"Bang bang bang!"
The scholar kowtowed three times and wrapped the ant's corpse in paper, tucking it into his sleeve.
The scholar kowtowed so hard that blood came from the kowtow, but he didn't care, his eyes filled with venomous resentment as he looked at Long Chen.
"What's wrong?" Shipping so hard just to gain sympathy? Who is he putting on the face of a victim for?
I've always looked down on you, and now I look down on you even more. Is it only you who can be above and mighty? Only you allowed to step on others? Facing the scholar's venomous gaze, a trace of mockery appeared in Long Chen's eyes.
"Enough talk. You're challenging all the scholars of our Vermilion Bird Empire. You think your knowledge is astonishing, so today we'll have a contest." The scholar shouted angrily.
"Are you an idiot? Since ancient times, there has been no first in literature, nor second in martial arts; the contest of martial arts can be distinguished by one or two.
And in literature, where is there truly a first? Literature carries the Way; all principles are called benevolence when seen by the benevolent, and wisdom when seen by the wise.
In martial arts, some dare to claim the title of number one in the world, because some truly stand at that height.
But when it comes to literature, those who dare to claim the title of number one in the world are either madmen or idiots.
Besides, I'm here to reason with you, not to compete. If you want to compete in knowledge, and compete with me, a martial artist, how insecure must you be to make such a choice? Long Chen scoffed at the man's words.
"Literature and martial arts lead to the same goal despite different paths. When you reach the highest level, there is naturally a standard for judgment. You say there is no first place in literature, but that's because you haven't reached that height. How dare you speak so boldly?" Someone said coldly.
It was a tall, thin scholar among the crowd. He had tried several times to speak but couldn't get a word in, and finally seized an opportunity.
"So, have you reached the highest realm?" Long Chen retorted.
The man was instantly at a loss for words. He was just a scholar, with many other ranks above him, so naturally he didn't dare claim to have reached that level.
"Even if we haven't reached that level, we can still distinguish between good and bad. If we don't judge others enough, how about you... Hmph, clearly more than enough. The man was at a loss for words, and someone immediately stepped forward to help him out.
"Have some shame, please?" You're still half-hearted, without even a standard for evaluation—how can you tell who's right and who's wrong?
Oh, then you'll be grinding your teeth and saying, 'If others are right, then they're right; if you say they're wrong, they're wrong.'
Both a player and a referee? I, Long Chen, have fought all my life, fighting from the mortal realm to the immortal realm, meeting countless people, but I've never seen you so shameless. Well, if it were shamelessness, I, Long Chen, would crown you as number one. Long Chen said with admiration.
This is shameless. You want me to compete with you in terms of knowledge, and there's no standard yet. You decide the outcome of the game, so what's the point of playing around? This time, Long Chen had truly seen the world.
"What a joke. Everyone present is a well-read scholar with a scholar's mind full of knowledge; don't judge a gentleman with a petty heart." A scholar shouted angrily.
"Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman strives to improve himself relentlessly. The earth's shape is broad, and a gentleman carries all things with great virtue. You are jealous and resentful, rising up to attack the dragon in groups, using your strengths to bully others' weaknesses. He calls himself a gentleman, but how can he have the demeanor of a gentleman? Long Chen retorted.
"In terms of demeanor, for a gentleman, one should speak with warmth like jade. But with petty people in the marketplace, how could such humble words be heard in the ear or understood in the heart?" Someone later sarcastically remarked.
"As a humble gentleman, you should understand that when three walk together, there must be a teacher among them. Everything has its principles, all laws and principles have their own rules."
Even ordinary people have their strengths and their own survival rules: first, they don't steal from you, second, they don't rob you, they support themselves and are self-sufficient.
Yet you speak disrespectfully to the common folk, boasting of your own greatness, looking down from above—how imposing is that? Who gave you your confidence and made you look down on others? Long Chen sneered.
Long Chen's words were sharp and piercing, leaving the powerful figures present dumbfounded. If they hadn't sensed the vast and ocean-like blood power within Long Chen, people might have thought he was a scholar or scholar.
"Most of the common people are petty thieves, harming others for petty gains for personal gain, exposing the ugliness of human nature and reproducing many of their own bad traits.
Though already well-fed, they show no ambition, refuse to study, refuse to understand reason, willingly degenerate themselves, mingling in filth, living forever in poverty, unable to enjoy wealth and glory throughout their lives. Another scholar chimed in.
"The conduct of a gentleman is to cultivate himself through tranquility and to nurture virtue through frugality. Without detachment, one cannot clarify one's aspirations; without tranquility, one cannot reach far.
You judge virtue by the gap between rich and poor, and degrade yourself by the lowest rank; even petty men are inferior, so how can you be ranked alongside gentlemen?
Just because you dress up proudly, you look down on others for wearing tattered clothes? Just because he lived in luxury, he could mock others for being destitute?
If your intentions are not upright, what kind of knowledge is there to talk about? The reason you stand here isn't because you work hard or are outstanding, but because your parents are strong enough to support your education. Long Chen said disdainfully.
This man had problematic values and a scheming mind. Fortunately, he chose to study literature; if he had trained in martial arts, who knows how many people would have been harmed by them. According to his theory, even the poor deserve to die.
Fortunately, this person wasn't a cultivator, just a braggart with little power himself. If he were a powerful cultivator, Long Chen definitely wouldn't let him live to see tomorrow's sun today.
"The way of Heaven is about survival of the fittest. People follow Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Dao, Dao rules nature. If Heaven tries to eliminate them, it shows they are disliked by Heaven. This elder brother's words are without fault, so how can there be talk of improper intentions? If you wish to accuse him, why worry about having no excuse? "Earlier, that person was stumped by Long Chen's question, and someone nearby spoke up to help him speak."
"Since the Dao is natural, it should follow the rules. Where there is heaven, there is earth; where there is yin, there is yang; where there is high, there is low; where there is wealth, there is poverty. Tell me, without earth, where is heaven? Without yin, where can yang come from? Where can there be high without low? Without poverty, how can there be wealth?
Heaven and earth mutually support each other, yin and yang complement each other, high and low depend on each other, rich and poor stand by each other, highlighting the differences among all things—this is the way of nature, so how could the Way of Heaven not delight in it? Next. Long Chen snorted coldly.
"The way of heaven and earth, the way of nature. Those without desire attain the way of heaven. What right do you have to speak of the Dao?" Someone asked coldly.
"Since those without desire attain the Heavenly Dao, and you can't even control your desires for words, why are you talking to me about the Heavenly Dao?" Might as well shut up, next one. Long Chen couldn't be bothered to explain and fired back.
What followed was a fierce round of verbal battles. Long Chen no longer used to be arrogant and verbal like before, but instead directly responded to their questions, and with just one sentence, he could choke them out.
"Next"
"Next"
"...
"
After every sentence, they added "Next." As a result, dozens of people debated in turn, but Long Chen fired back with just one sentence, and in the end, no one dared to ask any more questions.
Everyone was stunned. Long Chen was so knowledgeable that no matter what questions they asked, he could get straight to the point, seize the loopholes in their words, and strike right at the heart, leaving them speechless and unable to refute.
In the end, none of the scholars in the hall dared to ask. Long Chen debated the scholars' words, single-handedly resisting Youyou's words. The cultivators present admired Long Chen's eloquence with utmost respect.
"Is there no next one?" Then I'm leaving. I still have things to take care of! Long Chen saw that all the scholars in the room glared at him angrily, but no one asked any more questions. Long Chen patted his butt and stood up.
"Brother Long, what a brilliant debate. I've truly experienced what it means to be knowledgeable and knowledgeable about both ancient and modern times.
Brother Long, please point out the flaws in my songs. I would be deeply grateful. Long Chen was about to leave, but the woman in yellow hurriedly stopped him, her face full of sincerity.
"Do you really want to comment?" I just finished talking to someone, and I speak very rudely. I might offend you. Long
Chen looked at the woman in yellow, his expression somewhat serious. For some reason, he sensed a faint aura from her that made him feel uneasy.
That aura seemed to come from the woman herself, and also from her cultivation technique. The discomfort came from the sensing of his Nine Star Overlord Body Technique. Long Chen was very curious about what exactly was going on.