Qiu and Bai's Debate

Upon seeing this person, even Tian Qi couldn't help but gasp, unable to utter a single word.

Bai Zhaoyuan!

The most famous talent in Prosperity Capital, and also showing a tendency to stand out in the entire Great Rui, is hailed as the number one young person. In just a few years, he has built a reputation that is difficult for others to match. Anyone who has ever stayed in Prosperity Capital knows him.

In the past, countless outstanding individuals came from all over the world. When they arrived in Prosperity Capital, most of them would try to challenge Bai Zhaoyuan, discuss metaphysics and Daoism, hoping to use this opportunity to rise to the top and become famous throughout the world!

Those who challenged him daily were as numerous as the people crossing the river, and Bai Zhaoyuan accepted them all, using this opportunity to gather opinions from all over the world!

It should be noted that Qiu Yan initially kept a low profile and was considered an easy target. Although some people were stirring up emotions behind the scenes, the allure of taking one step forward and climbing to a higher level made many people openly or secretly compete and fight with Qiu Yan. Moreover, after years of hard work, who would easily admit defeat? Everyone wanted to gain fame from him, which was quite bothersome.

However, compared to Bai Zhaoyuan's experience back then, this level is far from impressive.

This is because those who dared to challenge Bai Zhaoyuan were all renowned figures in their respective provinces and prefectures, including several top-ranking officials in the provincial examinations and even some who had passed the imperial examinations. To prove their talent, they couldn't resist challenging him, but the final result was always the same—

Defeat!

Of course, many more people didn't even have the courage to challenge him. They came with great enthusiasm, but after seeing Bai Zhaoyuan, they returned dejectedly.

To be honest, Bai Zhaoyuan. But at that time, he was just a bright child, and nothing could be seen from him yet. However, a few years later, after he concentrated his Literary Heart, it seemed as if he had awakened his Past-Life Wisdom. He wrote several articles in succession, each one moving the Sage Worthies Clay Statues and becoming a popular topic of conversation. Then he sat down and discussed philosophy with Grand Confucian. Only then did he truly become famous throughout the world and known to all.

The report stated that he would Metropolitan Examination this year.

From that time on, many people considered Bai Zhaoyuan to be the top scholar in the imperial examination. However, unexpectedly, after returning from the Scholar Forest, Bai Zhaoyuan did not choose to Metropolitan Examination but instead went into seclusion. The reasons behind this have aroused the curiosity of many people.

During the period between the Prosperity Capital Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination, Bai Zhaoyuan disappeared from Xingjing. When Wen Zhizhen rose to fame, people occasionally compared Bai Zhaoyuan with Wen Zhizhen, but this still did not bring up Bai Zhaoyuan.

Of course, Wen Zhizhen never mentioned challenging Bai Zhaoyuan. Instead, she held literary gatherings everywhere, as if she was building up her strength, but unfortunately, she never managed to do so.

Today, as the Golden List successful candidates was announced and the top scholar was crowned, Bai Zhaoyuan's appearance here reminded everyone present that the top scholar's position might have been subject to change. Seeing the two of them looking at each other, they had a vague premonition.

Not to mention, Bai Zhaoyuan's words were quite thought-provoking.

"Judging from their tone, the two seem to have known each other for a long time..."

Zhou Guan, who was closest to Bai Zhaoyuan, scanned back and forth between Qiu Yan, and picked up on a clue.

He had heard of Bai Zhaoyuan before, but seeing him in person today, he could feel the strong aura of Literary Thought emanating from the other man even from a few steps away. He was secretly shocked and thought that if they were to face each other directly, his aura would collapse before he could even speak.

"Brother Qiu met this man's gaze without showing the slightest weakness; he is truly extraordinary. And indeed, that man is a top scholar!"

In fact, as Bai Zhaoyuan walked by, people along the way would subconsciously lower their voices and feel an indescribable feeling, and spontaneously give way to him.

As for Tian Qi, who was originally standing in front of Qiu Yan, he had already retreated to the edge. He looked at the two people facing off, and then at the box he had brought, caught in a dilemma.

The atmosphere gradually became heavy, and an invisible pressure descended upon everyone.

At this moment, Bai Zhaoyuan suddenly spoke up, "I was investigating in the Literary Hall and had just made some progress when I sensed the turmoil in the Minghuang Palace and felt the People's Wishes besieging the City Encirclement. I knew it was your doing. Now that I have seen it, I realize that you have indeed stepped into that realm, but it is still through a borrowed path, not from your own essence. Could it be that you are trying to take shortcuts?"

After listening, Qiu Yan pondered for a moment and replied, "The Four Steps of Seeking the Dragon are like the steps built by our predecessors. Only by climbing these steps can one reach a high vantage point, observe the universe, and understand one's own path."

Bai Zhaoyuan listened, pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed in front of him, saying, "Above the Dragon Qi lies the source of Order, the beginning and end of everything. The worldly Order is often overlooked, and its importance is only realized after one leaves Order. My charge with my horse is precisely to bring this unnoticed Order to life."

As he finished speaking, a thought arose between the two, revealing an air of inquiry and exploration that was difficult for others to discern.

As he spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashed in Bai Zhaoyuan's eyes, but his face remained unchanged, as composed as ever. This demeanor caught Qiu Yan's eye, causing him to stir in his heart. He countered with a question, "Then why give up the Imperial Examinations? The Imperial Examinations is a path of Human Path, where one can achieve success without taking risks."

Upon hearing this, his thoughts froze, and he hesitated, unable to move forward.

To outsiders, their conversation seemed rather perplexing, but Qiu Yan and Bai Zhaoyuan understood it perfectly. Bai Zhaoyuan knew that Qiu Yan was referring to the night of the Upper Origin Lantern Festival when he rode his Mind Horse and challenged the Dragon Qi. And what Bai Zhaoyuan was saying was that Qiu Yan Thought-Convergent Order.

On the day the documents were being reviewed, the Dragon Qi mist in the main hall. Some people knew it was an unusual phenomenon, but apart from a few, others did not know that this phenomenon had affected the Order. For example, if Zhang Cheng had known that Qiu Yan Thought-Convergent Order, he would never have acted that way, nor would he have been suspicious.

These things need no further explanation.

"The Imperial Examinations is ultimately man-made, with many drawbacks. Although it can bring one closer to the Dragon Qi, it is artificial and false. If one gets caught up in it, one cannot attain the truth." Bai Zhaoyuan shook his head, looked at Qiu Yan, and showed regret. "Now you are the top scholar, with Fortune, but you are also entangled with the dynasty. In the future, your perception of things will inevitably be influenced, or even directly deceived."

As soon as these words were spoken, that thought underwent a transformation, becoming increasingly refined, as if something was about to be revealed.

Qiu Yan shook his head and smiled, "Nothing in this world is absolute. Brother Bai wants to eliminate all human factors and distinguish Separating Falsehood from Truth, but what is revealed may not be the true nature of Human Path. The human heart is fickle. If one does not engage with the world, how can one know the truth from falsehood, and how can one seek the true path? One must have knowledge in one's heart and then put it into practice. Only then can one see the true essence."

"The true path lies in solitude." Bai Zhaoyuan gave Qiu Yan a deep look, his brows furrowed, as if a problem or doubt had arisen within him.

Those nearby, though confused, could tell the two were discussing their innermost thoughts and immediately became excited, eager to know whether the already renowned Bai Zhaoyuan was more capable, or Qiu Yan, the newly appointed top scholar.

"If that's the case, why is Brother Bai so fixated on investigating Minghuang?" Qiu Yan said, his gaze falling on the empty space, staring at that point of transformative thought. The idea contained in his words had already merged into it, causing his thoughts to slowly collapse internally.

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhaoyuan replied without the slightest hesitation, "Although I am unwilling to be entangled in officialdom or blinded by the Dynastic Fortune, I also understand the principle of Yin-Yang. Without falsehood, there is no truth. To distinguish truth from falsehood, one cannot indeed do without people, but one need not fall into the trap. Only by observing detachedly can one see through the superficial and understand the Order."

After saying this, he reached out and grasped the thought in his hand, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "I should have come here to congratulate you on becoming the top scholar, but now it seems unnecessary. I wish you all the best in your endeavors and that you will not stray from the right path."

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, turned around, and left.

The conversation between the two was already baffling to onlookers, and Bai Zhaoyuan's last few actions only made them more confused. However, given their reputations, no one dared to question them. The atmosphere of their equal dialogue, where they verified each other's beliefs, was obvious to everyone. Moreover, today's events could serve as conversation topics in the future, giving them a sense of witnessing the present moment.

However, one question inevitably arose in everyone's mind—

Who won this debate?

Bai Zhaoyuan's reputation was widespread, and Qiu Yan was at the height of his fame. Those present either knew about Bai Zhaoyuan's past experiences or had personally witnessed Qiu Yan causing strange phenomena. Seeing the two talking and feeling their sharp confrontation, they naturally focused on who was superior and couldn't help but judge based on their own knowledge.

Thus, some people elevated Qiu Yan to the same level as Bai Zhaoyuan, while others looked at Bai Zhaoyuan with a higher regard because of Qiu Yan. The reasons behind this are too complex to be fully explained in words.

However, just as Bai Zhaoyuan stepped outside, he suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.

"Hmm?" At the same time, Qiu Yan's consciousness stirred, his heartstrings plucked, and Three Bodies trembled. The Li Trigram suddenly changed, revealing a scene. This Fleshly Body in the inn turned its head to look out the window.

There was nothing unusual in the sky; the sky was cloudless.

However, in that Void, hundreds and thousands of streaks of light streaked across the sky, rushing from the distant stars like shooting stars. Their sheer number and scale would be enough to terrify any stargazer if exposed to the world, leaving a lasting record in history.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The light shimmered, and a shooting star streaked across the sky, pointing directly south, dotting the Void and spreading across the Five Marshes of Southern Border.

"Um?"

At the same time, north of Xingjing Imperial City, at the edge of the continuous mountain range and forest,

Zhen Zhizuo sensed something, looked up at the sky, frowned slightly, then looked away and his eyes turned to the famous monument in front of him.

The three characters "Great Brahma Temple" are engraved on it, and the strokes of the characters convey a Human Thoughts.

"Is this the school of thought mentioned in the letter, originating from Zhutuolan? From the words, one can indeed sense a difference in artistic conception compared to that of the Central Plains, however..."

Zhen Zhizuo was still pondering, but An Jin urged him from behind, so he had no choice but to put aside his thoughts and lead the group past the monument into a simple courtyard.

Following closely behind were He Shuchang and Chen Jing, three disciples of the Heavenly Principle Academy. Behind them walked Gao Song from the Ritual Reverence Academy, An Jin from the Nine Abyss Academy, and many other scholars, who were subtly divided into several groups.

"Esteemed benefactors, please follow me." A young novice monk, about eleven or twelve years old, approached and was not surprised to see the group.

An Jin then said, "Young man, there are still patients in that car..."

"Don't worry, my master has already sent people over..." Before he could finish speaking, a scream came from a carriage beside the monument—

"What did you say? That's impossible!"

ps:

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