Chapter 177: Unity of Knowledge and Action

Qin Mu's heart pounded as he walked into the courtyard. "Surely the Imperial Preceptor isn't just here to tell amusing stories?" he said. "Ling'er, please serve tea."

Hu Ling'er quickly replied, "Young Master, we don't have any tea at home. You don't drink tea."

Qin Mu chuckled. "We'll buy some tea in the future then. Since there's no tea, please have a seat."

"The Scholar's Abode only has a few broken stools," the little fox grumbled. "Where are the seats?"

Qin Mu felt a bit awkward.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang waved his hand, smiling. "No need to bother," he said. "I'll just stand and say a few words to the Holy Leader, then I'll leave."

Qin Mu's gaze settled on his face. The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang, renowned as the foremost figure beneath the gods and a man who struck awe across the land, was not handsome; his appearance was rather ordinary. Yet, there was an indescribable quality to his face, one that grew more pleasing the longer one looked.

His eyes were the most striking feature on him, filled with wisdom and seemingly imbued with a subtle brilliance, capable of discerning everything under heaven and making the most astute judgments.

Qin Mu held a considerable fondness for the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang, his heart filled with respect for this pioneer and trailblazer.

Yankang's current prosperity owed more to the Imperial Preceptor than to the Emperor.

He had spearheaded reforms, restructured the military and government, dismantled sectarian prejudices, bridged the gaps between the three major schools of thought, established primary schools, universities, and the Imperial College, and instituted the scholar system. This Imperial Preceptor had made the era exceptionally vibrant.

Yet, despite his admiration, Qin Mu also had some reservations about the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor was not only a natural genius but also a ruthless individual.

He had waged war on the Great Ruins, and while he had retreated when faced with difficulty, it didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't try again.

He had campaigned against and annexed various nations. To eliminate dissidents, he had even feigned severe injury, enticing once-submissive sects to rebel, leading to widespread suffering and devastation.

He was not a perfect person.

Qin Mu could never quite grasp what this man's ultimate ambition was. He was broad-minded, clearly possessing a spirit of tolerance for the world, yet he would exterminate other nations, conquer the Great Ruins, and strive for Yankang to possess more territory.

He clearly held no greed for power, yet he was willing to unleash bloodshed to eliminate those who opposed him.

To Qin Mu, the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang seemed like a walking contradiction. His true intentions were difficult to guess.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang was also observing him. After a moment, he spoke in a gentle voice, "The Holy Leader of the Heavenly Saint Cult is surprisingly young. I was also quite surprised to learn that the Holy Leader is actually a Doctor of the Imperial College. You don't seem surprised to see me?"

Qin Mu replied, "The Heavenly Saint Cult accepts all without discrimination, and various factions exist within it. Therefore, it's only natural that the Imperial Preceptor could place some of his people among the cult's high-ranking members. Your swift discovery of my identity doesn't surprise me."

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang nodded. "The Holy Leader of the Heavenly Saint Cult should indeed possess such wisdom. However, why do you show no trace of panic upon seeing me? Aren't you afraid I'm here to kill you?"

"If the Imperial Preceptor intended to kill me, my panic would be useless," Qin Mu said.

"If I'm not killed, the Heavenly Saint Cult won't rebel. If I am killed, the cult will certainly rebel. My life is not as precious as the Heavenly Saint Cult itself, so the Imperial Preceptor would not go so far as to kill me. Therefore, I have no need to panic."

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang smiled faintly. "Don't be so certain. While wisdom is good, being too self-assured might lead you to misjudge. However, you have indeed impressed me just now. You say the Heavenly Saint Cult will not rebel; could you explain why?"

Qin Mu stated, "Our principles are the same, so there's no need to rebel."

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang asked, "I heard that the first thing you did after becoming the Holy Leader was to establish the 361st Hall and set up schools?"

Qin Mu nodded. "I am emulating the Imperial Preceptor, reforming the Heavenly Saint Cult."

"The Heavenly Saint Cult is essentially a state disguised as a sect. If you emulate me and reform it, won't it become a state within Yankang?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang continued, "During times of peace, you wouldn't rebel or cause trouble. But if the world were to fall into chaos, why wouldn't you seize the opportunity to rise and claim legitimacy?"

"The reason my Heavenly Saint Cult isn't rebelling during this upheaval isn't because we don't want to claim legitimacy," Qin Mu explained, "but because the current Yankang is essentially a colossal Heavenly Saint Cult."

Qin Mu smiled. "Why would we rebel against ourselves?"

"So, when *would* you rebel?" the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang asked, intrigued.

Qin Mu stated solemnly, "When the Imperial Preceptor betrays the ideals of the Heavenly Saint Cult, when he no longer practices the Way of the Sages, and when Yankang ceases to be the Heavenly Saint Cult, then my Heavenly Saint Cult will certainly rebel."

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang glanced at him, then praised, "You have great courage."

Qin Mu replied, "It's not courage, but a necessity to speak the truth, because any falsehoods would not escape the Imperial Preceptor's notice."

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang slowly paced, coming to the well in the courtyard. He spoke unhurriedly, "You come from the Great Ruins and have no foundation within the Heavenly Saint Cult. I originally intended to control you, to let you use my power to establish yourself in the cult. I no longer have that intention."

Qin Mu walked to his side, listening as the Imperial Preceptor continued, "People like you are very dangerous. Those with ideals are often very dangerous, very troublesome, and difficult to persuade. Persuading an individual is the most arduous task; it's simpler to just kill them. Persuading a sect is even more taxing; it's simpler to exterminate them. Both the Dao Sect and the Great Thunderclap Temple have their own ideals and are difficult to persuade. The Heavenly Saint Cult is no different."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Fortunately, the ideals of the Heavenly Saint Cult do not conflict with those of Yankang."

Qin Mu asked curiously, "The Imperial Preceptor won't move against the Heavenly Saint Cult for now, but what about the Dao Sect and the Great Thunderclap Temple?"

"That depends on what they do," replied the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang stated earnestly, "I will see if they can align their knowledge with their actions. If they can uphold their ideals and achieve this unity of knowledge and action, I will use every means and effort to eliminate them. If they cannot, then survival will not be difficult for them."

Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly as he asked, "What, then, are the Imperial Preceptor's ideals?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang shook his head. "I don't need to tell you. Don't look at what I say, but at what I do. My ideals are embodied in my actions; that is the unity of knowledge and action. Young Holy Leader, you still have a long way to go."

Qin Mu still couldn't see through this man.

At his current stage, he couldn't engage in a debate of ideals with someone of the Imperial Preceptor's caliber. The Imperial Preceptor's vision was too vast, his knowledge too broad, his cunning too profound, and his comprehension of Daoist arts and divine abilities had reached an awe-inspiring level that Qin Mu had not yet attained.

He couldn't fathom the Imperial Preceptor's thoughts, nor could he tell if they would be allies or enemies in the future.

However, for the present, as the Holy Leader, Qin Mu had to plan for the future of the Heavenly Devil Cult.

"Regarding this internal sectarian rebellion in Yankang," Qin Mu said, carefully choosing his words, "my Heavenly Saint Cult will fully support the Imperial Preceptor."

"But I also need a promise from the Imperial Preceptor: after this rebellion is quelled, will you purge my cult and then abandon us?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang turned to look at him. "No," he said.

Qin Mu looked at him inquiringly.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang said slowly, "I need an impetus. Leaving the Heavenly Devil Cult intact is like keeping a sword hanging over my head, urging me on, keeping me vigilant, and preventing me from making mistakes."

He smiled slightly. "I am too powerful. If I were to make a mistake, who could stop me? I need a force capable of killing me should my Dao heart go astray. The Heavenly Saint Cult is very suitable. If I ever betray your ideals, I will await your strike."

Qin Mu felt a chill.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang walked away.

Qin Mu exhaled sharply, feeling as though his hairs were standing on end.

Only one thought remained in his mind: "The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang is not human!"

Not human.

Any human being possesses emotions and desires, as well as selfish thoughts. Yet, the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang seemed devoid of all these. Without them, he ceased to be human.

Or perhaps, he could be called a saint.

Could the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang be a saint?

He composed himself, dispelling the jumbled thoughts in his mind. At that moment, the Dragon Qilin in the courtyard spoke in a muffled voice, "That person is terrifying. He was standing right here, I could see him, yet I couldn't sense him."

Qin Mu was slightly startled. He hadn't used his Azure Sky Eye to observe the Imperial Preceptor earlier, missing an opportunity.

He had once used his Heavenly Eye to observe the village chief and had seen a glorious and majestic deity with a complete body. What would he have seen had he used it on the Imperial Preceptor?

Outside the Scholar's Abode, Qin Feiyue was bowing in wait. The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang approached him and said, "Let's go back."

Qin Feiyue dared not speak much. As they walked, the Imperial Preceptor suddenly remarked, "The Grand Libationer has excellent judgment."

Qin Feiyue smiled. "Gu Lihuan is certainly good, but being frozen for two hundred years has made him stagnant; I'm afraid he's fallen behind the times."

"I was referring to the other Grand Libationer," the Imperial Preceptor said.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang looked back at the Imperial College. "The successor he chose is very good, a promising talent, but he's too much like me. Seeing him always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable; I always feel like killing him."

Qin Feiyue did not understand his meaning.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang strode away, murmuring, "I hate looking in mirrors. The self in the mirror is never as perfect as the self in my ideals."

Back inside the Scholar's Abode, Qin Mu could finally settle down. His Grand Unity cultivation technique was not yet perfect, and he needed to quietly delve into its intricacies, striving for ultimate perfection.

The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang had made a significant impact on him. A person who strives and moves forward for an ideal always possesses a certain captivating charm.

As for the Imperial Preceptor's statement about leaving the Heavenly Devil Cult as a sword hanging over his head, achieving that would be extremely difficult. Even uniting the entire cult's power wouldn't suffice.

"Given the Imperial Preceptor's grand ambition, I must help him achieve it."

Qin Mu activated his cultivation technique, slowly walking around the courtyard, meticulously experiencing the Grand Unity cultivation technique he had created based on the Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique. He then summarized and organized his findings, occasionally taking out the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture to meditate on it.

After a long while, Qin Mu exhaled a deep breath. His speed suddenly accelerated, and he dashed wildly across the mountains, activating the Grand Unity cultivation technique he had comprehended. His figure swept past the front and back of the Imperial College's mountains like a fleeting shadow.