Catching Monsters

Chapter 153: Discussion × Quarrel √

Everyone present looked towards the main hall of Qingfeng Temple.

Inside the hall, two old men, approximately eighty years old, wearing purple Taoist robes, walked out together.

Xuan Daozi, who was sitting next to Jiang Yun, whispered to Jiang Yun, "The one on the left is the third-grade Heavenly Master of Qingfeng Temple, Heavenly Master Qingyangzi."

"The one on the right is Ling Guzi Tianshi from Baiyun Temple."

Although Qingyangzi and Lingguzi are over 80 years old, they are in high spirits and slowly climb up the platform.

Two wooden chairs had already been placed on the four-sided stage.

After all, this Dao Conference was held at Qingfeng Temple. After Qingyangzi invited Lingguzi to take a seat, he slowly walked to the center of the stage, raised his hand and performed the Ziwu Jue, saluted to everyone present, and said, "My fellow Daoists, I am honored to meet you."

All the Taoists present stood up at the same time and made hand gestures to return the greeting.

"Today is the Dao Discussion Conference that is held every three years. The purpose of this conference is to allow Qingfeng Temple, Baiyun Temple, and Tianqing Temple to select a talented person under the age of 30 to discuss Dao and exchange techniques."

"Please represent yourselves, three views, and come on stage."

Soon, a man in his late thirties, wearing a yellow Taoist robe, jumped onto the platform.

After paying respect to the two Heavenly Masters, he introduced himself to the audience: "I am Qingfeng Guanchen Xuzi."

Jiang Yun asked in a low voice: "Senior Xuan Daozi, is this man powerful?"

Xuan Daozi nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "Chen Xuzi should be 29 years old this year. Three years ago, he had already reached the Dao Sect's Guarding One Realm."

"His cultivation of Taoism and his understanding of Taoism are quite impressive."

Then, Xiao Jingqi from Baiyun Temple, wearing a yellow Taoist robe and with a bit of arrogance on his face, slowly walked up to the high platform and bowed: "Excuse me, everyone. I am Xiao Jingqi from Baiyun Temple."

"Is this the Sixth Prince?" Jiang Yun frowned slightly when he saw this person.

In the past two days, Xuan Daozi has told himself a lot of stories about the Sixth Prince.

This guy can be considered a god.

Born into a royal family, he had access to any of the five great academies, but he had no interest in studying Confucianism or Legalism.

Instead, he only loves Taoist magic.

Even if the Emperor strongly opposes, he must join Taoism.

After entering Baiyun Temple, he was immediately accepted as an inner disciple by Master Baichen and taught personally.

This person is also extremely talented. At the age of just over 20, he has already reached the fifth level of the Taoist Shouyi realm.

Thinking about this, Jiang Yun stood up and walked onto the platform.

Jiang Yun was wearing a grey Taoist robe. As soon as he stepped onto the stage, the Taoists from Baiyun Temple and Qingfeng Temple all frowned.

In Taoism, the dress code is very strict, and only registered disciples can wear grey Taoist robes.

What is a registered disciple?

In fact, in each Taoist temple, if there is a wealthy businessman, he can donate a sum of money and be given the status of a registered disciple...

So when Jiang Yun took the stage, most of the Taoists present were a little confused.

Why would the Tianqing Temple allow a registered disciple to take the stage to participate in the conference?
Which rich man's foolish son is this young man?
How much money should be donated to Tianqing Temple?

I was able to go on stage and participate in a discussion conference.

After Jiang Yun came on stage, he bowed to the two Heavenly Masters, smiled, and said, "Hello, fellow Taoists. I am Jiang Yun from Tianqing Temple."

The two Heavenly Masters, Qingyangzi and Lingguzi, looked at each other and nodded slowly.

Among them, Ling Guzi looked at Jiang Yun, looked at him carefully, and said slowly: "Please take a seat, all three of you."

The three of them sat cross-legged on the stage.

Then Ling Guzi slowly asked: "What is Tao?"

The first person to answer was Xiao Jingqi from Baiyun Temple. He replied: "Tao is the direction that everyone cultivates, to improve oneself and to achieve the world..."

After hearing Xiao Jingqi's answer, the two Heavenly Masters nodded slightly and looked at Chen Xuzi of Qingfeng Temple. Soon, Chen Xuzi answered: "The Tao we practice was created by the Tao Master thousands of years ago. As long as we follow this Tao, we can choose a day to ascend to heaven..."

The answers given by the two are actually standard answers, without any mistakes.

Of course, this is also normal. When discussing the Tao, one should first put forward one's own views.

Then the three of them began to argue based on their own opinions.

After the two of them finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun said slowly: "Tao is the root and essence of all things. It transcends human perception and language description. It is an eternal and absolute existence that existed before heaven and earth."

“Tao is the origin of all things and the fundamental law governing the operation of all things in the universe.”

"It governs all phenomena and changes, such as the changing of seasons, the movement of the sun and the moon, etc., all of which follow the laws of Tao."

Hearing this, Chen Xuzi took the lead in attacking Jiang Yun and asked, "Jiang Yun, is this thing you are talking about the Tao?"

It is obvious that what the two sides said are completely on different levels.

Even Chen Xuzi could not understand what Jiang Yun said.

Jiang Yun nodded slowly and said calmly: "Of course it is the Tao, and it is the ultimate Tao."

Chen Xuzi refuted and said seriously: "The so-called Tao should be the path created by the Tao Master for us, so it is called Tao."

"And what do the changing of the seasons, the movement of the sun and the moon, that you mentioned, have to do with the Tao?" Jiang Yun remained calm and did not fall for the other party's trick. Instead, he asked, "What do you mean by that, then, has to do with the Tao?"

Jiang Yun was very clear about the key points of the discussion. To put it bluntly, it was just like a debate.

It doesn't matter who is right or wrong.

The key is to break the other person's mentality.

This is the theory...

Chenxuzi raised his chin slightly and said, "The Tao I'm talking about is the way of cultivation created by Daozun. Daozun crossed over to the other side and ascended..."

Jiang Yun asked slowly: "Then how do you prove that the path you are following now was created by Dao Zun?"

"How can you prove that your Tao at this moment is the same as that of the Tao Master?"

This is the essence of discussing the Dao, which is very similar to the debates in previous lives.

When the other party attacks your problem, you should avoid the main issue.

Ask the other person a question that is difficult to answer.

Obviously, Chen Xuzi didn't realize this. He frowned and said slowly, "Our Qingfeng Temple is the orthodox Taoist sect. As a disciple of Qingfeng Temple, I am naturally..."

"That's different." Jiang Yun said calmly, "The Tao is a flexible and changeable path."

"Nowadays, are all the Taoist methods created by the Taoist Master?"

Chen Xuzi took a deep breath, a trace of sweat flowed down his forehead, and said in a deep voice: "Of course not, many of the thousands of Taoist methods were created by later generations."

Jiang Yun grasped the key point and attacked fiercely: "If that's the case, isn't this already deviating from the Dao Zun's way?"

"You are so presumptuous!"

Chen Xuzi's face changed. If the two third-grade great masters had not been here, he would have lost his temper long ago.

But the weird thing is that even though this guy was talking nonsense like that, the two great masters were still sitting quietly in their chairs, listening attentively.

There was no intention of interrupting Jiang Yun.

At this moment, Chen Xuzi couldn't help but start thinking about what Jiang Yun said.

Is there really something wrong with my previous thoughts? Logically speaking, I devote myself to worshipping the Taoist every day, so how could I go wrong on the path of Taoism?
Seeing the suspicious look on Chen Xuzi's face, Xiao Jingqi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Yun: "Jiang Yun, right? What you just said was too empty and just full of empty talk..."

Jiang Yun interrupted Xiao Jingqi and asked, "Is it empty?"

"I'm talking about the changing of the sun and moon, the changing of the seasons, can't everyone see it with their own eyes?"

"On the contrary, what you said about improving yourself and benefiting the world is even more empty, isn't it?"

“Any actual examples?”

Xiao Jingqi had a faint smile on his face and said calmly: "I have traveled all over the world and witnessed the barbarians in the north eating raw meat and drinking blood, and the poor and miserable people in the Eastern Demon Country. They all have no heart for the Tao."

"If I can achieve enlightenment one day, I will definitely spread the great Dao and help them escape from suffering..."

Listening to the other party's boasting, Jiang Yun smiled and asked: "Aren't you just traveling around and seeing the scenery?"

"Then, when I see suffering everywhere, I will sneer in my heart, saying, 'You have no heart for the Tao, so you deserve to suffer.'"

"It has nothing to do with whether they are devoted to Taoism or not, but it has to do with the fact that they were not born in the capital or in wealthy families."

Listening to Jiang Yun's words, Xiao Jingqi frowned and said in a deep voice: "So, do you think that my current achievements are all due to being born in the capital?"

Jiang Yun shook his head repeatedly, coughed and said, "That's not entirely true. There are so many people in the capital, and not everyone can join Baiyun Temple and be accepted as a disciple by Master Baichen."

Xiao Jingqi looked at Jiang Yun and snorted coldly, "You mean, everything I have now is because of my identity as the Sixth Prince? Is it all thanks to my father?"

"Hey, I didn't say that." Jiang Yun waved his hands repeatedly, but his face was full of expression: Don't you know what's going on in your mind?

Xiao Jingqi got angry instantly. He gritted his teeth and said, "I have achieved my current level of cultivation through hard work!"

"It has nothing to do with anyone else!"

Jiang Yun couldn't help but wonder why these high-ranking officials in the capital liked to say this...

The two Heavenly Masters next to them couldn't help but look at each other, and they already had an idea in their minds.

Jiang Yun's state of mind is actually far superior to that of Xiao Jingqi and Chen Xuzi.

The essence of discussing Taoism is to test one's state of mind. To put it more nicely, it is to discuss Taoism with each other.

To put it bluntly, it is the art of using language to make the other person feel unbalanced.

This is the key to victory.

With just a few words from Jiang Yun, Xiao Jingqi and Chen Xuzi were so upset that this was rare under normal circumstances.

Of course, the main thing is that in previous years, when we discussed philosophy, we still maintained a certain degree of decency towards each other.

After all, we can't make things too ugly.

But Jiang Yun doesn't play by the rules.

Xiao Jingqi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then launched an offensive against Jiang Yun: "Jiang Yun, you said I rely on my status, what about you?"

"As far as I know, you are currently living in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. After a while, won't you marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"

(End of this chapter)