Chapter 1713: Qufu

"Truly the Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations..." Wu Chen exclaimed with emotion.

"Not only was Master Kong unmatched in strength throughout history, but he also made indelible contributions to the propagation of various professions and academic disciplines," Xing Jiansheng's eyes glowed. "To my knowledge, he helped refine and establish the ranks for no less than twenty professions among the upper, middle, and lower tiers!" All master teachers, descendants of Master Kong's lineage, held him in the highest esteem.

Zhang Xuan didn't engage in further conversation with the others. Instead, he looked at the majestic temple within the 'sun,' a hint of confusion in his eyes. Faintly, he felt as if something was calling to him. As if sensing the call, the countless books in his Library of Heaven's Path gently swayed, rustling softly.

"Could it be... there's an item in this Temple of Confucius that can upgrade the library?" he wondered, furrowing his brow. The library had always been quiet and inactive, yet now it was trembling incessantly, an inexplicable phenomenon. It hadn't been this agitated even when he visited the Heavenly Diviner Guild last time. Was it possible that this relic left by Master Kong contained a treasure the library yearned for?

If so, he had to obtain it, no matter the cost. His journey from obscurity to his current worldwide renown hadn't relied on his incredible talent, noble character, or unwavering diligence... but on the Library of Heaven's Path! Without it, he might still be in Tianxuan Kingdom, struggling to become a one-star master teacher. This was his greatest reliance and ultimate trump card. If it could be upgraded again, he wouldn't flinch, no matter how dangerous the endeavor.

His Eye of Insight shimmered as he gazed into the light. Even though they had reached Qufu and flown millions of kilometers, he still couldn't discern the temple's true depth, giving him the illusion of seeing flowers through a fog.

"The Temple of Confucius is located within a folded space and hasn't fully opened," Luo Ruoxi explained. "Even an Ancient Sage might not reach it by flying for ten years!"

Zhang Xuan was astonished. This feeling was similar to the sun in his previous life—hanging overhead, seemingly within reach, yet even light took eight minutes to travel that distance.

"If it's so far, yet we can still see it so brilliantly... how large must this relic be?" he couldn't help but ask. The sun appeared as it did because of its immense size. Could this Temple of Confucius be similarly enormous?

"The relic itself shouldn't be large; it's merely an application of spatial laws, not an indication of great distance," Luo Ruoxi replied with a smile. She seemed to know a great deal about the temple before them.

As they chatted, an ancient city appeared in their view, and they flew straight towards it. This was Qufu, the location of the Temple of Confucius!

Unlike the bustling and magnificent cities of the Empire Alliance, this city's buildings had stood for countless years, appearing somewhat ancient and worn. Yet, upon entering, a sense of peace and tranquility enveloped them, like an infant returning to its mother's embrace.

"Is this... the special aura emitted by a Celestial Master Teacher?" Zhang Xuan mused. The aura emanating from the city was very similar to the one that surged into his body when he became a Celestial Master Teacher, though infinitely diluted.

"Literary scholars have their literary aura, and martial artists have their martial fortune. This is the unique culture of master teachers, known as 'Teacher's Demeanor'," Xing Jiansheng explained with a smile, noticing Zhang Xuan's expression. "Long-term exposure to this aura allows one's state of mind to advance rapidly, thoughts become clearer, and thus, inner demons and distracting thoughts cease to exist!"

"Teacher's Demeanor?" Zhang Xuan realized. This special aura wasn't only present when one became a Celestial Master Teacher; after becoming a master teacher, one would also receive this aura as a feedback when paying respects to various ancestors. It was a symbol of their culture. Master teachers relied on this to earn the trust of the populace and ensure their willing obedience, rather than through violent suppression.

"Has it... always been like this here?" Zhang Xuan asked, sensing that the aura did indeed clear his mind and thoughts, just as Xing Jiansheng had described. He looked at them, puzzled. If this had always been the case, then even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters couldn't compare in its effects on master teachers!

"Before the Temple of Confucius fully opened, this 'Teacher's Demeanor' was present but very faint, its effects minimal," Xing Jiansheng explained. "However, living here year-round still brought significant progress! That's why this place is known as the ancestral land of master teachers! Countless nine-star master teachers come here not to cultivate or enter secluded meditation, but simply to live tranquil, ordinary lives and temper their state of mind."

As he explained, Xing Jiansheng pointed casually. "Look at that carpenter. Do you notice anything unusual about him?"

Zhang Xuan looked. Indeed, on the street corner, he saw a carpenter making furniture. His hands were calloused, and his every movement was as precise as if measured by a ruler. Wood shavings flew, and a finished product quickly took shape before him.

"Is he... a nine-star master teacher?" Zhang Xuan asked, utterly astonished. The carpenter's movements showed no apparent power, nor could Zhang Xuan sense any true qi flowing within him. Yet, a careful observation with his Eye of Insight easily revealed that the aura in his dantian was as vast and boundless as the ocean. He was likely not just a nine-star master teacher, but perhaps even stronger than Zhang Xuan himself!

"Indeed," Xing Jiansheng nodded. "He was a very famous master teacher from the Master Teacher Pavilion three hundred years ago. Back then, he had already reached the Great Sage Second Realm, Golden Body stage. He must be even more powerful now!"

"A Golden Body stage expert, doing carpentry?" Zhang Xuan found it hard to believe. He had always thought that experts of such a realm were extremely rare among humanity. He never expected to encounter someone of that level so casually, just a carpenter in Qufu City.

"Yes, and look at that fishmonger over there, or the one butchering chickens..." Xing Jiansheng continued, pointing. "They were all renowned nine-star master teachers back in their day. Their strength wasn't particularly high then, but now, at the very least, they've reached the Great Sage Third Realm, Heart of Inspiration, just like us!" He explained, "If it weren't for your incident, we two had originally planned to come here, live ordinary lives, experience the hardships of daily life, and increase our state of mind level in hopes of breaking through to higher realms!"

Zhang Xuan looked around. Just as Xing Jiansheng had said, many seemingly ordinary individuals around them had reached the Great Sage level. Previously, super experts, rarely seen by various clans, were as common as cabbages here. No wonder it was called the ancestral land of master teachers; it was truly extraordinary.

"Oh, right, Xuan'er, what's your current state of mind level?" Xing Jiansheng suddenly asked, looking at him with curiosity. "For a master teacher to advance, this is the most crucial aspect. If your state of mind level isn't high enough, your mind won't be calm, your intentions won't be pure, and breaking through to higher realms will become increasingly difficult!" Cultivation could progress quickly with high talent, abundant resources, and a good teacher, but one's state of mind... could only increase step by step, methodically. There was no way to rush it. His talented son had become a nine-star master teacher at just twenty years old. What was his state of mind level, and how did he cultivate it?

"Mine?" Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment, then answered without hiding anything: "29.1!"