Waves of invisible power spread outward. Beneath Fang Yun's feet, the emerald water churned as though lashed by a fierce wind, sinking more than three feet.
Fang Yun said, "Dragon Gate Ascension is a grand event across the Myriad Worlds. Our Human Race stands alone, with little strength, but since we have gathered here, we ought to unite and weather these hardships together. 'Learning without thought leads to confusion; thought without learning leads to peril.' These are the words of Sage Kong. What is learning? Understanding the laws of all things. What is thought? Comprehending the changes throughout the ten directions."
The others froze. They had never heard such an interpretation before. Clearly, Fang Yun had already developed his own understanding of learning and thought. His explanation might not be absolute truth, but it made a great deal of sense.
Merely studying the surface clearly did not count as learning. That was viewing flowers from horseback, touring mountains and waters. Only grasping the underlying laws counted as true learning.
The same held for thinking. Letting one's imagination run wild was not thinking; it was dreaming in broad daylight. Only contemplating the crucial changes between heaven and earth counted as true thought.
Yan Yukong looked at Fang Yun, his heart brimming with emotion. When he first met Fang Yun, the man already possessed poetic fame and literary qi, but to ordinary scholars, he had yet to enter the majestic Sacred Way. His reputation outstripped his substance. Now, however, Fang Yun had advanced step by step upon his original foundation. His understanding of "thought and learning" had reached an exceedingly high realm, surpassing countless others and placing him shoulder to shoulder with Great Scholars.
Zong Chenli said, "Please wait a moment, Void Sage Fang. Allow me to ponder this 'understanding the laws