Chapter 274: Yuanshi Rebukes Kunpeng; Business Has Mutual Praise

"I feel utterly heartbroken about this!"

"For a little bit of petty cash, Kunpeng, you wantonly trample human morality and spread a corrupt atmosphere… This is to destroy the new era's human morality blossoms, turning them into man‑eating flowers!"

"Yuanshi Tianzun's reasons are ample."

"As he spoke, he somehow produced a flyer packed with a heap of material evidence, distributing it throughout the Zixiao Palace, listing one by one Kunpeng's various negative influences on humanity."

"This is the data I've gathered…… Everyone, come take a look."

"In the game, on the forum platform, how much trash talk is rampant?"

"The Heavenly Venerable's homework is done very well, very thorough."

"Fengxi, as a member of the Great Luo, now holds the flyer; it lists much data, paired with concrete examples, and even includes links for inspection."

"He blinked, curiously clicked in, and wandered around inside…… Afterwards he had to admit that, regardless of Yuanshi Tianzun's original intent, the moral justification for berating Kunpeng the Great Sage is still quite solid."

"After all, he saw many beings who, over a trivial virtual game match, over a slight disagreement in opinion, became utterly enraged and lost their reason, hurling insults, no matter how vulgar."

"Indeed, such an online environment ought to be reined in a bit."

"The matter of Kunpeng attaining sagehood needs careful consideration."

"Many Great Luo members exchanged opinions in low voices, mostly agreeing with Yuanshi Tianzun's proposal."

"Regarding this, Kunpeng the Great Sage was very angry."

"He shouted, 'Yuanshi, you're talking nonsense! Can the ranting and raving of those trolls also be blamed on me? On what grounds should I bear responsibility?'"

"You should know, these trolls objectively exist!"

"They aren't oddities born because of my game. Long before any game existed, they had already been around for ages!"

"At most, my game and communication platform merely exposed them from the vast sea of people……"

"Kunpeng said."

"It's not that he corrupted humanity; rather, some inherently depraved human beings intruded into the world he created, giving rise to that foul miasma."

"'Then what?' Yuanshi Tianzun sneered, asking, 'After exposing them, how much have you managed?'"

"In management, you're not proactive at all!"

"This led to disastrous results…… If it were merely bad money driving out good, that would be debatable, but you've already achieved assimilation!"

"Those with upright morals and correct worldviews, affected by the negative energy spread by those trolls…… In the end, to defend their personal dignity, they were forced to pick up the weapon of language, either actively or passively learning rhetorical attacks, and hurled insults back."

"Once you take this step, turning back becomes hard——If today's victims don't receive timely aid, they may one day become perpetrators themselves."

"Usually they endure grievances in silence, but once they enter your game or platform, seeing something slightly displeasing triggers them to lash out with relentless verbal attacks."

"In reality they're meek and submissive; online they lash out with heavy fists!"

"Thus they become another source of calamity, breeding new calamities."

"According to my calculations, as time passes, the later it gets, the more trolls there are."

"This is all solid evidence—Kunpeng, what are you still trying to whitewash?"

"The Heavenly Venerable sneered, 'Indeed, you didn't create the trolls. But you provided a channel for their spread, letting their harmfulness increase exponentially—so you're at fault!'"

"Especially, it also affects the new era's blossoms——those who haven't been around long, lacking sufficient time for cultivation and education to establish correct worldviews; they are like blank sheets, most susceptible to external influence."

"Yuanshi Tianzun's voice was very loud."

"I cannot imagine, nor can I even picture it."

"One day, wandering the heavens, earth, and universe, witnessing the mortal world, what meets the eye is people greeting each other's parents, while interpersonal relations are filled with hostility."

"This is a devastating blow to the cause of education!"

"At that time, whether pursuing popular education or an elite path, all will feel despair——"

"Popular education—when facing a crowd below that's ready to erupt in online violence at the drop of a hat, what can you teach? Dare you teach anything?"

"And those on the elite track fare no better——even if they can select the best from the best and weed out unfit targets."

"But overall collapse strikes at the root, shrinking the range of choice by thousands or even millions of times."

"Unacceptable!"

"Yuanshi Tianzun shouted in anger."

"Right! Unacceptable!"

"The Moral Heavenly Venerable, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable, Jieyin the Ancient Buddha, and Zhunti the Ancient Buddha—these four are also top authorities overseeing the education sector; standing alongside Yuanshi Tianzun, they jointly spoke out, condemning Kunpeng."

"It's easy to learn bad, hard to learn good."

"When those blank‑sheet‑like sprout flowers are stained black, how much effort must we expend to pull them back onto the right path, turn them blank again, and let them write the most splendid chapter of life?"

"The cost is simply incalculable."

"The current state of humanity's morale is already terribly corrupted. If yet another Daoist attains sagehood and vigorously promotes your ideas?"

"Heh……"

"The words trailed off."

"But everyone can guess what the unspoken meaning is."

"Kunpeng Daoist, you can't just look out for your own profit, letting all of humanity foot the bill for the consequences you cause."

"Several top authorities spoke with deep meaning."

"Kunpeng the Great Sage listened, his face icy as if it could shatter, killing intent radiating from his whole body, fists clenched tight, as if he were about to unleash a slaughter at any moment."

"The atmosphere in the Zixiao Palace instantly became extremely tense."

"However, this atmosphere didn't last long."

"Then a powerful adept stepped in, smiling, speaking to dispel this tension."

"It was Hongyun."

"This venerable one wore a gentle expression, actively easing the pace."

"Friends, why must the tempers be so fierce?"

"Don't get angry……don't get angry."

"As for this deity, once angry, they become obstinate, clinging to their own stance to argue with others, making it hard to view the issue dialectically……this is highly undesirable."

"There is a saying: partial listening brings darkness, listening to all sides brings brightness……"

"So now, I will try to stand from a rational, neutral, objective perspective and offer some mediation for everyone."

"Hongyun had barely spoken when Fengxi realized——this is an old moderate."

"However, being able to act as a moderate to this extent certainly shows some skill."

"Otherwise, who knows, they'd have been beaten to death in some obscure corner long ago."

"Fengxi silently observed this expert, focusing his attention fully——after all, there is a certain degree of Dao dispute between them."

"Blessings!"

"The Cloud Cultivation system, Fengxi constantly thinks of it, dreaming of reclaiming this authority, making it perfect, and holding it in his own hands."

"First, Dao friend Yuanshi, starting from the perspective of educating sentient beings and teaching, his criticism of Dao friend Kunpeng……I personally think it is still reasonable."

"Holy Hongyun had no idea someone was longing for him day and night……at this moment, he was merely mediating disputes, playing the role of a peacemaker."

"Although I am not fully versed in the matter of teaching and converting, my research is not deep enough to grasp all the details, to know the specific provisions of intervening in the evolution of the human Dao……"

"But……"

"I once had some overlap with the posthumous insurance promotion of the two ancient Buddhas of the Buddhist sect due to work matters……after all, the Cloud Cultivation system and the borrowing and repayment of sentient beings' power align well with the Buddhist sect."

"Sentient beings believe in and worship the Buddha, contributing their mental power and resources, which concentrate on cultivators of excellent talent and good disposition, helping them become Buddhas……when the Buddha has crossed the sea of suffering, reached the far shore, and then returns, carrying and universally saving sentient beings, forming a closed loop of borrowing and repayment, this is the greatest and most efficient use of cultivation resources."

"Because of this connection, I have been able to gain a detailed understanding of one of the Buddhist sect's top educational institutions, and have had many in-depth communications with these two heavyweight teaching giants, Jieyin and Zhunti."

"Through conversation, I came to know their noble morality and integrity, and how they hold a beautiful spirit of teaching and converting sentient beings, guiding the human Dao toward good and virtue."

"Hongyun said this, smiling at the two ancient Buddhas."

"The two ancient Buddhas were also very pleased with Hongyun's goodwill, each chanting a Buddhist name in return, praising: 'Dao friend, you overpraise……our spiritual virtue is actually not as good as you say, we are still lacking a bit.'"

"On the contrary, it is you, Dao friend, who has done so much charity, presiding over Cloud Cultivation and helping weak beings start businesses and rise……that is the conscience of this primordial world and its myriad beings!"

"A flowery sedan chair carries people."

"Business mutual boasting……is just hard boasting!"

"Shh!"

"I don't know which expert started it, but a shh went up……soon, the the Zixiao Palace was filled with shhs, rising and falling, as if mocking something."

"In response, the ancient Buddha Jieyin didn't even lift his eyelids, calmly countering."

"Whose friend's urgent need is this?"

"Hurry up and go, don't hold it in——if you really burst from holding it, spilling everywhere, how immoral is that?"

"The ancient Buddha's eloquent tongue turned back many of the shhs."

"At the same time, on another side."

"Holy Hongyun continued to expound his reasoning."

"Referring to the Buddhist sect, I also have some insights into the educational undertaking, knowing how difficult it is——bearing the responsibility of guiding the trends of human Dao, transmitting correct three-outlook values……but once the overall atmosphere of human Dao runs into problems, they easily become counter‑trend, engaging in a silent struggle against the whole great environment."

"Saying that the whole world is the enemy? Not quite."

"Merely trying to imprint the correct values into disciples' hearts makes the difficulty far greater, a heavy burden to bear."

"Of course, if we neglect teaching morality and merely aim to produce a technical unit for cultivating human civilization, churning out leek‑like products on an assembly line……then I never said that."

"Hongyun chuckled, 'But isn't the reason everyone is gathered in the the Zixiao Palace precisely because of their ardent love for the human Dao, wishing for a better future for it?'"

"In that case, some problems ought to receive the corresponding attention."

"Therefore, Yuanshi Dao friend's criticism of Kunpeng Dao friend is understandable, excusable."

"After all, once the atmosphere is spoiled, saying 'respect teachers and value the Dao' will be useless, and any effort will be ignored and trampled."

"This is the guilt of Kunpeng Dao friend."

"He drew the conclusion."

"Immediately, the Great Sage Kunpeng's face turned dark and grim, he sized up Hongyun from head to toe, his gaze unfriendly——"

"After all that talk, you're just helping Yuanshi speak and stepping on me again?"

"However, before the Great Sage Kunpeng could no longer tolerate it, there was no need to endure further."

"Holy Hongyun then shifted the conversation."

"But, upon careful examination……Yuanshi Dao friend's criticism is actually also somewhat excessive."

"After all, I think Kunpeng Dao friend didn't do it intentionally, wasn't the instigator……at most, he was an unwitting accomplice in ignorance? The true culprit lies elsewhere?"

"These words were spoken."

"The unsightly complexion of the Great Sage Kunpeng improved at a visible pace, like parting clouds to see the sun, regaining light."

"This face‑changing ability left Fengxi in awe."

"Not bad!"

"Kunpeng nodded solemnly, 'No matter what, Kunpeng's original intention was indeed good——there was absolutely no intent to harm the human Dao.'"

"It developing into this state is also not what I wished."

"Remarkable, I will bear part of the responsibility……but I cannot absolutely push all of it onto myself."

"After all, I have responsibility, do you lot engaged in teaching and converting have none?"

"My pot of porridge spoils because of rat droppings——but where did the first rat dropping come from?"

"Isn't it due to your negligence, the failure of your teaching and moral‑cultivation work, that let those trash products mix into my porridge?"

"The more Kunpeng spoke, the more he felt justified, his spirit gradually roused, he launched into a tirade."

"He rolled up his sleeves, pointed a finger at Yuanshi Tianzun, spittle flying, his words sharp as blades: 'Some people, when reflecting on their own faults, are not proactive; when shifting blame, each is more capable than the last!'"

"Yuanshi, what are you trembling finger pointing at? It's you!"

You fuss over what high-end teaching, on one hand distancing yourself from the lower strata, not fully opening the conditions for receiving education; on the other hand you keep pointing at the rivers and mountains, saying how utterly depraved and corrupt the morality of those beings below is.

How come you're so 'aloof'?

Do you deserve the work you're doing? Are you qualified to go on and on about 'teaching and transformation'?

You only talk about others' mistakes, without considering whether you have ever deeply educated them... Actually that's just punishing without teaching!

Kunpeng is very spirited.

And Yuanshi Tianzun is likewise very spirited—but this is actually fury.

Kunpeng, what do you know?

He shouted angrily, 'Do you understand teaching? Do you know how much energy it takes to cultivate a student who is truly morally qualified, character-qualified, and ability-qualified? How much time must be invested?'

What price must be paid to produce a result... Before a result is produced, its value is zero!

Why do I bother with high-end teaching?

Isn't it to set an example and a benchmark? To let people know this path is viable, as long as you study it, the results won't be bad—it's a grand righteous path that is difficult at first then easy, a late bloomer's way!

I have demonstrated the results, I have also elaborated the solutions to various problems on this path... So on what grounds can I not talk about teaching and transformation?

Kunpeng, you scoundrel, you know nothing, yet you dare to spout nonsense to me!

I'm spouting nonsense?' Kunpeng said arrogantly, 'After all, it's just that your level is too low!'

You just run a pilot project, can't scale up... You can only boast about that little result, aren't you ashamed?

Yuanshi Tianzun heard this, his face turned red, and at the same time his eyes also turned red.

Being so questioned about his professional level, his mindset was near exploding.

Clenching his fists, he was about to beat Kunpeng to death right there in the the Zixiao Palace.

He moved!

He lunged forward!

But the venerable one hadn't lunged out too far when his figure halted.

He was grabbed.

Lingbao, what are you pulling me for?

Let go quickly!

Today I will surely beat this furry-horned creature Kunpeng until he's unrecognizable!

Yuanshi Tianzun shouted loudly.

Lingbao Tianzun, who was pulling his sleeve, blinked, blinked again, and then...

(End of chapter)