My Wife Is A Sword Immortal-Chapter 87 - 76 We Haven’t Lost Yet
Chapter 87: Chapter 76 We Haven’t Lost Yet
Lin Wenruo and Qing Yuanzi were engaged in a scholarly discussion on the platform for a quarter of an hour.
Zhao Rong’s expression shifted from relaxed, to calm, to serious, and finally to deep frowning.
Not until a burst of thunderous applause exploded beside his ears did Lin Wenruo step down from the platform, his expression somber.
In the initial debate, Lin Wenruo had chosen a topic that gave him an advantage, but Qing Yuanzi was no easy opponent either; his foundation in scholarly discussion was extremely solid, his arguments were rich and well-structured, and initially, he also managed to hold his ground.
However, if Qing Yuanzi had only this to offer, Lin Wenruo, who had thoroughly studied his opponent, was not at all afraid of him.
As the debate began, Lin Wenruo strategically advanced, gradually expanding his advantage in a steady and firm manner, causing Qing Yuanzi to increasingly struggle and begin to react defensively.
And in the arena of debate, being defensive is a disadvantage and often a precursor to defeat.
Just when Zhao Rong estimated that it would not take more than ten sentences before Qing Yuanzi would be completely defeated, this purple-clad Daoist with a long beard under his chin suddenly threw out a line of reasoning that Zhao Rong had not expected and that Lin Wenruo dared not even consider…
As a result, Qing Yuanzi turned the tables, and the outcome was completely overturned!
Zhao Rong exhaled, feeling that the loss was not undeserved, as the concealed ace of the opponent was indeed formidable.
The second debate topic was “The Debate of Existence and Nonexistence.”
“The Debate of Existence and Nonexistence” is a classical Daoist topic, originating from the Daoist Scripture’s “All things in the world emerge from existence, existence emerges from nonexistence.”
Lin Wenruo upheld the “Chongyou Theory,” while Qing Yuanzi reluctantly supported the “Cherishing Nonexistence Theory.”
Lin Wenruo’s choice was not only based on his research into Qing Yuanzi’s past discussions where he identified weaknesses but also because in this world, the initially widely revered concept of “nonexistence” had been found by generations of thinkers to have many flaws and contradictions.
“Nonexistence” in Daoist texts is “Dao,” and the initial universal acceptance of “The Dao birthed one, one birthed two, two birthed three, and three birthed all things” started with “existence stems from nonexistence, reality stems from the void.”
However, there lie two fatal contradictions.
The first is a simple yet fatal train of speculative reasoning: if “existence comes from nonexistence,” what then produces “nonexistence”?
Pursuing this question further would inevitably lead to an infinite regress in logic from which one could not extricate oneself.
The second contradiction, according to the original doctrine, “nonexistence” predates “existence” and exists in space as “existence.” It is “Dao,” a completely independent entity of void.
Since “nonexistence” precedes “existence,” and “nonexistence” is the producer while “existence” is the product, how then does “existence” emerge from “nonexistence”?
How does the same fundamental “nonexistence” give rise to a variety of material entities?
Although Daoist Saints in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm have proposed some explanations to remedy this, they still failed to escape this theoretical dilemma.
The above two points showcase the flaws in the “Cherishing Nonexistence Theory” maintained by Qing Yuanzi and constitute an unaddressed flaw in the Great Dao that the Daoist powers have not yet mended.
Hence, just by selecting the topic, Lin Wenruo caused Qing Yuanzi to lose half the battle.
Unless Qing Yuanzi could supplement the Daoist thought system and propose new theory, his defeat was inevitable.
Yet.
This “unless” actually occurred.
Qing Yuanzi proposed a theory that could be summarized as “Taking Nonexistence as the Basis.”
Simply put, the so-called “Taking Nonexistence as the Basis” carries a dual meaning.
Firstly, “nonexistence” is the creator of “existence.”
Secondly, “nonexistence” is the basis for the existence of “existence.”
His novel theory, logically consistent and well-founded, could amend the past Daoist discussions about “The Debate of Existence and Nonexistence” and further developed the “Cherishing Nonexistence Theory.”
When Zhao Rong heard Qing Yuanzi introduce this theory, he was extremely surprised, not because of the theory itself—he had learned it in his previous life and was thoroughly familiar with its merits and subsequent developments—but because of its emergence.
After awakening in this world and combining this life’s memories with the plethora of “miscellaneous books” he had read, Zhao Rong knew the Daoist “The Debate of Existence and Nonexistence” had only reached a very superficial stage, and now Qing Yuanzi had suddenly brought out its next stage of advanced theory, which really surprised him.
In Zhao Rong’s view, however, the version of “Taking Nonexistence as the Basis” that Qing Yuanzi described on the platform was still rather rough, and the accompanying important concept of “the unity of substance and function” was also ambiguous.
From this, it seemed unlikely that he had derived it himself, but rather, he must have heard it from somewhere else.
Even if it was a very crude theory, it was still novel, and for Lin Wenruo, who was hearing it for the first time, it was utterly inconceivable, catching him off guard and forcing him into strained sophistry, yet he still lost in the end.
Zhao Rong witnessed the entire process.
He wanted to help Lin Wenruo, but this debate prohibited assistance, so he could only watch helplessly as his friend was argued into utter disarray, losing focus and ultimately descending the podium in dismay.
“This can’t possibly be his own idea! If he were capable of this, he would have already been a Taiyi Cultivator! There would be no need for him to participate in any debate, he could simply flatten the Lin family of Lanxi with a mere gesture.”
Lin Wenruo, unsteady on his feet and with a vacant gaze, looked at Zhao Rong who was supporting him and muttered to himself.
“He, he has been to the Jixia Academy, only the Daoist scholars there could achieve this. Before I returned from the Academy, I had never heard of any virtuous gentleman there who had refined the ‘debate of being and non-being’… this must have happened after I returned…”
“I understand now, I understand now, the information I had someone gather about Qing Yuanzi secluding himself in some place in Wangque Continent for cultivation was false, he actually went to the Jixia Academy in Tunan Continent!”
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Zhao Rong supported the disheartened man, pressing his lips tightly together, silent and wordless.
Jixia Academy is one of the biggest academies in the Xuanhuang Realm, a sacred site for scholars, where the debates among the Hundred Schools of Thought are most fierce, and is the epicenter of the storm of rivalry sweeping through much of the Cultivation World.
The plan still encountered an unexpected issue, it turned out to be this place that was problematic.
It’s just unclear whether this news of Qing Yuanzi’s seclusion was a mistake on Lin Wenruo’s part, or a deliberate act by Chongxu Temple.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the Scripture Platform was like a powder keg set off, with overwhelming noise flooding in like a sun-eclipsing tsunami.
Zhao Rong, supporting Lin Wenruo, looked around.
The audience in the stands behind were all marveling at Qing Yuanzi’s doctrine of ‘valuing nothingness as the root,’ buzzing with discussions.
Opposite them, many Daoists from Chongxu Temple were crowding around the triumphant Qing Yuanzi, creating a bustling scene.
In contrast, the side of the Lin family of Lanxi was silent and still, starkly out of sync with the current atmosphere in the Scripture Platform.
Zhao Rong gripped the white jade at his waist with one hand, resting the other across his abdomen.
The surrounding noise receded like the tide, and he seemed to be in the midst of a grand pantomime.
His expression was composed, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
Lin Wenruo was gasping heavily, his eyes wandering aimlessly, unfocused.
Chen Muzhi’s face was ashen, his feather fan dropped to the ground.
Lin Qingxuan was silent, head bowed.
Su Xiaoxiao had her hands clasped in front of her, fists clenched at her chest, biting her lip as she watched him.
While Liu Sanbian, the imperial guards, and many allies of the Lin family of Lanxi all had grave expressions.
Opposite, from Chongxu Temple, they perceived disdain, mockery, and schadenfreude in many glances thrown their way.
Lan Yuqing’s smile held a playful air, Qing Yuanzi’s lips curled upwards.
The elderly with a Southern Country headscarf was neither happy nor angry, merely looking on calmly.
Qing Jingzi was constantly sneering, his gaze lingering on Su Xiaoxiao.
Zhao Rong met their gazes with calm equanimity.
“It’s over, Ziyu, it’s over, you guys should leave immediately, get out of Zhongnan Country, there are arrangements down the mountain…” Lin Wenruo, recovering from utter despair, took a deep breath and suddenly grasped Zhao Rong’s hand, eyes fixed on the ground as he said gravely.
“It’s not over.”
“What?”
Lin Wenruo stared blankly as he looked up.
“One loss, one victory; we haven’t lost yet,” the young Confucian Scholar calmly said.
