Chapter 125

On the road, several people are discussing traditional morality and the meaning of life.

Inside the room, several people were Critique! reason and other ethical concepts.

More than a dozen different schools of thought, more than a dozen different worldviews, and more than a dozen different types of madmen.

Among them are those who firmly believe that there is no equality in this world, those who seek to establish apolitical entities, and those who try to explore the origin of the world through libido... and so on, too numerous to mention.

These people talked about philosophy and then started putting it into practice.

Skadi frowned deeply as she watched.

"Don't you understand? These people are already 'Philosopher's Kid'." Hebe was quite calm. "That's how the philosophical system works."

Philosopher's Kid are the lowest level in the philosophical system; they are fervent believers and fanatical disciples.

When a philosopher travels for study, he often attracts many Philosopher's Kid who spontaneously gather around him, forming a large group.

Compared to true philosophers, these Philosopher's Kid are merely temporarily caught in a state of blind obedience; they can unleash some magical powers through corresponding emotions.

However, when their enthusiasm fades, their strength also vanishes.

At this point, the Philosopher's Kid became normal people.

If there are enough Philosopher's Kid, and none of them are qualified to initiate a "study tour," then they will engage in a great debate called "Critique!!" At the end of this "Critique!!", a new philosopher will be born.

Each philosopher represents a different idea, a worldview that is at least roughly self-consistent.

If this were the end, philosophers would be no different from madmen.

But what if they could really think about it, refine their theories, and create unique skill systems?

What if these skills could really be systematically learned and replicated to achieve those amazing effects?

"This is the prototype of the secret teachings." Hebe sighed nostalgically. "Unlike the Art of Formless Glory of roulette, these skills are called 'Great and Solemn Study' in Atlantis."

This is also recorded in the Silent Bookstore.

If there were more perceptive students, they would find that the so-called "systematic theories" of these philosophers are actually somewhat similar to the path of enlightenment... Undoubtedly, this is also a replication and reference of the Path of Ascension.

The Art of Formless Glory is to borrow persons from the corresponding rulers, Named Attendant, and Eternals through rituals and knowledge, and to perform miracles.

For example, Hebe could easily borrow the divine power of Nitocris, who had become the "Lady Elegy," simply by using facial recognition.

Great and Solemn Study does not necessarily correspond to any particular ruler.

For example, not far away, five Philosopher's Kid are practicing the "Way of Libido" in broad daylight. The "libido" they believe in mainly corresponds to the Holy Grail, but also includes a series of mysteries related to pearls.

"How do you plan to solve these, uh... Philosopher's Kid?"

Skadi cracked her knuckles. "Do you want me to kill them all?"

"That's one way to solve it, since the weapon of Critique! can't replace the Critique! of weapons," Hebe said. "But the philosophers aren't here, so this method won't work."

Skadi was stunned. "So, if the philosophers were here, we could just kill them all?"

"Certainly."

Hebe replied, "The death of a philosopher does not mean the demise of their system; but if all those who knew about it are wiped out and all the carriers of their thoughts are destroyed, wouldn't those thoughts be as if they had never existed?"

In fact, Hebe certainly had other methods. But given Skadi's intelligence, they weren't suitable for use.

She's better suited to take direct action and physically destroy the target.

"Okay." Skadi nodded; she thought it was a good idea.

"Teacher, what do we do now?" Skadi asked again.

"It's simple," Hebe said. "They don't have a 'mentor,' so why don't I be the mentor?"

Their conversations had long attracted the attention of those young men who were exploring fragmented philosophy.

"How arrogant!" the Philosopher's Kid shouted. "You say you can be our mentor, so you must have a lot of insights into philosophy, right? Well then, let me test you: what is the essence of the world?"

Hebe looked at the Philosopher's Kid in front of her and swung her a stick at him.

Skadi was stunned.

Isn't this still physical destruction?

But just when she was feeling lost, Hebe said, "The essence of the world is in there."

"On what grounds?" The Philosopher's Kid rubbed his forehead. "All I saw was you hitting me with a stick. Does that count as Critique!?"

"Are you in pain?"

"It hurts!"

Hebe calmly replied, "Without pain, how can one maintain a sense of crisis about the world, and how can one appreciate the essence of the world? It is clear that for you, pain is the essence of the world."

Hebe waved her hand, dismissing the seemingly enlightened Philosopher's Kid: "Next."

Another Philosopher's Kid stepped forward and bowed to Hebe with his hand on his chest.

"If one were to govern a city-state, would it be better to have strict laws or a benevolent ruler?"

The former question is vague and essential, while this question seems mundane but precise.

Hebe sighed and raised his hand to strike again.

The Philosopher's Kid was knocked to the ground by Hebe's blow.

Do you understand?

"No, I don't understand..."

"The law is the stick in my hand, and the benevolent Lord is the reasoning I speak." Hebe shook the wooden stick in his hand. "Without the stick, my reasoning is like farting; but without reason, I was just simply beating you up."

"Next."

The third Philosopher's Kid stepped forward. "Sir! I would like to ask you, what is your view on the issue of 'knowledge'?"

The Philosopher's Kid pointed to the gathered crowd. "Before you arrived, we were all thinking and discussing, and then putting it into practice... But some theories cannot be verified through simple practice... Does a way of understanding exist in the world that can be achieved solely through thinking?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his arm above his head to protect himself, as if afraid of being hit by Hebe.

"How did you know I was going to use a stick?" Hebe asked him.

Without hesitation, the Philosopher's Kid replied, "Because I saw you just give the other two a sharp rebuke."

"So what if I give you a hard time? What are you afraid of?" Hebe said with a half-smile.

"Because it hurts," the Philosopher's Kid replied.

Have you ever been hit with a stick?

"It used to be."

"Now there are more." Hebe raised his hand and struck again with the stick, almost knocking him unconscious.

"Does it hurt?" Hebe asked him.

The Philosopher's Kid didn't answer, but it was clear he was speechless after being beaten by Hebe.

"These are the three stages of understanding: you have experienced it, you have witnessed it, and you have known it." Hebe nodded. "You have experienced being hit with a stick and know that it hurts; you have seen other people being hit and heard them crying out and know that it hurts a lot... From now on, you will no longer need to be hit with a stick. Just by hearing that someone has been hit, you will know that it absolutely hurts."

"Now you can imagine what it would be like if I used this stick to make you spin like a top."

As soon as Hebe finished speaking, the Philosopher's Kid was so startled he almost jumped up from the ground.

"Next."

"Teacher, I don't believe that true equality exists in the world."

"Yes, it exists. If I beat you all to death with this stick, that would be absolute equality except for me. But what if this stick only circulates among those who have achieved knowledge, while the channels and methods for acquiring knowledge are public? Next."

"Mentor, I believe that persistence and prudence are the best principles for doing things."

"Then you shouldn't have come to ask me questions, and you wouldn't have gotten this beating. If I hadn't hit you, you would have refused to understand even after I talked for a long time. Next."

Hebe's stick rained down like raindrops, six strikes per second, sending the Philosopher's Kid sprawling on the ground.

"Your worldview is flawed. It's obvious that when you listened to the philosophers' debate, you took their rhetorical questions as evidence. Next."

"You're even more wrong. That's not how libido is practiced. Next."

"Besides knowing one term, everything else is just a hodgepodge of your imagination. Next."

"You don't have the correct one on your side..."

Twenty minutes later, Hebe had crossed the city from Norwich Central Avenue.

The Philosopher's Kid shrank back, and none of them dared to ask her any more questions.

Hebe smirked and tossed the stick aside.

But the stick was quickly caught by someone.

She turned her head and saw a group of Philosopher's Kid with red and swollen foreheads and dark circles under their eyes, following her obsequiously.

There were only a few dozen people.

"We are deeply grateful for your insightful guidance, and we are willing to follow you on your 'study tour'!" the Philosopher's Kid exclaimed in unison.

Hebe was about to refuse, but then her eyes twitched suddenly.

Nothing more, Hebe saw that the notification for "Secondary Objective 3: Establish your own association" had been completed.

The Completion Rate this Lostbelt has increased once again.

195 Philosophical Social Interactions (Two-in-One)

Night falls on the wilderness.

The dozens of Philosopher's Kid divided the work: some went to collect firewood, some built temporary shelters, and some went to hunt wild animals... As their mentor, Hebe only needed to sit by the campfire and enjoy dinner.

This is a nighttime scene during a "study tour".

Skadi sat next to Hebe, her expression subtly bewildered. Ever since Hebe agreed to let these Philosopher's Kid follow her, their every move seemed to possess a unique charm.

It's hard to say whether it's good or bad, but it's certainly not unpleasant. Like a dignified purple, it inspires awe and longing.

"Mentor, please have dinner." The Philosopher's Kid cut off the tenderest piece of venison they had hunted and presented it to Hebe on a tray.

Hebe took the tray and slowly chewed and swallowed the roasted venison.

Skadi hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

The quiet atmosphere only became lively again when Hebe finished eating the venison and announced that everyone could eat freely.

"Mentor, I'm puzzled," Skadi mimicked the tone of those Philosopher's Kid. "You didn't seem to care much about these, uh, etiquette, things before. So why are you accepting them now?"

Hebe instinctively raised the stick, which made Skadi tremble with fear.

Fortunately, this time Hebe didn't hit anyone with the stick. Instead, he pointed the stick at the turbulent sea not far away and raised his voice several octaves. "Boys! Look at that sea. How deep and how turbulent it is... Is there any one of you who can cross this sea to another island without any external help?"

A Philosopher's Kid rose, bowed to Hebe, and replied, "Teacher, if there is a sturdy ship and the waves are calm, I may attempt to cross."

Hebe then asked, "If your boat is fragile and you have to go upstream, can you cross it?"

The Philosopher's Kid shook his head repeatedly. "That won't work, it'll capsize."

Hebe made him sit down, then looked at Skadi: "If it were you, could you swim across using only your body?"

"Yes." Skadi proudly raised her head and puffed out her chest.

"Explain in detail."

Skadi then recounted how she was an expert swimmer and how she used the current to lift herself across the sea.

Before she could finish speaking, Skadi froze.

Aren't schools of thought like ships? And aren't these Philosopher's Kid just the planks that make up the ship? Aren't etiquette and rituals just about being good at "swimming"?

Only in this way can philosophers and disciples sail across the boundless sea of knowledge and avoid harmful knowledge.

The Philosopher's Kid looked at each other, then rose in different ways and bowed to Hebe.

"Thank you for your guidance, mentor!"

Snap, snap, snap.

Applause came from not far away.

Hebe turned her head and saw a middle-aged man dressed in a simple white robe, wearing a Laurel Wreath and sandals, walking out from another path surrounded by many disciples.

Laurel Wreath, white robe, sandals—this is typical philosopher's attire.