We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 119: Using a Book as Betrothal Gift

After leaving White Deer Academy, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue traveled the world.

Whether it was the ten great nations of the human race, other small dynasties, or even the Northern Mang territories, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue planned to visit them all.

Wherever they went, Xiao Mo would engage in scholarly debates at local academies.

After Xiao Mo became an ”Academy Headmaster,” many things became much more convenient.

Not only would all mortal dynasties provide certain conveniences, but some small dynasties, upon hearing that a Confucian Academy Headmaster had arrived, would personally welcome him.

Most importantly, no matter which academy Xiao Mo visited, he would invariably receive attention and hospitality.

Confucian academies were divided into three ranks.

First rank had only four: the four great academies including White Deer Academy.

Second rank had one hundred.

Third rank was unlimited.
For some small third-rank academies, Xiao Moʼs status as ”Academy Headmaster” was already qualified to be a dean.

So most academies were very welcoming when they heard Xiao Mo wanted to debate scholarship.

After all, such academic exchanges were elegant affairs, and having an ”Academy Headmaster” take the initiative to come for exchanges was a rare opportunity.

However, most people initially approached with expectant expressions, hoping to learn much from Xiao Mo, this Academy Headmaster.

On the day of scholarly debate, these academy deans would specifically have academy disciples come to observe the debates but soon, the teachers at these academies discovered something was amiss.

The scholarship that Headmaster Xiao proposed was somewhat problematic.

To put it nicely, it was too novel, even somewhat ahead of its time.

To put it harshly, it was too heretical, contradicting current mainstream Confucianism.

Many academy teachers felt that the ”School of Mind” that Xiao Mo proposed, centered on ”mind is principle” and ”unity of knowledge and action,” would be very dangerous.

This differed greatly from the current ”investigating things to understand principles” and ”seeking heavenly principle externally.”

So they competed to try to defeat Xiao Mo in debate but in the end, far from negating Xiao Moʼs ”School of Mind,” each person was left speechless by Xiao Moʼs arguments. Some teachers even had their Dao hearts destabilized, spitting blood on the spot with their cultivation realms becoming precarious.

Many students listening initially thought everything their teachers said was correct, but after hearing Xiao Moʼs debates, they felt their teachers seemed wrong again. They fell into confusion.

Gradually, Xiao Moʼs reputation spread wider and wider. Some Confucian academies, upon hearing that Xiao Mo was coming, were willing to let him stay for a few days but refused to debate scholarship with him.

Most Confucian scholars considered Xiao Moʼs ”School of Mind” to be wrong.

They believed Xiao Moʼs School of Mind weakened classical study and accumulation of empirical knowledge to some degree.

They thought that although ”nothing exists outside the mind” and ”no principle exists outside the mind” aimed to break free from dogmatic constraints, overemphasizing the mindʼs ontological status might dissolve the reality of objective laws and the external world.

It might even lead future generations to divorce themselves from concrete knowledge and social practice, engaging in empty talk about ”innate conscience.”

Many Confucian scholars came upon hearing this, engaging in debates with him to fundamentally attack Xiao Moʼs ”School of Mind.”

But in the end, Xiao Mo still won.

Xiao Mo emphasized ”tempering oneself through affairs” and ”advancing knowledge and action together,” opposing empty talk divorced from practical matters. Knowledge and action needed to advance together, like walking with two feet.

Moreover, Xiao Mo believed that the School of Mind was, to some degree, a supplement to Neo-Confucianism, the final complete manifestation of Neo-Confucianism.

In a flash, ten years passed.

Xiao Mo couldnʼt remember how many academies he had visited or how many scholarly debates he had participated in but through repeated debates and travels through the mortal world, Xiao Moʼs ”School of Mind” theory became increasingly perfected. Xiao Mo was even preparing to begin writing books and establishing his doctrine.

And in the Ten Thousand Laws Realm, the vast majority of Confucian scholars, even if they hadnʼt studied the School of Mind, had all heard of it.

Some Confucian scholars had even developed interest in the School of Mind, wanting to learn it and understand what kind of scholarship this really was but most academies regarded the ”School of Mind” as a taboo, forbidding scholars from discussing it.

Many old scholars reported this matter to the Confucian Academy, demanding that the Confucian Academy restrain Xiao Mo, prohibiting him from debating and forbidding students throughout the realm from discussing the School of Mind.

The Confucian Academyʼs attitude was quite open.

The Confucian Academy issued a notice, roughly meaning: if you want the School of Mind to disappear, then go debate with Xiao Mo and defeat his School of Mind.

However, although Xiao Moʼs School of Mind caused great upheaval in the Ten Thousand Laws Realm, what people were most concerned about was still the great war between humans and demons.

The human and demon races had confronted each other for so many years, held peace talks so many times, and engaged in such lengthy struggles. Finally, they were about to go to war.

The North Sea indeed had quite a few war hawks who wanted to join the Demon Realm in attacking the Ten Thousand Laws Realm, but they were all suppressed by Bai Ruxue.

Moreover, Bai Ruxue publicly declared, ”The North Sea will not interfere in the great war between humans and demons, helping neither side.”

If human armies wanted to borrow passage through the North Sea, the North Sea would also make way, giving them a battlefield.

But many people still didnʼt trust the North Sea, believing it was just putting on a show to stab them in the back at a crucial moment.

Moreover, some people revealed that Bai Ruxue beside Xiao Mo was the Demon Empress of the North Sea, making Xiao Mo a traitor to the human race.

The fundamental purpose of Xiao Moʼs School of Mind was to corrupt the Dao hearts of Confucian scholars throughout the realm and reduce the Ten Thousand Laws Realmʼs combat strength.

Xiao Mo completely ignored such claims.

Instead, Bai Ruxue would sometimes angrily pace around the courtyard, scolding, ”These corrupt old fools, how can they be so shameless? Unable to win in debates, they resort to such rumors and slander!”

Usually at such times, Xiao Mo had to carefully comfort Ruxueʼs emotions.

Actually, Xiao Mo had long anticipated such rumors and gossip.

First, Ruxueʼs identity couldnʼt be concealed forever.

Second, the ”School of Mindʼs” influence was growing, and he even had some followers.

Third, not all scholars were upright and honorable.

No matter what type of people, there would always be petty individuals among them.

”Alright, Ruxue, donʼt be angry.”

On this day, after Bai Ruxue was routinely angry, Xiao Mo smiled and rubbed her head.

”After we finish the scholarly debate at Cliff Academy this time, letʼs return to Huan Fishing Village and live there for a while.”

”Really?” Hearing Xiao Moʼs words, Bai Ruxueʼs eyes instantly lit up.

Although the life of seeing thousands of mountains and ten thousand rivers with Xiao Mo was quite good, the situation was becoming increasingly tense. Bai Ruxue had received letters from Little Green these past days saying that within six months at most, the two realms would definitely go to war this time.

Bai Ruxue felt she needed to take Xiao Mo into hiding.

”Really.” Xiao Mo smiled, ”After all these years, I should give you an answer.”

”Eh?” Bai Ruxue was stunned for a moment, then her cheeks turned completely red. She lowered her head and rubbed her small hands together, ”What are you saying?”

Xiao Mo stepped forward and took the womanʼs small hand, ”I donʼt have anything precious. After I finish writing this Unity of Knowledge and Action,ʼ Iʼll use it as a betrothal gift. How about it?”

”Who uses a book as a betrothal gift?” Bai Ruxue murmured softly.

”Uh, alright then, let me think of something else.”

”No need.”

Bai Ruxue raised her head, the blush on her cheeks having spread to her delicate neck.

”Youʼre originally just a poor scholar with no money anyway. This time, Iʼll allow you to use a book as a betrothal gift.”