Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 132 Seeking the Way of the Confucian Sage
Finally, Lü Xuanzhen and Wang Xianzhi talked about something else.

Lu Xuanzhen cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Xianzhi, then rode his sword into the sky and flew away, leaving Wang Xianzhi alone standing on the East Sea, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Lü Xuanzhen had already arrived at Shangyin Academy, and he had two purposes for coming here.

One reason was to get to know Zhang Fuyao, the first Confucian sage who guarded the world for eight hundred years and founded Confucianism based on the principles of self-cultivation, family management, governance of the state, and bringing peace to the world.

Even Lü Zu once consulted him on his studies.

Later dynasties changed hands repeatedly, and Confucianism was passed down for hundreds of years. Everyone thought that Zhang Fuyao had already ascended to heaven, but he had been hiding in the Shangyin Academy, monopolizing 80% of the fortune of Confucianism, making it difficult for Confucian scholars to produce a sage.

Zhang Fuyao, a scholar from the mortal realm, looks down upon the celestial beings above him, lamenting the plight of the people. He seeks not only immortality but also peace and tranquility for the world.

Such a remarkable person naturally deserves to be visited and courted by Lü Xuanzhen.

Secondly, it was for the needs of the main body. Han Yun had obtained the methods of Taoism and Buddhism and had already cultivated them to a high level. However, he only had one basic method of Confucianism, which was not enough to support Han Yun's ambition to go further.

The Shangyin Academy has a collection of ten thousand volumes of books, and Zhang Fuyao is a figure comparable to Confucius, so it is naturally worthwhile for Lü Xuanzhen to seek knowledge and learn here.

In the forest of morality.

One could hear someone playing the zither, the melodious sound flowing like a clear spring, cleansing the soul.

Lü Xuanzhen followed the sound of the zither and came to a white-haired old man sitting on a blue stone, his ten fingers gently caressing the strings, his expression serene, as if he were one with heaven and earth.

Lu Xuanzhen stood quietly to the side, waiting patiently. When the music ended, he stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Junior Lu Xuanzhen greets Mr. Zhang."

The blind musician slowly opened his eyes at this moment, carefully examined Lü Xuanzhen, and then shook his head: "You resemble him, but you are not him. How strange."

This "he" naturally refers to Lü Zu.

Knowing he couldn't hide it from the old monster who had lived for eight hundred years, Lü Xuanzhen frankly said, "I am naturally not Lü Zu, nor am I a reincarnation."

"The real Lu Zu is probably still on the back of the green ox, reading the Plain Girl Scripture!"

Zhang Fuyao laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"First you disturbed Tai'an and embarrassed Emperor Liyang, then you fought Wang Xianzhi in the East Sea, and now you've come here. What, do you want to have a contest with me?"

As he spoke, Zhang Fuyao rolled up his sleeves, revealing his imposing physique, as if he were about to launch into a verbal sparring match.

Lu Xuanzhen was speechless, shook his head and said bluntly, "No, I don't have a penchant for getting beaten up."

To defeat Zhang Fuyao, unless the main body personally uses the inner space to suppress him, he can at most fight Zhang Fuyao to a 30/70 split. There's no other way, since he is just a clone formed from inner energy.

Although the inner energy condensed in this body is extremely powerful, it is still not as great as the original body. Don't forget, the original body's cultivation was nurtured by countless inner energies and life essences.

I'm no match for him at all!

"Since you're not here to fight, then you're here to learn?" Zhang Fuyao asked.

Lu Xuanzhen nodded: "Indeed, Confucianism is profound and extensive. Although I am not a disciple of Confucianism, I also yearn for the principles of self-cultivation, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world."

Zhang Fuyao pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "You possess the carefree spirit of Taoism and the clarity of Buddhism, but you lack the uprightness of Confucianism."

"Only by uniting the three religions can one seek the ultimate immortality of heaven and man. It seems you want to make up for your own deficiency, integrate them, and achieve your own path."

Lu Xuanzhen readily agreed, "That's right!"

"Then let me ask you, what is Confucianism?"

Zhang Fuyao stared intently at Lü Xuanzhen, as if trying to see through his true nature.

After a moment's thought, Lü Xuanzhen replied, "Confucians are what people need. They take benevolence and righteousness as their foundation, use rites and music as their tools, cultivate themselves and nurture their character, and help the world and bring peace to the people."

Zhang Fuyao nodded slightly, then shook her head: "That's true, but it doesn't quite capture the meaning."

He slowly rose, his sleeves fluttering, and a gentle breeze blew through the Morality Forest, rustling the bamboo leaves.

"Confucianism is not limited to scholarship, nor is it merely empty talk about benevolence and righteousness. A Confucian scholar should establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of past sages, and usher in an era of peace for all generations."

"For eight hundred years, I have seen too many people who talk about the classics but do nothing to help the world."

"New grains bask in the sun, sweepers hang high, fishermen wear straw raincoats, old farmers carry hoes, women pick mulberry leaves, children herd cattle, old women wash clothes, armor gleams, swords flash like frost, drums thunder, iron cavalry charge forth, arrows rain down, smoke rises everywhere, corpses lie strewn across the fields." "This is the myriad aspects of life!"

"Confucianism is not something you talk about, but something you do."

Upon hearing this, Lü Xuanzhen nodded in agreement.

Zhang Fuyao continued, "Since you are so eager to ask questions, I will test you. If the world is in chaos and the people are displaced, what will you do?"

After a moment's thought, Lü Xuanzhen replied, "In times of chaos, one should quell the unrest with force and bring peace to the people with virtue. A sword can slay the wicked, and books can enlighten the ignorant."

Zhang Fuyao smiled and asked, "Which is more important, strength or virtue?"

"Virtue is fundamental, strength is the application," said Lü Xuanzhen.

"good!"

Zhang Fuyao nodded, “However, if virtue is without power, how can it protect the common people? If power is without virtue, how can it rectify one’s own heart? A Confucian scholar should be proficient in both literature and martial arts, and combine strength with gentleness.”

After saying that, a scroll of bamboo slips flew out of his sleeve and landed in Lü Xuanzhen's hand.

"This is the 'Ode to Righteousness in the Spring and Autumn Period,' which I have come to understand over eight hundred years, and I present it to you today."

Lu Xuanzhen solemnly accepted the gift and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Zhang Fu waved his hand, sat down again, and began to play the zither. The music was melodious and seemed to contain the profound truths of the universe.

"Go then. If you can prove your heart with Confucianism and Taoism in the future, come and talk with me again."

Lu Xuanzhen said no more, and bowed to take his leave.

Zhang Fuyao's words were, in effect, a tacit agreement to allow him to study at the Shangyin Academy.

After leaving the Moral Forest, Lü Xuanzhen temporarily stayed at the Shangyin Academy. He spent his days reading Confucian classics, studying the "Ode to Righteousness in the Spring and Autumn Annals," and debating the classics with the Confucian scholars at the academy.

At first, the Confucian scholars were quite disdainful of him, seeing that he was dressed in a Taoist robe but spoke eloquently about Confucian classics.

However, as time went by, people gradually discovered that Lü Xuanzhen, who seemed to be a Taoist, actually had a deep understanding of Confucian principles and could even refute some self-proclaimed learned Confucian scholars by citing classical texts.

One day, on the platform for discussing Daoist doctrines at the academy, a Confucian scholar of about thirty years old with a solemn face stood up, cupped his hands to Lü Xuanzhen, and said, "Master Lü, I have heard that you are well-versed in the three teachings. May I ask you for some guidance today?"

This person, named Song Yuanli, is a rising star among the younger generation of Shangyin Academy and is renowned for his eloquence.

Lu Xuanzhen smiled slightly: "Please speak."

Song Yuanli said in a deep voice, “Confucianism speaks of ‘benevolence,’ Taoism speaks of ‘non-action,’ and Buddhism speaks of ‘compassion.’ The three seem similar, but in fact they are quite different. Since you have studied the three teachings, may I ask how you can reconcile them?”

Upon hearing this, the audience turned to look. This question was extremely tricky; a slight misstep could lead to a self-contradictory situation.

After a moment's thought, Lü Xuanzhen said loudly, "The benevolent love others, govern by non-action, and save the world with compassion. These three paths lead to the same goal."

"Confucianism's benevolence lies in helping the world; Taoism's non-action lies in following the natural order; Buddhism's compassion lies in saving all sentient beings. They may seem different, but in fact they are all part of the same 'Tao'."

"For example, when a river flows, Confucianism builds dikes and dams to guide it into the fields; Taoism lets it flow freely without obstruction or stagnation; Buddhism advises people not to drown in the water, nor to fear its power. All three are about 'controlling water,' but they have different methods and perspectives."

"The three teachings reside in one mind. Since they are one mind, why can't they coexist? And how can people be bound by paths?"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

Song Yuanli remained silent for a long time before finally bowing deeply and saying, "I have learned a lot."

From then on, Lü Xuanzhen rose to fame at the Shangyin Academy, and many Confucian scholars even privately called him "Master of the Three Teachings".

Lu Xuanzhen's daily actions truly made him resemble a Confucian scholar, but he knew in his heart that he was just waiting, waiting for an opportunity.

Now, there are reincarnations of Zhenwu, Qingdi, and Baidi in the mortal realm. Three of the five Heavenly Emperors are still in the mortal realm, and the strength of the Immortal Realm has been weakened to the minimum.

If we can find a way to keep these three in the mortal realm or get rid of them sooner, the celestial realm will be much easier to deal with.

(End of this chapter)