Chapter 261: Chapter 199: The Learning of the Mind Manifests, a Great Era Is Coming, Forging a Sacred Path for Future Scholars

In the Great Yan Capital City, dark clouds blotted out the sky.

A Golden Lotus, condensed from boundless Golden Light, bloomed between heaven and earth, a sight as stunning as the creation of the world itself.

The Dao Golden Lotus was as solid as refined gold, perfectly whole and flawless, formed from the world’s purest Vast Righteous Qi.

The terrifying phenomenon of the Confucian Golden Lotus drew the Mountain Masters from academies all across Great Yan, and countless streams of light appeared in the sky above.

"My mind is the principle."

The scholars kneeling at the gates of the Imperial City, the high-ranking officials in their manors, the students studying in Shengjing Academy—upon hearing this voice of the Great Dao, every single one of them revealed looks of utter shock.

"Who has comprehended a new school of thought!"

"The source seems to be within the Imperial Palace!"

"Truly, Celestial Protection is upon Great Yan! For a new school to be born within our lands!"

Within Shengjing Academy.

Two men sat facing each other, a tea set laid out between them.

One was a middle-aged man with a clean-shaven, fair face and an exceptionally refined, scholarly air. He had the bearing of a Great Scholar, and his large hands were stroking a zither. The scene was picturesque, filled with the rhythm of the Dao, as if the Wenqu Star itself had descended to the mortal world.

The other was an old man in a blue Confucian Shirt, holding a chess piece. His white beard flowed, and he possessed a natural authority without being angry. Vast Energy surrounded him in a three-foot radius, shining like the bright day and making it impossible for ordinary evils to approach. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

These two were none other than Tantai Ming and Qi Xingyan.

Back during their time at the Confucian Temple, Qi Xingyan and Tantai Ming were old acquaintances.

Tantai Ming had held the position of Imperial Censor at the Confucian Temple and was also one of its Seventy-two Saints, a station of great prestige.

Tantai Ming gazed at the Confucian Dao phenomenon in the sky, then his eyes moved to Qi Xingyan. He smiled and said, "A new school has manifested, and a new great era is upon us. Xingyan, perhaps there’s hope for you to achieve a Breaking Realm?"

Qi Xingyan lowered his hand and sighed. "One can only hope. But the birth of a new school is ultimately a good thing for Great Yan. It increases our chances of seizing the Celestial Mandate by a fraction."

He looked at Tantai Ming and asked, "I heard you contacted Prince Jin?"

Tantai Ming chuckled softly. "Indeed. A certain someone was interested in him, but it seems he didn’t last until the end. Don’t worry, it was merely a tactic to make the tiger devour the wolf."

"Any sign of Xun Yu?"

Tantai Ming shook his head. "None. He’s learned to be clever, lying low and showing no sign of making a move. I suspect he’s hiding somewhere."

"Enough about him. You should be more concerned about yourself. Your reputation in the Capital City, Master Qi, doesn’t seem to be very good."

"Are you really willing to go this far for that boy?"

Qi Xingyan smiled faintly. "When you’ve lived as long as I have, what does reputation matter? As long as I can maintain peace in Great Yan, what does infamy count for?"

His tone turned into a sigh. "Great Yan can’t drag on like this any longer. The struggle of the Ninth Son for the throne is constantly draining Great Yan’s strength from within. If this continues, the rifts between the Three Religions will only grow. When will it ever end?"

"If this continues, I fear the Celestial Mandate of the next cycle of Reincarnation will fall into other hands."

Tantai Ming took a sip of tea. "This is the Saint’s will. How can you and I interfere? The one currently holding the position of Vice Sect Leader is Zhu An. His relationship with the Taoist Sect and the Buddhist Sect has always been mediocre. The poor relations between the Three Religions are nothing new."

Qi Xingyan said calmly, "That is why I must speak with Your Majesty."

Tantai Ming raised his eyes, his tone a mild warning. "I would advise you not to do that."

"Why?"

Tantai Ming advised tactfully, "What you are doing now is already enough. If you interfere further, I’m afraid you will offend Lu Yunqing, and more importantly, the Zhu Zi who backs him."

...

「Inside Qingzhu Hall.」

A terrifying gale kicked up loose stones, creating a scene of dreadful desolation, while the robes on Chen Ke’s body whipped and snapped in the wind.

"The mind. When a person possesses it, they live. When they lose it, they die."

"If my mind is self-sufficient, then my nature is self-sufficient, and my principles are self-sufficient."

Chen Ke sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, completely still, having already entered a state of sudden enlightenment.

Beneath the terrifying celestial phenomenon, Lu Mingyuan’s expression was calm. He was neither surprised nor panicked; on the contrary, he was more serene than ever before.

He began to ponder.

’The Learning of the Mind, by Master Wang Yangming, is another peak of the Confucian Family’s schools of thought—and its final one.’

’In a way, it ended the millennia-old debate over the nature of good and evil.’

’Is man inherently good or inherently evil? It all depends on one’s own perspective. Different people in different circumstances will have different answers. Therefore, good and evil reside within the heart.’

’The Learning of the Mind taught people to distinguish good from evil, to know right from wrong, giving every scholar the qualification to become one of the Saints and Sages.’

’The heavenly principle exists within every person’s heart. What people must do is let this inner principle flourish, while suppressing and eliminating all wicked and deviant principles.’

’It’s not surprising that it could cause such a huge commotion.’

"To witness the birth of a new school in my lifetime... This old man can now die without regrets."

At the entrance to the Imperial Palace, Wang He’fu, the Great Yan Prime Minister, was on his way to the Cabinet. Sitting inside his sedan chair, he clenched his fists, gazing at the Golden Lotus phenomenon in the sky through the window. His voice was filled with emotion. Even after a lifetime of weathering countless storms, at this moment, he could not help but be shaken.

A supreme new school.

This meant a new path would emerge for the Confucian Dao, a path destined to ensure its prosperity for ten thousand years.

This was an echo that would resonate for eternity.

It was forging a glorious, sacred path for future generations.

Wang He’fu looked toward the source of the surging Vast Righteous Qi, a hint of bewilderment appearing in his eyes. "It’s just that... this direction is very familiar. Could it be...?"

As if he had thought of something, he lifted the curtain of the sedan and ordered his servant, "We are no longer going to the Cabinet. Head to Qingzhu Hall."

RUMBLE!

The commotion in the sky grew even greater. At that moment, the Confucian Golden Lotus resonated with Chen Ke, and beam after beam of golden radiance erupted from it.

A terrifying light burst forth from the Confucian Golden Lotus. The first Dao Seal of the Confucian path shot down and struck Chen Ke, causing his aura to surge dramatically.