Chapter 9

Inside the classroom.

Everyone's eyes were filled with surprise.

To them, although Gu Jinnian was the grandson of a national duke and usually acted arrogantly, he only did so within his own circle.

But this was the Wenxin Study Hall.

Not to mention the grandson of a national duke, even if the current crown prince were here, he would have to behave properly.

Therefore, Gu Jinnian was usually quite well-behaved in the classroom, at least in front of Mr. Liu.

But today, it was as if he had taken the wrong medicine, picking on Zhang Yun, which was indeed a bit strange.

It was thought-provoking.

"Gu Jinnian, you are making a fallacious argument."

Zhang Yun, feeling a bit numb, didn't know what to say for a long time, and could only say this.

"Fallacious argument?"

"Who is making a fallacious argument?"

"The sage said, to benefit a matter, one must first understand it. You talk about the people, but you don't even know about their basic needs for food and clothing."

"Isn't this just empty talk, a mere laughingstock?"

"May I ask, Mr. Liu, is what I said reasonable?"

Gu Jinnian didn't care much. He had a grudge against Zhang Yun, and now he needed to vent, so he wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

As for whether these words were the sage's, Gu Jinnian didn't care. As long as they were grand principles, saying they were the sage's was fine.

Throughout history, it has always been like this. If you say something grand, and others don't believe it, you just say who said it, and the value of the statement immediately increases.

In this world, it's the same.

As long as you don't know, it was the sage who said it. Moreover, the sage said so many things in his life, you can't be sure he didn't say this.

"En."

Faced with Gu Jinnian's question, Mr. Liu nodded. He didn't choose to favor Zhang Yun.

From this, it can be seen that Mr. Liu still had professional integrity.

With these words, Zhang Yun's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Even Mr. Liu was helping Gu Jinnian, what could he say?

He was a bit angry and a bit frustrated, but he couldn't refute it.

Zhang Yun took a deep breath and looked at Mr. Liu.

"It's my fault."

Zhang Yun was very smart. He didn't argue loudly with Gu Jinnian in the classroom but instead admitted his mistake promptly, leaving a good impression on everyone.

"Gu Jinnian's words are not without reason. Zhang Yun, remember this well; it's not a bad thing for you."

Mr. Liu nodded.

Then he looked at Gu Jinnian with a gentle smile.

"You all should learn from Gu Jinnian. The people are not just words to be spoken, but to be remembered in your heart."

"To talk about the people without knowing their basic needs for food and clothing is indeed pretentious."

"Gu Jinnian, how much does a pound of coarse rice cost?"

Mr. Liu smiled.

Gu Jinnian's words were indeed very good, worthy of praise and commendation.

But upon hearing Mr. Liu's words, Gu Jinnian fell silent.

Ah... this...

After a brief pause, Gu Jinnian remained calm.

"Mr. Liu."

"I don't know."

Gu Jinnian was very honest. He had no idea how much coarse rice cost.

Not to mention just arriving in this world, even after ten years, Gu Jinnian wouldn't care about such things.

He was a noble of the Great Xia, why should he care about such trivial matters?

Is he bored?

But with this answer, the classroom instantly fell silent.

Especially Mr. Liu's smile, which seemed a bit stiff.

Zhang Yun was even more stunned, not knowing what to say for a long time.

You damn it.

You don't know, but you ask me?

Are you crazy?

I *** ***.

Zhang Yun was so angry he felt dizzy.

He looked directly at Gu Jinnian, his voice trembling.

"Gu Jinnian, you don't even know, why are you asking me?"

He was very angry.

But Gu Jinnian remained calm.

"Didn't you talk about the people all the time?"

"I didn't talk about the people all the time."

"Why should I know this?"

Gu Jinnian's response left Zhang Yun speechless.

He was silent.

But his face turned red with anger.

So angry that it turned red.

At this moment, Zhang Yun felt a surge of blood in his chest, almost ready to spit it out.

Instantly, a black aura spread from Zhang Yun's body, entering his mind.

The fruit in the ancient tree also glowed golden, as if it was about to ripen and fall.

"Enough."

"Stop the noise."

Mr. Liu was also a bit frustrated. He thought Gu Jinnian truly understood some principles, but it ended up like this.

However, Gu Jinnian's words were not wrong. He didn't talk about the people all the time, so not knowing was reasonable.

Suppressing the noise in the classroom, Mr. Liu continued.

"Next month, the Great Xia Academy will begin a new round of admissions."

"You should review well and study diligently. At least three students from the study hall can be admitted to the Great Xia Academy each year."

"This time, don't disgrace the study hall."

"Especially Zhang Yun, you have excellent talent, and your father is a great scholar. As long as you give it your all, you can enter the Great Xia Academy."

"But you are impetuous and sometimes lose the big picture over small matters. You are almost seventeen this year."

"If you don't reach the Qi Condensation stage before you turn eighteen, it will be troublesome."

Mr. Liu spoke, shifting the topic and reminding Zhang Yun of the most important thing.

Qi Condensation.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the classroom perked up.

They were generally uninterested in reading, but hearing about the Confucian system naturally piqued their interest.

Especially Gu Jinnian.

He knew this world was not an ordinary world.

It was a world where immortals and martial arts coexisted.

Immortal, Buddha, Confucian, martial, sword, demon, and magic.

Seven systems, each divided into seven realms.

For the Immortal and Buddha systems, Gu Jinnian wasn't particularly curious. It was just about flying swords and seeking immortality, and these systems involved karma and merit, with various restrictions.

What most interested Gu Jinnian was the Confucian system.

Now that Mr. Liu mentioned it, Gu Jinnian could ask about it.

"Mr. Liu, what specific abilities do the seven realms of the Confucian system have?"

"Can you control a million troops with a single stroke of the pen in the later realms?"

His voice interrupted Zhang Yun's intended words.

But Gu Jinnian's words made Zhang Yun sneer.

"Truly laughable. You are still in the study hall, yet you don't even know the seven realms of the Confucian system, and you talk about controlling a million troops with a single stroke of the pen?"

"What do you think we, the scholars, are?"

"Or are you always reading strange things and bringing out folk tales to embarrass yourself?"

Zhang Yun spoke with great passion.

After being suppressed by Gu Jinnian all day, he finally found an opportunity to retaliate.

But to Gu Jinnian, Zhang Yun's outburst seemed petty.

Just look at Mr. Liu's expression, full of disappointment.

"Do you know how much a pound of coarse rice costs?"

Gu Jinnian looked at Zhang Yun and slowly asked.

Zhang Yun: "......"

"What does this have to do with coarse rice?"

"Can you ask something else besides this?"

Zhang Yun was very uncomfortable.

"Do you know how much a pound of coarse cloth costs?"

Gu Jinnian continued to ask.

Zhang Yun: "......"

"I don't know!"

"I'm talking to you about this, why do you keep mentioning coarse rice and coarse cloth?"

"If you have the ability, ask something about reading."

Zhang Yun was very angry.

Gu Jinnian nodded.

"Alright."

"What is this year's imperial examination question?"

Gu Jinnian continued to ask.

Zhang Yun: "......"

The classroom: "......"

Mr. Liu: "......"

Silence.

Dead silence.

Even Wu An and Li Ping outside the classroom were silent.

How did Gu Jinnian become so... fierce in just half a month?

He wasn't like this before.

"Rascal."

Finally, Zhang Yun clenched his fists and shouted at Gu Jinnian.

He really wanted to spit blood.

Damn it, are you deliberately causing trouble?

What is the imperial examination question? If I knew, would I be standing here talking nonsense with you?

Ugh.

Zhang Yun was so angry he wanted to vomit, really, he wanted to vomit.

But before he could vomit, Zhang Yun couldn't help but shout in anger.

But as soon as he spoke, Mr. Liu's angry voice rang out.

"Ridiculous."

"Zhang Yun, what kind of behavior is this?"

Instantly, Mr. Liu, sitting in the first seat, was furious.

He always valued Zhang Yun. In his view, the conflict between Gu Jinnian and Zhang Yun was just a misunderstanding between children.

A little tolerance would suffice.

But he didn't expect Zhang Yun to lose his composure like this. Considering his status, Zhang Yun couldn't even compare to one finger of Gu Jinnian. If it weren't for his father being a great scholar, what would he be?

It was fine to argue when he had the upper hand, but to do so when he didn't, wasn't that asking for trouble?

Mr. Liu's reprimand instantly woke Zhang Yun up.

His face turned even uglier.

But Gu Jinnian ignored him. It was good to have resentment, but there was no need to continue, especially with Mr. Liu present.

"Mr. Liu, can you explain the seven realms of the Confucian system in detail?"

Gu Jinnian spoke, looking at Mr. Liu.

The latter didn't want things to escalate. Seeing Gu Jinnian give him a chance, he spoke.

"Gu Jinnian."

"The seven realms of the Confucian system are: reading and condensing qi, understanding and nurturing qi, knowing and establishing words, cultivating virtue, spreading the way, standing in the world, and becoming a sage."

"Thus, they are divided into: Qi Condensation Scholar, Qi Nurturing Scholar, Word Establishing Scholar, Virtue Establishing Scholar, Way Spreading Scholar, Half-Sage, and Sage."

Mr. Liu explained the seven realms to Gu Jinnian.

Gu Jinnian knew these, but he was curious about their powers.

"Mr. Liu, I've heard that the higher the realm in the Immortal path, the stronger the control over the power of heaven and earth, capable of overturning rivers and seas, shifting the stars. What about the Confucian path?"

"Can a single poem control a million troops?"

Gu Jinnian asked his question.

"The Immortal path is indeed like that. They consume the essence of the sky and cultivate themselves, but they cannot involve themselves in the karma of the mortal world, which has its pros and cons."

"The Confucian system is not for killing enemies. What you said about a single poem controlling a million troops is impossible."

"But the Confucian system is blessed by heaven and earth, with a righteous spirit in the heart, unafraid of any demons."

"In other words, the higher the realm of a scholar, the stronger the righteous spirit in their body."

"For example, I, though only at the Word Establishing realm, can make all demons within a hundred feet see me as a true yang. With a single word, all demons below the Fourth Realm will be struck by lightning."

"Moreover, we scholars are blessed by the fortune of heaven and earth. If anyone harms us, they will suffer the backlash of fortune, whether an individual or a dynasty. Slaughtering scholars will be abandoned by heaven and earth, and their fortune will be cut off."

"This is the Confucian system."

"Therefore, scholars can speak frankly."

Mr. Liu spoke, explaining the pros and cons of the Confucian system.

Gu Jinnian fully understood.

In other words, in this world, the Confucian system cultivates a righteous spirit, which is linked to the fortune of heaven and earth. Killing scholars will bring retribution from heaven and earth.

At the same time, the Confucian system naturally restrains demons, and that's it.

But soon, Gu Jinnian thought of another question.

If scholars cannot be killed, why did the founding emperor and the current emperor kill so many scholars?

He was a bit puzzled but didn't dare to ask directly, as it would definitely be reprimanded.

Therefore, Gu Jinnian changed his approach.

"Does this mean scholars are invincible in the world?"

Gu Jinnian asked, feigning ignorance.

But upon hearing this, Mr. Liu shook his head.

"There is no such thing as invincibility."

"Scholars must remain pure and uphold their principles. If they become corrupt, they will ruin their future."

"Moreover, higher realms can suppress lower realms, so it's not about invincibility."

"Furthermore, what I said earlier is just a metaphor. If you are only at the Word Establishing realm and provoke someone you shouldn't, the fortune of the dynasty will overwhelm you like a flood, and your personal strength will be insufficient."

Mr. Liu spoke, specifically reminding him.

The general idea was that, as a scholar, you must follow the rules. Although you are blessed by the fortune of heaven and earth, if you truly oppose the dynasty, it's a dead end.

What is the fortune of a dynasty? What is the fortune of an individual? Unless you are a sage.

This answer resolved Gu Jinnian's doubts.

"Mr. Liu, if the Confucian system cannot kill enemies, will there be a glow when reciting poetry or writing?"

"Like the Nine Movements of the Literary Star?"

Gu Jinnian continued to ask.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu shook his head.

"Gu Jinnian, if you have nothing to do, don't read those folk tales."

"To make a poem or a verse cause a heavenly phenomenon, at least a Great Scholar can do it, and the poem must be appropriate and excellent, rare and hard to come by."

Mr. Liu spoke, somewhat tactfully