People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 403, Mind and Matter, In Pursuit of Change
Mount Taiyi, atop the mountain peak.

As Xu Qing unleashed his final punch, the black and white clouds that had transformed into a sky full of starlight all entered Xu Qing's body, and the internal energy in his dantian was completely transformed into true qi.

Sensing the changes within his body, Xu Qing's expression calmed down, and he gradually withdrew his fists and feet. The black and white Tai Chi diagram also shrank back into Xu Qing's body, and the surrounding pressure and gale gradually dissipated.

The green grass, which had been swaying in the wind, straightened up again, and the clouds and mist that had enveloped the mountaintop dispersed in all directions.

"Mind and matter? I never imagined it would end this way,"

Xu Qing looked at her hands and murmured to herself with a complicated expression.

Xu Qing had a complex mix of emotions regarding the ultimate meaning of his Tai Chi, which was the interaction between mind and matter. However, he had studied too many different things, and it seemed that only the path of mind and matter could encompass all of this.

His understanding of mind and matter is similar to the super-oppositional unity of materialism and idealism he learned in his previous life. Its connotation is not about discussing which is primary, and simply put, it is not a worldview, but rather focuses on methodology.

"Objects" refers to the laws governing the operation of all things in the universe, while "mind" refers to his active cognition of these laws. Just like the relationship between Qi and blood in the medical field he studied, both need to be combined to grasp the essence of things.

The concepts of mind and matter are merely a methodology, while his ultimate goal is to seek change.

Change this world, and create a better life for all people! Let people live in peace and prosperity, have enough to eat, and be able to read and write.
This may seem like an odd and incongruous result, but it is actually the biggest compromise of his knowledge.

The Yin-Yang cycle of the unity of heaven and man, the Yin-Yang philosophy of the Yin-Yang school, the medical skills and internal disease debates of the medical school, Liezi's pursuit of truth and the pursuit of the abstract, and most importantly, the contradiction between his materialistic education in his previous life and his idealism in this world.
"What happened in the past has come to pass. What am I? A fence-sitter? Forget it, I can't understand philosophical matters."

Although he was speechless at what he had come to understand, Xu Qing quickly accepted it. Anyway, he didn't plan to pursue a scholarly path. Now that he had successfully entered the Celestial Master realm, that was enough.

Although his lack of knowledge and worldview prevented him from directly reaching the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm, he could still be considered to have reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm because all his internal energy was transformed into true qi.

Looking at Xu Qing, whose expression shifted between gloom and sunshine, Bei Mingzi couldn't help but feel a sense of worry. Xu Qing was their Heavenly Sect's new living sage, and they absolutely could not afford to lose him.

"Kid, how are you feeling?" Bei Mingzi asked tentatively.

Upon hearing Bei Mingzi's words, Xu Qing snapped out of her reverie, turned to look at him, a smile appearing on her usually calm face. She stepped forward and said gratefully.

"Thank you very much, Uncle-Master, for protecting me these past few days, which allowed me to break through smoothly."

"You've reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm?"

Bei Mingzi maintained his composure and asked, but the shock and anticipation in his eyes showed that he was not calm at all.

Although the aura that Xu Qing had just exuded was very similar to that of the Celestial Realm, Bei Mingzi, as someone at that level, still sensed something was amiss.

"No, not at all. However, all the internal energy in my body has been converted into true qi. In terms of martial arts, I am indeed at the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm, but in terms of the realm of Dao, I am still somewhat lacking."

Xu Qing then explained her situation, and Bei Mingzi was stunned, unsure of what to say.

"you you."

Bei Mingzi looked at Xu Qing with complicated emotions. Although Xu Qing's words were vague, he understood that the other party had a missing piece in his own learning. However, the impact was neither too great nor too small.

He had originally planned for Xu Qing to establish another school on Mount Taiyi. However, if Xu Qing were to actually establish a school, take on disciples, and write books, this school would certainly become prominent for a time. But in the end, it would inevitably fall into internal strife, with endless debates about whether the mind or matter should be the primary focus.

"Then you'd better not open a sect on Mount Taiyi. The Heavenly Sect can't withstand your chaos," Bei Mingzi said helplessly.

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master, this is just my own internal conflict. The universe is based on things, while the mind is the perspective from which we explore them. Besides, you should trust in the wisdom of future generations. If I were to write a book, they would explain this issue clearly," Xu Qing said.

"The wisdom of later generations? It's hard to guarantee that later generations won't say that their ancestors must have had their reasons for doing things this way, and that the laws of the ancestors cannot be changed," Bei Mingzi said disdainfully.

The phrase "the wisdom of later generations" has the least acceptance in the Tianzong sect. Even if someone in the Tianzong sect over the past few hundred years has reached the level of Laozi, Liezi, Zhuangzi, etc., this phrase is just an excuse for predecessors to shirk responsibility.

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings," Xu Qing said indifferently.

Anyway, he doesn't plan to write any books. Even if he did, he would revise his understanding and elevate the simple materialism of the Heavenly Sect ahead of time.

Then they can even use that as a pretext to go even further!
Bei Mingzi was speechless at Xu Qing's attitude, but there was nothing he could do now that things had come to this.

"You know it yourself, anyway, your path is one that no one else can follow."

Bei Mingzi was no longer worried about Xu Qing. At least Xu Qing's strength was genuine, and Tianzong was guaranteed to win this Heavenly Pact.

"Hmm, what time is it now? How many days are left until the agreement between heaven and man?" Xu Qing nodded and asked.

"Tomorrow is the day of the covenant between Heaven and Man. Envoys from all the various schools and countries have already arrived. These past few days, because of your enlightenment..."

Bei Mingzi and Xu Qing walked down the mountain, with Bei Mingzi telling Xu Qing about the events that had occurred on Mount Taiyi over the past few days, especially the various rumors circulating about Xu Qing. Meanwhile, inside the Taiyi Palace...

Seeing that the strange phenomenon on the top of Mount Taiyi had disappeared, everyone slowly came back to their senses from their shock, and the people by the pond all looked at Wu Kuang in unison.

Wu Kuang knelt on the ground, and feeling the gazes of everyone, his old face turned bright red with shame. At this moment, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Tsk tsk tsk, those peasants are truly lowly, lacking any gentlemanly conduct. They slander others behind their backs in every way, but now that things have turned around, they've really been slapped in the face!"

A Confucian disciple looked at Wu Kuang with pity in his eyes.

"Who can disagree? Mr. Xu Qing is universally recognized as a virtuous and wise man, and a model for us scholars. There are always those who think they are the only ones who are sober while everyone else is drunk, and who believe those malicious rumors that slander others," a disciple of a renowned family said with a smile.

"In his attempt to please the beauty, he never imagined he would end up getting himself involved, unaware that the beauty was already gone."

"Hahaha."

The crowd looked at Wu Kuang and laughed mockingly.

The disciples of the Farmer's School covered their faces and turned away, looking at Wu Kuang with extreme disdain. They ridiculed Wu Kuang's obsessive sycophancy towards Tian Mi behind his back.

Now, Wu Kuang has slandered Xu Qing behind his back for Tian Mi's sake, causing him to lose face and making the peasant family lose face in front of the other families. They all feel ashamed for Wu Kuang.

Hearing the mocking laughter around him, Wu Kuang turned his head slightly to look at where Tian Mi had been standing, but that alluring and seductive figure had already disappeared.

At that moment, Wu Kuang felt like a dog performing a circus act in front of a crowd.

He knew very well that after today, not only would he not be able to pursue Tian Mi, but the Farmer Clan would probably expel him to save face. As a core disciple of the Farmer Clan and the future manager of the Kuiwei Hall, he was already a person of some renown.

If he were expelled from the farming family, given his current reputation, there would probably be no place for him in the world.

"No, absolutely not."

Wu Kuang gritted his teeth, the fear in his eyes turning into resentment. He was unwilling to give up everything he had finally obtained in the blink of an eye.

"Yes, sworn brother, there's still sworn brother. If only sworn brother could plead for me before the chivalrous leader, I might still be saved!"

Wu Kuang's eyes were bloodshot. He didn't care about the ridicule and cold stares of the people around him. He clenched his fists, stood up abruptly, and ran away into the distance.

Seeing Wu Kuang leave in shame, the crowd gradually stopped mocking him.

Wu Kuang might have some reputation among the peasants, but he was just an insignificant figure among the Hundred Schools of Thought. The ugly behavior he displayed was nothing more than a source of amusement for these people to pass the time in their boring world.

Compared to Wu Kuang, they were more concerned about whether the person who caused the strange phenomenon was Xu Qing, and if so, what level of cultivation he had reached? The ultimate realm of the Celestial Beings?
Han Shen watched Wu Kuang flee in a disheveled state, snorted coldly, and said nothing more. He wasn't about to bother with someone like Wu Kuang.

This matter will surely spread, and the farmers will naturally punish him severely to show their stance.

Wu Kuang's matter was just a minor episode for Taiyi Mountain at present. On the other side, Xu Qing and Bei Mingzi had just come down from the top of the mountain when they encountered Chi Songzi and the eight elders of Tianzong who were coming up the mountain.

"Congratulations, junior brother! Congratulations on your successful enlightenment!"

Chisongzi and the others offered their congratulations, their eyes filled with satisfaction and smiles as they looked at Xu Qing.

"Thank you all for your help these past few days," Xu Qing said, bowing respectfully.

“We’re all family, no need for thanks. How are you? The extraordinary celestial phenomenon you just witnessed was truly remarkable. Junior brother, have you reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm?” Chisongzi inquired.

The others also looked at Xu Qing expectantly, waiting for his reply.

"Yes and no, my situation is a bit special." Xu Qing repeated what he had explained to Bei Mingzi earlier to Chi Songzi and the others.

Chisongzi was taken aback at first, then a look of emotion appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but feel regret.

"It's a pity that such a talented person is envied by heaven. But junior brother, you are still young. You are only twenty years old now. You have many years ahead of you to experience the world and you will eventually be able to complete your studies and make further progress," Wu Guanzi encouraged.

With Wu Guanzi's reminder, Chi Songzi and the others were somewhat dazed. Xu Qing's fame, talent, and usual demeanor made them forget that he was just a child who had not yet been crowned.

So what if Xu Qing hasn't perfected his theory yet? He has plenty of time to perfect it in the rest of his life. Relying on his talent, reaching the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm is only a matter of time.

(End of this chapter)