Capítulo 1198: Chapter 457: Attaining Innate Knowledge (Part 2)
Next, it’s the improvement of mechanism joints. Should the shoulder armor beast head remain? This remains to be seen. The six mechanical balls will definitely stay; they serve as a medium-range attack and a means to set up the battlefield.
In Ning Zhuo’s contemplation, various details are continuously refined.
A brand new design blueprint first establishes the framework, then various details are filled in like flesh and blood, each in its place, intricately interlinked.
At the same time, Ning Zhuo has determined a significant demand for treasure materials.
He immediately contacted Gongsun Yan to send him out for procurement.
Gongsun Yan hurriedly left the Bluestone Cave Mansion.
Ning Zhuo’s demand for treasure materials made his heart tremble: “The young master actually wants to purchase Nascent Soul level treasure materials? What does he intend to do? Could it be that he can already handle materials of this level?”
“Despite being a top-notch genius, he’s ultimately still just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. And only at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage!”
Gongsun Yan couldn’t understand, but it didn’t hinder him from executing Ning Zhuo’s orders.
People were coming and going in the Commerce Hall.
Gongsun Yan first inquired about the main materials.
Upon hearing about Nascent Soul level treasure material transactions, the manager was immediately attracted.
The manager said: “This is the Main Mountain Gate of the Myriad Images Sect. Other locations might be dangerous, but the inventory of Eternal Silence Mystic Ice here is more than sufficient. Not only Nascent Soul level, even Transforming Spirit level is available.”
Gongsun Yan breathed a sigh of relief; the main material problem was solved. He had completed most of Ning Zhuo’s task.
He then inquired about other treasure materials, most of which were available.
For the remaining few items, the manager looked troubled: “Let me check the latest situation. They’re not in stock, but you know, our Myriad Images Sect has too many cultivators. Transactions happen every moment, it’s truly vast.”
“Perhaps there’s some newly acquired treasure material that hasn’t been registered yet.”
Upon checking, indeed there was.
“You’re lucky. This batch of Mystic Ice Marrow was just extracted from the Thousand Years Ice Lake; all are top-grade quality. The cultivator team just returned from the mission completed the handover, and someone in the team sold their gains.”
“But the Ice Evil you want is not available.”
“Maybe you could try your luck at the Black Market?”
Gongsun Yan left the Commerce Hall; the demands on Ning Zhuo’s list were almost fulfilled, except for the Ice Evil.
Such things as Evil are not easy to preserve.
Gongsun Yan followed the manager’s suggestion and headed to Thousand Furnace Peak.
Recently, Sun Lingtong bought the second batch of Demon Souls at the Black Market here.
Gongsun Yan did not enter the Black Market, but was attracted by the sound of argument outside the market.
“Refund, you must refund!”
“Your ‘Earth Yin Cold Spring’ clearly contains Nine Nether Ice Fiend, the Evil Qi is so strong, how can I use it to craft a Warm Jade Magical Artifact?”
But the shopkeeper was firmly defensive: “Bah, dreaming!”
“No refunds after sale!”
“It’s your own lack of discernment, unable to detect the flaws within.”
“Moreover, you wanted to buy Earth Yin Cold Spring, and I sold it to you. Just say, isn’t this water Earth Yin Cold Spring?”
The buyer gritted his teeth but was momentarily unable to retort.
However, Gongsun Yan’s ears perked up: “Nine Nether Ice Fiend? That’s a top-grade among Ice Evils; if I purchase it, it would be exceeding the task expectations.”
He immediately approached the site of the argument and respectfully addressed the seller: “Hello, my friend.”
He expressed his willingness to purchase, and upon verifying the goods were correct, immediately completed the transaction.
The buyer turned into a seller, earning quite a profit, leaving delighted, with a few sarcastic remarks at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was not defeated but instead stopped Gongsun Yan, stating he had similar items that had been difficult to sell and asked Gongsun Yan if he needed them.
Gongsun Yan nodded immediately: “Yes, take as many as you can get!”
Ning Zhuo’s ample resources were indicated on the list; some treasure materials were open for unlimited acquisition.
Gongsun Yan executed this command extremely well.
His report back left Ning Zhuo quite surprised.
The headstrong youth estimated that gathering these treasure materials would take at least seven to eight days, but Gongsun Yan accomplished it in one go.
Upon a detailed inquiry, Ning Zhuo learned many specifics.
“It seems my luck in acquisition this time was quite good!”
“The materials are all gathered; next is the recasting of Snow Core Control·Xie.”
“In the absence of Yuan Dasheng and Mengye Tiger from the battle, this is very necessary.”
Ning Zhuo immediately entered seclusion, wholly immersing himself in urgent tasks.
Meanwhile.
In Duanmu Zhang’s Cave Mansion, a fierce debate gradually reached its conclusion.
And the result of this debate is about to bring a hurricane-like impact to the Confucian Cultivators of the Myriad Images Sect!
Duanmu Zhang’s face was stern: “The principles of heaven are manifest in all things. The opening of ‘Da Xue’ declares: ‘To genuinely foster one’s intentions, first achieve knowledge; knowledge comes from exploring things.’ Thus, the path to sainthood lies in reading the sage’s books and understanding worldly affairs. For instance, filial piety requires studying the ‘Classic of Filial Piety,’ observing ancient rites, to know how to practice filial duties. Therefore, knowledge leads learning, which then honors moral virtues. Without exploring, how can one understand the principle? Without understanding the principle, how can one practice?”
Zhao Hansheng replied calmly: “What Mr. Duanmu said seeks principles externally, separating heart and principle as two entities. But may I ask, when a child is about to fall into a well, why do people universally produce a ‘heart of compassion’ instantly? This heart of compassion, did you receive it after exploring countless things and reading numerous books?”
Duanmu Zhang remained silent.
Zhao Hansheng glanced at Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu in the hall and continued: “Heart is principle. How can there be events or principles beyond the heart? As for filial piety, is it discovered in a father? If filial principles reside in a father, then after the father passes away, does the heart then lack filial principles? Of course not! The principles of filial piety reside within the heart and manifest as filial actions when encountered with a father. Hence, the path of the sage is sufficient in self-nature, without seeking externally. To explore externally is like seeking a donkey while riding on one, forever a step removed.”
Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu were deeply shaken.
Duanmu Zhang snorted coldly: “Even if what you say is true, the principle resides in the heart. But human desires obscure the mind, like dust on a bright mirror. Without extensive learning, how can one polish the mirror to discern right from wrong?”
Zhao Hansheng, having waited for this moment, immediately responded: “Good question! This is the biggest misunderstanding of the world, splitting knowing and doing into two separate matters. I ask: if a person claims to know to be filial to parents but maltreats them daily, can we say he truly ‘knows filial piety’?”
“Someone ‘knows’ filial piety but doesn’t ‘act’ on it isn’t true knowledge, merely knowing some words and terms. True knowledge must be actionable; without action, one cannot claim true knowledge. This is ‘Knowledge and Action Unity’!”
Duanmu Zhang fell silent again.
After some time, he slowly spoke: “‘Knowledge and Action Unity’ sounds easy, but it’s too abstract. If everyone only pursues their own conscience without reading classics or adhering to rituals, wouldn’t the world fall into chaos? Governing a nation requires external, unified standards and learning!”
Zhao Hansheng’s speech sped up: “Mr. Duanmu, haven’t we pursued exploration to achieve knowledge for many years without producing a single Confucian sage?”
“How many scholars exhaust their lives reading, talking eloquently about principles, yet are corrupt as officials, timid in face of issues? Isn’t this severe separation of knowledge and life, theory and practice?”
“Governance needs norms, which I completely agree with. But where do these norms come from? Are they arbitrarily set and imposed?”
“‘Da Xue’ suggests: ‘People will not follow orders contradicting their desires.’ An official without genuine filial affection in his heart, how can he instruct the people on filial piety? An official without a conscience for judgment, how can he justly implement the law?”
“Thus, one must achieve ‘conscientious intent’!”
“Do not merely mimic the words and actions of the sages but rather work on one’s conscience as they did.”
“Using this conscience’s natural knowledge to handle endless changes!”
The hall was dead silent.
Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu’s initial objectives were completely forgotten; their faces were pale, submerged in profound shock.
Zhao Hansheng’s new interpretation of ‘Knowledge through Exploration’ seemed to overthrow their entire lifetime understanding of Confucianism.
Even for a Confucian scholar like Duanmu Zhang, faced with the fact that ‘exploring things for countless years has not yielded a single Confucian sage,’ he had to engage in deep reflection.