Volume One, Chapter Three: The Confucian Maxim—A Sudden Enlightenment and Breakthrough

Ling Aoxue looked at Ye Chen’s retreating figure, disdain gleaming in her eyes. To her, Ye Chen was merely grasping at the pretense of enlightenment, a desperate struggle to buy time. In the eyes of Emperor Qingli, Ye Chen’s refusal of Grand Tutor Du was a death sentence; all he had to do was wait for Ye Chen to fail in his enlightenment.

Among the civil officials, those who became great scholars often owed their success more to luck than to diligent cultivation. They pursued Confucianism because “the poor study Confucianism, the rich practice martial arts.” Since Confucian cultivation relied on sudden enlightenment rather than extensive resources, it attracted many from impoverished backgrounds.

At this moment, Ye Chen muttered to himself, “Come! If all goes as I expect, today I shall bring you to the highest rank!” With a defiant smile, he declared, “I, Ye Chen, stand by the virtue of Heaven and Earth: the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every man!”

Those eight simple words struck the civil officials dumbfound, revealing a profound patriotism and moral integrity that surprised them. Each official pondered deeply, even Grand Tutor Du’s heart trembled as he looked at Ye Chen in astonishment.

Suddenly, their eyes widened as a faint aura of pure energy rose around Ye Chen’s body. Despite his meridians being completely severed, Ye Chen’s recitation of those eight Confucian words propelled him once more into a new rank—Confucian Ninth Grade, Scholar!

“Prince Yan has truly awakened, yet I’ve never heard these Confucian maxims before,” murmured some officials. “Could it be that Prince Yan possesses the original ‘True Words’ left by the primordial Confucian Sage?”

Emperor Qingli rose abruptly, disbelief etched across his face. Ling Aoxue stared incredulously—she hadn’t expected Ye Chen to truly succeed! Ye Chen himself was elated, the attainment confirming his theory: Confucian cultivation in this world was simply a matter of sudden insight into great truths, thereby gaining the recognition of Heaven and Earth.

Such a Confucian adept could then commune with the cosmos and wield the “power of Heaven and Earth.” Before becoming the inheritor of the Central Transmission, Ye Chen had been the top humanities scholar in the imperial examinations of Huaxia. The classical sayings of ancient sages were deeply imprinted in his mind. During university, he had extensively studied the Confucian Thirteen Classics, which in this world served as “experience pills” for Confucian cultivation. By merely speaking them, his cultivation could soar instantly.

Ling Aoxue gently clasped Emperor Qingli’s arm, soothing him, “Your Majesty, there is no need to worry—this is only the ninth grade. Confucian enlightenment is rare and cannot be forced…”

Before she could finish, Ye Chen spoke again, “The gentleman is not corrupted by wealth and honor, not swayed by poverty and lowliness, not bowed by power and coercion; only then can he be a true man!”

A gentle breeze stirred, fluttering Ye Chen’s bloodstained robes.

Under all eyes, Ye Chen’s cultivation surged once more: Ninth Grade, Third Heavenly Layer… Sixth Layer… Ninth Layer… Eighth Grade… Eventually, it settled at Eighth Grade, Eighth Heavenly Layer!

This effortless breakthrough was almost unbelievable to all present. What shocked the officials most was that the two Confucian maxims Ye Chen spoke were unknown to them. Some officials even began to show signs of enlightenment themselves.

The astonishment at Ye Chen’s cultivation at Eighth Grade, Eighth Heavenly Layer was palpable. Grand Tutor Du looked at Ye Chen with tears welling in his eyes. He harbored an improbable thought: these Confucian maxims might be Ye Chen’s own insights into Confucianism. If that were true, Ye Chen’s reaching the First Grade in Confucian cultivation was not impossible.

Emperor Qingli’s expression grew grave, a sense of crisis dawning. Ling Aoxue’s face darkened, the swift reversal stinging her like fire. Yet she reassured the emperor, “It’s impossible to happen thrice. Your Majesty, rest assured—Prince Yan cannot achieve three consecutive enlightenments!”

Unexpectedly, Ye Chen’s calm voice came again, “No, this is too slow, it must be faster!”

Everyone was stunned. To reach Eighth Grade, Eighth Layer with just two maxims was already astonishing—yet Ye Chen found it slow! Was he implying that all the officials in the court were a bunch of fools?

Before they could react, Ye Chen smiled confidently and recited once more, “When the great way prevails, the world is for all…”

The officials felt as if struck by thunder. Even Grand Tutor Du, a semi-saint, stood frozen. The phrase “When the great way prevails, the world is for all” echoed in their minds.

But Ye Chen was not finished. He was now reciting from the Confucian classic The Book of Rites · The Great Harmony chapter:

“…Therefore, schemes are shut down and do not arise; thieves, bandits, and rebels do not exist; thus, outer doors are left unbarred. This is called… the Great Unity of the world.”

When Ye Chen spoke the words “Great Unity of the world,” the officials’ minds exploded with clarity! Before Ye Chen’s cultivation could visibly change, someone among the officials shouted, “I understand! The world belongs to all people; when the people are virtuous, peace and happiness prevail…”

“I understand too! When people have virtue, they know shame; knowing shame leads to peace among the people; peace among the people leads to peace in the world…”

Some officials had actually broken through in enlightenment. Emperor Qingli looked at Ye Chen in disbelief—he hadn’t expected Ye Chen to bring others to enlightenment with him.

“Look! Grand Tutor Du has also awakened!” someone called out. All eyes turned to see Du Lingfu surrounded by purple aura, like an exiled immortal.

He had crossed the threshold from semi-saint to saint, breaking through from First Grade, Fifth Layer to First Grade, Sixth Layer! From this moment, Du Lingfu was a true Confucian saint in every sense.

At the same time, Prime Minister Deng Qirui and Chancellor Wang Daoling also advanced one heavenly layer in cultivation. Their gazes toward Ye Chen changed drastically.

Deng Qirui bowed to Emperor Qingli, congratulating him, “Congratulations, Your Majesty, Dayu has produced a saint!”

In the Canglan Realm, only five Confucian saints had appeared in three thousand years, the last one appearing a millennium ago during the Liyang Dynasty. Now another saint emerged under the reign of Emperor Qingli.

Yet the emperor was not pleased; instead, his disdain for Ye Chen deepened. Before he could react, a supernatural phenomenon appeared outside the Taihe Hall.

A howling wind stirred, drawing everyone’s attention. Clouds swirled like dragons, and the wind roared like their cries.

Ye Chen’s body was enveloped in pure energy transforming into majestic Qi, hinting at a power capable of swallowing mountains and rivers. His cultivation soared wildly: Seventh Grade, Sixth Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Layer, Fourth Grade, Seventh Layer...

Finally, Ye Chen’s cultivation stabilized at Fourth Grade, Ninth Layer, just one step from the Third Grade Saint Son of Confucianism!

Ye Chen’s heart leapt with joy. The “ultimate move” was indeed effective. Cultivating Confucianism was truly so simple. At Third Grade, one could command the “spoken word as law” power of Heaven and Earth, allowing him to prove his innocence.

This time, he would clear the name of his past self—not a quack doctor—and prove the innocence of the so-called “waste” Ninth Prince!

“Come! For my past self, and for you, the so-called waste!”

Once again humiliated, Ling Aoxue seemed to no longer recognize Ye Chen.

At this moment, even though Du Lingfu had just become the sixth Confucian saint in a millennium, all eyes were on Ye Chen, shaken to their core by his prodigy.

Emperor Qingli clenched his fists in fury. After all his scheming, he would never allow Ye Chen to ruin everything.

Just as he was about to scold him, Ye Chen turned and addressed him directly:

“The world’s ethics and moral order are simply this: the ruler is the model for ministers, the father is the model for sons, the husband is the model for wives—these are the Three Bonds.”

“Therefore, if the ruler commands the minister to die, the minister must die; if the father commands the son to perish, the son must perish.”

“But, if the ruler is unjust, the minister serves another country; if the father is unkind, the son flees to another land…”

Pausing with gravity, Ye Chen struck the ground with his words and asked, “Father, having believed slander and defamed me, I ask you—do you still deserve to be my father?”