Dusk settled, with the distant mountains holding the last sliver of twilight.

Qingyinge, built on the edge of a cliff, had bronze bells hanging from its eaves that chimed with an ethereal sound in the evening breeze, only emphasizing the surrounding tranquility.

Gu Qing stood by the window, his sky-blue wide sleeves fluttering in the wind like unfolding clouds. He watched the crowds below, gathering and dispersing, his eyes as deep as the night.

“Teacher,” he turned to Zhao Hansheng, who was seated at the desk, “the rumors are rampant, it’s clear someone is deliberately fanning the flames!”

He walked back to the sandalwood desk, his fingertips caressing the open book lying on it: “As the ancients said: ‘If you want something to perish, you must first make it mad.’ These praises are excessive; they are clearly intended to elevate us only to bring us down. We must find out who is behind this, who is plotting against us.”

Zhao Hansheng slowly picked up his cup, gazing at the surging sea of clouds beyond the cliff, a faint, almost imperceptible sarcastic smile playing on his lips: “The *Daodejing* says: ‘What is to be contracted must first be expanded; what is to be weakened must first be strengthened.'”

He turned his gaze back to his most cherished disciple: “Why bother investigating? This was all expected.”

He unhurriedly took a sip of tea: “Our opponents haven’t denied us; instead, they are strongly affirming us. The *Yi Jing* says: ‘An arrogant dragon will have cause to repent; fullness cannot last long.’ This is an overt scheme! Fanning the flames with such seasoned tactics could only be the work of an exceptional individual, steeped in the ways of power for many years.”

Zhao Hansheng put down his cup: “We need to gain fame, and they are stoking our fire even higher, expecting that the higher we are lifted, the harder we will fall.”

“But he must have underestimated the power of Xinxue!”

“Hehe, wait until I give my lecture tomorrow; all will become clear.”

Gu Qing’s eyes sharpened: “The strong must govern, and those who govern must be strong. In the end, strength is everything. Teacher, you are right; I lost my composure a bit.”

“I am ashamed,” Zhao Hansheng sighed softly, though without a hint of shame in his eyes, “this time, our breakthrough doesn’t rely on my strength, but on Wang Xinyue’s.”

Gu Qing poured him more tea from the pot, the stream of water gleaming gold in the candlelight.

“Teacher is too modest,” his tone was respectful. “The two of us, master and disciple, came here alone, and with only limited resources at hand, we were able to leverage the power structure within a behemoth like Wanxiang Zong.”

“The Art of War says: ‘A good fighter seeks victory from the situation, not from men.’ To be able to capitalize on the situation—isn’t that precisely your strength, Teacher?”

He continued: “I have traveled the world with you, from Huazhang Guo, all the way to Feiyun Guo, and I have learned a great deal.”

Zhao Hansheng reached out and stroked his teacup, his fingertips gently caressing the blue-and-white scrolling vine pattern on the rim.

He sighed leisurely: “It’s good that you understand.”

“Wanxiang Zong is powerful in Feiyun Guo, the foremost righteous force. If we can gain support here, it will greatly benefit your future development in Huazhang Guo.”

Amidst the swirling tea mist, Zhao Hansheng’s voice deepened: “To be frank, I never intended to relinquish the position of Shanzhang.”

“Once I use the spread of Xinxue to reach the peak of my reputation, I will have countless reasons to retain this position of power.”

“During this process, we must win over all the Ru Cultivators in Wanxiang Zong.”

“At the crucial moment, we will arrange for suitable people to promote public opinion, making me the popular choice, demanding that I continue to serve as Shanzhang.”

“At that time, I will politely decline multiple times, and finally ‘reluctantly’ accept. This is the most perfect plan.”

“That Situ Gu,” he curled his lips into a cold, sharp arc, “isn’t he a ready example?”

“Ru Cultivators from other countries are easy to win over.”

“Their longing for Huazhang Guo is from the heart. This grants us even more influence.”

“Hehehe.”

Zhao Hansheng let out a few cold laughs, thinking of Duanmu Zhang, and directly remarked: “Duanmu Zhang is unworthy of being a Great Ru. In the past, he was engrossed in scholarship and was ostracized by his colleagues, sent abroad to spread Ru learning in Feiyun Guo. Unexpectedly, he has made no progress to this day. He even committed the same mistake again, naively giving up the Shanzhang position. Truly foolish!”

The next day.

At dawn, the mists on Shushu Feng summit had not yet fully dispersed, but the vast bluestone plaza was already bustling with people.

Today was the first public lecture by Mister Zhao Hansheng, the remarkably prominent figure from Huazhang Guo.

The rampant rumors, though sparking some resentment, also generated greater buzz, making the public more curious about the master and disciple, eager to discover if their reputation matched reality.

On the high platform, Zhao Hansheng, clad in a deep black robes with wide sleeves, his hair simply tied with a plain jade hairpin, exuded no spiritual pressure, yet possessed a captivating noble demeanor.

He carried no books, simply observing the growing crowd below, his gaze sweeping over the many masters and powerful figures seated in the front rows, and the vast multitude in the back.

Ning Zhuo was among them, inconspicuous.

He entered with a stone token.

The cultivators present were not ordinary people; they had been pre-screened by the Ru Cultivator community.

When the time came, Zhao Hansheng began his lecture.

Without pleasantries, his voice, clear as a resonant bell, reached everyone’s ears distinctly: “Today, we will not discuss scriptures or classics; I will only ask you one question: ‘Is there *li* (principle) in your hearts?'”

A subtle stir immediately rippled through the audience. They had come because of Zhao Hansheng’s reputation and their curiosity about Xinxue. But Zhao Hansheng was not discussing scriptures or classics; could this still be considered a Ru Cultivator’s lecture?

Zhao Hansheng continued: “Everyone says to investigate things to acquire knowledge. Great Ru Wang Xinyue investigated bamboo for seven days, yet found it difficult to understand the principle of bamboo, which led him to grasp another aspect of investigating things to acquire knowledge—that outside the mind there are no things, outside the mind there is no principle; the principles of all things are within my mind.”

At these words, the entire audience was astonished!

Seeing that he had captivated their attention, Zhao Hansheng began to elaborate, discussing the Way of Xinxue in detail.

Chu Xuangui frowned deeply; this was his second time listening to such a profound discourse. Yet, it still contained many contradictions with what he had previously learned. Chu Xuangui had adhered to classics meticulously throughout his life, and the principles of Xinxue being in his mind truly felt “out of place” for him.

Beside him sat Songtaosheng. The white-haired old man’s eyes were slightly closed, as if in contemplation, but his subtly trembling eyelids betrayed his inner turmoil.

Time passed slowly, and Zhao Hansheng began to explain the essence of Xinxue.

His voice was low, carrying a strange power that penetrated people’s hearts: “When you did not see this flower, this flower was at rest with your mind. When you come to see this flower, then the color of this flower at once becomes clear.”

“It is evident that this flower is not outside your mind.”

“The mind is principle. Is there anything outside the mind, or any principle outside the mind, in the world?”

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent, and almost all the cultivators were deeply moved.

Bai Jiyun’s face showed no trace of his usual indolent expression; he was as if struck by a paralyzing spell.

He, too, was a nationally renowned genius, who had traveled widely, considering himself knowledgeable, yet he had never imagined that “li” could be defined in such a way!

Liu Fushu’s eyes were wide open, the ink marks on his neck appearing even clearer due to excitement.

He excelled in calligraphy, and his thoughts wandered: excellent brushwork should perfectly align with classical standards and methods.

But according to Xinxue, wouldn’t that mean the highest standards of calligraphy already existed within his own mind?

This was too incredible! Yet Liu Fushu vaguely felt: if he could comprehend this layer, perhaps his calligraphy would enter a whole new realm?

The youngest, Kong Ran, could no longer maintain his precocious composure. His dark, bright eyes were filled with confusion and shock.

Chaos, utter chaos.

The Ru Cultivator knowledge stored in his mind seemed to be thoroughly jumbled.

“This is Xinxue?!”

It was different from his understanding of Ru learning, yet also similar, filled with a fatal attraction.

Finally, Zhao Hansheng’s lecture concluded.

He concluded by saying: “Knowledge is the beginning of action; action is the completion of knowledge. The true and solid part of knowledge is action; the clear and precise part of action is knowledge.”

“This is—the Unity of Knowing and Acting!”

“This will be the content of my second round of lectures.”

Everyone present was astonished again and again.

“The Unity of Knowing and Acting?!” Ning Zhuo’s heart pounded violently.

His main cultivation was not Ru Dao, so the subversion and impact he experienced were far less profound than that of the Ru Cultivators.

But at this moment, he was greatly shaken!

This was because he thought of his own cultivation secret method.

“My absorption of various demonic energies, eliminating evil and safeguarding the Dao, gaining their lifelong memories and experiences—isn’t that ‘knowing’?”

“Previously, in Xuana Cave, I used bronze weapons for combat training, which was to comprehend and digest in practice, to use action to digest knowledge, truly making it my own, becoming a part of myself.”

“But according to this Ru art, one can directly transform ‘knowing’ into ‘acting,’ and ‘acting’ into ‘knowing’.”

“The Unity of Knowing and Acting! The Unity of Knowing and Acting!!”

“If I could obtain this method, how terrifyingly efficient would it be to process demonic soul memories and experiences!!!”

At once, Ning Zhuo developed an unprecedented and immense desire for the Ru art of the Unity of Knowing and Acting.

Just then, a thin figure in the front row slowly stood up, drawing everyone’s attention.

His hair fell by his cheeks, breaking the usual silence, and he directly asked: “Mister Zhao’s profound discourse is truly enlightening. According to your words, if the mind is principle, and knowing and acting are one. Then, can all the myriad laws in the world be attributed to the application of a single mind?”

The entire hall fell silent.

This was because the questioner’s identity was extraordinary: it was Lu Zhenshu, the Peak Master of Fuyao Feng, one of the Eight Peaks.

Zhao Hansheng looked at Lu Zhenshu and nodded slightly: “Peak Master Lu has touched upon the fundamental. All laws originate from the mind, and the mind can transform things. The Way of cultivation, whether it is refining the physical body or condensing spiritual power, fundamentally relies on the drive of the mind, with knowing and acting advancing together. If one seeks laws outside the mind, it would be like climbing a tree to catch fish.”

Lu Zhenshu’s brows furrowed slightly at these words, and he pondered for a dozen breaths before clapping his hands in praise: “Wonderful, truly wonderful!”

In an instant, a huge ripple stirred in everyone’s hearts.

Lu Zhenshu was one of the top figures in Wanxiang Zong; his every word and action carried widespread influence.

At this very moment, he publicly expressed his admiration and approval for Zhao Hansheng! This was not merely academic recognition, but also extended to political endorsement.

The public support of a Peak Master carried immense weight!

Originally, Zhao Hansheng had been widely questioned because he had “suddenly and mysteriously” become the Shanzhang of the Ru Cultivator community. However, after the public lecture and Lu Zhenshu’s personal statement, the hidden dangers of the rumors had been completely dismantled, firmly establishing his strength and reputation.

Duanmu Zhang also sat in the front row, listening intently.

Hearing Lu Zhenshu’s praise, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. Xinxue, shocking and profound, truly had a charm that touched the core of one’s being.

At this moment, a name, and a knot in his heart that he had been unable to resolve for many years, surfaced in his mind—Qin De.

This brilliant Ru Cultivator, who had “fallen into depravity” through study, creating his own *Shengren Dadao Jing*, and was eventually imprisoned by the Ru Cultivator community in Yun Lao, had once been the junior Duanmu Zhang thought most highly of!

“Xinxue is so profound, perhaps it could completely resolve the *Shengren Dadao Jing*, and lead Qin De back from his misguided path, who knows!” This thought arose irrepressibly.

Duanmu Zhang had always cherished Qin De’s talent, but had consistently failed to correct his “twisted” ideology. Now, the Xinxue brought by Zhao Hansheng seemed to offer a new possibility.

However, this was a matter of great importance. Qin De’s case was too deeply entangled, a scar for Duanmu Zhang and indeed the entire Ru Cultivator community.

Duanmu Zhang could not act unilaterally.

After the class, he immediately sought out Chu Xuangui, Songtaosheng, and several other core Ru Cultivators for a secret discussion.

“The discourse of Xinxue, initially felt extreme, but its core is profound, pointing directly to the Great Dao,” Duanmu Zhang said with a heavy heart. “Qin De fell into the demonic path, his thoughts twisted, and our many attempts to persuade him yielded no results. Now, perhaps with the power of Xinxue, we can try to guide this child back from his misguided path.”

“I want to inform Zhao Hansheng about Qin De, and let him debate with Qin De; perhaps—there might be a glimmer of hope?”

Everyone was astonished.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xuangui almost immediately and emphatically opposed: “No! Sir, this must not be done!”

“Qin De’s matter is our shame, and a pain in our hearts! Although Xinxue is shocking and profound, we do not yet fully understand its foundations! Whether it can make Qin De abandon evil and return to righteousness is still unknown.”

“How can we entrust such an important person to an outsider?”

Qin De was once a member of the Ru Cultivator community of Wanxiang Zong. The *Shengren Dadao Jing* he created was too rebellious. In those days, after numerous attempts and heavy costs, when the Ru Cultivator community still couldn’t change Qin De, they decided to eradicate him directly!

Qin De’s existence was a huge hidden danger for the Ru Cultivator community.

Or, it could be said, a huge handle.

Precisely because of this, after the Ru Cultivator community made this decision, some high-level figures in Wanxiang Zong secretly intervened and protected Qin De.

Because certain high-level figures realized that Qin De was a “tool to deal with or, to some extent, control the Ru Cultivator community”!

This involved power struggles among the higher echelons.

Of course, this was not revealed to the outside.

The gray-robed cultivator in the black market had, from the beginning, thought Qin De’s matter was too simple.

Even without the Eight Peaks Council, Zhong Dao, the current head of Zhu Xie Tang, did not take Qin De seriously. It would have been very difficult for him to act against Qin De.

Chu Xuangui’s meaning was clear: Qin De was a family shame, and Zhao Hansheng and Gu Qing were outsiders. Family shame should not be aired! How could they easily hand over such a handle?

Duanmu Zhang mused in silence, looking at the others.

Songtaosheng stroked his beard and slowly spoke, his voice calm yet thoughtful: “I understand what you mean, Sir. All along, Qin De has been our Ru Cultivators’ weakness, a blemish—to be blunt, a handle.”

“Wanxiang Zong, like most other powers and nations, wants to use and guard against us Ru Cultivators.”

“You, honored elder, actively stepped down from the Shanzhang position, also hoping to use Zhao Hansheng and the power of Xinxue to open up opportunities for us Ru Cultivators, right?”

Duanmu Zhang nodded slightly, looking at Songtaosheng, then sweeping his gaze across everyone in the room, and let out a deep sigh: “You truly understand me, Songtaosheng.”