Out of fear of death, Invest Everything into Health

Chapter 766: Chapter 299: Seeking Truth from Facts (Part 2)

"How is this any different from being stuck in the past? The common people are the true masters of Wenxin Heaven. Their ideals and pursuits are the direction Wenxin Heaven should take."

"Ideals and pursuits... that’s certainly something a student would say."

"I’ve always felt that while a person’s path can be winding, the destination must be where their ideals and pursuits lie. Otherwise, that person is merely a fool being swept forward by the tide of history, lacking self-awareness," Guan Xin said. "I believe that the Wenxin Heaven of the past must have had many self-aware individuals, but now, they have all become fools."

Wang Ding looked at her, "Those with lofty ideals should be at the forefront, not here."

"Great Saint, there’s no need to mock me. I am not someone with lofty ideals, but I am willing to go to the forefront. However, Great Saint, you are standing in my way. I am also certain that Great Saint once stood in front of Mr. He Youyi, simply because he staunchly supported the Jade Ancestor."

Guan Xin walked step by step towards Wang Ding, "I will absolutely not become another Mr. He. Great Saint, do you want to test my resolve?"

In Wang Ding’s eyes, this slender, quiet-mannered girl seemed to grow taller with each step.

With each step she took, an article appeared behind her.

"Conversations of Hua Tian Wan Fang," "True Essence," "Rock Writings," "The White Fish Thesis"...

All of these were representative articles of the Jade Ancestor, containing his highest philosophical values. These articles discussed the significance of Wenxin Heaven to the world, the significance of humanity to Wenxin Heaven, and the nature of the Heavenly Dao...

Wang Ding’s breath became rapid because he felt a very strong aura emanating from Guan Xin.

Is this... the precursor to becoming a Great Saint!

Wang Ding’s heart trembled. He had initially predicted that Guan Xin would become a Saint before the age of thirty and a Great Saint before the age of five hundred... but now, she was only in her sixties, just past a full cycle!

When Guan Xin took her final step, the article that appeared behind her caused Wang Ding’s pupils to contract into a point.

It was "The Quest for Truth."

This was the article written by the Jade Ancestor during his opposition to the Heavenly Dao, regarded as the quintessential rebellious work, and was absolutely banned.

Wang Ding took several steps back, his eyebrows twitching,

"Where did you ever see this article!"

After the Jade Ancestor stepped down, "The Quest for Truth" was hidden away by Wenxin Heaven, strictly prohibited from circulation.

Guan Xin said, "The Jade Ancestor was remarkable. Any scholar who seeks truth and understanding will find this article. No matter how Wenxin Heaven tries to hide and bury it, it’s futile. Because this article wasn’t written for the Heavenly Dao; it was meant for all people. Does the Great Saint not even know this?"

Wang Ding sat down, showing an unprecedented weariness on his face.

He... had never felt "The Quest for Truth." Either his philosophical realm wasn’t as high as Guan Xin’s, or he never sought truth and understanding.

Wang Ding never expected to be surpassed by his own student so quickly.

Teetering, he put on his glasses and, like a stubborn old man, said,

"I can grant you the World Order." Things had reached this point, and he had no choice but to concede. Because Guan Xin already had the ability to request the World Order herself, and if she truly were to do so, Wenxin Heaven would lose its last vestige of dignity. "But you must agree to one thing for me."

"Please speak, Mr. Wang." Guan Xin’s manner of addressing him reverted to Mr. Wang.

"Sever all ties with Fan Wubing completely. You can even make me relinquish power to you, but no matter what, you cannot side with Fan Wubing." Wang Ding’s compromise came with conditions: "Otherwise, I will immediately remove your Saint’s Monument from Wenxin Heaven."

Guan Xin was taken aback.

She realized just how frighteningly firm Wenxin Heaven’s stance against Fan Wubing was.

She also realized she couldn’t make a choice immediately.

This wasn’t a choice between Wenxin Heaven and Fan Wubing, but between pursuit and stance.

Refusing Wang Ding’s demand means she’s unable to request the World Order, leaving Wenxin Heaven inactive;

Agreeing means she’s no longer truthful and that she’d become another He Youyi.

Guan Xin was caught in a dilemma.

Wang Ding, seeing her like this, couldn’t help but doubt himself. Was it really right to make his student face such a choice? He said weakly,

"Cutting ties with Fan Wubing, you won’t lose anything."

Guan Xin lowered her head, staring at her toes. After a long silence, she closed her eyes and solemnly said,

"I refuse."

"Why?" Wang Ding was extremely shaken, "Is Fan Wubing truly worth following?"

"This has nothing to do with him. It’s you, Mr. Wang, who are wrong. You’ve lost the integrity of a scholar. Regardless of whether Fan Wubing is right or wrong, you haven’t thought about studying him, exploring him. Just because he doesn’t side with Wenxin Heaven, you dismiss him, and even want me to dismiss him too," Guan Xin said softly. "Mr. Wang... this is the fundamental reason why a Saint isn’t saintly."

After saying this, she turned and left without any hesitation.

She didn’t know why, despite about to be expelled from her sect and the Saint’s Monument about to be removed from Wenxin Heaven, she didn’t feel sad at all. Instead, she felt immensely relieved, as if all identities and false honors, aside from causing pressure, held no meaning.

Wang Ding called after her. His voice hoarse,

"Take the World Order. Your Saint’s Monument will remain in Wenxin Heaven."

Guan Xin looked back to see the golden World Order suspended in the air. She asked,

"Why?"

"Because Wenxin Heaven... needs you."

Wang Ding had completely given in.

At this moment, he was no longer considering from the standpoint Confucianism had adhered to for ages, but from the perspective of a Great Saint, a scholar, a teacher. From this angle, he found that Guan Xin was right.

Confucianism can be just for scholars, but Wenxin Heaven must be for the common people.

Guan Xin respectfully bowed deeply,

"Your student will not let you down, teacher."

Changing the mindset of someone who has managed Wenxin Heaven with a fixed path for nearly ten thousand years is exceptionally difficult.

Guan Xin firmly believed this was not something that could happen overnight. Under the trend of the times, subtle changes had already begun.

She returned to the Immortal Continent with the World Order.

Late at night, after much contemplation, Wang Ding sought out Li Kaide. For the first time in many years, they spoke at length as classmates. They set aside their identities as Great Saints and seemed to return to their youthful days, approaching the world with that mindset anew.

"Kaide, we really are not as good as our student. I can’t tell if I compromised because of Guan Xin’s pressure or if I truly believe she’s right."

"Only through collision can new ideas be born. We’re not wrong because we should do this. Guan Xin is not wrong because she adheres to her personal credo of truthfulness, never yielding to concepts she doesn’t endorse."

"Then who is wrong?"

"It’s the existence that doesn’t allow ’us’ and ’Guan Xin’ to coexist that’s wrong."

And what is this existence?

Neither of them spoke the answer. Because they understood that their candid conversation today could only exist today. When tomorrow’s sun rose, everything had to return to the norm. It was the only way for Wang Ding to remain Yu Xuan the Great Saint, and for Li Kaide to remain Great Saint Yan Cheng.

This is the most helpless part.

...

Guan Xin took the World Order back to the Immortal Continent Demon Extermination Bureau, heralding a storm of bloodshed about to sweep the Immortal Continent.

At the same time, far away in He Yue Village in the East Continent, all preparations for the Great Prosperity Festival were complete, just awaiting the bountiful golden autumn of September to arrive.