Confucian and Taoist scholar

One immortal being still at the peak of their power, and two older saintly figures who are already on the decline.

Yun Fuyao overwhelmed the two with sheer power, giving them no chance to resist.

The souls of the two Saint Realm experts were subjected to endless pressure, trembling slightly like candle flames in the wind.

Both of them were shocked and couldn't understand how powerful Yun Fuyao could be.

A sense of impending death welled up from the depths of my being.

One of them exclaimed in alarm, "Senior Yun, we have no life-or-death feud between us, so why... please let us go? From now on, I will never set foot in the New Kingdom again!"

He clearly sensed that Yun Fuyao truly intended to eliminate them.

As beings who have reached the Saintly Realm, they certainly don't want their life's cultivation to end like this.

"It was the people of Qi who took the lead, along with the Kong family of Qi and..."

The other person quickly spoke up, revealing some of the people connected to them.

"We were chosen to come here, but we do not intend to be enemies with Senior Yun. We beg Senior Yun to show mercy and spare us..."

They had just suffered a powerful blow from Yun Fuyao, and their Saint Realm cultivation was probably too weak to maintain. They could only hope to survive.

Yun Fuyao responded calmly upon hearing this. Now that she had already taken action, how could she possibly let the two of them leave?

Letting them go not only leaves her with hidden dangers, but also leaves Lu Zheng and his group with threats.

Yun Fuyao slowly raised her hand, a bright light flowing from her fingertips, overflowing with powerful Dao principles.

"Since you've made this choice, you should accept the consequences."

The two men looked horrified upon hearing this; this man was truly intent on killing them.

Before they could make a move, Yun Fuyao lightly tapped her finger, and a dazzling beam of light instantly enveloped the two of them.

In the next instant, both of their souls vanished without a trace.

Yun Fuyao calmly formed hand seals and continued to perform his immortal arts.

……

Outside Yongding City, Lu Zheng looked solemnly at the northern horizon.

He sensed the slight disturbance here through his connection with Yun Fuyao and came from another region.

However, when they arrived, there was no trace left at the scene of the incident.

Lu Zheng had no choice but to wait for the result.

As he expected, someone targeted someone close to him, and the chosen target was Qing Wan.

Qing Wan, as a companion who traveled the world with Lu Zheng, was not of high cultivation level and had no other powerful background, but she was the second most important figure in establishing the new country of Taiping Domain and the most supportive follower of Lu Zheng's peaceful rule.

Clearly, besides Lu Zheng, Qing Wan is the target that certain powerful figures most want to eliminate.

As for Qingyi, Lu Zheng also valued her and imparted a lot of knowledge to her.

However, as a patrol officer, Qingyi rarely appears in public and acts quite discreetly, so she doesn't attract much attention and is quite safe.

This is also Lu Zheng's way of protecting Qingyi and giving her time to grow.

The two little ones are currently in seclusion somewhere deep underground in the new country, cultivating and working hard to improve themselves, so Lu Zheng doesn't need to worry about anything.

Lu Zheng stood there for a moment and saw Yun Fuyao's familiar figure return.

There is a special connection between the two, so Lu Zheng can tell the difference between the real and the fake person.

Yun Fuyao approached Lu Zheng and said, "The people have all been caught."

As he spoke, Yun Fuyao waved his hand, opening a spatial passage.

Lu Zheng understood and stepped into the passage.

In the blink of an eye, the two found themselves in another world, completely isolated from the outside world.

With a thought, Yun Fuyao conjured two fist-sized, translucent beads in front of Lu Zheng.

The two beads exuded a Taoist aura, with a hazy mist constantly flowing within them.

Lu Zheng could even sense the strangeness inside the two beads.

Yun Fuyao said unhurriedly, "I only sealed a wisp of their Saintly Souls here. If I were to completely annihilate them, others would quickly notice... You can handle them!"

"Furthermore, they truthfully identified the participants, and I reviewed their memories; their accounts are accurate. However, they likely only contacted a portion of the people..."

Yun Fuyao whispered and told Lu Zheng in detail about the information she had discovered.

Lu Zheng listened quietly without showing any emotion, not at all surprised that those famous figures wanted to deal with him.

After listening to Yun Fuyao's story, Lu Zheng sighed softly, "To eliminate me and destroy this place, these forces and individuals who are usually at odds with each other have managed to unite. That's quite something. With such cohesion, if they worked together on something worthwhile, all the kingdoms and dynasties in the world could achieve a golden age. Why has this world become so wretched..."

Yun Fuyao couldn't help but smile, unsure how to evaluate those people.

Yun Fuyao then asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Lu Zheng took the two beads and threw them directly into his own small world of literature, and then tried to refine them using the Taiping Codex.

Then, Lu Zheng said, "Since they have chosen to draw their swords, and with such despicable means, we must naturally retaliate."

"Law enforcement agencies in various regions can take action to thoroughly investigate and purge all those who have recently arrived in Singapore..."

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Zheng's eyes. He had already distributed the righteous artifacts he possessed to the regions, but he hadn't fully utilized them, waiting for the right opportunity.

It's time to retaliate and confront certain forces head-on.

Lu Zheng paused for a moment, then said, "I may not be able to attend to the security of Anguo for the time being. I plan to set off for Qiguo now."

Yun Fuyao looked slightly surprised upon hearing this, "Go to Qi? What do you want to do?"

Lu Zheng said calmly, "While they still think I'm busy in the new country and haven't realized it yet, I'll go to the Qi country to do something I've wanted to do before but haven't had the right opportunity to do."

"Some virtuous and noble families think I've done something wrong, and they even took their ancestors with them. I think some of these families shouldn't exist anymore..."

"My intention was to get them to look for their own problems and correct them, but instead they think I'm the one who's wrong, and that the saints made the wrong choice..."

Yun Fuyao's expression shifted, and she said quietly, "You really have a lot of nerve."

Lu Zheng's presence in the new country will make those forces somewhat wary and less likely to make a move, at least not openly in the near future.

As a result, Lu Zheng decided to take the initiative and target those virtuous and noble families, a plan that Yun Fuyao could not have anticipated.

Yun Fuyao couldn't help but say, "You're going alone? Who knows how many Saint Realm experts are hiding in Qi Kingdom now? This is too dangerous..."

Yun Fuyao felt that even if she protected Lu Zheng in secret, she probably couldn't protect him completely.

Lu Zheng said indifferently, "So what if they are Saint Realm experts? They are all people who can't stand the light of day."

“If I go to Qi openly and honestly and let them attack me, would they dare? If I really die in Qi, it might not be such a bad thing.”

Yun Fuyao looked at Lu Zheng with a complicated expression.

She understood that Lu Zheng was gambling, gambling that some people wouldn't dare to go all out.

After all, if Lu Zheng died in Qi, the entire state of Qi would be burdened with all sorts of infamy...

A young prodigy of humanity, the most likely young man among humankind to become a true saint, the embodiment of righteousness revered by the world, and the spokesperson for humanity recognized by all saints...

It's hard to imagine the impact such a person would have if he died in the State of Qi.

This was enough to bring a public opinion shock to the State of Qi that was almost annihilating the country.

"Have you thought it through?" Yun Fuyao pondered for a moment and asked softly.

Lu Zheng calmly replied, "I've already thought it through."

Yun Fuyao nodded slightly and said, "Then go ahead and do it! It's still a bit far from Qi, I'll see you off."

Yun Fuyao didn't know whether Lu Zheng was confident that the trip would be safe or had reached the point of being ready to die.

Yun Fuyao brought Lu Zheng back to the outside world, and then headed towards the State of Qi.

It didn't take long for Yun Fuyao to bring Lu Zheng to the border of Qi.

Yun Fuyao said softly, "I'll leave you here. I'll wait for your good news."

"it is good."

Lu Zheng turned and flew towards the territory of Qi.

Yun Fuyao's bright eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zheng's back and then at the vast expanse of sky and earth ahead.

Suddenly, a strange light flickered in her eyes.

Because she discovered that after Lu Zheng entered Qi, the fortune of that land changed.

The changes are imperceptible to ordinary people, but they spread rapidly and gradually expand their influence.

A short while later, Lu Zheng's figure disappeared into the distant horizon.

Yun Fuyao slowly withdrew her gaze and sighed softly, "The glorious era of some families should come to an end."

After saying that, Yun Fuyao slowly turned around and returned to the new country with a relaxed attitude.

……

The State of Qi was the territory of the Kong clan.

The descendants of Confucius in the State of Qi possessed vast lands and even a sacred mountain.

Within the Kong family, there is the largest Confucius Temple, where incense has burned continuously for a long time.

In the state of Qi, when it comes to the flourishing of Confucianism and Taoism, the Jixia Academy ranks first, and the Confucius family ranks second, surpassing many other academies and schools in Qi.

However, since the passing of Confucian sages, the Confucian family's prosperity and fortune have greatly diminished, suffering a severe blow.

When that happened, many members of the Kong clan began to question the meaning of life.

Since then, some of Confucius's students have even left their families to study in other places, hoping to find traces of Confucius.

Some people went to the Pacification Zone.

After the establishment of the Taiping Domain, Confucian sages appeared in the world, leading many sage families to choose another path, identify with the ideas of the Taiping Domain, and embark on a new path of Confucian cultivation.

Calling it a new Confucianism is not quite accurate; it should be described as a return to the original essence of Confucianism and the practice of the ways of sages.

A new school of Confucianism that has recently emerged in the world believes that the Confucianism expounded by Lu Zheng and others is the original learning of Confucian sages, and is the true Confucianism, not a departure from the classics.

Of course, not everyone has such awareness and understanding.

Many virtuous and noble families, in order to protect their family interests, do not generally agree with this view.

The losses suffered by the family due to the impact led them to point the finger at Lu Zheng, and they wanted to unite to eliminate him.

The world has no need for any embodiment of the righteous path, nor for any outsider to act as a spokesperson for the saints.

These families of sages and their descendants are the true orthodox figures who can interpret the words of the sages.

……

Lu Zheng did not stop along the way and went straight to the Kong family's residence.

Before one's eyes are magnificent buildings, exquisite palaces, carved beams and painted rafters, showcasing the ancient heritage of this family.

Lu Zheng calmly walked to the front of a tall gate.

At the entrance, there stood tall and burly martial arts servants.

The servant glanced at Lu Zheng and frowned as he looked at the ordinary-looking young man in front of him. He thought to himself, "Where did this poor scholar come from? His only redeeming quality is his appearance."

Lu Zheng ignored the servants' somewhat disdainful gazes and smiled politely, saying, "Young man, please inform your clan leader. My name is Lu Zheng, and I come from the New Kingdom of Taiping Domain. I've come here to seek an explanation."

The man was thinking to himself, how could a doorman like him be qualified to report to the Kong family patriarch? He was showing his impatience and wanted to kick Lu Zheng out.

But upon hearing the second half of Lu Zheng's sentence, the tall man was taken aback.

"What did you say?"

He had heard people talk about the name "Lu Zheng" so many times recently that he thought he was hallucinating.

"Lu Zheng has come here, and we would like to request that the elders of the Kong family come out to meet him."

Lu Zheng spoke slowly, his voice not loud but extremely penetrating, carrying in all directions.

Soon, some people deep within the Kong family compound heard these words.

Many people were quite surprised to hear this, wondering why that young man had come to their Kong family.

Some people thought it was fake news and couldn't believe it.

But Lu Zheng's voice still echoed all around.

Some people, out of curiosity, went out to investigate.

In a study, an elderly man in brocade robes heard the sound and his expression changed slightly.

"Lu Zheng? What's he doing here?"

The old man quickly got up and went outside.

A large crowd quickly gathered outside the gates of the Kong family mansion, including members of the Kong family as well as servants and attendants.

These people all looked at Lu Zheng with curiosity, their expressions varying.

They had long heard of this famous young man, but now that they had met him in person, they realized just how young Lu Zheng was.

Someone mustered up their courage and said, "Young Master Lu, I've heard that you can invite Confucian sages. Could you tell us why the sages left the Confucian Temple? What happened?"

In their minds, Lu Zheng, who was able to persuade a Confucian sage, must have known the reasons for the changes in Confucianism.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng looked at everyone and said, "I came here today to answer this question for everyone."

Everyone was surprised and couldn't help but quiet down to hear Lu Zheng's explanation.

"The patriarch is here!"

Someone shouted, breaking the silence.

Upon hearing the sound, everyone turned to look, and some people quickly made way for them.

A group of middle-aged and elderly people dressed in fine clothes walked by, each with an imposing presence and exuding a strong Confucian and Taoist aura.

Although the elderly man at the head of the group was old, he was full of energy and spirit, unlike any young person.

"Have friends come from afar?"

The patriarch of the Kong family spoke leisurely, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze.

The old man smiled at Lu Zheng, "Guest, you have come from afar, please come in and have a seat."

Lu Zheng said calmly, "I'm neither a friend nor a guest." (End of Chapter)