The small world of the Palace of Literature.
Hong Sheng’s voice was decisive.
Ten days later, the Great Wei Palace of Literature disengaged.
When this was said, all the great scholars were shocked.
“You’re detaching after ten days? The time is a little fast, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Hong Sheng, that’s a bit of a quick time.”
“A month already seems a bit rushed, and if it’s ten days, I’m afraid.”
“Why is Hong Sheng in such a hurry? Is it because of Xu Qingnian? Didn’t he not become a saint?”
That one voice rang out, and the crowd also felt that it was a bit fast. The original custom-made plan was three months, which was accelerated to one month later, and now it was directly accelerated by ten days?
This was unprepared.
They couldn’t help but wonder why it had to be so fast. If it was because of Xu Qingnian, there was no need for this, hadn’t Xu Qingnian not become a saint?
“Silence!”
“Listen to Hong Sheng.”
Cao Ru opened his mouth and told the crowd to quiet down and listen to Hong Sheng first.
He spoke thus, and for a moment the crowd was silent, waiting for Hong Sheng to speak.
“The accelerated disengagement is related to Xu Qingnian.”
“He might, when he is really going to become a saint.”
Hong Sheng’s voice rang out, his words filled with certainty.
In an instant, the crowd’s expressions couldn’t help but change.
“Hong Sheng, how could Xu Qingnian possibly become a saint? He hasn’t even become a saint by reading the Twelve Holy Books, so how can he become a saint?”
“Yes, today I thought he might become a saint, but he was suppressed by the Vermilion Saint lineage, so by definition it would be good enough if he wasn’t seriously injured? How can he possibly become a saint?”
“Hong Sheng, I don’t believe it, what will he, Xu Qingnian, take to become a saint?”
A voice rang out, the crowd did not believe that Xu Qingnian could become a saint, after all, Xu Qingnian had just failed to become a saint, how could he suddenly become a saint again?
This was unlikely.
However, although Hong Sheng also supported the crowd’s thoughts, he still let out a long sigh and said.
“He had an epiphany of the Holy Dao and could indeed have become a saint, it was just that at a crucial moment, he chose to stop and did not choose the Way of the Vermilion Saint.”
“I only discovered this later, so what he said today was not a lie, it was that he had given up on becoming a saint.”
Hong Sheng spoke, and he told this truth, causing the crowd of great scholars of heaven and earth to be stunned.
Today, the words Xu Qingnian had spoken in the middle of the Palace of Literature sounded inexplicably ridiculous to their ears.
He had given up becoming a saint?
Was that possible?
Obviously it was impossible, who would give up becoming a saint? But as Hong Sheng opened his mouth, the crowd had to believe it.
“Giving up on even becoming a saint? This is simply impossible, who among all the scholars throughout the ages did not want to become a saint? Hong Sheng, are you thinking wrongly?”
“I believe that he, Xu Qingnian, has the qualifications to become a saint, but to say that he, Xu Qingnian, can become a saint but give up becoming a saint, I don’t believe it.”
“Yes, to be able to become a saint but not to become a saint, where can there be such a person?”
In their hearts, sainthood is more important than anything else. Isn’t the greatest dream of a scholar to become a saint? Isn’t it wrong to give up on becoming a saint?
Hearing the voices of the crowd, Hong Sheng was silent for a while.
But soon, he continued to speak again.
“Perhaps this Saint was really wrong in his guess, but no matter what, Xu Qingnian has the qualifications to become a saint, and this time he interrupted his sainthood and did not suffer a backlash, which means he can continue to strike the holy dao.”
“Perhaps it will take him a long time to become a saint, but perhaps he will be able to do so tomorrow.”
“He has already condensed his power, no matter how it ends, we cannot wait any longer, in ten days, the Great Wei Palace of Literature will disengage, so you and I will be ready.”
“This time, it is our greatest creation and a chance to break away, as long as we get the support of the world’s scholars, as long as Xu Qingnian does not become a saint, then everything can go according to plan.”
“Gentlemen, prepare yourselves.”
When Hong Sheng said this, he did not give the crowd any chance to hesitate, nor did he give them a chance to speak, and disappeared directly into the spot.
It was clear that in ten days’ time, there would be no change in the matter of the detachment of the Palace of Literature.
This time, Xu Qingnian gave the Great Wei Palace of Literature an invisible pressure.
And at this moment.
The Great Wei Imperial Palace.
Inside the Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Only the Empress and Xu Qingnian were alone.
“Xu Aiqing, you want to leave Kyoto?”
The Empress looked at Xu Qingnian with curiosity, after all, when she heard that Xu Qingnian was leaving Kyoto, it was natural for her to feel curious.
At this juncture right now, the Great Wei Palace of Literature would break away at any moment and there were still many things to be dealt with, so how could Xu Qingnian’s choice to leave not make her curious.
“Return to Your Majesty.”
“My servant, I am leaving Kyoto to witness the Great Wei mountains and rivers, and to feel the Holy Dao.”
“If there are no surprises, in ten days, I, can become a saint.”
Xu Qingnian spoke in a subdued tone and said with a calm face.
“Ten days to become a saint?”
“Aiqing, can you bear it?”
In an instant, the empress stood up, her eyes filled with surprise as she looked at Xu Qingnian, somewhat in disbelief.
Today, in the midst of the Great Wei Palace of Literature, Xu Qingnian had failed to become a saint, and she was incomparably worried in her heart, not that she was disappointed that Xu Qingnian had not become a saint, but rather that she was worried that Xu Qingnian had suffered a serious injury.
After all, if one failed to strike the Holy Dao, one would naturally have to pay a price.
Now that Xu Qingnian had informed herself that she was going to become a saint in ten days, she was really filled with worry.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry.”
“My servant, naturally, will not do anything that is unsure.”
Xu Qingnian gave his reply, understanding that the empress was worried about herself.
Hearing this, the empress was somewhat silent, she was not silent because she could not let Xu Qingnian leave Great Wei, it was because she was worried about Xu Qingnian, afraid that Xu Qingnian had given too much, all the pressure was on Xu Qingnian.
“Xu Aiqing.”
“You don’t need to be like this, you don’t need to put everything, on yourself, I have already thought of a solution, although I can’t stop the Wen Gong from breaking away, but I can reduce the impact.”
“In the matter of sainthood, one must not be impulsive.”
The Empress’ voice was gentle, the solution she was talking about was to draw the forces of the Immortal Sect into Great Wei, in fact how could she not know that the appearance of the forces of the Immortal Sect would definitely have a bad impact on the situation in Great Wei.
But so what?
What she hoped more than anything was that Xu Qingnian would not be too tired, nor did she want all the pressure to fall on Xu Qingnian alone.
“Your Majesty, the forces of the Immortal Sect cannot be relied upon after all.”
“The Palace of Literature has seceded, the Great Wei needs a saint no matter what, I also need to become a saint, Your Majesty, I have made up my mind.”
Xu Qingnian bowed slightly towards the empress, but his tone was extraordinarily certain.
He wanted to become a saint, not just for the sake of the Great Wei Dynasty, but mainly for his own sake.
Hearing these words, the Empress was silent.
Eventually, the Empress sighed long and hard and looked towards Xu Qingnian and said.
“Since Ai Qing has already decided, I, for one, cannot stop anything. Ai Qing, this is my Great Wei Dragon Talisman, you take it, Mr. Wu should go with you right?”
The empress asked with concern.
“En, my master will accompany me.”
Xu Qingnian nodded.
“That’s good, with Mr. Wu around, I’m at ease, but you take the Dragon Talisman, if you need my help, just ask.”
“Also, this is the dragon jade pendant, you take it along with you, really if you are in danger, it can save your life.”
When Xu Qingnian went out, the empress was inexplicably worried, and she took out a series of Great Wei dragon talismans, and even a dragon jade pendant at the end, which was for protection and was extremely useful.
The empress would naturally not be stingy when she made her move.
“Many thanks, Your Majesty.”
Xu Qingnian did not pretend, since it was something to protect her life, naturally more was better.
“Your Majesty, then I will first take my leave.”
After receiving the jade pendant, Xu Qingnian did not say much, he had to leave, and it was best to leave early to see the great mountains and rivers and feel his holy dao.
“En.”
The empress didn’t say anything more, she just nodded and then watched Xu Qingnian leave.
But just as Xu Qingnian reached the door of the Great Hall, her voice rang out once again.
“Aiqing Xu.”
As the empress spoke, Xu Qingnian turned back to look.
“Be careful on your journey.”
Looking at Xu Qingnian who turned back, the empress calmly spoke out, telling Xu Qingnian to be safe along the way.
Hearing these words, Xu Qingnian nodded, then bowed towards the Empress and quickly left the place.
For some reason, after Xu Qingnian had completely left, the empress looked slightly worried. She was indeed worried about Xu Qingnian’s safety, worried that something had happened to Xu Qingnian.
Only, exactly what the reason for her worry was, the empress was not sure.
And at the same time.
Deep inside the imperial palace.
Inside a palace, a dan furnace was placed in the room, filled with a steaming white mist, and an old man was sitting here, while Wu Ming’s figure, too, appeared in front of him.
“Old Zhao, I need to go out.”
Wu Ming’s voice rang out, looking at the old man sitting here cross-legged, his tone seemingly casual.
“Go where?”
“You’re not getting rid of the demonic Qi?”
The old man frowned, he was wearing a light green robe, his head was full of white hair, his face was dry and thin, and his eyes even had some fatigue in them, a very dying look.
“My disciple is going out for a trip, he is going to become a saint and I am protecting his path.”
Wu Ming said directly.
“Becoming a saint?”
“Protect the Dao?”
“Even if he were to become a saint, would he need you to protect the dao? Wu Ming, you have time to delay there, the demonic qi brought by the demonic domain, we have not been able to weed it out cleanly, there has not been enough time each time, and now there is a delay of three years.”
“If this continues, will you live past two hundred years old?”
“Besides, what danger can your apprentice encounter as long as he doesn’t leave Great Wei?”
Zhao Yuan spoke, his frown tightening, he was the first First Grade Martial Artist in Great Wei, Zhao Yuan, and Wu Ming was the second.
“No, this apprentice of mine has extraordinary talent, without my protection, it would be troublesome in case some curmudgeon did strike, after all, he is not with me, I cannot strike instantly, once there is any slip up, even if I kill them all, I cannot save them.”
Wu Ming spoke out.
His tone was incomparably cold.
However, after hearing this again, Zhao Yuan was slightly silent, then shook his head and said.
“I really don’t know why you took him as your disciple.”
“How could a Confucian scholar be suitable for my martial arts? Could it be that you want to use Xu Qingnian’s ability to break into the Confucian Way? Make Confucianism readers, everyone practice martial arts?”
Zhao Yuan really could not understand why Wu Ming valued Xu Qingnian so much.
Zhao Yuan had heard of this Xu Qingnian, he had been in the capital of the Great Wei, how could he not have heard of Xu Qingnian’s great name?
If Xu Qingnian practiced martial arts, he might still meet him and take him as his disciple if he could.
If he could, he would take Xu Qingnian as his disciple, but of course he would only be a disciple by name.
Want to become his own inner disciple? It was not that he looked down on Xu Qingnian, but that it was inappropriate.
But Wu Ming’s acceptance of Xu Qingnian as his disciple was really something he could not understand?
If he didn’t need to get rid of his demonic energy, he might have gone to take a look and meet this Xu Qingnian, who must have some ability if he could make Wu Ming take the initiative to accept him as his disciple.
But he was only curious, after all, Xu Qingnian was a scholar, could he be a martial arts genius?
“It is mainly because of his character and also his talent, Old Zhao, you are just a reckless man with courage but no strategy, you need to study more.”
Hearing Zhao Yuan say this, Wu Ming’s heart got a little weak, and he hurriedly opened his mouth casually to explain.
He did not inform Zhao Yuan of Xu Qingnian’s martial arts talent, fearing that Zhao Yuan would steal the person from himself after discovering Xu Qingnian’s natural qualifications.
In the later years of the First Grade, it was imperative to find a suitable successor, as there was the factor of the Immortal Pill of Breaking the Realm, to cultivate a well-talented disciple, and if the other party could break through to the First Grade on their own, then it would be a bloody profit.
If they could not be trained, they would have to rely on the First Grade Realm-Breaking Immortal Pill.
And Xu Qingnian’s Martial Dao talent, in his eyes, far surpa*sed his Confucian Dao talent, possessing the First Grade qualification, such a person, if this was known by Zhao Yuan, it was estimated that Zhao Yuan would scold himself for not being something.
So he didn’t say anything, the fear of being scolded was secondary, the most important thing was the fear of Zhao Yuan robbing someone.
“Study? These two words coming out of your mouth, I somehow feel ridiculous, so don’t insult the readers.”
“Alright, you can see for yourself, but let me advise you, although this Xu Qingnian is famous, he is a scholar after all, you took him as your disciple, I think he has good qualifications.”
“I know what you’re thinking, but I should say that if you want a successor, I don’t think Xu Qingnian will work, so it’s better to find a new one.
Zhao Yuan spoke up, but he didn’t mean that he despised Xu Qingnian, but he thought that even if a scholar had good martial arts qualifications, how good could he be?
But he wasn’t stupid either, Wu Ming must have something to offer if he took Xu Qingnian as his disciple, but he felt that Wu Ming had drifted a bit this time anyway.
“Fine, fine, you’re right, I’ll go first, you should almost get ready to go to the Demon Realm too.”
“I always feel like it’s going to be uneventful lately, if there’s anything, feel free to get in touch.”
Wu Ming didn’t say much, instead he snickered in his heart, after all, Zhao Yuan being like this would be good for him.
At that moment, Zhao Yuan didn’t say anything more, and Wu Ming disappeared into the same place.
When Wu Ming disappeared, Zhao Yuan then muttered.
“Wait for some days, I would like to see how good this Xu Qingnian is, hey, if you don’t listen to the old man’s advice, you will suffer before your eyes.”
He muttered to himself, intending to take a trip to Xu Qingnian before he went to the Demon Domain some days later.
Let’s see just how strong Xu Qingnian was to make Wu Ming like this.
In the middle of the marquis’ residence.
Xu Qingnian arranged things and also made a trip to Chen Xinghe, informing him that he would leave at sunset and leave Great Wei’s Kyoto to travel in all directions, and that he might or might not go back.
Therefore, Chen Xinghe did not have to wait for him.
Chen Xinghe also knew that there were many things going on recently, although he did not know about most of them, but Chen Xinghe understood that Xu Qingnian was under pressure.
He didn’t say much and just told Xu Qingnian to pay some attention along the way.
After Xu Qingnian left, Chen Xinghe couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. He actually wanted to help Xu Qingnian, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the ability to do so.
He could only hope that he could win the examinations this time, so that he could really share some of the pressure for Xu Qingnian.
Thinking about this, Chen Xinghe felt a bit bad.
Why hadn’t he entered the ranking yet?
According to reason, he should have entered the rank long ago, but was he suppressed by Xu Qingnian?
With doubts, Chen Xinghe fell into deep thought.
And time pa*sed slowly.
Xu Qingnian also went to the Peach Blossom Nunnery and looked for the girl in white, without saying anything, just drank some wine and chatted with the girl in white, and then Xu Qingnian left.
However, the girl in white guessed that she was going to travel far away and took an amulet for herself. Compared to the dragon jade pendant given by the empress, the girl in white’s amulet was somewhat plain.
It was just that in Xu Qingnian’s eyes, both of them were a kind of ties, worrying for herself.
Xu Qingnian left without saying anything, it was not a parting of life and death, and there was no need to make it too sad.
One’s trip, is to become a saint, not to do anything.
It was until the midnight hour.
Xu Qingnian appeared at the entrance of Dongzhimen City.
Wu Ming arrived as promised and appeared beside Xu Qingnian.
“My disciple pays respects to my master.”
Xu Qingnian worshipped a little towards Wu Ming.
“Shouren, there is no need to be so polite between you and I. You must remember that I am a martial artist, so it is good to be casual.”
Wu Ming spoke, looking casual.
Xu Qingnian also just nodded, but if he was really allowed to be casual, he couldn’t be casual, he couldn’t possibly come and say, “Aiya, Old Wu, why did you just come?
“Master, let’s set off now.”
Xu Qingnian opened his mouth and said so.
“Good, how do we go? Are we going by carriage, or are we going by foot?”
Wu Ming asked.
“Master, I plan to go to these places, it’s still a bit troublesome to go by walking, how about directly teleporting?”
Xu Qingnian took out the map and spoke out like this, he had actually asked Wu Ming to go with him for another purpose, and that was Wu Ming’s instantaneous movement.
The Great Wei Dynasty was vast and boundless, so it was really difficult to go to some poor places on foot or by horse and cart.
Wu Ming took the map and looked at the few places marked by Xu Qingnian.
Most of them were bitterly cold places, and there was only one prosperous place, Jiangnan County.
“Good.”
Wu Ming nodded, before grabbing Xu Qingnian and disappearing into the spot.
Xu Qingnian picked a total of four places.
Desolate North, Huaixi, Turbid River, and Jiangnan County.
The Desert North was a place outside of the Seaside, Huaixi had the oldest humanities of the Great Wei, the Turbid River was a river that ran through half of the Central Continent and nurtured countless lives, and Jiangnan County was known as the place where the world’s talented people gathered.
Xu Qingnian and Wu Ming’s figures disappear.
At the same time.
In the middle of the capital of Great Wei, the Huai Ning King’s residence.
“Xu Qingnian is so close to becoming a saint, will our plan be implemented or not?”
“Now that the va*sal kings have lost their patience and the Great Wei Palace of Literature has broken away, if Xu Qingnian really becomes a saint, not to mention what will happen to him, the Great Wei Palace of Literature will certainly be badly hurt.”
“And at that time, the integration of the Immortal Sect’s power into Great Wei, for the Empress, dividing the power, can actually strengthen the power, and the clan kings all over Great Wei will be even less likely to make trouble.”
“For this matter, this king surrendered his military power, now it looks like it might be an empty one in the end, this king said before, this Xu Qingnian cannot be kept.”
“You don’t believe me, now look at him step by step he has become a climate, if Xu Qingnian really becomes a saint, this is a reverse trend to become a saint, the meaning is very different, the world’s clan kings will not dare to rebel even more.”
Prince Huining’s voice rang out.
He was really excited in his words.
He had been very calm, he had waited and worked hard for a long time to rebel, and he had endured the death of his own son in front of him, paying too high a price.
And even the military amulet was handed over. For a prince, the military amulet meant too much, and he was willing to hand it over because he thought that these people were from an unusual background and had extremely terrible means.
Sacrificing the military amulet and making every move.
But now they had held back again and again, waiting for the so-called opportunity, but they had failed time and again, and even watched Xu Qingnian rise to power, step by step.
Under such circumstances, how could he remain calm?
Xu Qingnian was on the verge of becoming a saint.
If no action was taken, it would be a fatal blow to the Great Wei Palace of Literature, and to him as well.
Someone has become a saint against all odds and has gained the public opinion of the world, and he is still young, a twenty-year-old saint, think of how terrifying that is?
So if we don’t take action now, it will be completely over.
Everything that was planned, gone to waste.
Prince Huining’s voice rang out.
The masked man, on the other hand, looked incomparably calm, and even waited for Prince Huaining to finish speaking this sentence before he even spoke.
“Your Majesty, don’t be anxious.”
“Everything is still under control, Xu Qingnian will not be able to become a saint.”
“Moreover, right now, when the First Grade appears, one must not act rashly, Your Majesty, rest a*sured that after the Palace of Literature is detached, you will find that Great Wei will fall into a true deadlock.”
“The entrance of the Immortal Gate will definitely be more terrifying than Your Majesty can imagine.”
“And it’s not just as simple as the entrance of the Immortal Sect, the Buddhist Sect has also set its eyes on Great Wei, and once the Palace of Literature breaks away, the demonic forces will also infiltrate, and it will definitely be a battle then.”
“Everyone wants a piece of the pie, and to Great Wei, these people are all jackals and tigers, the king only needs to wait, as soon as the time is ripe, the king can strike, and the va*sal kings everywhere will respond.”
The masked man replied.
He appeared confident in general and was in no hurry.
But Prince Huaining could not help but frown.
“The Buddhist clan is also going to intervene?”
Prince Huaining said curiously.
“En, the Buddhist Sect has always wanted to reach out to the Central Continent, but they have never had the right opportunity, the one they want to enter the most is the Great Wei, and with the Wen Palace breaking away, the Buddhist Sect will naturally not miss this opportunity.”
“Once they enter, it won’t take long for the fight between the Daoist Sect and the Buddhist Sect to tear apart within half a year, and if we interfere with it, it is estimated that the two churches will come to a point of no return.”
“Together with the Confucianism forces in Great Wei, the three religions will be fighting, and it will be difficult for the Great Wei Dynasty to think of peace.”
“And at this time, no matter what choice the empress makes, she will definitely leave the other two religions out in the cold, and at that time, the king will be able to step in, one to draw in, two to promise, plus the power of the va*sal kings everywhere.”
“As well as the gradual decline of the fortunes of the Great Wei state, there will certainly be many natural and man-made disasters, and when the time is ripe, it will be the time when the fortunes of the state are strengthened and the king ascends to the throne.”
“And at that time, our plans can truly be carried out.”
“Your Majesty, we have waited for decades, so why rush? There is a saying that if you want to be quick, you will not be able to achieve anything, the more so, the more patient we should be, any mistake now would be fatal for us.”
The masked man seriously analysed the matter, and at the same time, he was also advising Prince Huai Ning that he should not rush.
Hearing these words, Prince Huaining did fall silent.
It was.
No matter if what the masked man said was true or not, there was one thing he was right about: if one wanted to be quick, one would not be able to achieve it, after decades of suffering, if one rushed at this juncture, it would really be a fatal mistake.
Thinking of this, Prince Huaining calmed down, then bowed slightly towards the masked man and said.
“I hope your Excellency will forgive me, the king was a little excited just now.”
He took the initiative to apologise, not wishing to make the other party uncomfortable because of such things.
“No matter, as long as the king understands.”
The masked man spoke out, not caring.
At that moment, Prince Huaining didn’t say anything more.
And so it was.
In the blink of an eye.
It was the dawn hour.
What had happened in the Wen Palace of Great Wei had been spread throughout the whole of Great Wei yesterday, and compared to the greater Wei readers, they talked about it but did not say anything else.
The Palace of Literature had given orders not to say anything more, and Xu Qingnian was also extremely domineering and fierce, so naturally the readers of Great Wei had become much wiser.
But outside of Great Wei, the world’s Zhu Sheng lineage of readers was different.
“Ridiculous! While cursing Zhu Sheng, you want to become a saint with the help of the Twelve Holy Books? It’s a pity that the saint is not in the world. If the saint were to come back to life, he would kill this Xu Qingnian a thousand times over.”
“This Xu Qingnian is so shameless that he has humiliated my Zhu Sheng lineage in every way, and now he wants to become a saint by relying on the Twelve Holy Books? How dare you!”
“It’s a pity that the Vermilion Sage is not in the world, if he were, wouldn’t someone like Xu Qingnian exist?”
“I heard that on the day of the examination, Xu Qingnian used the harm of the Palace of Literature as the test question, a student of my Zhu Sheng lineage, who angrily rebuked Xu Qingnian, was beheaded by Xu Qingnian, such a person has lost himself when he got power, is he still a scholar? To exclude dissenters like that is simply not being a son of a man.”
“Zhu Sheng is not in the world, but his holy will is still there, he will definitely be able to hear it, and what we say, the saint will also sense it, if we push the Palace of Literature and invite the holy will to revive the saint’s true spirit, the saint will definitely reveal himself, and then it will be Xu Qingnian’s time to die.”
“Yes, I once read in an ancient book that although the saint has pa*sed away, his holy will can sense everyone who chants his name, we just need to tell the saint what Xu Qingnian has done, then the saint will definitely sense it, the more people who say it, the greater the possibility of sensing it.”
“The more people who say it, the more the saint will also sense it, and one day when the saint’s true spirit revives, what we and others say, he will instantly understand and thus strike out to suppress Xu Qingnian.”
“The sage is above, shameless Xu Qingnian, not a Confucian student, killed and slaughtered the city, deceived my literary palace, killed my great scholars and insulted my sage, deserves to die.”
There were so many curses from the readers that it was impossible for the story of Xu Qingnian almost becoming a saint yesterday not to spread.
The whole world knew about it, the people were shocked and sorry at the same time, the Sudden Evil Dynasty and the Primordial Yuan Dynasty were relieved, and as for the powerful people in other places, they were also relieved.
Even the superiors of other systems were relieved.
How many twenty-year-old saints have there been in the past and present? If one had emerged, Confucianism would have become even more supreme.
The only thing that puzzled many people was that, apart from Confucianism, all the superiors were afraid of Xu Qingnian becoming a saint, but why did the Confucian readers not want Xu Qingnian to become a saint either?
However, there were many voices that cursed Xu Qingnian, but there were also voices that supported Xu Qingnian.
“Xu Shouren is a great Confucian scholar, if he becomes a saint, it will benefit all the people of the world, but you, as scholars, are obstructing him because of some trivial matters.
“You are not angry at what Xu Ru said, you are jealous of Xu Ru’s talent. When did Xu Ru ever slander Zhu Sheng?
“It’s really a pandemonium, my generation of scholars should be benevolent and loving, but what I see from you is all selfishness, you are all ganging up on each other, turning good study into dynastic politics.
Some Confucian students, who were not from Zhu Sheng’s lineage, could not help but angrily rebuke, thinking that Zhu Sheng’s group of readers were completely insane.
There were even readers from Zhu Sheng’s lineage who couldn’t stand these people either.
Did Xu Qingnian insult Zhu Sheng? In fact, a careful investigation would reveal that from the beginning to the end, Xu Qingnian scolded individuals and never insulted Zhu Sheng.
A lot of things were imposed or a sin of slandering a saint was forcibly placed on them.
Then no matter what Xu Qingnian did, they would set it in that direction.
Once or twice, they just let it go, after all, they didn’t know what the specifics were.
But as time went on, plus they also went to find out more about it, these people really couldn’t help themselves and started to speak out for Xu Qingnian.
Most of the scholars, however, are of a follow-the-leader nature, and support whoever is loud, regardless of how things are, and whoever is powerful anyway.
To fit in better with this cla*s.
So it didn’t take long for such voices to ring out before they were angrily rebuked by the Zhu Sheng lineage in various ways.
“How dare you speak for a dog thief like Xu Qingnian? You are nothing but wanting to become his lapdog, how ridiculous, you think that Xu Qingnian will help you just because you are like this? You are really a white-eyed wolf. How much has the Great Wei Palace of Literature taught you? How many books of the saints have you read?”
“Now you actually go to help a traitor, to help someone who doesn’t even respect the saints, are you still a human being?”
“Gentlemen, detain such a person in the academy and punish him to kneel down to the statue of the saint in the academy for ten days and ten nights.”
“Yes, kneel for ten days and ten nights, so that he can change his ways.”
The power of the Zhu Sheng lineage was most terrifying, and those readers who supported Xu Qingnian, or spoke out for him, were at this moment attacked by countless Zhu Sheng lineage readers.
In the end, they were even taken to the academy and forced to kneel and kowtow to the sage.
For a while, many of the scholars who supported Xu Qingnian were subjected to an undeserved disaster, and even some old Confucians, who were already very old, were taken to kneel down.
Such humiliation made these scholars so ashamed that they wanted to commit suicide.
But these people did not even give him the chance to kill himself, taking turns to stare at him, holding him up with wooden sticks, and kneeling so hard before the icon.
This kept happening, and for a while, it led to numerous controversies, and many people within the Palace of Literature could not bear to see it, and when it reached the Great Wei Palace of Literature, it resounded with many voices of great anger.
This was considered too ridiculous. They allowed the world’s scholars to bash Xu Qingnian, which was freedom of speech.
But it was also freedom of speech for others to speak up for Xu Qingnian, yet they were punished in such a way, which was unfair.
So many great scholars wrote a petition, hoping that the Palace of Literature would step in and not let this kind of thing continue to fester.
But it was not until the following day that Hong Sheng gave his response.
No lynching may be used, but those who disrespect the saints and kneel down to worship them are not considered torture.
This was Hong Sheng’s response.
When this response was given, some of the great scholars in the Palace of Literature, who had been somewhat shaken, were completely frozen at this moment.
This response was almost as good as writing in support.
This would only lead to more of this kind of thing happening everywhere.
It would cause great wrongdoing, so these great scholars are here to write a petition, hoping that Hong Sheng will think twice.
But what they got was still a cold reply.
“For a Confucian to disrespect a saint is considered a great sin, and the punishment of kneeling is already a light punishment.”
When this answer appeared.
The scholars of the Zhu Sheng lineage under heaven were completely liberal, before they were indeed rather worried whether it was a bit too much?
But now that the Palace of Literature had said so, naturally they were no longer afraid.
Some of the scholars of the Zhu Sheng lineage even had bad thoughts, slandering those they usually hated, saying that they also supported Xu Qingnian, and that they would be arrested and punished in front of the holy statue, and if they did not obey, they would be punched and kicked.
The local officials did not dare to intervene, as this was, after all, a matter between the scholars.
All in all.
There was a lot of unrest.
It is not that this did not happen, but it happened once, and the Ministry of Punishment was the first to act, treating the scholars as bullies and reporting them to the Ministry of Punishment in Kyoto.
After verification by the Da Lisi, those who had been reported yesterday were beheaded today, so the readers of Great Wei learned a lesson.
This is Kyoto, Xu Qingnian’s home turf, you can make a scene outside, but you dare to make a scene here? Unless you think you’re alive.
And at this moment.
The northern part of the desert.
Xu Qingnian walked among the mountains and rivers, looking at a desolate mountain, silent.
He had been sitting here in meditation for two days.
Sensing the nature of heaven and earth.
Pondering his own holy path as well.
The Twelve Books of the Vermilion Sage had allowed him to enlighten himself about the Sacred Path, but Xu Qingnian wanted to step out of his own Sacred Path.
Reveal the meaning!
Re-establish his words!
Re-write the book!
Re-think the central idea.
To overturn and start again is the hardest thing in the world, to complete sublimation and reform on top of the original foundation, it is difficult.
Even if it is the first step, re-explaining the meaning.
Xu Qingnian fell into a two-day-long meditation.
Before he had understood the Sacred Way, two years was not even long.
But after knowing the Sacred Way, two days was indeed a long time.
It was logical that one should be able to understand everything in one go, thus becoming a saint.
However, Xu Qingnian fell into contemplation and doubt at this step.
Revealing the meaning?
What was the clear intention?
His previous clear intention was to unite knowledge and action, and to achieve conscience.
But what was the current clear intention?
The clear intention is simple to understand.
It is to understand what you want to do next, what you want to do.
After understanding what you want to do, you can then implement it.
But the problem was that Xu Qingnian really did not know what he wanted to do.
Killing all of the Zhu Sheng lineage?
It was not that it could not be done, but heaven and earth did not allow it either.
Probing the Vermilion Saint lineage?
Sorry, it can’t be done.
The Vermilion Saint lineage is already mad, so converting them? Then it would be better to convert the demons, at least there is a possibility.
Five hundred years of accumulation, five hundred years of change, is it possible to convert them?
Besides, even if one could probate, how horrible a price would one pay?
Xu Qingnian wanted to become a saint, but not to become a holy mother.
Time pa*sed slowly.
Another day had pa*sed.
Xu Qingnian walked in the middle of the Desolate Mountains, aimlessly.
Soon, several figures appeared, all middle-aged men carrying bamboo baskets, people who were picking medicine or digging mines in the mountains and rivers
When these men saw Xu Qingnian, they couldn’t help but show their curiosity. After all, this kind of place was uninhabited, and Xu Qingnian looked like a scholar, so how did he come here?
“Sir, are you lost?”
A medicine picker spoke up and asked Xu Qingnian, mistakenly thinking that Xu Qingnian had gotten lost.
“No, just looking at the scenery, are you all?”
Xu Qingnian smiled and answered the other party.
“Oh, it’s good that you’re not lost.”
“We’re medicine pickers and diggers.”
The latter laughed nervously, relieved to learn that Xu Qingnian was not lost.
“Picking medicine and digging mines? This kind of place is too remote, easily a hundred miles away and uninhabited, do you need to come so far away?”
Xu Qingnian became curious and couldn’t help but ask.
“Sir, you don’t know, it’s good to be far away, there’s not much competition, and some good medicines and mines are hidden in these deep mountains, if we find some good ones, we can sell a few more silver taels for my children’s private school.”
The other man continued, while his companion paused for a short rest.
“Private school, may I ask your Excellency, how old is your child?”
Xu Qingnian opened his mouth to ask, it was fate to meet in a place like this.
Naturally, he wanted to ask.
“If I don’t earn some silver this year, I won’t be able to read next year.”
The man said with some reverence, as the common people had a respectful attitude towards scholars.
“Nine and a half years old? That’s a bit old indeed.” Xu Qingnian smiled and at the end, he took out a folding fan and handed it to the latter, “Meeting each other is fate, this is my folding fan, take it back and give it to the local magistrate, they will help your child to attend private school.”
Xu Qingnian laughed, while the latter was a little surprised, and the rest of the people were even more surprised.
“Sir, is this serious?”
The latter swallowed his saliva and said.
“Naturally, it’s true.”
Xu Qingnian nodded, while the crowd immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed towards Xu Qingnian, they did not know if it was true or not, but looking at Xu Qingnian’s appearance, they inexplicably felt that Xu Qingnian would not lie to anyone.
So they kowtowed repeatedly.
“Thank you sir, thank you sir, I also hope that you will tell me your name, when my children have success in their studies in the future, when they become officials and earn silver, they will definitely not forget the kindness of you.”
When this was said, Xu Qingnian was slightly stunned, but he didn’t say much, instead he helped the people up and left with his own master.
The two men left straight away, leaving these people somewhat at a loss for words.
And the next moment, in the mountain, Xu Qingnian spoke up.
“Master, let’s go to the next place.”
“En.”
Wu Ming had been guarding Xu Qingnian from beginning to end, and had not said a word about Xu Qingnian’s enlightenment.
As with the martial dao, one’s own path, one’s own path, what others taught, was ultimately someone else’s stuff.
So Wu Ming did not choose to point out anything, nor did he understand the Confucian Way.
A quarter of an hour later.
Xu Qingnian came to Huaixi, from the extreme north of Great Wei, and then to the extreme west.
Huaixi had the oldest human history in Central China, and there were many rumours.
These days Xu Qingnian did not ponder the clear meaning in his heart.
Instead, he wandered around the land of Huaixi like a tourist, visiting the Temple of the Human Emperor, swimming in the Huaixi River, seeing the ancient capital of ten thousand years, and wandering through the streets.
This walk lasted another three days.
“Master, let’s change places.”
Three days of wandering did not bring Xu Qingnian much help, but Xu Qingnian was in no hurry, instead, he changed to another place and continued his sense of understanding.
The third place was Turbid River County.
The origin point of countless lives in the Middle Continent, Xu Qingnian arrived at the Turbid River.
The rolling river rushed down, which is the way of nature. Standing on the river bank, the sand and mud under his feet was a little soft, and the wind was strong on the bank, and the fishermen nearby were carrying their things to their homes.
When they saw Xu Qingnian, they even made a point of reminding him to pay attention, as a storm was coming.
Xu Qingnian smiled faintly and thanked the fisherman, but he did not leave.
Instead, he quietly waited for the storm to descend.
Indeed, within a quarter of an hour, the storm came.
The fierce wind blew Xu Qingnian’s clothes to a rustle, and Wu Ming beside him looked silent.
The dome of the sky was instantly darkened, and everything seemed to have gone silent.
Boom.
A thousand-foot lightning bolt appeared, accompanied by a deafening roar.
The river water surged even more, and Xu Qingnian, who was on the shore, took a few steps backwards slightly.
Clatter!
Rain fell, instantly wetting Xu Qingnian’s clothes.
Looking up.
The sky was like ink and the rain was pouring down.
Rain is born in the sky and dies in the earth, and the process in between is life.
All things in heaven and earth have their own natural ways, and everyone has their own meaning of life.
Xu Qingnian quietly stood by.
In the blink of an eye, another day has pa*sed.
This was the seventh day.
Xu Qingnian did not leave, but stayed here, quietly, for two days.
It was until the ninth day.
Finally, Xu Qingnian moved.
“Master, let’s change to the next place.”
Xu Qingnian spoke up and went to the last place.
Jiangnan County.
The land of the Great Wei Talents.
Wu Ming did not speak, but instead, as before, pulled Xu Qingnian and disappeared directly into the spot.
The fisherman in the distance, somewhat surprised, rubbed his eyes, unable to believe the scene. He called out to the bystanders, telling them about the strange sight he had seen just now, but no one believed him.
Only, someone did know that two people were here just now, but no one would believe what he said.
Jiangnan County, Smoky Cloud Mansion.
Inside the capital, the aura of talent is indeed pervasive, and the place of the number one talent in Great Wei is indeed true to its name.
Xu Qingnian was travelling alone, with Wu Ming protecting him in the shadows, unwilling to come out.
In the middle of the street.
Xu Qingnian walked quietly as people came and went.
It was the ninth day.
For some reason, Xu Qingnian did not feel any sense of urgency, but instead, he was calm.
As she walked through the streets, many people looked at Xu Qingnian from time to time. After all, although Xu Qingnian had restrained herself, her temperament and appearance were there.
There were even a number of maids who came and brought some incense pouches and some tokens, and some of the foreigners’ daughters took a liking to Xu Qingnian and wanted to have a long talk with her.
In the face of these, Xu Qingnian could not help but smile bitterly, and after politely declining each of them, she disappeared into the crowd.
From this street to another.
The Yan Yun Mansion was extremely busy, and there were people everywhere.
It was only when Xu Qingnian was pa*sing through an alleyway that he saw a rather abrupt scene.
A roll of straw mats was laid out on the street, and there were people standing around, talking about something.
“Poor Mr. Li, he studied for forty years and failed to get a place in the examinations. When he was young, he had a secret love affair with Zhou’s daughter, but he had this fate but no share, forty years of hard study, all he got in return was a roll of straw mats.”
“Yes, Mr. Li is a good man. Although he did not have a reputation, he was self-reliant, and in addition to studying, he worked as a casual worker and taught the children of his neighbours to read and write.
“Let’s not talk about it, let’s first deal with Mr. Li’s afterlife, think about Mr. Li, he is also pitiful, when he was young, he actually had a chance, his close friends at that time, they all worshipped the lineage of the saints, and within a few years they won the examination, Mr. Li is just too old-fashioned, he doesn’t know how to adapt, if he had lowered his head and begged his friends, maybe it wouldn’t be like this now.”
People murmured and neighbours spoke up.
But soon, someone spoke up.
“What do you know, where is Mr. Li being old-fashioned? Mr. Li said that a scholar should behave like a scholar, and that studying is to understand and teach the truth for the benefit of the people, not to get promoted and get rich.”
“This is what a true scholar is, don’t compare yourself to the current bunch of readers, of course, Lord Xu Qingnian Xu doesn’t count.”
“That’s right, Mr. Li is not an old-fashioned man, if you want to talk about old-fashionedness, when we encountered troubles and couldn’t solve them, didn’t Mr. Li go to the county office to help us deal with them?”
“Poor Mr. Li, before he died, he said he wanted to save a little and just find a place to bury him, alas, such a true scholar died like this, I really feel bad for Mr. Li.”
“Yes, before he died, Mr. Li even said that he would sell the house and give the things inside to our neighbours.
A few dozens of neighbours said one thing and another
After listening to these words again, Xu Qingnian was somewhat silent, he walked over, looked at the straw mat and bowed towards the deceased.
When the neighbours saw this scene, they didn’t say anything, subconsciously thinking that Xu Qingnian was a friend of Mr. Li’s. After all, Xu Qingnian looked like a scholar and came to offer his condolences.
Just as they were about to ask something, someone carried something out of the room.
It was some books that had spilled onto the floor.
Xu Qingnian picked them up.
The books were all very old and when they were opened, lines of writing appeared.
‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, Zhou’s child came to learn to read and write, and halfway through teaching him, the child stole and played and did not want to learn, I asked him why he did not want to read, and Er told me that his parents said that it was useless to read even if one was good, and that, like me, one would rather peddle shoes, I was stunned at the words, and then laughed.’
“On the 19th of July, I bought a new pair of shoes, the market price was twelve, the shopkeeper gave me ten, I thought that the shopkeeper remembered that I was a student and was willing to pay less, but later I learned that the shopkeeper said that I had studied so poorly that I couldn’t bear to earn two spare money, I was a bit emotional, I wanted to give the shopkeeper two spare money, but then I thought that I had also taken advantage of it, it was not bad, why should I be calculating? ”
“I was not talented enough to write three poems, but one did not win, so I was not happy, but I enjoyed the moon and was not happy.
“On the 17th of September, the price of oil and rice went up, and there was not enough money left, so I wanted to collect money by teaching, but I did not feel ashamed, all of them are suffering people, preaching and receiving, and how to ask for it, so I gave up, and went to Qiaotou to do suffering, the big deal is to be laughed at again, Li Ping, Li Ping, you are obviously also a suffering person, but you cannot see others suffering, you are fit to be a poor scholar.”
“On October 8, a fellow student came back and became an official, many people I knew and didn’t know went over to support the event, my best friend asked me to go over to celebrate the colour, I refused, but my best friend said this fellow student was giving out silver, I got up and went, but I didn’t prepare any gift, the fellow student was nice, gave me a happy money, ten wen, and also gave some meat, a good person ah. ”
“On October 22, it was going to rain heavily, and the clothes of several families next door were confiscated. I went out to inform my neighbours, but I learnt that they had just washed them, and it did not matter. I turned back, and the rain poured down, soaking my whole body, which was a bit ridiculous.
“On the first of November, I thought for a long time, “I have been reading for forty years, what do I mean by that? When I was struggling to understand, I listened to the sound of children laughing and selling on the street, and when I pushed the window to see the street was bustling, I smiled, still unable to understand, but I seemed to understand something again, and I was inexplicably happy, so I took the three spare pieces of money and went to buy wine.”
This is the diary.
A line appeared, and Xu Qingnian was a little lost in thought as he read it.
Some simple words made Xu Qingnian inexplicably see a poor scholar.
Also saw a true scholar …….
A man who loves money but is not greedy for it.
One who has seven emotions and six desires but always stays optimistic.
A scholar who is clearly suffering himself, but whose heart aches for other suffering people.
For a moment.
Xu Qingnian was touched.
He froze in place, and his gaze could not help but fall on top of the straw mat.
At this moment.
He inexplicably understood something.
