Chapter 2642: Today, Across the Boat

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Seated there, Cui Yigeng held the chess piece in his palm. The fate of Dili Book Institute now rested in his hand.

He said, "Although that was not the path I chose, if I were to start over, I would still face it that way. So, all of this can be considered my choice."

Among the four great book institutes in the world today—Dili, Longmen, Qingya, and Mu Gu—there was no institute head who was not a True Monarch.

Cui Yigeng, a Shenlin Peak powerhouse, a seasoned Zhenren, taking on such a position, could almost foresee the decline in Dili Book Institute's reputation.

"World's first book institute" would certainly not be preserved, and even holding onto the status of the four great institutes would be difficult.

For instance, the Hao Ran Book Institute, considered "first below the four great" and inheriting the learning system of the Confucian Sect's Lu Yihuan, was rich in talent and deep in foundation. They had been trying to squeeze into the four great book institutes for many years, even once proposing that "it is very reasonable for there to be five families among the four great book institutes," their minds all sharpened by such ambition.

In this situation, Cui Yigeng taking over the book institute would not be met with honor and status, but with direct criticism and condemnation. People would not remember why Dili Book Institute declined, only that it declined under his leadership.

Even setting all of this aside, just the matter of taking over Dili Book Institute was not easy.

Even without counting Zhong Xuan, within the entire Dili Book Institute, there were still renowned Confucians like Jin Qingjia.

He, Cui Yigeng, was not the most qualified, nor the strongest. To those who had personally experienced it, it was three hundred and thirty years; in the feelings of others, it was just a dream of Huangliang. Someone inexplicably declared that everyone else had failed, and only he had passed the test – who could be convinced by this?

Although Zhong Xuan had sufficient prestige, he chose Tai Xu Pavilion. The matters of Dili Book Institute should not still be designated by him.

After agreeing to take over Dili Book Institute, Cui Yigeng would face the biggest test of his life.

And he calmly accepted it.

Just as he had accepted those three hundred and thirty years.

Clearly, he already understood what Zhong Xuan wanted to do, and he decided to take on this responsibility.

Zhong Xuan took out the bamboo slip titled "Zuo Zhi Dili," placed it on the chessboard, and said, "Mister Zuo left this sacred object, and you are also a protagonist in this book. Afterwards, it will be given to you to guard – the path is long and arduous, you should reach Dongzhen as early as possible. I will also gaze at the absolute peak, quietly waiting for good news."

This heavy expectation fell upon Cui Yigeng's shoulders!

Yet, he raised his hand to send this world-supreme treasure away, saying, "If Shishu intends to leave the institute, then please take this book."

Facing Zhong Xuan's gaze, he said seriously, "Only when the Dili Book Institute is filled with Zhenren can it use this now, otherwise it is like hoarding jade and incurring its crime."

The Shi Yu unhurriedly glanced at the two elders, Li and Xiao.

The Confucian family, after all, was the most prominent learning of the time, and the world's book institutes were connected like branches of the same spirit. In leisure, no one would dare to seek trouble at Dili Book Institute's mountain gate. Who exactly this "hoarding jade" saying was aimed at was truly difficult to say.

Mount Shu, as the Confucian holy ground, sacrificing Confucian holy objects was very reasonable, and commemorating Zuo Qiuwu could also be explained. The strong always had different reasons, the weak often cherished the same reasons!

Li Hengzhi still wore a smile, while Xiao Zhi Heng's frown remained.

"There are three reasons," Zhong Xuan said, reaching out to press down on the book, giving Cui Yigeng the same serious look. "First, the author of this book is Mister Zuo, and the main characters of this book are you and I. What this book describes is all about Dili. Apart from this, it has no connection to others. This book being placed in the book institute is a mutual nurturing. If others were to seize the book, I would naturally emerge from the book."

"Second, the book institute will no longer focus on historical studies in the future. You are establishing your own class, use it."

"Third—" He paused, giving others a moment to react, then continued, "This is not my path."

The sect master of the Historian family, Zuo Qiuwu, used the techniques of his family to rewrite the ending of Dili Book Institute, successfully eliminating the demonic calamity and repelling the Seven Hates. Sima Heng, on the other hand, took on the responsibility of historical recording with a straight brush, bearing it all on his own.

Since they wanted to shed some things, the Dili Book Institute, which claimed to be "first in historical learning," would henceforth demote historical learning from its main position, starting to emphasize other areas in parallel. This was also a reasonable matter.

But Zhong Xuan was still a historian, and he wanted to walk the path of the orthodox Historian family!

Since taking office in Tai Xu Pavilion, every single record he had made was with a straight brush. Alertly, like a certain year, certain month, certain day,

who argued with whom until their faces were red and ears hot, who fought and suffered some loss, who simply couldn't out-scold him, he didn't cover for anyone, and everyone didn't mind.

This volume, which could be regarded as a contemporary family treasure, "Zuo Zhi Dili," was not his path.

Sima Heng was the guiding light on his path of learning, and "History Knife Chisel Sea" was the work he dreamed of achieving.

Taking over "Zuo Zhi Dili" and Dili Book Institute was perhaps the best arrangement. But only by putting down "Zuo Zhi Dili" could he walk out his own possibilities.

"It is not orthodox learning," Li Hengzhi finally couldn't help but speak. "Dili Book Institute has its status today not due to overnight merit, but due to years of diligence. Institute Head Zuo left the book institute to all of you, entrusting thick hope. I know you all have difficulties, but is it not—shouldn't it not be so rash?"

"The book institute was in chaos, suffering a disaster. Thank you two elders for descending the mountain to assist, rectifying the roots for the Confucian family, and guarding against demons for the world," Zhong Xuan first bowed to them, then said, "Shi Bozhou once said, each person has their own 'Spring and Autumn.' Now, Xuan is thin in talent, although without Spring and Autumn, I also cherish the obscure and the bright."

He calmly said, "I appreciate Mount Shu's concern, but this matter is already settled."

Xiao Zhi Heng opened his mouth, but did not speak. Being talked back to by a younger generation was not a good look.

"As for the so-called 'orthodox learning'—" Zhong Xuan continued, "The Confucian family's orthodox learning is nothing more than historical learning. The world is filled with crooked pens, unable to exhaust it. Those who write with straight pens on green history are still trapped in historical graves. Two elders, Institute Head Zuo spent his life annotating Dili, what he sought, he has already made very clear. Today's Dili Book Institute cannot bear this responsibility. The historical brush is like iron, please let those with ability in the world bear it themselves."

He smiled, with a few points of relaxation and a few points of bitterness, "The Confucian family is compatible and helpful, the so-called 'beneficial to open a volume' is also the learning of Sage Yu Zhou, how can it not be transmitted?"

The changes in Dili Book Institute's learning were no more than two aspects. One aspect was historical learning; historical learning still needed to be researched, history still needed to be recorded, but it would no longer be the one waving the big flag. Another aspect was that the status of "jia" (family/school) within the book institute would be elevated. This was, of course, to boost the sublimation of "Zuo Zhi Dili." To a certain extent, it also supplemented and benefited Zuo Qiuwu's reputation.

The great master of historical learning rewriting history would probably be blamed by many who didn't understand the truth, considered as "not attending to proper duties." But when the status of "jia" was elevated, Zuo Qiuwu would just be broadly learned and multi-talented.

For Mount Shu, the second point was sensitive.

Because what was "orthodox learning," what was a "great Confucian," what was a "main classic," the right to explain these should belong to Mount Shu.

With the elevation of the status of "jia," the status of some people no longer seemed so high.

A bunch of old gentlemen on Mount Shu, year after year buried in their studies, if they even lost this right to discourse,

Mount Shu's status as the Confucian holy ground would also not be so stable.

Li Hengzhi deliberately said, "Cabinet Member Zhong, the 'jia' itself has people to transmit it. Dili Book Institute is after all Confucian orthodox. This matter still needs long discussion."

Zhong Xuan didn't engage with this old gentleman and said directly, "Three days later, I will go to Mount Shu and personally expound to Mister Zi."

He gently looked at the two elders, "Today, there are too many people, so I won't bully the old gentlemen."

Li Hengzhi, however, shook his head with a bitter smile and said no more.

Zhong Xuan continued, "As for the so-called 'world's first book institute,' that was an honorary title during the time of Mister Sima Heng and Mister Zuo Qiuwu, not ours. Now my teacher is forever trapped, and Institute Head Zuo has forever bid farewell. We know our own lack of virtue and find it difficult to bear such a great name. Whoever can advance, then takes it. Just as it is said, the sea of learning has no end, today we are in a boat, we should reflect on retreating."

Finally, he still looked at Cui Yigeng, "Institute Head Cui, the honorary title you put down today, I hope one day you can pick it back up."

"This is a good goal," Cui Yigeng carefully put away that volume of "Zuo Zhi Dili" and only said, "I will strive as if it will never be realized, and expect as if it will be realized tomorrow."

Zhong Xuan looked towards the outside of the pavilion, "The gentlemen and students of the book institute will come soon. These are all matters you must face alone afterwards—we won't disturb you here."

Saying so, he gestured a "please" to Li Hengzhi and Xiao Zhi Heng.

Although the two elders, Li and Xiao, still had many thoughts in their hearts, they could only leave first – riding the brush of Spring and Autumn, weathering the years. Looking back at the group of young people in the lake heart pavilion, Li Hengzhi, with his contemporary ritual system, suddenly had a feeling of being out of touch with the era. Although he was still so powerful.

Thus, everyone dispersed.

Gradually moving away from the lake heart pavilion, like a sword standing firm in the human world.

The sweat-soaked bamboo slips were spread out on the Sun Book Platform again, and the Tai Xu Pavilion building rose from nothing.

Eight entered the rice, children returned home.

Huang Fu, who had just been put down on the road, still invited everyone to go play in Huanglong Prefecture, but everyone said "next time."

"So close," looking at Zhong Xuan, whose face already showed no expression, Jiang Wang pretended to wipe sweat, "You were almost the head of the world's first book institute."

Zhong Xuan turned his head to look at him, finally smiling, "Cabinet Member Jiang's concern is very special."

Jiang Wang slowly digested the demonic energy, feeling a little uneasy, and said in a muffled voice, "I fear you won't live well, and I fear you will live too well!"

Zhong Xuan only smiled, but said with a smile, "Leaving Dili Book Institute is because I want to bring my teacher home."

Although Zuo Qiuwu pushed Sima Heng back into the realm of confusion, he did not truly hope Sima Heng would never return. He hoped that no one else would die in Dili Book Institute, but he did not truly give up the faith of historical learning. He made preparations on both fronts: on one side, he resolved the hidden danger of Wu Zhai Xue's projection for Sima Heng, and on the other side, he gave Dili Book Institute's assets to Zhong Xuan.

The first step was to clear the hidden danger for Sima Heng, creating the possibility for him to individually prove immortality.

The latter step was to leave someone in the present world to welcome Sima Heng back, and even protect Sima Heng.

Only Zhong Xuan would truly support Sima Heng's ideal, and only Zhong Xuan could support this possibility—only when "Zuo Zhi Dili" was completely sublimated, reaching an extraordinary absolute peak, would Zhong Xuan, as the protagonist of this book, have the opportunity to control a holy-level force.

But for Zhong Xuan, even grasping "Zuo Zhi Dili" and reaching the level of a saint was not enough to welcome Sima Heng back. Even the ascending saint Zuo Qiuwu could only go to his death!

"So you want to record history with a straight brush?" The Shi Yu cabinet member asked quite seriously.

Emotion is emotion, reason is reason.

He could run to Dili Book Institute to preside over the black and white dharma realm for the unknown whereabouts of Zhong Xuan.

But if the reason Zhong Xuan stayed in Tai Xu Pavilion was to hope to rely on Tai Xu Pavilion's protection to practice his ideal of "historical brush like a knife" and reenact Sima Heng's story, then he could not agree.

Tai Xu Pavilion did not exist for private will, no matter how lofty that ideal was.

The ideal of Tai Xu Pavilion was and only was one—to maintain the order of Tai Xu Illusion, promote the human path, and broadly benefit the world.

The people in Tai Xu Pavilion today were not without contradictions, and not all of them were purely good.

It could be said that those who attended this place, except for Jiang Wang, each person did not completely represent themselves, but all carried tens of thousands of responsibilities. They often collided due to the interests behind them, and there were even many times when they simply disliked each other.

For example, Qin Zhizhen could not stand Dou Zhao's arrogance the most, and Dou Zhao gritted his teeth when he saw Chong Xuan Zun's calm and composed appearance.

Cang Bu said little, but felt annoyed by Li Yi. Li Yi only hoped that everyone would speak less. After years of getting along, they all approved of each other. Even the arrogant Dou Zhao,

would not feel that any Cabinet Member was truly not worthy of sitting with him—those who were unworthy would have been chopped down by him long ago.

This approval was not only in strength, but also in the long-term interaction of words and deeds, and the collision of thoughts. While maintaining their own edge, they had already preliminarily built a common framework for their style and ideals.

Every vote and every proposal in each Tai Xu meeting was also an expression of themselves.

Framing out the common parts of their life ideals and moral concepts, that is the current Tai Xu Illusion.

The situation of Tai Xu Pavilion today is certainly not exactly the same as the initial vision when various powerhouses jointly established Tai Xu Pavilion—because everyone sitting in the Tai Xu Pavilion building, in addition to maintaining the interests of the forces behind them, are also not willing to be puppets for others while covering themselves as contemporary absolute top powerhouses!

From the Tai Xu Xuan Chapter, to the Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace, and then to Tai Xu Public School, if the nine Cabinet Members did not have a similar approach to ideals, it would be impossible to push forward so smoothly and achieve today's scale.

"History cannot be stated without a straight brush. If I grasp the knife, I should write straight!" Facing the crowd's gaze, Zhong Xuan changed his tone. "Don't be so serious. The overturned cart is a warning to the cart behind. How can I be someone seeking death, and how can I use private matters as Tai Xu Pavilion matters? We have worked together for so long, don't you all know me?"

His tone was sincere, "From now on, I will focus on the 'Tai Xu Historical Record.' I hope to have the opportunity to add biographies for all of you."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's attitude changed.

Even the usually serious Ju Kui forcibly pulled at the corners of his mouth, showing a few points of softness. Although he was upright and unyielding, it didn't prevent him from being close to his colleagues.

How did so many classics come about? Weren't they just spoken by predecessors and written by later generations?

What other "book" could compare to the knife and brush of a historian, and make people more convinced?

For someone like Ju Kui who had the will to write books and transmit the Dao, to cultivate the Dharma and transmit it to the world, Zhong Xuan personally recording a biography was truly a great attraction.

Zhong Xuan said again, "Outside of Tai Xu Illusion, I only record history that I can personally bear."

For example, the Xia Country has already perished, so if he held the pen, he would definitely speak without taboo. But the Qi Country is still there, so he would "temporarily not express."

Sima Heng once said, history should be recorded as it happens.

Because every moment missed, a large amount of truth is lost.

So he often immersed himself in it, risking his life to personally observe.

Zhong Xuan would not do such a thing.

History, at the moment it is recorded, will give birth to meaning.

So he, who cannot write in real time with a real brush, is not inferior to Sima Heng.

He is making a compromise. But he understands in his heart————.

Writing for the former dynasty today, or writing towards the history of the later country.

There are not too many Sima Heng in the world; those who can do it are not many, and those who can survive are even fewer.

He looked at his young colleagues and smiled slightly, "It's best if you all always beat me. If you can't beat me,

I will record everything down."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's spirits were lifted.

Zhong Xuan's momentum was so grand during this ascent to the peak.

Everyone also wanted to know exactly what stage he had reached.

Their eyes met, all pondering the question, "Who will try first?"

Jiang Wang inhaled the last wisp of demonic energy into his nostrils, his eyes smiling gently, and rolled up his sleeves.

Clang!!!

Li Yi's sword had already nailed Zhong Xuan's pen-knife!

Edge against edge, literary energy shattered ten thousand zhang, Zhong Xuan quickly retreated!

Cang Bu remained silent, Ju Kui supported his forehead with his hand.

Chong Xuan Zun smiled and took a step back, avoiding being splashed all over.

Dou Zhao's injury was not yet healed, his face full of excitement.

Qin Zhizhen's knife fixed space, but it was useless; Li Yi broke through in an instant.

Huang Sheli raised his hand and reversed time, striving to go first. But it was useless; after the reversal ended, Li Yi was still first!

Jiang Wang, with his sleeves rolled up, looked up at the supreme immortal palace, stepping out, becoming an immortal of ten thousand immortals. Immortal light shone all over him like dragons and phoenixes dancing. He directly used his fist, covering both Li Yi and Zhong Xuan, and only said, "Fists and feet have no eyes, don't resent being accidentally injured!"