Inside the hall.
Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu all felt a loosening in their realms of cultivation!
All along, they had been following the old school, investigating things to gain knowledge, constructing their Confucian cultivation by piling up a tower of classics and doctrines.
Now, Zhao Hansheng’s words told the three of them that the tower actually has two stairways: one outside, spiraling up around the tower’s exterior; the other inside the tower, almost straight up and easier to climb.
The inside of the tower is actually the cultivator’s own inner heart.
A Confucian cultivator, besides seeking outward, can also seek inward.
The heart itself is the source of principle, needing no external construction, only to shine inwardly!
This is precisely the Literary Heart.
And the tower is the Literary Palace of the Confucian cultivator.
For a moment, the shock and joy of Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu were indescribable!
Practicing according to the traditional old methods is not impossible, it’s just too difficult.
Investigating things to gain knowledge is really tough, it tests all aspects of a cultivator and is constrained by their realms in each aspect.
Ideally, a cultivator with deep expertise in the Cultivation Hundred Skills and profound realms in all aspects can walk the path of investigating things to gain knowledge to its end.
But in reality, a cultivator’s personal time and energy are really too limited, and most cultivators’ insight and learning ability are not enough. At most, they may achieve something in one or two cultivation techniques in their lifetime.
This is already a good situation.
In fact, most people have insignificant achievements in the Cultivation Hundred Skills until they die.
Zhao Hansheng pointed out that: we can still investigate things to gain knowledge, but seeking the heart inward is far more effective than seeking things outward.
This is truly effective!
Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu benefited from this, wishing to retreat immediately to well explore this new direction.
The three of them knew: no matter how much they comprehend, they will make progress in their Confucian realms.
This kind of progress is rare.
Because they did not gain any True Intent, they merely listened to a debate between Zhao Hansheng and Duanmu Zhang.
Duanmu Zhang sighed deeply, and the worries and persistence on his face gradually dissipated.
With a solemn expression, he tidied his clothes and stood up slowly, making a formal bow to Zhao Hansheng: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, your high remarks were like an empowering nectar, shaking my body and mind, benefiting me endlessly."
"In the past, I adhered strictly to the old academic views, thinking that only by comprehending all worldly matters could one approach understanding and reach the sage realm. Only today did I realize I have been orbiting outside my heart, never taking up the responsibility directly. Heart and principle are one, knowledge and action are originally unified... truly mysterious, wonderful! It turns out the sage realm is not unreachable, it has always been within this span, merely overlooked by us ordinary folks."
"What Fellow Daoist Zhao spoke of, ’achieving conscience’, directly points to the origin, bringing the lofty heavenly principles down to a practical level that everyone can attain and practice. It benefits all Confucian cultivators in our world!"
"The merits of Fellow Daoist Zhao will last for ages; just based on this discourse, you will surely be remembered throughout history!"
Duanmu Zhang changed his attitude, admitting defeat on the spot, acknowledging Zhao Hansheng’s excellence.
But Zhao Hansheng turned sideways, avoiding Duanmu Zhang’s courtesy.
Zhao Hansheng showed a look of shame, clasped his hands in respect, and said earnestly: "Ashamed! I am but a messenger."
"What I just expounded on is not my theory, it all belongs to Mr. Wang Xinyue’s ’Heart Learning’!"
"What virtue or ability do I have, how dare I claim such immense credit?"
Duanmu Zhang and others were very surprised and asked who Wang Xinyue was.
Zhao Hansheng then informed them that she is a Female Cultivator, young and with Nascent Soul Cultivation, who created [Heart Learning], overturning the old Confucian concepts and blazing a new trail.
He also, under the disciple’s etiquette, sought her guidance to obtain such profound knowledge.
Only then did Duanmu Zhang and others realize that Wang Xinyue is indeed a rising star!
"Huazhang Country is indeed a Cultivation Holy Land for our Confucian cultivators."
"There are always such capable talents emerging..."
"No, Wang Xinyue is special, she is outstanding among them!"
Chu Xuangu and the other three voiced their opinions.
Zhao Hansheng: "You haven’t interacted with her, you don’t know how exceptionally brilliant she is, simply a genius born of heaven!"
"She will surely lead the entire Confucian academic world."
"In the coming centuries, she will be the brightest star in Huazhang Country, no, the entire world!"
Zhao Hansheng had the utmost admiration for Wang Xinyue.
Li Guanyu praised: "She stirred the tides of the era, bringing a transformational upheaval to the entire Huazhang Country."
Duanmu Zhang, after contemplating, nodded slowly: "Just with the phrases ’Heart is Principle’, ’Knowledge and Action Unity’, ’Achieving Conscience’, it is enough to establish a school!"
"It’s a pity that I am old, appointed and invited to stay here, otherwise, I would really want to return to my country and personally visit this female scholar."
Zhao Hansheng smiled faintly: "Such Heart Learning aims to clarify the mind and manifest the nature, to benefit the world, it is not something to be kept secret. Since I received her guidance and acknowledged her doctrine, this visit to Flying Cloud Country, I naturally wish to spread her Confucian mental method."
"I am willing to reopen lectures, to teach you and more students all the relevant ideas."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shaken.
Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Li Guanyu all showed expressions of excitement and inspiration.
Only Duanmu Zhang’s face showed a trace of heaviness, looking deeply at Zhao Hansheng: "Then..."
Zhao Hansheng smiled without speaking.
Beside him, Gu Qing stood up, clasped his hands and said: "Seniors, my master is sincere, willing to teach everything, this is a fortunate event for our Myriad Images Sect’s Confucian lineage."
"However, in the pursuit of knowledge, mutual understanding and respect are valuable. As the saying goes: the Dao is not lightly transmitted! To spread the great Dao, one must have a position. What do you all think?"