Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 981 - 809: Looking Down Upon Heaven and Earth (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)_2

Chapter 981: Chapter 809: Looking Down Upon Heaven and Earth (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)_2

The gray-haired elderly Confucianist then glared at Li Xuan with eyes like smoldering fires and continued to stare at him, "I wonder if Prince Fenyang dares to accept this challenge?"

Despite the defeated expressions on the faces of several grand scholars behind him, they showed no fear whatsoever.

Li Xuan, however, met the old Confucianist’s gaze with a cold and distant look, the exchange of their glances sparking a seeming clash.

Duke Yansheng Kong Xuande quietly approached Li Xuan’s side and whispered, "Your Highness, I can call the soldiers to come and forcibly drive this old man away."

Li Xuan turned and glared at Kong Xuande, then broke into a dismissive laugh, "What is there to fear? Elder Master Yan, I respect you as an elderly, a grand scholar with deep roots in our Confucianism, and I do not wish to see you throw your life away recklessly. But if you insist on challenging me this way, you are free to do so."

At his words, Yan Jiu and the many grand scholars present were visibly invigorated.

Minister of Rites Hu Ying frowned and said, "This is improper! Prince Fenyang is known for his flawless Haoqi Liuli, recognized by all; why call upon the spirits of the ancient sages to verify this? It is absurd."

He was reluctant to see the old Minister of Shangshu replaced, yet he was even more unwilling to see Li Xuan brought down by these obstinate scholars.

In Minister of Rites Hu Ying’s heart, although he considered Li Xuan’s works on "Explore and Rectify Thing," "Debate" as compliments to Confucianism’s shortcomings, the texts on "Physics," "Geometry," "Mathematics," "National Policy" were indeed practical academic studies. Still, the Great Sage and the sages of pre-Qin Confucianism might not approve of his theories.

And this current Hufa of Neo-Confucianism had become the face of Neo-Confucianism and a pillar of The Court.

Should his theories be rejected by Confucianism, it could trigger tremendous turmoil throughout the court and the nation.

"There’s nothing improper about it," Li Xuan scoffed dismissively, "If they want to test, let them test."

These entrenched scholars indeed had no way out, but neither could Li Xuan afford to show any hint of insecurity in his scholarship; did he have any way out either?

At that moment, Li Xuan noticed the figure of Lv Qiluo not far away.

The woman, unbeknownst to him, had come from Shen Nong Institution and was now standing on a nearby rooftop, gazing at him.

Li Xuan glanced at the woman, then indifferently withdrew his gaze, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor calm and confident.

His relaxed and self-assured mindset stemmed from his Haoqi, scholarship, current political achievements, and military honors, which were never dependent on the spirits in the Confucius Temple.

If the Great Sage and the many pre-Qin sages could not recognize his theories and principles, then Li Xuan would establish his own school, distinct from Confucianism!

At most, the situation would become somewhat more challenging in the future; he, Li Xuan, would need to invest more time and effort to establish his own doctrine.

Li Xuan firmly believed that the future victory would belong to him, not to those spirit tablets within the temple.

Lv Qiluo, however, remained composed and devoid of any concern.

Instead, her eyes gleamed with a mocking light as she observed the numerous scholars below.

Lv Qiluo knew that over this past year, Li Xuan’s Haoqi cultivation had improved further.

As someone who planned and prepared ahead, especially during his threats to dismiss the ancient scholar of Shangshu and reform Spring and Autumn Annals, she had anticipated resistance from within Confucianism and prepared a contingency plan.

Were these spirits within the temple truly capable of refuting him so easily?

These entrenched scholars were simply too naïve—

Yan Jiu and the other ten or so entrenched scholars, oblivious to this, sat down in front of the Confucius Temple with solemn and serious expressions, beginning to recite the scriptures.

"The Master said, ’Is it not delightful to study and practice what you have learned? Is it not satisfying to have friends come from afar? Is it not gentlemanly to be untroubled when others do not recognize your capabilities—’"

They read from "The Analects of Confucius," which is the fundamental doctrine of Confucianism.

Although the Great Sage’s life’s works were "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "The Six Classics," all the essential doctrines and principles of Confucianism were in "The Analects of Confucius."

As these grand scholars recited, the spirits of many sages within the temple indeed responded in harmony.

The entire Confucius Temple was gradually enshrouded in a layer of red radiance.

Before the Wen Temple, on the street frequented by over a thousand Confucian students, including those who had emerged from the nearby Guozi Bureau and others who had been drawn by the commotion, everyone wore solemn expressions.

Their emotions were indescribable—some were expectant, some were excited, and still others were uneasy.

"—The Master said, ’Is it not he who could adjudicate lawsuits with a few words?’ Zilu made no promise. The Master said, ’In hearing litigation, I am like any other man. Must I not also have those with no litigation?’"

Upon reading this sentence, Yan Jiu gave Li Xuan a cold look once again. Then, his whole body burst into flames.

"Above me, spirit of the ancient sages of Confucianism, disciple Yan Jiu today sacrifices himself in pursuit of the Dao, using his life and soul to plead to you, true spirits, to descend to this world and verify the truth of this man’s Confucian Dao!"

Following him, over ten longstanding Confucianists transformed into flames reaching the skies.

In that moment, more than two hundred surges of Haoqi also soared from within the Wen Temple!

At The Fourth Gate, Confucian cultivators could achieve ’Long-lasting Vast Qi.’

The seventy-two sages and ten philosophers under the Great Sage, as well as the grand scholars revered in the Confucius Temple from all generations, all possessed heavenly level cultivation.

Their left-behind Vast Qi gathered into a column that surged towards the heavens.

Li Xuan, however, merely smiled slightly. He swung his robe sleeve and a stream of flawless, pure white Haoqi shot straight into the sky.

"My Dao, which has passed through the ages and is applied in practice, conforms to the heavenly times and illuminates the ancient and the present, commanding a view between heaven and earth!"

At this moment, his Haoqi was radiant and in no way inferior to the Pillar of Haoqi inside the Wen Temple.

Minister of Rites Hu Ying slightly widened his eyes as he observed the top of Li Xuan’s crystal pillar, which began to show a golden red hue, and a huge character for ’principle’ (理) appeared above it, slowly transforming.

Watching this scene, Hu Ying felt as though his heart was fiercely gripped.

He thought Li Xuan’s Haoqi had actually advanced to this stage.

—This was clearly ’Haoqi uniting with Dao’! A feat that, according to legend, only a true Saint, the Great Sage himself, could achieve.

The Rule of Extreme Heaven that Prince Fenyang was currently condensing was likely to be earth-shattering!

At this time, Li Xuan’s pupils emitted a reddish-gold light as he surveyed the many Confucianists and students from the Guozi Bureau gathered in front of the Confucius Temple,

"The path of learning should advance with the times. I do not know what the future holds, but in today’s world, those who do not agree with my teachings are all heretics!"

Just at this moment, suddenly, the sounds of phoenixes harmonizing echoed between heaven and earth.

From within the Wen Temple, more than twenty beams of Haoqi light surged towards Li Xuan, swirling around him.

And the many Confucianists were stirred, murmuring among themselves.

"That’s Wen Zhonglie, Prince Fenyang’s mentor of generations back."

"It’s Xunzi! Xunzi acknowledges Prince Fenyang’s teachings."

"Master Yu! Look, Master Yu’s principle and the County Prince’s principle shine together."

"That’s Zixia, one of the ten philosophers!"

"It’s Master Hengqu!"

"Mencius, that must be Mencius’s Haoqi."

"That’s Dong Zhongshu, Dongzi—"

Those dozen or so Confucianists, now ablaze, watched the scene, their hearts as if turned to ashes.

Yet, they still clung to one last hope, gazing inside the Wen Temple.

At this moment, there was still no movement from the Great Sage and his wise disciples below him.