"Yes, I understand!" Zhang Xuan's face reddened.
So, this was also a kind of trial … If he couldn't tell, there was nothing he couldn't admit.
However, it was true that he was a composed person. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been elected as the principal of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy.
With such a thought in mind, Zhang Xuan's impression of Sage Kui immediately soared.
While others thought that he was a destructive maniac, the young man before him was the only one who was able to see through his outstanding character with a single glance. As expected of Kong Shi's grandstudent, his eye of discernment was indeed extraordinary.
"You have cleared my examination. Here is the Sanctum Head Token!"
With a flick of his finger, a token appeared in Sage Kui's palm. He passed it over casually. "However … even though it's real, it has been sealed by inscriptions, making it impossible for me to use it for the time being. In other words, even if you possess this token, you will still be an ordinary person. You won't be able to become the sanctum head for the time being, nor will you be able to enjoy the privileges and authority of the Sanctum of Sages! "
Zhang Xuan nodded as he took the token from Sage Kui's hand.
Lowering his head to take a look, the token wasn't too big, but it was inscribed with inscriptions that concealed the aura emanating from it.
To an outsider, it looked no different from an ordinary token. However, only by holding it in his hand would he be able to feel the immense power pulsing within it. It felt as if the world would change color if it were to be released.
"The grade of this token is probably not low …"
Even though Zhang Xuan had not used the Library of Heaven's Path to take a look, he could tell that it was no ordinary artifact. In terms of tier, it was likely to be on par with the Old Sword Maestro's Lingxu Sword.
"I didn't seal it to make things difficult for you. You should know the standing of the Sanctum of Sages on the Master Teacher Continent. As the sanctum head, one's strength has to reach a certain level. Otherwise, how are you going to convince the masses? "
Sage Kui said.
Zhang Xuan nodded.
While there were many rules on the Master Teacher Continent, strength was still the eternal path of kings.
The reason why the Zhang clan was so powerful, such that even Mingshi Tang had to be wary of them, was due to their strength. Without sufficient strength, even if one were to obtain the Sanctum Head Token, no one would be willing to submit to them.
On the contrary, it might even invite death upon them.
Zhang Xuan was only at Primordial Spirit realm pinnacle at the moment. If he were to become the sanctum head, he would not be able to command anyone.
In fact, he might even become a laughingstock if word were to spread.
"It's good that you understand. I have set three conditions for you to decipher the seal. Firstly, you have to become an 8-star master teacher. Secondly, your cultivation has to reach Saint 8-dan. Thirdly, you have to cultivate your Eye of Insight to the fourth dan.
"Judging from your appearance, you should only be in your early twenties, right? To be able to wield such strength at such a young age, there's no doubt about your talent. These three conditions might be difficult, but as long as you work hard, you should be able to accomplish them within a hundred years. To become the principal and sanctum head of the number one Master Teacher Academy in the Master Teacher Continent at the age of a hundred and twenty, it's truly a rare feat! "
"A hundred years?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.
The three conditions that Sage Kui had set were indeed difficult, but to Zhang Xuan, if he were to take a hundred years to accomplish them, the grass on his grave would have already changed countless times.
Putting aside the fact that he would have to stop Lozosy from marrying that hateful fellow from the Zhang clan, just the Innate Fetal Poison alone would mean death for him if he failed to reach Nine Stars by the age of thirty.
He wouldn't be able to last that long.
"I'll say it one last time. Before you fulfill the three conditions, you won't be able to break the seal on the Principal's Seal, and you won't be able to tap into its power. Thus, I hope that you can disguise yourself as an ordinary student and enter the Sanctum of Sages. Study hard, raise your cultivation, and reach the pinnacle step by step. Only then will you be able to win the trust of the other students. Treat it as a test for you! "
Sage Kui consoled.
"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
Even though he had the Sanctum Head Token, it was still best for him to maintain a low profile. He could disguise himself as a student, study hard, and reach the pinnacle of the Sanctum of Sages.
This way, he would be able to gain a deeper understanding of the Sanctum of Sages, and it would be much easier for him to become the sanctum head in the future.
"Un. This is an optic art created by my teacher, the Divine Eyes of the Ninth Netherworld. Only those with the Eye of Insight are able to cultivate it. As the name suggests, when cultivated to the highest level, one will be able to peer into the depths of the abyss. I'll impart it to you right now, and you'll have three days to learn it. As for how much you can learn, that will depend on your talent. If you are unable to comprehend the Divine Eyes of the Ninth Netherworld even with the Sanctum Head Token, you won't be able to become the true sanctum head! "
At this point, Sage Kui waved his palm forward.
Huala!
A huge cluster of words and formation diagrams appeared before Zhang Xuan's eyes.
"Divine Eyes of the Ninth Netherworld?"
Raising his head to take a look, Zhang Xuan's heart jolted in astonishment.
As expected of a top-notch secret art comparable to the Heavenly Art of Dimension Unravel, it was indeed unfathomably profound.
Just as Sage Kui had said, the Divine Eyes of Insight were the foundation of the Divine Eyes of Insight. Through the use of a unique secret art, one would be able to form formation patterns in one's eyes. The more formation patterns one had, the more one would be able to peer into the essence of an object, thus increasing the prowess of the technique.
"This optic art can be divided into three levels. The first level is the Eyes of Gods and Demons. With a single look, one will be able to crush the will of a cultivator, rendering them incapable of fighting! "
Looking at the first level, Zhang Xuan nodded in approval.
There were some formidable experts who possessed an innate disposition. Just by staring with their eyes wide open, they would be able to frighten ordinary cultivators to the point of peeing in their pants.
This was especially so for emperors. Those who had never been through life-and-death situations would find it hard to withstand such a sight.
The first realm, Sight of Gods and Demons, allowed one to utilize this ability to its very limits through the Eye of Insight. With just a single glance, one would feel as if they had fallen into the depths of hell, as if they were facing a god or a demon.
If one's mind were to crumble, no matter how powerful one was, it would be impossible for one to defeat the other party.
With a single look, one would be able to subdue one's enemy without a fight …
As expected of the ultimate technique left behind by the founder of the Sanctum of Sages, it was indeed fearsome!
If he could master it, his fighting prowess would surely be boosted by at least twofold!
While Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, a thought suddenly struck him, and he frowned. Hmm? No, that's not right. There's something wrong with this optic art!
(Sage Kui, Pinyin: Kui. Laoya has scored full marks in the Poetry Fill-In-The-Blanks section. Wonderful, I am indeed a handsome man who is well-versed in Tang and Song poems.)
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