Rulers and People Farming Together, Market Prices Must Be Uniform

With a quick scan, Qiu Yan noticed that Zhang Qin's body was undergoing a transformation, evolving from a physical body to a state of Divine Soul. The physical body was real, while the Divine Soul was illusory. This transformation between reality and illusion was truly astonishing, and Qiu Yan even detected a trace of Sage's aura within it.

"This person actually possesses the Sage Spirit?"

Realizing this, Qiu Yan was not too surprised. He relied on his unique Literary Soul-Cultivation Method to condense the Earthly Soul Scroll, which could collect the Sage Spirit. However, the world is vast, and it is not surprising that others can condense the Sage Spirit. He had not encountered it before, firstly because he had not taken the initiative to provoke it, and secondly because he lived in a remote border region.

"I wonder whose spirit this person embodies, and what its purpose is?"

Facing someone who controls the Sage Spirit for the first time, Qiu Yan felt no fear, only curiosity.

"I didn't expect Lord Zhang to come here as well. I just wonder if his sudden disappearance will cause any trouble in the palace."

This Zhang Qin's flesh and blood transformed from solid to ethereal, unlike Qiu Yan's Divine Soul ascending. Instead, his physical body flew directly out of the palace, which is why Qiu Yan asked this question.

"Brother, there's no need to worry," Zhang Qin said with a smile as he approached. "I am an outsider. Even if the King of the Liang Kingdom is surprised by my departure, he will get used to it after a while."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan frowned slightly. "From what Brother Zhang said, the world where the Liang Kingdom is located is not an illusion?"

Zhang Qin looked surprised, then chuckled, "I never expected this, I never expected to fall into a verbal trap and be tricked into giving you some information. However, the Thought Projection Scene within the Scholar Forest are not hidden, so why don't you know? If I didn't have this thought in mind, I'm confident I wouldn't have been so easily tricked into revealing anything."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan immediately understood. Chen Jing had indeed held back, not truly revealing the situation within the Scholar Forest. However, Qiu Yan and Chen Jing were merely business partners, and the other party had no reason to be completely open with him. Besides, his presence here was unexpected, drawn here by the traces in the text—an event that even Chen Jing hadn't anticipated.

A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind as he sensed two Sage Spirit gradually taking shape not far away, between himself and Zhang Qin. Qiu Yan became secretly wary, asking aloud, "Thought Projection Scene? Is this world where Liang Kingdom is located merely formed from thoughts?"

Zhang Qin laughed, "Who knows? The world is vast and full of mysteries. Scholar Forest is not unique to one continent, but spans the world. Its appearance may be a remnant of the beginning of the Historical River, or a reflection of a certain place, or even a world Creation from Nothing, as imagined by countless people. How can anyone know all its mysteries? At least I, Zhang, do not have that ability."

These words were difficult to verify, but Qiu Yan gleaned a clue from them. "So, it seems that my soul entered the body of that Grand Minister of Agriculture. My actions might have been possession, but it's also possible that he took them as my true thoughts? It's as if my thoughts and actions were the Unseen, and the regret and remorse became the driving force..."

"Impressive!" Zhang Qin exclaimed in admiration upon hearing this. "To deduce such things from just one sentence from me, you truly have exceptional insight. You are certainly no nobody. Why not reveal your name?"

There was a subtle hostility between the two, yet they talked like old friends. However, Qiu Yan knew very well that both sides were stalling for time and accumulating strength.

Zhang Qin, unaware of Qiu Yan's true strength, did not act rashly. Qiu Yan, noticing that the other party possessed the Sage Spirit, also showed no intention of suddenly attacking, but only needed an opportunity...

The opportunity arrived in the blink of an eye!

Boom! Boom!

Two immense forces of will and spirit suddenly descended!

The information that surged from within the Principle Rice, after combining with the two grand wills, continuously condensed and finally stabilized, transforming into two orbs of light that exuded spiritual fluctuations!

Instantly, two similar yet distinct moods swept over us!

A fierce wind suddenly swept through the sky!

Qiu Yan focused his gaze and saw two shimmering, radiant spirits, each containing illusory characters that exuded an aura that resonated deeply, like a gentle drizzle seeping into the very depths of one's heart.

These two clusters of spirits became increasingly clear, revealing their true nature in Qiu Yan's perception.

One of them means "the Rulers and People Farming Together" --

The wise men till the land and eat alongside the people, and govern by preparing meals together!

Wise men should work just like the common people and cook and eat their own meals!

In an instant, the Heavenly Circuit changed, transforming into an atmosphere of harmony with the people's will, equality for all, and self-reliance, where everything was equal.

The second of these means "the Market Prices Must Be Uniform" --

Cloths of the same length will have similar prices; hemp fibers and silk flosses of the same weight will have similar prices; grains of the same quantity will have similar prices; shoes of the same size will have similar prices!

Qiu Yan understood the meaning of this sentence at a glance. In short, it was simply. "If the quantity of the same type of item is the same, then the price is the same."

This spirit also caused changes in the sky, creating a fixed and unchanging, real and authentic atmosphere.

"Both of these spirits are the Agricultural School Spirit! However, the Agricultural School declined early, and its classics were lost. These two sentences were not written by Sage Xu Sheng himself. Why did they appear out of thin air here?"

Qiu Yan was still puzzled, but on the other side, a surging aura erupted from where Zhang Qin was!

The moment the two spirits appeared, Zhang Qin moved. His figure completely transformed into Divine Soul, his Divine Sense soaring, and his soul body faintly crimson!

This is the performance of the third level of the Third Realm, which is two levels higher than Qiu Yan's!

The soul surged forth, transforming into a scroll. Unfurling it, it released a rich aura of Sage, from which a burst of spirit condensed into a line of text—

Those who labor with their minds govern others; those who labor with their bodies are governed by others!

Once this phrase was formed, it immediately became part of the Agricultural School Spirit of "the Rulers and People Farming Together"!

This sentence embodies the meaning of social division of labor, with mental labor and physical labor corresponding to brainpower and physical labor respectively, which is a statement aimed at the idea of Rulers and People Farming Together.

Subsequently, the entire scroll enveloped that Agricultural School Spirit, which, impacted by the words of the sage, quickly dimmed and swayed!

"What this person is displaying is actually the Second Sage Spirit!" Qiu Yan's heart stirred. "This spirit is specifically aimed at Agricultural School, it seems he was prepared in advance!" While surprised, he didn't stop. With a tremor of his Divine Soul, he flew out of the Earthly Soul Bookshelf and swept over the Sage Spirit of "Market Prices Must Be Uniform inseparable"!

In an instant, Qiu Yan's Divine Soul fluctuated. Through his connection with the bookshelf, information from "The Market Prices Must Be Uniform" surged in, constructing an illusion around his Divine Soul!

Qiu Yan did not resist the illusion; instead, he let his mind delve into it, driving the illusion to operate.

Suddenly, the surrounding scenery changed, and he abruptly appeared in the market. The market was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares. Some were selling rice and flour, some were selling cloth and shoes, and others were selling steamers and farm tools... Everyday necessities were readily available.

People on the street walked and picked and chose, occasionally exchanging goods for what they needed. Even the sellers bartered with each other, each getting what they needed.

Without middlemen, the exploitation and markups by merchants are eliminated. People exchange goods with each other, which are visible and tangible. Even the elderly and young children who are naive can clearly understand the transactions, and there is no deception between the young and the old.

"I see. This 'one- Market Prices Must Be Uniform's spirit among Agricultural School serves two purposes: to unify values, to reduce intermediaries and curb merchant speculation, and, on the surface, to prevent fraud because everything is physical. However, it also has its drawbacks..."

Qiu Yan remained calm and tried to understand this spirit, to comprehend the principles of Human Path within it, and to summarize the gains and losses. Afterward, the connection between the Sage Spirit and Qiu Yan's thoughts became more and more obvious, and it seemed to be condensing into a book and falling into the Earthly Soul Bookshelf.

Deep within Qiu Yan's Divine Soul, a crimson dot slowly emerged, resembling a bloodstain.

At that very moment, the scroll that Zhang Qin had transformed into suddenly trembled, suppressing the spirit of "the Rulers and People Farming Together," and then a wisp of the Second Sage Spirit flew out, transforming into the sentence: "The Things Are Not Alike is the nature of things; to compare and unify them will lead to chaos in the world!"

This statement directly states that all things in the world have differences in quality. Forcibly unifying prices without distinguishing between good and bad will only lead to people competing to cheat and pass off inferior goods as superior ones, resulting in chaos in the world!

This spirit directly addresses the shortcomings, and Zhang Qin utilizes it, combining it with his inner fire and divine sense to unleash a domineering aura that sweeps across the land!

Instantly, a powerful aura merged with the Second Sage Spirit, disregarding the spirit and principles embodied in "the Market Prices Must Be Uniform," and forcibly suppressed, covered, and tamed it!

This is like someone debating without trying to understand or comprehend their opponent's words, believing that their own statements are the only truth and the true way of the world, and using this as the basis to refute the other party, using coercive means to forcibly reverse and cover up their thoughts.

Qiu Yan's desire to communicate, understand, and verify the Sage Spirit was suppressed immediately!

"What a domineering method!" A cold glint flashed in Qiu Yan's eyes. As his Divine Soul swirled, the spirit of "Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Human Harmony, advantageous location Second Sage Spirit" emerged, combining with the spirit of "Equal Merchant Prices"!

The next moment, everyone in the illusion, whether buyer or seller, joined hands, without distinction of rank or status. A multitude of information and thoughts coalesced into one, bursting forth!

Boom!

It stems from the collision of the two people's Second Sage Spirit, born from the same source but with different meanings, driven and propelled by different intentions, and with vastly different purposes and momentum.

A series of sparks burst forth in the sky.

Under the pressure of "Things Are Not Alike," the concept of "Equal Merchant Prices" instantly merged with Qiu Yan's consciousness!

Then, Qiu Yan focused his mind and made "Equal Merchant Prices" and "favorable timing, Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Human Harmony" unite into one force and surge out. The strong will that erupted directly forced back the approaching Second Sage Spirit!

"Hmm? Not good! This person also possesses the Sage Spirit! I was careless for a moment, and he outnumbered me and even used external force to subdue that Agricultural School Spirit!" The scroll that Zhang Qin transformed into forcibly restrained and suppressed the "Rulers and People Farming Together"! Then he freed up his hands.

In an instant, the Sage Spirit entered the hands of the two men!

Immediately afterwards, Qiu Yan's Divine Soul trembled, and a drop of scarlet blood condensed, bursting out of his soul and entering the spirit of "Equal Merchant Prices"!

ps:

Thanks to "Zhonglan" and "xmcf" for the reward!

Thank you to "Mosquito Prince" and "Ethereal Evil God" for the review votes!