How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

The second comment reads: "Simple and understated. The ink, though plain, reveals a subtle and profound meaning. Drinking in the harmony of nature, one feels as if a lone crane is flying alongside, like a gentle breeze, lingering on one's clothes..."

With a soft hum, a Dao flower bloomed beneath Zhou Wenju's feet!

"The Great Dao is in full bloom!" A person in the audience suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, which shocked everyone around him.

He Wenxin stared intently at the Daoist flower, her eyes wide open like copper bells.

The group of learned scholars around him were all dumbfounded.

Flowers bloom along the main road!

The second level of philosophical discourse...

What does it mean?

This means that as long as his arguments are complete, the resulting collection of poetry reviews is qualified to enter the temple and become part of the canon.

Once it becomes a Palace Citation, it will completely overwhelm He Wenxin from every angle, because even after spending decades of effort perfecting the "Twelve Poetry Criticisms," He Wenxin will ultimately be unable to cross the threshold of the Palace Citation.

At this moment, the discussion on the Dao is only in its second phase, yet a Dao flower has already bloomed, revealing an extremely dangerous sign.

The only hope is that his argument today, even if incomplete, is merely a collection of "fragments" on the platform of discourse, and will not constitute the "establishment of words" of a scholar.

However, things continued to unfold in a direction they could not accept...

"Fifth comment: High antiquity, an eccentric man riding the wave of truth, holding a lotus in his hand..."

The third Dao flower blooms.

"Sixth comment: Elegant, like buying spring in a jade pot, appreciating rain in a thatched hut, fine scholars seated, and tall bamboos on either side..."

The seventh flower blooms, displaying its elegant beauty on the high platform.

"Seventh Review, Refinement..."

"Eighth comment, vigorous and robust..."

"Ninth comment, exquisite..."

One after another, the flowers bloomed.

In the blink of an eye, there were already nine Dao flowers.

Nine flowers are still not the limit...

"Fourteenth comment, meticulous..."

Forty-three Daoist flowers bloomed, creating a sea of ​​flowers on the high platform...

The audience was either incredulous, their eyes fixed on the Dao flowers blooming one after another, or so engrossed in the Daoist realm that they couldn't tear themselves away.

Chung-ba, his face flushed, was both surprised and delighted.

Lin Nongyue, who was hidden in the void, was a little infatuated at this moment. She could not understand his discourse, but she could see his charm. She thought he looked so handsome standing in the flower bushes at this moment.

Inside the private room, the young man in purple stood up at some point, his eyes slightly closed and his hair flying.

In another private room, Bai Luoshui also closed his eyes. His fingers hovered on the coffee table, motionless. When he was thinking, he would often tap the coffee table lightly with his fingers, which had almost become his signature move. However, today, he did not tap, because his heart was in turmoil!

"The twenty-fourth commentary, 'Flow... It carries the essence of things, aligns with their symbols, transcends the divine, returns to the primordial chaos, and travels through a thousand years. Is this what it means?"

As the final judgment was made, eighty-one Daoist flowers simultaneously flew up, forming the shape of a lotus flower, and landed at Zhou Wenju's feet, causing Zhou Wenju to rise higher and higher.

"Every step is like a lotus blooming!" Chung-hachi exclaimed in surprise.

The great road blossoms, reaching its zenith at the ninth level.

If the eighty-one Dao flowers can be combined to form a lotus, one will enter the third realm of Daoist discourse: lotus blossoms at every step.

The phrase "stepping on lotus blossoms" no longer corresponds to the ordinary rituals of the temple, but rather to a step into the realm of "serious rituals".

The Temple Codex is second only to the Temple Codex, the Holy Scriptures, and the Bible...

"Every step a lotus blossom! The very image of a sacred temple's grand ceremony... Heavens, will this 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms' become a sacred temple's grand ceremony?"

"Really?"

A soft "poof" sound...

The giant lotus flower beneath Zhou Wenju's feet suddenly opened and closed, transforming into hundreds or even thousands of characters...

The light of literature flows endlessly, enveloping the platform for exchanging ideas.

A soft sound, and a book is formed.

The book vibrated in the air, and a line of large characters appeared on the cover: "Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms," soaring into the heavens and reaching the top of the Drunken Star Tower.

In the sky, sacred music resounded, like a bluebird flying in the night.

An aged, holy voice descended from the sky: "Zhou Wenju of the Great Yu Kingdom has written 'Twenty-Four Poetic Commentaries,' which has been designated as a sacred text by the Holy Temple. His journey has been arduous and meritorious; the Holy Temple congratulates him!"

Everyone in the building stood up at the same time, staring at the sky.

Cheers instantly resounded throughout the entire Drunken Star Tower.

He Wenxin stared blankly at the rustling pages of "Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms," his face deathly pale. A surge of hot blood coursed through his chest, his literary heart creaked as if about to burst, and his mind went completely blank...

Inside the private room, Bai Luoshui finally opened her eyes.

At this moment, he showed no trace of a strategist's demeanor; his eyes held only endless, unfathomable depths...

How could this be?

How did things get so out of control?

He promoted Ho Man-sum because Ho Man-sum had an achievement that was difficult for others to replicate: establishing a legacy through words.

And tonight, Zhou Wenju…

This person, whom everyone believed lacked literary and moral foundation and was naturally incapable of establishing a doctrine, actually did establish a doctrine, and this doctrine was even a sacred one!

He Wenxin could never achieve the goal of "entering the temple from the ruins" in his lifetime, but he made a great leap forward with every move he made.

It's more than just entering the palace.

Moreover, upon entering the hall, they skipped the ordinary rites and selected the "serious rites"!

Yan Li completely outshone He Wenxin!

Today's forum, instead of becoming a blacklist for Zhou Wenju, has paved the way for his meteoric rise in the capital...

How should we explain this to His Highness the Crown Prince?

East City, outside the Imperial City.

Suzaku Avenue.

A grand mansion with two characters on its wooden plaque reads: Lin Mansion.

This is the residence of Lin Xiangdao, the Minister of Works in the imperial court.

Today is the Lantern Festival. Lin Xiangdao is sitting in the garden with his three sons, two daughters and his wife beside him.

Just as I was enjoying the family time of the Lantern Festival, I suddenly saw the grand ceremony taking off and heard sacred sounds from the sky...

The sacred sound came, and everyone was stunned.

"Father, is Zhou Wenju the second son of Lord Zhou Liangsheng?" asked the eldest son, Lin Jiangnan.

"Really?" Lin Xiangdao scratched his head lightly, somewhat incredulous.

Zhou Liangsheng was his "classmate" and someone with whom he had a very close and deep friendship back then.

Which of the two doesn't know the other?

Zhou Liangsheng had high hopes for his son, Wenju, from the very beginning; the name "Wenju" itself reflected those high hopes.

However, the relationship between a name and a person is merely a relationship between ideals and reality.

This child is simply not cut out for studying.

They are far inferior to the Lin family's children.

But now, the child seems unrecognizable.

He wrote colorful poems, opened up magnificent chapters of lyrics, and tonight he even wrote down the sacred scriptures?

Writing about serious crimes is quite different from writing poetry.

Poetry is about inspiration, and can be inspired by chance. But profound and classical works are the expression of a scholar, and cannot be achieved by chance. They must be built on an extremely solid foundation, and cannot be formed without decades of hard study!

"I think so!" said the second son, Lin Jiangbei. "He was able to write several colorful poems and pioneer the great path of ci poetry. He must have a very deep understanding of poetry and ci poetry. It is reasonable that he wrote the sacred classic 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms'."

"But...but back then...he didn't like studying!" Lin Jiangnan said, "Father, can a person change so much in ten years?"

"When one's family falls into decline and one has nowhere to turn, one's potential is unleashed. Perhaps this is what they mean by the unpredictability of life's circumstances?" This was the only explanation Lin Xiangdao could offer.

The youngest son, Lin Jing, blinked his eyes and said, "Father, I understand. If you want us to be successful, our family must decline. When will our family decline?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone stopped what they were doing.

The mother's face began to contort...

Snapped!

A sharp rap on the forehead rang out: "Tonight is still the Lantern Festival, still part of the Lunar New Year! You ignorant brat, cursing your father on New Year's Day? Your father has almost done it several times already..."

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study, Emperor Yan Zhong stood by the window, gazing at the ever-turning pages of this important classic in the sky above. His face was filled with a complex and fascinating expression.

"Your Majesty!" A man at the lower seat let out a long sigh: "What was originally a deadly move aimed at him has in the blink of an eye become the foundation for his fame and fortune. Is such a capacity for transformation worthy of entrusting him with heavy responsibilities?"

This person is Mingluo, the head of the Imperial Household Department.

On the Lantern Festival, ministers are not normally allowed to stay overnight in the palace, but an exception has been made today.

Mingluo knew that today's Drunken Star Discussion was of great importance, and His Majesty was furious, so he had no intention of arguing and could hardly sleep.

His Majesty slowly lowered his head, a smile appearing on his face: "Who says this boy doesn't read books and only has a few poetic inspirations?"

"It was my fault! I failed to notice!" Mingluo said.

"Haha, you recognize it quickly!" His Majesty laughed heartily. "A new and severe law has been enacted, filling the void of severe laws in our Great Yu Kingdom. I am extremely gratified!"

There was no severe punishment for a single day.

That refers to his reign.

His generation of emperors entered Luoyang twenty years ago. Although they swept away the accumulated problems of the previous dynasty's emphasis on military affairs and neglect of literature, and literature was revived and gradually regained its vitality, to this day, no major law has been established.

This was a regret of the moment, and it was also where he, as the ruler of this country, lacked confidence when meeting with the rulers of other countries.

They're quick to resort to any means necessary, like imposing severe penalties on their own country...

To make a veiled remark: Without even severe punishments, how can one speak of literary and moral foundation?

Now it's all good!

Zhou Wenju's severe law suddenly appeared, ahead of the Qingshan Literary Gathering.

With just this one severe law, the missing link in the competition between the Great Yu Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom in terms of their cultural and moral foundations will be filled. Let's see how the Yan Kingdom can still boast about "having its own severe law" now...

The final page of the severe punishment in the air has been turned.

Close it!

Soaring through the heavens, the Dao Sea opened in the sky...

"Open the Dao Sea!" The entire Drunken Star Tower was shaken at the same time. The Dao Sea and the Holy Temple are two different systems, each with its own points of interest. What the Holy Temple values ​​may not be recognized by the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, although the Holy Temple attaches great importance to a large number of temple records, they are not eligible for the Dao Sea.

And today, Daohai is open.

What does this mean?

Zhou Wenju's "Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms" not only conquered the temple but also attracted the attention of Heaven.

"Look, the sea has opened!" Countless floats traveled through the streets, and the curtains of all the floats were pulled open at the same time, casting countless beautiful eyes toward the sky.

There, a sea of ​​ever-changing weather unfolds.

That place holds the enigma of countless young women in the capital.

"It's a pity the road is too far and the building too tall. I can't throw my embroidered ball over this tall building..." A beautiful young girl's gaze was fixed on the Drunken Star Tower, her face full of infatuation.

How many other women on the floats share the same mindset as her?

Before today, they may have never heard of Zhou Wenju, but tonight, as their flower-decorated carriages passed through Luoyang, eagerly awaiting the selection of a husband, Dao Hai seemed to have opened their hearts.

Unfortunately, the road is too far and the building too high, and the embroidered ball could not be thrown in the end...

Upstairs at Zuixing Tower, He Wenxin lay slumped in a chair, his face ashen, like a rag doll.

Chung-hachi's face was flushed, as if he had just drunk three bowls of strong liquor.

Lin Nongyue revealed her true form at some point, staring blankly at her former travel companion who "had a silver thread in his hand that led straight to the sea."

No matter how little she understood poetry, she truly understood him at that moment.

He did indeed go to Beijing to attend a literary gathering.

He was indeed a scholar.

And it's the most top-tier kind in the world.

With a single stroke of the pen, a severe law was laid bare.

With a stroke of the brush, the Dao Sea opens.

The world-renowned Dao Hai Fishing Master, admired by scholars and scholars worldwide, is right here!

"After tomorrow, perhaps everyone in the capital will know what the name Zhou Wenju means." — These were his exact words yesterday.

She asked him then, "What will the name Zhou Wenju mean after tomorrow?"

He said he didn't know!

Actually, he just didn't want to brag!

Now she knows what he means after tonight!

This signifies that the brightest star in the realm of literature and art has risen and shimmered in the sky on this night of the Lantern Festival...

Inside the private room, Bai Luoshui finally stood up. For the first time in his life, his figure was no longer dashing; he even looked somewhat lost and dejected. Then, with a gentle sway, his face regained its calm and composed demeanor.

"Is Mr. Bai leaving?" He Fangwen asked telepathically.

"Tonight was a miscalculation!" Bai Luoshui's voice transmission split in two, sending it to the ears of the two vice ministers: "His Majesty will surely seize this opportunity to quickly approve the list of candidates for the Qingshan Literary Gathering."

The two vice ministers' faces darkened simultaneously: "So, it seems there's no way to stop his rise?"

"Until the very last moment, everyone is a dark horse; until the final verdict is reached, fate is unpredictable!" A glint flashed in Bai Luoshui's eyes.

The two vice ministers' hearts stirred slightly...

It's not the final moment yet.

When is the final moment?

That was the moment when His Majesty truly issued the imperial edict, specifying the participants for the Qingshan Literary Society.

Once the participants of the Qingshan Literary Gathering are determined, these literary warriors who represent the Great Yu Kingdom will be under royal protection, and no one will be able to harm them in the slightest.

To take forceful action would be treason.

However, His Majesty has not yet actually issued an imperial edict...

Kill him before the imperial decree is issued!

This is the only option!

However, Zhou Wenju was very cautious and preferred to stay at the White Horse Temple in the Western Hills rather than move into the city.

However, the White Horse Temple in Xishan is a place where killing is forbidden.

A true abstinence from killing!

"I understand what you mean, sir!" He Fang said, "I still have some ties with the head of the Disciplinary Hall at Baima Temple. How about he step in and expel him from the temple?"

Bai Luoshui said, "As for me, I'll try tonight to see if there's any opportunity. If not, we'll have to hurry with Lord He! The imperial decree will be issued within three days at the latest..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared.

At the Drunken Star Pavilion, Zhou Wenju caught a giant spirit fish imbued with literary energy, and the literary mountain within his body seemed to have transformed into a real mountain peak.

Incredibly thick and full of vitality.

The sea of ​​heaven and earth slowly closed, and his gaze fell upon the scene, where the scholars and literati displayed their diverse lives.

Some are obsessed.

Some felt resentful.

Some people have lost all will to live...

Only Zhongba's face was full of excitement.

There was another person who left Zhou Wenju speechless for a moment.

Lin Nongyue!

She was standing right next to the pillar in front of them. Apart from a few waitresses serving tea, she was the only woman on the entire platform. This girl didn't seem to have any embarrassment about being in the wrong place at all...

In her dictionary, it seems that as long as she isn't embarrassed, it's only others who feel awkward...

Suddenly, the door of a private room behind the girl slowly opened.

An old scholar walked out slowly.

This person immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"The great scholar of poetry, Xiang Yuezhou!"

"It's him! This blue robe, washed until it's almost white, is his trademark. He's using this unique blend of blue and white to interpret his timeless masterpiece: 'Willows by the river in the misty rain, autumn in the heart of the departing.'"

"Things are getting interesting. Tonight at the forum, these two people who were at odds have actually come together..."

These words were no longer kept secret at this time.

Even Zhou Wenju heard the commotion.