Chapter 1034: Zhuge Yuan Extra Ceremony

Zhuge Yuan's jaw dropped in shock after hearing the other person speak. Everything Li Jinshu said completely overturned his previous understanding; it was entirely different from what his master had taught him.

There are five worlds, and they are all interconnected? And they all evolved from a single world?

"Is that so?" Zhuge Yuan paused, then voiced his doubt. He found his master's explanation more credible than what the other person was saying.

Li Jinshu was displeased to hear that the other person didn't believe him. "What, you don't believe me?"

"Senior Li," Zhuge Yuan began, "it's not that I don't believe you. If you say what those monks said is false, then what Minglun Hall says could also be false, couldn't it?"

"You kid," Li Jinshu scoffed, "you're just a brash youth, aren't you? Daring to think anything. Do you think this is child's play? Just saying things without proof? Whoever speaks loudest is right?"

"Do you know that all the etiquette in Great Qi is set by Minglun Hall? Both the Imperial Court and the Censorate acknowledge this system."

Since he had to explain clearly to the other person, Li Jinshu didn't mind wasting a little more time.

Questioning him was fine, but if this fellow dared to question this in front of the other senior elders in the hall, he would be in deep trouble.

"Boy, do you know what 'Inverse Immortal, Compliant Human' means?" As he spoke, Li Jinshu's third hand extended from under his left armpit and waved at Zhuge Yuan, who was standing under the eaves.

"This hand is an 'Inverse Immortal, Compliant Human'," Li Jinshu explained. "To put it simply, an 'Inverse Immortal, Compliant Human' is a disciple's self from another world. Minglun Hall disciples can study the hall's arts to have their other selves assist them."

Hearing this, Zhuge Yuan began to believe the other person's words a little more. "Really?" he asked. "What were those people inside the room doing just now?" Images of the strange, black-robed figures sitting amidst piles of books flashed through his mind.

"Those people you saw in Jiezi Study earlier were conversing with their 'Inverse Immortals, Compliant Humans,' documenting almanacs from other worlds."

"As the foremost school of Confucianism, Minglun Hall naturally takes it upon itself to uphold the righteous path in the world. Even events occurring in other worlds must be recorded as much as possible."

"Although this is difficult—the further away the worlds are, the more ambiguous the meaning received from the 'Inverse Immortal, Compliant Human' becomes, making inquiries very challenging—Minglun Hall disciples exist to emulate the ancient masters: to establish rules with the brush, to maintain order with ink, and absolutely not to let the lifelong efforts of countless generations of masters go to waste."

These words immediately made Zhuge Yuan's blood boil with excitement. Minglun Hall's methods aligned perfectly with his values; wasn't this exactly what he had set out to do?

Seeing his reaction, Li Jinshu couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. "Well? Do you believe me now?"

"Yes! Senior Li, when can I learn these arts?" Zhuge Yuan was immediately impatient.

Whether he truly believed it was still debatable, but at least he was very eager to learn the things of Minglun Hall.

"Now you're in a hurry?" Li Jinshu chuckled. "Just now, weren't you still wanting to debate with me? What are you standing around for? Let's go, it's not far ahead. Once you enter Minglun Hall, someone will naturally teach you more."

Zhuge Yuan quickly followed Li Jinshu's pace, heading deeper into the garden.

It was evident that after passing Jiezi Study, the path became much easier to navigate, and they no longer had to hide. It was clear that the outer security was tight, but the inner areas were relaxed.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, Zhuge Yuan detected a faint scent of incense. As the incense scent grew stronger, a two-story building adorned with ceramic roof ridge beasts appeared before them.

"Inside are all the senior elders of the hall. Be mindful of your conduct when you go in," Li Jinshu said. Then he discreetly opened the door and led Zhuge Yuan inside.

The moment he stepped inside, Zhuge Yuan froze in shock. What met his eyes was a massive wall covered with human heads.

All the heads had solemn expressions, their eyes seemingly half-closed, appearing to look down at the two people below.

In the quiet and peaceful environment, this scene suddenly appeared before him, causing Zhuge Yuan to instantly feel a sense of suffocation.

His right index finger trembled as he was about to raise it, but Li Jinshu pressed it down. "Don't point carelessly," Li Jinshu warned, "it's disrespectful to the elders."

Li Jinshu pressed Zhuge Yuan's head down and bowed several times towards the wall of heads. He then continued walking along the base of the wall. "As I told you before," Li Jinshu said, "many Minglun Hall disciples have entered officialdom. These are all the imperial historians from various dynasties."

"Senior," Zhuge Yuan asked, "then why are all their heads placed here?"

"It's not that we cut off their heads," Li Jinshu replied, "it's the Emperor who cut off their heads."

"Then why did the Emperor cut off their heads?"

"Because successive emperors of Great Qi have done outrageous things," Li Jinshu explained. "They didn't want these deeds recorded and tried to fabricate history books. When the imperial historians refused, their heads were cut off."

"These seniors all said one thing: 'Your Majesty, if you have the power, then destroy Minglun Hall. Otherwise, no matter how many heads are cut off, no matter how many people are sent in, not a single word in the history books can be fabricated.' This is Minglun Hall's duty."

"The historical record is the fundamental rule of heaven and earth," Li Jinshu continued. "If these rules are disrupted, then all the efforts of countless generations of masters will have been in vain."

Zhuge Yuan suddenly understood. His fear of the wall of heads gradually lessened, replaced by a deep sense of solemn respect. Even his footsteps involuntarily slowed.

Through these heads, he gained a deeper understanding of Minglun Hall's duties. He also understood why his master had wanted him to come here, instead of somewhere else.

"Oh," Zhuge Yuan nodded, half-understanding. It seemed there was still much he needed to learn.

As the two continued further, behind the wall of heads were rows of ancestral tablets. The black lacquer tablets with white characters stood like solemn gravestones behind a hazy veil of incense smoke.

Zhuge Yuan realized that the scent of incense he had detected outside was coming from this place.

Various offerings were placed before each tablet, making the scene appear exceptionally solemn.

Although there was no one else present, Zhuge Yuan felt as if the place was filled with people.

He hadn't forgotten the purpose of his visit. He immediately picked up an incense stick nearby, lit it with the flame of a white candle, and after offering respects to the surrounding tablets, he began searching for his master's friend, who had passed away over a hundred years ago.

"Senior Brother Li, roughly where is Senior Wang Changxu's tablet?" Zhuge Yuan asked, lowering his voice significantly in this solemn place.

"Look further inside," Li Jinshu replied, "I remember it should be deeper in. I don't come to this place often, only twice during the Qingming Festival."

The two continued walking along the rows of tablets. As they went further in, the tablets became more sparsely placed, and the types of offerings also gradually increased, no longer limited to just pigs, cattle, and sheep.

After about half an incense stick's time, Li Jinshu, who was beside Zhuge Yuan, suddenly brightened. He quickly walked to the left, exclaiming, "Look! Found him! Wang Changxu!"