Rebuttal!
"He Shuchang, why resort to veiled attacks? We are discussing principles, and your accusations based on hearsay are an insult to our scholarly pursuits!"
The group consisted of seven people. Sitting at the front was a middle-aged man with a beard and a composed demeanor, who was refuting the argument.
He Shuchang's words not only made the seven debaters change color, but also caused a stir among the students watching the discussion, with many showing displeasure.
Qiu Yan noticed that the crowd of people discussing the matter was subtly divided into two groups. One group did not react much, but most of them showed dissatisfaction, though they were clearly restrained by the academy's rules.
Moreover, He Shuchang's discussion with another person had lasted for two or three days. During this time, he dictated his own views, which were presented in a rapid and powerful manner. His words were like the Yangtze River, impacting people's hearts and minds and shaking their spirits.
Now, although he has said things that would make students from poor families feel resentful, the momentum has been established, and who would dare to refute him easily?
"What He Shuchang said was somewhat inappropriate, but it's not uncommon for someone to make provocative remarks in order to achieve their goals during a debate. However, the fact that his words could cause such a shift in the academy's Literary Thought is quite unusual."
With Qiu Yan's discerning eye and his keen senses, he could see that this talented Literary Thought from Jiangnan possessed a rich literary talent and a level of knowledge comparable to that of Earthly Soul Bookshelf. However, the reason this scholar was able to mobilize both his inner and outer Literary Thought was not due to his erudition, but rather to his own Fortune.
His Fortune was subtly connected to that of the Principle Sect Academy.
Faced with the slightly agitated crowd, Cai Ying appeared somewhat uneasy and shifted her legs slightly, but He Shuchang remained calm and said loudly, "I want you all to understand that Human Desires are not differentiated by social status; everyone has them. Ultimately, it all comes down to the word 'profit.' Supreme Sage Confucius said, 'The superior man understands righteousness, while the inferior man understands profit.' It is clear that 'profit' is the way of the petty Human Path. Only when everyone eliminates profit and extinguishes desires can the world be truly at peace!"
His words carried a hint of superiority, as if he were a deity looking down upon the masses, about to guide the ignorant people. However, because these words were consistent with the main theme of He Shuchang's previous discourse, those around him had already been influenced by his grand pronouncements. Even their thoughts and wills were affected, and they felt that this person was well aware of the mysteries of Human Desires.
But when his words reached Qiu Yan's ears and entered his heart, they caused Heaven-Rushing Soul to become even more hidden, and even the Earthly Soul Bookshelf trembled slightly, showing a reaction.
"This He Shuchang He's insights conflict with my philosophy of Human Path! If I let him continue, my earlier insights will completely dissipate, and I'll lose my chance to break through to the Soul Tempering Peak!"
In the Soul-Refining Realm, cultivators must refine Seven Souls in sequence. The last soul, Heavenly Rush, is different from the previous Six Souls. The name Heavenly Rush means to break through from the Heavenly Spirit.
Generally speaking, only the soul can leap out of the Spirit Projection the head, which is called the Life Cultivation leaving the body. However, those who cultivate their destiny follow the path of tempering their physique. Their flesh and bones cannot rush out of the head. However, they can use this rush to establish a connection between the human body and the outside world.
On the other side, He Shuchang was still saying, "Heaven and man are inherently opposed, because everyone has desires. Heavenly Principle's principles are supreme, and to Human Desires and follow them is the right path!"
As soon as he said this, the Fortune caused the entire academy's Literary Thought to surge, subtly forming a powerful force that swept through the crowd, startling everyone. Meanwhile, Cai Ying's eyes gleamed with wonder.
But Zhen Zhizuo, Chen Jing, Lin Jue, and the middle-aged man who was the leader of the seven all frowned slightly.
Even Zhang Huazhang, who was sitting at the head of the table and had been silent, showed a slight change in expression.
"This statement deviates somewhat from the teacher's suggestion, but it also shows that He Shuchang has thought things through on his own. Only someone like this can cultivate Literary Heart and guide Confucian Way and Daoism. These minor deviations can be corrected gradually in the future."
Sometimes that's how it is; even if what you say is wrong, and others may see flaws, once the general trend takes hold, it becomes difficult to refute!
However, Qiu Yan, standing in the crowd, frowned and shook his head.
His cultivation as a scholar's avatar was stuck at a bottleneck because of the imbalance between his life and spirit. Although he had the rudiments of Daoheart Fist Intent, he found it difficult to further develop them. In order to improve his realm, he even embedded the Demon King Golden Core in a jade pendant and carried it with him. On his journey north, he would often take time to temper his body, allowing the Jade Core to radiate throughout his body, causing his Seven Souls to emerge and break through the shackles.
Unexpectedly, the Seven Souls did not manifest due to the Demon Core, but instead emerged in response to the words "Heavenly Principle"!
Now that an opportunity has finally presented itself, how could Qiu Yan allow external forces to sabotage it?
Over there, He Shuchang remained calm, a smile on his face, exuding elegance, as if nothing in the world was beyond his control.
Seeing that the seven people opposite him were speechless, he continued, "You became disciples of the teacher earlier than I did, and you have studied at the academy for longer than I have. However, you do not have a deep understanding of the teacher's teachings. You are just talking theory without understanding the underlying principles. But this is understandable. There are some things that you simply cannot experience. The Heavenly Principle are the foundation of all things in the world. Once you study them thoroughly and immerse yourself in them, you will naturally be able to understand your own mind and nature and dispel Human Desires."
He spoke bluntly, but his expression was sincere.
The seven people opposite him looked angry and were about to retort when a voice suddenly came from the crowd.
"I wonder if Young Master He would like to eat?"
These words came suddenly and abruptly, and the question was strange. As soon as they were spoken, everyone turned their heads and looked in the direction of the voice. The atmosphere created by He Shuchang was momentarily frozen.
"Who's causing trouble here?"
Zhang Huazhang, who had been silent, suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked toward the source of the sound. What he saw was an unfamiliar face. He was now the head of the academy and knew every classmate well, so he knew immediately that the other person was not a member of the Principle Sect.
"Who are you? This is a place for discussing the Dao, why are you asking about the Five Grains?" Zhang Huazhang asked in a deep voice, which was slightly high-pitched but not harsh, and carried an air of authority.
The scholar bowed and said, "I am Qiu Yan from Yuan Ning. I came here to listen in and, after hearing Young Master He's words, I gained some insights, which is why I asked this question."
"Oh? You're Qiu Yan?" Zhang Huazhang frowned. "Since you're just observing, listen and observe more, learn to think for yourself, and don't ask questions rashly."
Qiu Yan frowned, sensing a hint of accusation in the other person's words. He hadn't even decided to join the Principle Sect Academy yet, Zhang Huazhang's words seemed far too presumptuous.
"So you are Qiu Yan." At this moment, He Shuchang looked over upon hearing Qiu Yan's name. "I've heard of you. You were the top scholar in Jiannan Circuit this year. You received a recommendation from Emperor Principle Sect through a request and were greeted with small courtesies. That's quite good."
As someone who had also been welcomed, He Shuchang knew Qiu Yan wasn't surprised. He maintained a calm and smiling demeanor, "You also come from a humble background, so it's normal for you to be dissatisfied with what I just said. However, this discussion, including today, has lasted for three days. Many points are based on previous statements and are well-reasoned and irrefutable. Please don't take things out of context. As for the question you raised, it's rather sensationalist." With that, he shook his head with a chuckle.
Cai Ying, standing beside her, smiled gently, exuding a unique beauty.
"It seems you two don't intend to let an outsider like me speak," Qiu Yan shook his head in response to the overt and covert rebukes from Zhang Huazhang and He Shuchang. "This Principle Sect Academy is just a place with a hollow reputation. Even when discussing principles, one must first consider one's background, otherwise one cannot even speak. Very well, then I, Qiu, will take my leave." With that, he turned and left.
Sitting next to him, Zhen Zhizuo's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Qiu Yan had developed a dislike for the academy. Lin Jue, who had been silent, raised his head slightly, his eyes gleaming. As for Chen Jing, he grinned, as if he had expected this.
"Wait!" Zhang Huazhang frowned. "What do you mean by that? You were brought here not to join the Principle Sect, were you?" Although he was displeased, he knew that Qiu Yan had said those words, and if he let her leave, she might be unjustly stigmatized. So he needed to clarify things first.
Qiu Yan stopped upon hearing this and turned around, saying, "The Principle Sect values reason, and reason is also about propriety. Taking a master is not a casual matter. I have not yet met the two gentlemen and have not performed the master's ceremony. How can I be considered a disciple of the Principle Sect?" As he spoke, he clearly sensed the subtle pressure from the surrounding Literary Thought Aura pressing down on him.
"What you say makes some sense. Since you're not a disciple, I can't really control you. However, the question you raised is absurd. We discuss the Heavenly Principle and the way of the universe, yet you speak of trivial matters like grains. That's rather..."
Qiu Yan said, "In the end, it is humans who explore and comprehend the Heavenly Principle. I remember Senior Chen once said, 'Where there is the Way and reason, Celestial Person are one, without distinction.' This shows that the Unseen of Heavenly Principle are not the mysterious and unfathomable things that outsiders talk about, but rather a Way that connects nature and Human Path! An Order! We study to learn and explore the Heavenly Principle, but what should we do after we understand them? Should we just put them on a high shelf? No! We should put them into practice!"
"This is utterly absurd!" He Shuchang stood up. "Once the Heavenly Principle are clear, the mind and body are at ease, and Human Desires and distractions are dispelled. This inner and outer harmony is Great Cheng in itself. How can it be used by people? This idea of using Heaven to control humanity is itself Human Desires! It must be eradicated!"
His words immediately stirred up a flurry of Literary Thought in the surrounding area, while the Heaven-Rushing Soul within Qiu Yan's body grew increasingly dim.
"Oh?" Qiu Yan glanced at He Shuchang. "My words are derived from Senior Chen's remarks. I wonder what the basis is for your grand theory, Young Master He?"
Before He Shuchang could respond, Cai Ying spoke first, "Brother He's words are the result of his own understanding after reading the works of the two gentlemen. You, a mere scholar, are new here and therefore unaware of Brother He's talent. He has a photographic memory and can understand the spirit of any book after just one reading. Now that he has found a renowned teacher, it is only a matter of time before he can concentrate his Literary Heart."
"Photographic memory? Truly a gifted individual. However, reading and comprehension are two different things. Putting aside everything else, I'm afraid Young Master He hasn't fully grasped the Heavenly Principle and Human Desires."
At this point, Qiu Yan took a step and walked over. As he walked, he said, "Since we were born into this world, we need to eat, otherwise we will starve to death. According to you, this desire for food is also Human Desires. Does understanding the Heavenly Principle you speak of mean that a person can stop eating and drinking? What you want to destroy is not Human Desires, but clearly human nature!"
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