Master Yichuan's Lecture  

Spouting Nonsense about Confucian Cultivation?

Fan Li could not help but find the situation amusing. The body he had transmigrated into was not only born with the decree of the Son of Heaven, but also an innate Confucian cultivation physique. If the original owner had rebelled and succeeded in changing dynasties, he would most likely become an erudite emperor renowned for his literary accomplishments.

Though Fan Li's current cultivation level was low, his grounding in Confucian studies was immensely profound. Even his recent remarks were conclusions he had discussed and mutually verified through correspondence with Lu Chunqiu.

"Making astonishing statements without basis, are you trying to seek fame through this?" Zhu Ziyang sneered. His words made those who had been inspired to study the Confucian classics more diligently again reconsider and back down.

"Zhu Ziyang does seem to make some sense?"

"How could a mere Foundation Building third level cultivator thoroughly explain the essence of Confucian teachings?"

"Could it be that with the renowned Master Yichuan's lecture drawing a gathering of Confucian scholars, this person wants to seize the opportunity to make a splash and deliver unfounded claims?"

Gradually, the Confucian students began regarding Fan Li with suspicious looks.

"Time will prove everything," Fan Li smiled wordlessly. He would not rush to prove himself - cultivation was not something achieved overnight. He had merely provided the students a new perspective without any ill intentions. Reading and contemplation - how could those be bad things? If even Confucian cultivators were unwilling to study, who in this world should?

"Master Yichuan arrives!"

Suddenly a student attendant announced the master's arrival. The scholars hurriedly found their seats, no longer paying attention to the argument between Fan Li and Zhu Ziyang.

A middle-aged Confucian scholar walked leisurely onto the lecture podium. Dressed in wide robes and a high hat, with a luxuriant beard hanging down his chest, he exuded the dignified air of a renowned scholar.

"Welcome, Master Yichuan!" The Confucian students bowed in greeting.

But at this inopportune moment, a rather discordant scene occurred. Zhu Ziyang suddenly knelt down loudly, shouting "Disciple pays respects to the master!" Before performing a full ceremonial kowtow of three kneelings and nine headknocks!

"Oh?" Master Yichuan showed a hint of surprise, but quickly smiled with satisfaction. "Ziyang is well-versed in propriety, excellent, excellent."

"Thank you, master, for the praise." Zhu Ziyang beamed smugly while the other scholars felt immensely awkward. Were they all lacking in propriety, with only Zhu Ziyang being proper? Of course not.

In the past, renowned Confucian masters would lecture without requiring such ceremonial greeting from students. The full kowtow was reserved for solemn occasions like paying respects to Heaven and Earth, meeting the sovereign ruler, greeting one's master, weddings, funerals, or revering parents. It was not something done casually.

"Fellow students, why aren't you also kowtowing to the master?" Zhu Ziyang loudly prompted, as if trying to force everyone to kneel and knock their heads on the ground. The only result was making the other scholars appear ill-mannered, while he alone had proper etiquette.

"Heh heh..." Master Yichuan merely stroked his beard with a faint smile, seemingly prepared to accept everyone's ceremonial kowtow.

The scholars felt vexed yet helpless. One by one, people began kneeling to kowtow towards Master Yichuan. Yet any admiration or high expectations they had for the master dwindled considerably.

"Hey! You two, why aren't you paying respects?" Zhu Ziyang angrily shouted when he saw Fan Li and Sage Ruler Han Yue had not only failed to kowtow, but had already taken their seats.

Outwardly enraged, he inwardly laughed. If they had offended Master Yichuan's face, did they still want to attend the lecture? 'Just watch me chase that brat away, leaving the beauty to accompany me.'

"Hmm?" Master Yichuan also noticed. There was actually a young man and woman who showed no propriety by refusing to kowtow before him. The renowned scholar's expression turned displeased. Yet he maintained his dignified status, not deigning to pursue the matter directly. He merely made a mental note to settle accounts later.

"Silence. The lecture begins."

A great Confucian master's lectures either elucidated the classics or expounded his own viewpoints. The former required profound scholarship, while the latter demanded a pioneering spirit worthy of founding a new school of thought.

Master Yichuan had attained the first level of Unity. Among renowned Confucian scholars, he could not be considered at the highest level. Yet he possessed great spirit, always explaining his own principles rather than discoursing on the ancient sages' classics.

"All things in this world can be comprehended, there is only one principle.

The principle behind one thing is the principle behind all things. Grasp the Heavenly principle, discard human desires, and thereby understand the principle..."

On the podium, Master Yichuan's words flowed endlessly while the scholars listened groggily. Only Zhu Ziyang appeared to receive priceless teachings, drinking it in thirstily.

Not long after Yichuan's lecture began, Fan Li's expression turned unsightly.

"What is he even saying?" Sage Ruler Han Yue asked in a soft voice, noticing Fan Li's changed demeanor and wishing to show concern.

"Nothing much," Fan Li replied coldly. "Just the ramblings of a pedantic pseudo-Confucian."

For a moment, Fan Li felt like dragging Master Yichuan off the podium and expelling him from the Luming Academy.

"Oh? How ridiculous is it?" Han Yue asked in surprise.

Fan Li's eyes flashed coldly. "The great Way has three thousand branches, yet he says the principle of one thing is the principle of all things. The Way of Heaven is vast and unknowable, yet he says all things can be comprehended, that there is only one principle.

Humans are not like plants and trees, devoid of emotion. Yet he says to grasp the Heavenly principle and discard human desires?

Overextending a partial view to generalize about the whole, obscuring the true Way with a side gate. Having gone astray himself, he now forbids others from the true path. Truly detestable."

Having cultivated the sword for many years as a Great Vehicle Third Realm expert, even Han Yue had never deluded herself that the sword path was all-encompassing. With some thought, she understood what Fan Li meant.

"You're right," she shook her head. "This person is quite narrow-minded, with limited insight. To speak such lofty yet vain words only leads the young astray."

Their voices gradually grew louder, especially Han Yue's final "leads the young astray" which Master Yichuan could clearly hear from the podium.

"Who was that? Who dares say I lead the young astray? Stand forth!" As he spoke, he grabbed a ruler.

"Who was spouting nonsense just now? Come forth immediately to receive punishment!" Zhu Ziyang also shouted. "Disrespecting the master, you'll taste my teacher's ruler, a spirit artifact of earth-rank third grade!"

Hearing the ruler was an earth-rank artifact, the scholars turned deathly pale. They knew themselves innocent, but what if Master Yichuan suspected and mistook them? A Unity realm Confucian scholar's strike was not something they could withstand!

Seeing the scene before him, Fan Li could not help feeling outraged amusement. If the so-called principle could not distinguish right from wrong, yet Master Yichuan resorted to such underhanded means? Whatever happened to cultivating virtue and benevolence?

Instead, he used force to intimidate and status to oppress?

"It was me who spoke," Fan Li stood, coldly laughing.

"You?" Master Yichuan frowned. He vaguely recalled that the "leads the young astray" seemed to come from a woman's voice. But soon he noticed the woman seated beside Fan Li and understood.

"So this youth is pretending to be a hero? No matter, it might as well have been him! My ruler should not be aimed at a weak woman!"