inspire-indiana Chapter 77 The Manifestation of Literary Spirit
Chapter 77 The Manifestation of Literary Spirit
Chapter 77 The Manifestation of Literary Spirit
The next day, Zhang Yuan arrived at Chen Wenyuan's residence on time to study Confucianism and Taoism.
Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
Although Chen Wenyuan was appointed as an eighth-rank instructor and was much busier than before, he did not neglect his teaching of Zhang Yuan's courses at all.
After finishing explaining a passage of scripture, Chen Wenyuan put down his book and looked at Zhang Yuan with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Qingyang," he said slowly, "you are exceptionally talented in martial arts, and your temperament and methods are also extraordinary. However, your foundation in Confucianism and Taoism is still somewhat shallow."
"This competition for the Qingyun Ranking in the prefecture has brought together young talents from Luyang Prefecture and even the surrounding prefectures and counties, including many outstanding Confucian scholars who have been immersed in the classics and history since childhood and have cultivated a noble spirit."
"With your current level of Confucian and Taoist cultivation, I'm afraid your chances of securing a place on the list are slim."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming much gentler: "However, you are still young. The main purpose of this trip is to broaden your horizons and experience the world. Seeing the heroes of the world and feeling the grandeur of this gathering will greatly benefit your long-term cultivation. Don't worry too much about winning or losing."
Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "I understand."
Li Jintang had introduced him to the elites of the prefecture city; those who were well-known were at least at the Innate Realm.
Those Confucian and Taoist practitioners also possessed remarkable cultivation.
Zhang Yuan's background is indeed far inferior to that of these elites.
Fortunately, he is young, and he has a talent that others don't have.
Next, Chen Wenyuan began to teach Zhang Yuanru the practical application of Confucianism and Taoism.
By combining the noble spirit cultivated in one's heart with talent and poetic sentiment, one can evoke a subtle resonance of "literary spirit" between heaven and earth.
"Watch closely," Chen Wenyuan said, pointing his fingers like a brush and drawing a line in the air, while reciting, "The smoke from the desert rises straight, the setting sun is round over the Milky Way."
As the poem was recited, a faint white light flowed from his fingertips, and the scene in the study was slightly distorted.
In a daze, Zhang Yuan felt as if he were in a vast, boundless desert.
A lone plume of smoke rose straight up, and at the far end of the long river, a perfectly round setting sun slowly sank below the horizon.
Although the scene is illusory and hazy, it carries a desolate and magnificent artistic conception that captivates the mind.
This is a "poetic illusion".
"A strong wind reveals the sturdy grass, and a rugged terrain reveals the loyal minister." Chen Wenyuan's hand gesture changed, and several invisible auras seemed to transform into a tough barrier along with the poem, subtly protecting the two of them, and also seemingly able to influence subtle changes in the external airflow.
This involves using poetry to form a formation, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth to create a simple form of protection or disturbance.
Zhang Yuan was mesmerized and deeply moved.
He subconsciously tried to communicate with the pale golden panel in his mind, wanting to see how many lifespans were needed to deduce the application of this Confucian and Taoist method to its ultimate perfection.
[A request to deduce the Confucian and Taoist method of "Transforming Literary Qi into Form" (including branches such as Poetic Illusion and Qi Formation) has been detected. Reaching the Great Perfection level requires 800 years of lifespan!]
Upon seeing the terrifying figure of "eight hundred years," Zhang Yuan couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
Even though he has accumulated a considerable amount of lifespan, this consumption is still too astonishing!
It seems that while the methods of Confucianism and Taoism are indeed infinitely wonderful, to truly master them still requires painstaking effort or waiting for a more suitable opportunity.
He now understands that the reason why some cultivation techniques require consuming a great deal of lifespan is because he himself lacks the foundation for cultivation.
If one has personal insights and understanding from spiritual practice, then the lifespan lost will not be significant.
For example, the Wild Bull Fist and the Rock Sword Technique, because they were already practiced, did not consume much of their lifespan in exchange.
On the contrary, the ability to transform literary energy into physical form, a skill that can be considered a supernatural power in Confucianism and Taoism, would require eight hundred years of lifespan for him to master out of thin air.
"I have a book of poems here, which contains the poems and essays of great Confucian and Taoist masters from the Great Yu Dynasty and even the Three Kingdoms period," Chen Wenyuan said, taking out a yellowed scroll.
"In fact, the best way to transform the spirit of Confucianism and Taoism into form is to write your own poetry."
"Such poems and prose not only enhance combat power, but also receive greater blessings from the Great Dao the wider their transmission."
Is that even possible?
A thought struck Zhang Yuan, and he immediately thought of the countless famous poems and verses he knew from his previous life!
If one were to write those poems and prose oneself, and then unleash those lines containing magnificent imagery and profound philosophy, the power would be unimaginable!
Three days later, dawn broke.
In front of the Zhang family's courtyard, the old steward, Zhang Gu, carried a small bundle, his wrinkled face filled with deep sorrow.
He tugged at Zhang Yuan's sleeve, nagging, "Young Master, the prefectural city is not like Fengming County. It's a melting pot of all sorts of people, and the journey is long. My heart is always on edge—you must be careful, think things through carefully, and don't act rashly—"
He turned his gaze to Zhang Jiumei, who stood silently to the side, and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Ninth Miss, I entrust the young master's daily life to you. Please take good care of him."
Zhang Yuan was dressed in a well-tailored blue cloth outfit, which made him look tall and straight. Although his face still had a childlike appearance, his eyes were as calm as a deep pool.
He gently patted Zhang Gu's hand: "Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I'll be careful. I'm leaving the family in your care."
Zhang Jiumei, carrying Zhang Yuan's ancestral longsword, bowed slightly and said in a cool and concise voice, "Don't worry, Master Gu."
After bidding farewell to Zhang Gu, Zhang Yuan and Zhang Jiu Mei walked one after the other through the gradually awakening streets and alleys, heading out of the city.
The scene at the city gate was far more somber than usual.
A team of armed guards from Fengming County, dressed in full armor and looking stern, were protecting a huge prison cart that was completely covered by a thick black cloth.
In front of the prison cart, more than ten knights stood quietly on their horses. They were all dressed in inconspicuous black martial robes, their auras were solid and firm, like a rock, and their warhorses were also extraordinary, with strong muscles and no restlessness.
An invisible, chilling aura of iron and blood permeated the air, suppressing the surrounding people's discussions.
Zhang Yuan's gaze swept over the knights, and a thought flickered in his mind.
This calm and unwavering demeanor is clearly the hallmark of the elite "Black Scale Army" of Zhenwu Guard!
However, they deliberately concealed their identification at this moment.
With Black Scales as backup, could it be that this escort of the demons was not without its challenges?
Zhang Yuan's gaze fell on the middle-aged knight at the head of the group, whose face was cold and whose eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
At this moment, Chen Zijing walked over from the side and whispered, "That is the captain sent by the prefectural city to escort the demon."
"My second uncle said that his cultivation level is unfathomable, and he may have already reached the level of a grandmaster."
Chen Zijing's second uncle was one of the three grandmasters of Fengming County, so his words naturally carried weight.
Zhang Yuan nodded and looked around.
Apart from Wang Chenglin, who had left earlier, and Li Jintang, who had returned to the prefectural city, the candidates for the Qingyun List nominated at Tingtao Pavilion that day, Chen Zijing and Fang Jingsong, as well as two other scholars and martial artists from humble backgrounds who won the civil and military competitions, were all present.
In addition, there were several young faces, who were young men from various families who had been sent to the prefectural city to broaden their horizons.
At this moment, County Magistrate Wang Mingyuan stepped forward, surrounded by a group of his subordinates.
He first faced the prison cart and the captain from the prefectural city, solemnly cupped his hands, and spoke in a clear voice that echoed throughout the city gates: "This wicked man is vicious and has brought calamity to the region. Fortunately, thanks to the prefectural city's authority, elite troops have been dispatched to escort him. I hope the captain will be extra careful on the way and ensure that he is brought to justice and executed, so as to put the people's minds at ease!"
The captain bowed slightly on horseback and said succinctly, "Rest assured, Your Excellency, it is my duty."
Then, Wang Mingyuan turned his gaze to Chen Zijing, Fang Jingsong, Zhang Yuan, and the other young people who were about to go to the prefectural city to participate in the Qingyun Ranking selection. His tone became encouraging: "You are all outstanding young talents of Fengming County. You are going to the prefectural city to represent the face of our county. I hope you will work together to make a name for yourselves on the Qingyun Ranking and bring fame to Fengming!"
"But remember, in friendly competition, stop when you've made your point, and don't lose the demeanor of the Fengming disciples."