How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

Zhou Wenju's gaze shifted slightly: "Sometimes... I really want to ask this Crown Prince a question."

"What do you want to ask?" Chunghachi slowly raised his head.

"I want to ask him, are matters concerning the Great Yu Dynasty, the northern border defense, and the well-being of millions of people unimportant to this crown prince?"

This was just a casual remark made at the tea table.

However, it was also as heavy as a mountain.

This isn't a question, it's an interrogation!

Faced with the Crown Prince's questioning!

Everyone knows that Zhou Wenju's participation in the Qingshan Literary Gathering is of great benefit to the Dayu Kingdom, and is more beneficial than harmful to both the country and the court. So why does this crown prince disregard the overall situation of the Dayu Kingdom and single-mindedly try to sabotage it?

"The crown prince is just a heir; whether he will truly inherit the throne is still uncertain!" Chung-hachi sighed softly.

"Oh?" Zhou Wenju frowned slightly. "Wasn't it said that his reputation and status were at their peak, and that he posed no threat whatsoever?"

"It's true that His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation and status are at their zenith, but it's not necessarily true that there are no changes whatsoever!" Zhongba said, "Five years ago, Prince Zheng was still in the capital, and at that time, he was also at the height of his power..."

"King Zheng?" Zhou Wenju's heart stirred slightly.

He knew this prince well; he was someone his father, Zhou Liangsheng, followed.

He initiated the "Yantai case" five years ago.

The former crown prince betrayed the country, and His Majesty, mindful of his past promises, refused to take action to eliminate this scourge. Prince Zheng, however, was devoted to the Great Yu Dynasty and, even if it meant defying the Emperor's will, colluded with a group of ministers and used the martial arts power of Lingyan Pavilion to physically eliminate the former crown prince.

After the Yantai incident, Prince Zheng Yanchun was demoted to his fiefdom of Zhengzhou, thus losing his eligibility to compete for the throne, which allowed the current crown prince to ascend to the throne smoothly.

He can be described as a wise king who "lost his kingdom" "for the sake of the kingdom".

"Yes, King Zheng!" Zhongba's eyes held a complex expression. "Brother Zhou probably believes that King Zheng has completely lost his chance, is that right?"

"Isn't that right?" Zhou Wenju said.

"Judging from the court's structure, the ministers who were once close to King Zheng are either dead or demoted. In the new court, there is no longer a place for him. However, did you know that King Zheng consulted the oracle at Huangye Temple and received the hexagram Li? That's why he took the initiative to request to go to his fiefdom, far away from the core of the court..."

Zhou Wenju's heart was pounding...

Viewing the yellow leaves!

This is a naturally veiled, mysterious Taoist temple.

The rumor originated from the "Tianji Daoist School," but when a divination is performed, it is always accurate.

With such a divination site located in the eastern suburbs of the capital, which high-ranking official or nobleman wouldn't favor it? Even the royal family and His Majesty himself would go there to consult the oracle.

King Zheng consulted the oracle at Huangye Temple and obtained the "Li" hexagram.

That's why he left the capital and went to his fiefdom...

What does this tell us?

This shows that he had not truly given up on the race for the throne...

His retreat is only for the sake of future advancement!

"How is the governance of your fiefdom, Your Highness?" Zhou Wenju asked.

"The people of his fiefdom can be said to be the most blessed people in the world. Not only these commoners, but also the martial arts sects under his rule are extremely disciplined. Martial arts do not violate the law, and cultivation does not disturb the people. The three eastern states dance with joy when they mention King Zheng!"

A long-standing mystery in Zhou Wenju's mind was finally solved.

He knew why His Highness the Crown Prince was so clueless about matters concerning the overall situation of the Great Yu Kingdom.

Simply because his position was not secure.

With the Crown Prince's position unstable, his first priority is to consolidate his own power. His ambitions have not yet reached the entire Great Yu Kingdom—the fate of this empire is still uncertain.

The key person in the instability of the Crown Prince's position was Prince Zheng, Yan Chun.

This Prince Zheng orchestrated the Yantai case.

The Yantai case is a very special case, a rare case in which "the offender committed a crime but did not lose points."

Because its starting point corresponds to the righteous calls of righteous people and to the national interests of the entire Great Yu Kingdom.

The criminals are not tolerated by the court and the law, but the people like them.

Although Yan Chun left the capital, it did not mean he was out of the game. On the contrary, he used his misfortune to gain a good reputation for "suffering for the country".

The people's hearts are won!

After arriving at his fiefdom, the people under his rule became the happiest people in the Great Yu Kingdom, and he had mastered the art of governing the people!

Moreover, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Chung-pachi added "cultivation sect." Cultivation sects are always a potential threat of breaking the law with martial arts, but under his rule, they are very well-behaved. Martial arts do not disrupt the law, and cultivation does not disturb the people. What does this show? It shows that he himself has a very good relationship with cultivation sects.

All things considered, his overall strength is by no means weak—the Crown Prince is strong in the foundation of the court, strong in the legal system of the Eastern Palace, and strong in his status and position, while he, having stepped out of the capital and faced a wider world, has truly touched the true foundation of the emperor: the hearts of the people and the general trend of the world.

This is probably the true meaning of that "hexagram"—the Li hexagram.

Some people should be kept, while others should be let go!

His departure is like a dragon temporarily leaving shallow waters, preparing for the return of the true dragon in the future.

"We've gone off on a tangent, and if we keep going, it'll be taboo!" Chunghachi chuckled lightly. "Let's get back on track!"

"Okay, I'll take it!" Zhou Wenju smiled gently.

"I understand what Brother Zhou means. It seems that Huiyuan, the head of the Discipline Hall, is indeed not pure of the six senses and deserves this calamity. However, I still think that Brother Zhou should learn the Confucian doctrine of the mean and not act so blatantly. For example, today, you wrote the Diamond Sutra, which has already thwarted the other party's plot. There is really no need to take such drastic measures against him and do things so decisively."

"Brother Zhong, I understand your good intentions!" Zhou Wenju raised his teacup in a toast. "However, please forgive me for having reservations about the Doctrine of the Mean. I can talk to a gentleman about benevolence and forgiveness, but when dealing with a petty person who doesn't understand benevolence and forgiveness, perhaps I should use a language they can understand."

Zhongba said, "Kill one to warn a hundred? To stop the war with force?"

"Yes, unlike Brother Zhong, I don't have the Dingchao Division protecting me. The only way I can deter people from taking action is to let them know that anyone who tries to harm me will suffer the consequences!"

Zhongba slowly raised his head and sighed deeply: "Brother Zhou comes from a family of officials. Your father upheld the Confucian way throughout his life. I thought you would follow in your father's footsteps."

"My father followed the Confucian path his whole life, but in his old age, he lived a miserable life in Qishan, Lingnan. This scene is not very pleasant."

"You say that your father's cowardly behavior in Qishan is 'not very good,' but you don't know that if he hadn't taken this path, he might already be dead by now."

"Perhaps that's true, but ultimately everyone has their own aspirations. Let's leave the questions of life's gains and losses to old age."

Zhongba slowly stood up: "The imperial edict will take about two more days! Brother Zhou, please stay here for the next two days and really don't cause any more trouble."

He was also helpless when he said that.

I always remind him not to cause any unnecessary trouble.

But each time, it sprouts large branches...

However, he also knew that this was not what he wanted. As the saying goes, "The tree wants to be still, but the wind won't stop. What can be done?"

Zhou Wenju chuckled softly: "Is Your Majesty waiting for the outcome of the chess game?"

"Yes! In the game of Go, the two are locked in a fierce battle, currently in the middle game. It is expected that the matter will be settled the day after tomorrow."

This is what makes the Aoyama Literary Society special.

The list of seven candidates was extremely difficult to compile.

This was not an ordinary literary gathering for appreciating the wind and moon; it was a major event concerning the peace and security of the northern border of the Great Yu Kingdom.

The birth of each candidate is the result of countless trials and tribulations.

Before Zhou Wenju went to Beijing, five people had already been basically selected as participants, representing the five disciplines of classics, music, mathematics, calligraphy, and painting.

With the sudden emergence of Zhou Wenju from Zuixinglou yesterday, the suspense surrounding the participants in the poetry gathering has been completely eliminated.

The only suspense is who will attend the Yidao Conference.

There were two candidates for the chess tournament, both with similar skills, reputations, and status, making it difficult to determine who was better. So, they agreed to play a game at the Luoyang Academy, with the loser withdrawing on their own.

This is the fairest solution, and all parties agree.

We're just waiting to see how this game goes.

This game will continue for two days and two nights...

This is why the imperial edict will take two days to process.

Chungpachi bowed respectfully, left the quiet room, and returned to the Stable Court.

When Zhou Wenju returned after seeing Zhongba off, he saw Lin Nongyue by the coffee table, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought...

"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Wenju asked.

Lin Nongyue said, "Thinking about what Zhongba just said, I also think you made a mistake."

"Hmm? You also want to discuss the Confucian concept of forgiveness with me?"

Lin Nongyue rolled her eyes at him: "What do I know about the Dao? I only know about the martial world... Hey, have you noticed that by directly banning this old bald man from the Buddhist sect, you've made him very dangerous?"

Ok?

Zhou Wenju raised his eyes and stared at her.

Lin Nongyue said, "I'm serious, I'm not joking! This bald guy used to be in Buddhism, with the title of a highly accomplished monk, and was restrained by the rules of Baima Temple. Even if he was bad, he was still bound by the rules of Buddhism and didn't dare to be too unrestrained. Now you've personally torn off his restraints and forced him to have no temple to return to. Do you think he won't turn from a Buddhist to a demon and completely go wild?"

Objectively speaking, this statement makes a lot of sense.

Even a highly accomplished Buddhist monk has certain bottom lines in his actions; even the most unscrupulous person has concerns.

Now he's been expelled from the White Horse Temple, and no temple in the world can take him in. His path to Buddhism is completely cut off. Do you think he'll become reckless and abandon all Buddhist precepts? Anyway, you forced him into this situation. Since ancient times, a trapped beast in dire straits is the most dangerous.

"I'm not afraid!" Zhou Wenju said.

"Not afraid? I bet you can't even tell how high his cultivation level is." Lin Nongyue was very dissatisfied with his expression.

"Is it higher than your Qixia Mountain?"

"Pshaw! Compared to my Qixia Mountain, he's nothing... I wasn't talking about me, I was talking about you!"

"Is there a difference? We've been through thick and thin together. If he dares to target me, he's targeting Qixia Mountain. What dignity does the ancient Qixia Mountain tribe hold? How could we allow this bald guy to act so recklessly?" Zhou Wenju said confidently.

Lin Nongyue was dumbfounded: "You... how can you be so shameless? I was just on the same road as you, and you asked for trouble by turning around and tying me up. And it wasn't just me you tied up, you tied up the entire Qixia Mountain, what gives you the right?"

"You can't say that. As the poet said, 'It takes ten lifetimes of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a hundred lifetimes to share a pillow.' We've shared a boat ride; that's a connection from ten lifetimes ago..."

"What kind of lousy poet is this? He's clearly a scoundrel! I'm not going to associate with you, I'm leaving..."

Lin Nongyue ran away.

Zhou Wenju smiled. For some reason, he felt exceptionally relaxed in front of her, and could say anything without any hesitation.

Alright, she's gone. The quiet room is now silent.

He can seriously study some new gadget...

Alright, she's gone. The quiet room is now silent.

He can seriously study some new gadget...

It's that Bodhi seed he just fished out of the "Diamond Sutra," or rather, the "Buddha Sea."

Dao Hai fishes a lot now, and has gone from a novice to an experienced angler, gaining some insights into fishing.

Fishing in the Daohai Sea has something to do with the bait you use.

If you use the results of your literary pursuits as bait, the fish you catch will mostly be related to literature and the arts.

If you use the results of Buddhism and Taoism as bait, it is most likely related to Buddhism and Taoism.

This Bodhi seed was caught using the Diamond Sutra as bait. Theoretically, it is a Buddhist object, and Bodhi seeds are the most common objects in Buddhism, which initially fits this judgment.

But is it really just an ordinary Bodhi seed?

Zhou Wenju didn't quite believe it.

In the vast ocean of Tao, what ordinary things are there?

We need to study it carefully.

With a thought, the Bodhi seed emerged from his sea of ​​consciousness and landed in his palm.

The Bodhi seed is quite exquisite, like a perfectly shaped object created by nature.

However, the patterns that swirl all over the body carry endless mystery.

On the surface, there's nothing to tell. Does it mean it needs to be crushed?

He pinched it!

That squeeze was quite forceful!

However, the Bodhi seed remained completely still.

Zhou Wenju was surprised.

With his current cultivation level, he could deform even a piece of pig iron, yet this Bodhi remained completely still.

Is your mother spreading evil spirits?

I'll risk everything to cripple you, just to test your mettle! Anyway, I caught this while fishing, not born this way, so I'm not too bothered since it didn't cost me anything…

Zhou Wenju suddenly concentrated all his cultivation into his two fingers and clenched them tightly.

But it was all for naught...

Bodhi was still Bodhi, his eyes wide open.

Holy crap, this is really weird!

I'll find some tools; I refuse to believe I can't pry it open!

Zhou Wenju touched his entire body.

There are no knives or anything like that.

So what should we use?

Oh, right, the belt!

His belt wasn't a belt at all; it was a gun that Lao Can had given him before he left!

With a surge of true energy, the tip of the evil vine belt... Like the tip of a spear.

The tip of the spear, with its sinister vines gleaming like cold light, gleamed with a chilling killing intent in the sunlight...

Piercing at this Bodhi tree.

The moment the Evil Vine Spear touched Bodhi...

Suddenly, Bodhi opened on its own, like a door.

Zhou Wenju laughed. "So you're afraid of being bullied too?"

However, when the Bodhi tree was opened, the scene revealed inside made Zhou Wenju's eyes widen...

Inside the Bodhi tree, there is a butterfly.

Within the Bodhi tree, harder than iron, lies a frail butterfly.

This butterfly is so light and so delicate.

It rose gracefully and landed...

The tip of the evil vine spear.

I licked it...

With just one lick...

The tip of the evil vine spear suddenly went soft.

Zhou Wenju was greatly alarmed and quickly withdrew the Evil Vine Spear.

The butterfly wouldn't let go and followed him out with a whoosh. Zhou Wenju raised his finger and blocked her with his fingertip, and the butterfly gently fluttered its wings on his fingertip.

"Can you understand what I'm saying?" Zhou Wenju asked.

Speaking to a butterfly is inconceivable, but Zhou Wenju was willing to bet a lot of money that this butterfly was no ordinary butterfly, even if it looked exactly like one.

It's that Bodhi seed he just fished out of the "Diamond Sutra," or rather, the "Buddha Sea."

Dao Hai fishes a lot now, and has gone from a novice to an experienced angler, gaining some insights into fishing.

Fishing in the Daohai Sea has something to do with the bait you use.

If you use the results of your literary pursuits as bait, the fish you catch will mostly be related to literature and the arts.

If you use the results of Buddhism and Taoism as bait, it is most likely related to Buddhism and Taoism.

This Bodhi seed was caught using the Diamond Sutra as bait. Theoretically, it is a Buddhist object, and Bodhi seeds are the most common objects in Buddhism, which initially fits this judgment.

But is it really just an ordinary Bodhi seed?

Zhou Wenju didn't quite believe it.

In the vast ocean of Tao, what ordinary things are there?

We need to study it carefully.

With a thought, the Bodhi seed emerged from his sea of ​​consciousness and landed in his palm.

The Bodhi seed is quite exquisite, like a perfectly shaped object created by nature.

However, the patterns that swirl all over the body carry endless mystery.

On the surface, there's nothing to tell. Does it mean it needs to be crushed?

He pinched it!

That squeeze was quite forceful!

However, the Bodhi seed remained completely still.

Zhou Wenju was surprised.

With his current cultivation level, he could deform even a piece of pig iron, yet this Bodhi remained completely still.

Is your mother spreading evil spirits?

I'll risk everything to cripple you, just to test your mettle! Anyway, I caught this while fishing, not born this way, so I'm not too bothered since it didn't cost me anything…

Zhou Wenju suddenly concentrated all his cultivation into his two fingers and clenched them tightly.

But it was all for naught...

Bodhi was still Bodhi, his eyes wide open.

Holy crap, this is really weird!

I'll find some tools; I refuse to believe I can't pry it open!

Zhou Wenju touched his entire body.

There are no knives or anything like that.

So what should we use?

Oh, right, the belt!

His belt wasn't a belt at all; it was a gun that Lao Can had given him before he left!

With a surge of true energy, the tip of the evil vine belt... Like the tip of a spear.

The tip of the spear, with its sinister vines gleaming like cold light, gleamed with a chilling killing intent in the sunlight...

Piercing at this Bodhi tree.

The moment the Evil Vine Spear touched Bodhi...

Suddenly, Bodhi opened on its own, like a door.

Zhou Wenju laughed. "So you're afraid of being bullied too?"

However, when the Bodhi tree was opened, the scene revealed inside made Zhou Wenju's eyes widen...

Inside the Bodhi tree, there is a butterfly.

Within the Bodhi tree, harder than iron, lies a frail butterfly.

This butterfly is so light and so delicate.

It rose gracefully and landed...

The tip of the evil vine spear.

I licked it...

With just one lick...

The tip of the evil vine spear suddenly went soft.

Zhou Wenju was greatly alarmed and quickly withdrew the Evil Vine Spear.

The butterfly wouldn't let go and followed him out with a whoosh. Zhou Wenju raised his finger and blocked her with his fingertip, and the butterfly gently fluttered its wings on his fingertip.

"Can you understand what I'm saying?" Zhou Wenju asked.

Speaking to a butterfly is inconceivable, but Zhou Wenju was willing to bet a lot of money that this butterfly was no ordinary butterfly, even if it looked exactly like one.

Alright, she's gone. The quiet room is now silent.

He can seriously study some new gadget...

It's that Bodhi seed he just fished out of the "Diamond Sutra," or rather, the "Buddha Sea."

Dao Hai fishes a lot now, and has gone from a novice to an experienced angler, gaining some insights into fishing.

Fishing in the Daohai Sea has something to do with the bait you use.

If you use the results of your literary pursuits as bait, the fish you catch will mostly be related to literature and the arts.

If you use the results of Buddhism and Taoism as bait, it is most likely related to Buddhism and Taoism.

This Bodhi seed was caught using the Diamond Sutra as bait. Theoretically, it is a Buddhist object, and Bodhi seeds are the most common objects in Buddhism, which initially fits this judgment.

But is it really just an ordinary Bodhi seed?

Zhou Wenju didn't quite believe it.

In the vast ocean of Tao, what ordinary things are there?

We need to study it carefully.

With a thought, the Bodhi seed emerged from his sea of ​​consciousness and landed in his palm.

The Bodhi seed is quite exquisite, like a perfectly shaped object created by nature.

However, the patterns that swirl all over the body carry endless mystery.

On the surface, there's nothing to tell. Does it mean it needs to be crushed?

He pinched it!

That squeeze was quite forceful!

However, the Bodhi seed remained completely still.

Zhou Wenju was surprised.

With his current cultivation level, he could deform even a piece of pig iron, yet this Bodhi remained completely still.

Is your mother spreading evil spirits?

I'll risk everything to cripple you, just to test your mettle! Anyway, I caught this while fishing, not born this way, so I'm not too bothered since it didn't cost me anything…

Zhou Wenju suddenly concentrated all his cultivation into his two fingers and clenched them tightly.

But it was all for naught...

Bodhi was still Bodhi, his eyes wide open.

Holy crap, this is really weird!

I'll find some tools; I refuse to believe I can't pry it open!

Zhou Wenju touched his entire body.

There are no knives or anything like that.

So what should we use?

Oh, right, the belt!

His belt wasn't a belt at all; it was a gun that Lao Can had given him before he left!

With a surge of true energy, the tip of the evil vine belt... Like the tip of a spear.

The tip of the spear, with its sinister vines gleaming like cold light, gleamed with a chilling killing intent in the sunlight...

Piercing at this Bodhi tree.

The moment the Evil Vine Spear touched Bodhi...

Suddenly, Bodhi opened on its own, like a door.

Zhou Wenju laughed. "So you're afraid of being bullied too?"

However, when the Bodhi tree was opened, the scene revealed inside made Zhou Wenju's eyes widen...

Inside the Bodhi tree, there is a butterfly.

Within the Bodhi tree, harder than iron, lies a frail butterfly.

This butterfly is so light and so delicate.

It rose gracefully and landed...

The tip of the evil vine spear.

I licked it...

With just one lick...

The tip of the evil vine spear suddenly went soft.

Zhou Wenju was greatly alarmed and quickly withdrew the Evil Vine Spear.

The butterfly wouldn't let go and followed him out with a whoosh. Zhou Wenju raised his finger and blocked her with his fingertip, and the butterfly gently fluttered its wings on his fingertip.

"Can you understand what I'm saying?" Zhou Wenju asked.

Speaking to a butterfly is inconceivable, but Zhou Wenju was willing to bet a lot of money that this butterfly was no ordinary butterfly, even if it looked exactly like one.