Transforming Two Books, the Framework of the Divine Path

With a thought, Qiu Yan suppressed his divine power and the Incense Faith, gathering them and locking them in the Soul Aperture. His Fleshly Body was purified again, and then he separated a bit of his will to connect with the "The Sacrificer" and try to draw it into his heart.

However, stimulated by the Divine Path, this enlightenment was like a frightened bird. Even though Qiu Yan withdrew the Divine Path power, he still could not gather the enlightenment and absorb it into his heart with just this little bit of thought.

This is understandable, as this insight emphasizes the role of humans and points out that sacrificial rituals are not for the Unseen purpose, but rather to influence people's hearts and provide spiritual comfort.

In this "The Sacrificer" enlightenment, the divine is denied. When you use a denied power to approach this enlightenment, it's as if you are challenging a person's worldview.

Insight itself cannot be thought; it is the conclusion reached by Sage after contemplation. Being shocked by such an experience, it is not surprising that one's worldview may collapse as a result. The previous loss of control actually stemmed from the instinct of insight.

The shock caused the entire understanding to even show signs of collapse; outwardly, the chessboard seemed to be on the verge of breaking apart, with the ink stains becoming chaotic.

Qiu Yan understood all this, but instead of panicking, he calmed his mind, cast aside distracting thoughts, and with a thought, a profound understanding emerged—

"The learning of a gentleman enters through his ears, settles in his heart, spreads throughout his body, and manifests in his movements and stillness. Whether speaking eloquently or moving gently, every action can serve as Principle... Learning culminates in the attainment of propriety."

This statement demonstrates that a gentleman's learning begins with what he hears, is remembered in his heart, and permeates his words and actions. With just a few words or actions, he can become a role model for others to emulate. This is, in fact, a form of etiquette and the ultimate goal of learning.

This statement, originally from the "Exhortation to Learning," was already mastered by Qiu Yan. Now, when it is corroborated with the theory of Treatise on Rites, it shines even brighter. It aligns with the core insights of the "The Sacrificer," maintaining consistency while subtly pointing out the process of the "rites" being completed, and clarifying the causes and consequences.

Upon hearing this, the volatile "The Sacrificer" calmed down, but he still harbored an instinctive wariness of Qiu Yan's intentions and was unwilling to submit easily.

Qiu Yan remained calm. His thoughts shifted, transforming into a phrase from the classic text * Rectifying Names *, which reads, "The mind is the master craftsman of the Way; the Way is the manager of governance... Listening aligns with the text, and debate elucidates the truth."

The mind is the master of the Tao, and the Tao is the eternal Principle... By adhering to this, one can listen in accordance with propriety and reason, and engage in debate to reveal the cause and effect.

Just now, the Divine Path invasion indiscriminately tried to absorb and analyze the "The Sacrificer's " insights. But now Qiu Yan is addressing the root cause, clarifying the cause and effect, and aligning with the essence of this insight. In this way, how could the insight possibly resist?

Finally, drawn by Qiu Yan's thoughts, it merged into his heart, and then burned by the fire of his Heart Fire. Gao Song's understanding and his master's annotations were stripped away, turning into two pages of a book that flew into the four bookshelves. They filled Qiu Yan's learning and deepened Sun Dao's understanding.

Before long, this insight into the "Rite of Sacrifice" was condensed into a star, which Qiu Yan completely absorbed, becoming an integral part of the ideology he created.

Divine power and mental energy surged forth from within the Soul Aperture, once again merging into this enlightenment. The latter, however, was no longer agitated, but rather controlled by Qiu Yan, combining with the Divine Path, complementing each other, and learning from one another.

Gradually, a mysterious aura began to emerge from it. Although it was only in its nascent stage, a trace of the aura of a Domain of Law and Divine Office was already seeping out.

"This insight, once condensed, can serve as a seed, guiding the integration of Human Path understanding into the Divine Body. I believe it will allow the Human Path understanding experienced by the Fleshly Body to more harmoniously align with the Divine Path!"

After sensing it for a moment, Qiu Yan discovered a great significance in this mysterious phenomenon.

"This Literary Pavilion Appraisal was definitely worthwhile. Even if I don't gain much in the end, this little bit of mystery alone is enough! However, if I could gain more insights into Human Path, nurture them together, and eventually transfer them into my Divine Body, the gains would certainly be greater. I originally only intended to accumulate power to break through to the Third Grade, but my foundation was inevitably weak. Now, with this little bit of mystery as a guide, I can even go further and change the structure of the Divine Spirit Talisman..."

Thinking to himself, Qiu Yan's hands didn't stop; he held a chess piece between two fingers and placed it on the chessboard.

Snap!

With another soft sound, the insights contained within the chess piece quickly spread across the chessboard after it was placed. The chessboard, which had been trembling slightly, immediately calmed down, and the horizontal and vertical ink lines that had shown signs of distortion also stabilized again.

The agitation caused by this insight caused the chessboard to tremble. If Qiu Yan were not careful, he might expose his Divine Abilities. However, the disturbance lasted for a very short time, and no one else noticed anything.

However, after the piece was placed, Gao Song on the opposite side did not respond immediately. He had his eyes closed, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.

"Huh? What is Gao Song doing? Why did he suddenly stop?"

"Yes, the two of them were playing fast chess, going back and forth. Why did they suddenly stop? Could Qiu Yan have some kind of trick up his sleeve with that move?"

"That's not right. This move isn't particularly surprising, so why would it make Gao Song stop and think?"

"After this round of offensive, a swift and relentless attack, Gao Song has gained the upper hand and is not far from victory."

"Indeed, although Qiu Yan has managed to regain some ground, he suffered too many losses at the beginning, leaving Innate Realm. Even if he catches up later, it will be much more difficult. But now, it's too late to turn the tide."

Seeing Gao Song's expression, the spectators finally couldn't help but whisper among themselves, but they kept their voices low so as not to disturb the player's concentration. In fact, by now, they had already figured out the situation and knew that the outcome was decided, which was why they spoke up.

However, although Gao Song looked like he was deep in thought, a joyful expression was revealed between his brows, a joy that naturally arose after he had gained a clear understanding.

After about five or six breaths, Gao Song opened his eyes again, glanced at Qiu Yan, and then waved his hand, throwing the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard.

His gesture was familiar to others; they often saw it when watching people play chess.

I concede defeat!

However, once the meaning behind the actions was understood, the crowd watching the game erupted into a cacophony of voices.

"What happened? Why did Gao Song suddenly admit defeat?"

"Yes, he clearly has the upper hand. If he launches another quick attack, Qiu Yan's defenses will collapse, his trusted men will be exposed, and he will undoubtedly lose."

"They were clearly about to win, but they insisted on admitting defeat. There must be something strange about that."

Not only were the spectators discussing the game, but Gao Song's fellow disciples also changed color and rushed forward to whisper in Gao Song ear, trying to find out the reason or to persuade him to take back his move, otherwise losing to Qiu Yan would affect his reputation.

Ignoring the murmurs of the crowd, Gao Song rose and bowed to Qiu Yan, saying sincerely, "Young Master Qiu is magnanimous. I have learned a great deal from this game. If I continue to be greedy and seek fame without restraint, I will be going against the teachings of the Sage Sun."

Qiu Yan rose and returned the greeting. "Thank you for your kind offer. This game of chess is meant to be a friendly exchange, not a lesson between two people. In fact, I, Qiu, have gained more advantage."

What he said was true. You see, on the surface, this game of chess between the two was a clash of skills, but in reality, it was a collision of minds. Through the chessboard, they were passing on their understanding of the Way of the Sages.

In comparison, Qiu Yan's knowledge was broad and complex, and the content he imparted covered a wide range of topics, which greatly inspired Gao Song. On the other hand, although Gao Song's knowledge was limited, he was quite accomplished in his studies. He had studied diligently for many years and not only had his own understanding but also benefited from the legacy of the Ritual Reverence Academy. The insights he shared were often incisive and resonated with Qiu Yan, providing a valuable supplement to his own learning.

On the other hand, Qiu Yan has, after all, inherited the complete Sage Spirit, and the entire framework of his thought has already been built. These external insights can accelerate its refinement, just like when building a house, the foundation has already been laid, and all that's left is to lay the bricks. Every insight absorbed from the outside can add to the structure.

In contrast, although Gao Song's knowledge involved many things, it was fragmented and unsystematic, scattered and disjointed, making it difficult to form a coherent system. Moreover, he did not receive the complete inheritance of the "Treatise on Rites," so he could not integrate it. It was like wanting to build a house, but the bricks, tiles, and wooden stakes had not yet been gathered, and construction could not even begin. The foundation and the main body of the house were nowhere to be seen.

If he truly wants to transform these gains into his own knowledge and Literary Thought, he will need at least a few more years of reflection and study.

From this perspective, Qiu Yan did indeed gain an advantage. Through this game of chess, he not only integrated the two Sage Spirit of "On Heaven"Divine Soul and "Rectification of Rectifying Names," but also benefited greatly from the insights about "Rite of Sacrifice" that Gao Song Divine Sense at the end. This laid the foundation for his future path in the Divine Path way and established a roadmap.

However, Gao Song was unaware of these matters. He simply took Qiu Yan's words as a humble remark, which made him even more fond of Qiu Yan, feeling that the other party was saving face for him.

When Gao Song was studying, he also had a pure heart. However, after joining the school and going through layers of selection, he now represents the academy. His heart is inevitably mixed with worldly thoughts, so he is always vigilant and dares not relax for a moment. When he sees an outsider asking for advice, he will first make malicious speculations. But deep down, he still has a trace of longing and desire. Qiu Yan's game of chess stirred it up and cleansed his mind, which led to the change he has now. When he speaks with Qiu Yan, he can be seen to be respectful.

This attitude, however, caused some people around to look down on him.

"Since Brother Gao admits you're inferior, then let me, Hu, try out Young Master Qiu's skills." Soon, a man stepped out from the crowd and was recognized as a top student of the Nine Abyss Academy. The others quickly stepped aside.

Without any hesitation, the man sat down in front of the chessboard at Qiu Yan's invitation, displaying a composed demeanor.

Soon, a new round began, and the atmosphere in the building returned to calm. But not long after, a group of people walked in from outside, led by Zhen Zhizuo from the Principle Sect Academy.

ps:

Thank you to "Wan Xia Xia La" for the donation!

Thank you to "My Sister Is Xuanxuan" and "Wandering Book Vault" for the monthly votes!