The Humanistic Divine Path Forms a Network

"Sir, according to the principle of Knowledge and Action, does that mean we can try everything? If I want to kill someone, should I only realize it's wrong after I've done it?"

Once Qiu Yan opened up like this, all sorts of questions really came up. It was also because he acted calmly and was about the same age as everyone else that others felt less pressured and dared to speak freely.

Qiu Yan replied, "The Supreme Sage Confucius once said that governing a country requires virtue, propriety, and the use of punishment. If you guide the people with laws and regulate them with punishments, they will avoid punishment but have no sense of shame; if you guide them with virtue and regulate them with propriety, they will have a sense of shame and become good. There is no order between Knowledge and Action, nor is there a fixed pattern. The fact that you can ask this question shows that you know the good and evil of this matter. This is actually a manifestation of the court's laws being implemented throughout the country. It is also a way of teaching and educating people. If I asked you to do it, how could you possibly do it?"

After this was said, Human Path else said, "The rites, laws, and punishments were established by our predecessors. I heard that when the Ancestral Dragon of the Ming Dynasty established his rule, he was accompanied by Mr. Heavenly Secrets who was capable of divine calculations. The Great Rui Code was created by him and took nearly ten years to complete. Since it was edited by one person, how can we guarantee that it is not wrong? Isn't it just using the knowledge of one person to force it to be implemented throughout the world?"

Qiu Yan replied, "Humans are born with desires, some as vast as the sky, others vanishing in an instant. Without rules, they are unpredictable. Etiquette, laws, and punishments are all used to define boundaries and guide Human Desires, not to extinguish them, but to restrain and guide them. There are countless things in the world, but most conflicts arise from desires. Grasp this point, and you can control punishments. This is like seeing the whole leopard from a single spot. One person can set the laws for the whole world, but..."

Those who heard his words nodded in agreement, finding some insight in them as they compared them to their own thoughts. But Qiu Yan then changed the subject. "The transformation of Transforming Nature and Developing Artifice —the things that are artificially constrained and advocated—may not truly remain unchanged forever. Circumstances will inevitably change. Whether something is right or wrong is difficult to discern through mere thought; one must ultimately see with one's own eyes and think with one's heart. Whether to change or retain it depends on one's own heart. If there are hardships involved, whether one can succeed depends on one's will."

Upon hearing this, those around him initially didn't react, but some of the quick-thinking individuals gasped in surprise.

The two sentences, taken together, subtly reveal Qiu Yan's attitude towards the current laws of the imperial court.

"What does this mean? Does it mean that times have changed, and the laws of the past are no longer suitable for today, so they should be changed?"

"Does Qiu Xiuzhuan intend to implement reforms?"

"Could this be an implication that the compiler is a reformer? If so, wouldn't he be part of the powerful faction? Wouldn't associating with him give us a chance to get closer to Prime Minister Wang?"

These thoughts, though difficult to express aloud, can be conveyed through eye contact.

The current emperor's use of the "Black-faced Chancellor" to implement reforms is common knowledge. Central Passes, Jiannan, the Central Plains, and even Jiangnan have all been significantly affected. Three Jin and Yan-Zhao, being located on the frontier and suffering from natural disasters and man-made calamities, have been less affected. However, the struggles within these regions have long been rumored among the common people Scholar Forest.

This imperial examination was dominated by the New Party, and the questions were related to the reform movement. This Imperial Examinations had already spread throughout the land, and who among those aspiring to Imperial Examinations did not know it?

Upon hearing Qiu Yan's words, many Confucian scholars had various thoughts. Even their desire to ask questions diminished considerably. These people were mostly students from prominent Aristocratic Clan.

They were well-informed, and people like Hu Ye started to speculate. "Rumor has it that Mr. Qiu and Prime Ma Xiang have a close relationship, but the Black-faced Chancellor also values him highly. Some say he's a reformist, while others say he prefers to maintain the status quo..."

Compared to students from poor families, these people had more complex thoughts. They wanted to understand the reforms in order to prepare for the Imperial Examinations, but they also knew that the reforms would shake the foundations of the Aristocratic Clan and merchants, which was in conflict with their own Lineage.

To put it bluntly, when people argue in the imperial court, they use various Confucian classics to attack each other and criticize each other based on the current situation in different regions. But in reality, it is still a struggle for interests. Both sides are well aware of this and know the consequences of implementing the New Law, which is why they are so confrontational.

Of course, there are also those who are simply motivated by political views and beliefs. These people are different from those who pursue personal gain, but they still have their own purposes, and thus belong to two different factions.

Just as everyone was in a state of confusion, Hua She finally mustered up his courage and stepped forward. However, when he passed by the other Confucian scholars, he always lowered his head and dared not look at them. This was because he felt that his current status as a servant was too lowly and he felt inferior.

He was unaware that his every move had already been observed and noticed by Qiu Yan.

In fact, not only Hua She, but everyone present was equally important to Qiu Yan yesterday. That's why he used words to teach, sow the seeds of humanity, change a fragment of everyone's Fortune, and wait for them to grow.

Among them, several people, upon returning home, recalled what Qiu Yan had taught them and each gained their own insights.

Hu Ye and Zhang Shun, for example, each delved deeply into the Way of Knowledge and Action based on their different experiences, but they were both limited to theory. They wanted to organize Qiu Yan's words and summarize them into a complete theory to facilitate learning and memorization.

This kind of behavior has existed since ancient times. The words of the Supreme Sage Confucius during his lifetime were compiled into a book by his sons and disciples, and have been passed down through the ages.

However, what Qiu Yan needs right now is not these things.

It can be said that Zhang Shun and Hu Ye each have their own strengths, and they have both made some progress in just one night. If Qiu Yan were to ask them questions based on the principles he had discussed yesterday, they would be able to answer fluently.

However, only Hua She did not choose to summarize the principles, but instead used the method of Knowledge and Action to reflect on the things around him and try to apply it to solve problems in a practical way.

Qiu Yan was well aware of this.

"Everyone present was influenced by the Way of Knowledge and Action, and were seeds of the Way of Humanistic Divine Path. When they recalled, organized, and applied this doctrine, as long as they held it in reverence, they would have thoughts attached to it. Then, just as Heart Demon gathered Human Thoughts, they interacted with each other and gathered in my consciousness, carried by the Incense Faith gods, forming a network that is similar to a sacrifice, but different from a sacrifice."

This seemingly simple network incorporates elements of Heart Demon, Human Path, Divine Path, and even the spiritual world of Scholar Forest and Military World, making it a complete system that only needs continuous improvement in the future.

The doctrine is like a fishing net, and each person who studies the doctrine is like a knot in the net. When they use this net to capture all things in the world, they will have a sense of attachment to it. They will gather in the Divine Spirit Body along the net, but the Divine Spirit Body does not take it for itself. Instead, it is like a pool that records the things and scenes that each person encounters when recalling, organizing and applying the doctrine, and slowly accumulates them.

Currently, the number of people is limited, the scale is small, and there is not enough accumulated hope or even enough to activate a Divine Ability. Therefore, the specific effect is still unclear. However, Qiu Yan can vaguely sense the changes in his Divine Spirit Body.

"By using the Fleshly Body as an intermediary, the power of Knowledge and Action, and humanity can be transmitted; this power can be called 'the Humanistic Divine Power'..."

Thinking this, Hua She walked up to him, hesitating. He noticed that the other people asking questions either quoted classics, started with policies and laws, or directly pointed out the malpractices. Some even talked about the military affairs in the Northern Frontier. Each one seemed to have more knowledge and lofty ideas than the last.

Compared to them, what Hua She wanted to ask seemed much more vulgar, and he simply couldn't bring himself to say it.

Just then, Qiu Yan's gaze seemingly swept over him unintentionally. That gaze gave him a bit of courage. Hua She remembered the responsibility on his shoulders and this rare opportunity. He knew that such an opportunity was too good to pass up, so he finally spoke up.

"Gentlemen..."

As soon as he spoke, the people around him looked over and frowned when they saw his blue robe and the ink stains on his face.

Among those who came to listen to the lecture were some servants and household servants, such as Meng Ting and Meng Wei, one a household servant and the other a steward. No one would look down on the two of them because of this, but other servants would not be treated the same way.

However, since they were all people who cultivated their minds through reading, and Qiu Yan was present, no one uttered a sound, only showing their joy and anger on their faces.

Under the scrutiny of the gazes, Hua She continued, "After listening to your lecture, I pondered it all night and gained some insights. I believe that woodblock printing actually contains some truth, and perhaps it can Human Path forward."

The words were jarring, and the others reacted in various ways: some showed surprise, some looked disdainful, and others simply shook their heads.

But some people whispered among themselves, asking, "What is a woodblock print?"

"It is the means by which books are printed, that is, the words of the sages are engraved on wood and iron, and then printed with ink." The person who said this was a person of great knowledge, who not only knew about woodblock printing, but also knew its capabilities.

"Absurd! The words of sages must be written down with a pen, with a clear mind and focused concentration, in order to truly understand them. This kind of rubbing is a defilement of the sage's words." The person who said this clearly had never bought a book on rubbings, yet he could still concentrate on practicing calligraphy every day.

"I've heard that when this is being engraved, the words of the sage must be reversed and written backwards. Don't you think this is a sinister plot? What good can come of those who buy the book?" These words came from a spirited young man from a prominent Aristocratic Clan. As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at the poor students around him.

As for the students from poor families, they were not angered by these words. They usually copied books and rarely had the money to buy a printed copy. It was those with surplus wealth who actually bought such books.

Therefore, the atmosphere became increasingly strange.

However, most students considered the matter of woodblock printing to be a mundane affair and did not think it should be brought up in such a setting. Soon, someone was about to speak out and expel Hua She.

But before the man could speak, Qiu Yan asked, "Judging from your appearance, you must work as a helper in the Book-Printing Hall. So, you personally carried out this matter. Why don't you tell us about it?"

Upon hearing this, the entire universe of Karma immediately descended into chaos!

Here, Heart Fire rises within Fleshly Body, and Golden Core elixir rises and falls!

In the Land of the Divine Remains, the Heart Demon Body rose up, its Five Aggregates swirling and its Six Thieves flying!

In the Zhou Rao Continent, the Divine Spirit Body trembled, and its divine Divine Radiance surged, creating a vortex that completely ignited the remaining People's Wishes around it, causing it to boil over!

P. S.: Thanks to "I Can't Get Full" for the birthday red envelope!

Thank you "Third Young Master Hu" for the monthly vote!