Daqin Zhentiansi

Today's debate, fueled by the vast amount of classical texts that were made available yesterday, sparked intense discussions from the very beginning and reached a deeper level.

An elder of Vajra Abode, upholding the profound meaning of the Agamas, spoke eloquently: "The Buddha said, 'One's own continent is one's own refuge, one's own Dharma continent is one's own refuge, there is no other continent, no other refuge!' The Hinayana practice, from precepts arises concentration, from concentration arises wisdom, eradicating the root of afflictions, and attaining the Arhatship, is the cornerstone of the path to liberation!"

"If one has attained the realization of 'no-self,' how can one use the 'Dharma' to liberate others? One must first liberate oneself before one can liberate others; this is the ultimate principle of ascending step by step!"

His words were powerful and resonant, causing a faint Buddhist light to emanate from his body.

A scholar well-versed in the classics of rites was not to be outdone, citing the *Book of Rites* and the *Analects* to refute the argument: "Those who wish to manifest their virtue to the world must first govern their own states; those who wish to govern their states must first regulate their families; those who wish to regulate their families must first cultivate their personal lives!"

"Cultivating oneself and managing one's family are the foundation for saving the world. When one's own position is established, others' position is established. It is not about isolating oneself! Furthermore, 'The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.' The way of the sages is about practicing it in this life, not about pursuing the illusory afterlife!"

A righteous spirit arose spontaneously.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was tense, as if swords were about to be drawn.

Those martial arts masters who loved watching the excitement were even more excited, their blood and energy surging.

"Amitabha!" Master Jingtan of Qingtianzhou clasped his hands together, his voice like a Buddhist bell: "Both Mahayana and Hinayana are teachings given by the Buddha according to the circumstances. The Mahayana's so-called 'universal salvation' is not separate from oneself, but rather the 'great compassion of oneness' that arises after breaking through 'attachment to self'!"

"All sentient beings possess the Tathagatagarbha, just as a lotus flower grows from mud. When a Bodhisattva's practice deepens, where is the boundary between self and others? This is the higher realm of 'no-self,' not that one does not save oneself, but rather that saving oneself is within the process of saving all sentient beings!"

His words convey a sense of compassion and transcendent wisdom.

Many of the onlookers nodded slightly.

His words also calmed the tense atmosphere that had just been building.

An old Taoist priest with white hair from Xuanyuan Temple bowed and said in a clear voice: "The Tao follows nature, and is characterized by tranquility and non-action. The Taoist path emphasizes condensing qi and refining spirit, comprehending yin and yang and the five elements, and seeking to transcend the five elements and roam freely between heaven and earth."

"The Buddha said that reincarnation and liberation is indeed one of the paths of the Great Dao. However, our immortal sect cultivates the Dao fruit in this life, gathers the essence of heaven and earth to prolong life, and uses the changes of Yin and Yang to develop supernatural powers. This is in accordance with the natural principles of heaven and earth, and is also a path of transcendence."

"Those who follow different paths but arrive at the same destination, whether Buddhist or Taoist, all seek the joy of longevity and freedom. Only Confucianism... is too burdened by worldly desires!"

His last sentence, while carrying the unique aloofness and detachment of immortals, also pointed out the essential difference: the immortal path and the Buddhist path are, to some extent, more "close."

Are immortals and Buddhas transcendent, while Confucianism is steeped in worldly affairs?

Inside the main hall, the Confucian and Taoist practitioners sat upright, their faces revealing a fighting spirit.

"absurd."

"Sour taste".

……

The clash of viewpoints, ranging from subtle doctrinal distinctions and the effects of specific practices to the ultimate state of liberation and value judgments regarding this life and the next, has intensified.

Supporters of Theravada Buddhism insist on its fundamental and pure nature.

Those who advocate Confucianism and Taoism emphasize their unparalleled power to shape the existing social order.

Mahayana Buddhist interpreters strive to demonstrate its transcendence and inclusiveness.

The newly added Immortal Path strives to establish its unique value and position within the "Extraordinary" sequence.

The entire Guangji Hall is like a melting pot of ideas, radiant with brilliance yet fraught with peril.

The high-level cultivators activated their own Daoist principles, causing the hall to be filled with dazzling light and shadow and surging energy.

Whether it was Zhang Yuan and Ji Yuntang in the main seats, the newly arrived Consort Qi and the nobles, the cultivators participating in the heated debate, or even the military generals on the periphery such as Lei Ming and Yan Bei, everyone's expression was extremely focused.

Zhang Yuan sat in the main seat, his face calm and composed, his deep gaze sweeping over every speaker in the room.

He rarely interrupted, but listened and observed, as if watching a grand jigsaw puzzle being completed.

His grand blueprint for rebuilding the immortal Heavenly Court and ensuring the continuous vitality of the nation is gradually becoming clearer in terms of its internal logical support and feasibility amidst the seemingly chaotic debates, thanks to the wisdom and collision of various parties.

Immortals and demons serve as sharp weapons, protecting the imperial court and expanding territories.

Buddhism is in charge of reincarnation, bringing peace to the deceased and maintaining the cycle of faith.

The Great Qin Dynasty possesses the Three Realms: the human court, the cycle of faith and reincarnation, and the power of immortals and demons.

This unprecedented debate, which drew the attention of the imperial city, was destined to last for ten days.

Zhang Yuan withdrew his distant gaze and refocused on a high-ranking monk from Miaoyin Temple who was passionately discussing the "suffering of reincarnation" in the hall.

The fire of this debate will forge the divine sword he envisions, the sword that will reshape the world.

----------------

Inside the Purple Palace, the candlelight cast long shadows.

After the smoke of the ten-day debate on Buddhism at Guangji Hall dissipated, only Marquis Zhang Yuan of Qingyang remained standing before the imperial steps.

Emperor Yuankang dismissed all the eunuchs, leaving only Yu Kuizhen, the head of the Imperial Household Department, to stand in the shadow of the palace pillars, recording the emperor's reports and responses.

The hall was so quiet that the faint sound of the candlelight flickering could be heard.

Zhang Yuan's voice was steady and clear, echoing in the empty hall. Each word was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirring up silent waves.

"Your Majesty, the Buddhist sect of Liangzhou is not an enemy, but rather a cornerstone of the future divine path of our Great Qin."

"The ten-day debate on Buddhism was not intended to refute the monks, but to establish order—the foundation of Confucianism and Taoism, the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, and the use of immortals and demons as weapons."

"Only with this order of separation of the three realms can the Qin Dynasty be entrusted with the task of reuniting the thirty-six continents and rebuilding the indestructible Heavenly Court!"

"The Heavenly Court?" Emperor Yuankang's voice was low and emotionless, with only his deep eyes fixed on Zhang Yuan's face.

"Yes." Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, his body as upright as a pine tree, his gaze as sharp as a sword, piercing straight to the core of the hall. "Your Majesty is the supreme emperor, who should rule the three realms, not be confined to a single continent."

His words unfolded a magnificent panorama that could eclipse the heavens and earth:
"Immortals and demons are not of our kind, yet their power can be used! We can subdue demon lords like the Xuanqiong Demon Lord and transform the great demons of the East Sea into soldiers. With their sharpness, we can use them as weapons in the imperial court, expand our territory across the thirty-six continents, intimidate the alien races of the Boundless Sea, and crush the extraterrestrial demons!"

"This is the Heavenly Court's armory and fortifications, used to patrol the heavens and vanquish all who resist!"

"The secrets of reincarnation can only be grasped by the Buddha's teachings! Borrowing the boundless Buddhist essence of Liangzhou, we will establish the Hall of Reincarnation. We will bestow upon eminent Buddhist masters the authority to manage the Book of Life and Death and to guide the souls of trillions of people across the River of Oblivion, using the order of reincarnation to guide them. This will dispel resentment and ensure that souls find their home, so that the nation's destiny may be everlasting!"

"The land where Buddha's light shines is not only a place of peace and faith for the people, but also the eternal foundation of the Great Qin Dynasty!"

"Confucianism and Taoism are the foundation of education and governance for humankind! Confucian rites and laws govern human relations and social order, and promote good governance to bring peace to the people. This is the cornerstone upon which the Heavenly Court stands, providing a continuous source of blood and courage for the battles between immortals and demons, and supplying orderly souls for the cycle of reincarnation in Buddhism."

"The entire universe revolves around this foundation!"

Zhang Yuan's voice was like a resounding bell, causing the entire Ziji Palace to vibrate.
"The Three Realms are now in order, and the Human Emperor reigns supreme. Great Qin is not merely the ruler of Yongtian, but should be the overlord of the Thirty-Six Continents, governing the cycle of reincarnation in the Three Realms!"

"Re-establishing the ancient Heavenly Court's lineage is not mere rhetoric; it is a synthesis of the Qin Dynasty's national destiny, the blades of immortals and demons, the cycle of Buddhist light and reincarnation, and the ethics of Confucianism and Taoism!" "When the Heavenly Court is established, Your Majesty will be the Jade Emperor, observing the rise and fall of all realms, with the Qin Dynasty determining the fate of humanity!"

The air freezes.

Emperor Yuankang stood there, motionless, like a sculpture covered in thick frost.

The candlelight danced in his deep eyes, which seemed to contain billions of stars flickering, disintegrating, and then reuniting.

The painting was so magnificent and awe-inspiring that it plunged even the emperor who ruled the Qin Dynasty and had the hearts of the thirty-six states into an unprecedented and immense shock.

Rebuilding the ancient celestial court?

Controlling the Three Realms and Reincarnation?
This was the ultimate dream that surpassed that of a single emperor, and it propelled the entire Qin Empire onto a destiny as epoch-making as if it were creating the world!
Yu Kuizhen, who was in the shadows, trembled all over as she listened, and even the pen she was holding to take notes shook uncontrollably.

He felt his very soul trembling before the scene Zhang Yuan had depicted.

Rebuild Heaven!

What an incredible, insane, and glorious plan this is!
Which emperor in the world could resist the temptation to become the "Supreme Ruler of Heaven" and rule over the Three Realms?!
This vision was far beyond what the Fifth Prince could encompass with the mere "throne." Even the First Prince, who had already gone far away to Qingtian Continent and intended to expand his territory, seemed so... narrow-minded in Yu Kuizhen's eyes at this moment!
What Marquis Qingyang Zhang Yuanzhi saw and planned had already transcended the scope of ordinary imperial endeavors; he was redefining the destiny of the Qin Dynasty and the human race!
"Where to begin with this situation?" After a long silence, Emperor Yuankang finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, as if each word weighed a ton.

He finally broke free from the stunned silence, no longer simply shocked, but ignited with the tangible light of exploration that belonged to an emperor.

This is no longer a pipe dream, but a monumental undertaking that he, as the emperor, must manage and realize!
Zhang Yuan met the emperor's eyes, which were beginning to burn with an undying ambition, and a sharp yet composed smile curved his lips:

"Your Majesty, the first step should begin in Liangzhou..."

The candlelight cast long shadows of the emperor and his ministers in the palace.

The doors and windows of the Purple Extreme Palace isolated the outside world from the noise, but they could not contain the invisible energy surge brought about by the conversation inside, which was enough to overturn the entire Yongtian Continent and even the Nine Heavens Outer Domain.

An era belonging to the Great Qin, to Emperor Yuankang, and even more so to Zhang Yuan, quietly began to turn the wheel of fate within this silent, deep palace.

Yu Kuizhen lowered his head deeply. He knew that every word he heard today would be engraved on the most secret and glorious foundation of this empire.

------------------

Five days later.

Led by Grand Scholar Ji Yuntang as the chief envoy and Marquis Zhang Yuan of Qingyang as the deputy envoy, along with other eminent monks, Confucian scholars, and a merchant caravan totaling over eight thousand people and several thousand carriages and horses, they set off for Liangzhou for negotiations, escorted by three thousand of Marquis Zhang Yuan's personal guards, carrying treasures from the East Sea.

These were the peace terms proposed by Liangzhou after Daqin conquered the entire Liangyuan region; more precisely, they were the terms proposed by Daqin.

Inside the carriage, Zhang Yuan and Ji Yuntang sat facing each other.

Inside the carriage, the incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, a blend of sandalwood and ink fragrance.

The smooth sound of wheels rolling over the official road came through the thick walls of the carriage.

Sun Ming, the Assistant Minister of Rites, carefully picked up the teacup and diligently refilled the water for Ji Yuntang and Zhang Yuan, his face beaming with a humble smile: "The rare treasures from the East Sea that Your Excellency has brought this time are all things that the Buddhist sects of Liangzhou crave."

"The Ice Soul Jade, the Ten-Thousand-Year Coral Prayer Beads, and the 'Seven-Leaf Lotus of Salvation' taken from the Ruins of Return—these will surely delight the eminent monks of Liangzhou, and our trade relations with Great Qin will undoubtedly reach new heights..."

"This is truly a strategy to appease distant peoples and stabilize Yongtian."

He spoke with flattery, subtly attributing the credit to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan remained calm, his fingertips lightly tapping the low table with its cold, hard sheen. His gaze, however, seemed to pierce through the window lattice, landing on a distant horizon. His voice was low, yet resolute: "His Majesty's intention is to take Liangzhou."

"Clang-"

Sun Ming's hand trembled, and the teacup slipped from his grasp, spilling scalding tea onto the expensive carpet, creating a dark, billowing mist.

He was completely oblivious, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes almost bulging out, as he exclaimed, "Take...take Liangzhou? With...with just the people of us?"

He subconsciously glanced out the window at the massive convoy and the escorting guards. Such a number was rare even in diplomatic relations between the two countries, but how could they possibly conquer a Buddhist kingdom?
Arabian Nights!

Zhang Yuan didn't even lift his eyelids, and softly uttered two words: "No."

Sun Minggang breathed a sigh of relief.

“It was me, and Scholar Ji, the two of us,” Zhang Yuan added calmly, his tone devoid of any joke or arrogance, only the certainty of stating a fact.

The air inside the carriage seemed to freeze instantly.

Ji Yuntang's elegant and refined figure, which was sitting upright like a deep pool, stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment. The hand stroking his beard pointed in mid-air, and a sharp glint flashed in his deep eyes, but in the end, he returned to a calm.

He remained silent, but beneath that calm lay a turbulent undercurrent.

Sun Ming, standing beside him, completely lost his composure. His face turned from red to white, then from white to green. His lips trembled, and his teeth chattered softly. He seemed frozen in the extreme cold, unable to utter a single word. Only the words "Two people... take down Liangzhou..." echoed wildly in his mind.

The convoy took a short break at the massive teleportation array in Liangyuan Domain.

Ding Yuan, dressed in a simple, faded monk's robe, respectfully entered Zhang Yuan's private carriage.

He was no longer the same as before; his aura as a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm was harmonious and profound, and he also cultivated the Vajra supernatural powers of Buddhism. His every move was faintly accompanied by the flow of Buddhist light.

Zhang Yuan didn't say much, but raised his hand and pointed a finger at his forehead.

In an instant, a massive torrent of information flooded into Ding Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness—the profound mysteries of the Mingwang Zhenshi Jue, which combined the essence of the Mingwang Zhenyu Tu and the Immovable Mingwang Seal.

Furthermore, there are numerous records of the ten-day discussion on Buddhism at Guangji Hall, including questions raised by Confucianism and Taoism regarding Buddhism.

The heated debate between Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism, the clashes, collisions, and even attacks between the top figures of various schools and sects on the fundamental principles of the Great Way, every word and sentence contains the essence of the Way and the principles of Dharma, sharp as a knife!

"Om..."

Ding Yuan trembled violently, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

In his sea of ​​consciousness, it seemed as if thousands of thunderbolts were exploding, Buddha was glaring angrily, Confucian sages were rebuking him, and immortals were ethereal. The Buddhist principles he had firmly believed in were shaky under the impact of this overwhelming and complex information. His Daoist heart was in turmoil, and the Buddhist light he had cultivated for many years was showing signs of dissipating.

His face turned deathly pale. He gasped sharply, suppressing the turmoil in his blood and the chaos in his mind. After a long while, he managed to speak, his voice trembling with lingering fear: "Teacher... if it weren't for your early guidance, and your supreme composure and wisdom that protected my mind, this disciple..."

"I fear that my foundation for cultivation has been shattered by this clash of the Great Daos, and I will be forever condemned to oblivion..."

His gaze toward Zhang Yuan held a mixture of reverence and an indescribable stirring of emotion.

The teleportation array shone brightly, and the massive convoy, along with its guards, instantly disappeared into the void passage.

The gale-force winds howled fiercely in the interlayer of space, and fragments of colorful and chaotic light and shadow rushed past the window.

Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, and a piercing alarm blared through the walls! (End of Chapter)