Li Junzi withdrew her gaze, then slowly rose under everyone's watchful eyes.
Cui Hao's exceptionally smooth opening showed that Li Junzi's side had gathered all their strength for this scholarly debate, likely intending to settle the outcome in this round.
Outside the debate hall, the many students watched Li Junzi. Winning or losing this scholarly debate mattered to them, but it was not what mattered most.
Hearing these Great Confucians' deeper insights and resolving their own doubts and confusion mattered more to them as students still pursuing knowledge.
The students did not merely listen to Chen Wenqian, the Great Confucian of their own school; they also listened attentively to the insights of Li Junzi, another Great Confucian.
There was an interesting thing in this world-people with utterly different temperaments could still agree on the same principle.
Principles had common ground, regardless of temperament or gender.
Moreover, some of Li Junzi's different ideas also challenged and tested what they themselves had learned.
If these students had faced Li Junzi in scholarly debate alone, they would certainly have lost.
The students of Junzi Mountain naturally held ample respect for senior scholars, even when their beliefs differed.
Chen Wenqian's expression was also deeply solemn.
If the debating argument of White Horse Is Not a Horse had merely been an appetizer, what devastating move would Li Junzi deliver next as the lead debater?
Li Junzi stood, her gaze passing over Chen Wenqian before turning to the many students outside the window.
She spoke softly. "Among the realms of Confucian Cultivators, Brush-Wielding requires reading, Book-Expanding requires reading, and Understanding Principle also requires reading. To become a Great Confucian, one must read with even greater dedication and effort."
"To become a Great Confucian, beyond reading, one must also devote oneself to comprehending the Second Sage's principles..."