Heart Fire Manifested, Divine Soul Revealed

Hearing someone call his name, Zhang Yingchao looked in the direction of the voice and saw three men, all dressed as servants, who at first glance appeared to have some authority.

"There were only three servants?"

The group of scholars all saw the newcomer; some frowned, while others looked worried.

"I am Zhang Yingchao. What brings you here?" Upon seeing the visitor, Zhang Yingchao showed no sign of backing down and stood up directly.

"Oh?" The servants looked over, and the leader clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Young Master Zhang, we are servants of the Han Residence, sent to invite you over. My second master wishes to see you."

"It really is the Han Residence! Brother Zhang, we can't agree!" Upon hearing this, the others secretly realized the danger and whispered their advice.

Zhang Yingchao frowned slightly, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

"It really is the Han Residence! Could it be that Brother Liu and Brother Li were right?"

Thinking this, Zhang Yingchao said to the scholars around him, "Thank you for your concern, brothers. However, the Han Residence is the residence of the Prime Minister and has its own way of being managed. The servants in the residence dare not falsely convey orders. Since Han Zhuo wants to see me, how can I avoid seeing him?"

His words seemed to praise the Han Residence, but they actually contained sarcasm. Although the three servants couldn't understand the deeper meaning, they knew it wasn't a compliment, and their faces immediately fell.

Then, the group of people left with stiff expressions.

Watching Zhang Yingchao and his servants walk away, everyone at the table lost their appetite and shook their heads.

"Brother Zhang is too straightforward and lacks tact."

"Although these three are servants, they are still people of the Han Residence. They are Seventh Grade officials serving as gatekeepers to the prime minister, and should not be offended."

"Indeed, when he was talented, doing so was a display of noble character and could be celebrated. But now that this has happened, it's seen as disrespectful by others. Even if word gets out, people will still think he's ungrateful."

The group whispered among themselves, and as they talked, a sense of shared misfortune began to emerge.

These Confucian scholars, each holding official titles, mostly as Juren (successful candidates in the provincial examination), would appear in Eastern Capital (Eastern Capital) partly to prepare for the following year's Metropolitan Examination, and partly because Eastern Capital was a place of outstanding people and abundant resources, with numerous academies and a constant stream of diverse schools of thought, seeking to learn and immerse themselves in Literary Thought.

However, they did not know each other before coming to the Eastern Capital. The reason they were able to sit here and drink was inextricably linked to Prince Yan.

The Eastern Capital prosperous, but it also has its share of troubles. Not long ago, a scholar named Huang Yan wrote a rebellious poem in his family's restaurant. Moreover, this man was quite capable, inciting a popular uprising. Although it was quickly quelled and had little impact, it gave some people grounds for gossip, Prince Yan was one of them.

Under the pretext of suppressing bandits, this prince took command of Xuankou, arrested scholars who came and went, and stole their Literary Thought. Many of the scholars present were victims of this.

They met while imprisoned in Xuankou Town, and after regaining their freedom, they traveled north together, where they gradually developed a friendship.

However, it wasn't long before someone discovered the problem—

Some people discovered that their knowledge, memory of articles, and understanding of the classics had all vanished, and they could not even clearly remember some etiquette and manners. This startled many Confucian scholars, who were filled with anxiety and unease.

The bad news that followed was endless. Literary Thought's memory was the foundation upon which they climbed and maintained their status. With Literary Thought gone, everything began to collapse like a castle in the air.

Zhang Yingchao is just one of them.

"Brother Zhang is in dire straits, and even servants dare to bully him, which is infuriating. But what difference is there between us? I heard that Brother Liu was recommended to enter Respectful and Cautious Academy, but he failed the entrance exam yesterday and was publicly humiliated by a son of an official."

"Yes, in the heat of the moment, I almost came to blows, but one look from the other person shut me up."

"Those sons of officials, raised in luxury since childhood, have access to medicinal cuisine to replenish their vital energy, and can practice martial arts, so they are naturally strong and healthy. If a fight really breaks out, Brother Liu, you will only be able to take the beating. Moreover, you will be entangled in trouble afterward."

"That makes sense. We originally had to rely on our own efforts to accumulate knowledge and change our fate by passing the exams. Now that we've lost our knowledge, what do we have to compete with those people?"

Throughout history, it has been said that the poor study literature while the rich practice martial arts. Practicing martial arts requires developing the potential of one's flesh and blood, constantly depleting one's vital energy, and requires external supplements, which often costs a lot. Ordinary families, without the fortuitous opportunity, simply cannot afford it. In comparison, the Imperial Examinations system made it much easier to acquire knowledge.

This is also why the Six Arts of the Gentleman have gradually declined. It's not that people today are unwilling to learn them, but rather that ordinary people simply don't have the means to learn skills like archery and charioteering.

Moreover, although the Imperial Examinations opened up a new path for Human Path, it still has limitations even today. For one thing, wealthy families can easily buy classic books and hire famous teachers, while poor students do not have such abilities and have to spend their family savings. Fortunately, as long as they can read and write, they can find some books to copy and memorize. If they can put aside their pride and write couplets and family letters for others, they can also supplement their family income.

However, for the many Confucian scholars present, all of this had vanished like smoke.

Without knowledge, they lack confidence in their speech, like rootless duckweed, feeling empty and fearful, with no hope for the future. Many even tend to drift aimlessly.

"Just a few days ago, I saw two scholars who had run out of travel money and were unwilling to beg. Alas..."

As the group was lamenting, suddenly!

A gentle breeze drifted in from all around, passing through the windows, stirring the curtains, and flowing into the restaurant.

Then, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, and the group of scholars stood frozen in place!

The wind carried subtle Literary Thought, which, following the chain of Karma, seeped into the hearts of the scholars through their seven orifices.

The scriptures, texts, knowledge, and insights resurfaced in their minds, took root, and expanded little by little. As they felt the changes in their memories, many people's eyes gradually welled up with tears.

The inner quarters of the Han Residence.

Zhang Yingchao sat in a chair, waiting for Han Zhuo to summon him, but no servants or maids approached him, and there wasn't even anyone to serve him tea.

The servants living in the mansion were very perceptive; they knew that Han Fu, the second master's confidant, disliked this scholar, so why would anyone be so foolish as to come over?

However, this scene was an insult to Zhang Yingchao. He couldn't help but feel angry, and his face slowly turned red.

Just then, a lazy voice came from the side --

"Zhang Sheng, come here, Second Master is calling for you." As soon as the voice arrived, Han Fu came out from the inner room, glanced at Zhang Yingchao, and frowned slightly. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up!" This greeting sounded like a reprimand to the servants.

Zhang Yingchao immediately flew into a rage, stood up from his chair, and strode over to Han Fu, staring coldly at him!

Ta-da!

Han Fu was momentarily stunned by Zhang Yingchao's imposing manner, taking several steps back before regaining his composure and angrily retorting, "What are you trying to do? Do you intend to cause trouble at the Han Residence? You've got some nerve!"

"How dare you, a mere lackey, represent the Han Residence? You're nothing but a dog relying on its master's power!" Zhang Yingchao left these words behind, flicked his sleeves, and strode off to see Han Zhuo.

But his eyes were filled with grief, indignation, helplessness, and desolation.

"Rebellion! Rebellion!" Han Fu's expression changed drastically. He was furious at the phrase "a dog relying on its master's power." He also noticed the gazes of the servants and maids around him and felt that he was in a difficult position.

"I'd like to see how someone as ignorant as you can act so arrogantly in front of the Second Master! When you get reprimanded again, you'll be in for a world of hurt!"

After saying that, he started walking and followed.

But after taking only a few steps, a gentle breeze fell from the sky, brushing past Han Fu and making him shiver. He looked around but didn't see anything.

The gentle breeze, imbued with rich Literary Thought Aura, had already meandered all the way, catching up with Zhang Yingchao as he walked, and flowing into his body through his seven orifices.

Then, Zhang Yingchao's body trembled.

At the same time.

In several inns in the Eastern Capital, the huddled scholars all shuddered at the same time.

In several streets and alleys of Eastern Capital, a few distraught men raised their heads, their faces showing surprise.

In a few dilapidated temples outside the Eastern Capital, several emaciated scholars were also startled, and then burst into tears.

Outside the Eastern Capital, many disheartened Confucian scholars were enveloped by a gentle breeze, and their spirits and energy were instantly transformed, no longer showing signs of despondency.

Similar events unfolded in many places at that moment.

The Fortune of each Confucian scholar, which had been skewed by Literary Thought's departure and some were even on the verge of dissipating, were now restored by Literary Thought's return, allowing their Fortune to settle down.

Moreover, the joy of regaining what was lost was a cleansing of the soul, inspiring the scholars to reflect and undergo a transformation in their State of Mind.

This transformation, following the Karma connection, reversed course and entered Qiu Yan's Living Soul.

These entanglements of Karma did not pull Qiu Yan's Living Soul away. Instead, they dissipated within his soul like dry tinder thrown into a flame, causing changes within it. Even the Ambition Karma of his ambitions that were entangled with him collapsed in a small part. Then, the vortex of his Living Soul that had been stagnant for a long time began to spin rapidly.

The plight of those Confucian scholars was reflected in Qiu Yan's heart, showing him the fickleness of human relationships and the vicissitudes of life, and he couldn't help but sigh.

Then, the Living Soul formed a vortex, unleashing a powerful suction force. The four bookshelves were immediately drawn into it. Following that, the Three Shoulder Flames Qiu Yan's shoulders also began to sway, and finally flew out and merged into it.

Spin! Spin! Spin!

The entire Living Soul spun and contracted, finally condensing into a single point!

This is where its brilliance shines!

The next moment, the light returned to the physical body.

Instantly, Qiu Yan trembled all over, his flesh and blood boiled, and vitality, strength, and Spiritual Qi surged throughout his body, splitting into strands that converged towards that point of light!

That ray of light, along with the entire body, released a small flame.

Heart Fire manifests!

Around the Heart Fire, light and shadow distorted, gradually forming an outline that seemed to be a seal script character.

Soon, the seal characters became clear, and the word "Zhi" came out, dwelling in the soul, sitting in one side. Qiu Yan suddenly felt something more solid and solid in his heart, and he knew that his own destiny was suppressed by the fire in his heart.

Then, Fortune and seal script intertwined, and the Three Fires of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity flew out from the Heart Fire. These many things intertwined, becoming increasingly clear and solid.

Qiu Yan realized that the time had come, so he raised his hand and made a hand seal.

"Divine Soul, condense!"

ps:

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