Daoheart Fist Intent, Truly One

After these words were spoken, silence fell over the surroundings.

The seven men looked surprised, while Zhen Zhizuo and Zhang Huazhang were also taken aback.

The surrounding Literary Thought shifted, and the Literary Thought that had been pressing down on Qiu Yan slightly dispersed, leaving a small gap, allowing the dissipating Heaven-Rushing Soul to re-condense.

"You haven't even heard the Master's teachings, how dare you presume to say I don't understand them?" He Shuchang frowned, took two steps forward, and said, "Eating and drinking are secondary; the Master's teachings on characterization teach us to transcend ourselves, to eat and drink without generating any substance, to let our minds arise without dwelling on anything, to come into contact with all things without attachment..."

At first, his emotions fluctuated slightly, seemingly startled by Qiu Yan's words about Human Desires and human nature, but he quickly calmed down and organized his thoughts.

"The virtuous follow the Heavenly Principle Heaven, thus progressing daily towards higher understanding; the petty are consumed by Human Desires, thus sinking daily into depravity. You are merely confusing the public; you are simply repackaging the word 'profit.' The world is never short of scheming and despicable people. Don't think you can fool me with a different tactic. You have the air of a mercenary; how can scholarship be confused with profit and gain? What we do is to reveal the truth to the world, elevate their thinking, and thus distance them from filth and set their minds on lofty ideals!"

He spoke these words with righteous indignation, and many of the onlookers nodded in agreement, agreeing that it was indeed true. After reading, these people felt their State of Mind had been elevated, and they were no longer like ordinary people in the city.

Qiu Yan shook his head and laughed, "You criticize others for being all talk and no action, but you don't realize that you yourself are the one who's all talk and no action. You think you understand the Heavenly Principle and want to enlighten others, but you're detached from reality. I once heard a beggar discuss officialdom, saying that officials eat ten large pancakes a day. This shows that he hasn't experienced it firsthand and is only relying on imagination, ultimately limited by his knowledge. Young Master He, you come from a noble family, have you ever seen farmers working in the fields? You talk about elevating others' State of Mind, but does that mean that after being elevated, they can live a life of luxury like you? Or can you really make everyone harmonious just by preaching?"

He Shuchang smiled calmly and said, "Luxury clothes and sumptuous food are just appearances. The real gain is inner peace, enlightenment, and a magnanimous spirit!" As he spoke, he exuded a sense of awe and reverence, which made Cai Ying feel dazed.

Qiu Yan couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" He Shuchang asked, frowning, his displeasure growing stronger.

"I've heard of people who are lazy and ignorant of farming, but after hearing your words today, I know it's true," Qiu Yan said, reciting half a poem as he spoke. "People don't understand the hardships of Agricultural School, thinking that grains grow by themselves in the fields. If no one works, how can crops grow on their own? You say that pursuing profit is corrupt, but if Agricultural School don't cultivate the land and earn money to support their families, how can they live if they only seek inner peace and tranquility?"

He Shuchang's eyelids twitched slightly, realizing he had fallen into a trap. He was about to speak, but Qiu Yan wouldn't give him the chance.

"Even if a wealthy family like Young Master He doesn't engage in production and spends their days discussing metaphysics, their children will still enjoy a life of luxury. Moreover, once the children grow up, they can continue to discuss metaphysics. But if Agricultural School only seeks the Heavenly Principle and doesn't engage in production, let alone whether they can find a wife or whether their lineage will die out, there's no one to grow grain. What will you and I eat? We won't even have enough to eat, we'll starve to death, so what's the point of seeking the Heavenly Principle?"

At this point, even Zhang Huazhang changed slightly. He hadn't expected that Qiu Yan's simple question, "Do you want to eat?" would lead to such a profound discussion, subtly revealing He Shuchang' heel.

He Shuchang learned and talented, he has not had much contact with the fields and villages, and his experience is limited to the circle of literati. This is his shortcoming, which the academy will surely make up for in the future. However, Qiu Yan has seized on this opportunity. It should be noted that Qiu Yan has just come from studying in the countryside.

He Shuchang also noticed the problem. Knowing that he couldn't let Qiu Yan do as he pleased, he pretended to be eager to learn and asked, "Since Brother Qiu has such insight into ordinary matters, he must also have studied the theories and propositions of the two gentlemen. Why don't you share your views?" He wanted to steer the conversation back to pure academics, back to his area of expertise, and take control of the situation.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say." Qiu Yan readily agreed, a decision that sent a shiver down He Shuchang's spine, a vague sense of foreboding creeping in.

"I said you haven't fully understood, and that's why," Qiu Yan said as he walked over and took an apple from the fruit basket. "Just like this apple, when you're hungry, eating one is enough to satisfy your hunger. It's a natural thing, isn't it? It's the Heavenly Principle."

"The things of nature are in accordance with the Heavenly Principle; this is true. This is the way of investigating things, and it is exactly in line with the saying of understanding one's own mind and seeing one's true nature." He Shuchang shook his head and sighed, still trying to steer the conversation.

Qiu Yan bent down and took another apple from the basket. "One apple would be enough to fill you up, but you're taking up two. That's Human Desires."

After saying this, he raised his hand and tossed one of the stones towards He Shuchang. The latter caught it instinctively, looked up at Qiu Yan, and looked puzzled.

Cai Ying, her face contorted with anger, assumed Qiu Yan intended to attack He Shuchang. She immediately stood up, about to reprimand him.

Unexpectedly, Qiu Yan glanced at her and smiled, "Eating one is enough to fill your stomach, that's the Heavenly Principle, but to possess two is Human Desires; to marry one wife and enjoy marital bliss, family harmony, and the continuation of offspring is the Heavenly Principle, but to rely on talent, power, and strength to possess more and have multiple wives is Human Desires."

The implied meaning in his words left Cai Ying stunned, speechless.

Upon hearing these words, the others also fell into deep thought, even Zhang Huazhang, who had somewhat looked down on Qiu Yan, showed a thoughtful expression.

He Shuchang's expression suddenly changed, and he realized something was wrong.

Qiu Yan withdrew his gaze, raised the apple in his hand, pointed at the apple in He Shuchang's hand, and continued, "One apple can fill one's stomach, I have two for myself, while you have nothing. If I give you one now, both of us can live. Isn't this the 'benevolence' advocated by Senior Chen? To regard all things in heaven and earth as one, and nothing is other than oneself."

These words made He Shuchang freeze in shock, his smile turning to a stalemate.

Zhang Huazhang suddenly stood up from his chair, causing Zhen Zhizuo and the leader of the seven to change color.

Qiu Yan continued speaking--

"Explore the Heavenly Principle, figure out how to distribute apples, spread 'benevolence' to benefit all people, instead of just seeking your own peace. Young Master He is born extraordinary, gifted, and from a family background that others cannot match. You have already possessed so much. Since you are exploring the Heavenly Principle, you should find a way to make others share in your prosperity. But now you think too highly of yourself and only want to be virtuous in your own way. Are you worthy of everything you have? Your talk of inner peace is the very Human Desires! Do you dare to eradicate it?"

He Shuchang staggered back several steps, his face pale, and the Literary Thought around him seemed to be slipping away.

These words sent shivers down the spines of those who were observing and discussing the matter.

Lin Jue showed surprise, Chen Jing put away his playful expression and looked at Qiu Yan with a serious expression. Everyone watching seemed to have a realization.

Qiu Yan's words were not complicated, unlike He Shuchang's, who held scholarship and knowledge in high esteem and regarded them as elegant things. Instead, he took the opposite approach, using everyday things and events as examples that were closely related to ordinary people. He explained things in a gentle and persuasive manner, and in just a few words, people could understand the logic in his words.

What surprised everyone even more was that Qiu Yan, an outsider, almost always quoted the two Mr. Chen's theories, expressing his own insights as if he had been immersed in them for a long time.

After hearing these words, not only did everyone remember the teachings of the two gentlemen, but a sentence also surfaced in their hearts—

"The way of Heaven is to take from those who have more than enough and give to those who have less than enough. The Human Path to take from those who have less than enough and give to those who have more than enough."

This is a sentence from the Five Thousand Words, a description of the "Tao".

The Principle Sect values reason, but the Heavenly Principle they seek are actually another way of saying "the Way." Qiu Yan's words subtly conveyed the concept of Yin-Yang balance, stirring the thoughts of everyone present.

The changing sentiments of people's hearts also stimulated the literary Literary Thought of the academy.

Qiu Yan suddenly felt the surrounding Literary Thought become lively, and his own perception broke through the Literary Thought, combining with the door plaque outside. The Seven Souls in his body completely solidified and surged upward!

Boom!

In an instant, the sensory world underwent a tremendous change. Qiu Yan's perception of the Spiritual Qi in the outside world reached an almost outrageously sensitive level!

It's as if with a mere thought, one can draw Spiritual Qi from the outside world and make it their own.

Of course, Qiu Yan knew that this gratitude was just an illusion. With a thought, he could absorb Spiritual Qi into his body, but without refining it, he could not use it directly. He should know that Spiritual Qi also contains impurities. Without tempering, condensing, and purifying, the impurities will settle into his flesh and blood, causing his physical condition to slowly decline.

Cultivators of the Fate Dao go to great lengths to temper their physical bodies and expel impurities; how could they not pay attention to details?

A moment later, Qingliang sensation entered from the top of his head and spread throughout his body in the blink of an eye. Qiu Yan felt a Qingliang in every acupoint on his body, as if a deity was sitting inside.

He had read Tang Lai's memories and knew that the current process was similar to a marrow cleansing and body purification. However, the previous refinement of the soul had already purified the body and flesh, so this time not many impurities were expelled, but rather the vital energy was replenished, greatly increasing lifespan.

The formation of the Heaven-Rushing Soul allows cultivators to establish a dedicated communication channel between their physical bodies and the outside world. Different Cultivation Method will bring different effects. Qiu Yan was able to refine it because of his understanding of "Heavenly Principle" and "Benevolence," which inevitably caused his Heaven-Rushing Soul to undergo a transformation the moment it was formed.

The Martial Dao Will was brewing in his heart, and the Fist Intent was bursting forth!

This Fist Intent, combining the principles of Heavenly Principle and Qiu Yan's insights, truly embodies the word "action," grasping the present moment.

On the other side, Qiu Yan's Living Soul was also affected, coalescing and changing, revealing the character "knowledge," indicating a love of learning and thoughtfulness!

Upon hearing those two words, Qiu Yan immediately realized that the moment he had been waiting for had arrived!

"The Daoheart Fist Intent has been brewing for a long time, but due to the imbalance between my life and death, it had to be delayed. Now it's time to unleash it! Clear away the obstacles to advancing to the Third Realm of cultivation!"

A thought flashed through my mind, and two words collided in my heart!

Boom!

An invisible aura burst forth, passing directly through the building and rising into the sky!

As everyone was still processing Qiu Yan's words, they were suddenly jolted! Their minds wavered! They noticed the aura emanating from Qiu Yan and were filled with horror!

He Shuchang's lips trembled, and his eyes blazed with fury.

Cai Ying's face paled, and she murmured softly—

"To cultivate Literary Heart?"

Deep within the academy, in a simply furnished room, a sprightly old man who had been reciting scriptures paused, put down his book, and stood up to look out the window. He saw the invisible force soaring into the sky from the Heavenly Principle Pavilion!

"What a remarkable Literary Heart! It's even showing signs of developing into its own unique style! I wonder who has put it into practice."

ps:

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