The strange beast carriage was handled by Junzi Mountain and temporarily stopped at its base.
An elderly man personally accompanied them as a few people walked up the stone steps.
Junzi Mountain was still considered a tall mountain, though none of them were ordinary people.
"Though I may be younger than you esteemed Immortal Masters, my body is already old. I likely don't have much time left, so I think it's not too presumptuous to call myself this old man."
The old man looked up at the distant Junzi Mountain and the vast expanse of pure white buildings.
"I am the head of Junzi Academy—Chen Wenqian."
A hint of pride appeared on Chen Wenqian's aged face as he turned to look at Chen Baiqing and the others.
"Since you esteemed Immortal Masters have come all this way to Junzi Mountain, perhaps I could give you a brief introduction?"
Chen Baiqing did not respond, continuing to walk forward with steady steps.
Different purposes require different postures and attitudes.
The main purpose of this visit to Junzi Mountain was to protect Li Junzi, so naturally, some pressure had to be applied to the mountain.
Being too agreeable could lead others to misjudge one's bottom line, while being too argumentative would make one seem difficult to negotiate with.
Thus, an Immortal Master who was aloof, hard to approach, and clearly goal-oriented was the best identity for this situation.
Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu both remained silent, leaving all decisions to Chen Baiqing.
Whatever the Third Senior Sister's decision was right or wrong, that could be discussed later. For now, they needed to present a united front to the outside world.
Chen Wenqian saw a hint of cold indifference in Chen Baiqing's exceptionally beautiful eyes, but his expression remained calm, as if he had expected this.
Cultivators have always reasoned with other cultivators.
Junzi Mountain naturally had good relations with some Immortal Sects, and some Immortal Sects voluntarily protected Junzi Mountain.
After all, every piece of land near the Central Continent was a treasure, and everyone coveted it.
Moreover, Junzi Mountain was also a place of excellent feng shui with considerable spiritual energy flow.
Naturally, to establish a firm foothold here also required the efforts of Junzi Mountain.
Nearly all the Great Scholars under heaven came from here, vaguely forming an enormous hidden force.
Although their strength was vastly different from Tianyan Sect, would Tianyan Sect truly disregard their reputation in the mortal world?
Everything comes at a cost, and the cost determines whether something should be done.
Chen Wenqian paid no mind to Chen Baiqing's expression, treating it as tacit agreement, and said:
"Junzi Academy has existed for a thousand years. Legend traces it back to the Subsage, but the academy has also experienced turmoil, and there is no written proof that the Subsage founded it."
"But the academy teaches and nurtures students. Besides the countless classics, it also teaches the propriety and righteousness advocated by the Subsage, teaching a righteous heart and righteous spirit."
"So whether the Subsage founded Junzi Academy is actually irrelevant. Because we study the Subsage's books and understand his great principles, we are his students."
"I am, and everyone in the academy is."
As Chen Wenqian spoke, his gaze fell on Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu beside him with a smile:
"These two Immortal Masters also seem to possess a Confucian realm."
Cui Hao gave a slight nod. "I've studied for a few years."
Chen Wenqian smiled knowingly and did not continue the topic. Instead, he gestured for everyone to look at the somewhat dense buildings in Junzi Mountain.
"Originally, the academy was small, and its buildings were not so complex, making it seem unsightly."
"But many people came with a sincere desire to learn, and the academy couldn't bear to turn away earnest students, so little by little, Junzi Mountain was built into this appearance."
"But a gentleman is not defined by appearance, but by heart. The same goes for Junzi Academy. Whether it is beautiful or not is less important than the truth of its principles."
"Junzi Academy occupies only a small corner of the world, but its students come from all over."
"When students graduate and return, they carry the principles of this small corner to all corners of the world, and in the end, they will change something."
"Change something?" Chen Baiqing finally spoke. "Then will Junzi Mountain also accept change? Or do you only change others?"
Chen Wenqian answered calmly: "A gentleman reflects on himself three times a day."
Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
For the rest of the journey, Chen Wenqian briefly introduced some aspects of Junzi Academy, some buildings like the lecture hall, the library, and the dining hall.
Every student in white scholar's robes they passed greeted Chen Wenqian with a respectful bow.
Chen Wenqian would nod in response.
The gazes of the people in the academy toward Chen Baiqing and the others rarely held hostility.
Naturally, there were those who were hostile.
Chen Wenqian's tone was gentle, but his posture was neither servile nor overbearing, even though his back was slightly bent.
After turning a few corners, Chen Wenqian led the group to a more secluded place.
Passing through a staircase, a bamboo forest came into view.
Within the bamboo forest, there was only a small muddy path, with the rest overgrown with grass and trees.
After walking for a moment, a simple courtyard nestled in the center of the bamboo forest was revealed before everyone.
Chen Wenqian stopped and gestured for everyone to look at the courtyard: "Li Junzi is inside preparing for the third debate."
Upon hearing this, Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod, then led Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao toward the courtyard.
But Chen Wenqian stretched out his hand to stop them.
Chen Baiqing said nothing, instead looking at him with a calm gaze.
Chen Wenqian's expression grew solemn: "The debate is a serious matter. Although you are from Tianyan Sect and not evil, you have no connection to Li Junzi. It would be best if you did not disturb her."
Chen Baiqing gestured to Lin Luoyu beside him: "Li Junzi is my junior sister's teacher. Since there is a debate, my junior sister should be able to participate, right?"
Chen Wenqian's gaze turned to Lin Luoyu. After observing her for a moment, a smile appeared on his face.
He had, of course, investigated why Li Junzi had broken her appointment in the past.
Junzi Mountain had rarely made an exception to allow Li Junzi to teach, only to be stood up. If Chen Wenqian hadn't looked into it, he wouldn't be worthy of being the headmaster.
He hadn't expected...
Li Junzi was willing to painstakingly teach a disciple for over ten years, only for that disciple to turn around and cultivate immortality.
Chen Wenqian sighed softly, then bowed and said: "Naturally, please go ahead. The debate time can be moved back if needed."
Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod and then walked toward the bamboo forest cottage.
Chen Wenqian stood where he was, watching Chen Baiqing and the others enter the bamboo forest cottage. Only after a moment did he slowly turn and leave.
The way of debate.
It was a bayonet charge with the heart of a gentleman.
An academic debate was a bloodless battlefield.
But in this war, no one would use schemes and tricks, because everyone wanted to win with a clear conscience.
Li Junzi was already a Great Scholar. For the academic disputes she raised, Junzi Mountain had to respond, otherwise it would be an academic injustice, with only one voice allowed.
But precisely because Li Junzi was a Great Scholar.
Chen Wenqian was not worried that Li Junzi would use the power of Tianyan Sect to pressure Junzi Mountain just to win.
Because only those with a righteous heart and a thirst for knowledge would argue for what they believe is the correct answer.
And Junzi Academy would not lose either.
In the five debates, Junzi Academy had already won the first two.
The Subsage's principles, if they could be easily refuted, how could they have persisted for a thousand years in the river of time?
Chen Wenqian's emotions were hard to fathom.
He could only feel regret that the mortal world was about to lose a rare Great Scholar.
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