Confucian and Taoist scholar

When news of Lu Zheng's arrival at Jixia Academy spread, many people went to the mountain gate out of curiosity, hoping to see Lu Zheng.

Recently, Lu Zheng's reputation has been soaring at the Jixia Academy, and some of the comments about him have even caused debates among the various schools of thought within the academy.

Some schools of thought believe that Lu Zheng's remarks are too extreme and do not conform to the way of sages, while others believe that they have merit and cannot be considered deviant.

Such debates stirred up a storm after the second journal on thought was delivered to the academy.

The younger generation of students, in particular, were very curious about what exactly the Taiping World that Lu Zheng was establishing in the Northern Region was all about.

Upon hearing that Lu Zheng had arrived, some students immediately put down their studies and eagerly wanted to see what was going on.

When some Confucian and Taoist scholars from the academy gathered at the mountain gate, Lu Zheng was still there discussing with a group of people the ideals of a peaceful and prosperous world.

Many of the statements contained content that was completely contrary to the rules of the dynasty, making ordinary people feel terrified, as if treasonous words were nothing more than this.

Scholars from the academy frowned upon hearing this. What was Lu Zheng trying to do by spreading such ideas outside the Jixia Academy? Did he want to stir up trouble?
Those who don't know the situation might think that the Jixia Academy also agrees with Lu Zheng's principles and wants to establish a system of public ownership and equal governance, thus eliminating certain people from the system.

Some people wanted to stop Lu Zheng from giving a long talk here, as it was affecting the academic atmosphere of the Jixia Academy.

But he didn't want to do it himself, fearing he might make a fool of himself, so he secretly instructed others to interrupt Lu Zheng's speech.

However, at this moment, Lu Zheng was radiating righteous energy, and the people around him listened to his speech with surprise and curiosity, and no one dared to interrupt him.

Standing to the side, Meng Shouyi couldn't help but touch his nose, feeling inexplicably as if someone was coming to cause trouble.

To be honest, Meng Shouyi listened with great interest and felt that many of Lu Zheng's words were not without reason.

When the academy's teachers arrived and saw this scene at the mountain gate, their expressions changed slightly.

Taking advantage of a pause in Lu Zheng's speech, the academy teacher said loudly, "Since we have a guest from afar, please invite this young friend to sit in our academy."

Lu Zheng said calmly, "I am currently imparting knowledge and answering questions. There are priorities, and there is no need to rush. Senior, you don't need to worry about me."

Upon hearing this, the academy teacher's eyes flashed with unease. He thought to himself, "This young man really doesn't know how to read the occasion or how to respect his elders. He actually refused like that."

With so many people in front of him, and the visitor being the renowned Lu Zheng, the teacher couldn't afford to show any displeasure.

He was even a little shocked by the sheer amount of righteousness emanating from Lu Zheng, a quality that probably even surpassed that of the Confucian scholars at the Jixia Academy who specialized in cultivating righteousness.

A moment later, another figure flew out from the depths of the Jixia Academy.

As everyone looked over, many recognized the newcomer.

"Chancellor!"

"Chancellor Yan!"

……

Immediately, some people began to pray.

Some people were surprised to see that even the chief priest had come forward, but they were also relieved.

Yan Jue floated over, her gaze falling on Lu Zheng.

It had only been a short time since they parted ways. Lu Zheng's arrival here was quite unexpected.

He thought Lu Zheng would be too busy in the Northern Region to travel far away.

Lu Zheng's sudden arrival at Jixia Academy left Yan Jue momentarily puzzled as to his purpose.

Before Yan Jue could say anything, Lu Zheng first bowed respectfully and said, "This junior greets Chief Instructor Yan. This Chief Instructor has been to the Taiping Domain. If you do not believe me, please tell me about the situation there!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at Yan Jue with surprise.

Even many teachers and students at the Jixia Academy were unaware of this matter.

Suddenly, Yan Jue's calm demeanor faded, and she looked at Lu Zheng with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

This young man, upon arriving at the Jixia Academy, put the chief priest in a very difficult position.

Faced with so many people's gazes, Yan Jue couldn't ignore them, so she simply recounted what she had seen and heard, which was not much different from the scene described by Lu Zheng.

This surprised many people.

Even the headmaster of the Jixia Academy said so, so there really is such a peaceful place in the world.

Afterwards, Yan Jue gestured for Lu Zheng to enter the academy.

This time, Lu Zheng did not refuse. After all, the time was ripe, and it would be impolite to stay any longer to promote anything.

Yan Jue waved his hand to summon Caiyun, who then took Lu Zheng away alone.

Before long, the two landed on a green hill in the academy.

Yan Jue looked at Lu Zheng and couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle, "You really are a surprise to me. I didn't expect you to have time to come here..."

Lu Zheng said softly, "I should have arrived here a few days ago, but some things on the way delayed me."

"Ok?"

Yan Jue's eyes flickered slightly. "What is it?"

Lu Zheng slowly said, "I've never been to Qi before, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to see the local customs and culture. Along the way..."

"I saw frustrated scholars, elderly people over seventy who still had to go up the mountain to scavenge for food, babies abandoned by the roadside because they couldn't afford to raise them, cannibalistic demons hiding in the city, and powerful people who committed murder without being punished..."

Lu Zheng said in a low voice, "We saved some people and punished some bastards along the way, which took up some time."

Yan Jue remained silent for a while, then said slowly, "There is always too much suffering in this world."

Lu Zheng sighed, "Yes, there are so many that I can't possibly handle them all. But since we've encountered them, we can't just ignore them. After all, sitting idly by doesn't align with the teachings of the sages, does it? What does the Chancellor think?"

Yan Jue said, "That is indeed the case."

Looking at the Jixia Academy, which resembled a dreamlike fairyland, Lu Zheng couldn't help but smile.

"The Jixia Academy is a wonderful place, where the spirit of Confucianism and Taoism flourishes. The people who live here, those Confucian disciples, probably can't see the suffering in the world. I wonder what the world looks like to them, and what their purpose in cultivating themselves is..."

Yan Jue's eyes narrowed, unsure how to answer.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Senior High Priest, please don't overthink it. I'm just feeling a bit sentimental."

Yan Jue's expression turned strange, making it hard for him not to overthink it.

After saying that, Lu Zheng took out several letters. "Miss Lingyu from the Kong family went to Taiping Domain and asked me to deliver a letter to the Kong family to explain. As for me, I am really not familiar with the Kong family, so I would like to trouble you to have someone deliver a message..."

Kong Lingyu? Yan Jue's eyes widened in surprise. He was quite familiar with that girl. How could she have secretly gone to Taiping Domain?

Yan Jue accepted the letter and said, "Okay. Is there anything else?"

Lu Zhengdao: "Jixia Academy, a sacred place of Confucianism and Taoism. I would like to come here to pay my respects to the sages. I have no other business here. I wonder if I am qualified?"

Yan Jue couldn't help but ask, "You came here just for this?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "What else do you think I've come here for, Grand Master? To debate with those people from the academy and establish my own doctrines? This junior doesn't have the time or energy to waste on their words or engage in any kind of contest..."

Seeing Lu Zheng's serious expression, Yan Jue immediately began to ponder.

After a long pause, Yan Jue said, "If you want to go to Wensheng Mountain to worship the saint, I can't give you special treatment. Whether you are qualified or not, you have to go up the mountain yourself and experience the path of literature."

Wensheng Mountain, which enshrines past sages and worthies, has a wide avenue leading directly from the foot of the mountain to the Wensheng Temple, which is known as the Wendao (Wen Road).

The Way of Literature contains the power of Confucianism and Taoism, and various illusions and trials will appear within it.

If climbers can pass the test of literature and morality, they will have the opportunity to visit the Confucian Temple to worship the saints and seek divine blessings.

The challenges for each person taking the literary path are not the same. Some people are good at poetry and may be tested on composing poems and essays.

Some people are skilled in the interpretation of scriptures and may debate the classics with illusory figures.

The challenges involved were far more difficult than those of the imperial examinations.

Even among the students of Jixia Academy, only a handful in each generation can pass the literary and moral tests on their own.

Yan Jue felt that it wouldn't be difficult for Lu Zheng to pass the literary examination, but such a process still had to be followed, otherwise it would be difficult to convince the others at Jixia Academy.

Although he was the head of the Jixia Academy, matters here were not decided by his word alone.

As an outsider, Lu Zheng's reputation within the academy was mixed, so it was really inappropriate for him to take Lu Zheng directly to the Temple of the Sage of Literature.

Lu Zheng was quite familiar with the rules of the Jixia Academy, so he nodded and replied, "No problem, let's go now."

Yan Jue glanced at him and said, "Aren't you going to get ready?"

Climbing Mount Wensheng to pay homage to the saint is a major event, yet Lu Zheng seemed quite casual about it.

For other scholars, various tedious etiquette and rules would be indispensable.

Lu Zheng thought for a moment and said, "I think I'm ready."

Yan Jue hesitated for a moment, but then said, "Alright, I'll take you there."

So Yan Jue led Lu Zheng directly to the foot of Wensheng Mountain.

A straight bluestone avenue stretched out before them, enveloped by a visible aura and powerful Confucian and Taoist influences.

Immediately afterwards, Yan Jue used a telepathic technique to notify some people in the academy.

After all, it is no small matter for outsiders to ascend the path of literature and worship saints; it requires witnesses and records.

Lu Zheng didn't dawdle at all and headed straight for Wen Dao, an aura emanating from his body enveloping him.

Yan Jue's eyes flashed with a strange light as she asked, "You've already asked?"

"Ah."

Lu Zheng responded softly.

Yan Jue had met Legalist disciples before, but felt that Lu Zhengxiu's disciples were different from those.

Yan Jue asked curiously, "What is your Dao?"

Lu Zheng smiled faintly, "It is the way to serve the people."

Lu Zheng stepped onto the stone steps of the literary path, but felt his body was slightly heavy.

The power of Confucianism and Taoism intertwined with his aura, but quickly subsided without any obvious reaction.

Lu Zheng then walked up step by step.

Before long, news of Lu Zheng's ascent of Wensheng Mountain spread, and many Confucian scholars and students came to watch from the foot of the mountain.

They wanted to see if Lu Zheng could pass the literary examination.

"Hey, he seems to be walking very easily!"

Some students looked surprised, noticing that Lu Zheng was walking with ease, as if he were waiting for ordinary mountain steps.

Many students tried to pursue their studies in literature back then, and every step they took felt like a heavy burden.

Many people never encounter the illusionary trials; the pressure from the Literary Ladder makes it difficult for them to move forward.

At this moment, Lu Zheng looked calm and collected, with his hands behind his back, head held high and chest out, as he strolled leisurely across the stone steps.

I climbed up step by step without feeling any pressure, and no illusions appeared.

Yan Jue and the other high-ranking members of the academy looked on with surprise. Wen Dao showed no reaction at all, and they had never encountered such a situation before.

Wen Dao is somewhat special, and they can't use their thoughts to find out why Lu Zheng and Wen Dao are like this.

"That's strange, why is it so calm?"

Some people are puzzled. Logically speaking, when a person first embarks on the path of literature, even if their understanding of Confucianism and Taoism is very high, this path of literature should not remain unchanged.

In the past, Confucian scholars from other great powers have climbed the Wendao (a path for scholars to study literature), and the Wendao has triggered various literary phenomena to reveal the extraordinary talent of the climbers.

As a result, Lu Zheng had already traveled halfway, but not only had he not encountered any illusionary trials, but no literary aura phenomena had also appeared, which was simply incomprehensible.

Is this the way of literature? It doesn't seem anything special... Lu Zheng remained calm, and even sped up his pace.

When he saw a corner of the Wensheng Temple on the mountain, he stepped directly over several steps, as if he were leaping up the mountain in a few light strides, without any hesitation or resistance.

Everyone:...

To everyone's astonishment, Lu Zheng easily passed the literary examination in no time.

They passed by so fast that no one had time to react.

One student muttered to himself, "Is the road broken?"

A student who was close to the path couldn't believe it and rushed straight towards it, taking a step forward.

"thump……"

The student was suddenly overwhelmed by the pressure of the literary power, lost his balance, and fell down the steps, unable to get up for a moment.

On the mountain, Lu Zheng paid no attention to the others and walked towards the magnificent Confucian temple hall in front of him.

Enveloped in the profound Confucian and Taoist atmosphere of the Temple of Literature, Lu Zheng walked straight into the main hall.

Immediately, the gates of the Confucian Temple were closed.

Lu Zheng tilted his head slightly, and what came into view were tall statues of past sages and worthies.

Each statue was shrouded in a hazy, colorful aura, radiating a powerful energy.

These are all long-deceased sages who are now being worshipped here.

As for the Confucian and Taoist sages who were still alive in the State of Qi, they were enshrined in separate temples within the academy.

Lu Zheng raised his hand and bowed to the statues of these sages.

Lu Zheng's gaze was intense as he spoke in a clear voice: "Lu Zheng, a junior, has come to pay respects to all my seniors! I have come here with the intention of creating a peaceful future for posterity and wish to discuss matters with you all..."

Lu Zheng said in a low voice, "If you wish for peace in the world, please show yourself."

Before the words were finished, many statues shone brightly, and blurry figures appeared and disappeared.

If Yan Jue and the others were present, they would definitely be shocked.

Even they couldn't possibly have made so many sages appear with just a few words.

A tall and imposing figure appeared before Lu Zheng, with a kind face and a friendly expression.

Confucius looked at the young man before him and smiled, "What do you wish to do?"

Lu Zheng remained calm and said, "This matter is of great importance, and I would like to discuss it with you privately first."

"can."

Confucius waved his hand gently, and Lu Zheng felt a blur before his eyes, finding himself already in his own literary palace, with Confucius right beside him. (End of Chapter)