Chapter 489: Preaching the Dao and Teaching the Arts

Hungry...

Hungry?

Wang Chao never in his wildest dreams expected that while these two were at each other's throats, Liu Zheng would actually say something like that.

The decisive, murderous aura he had just moments ago vanished in an instant...

He smacked his lips; what kind of person was this exactly?

"Prefect Liu, wait a moment, I will have someone immediately..."

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would simply smile: "Dean, the sky is growing dark. How about we go up early and come down early, how does that sound?"

His stomach was truly a bit hungry.

"What?"

Wang Chao was startled again, then burst into loud laughter: "What did Prefect Liu say? Come down today?"

This Dean who managed Wangbei Academy could no longer hold back; he slapped his thigh and laughed: "Could it be that Prefect Liu truly thinks our Academy is a game? Throughout history, no one who has ascended to the Cloud Platform has ever come down within a month..."

He felt that this Prefect Liu was either insane or a fool.

There was no other reason.

Anyone on the Cloud Platform found it nearly impossible to rewrite the assessment of good and evil here—people were locked away, so how could they rewrite it? Therefore, most people here could only reach the goal of cleansing their sins through the torment of time.

One day?

Wang Chao could not help but offer a mocking smile.

He knew Prefect Liu was famous throughout the world, overflowing with talent, and even a man of great statesmanship, but wanting to come down in one day was absolutely a pipe dream!

Liu Zheng smiled faintly: "Dean, Liu Zheng's heart for cooperating with the Academy will never change."

He stared at Wang Chao and said calmly: "Therefore, it is time for Liu Zheng to show some sincerity."

"I am going to get serious..."

Wang Chao was taken aback by Liu Zheng's serious demeanor: "What are you going to do?"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "I shall take the Dean's place and preach the Dao and teach the arts!"

Wang Chao's expression changed drastically: "Impossible!"

Clang, clang, clang!

Clang, clang, clang!

Throughout the entire Wangbei Academy, the melodious sound of bells rang out once more. At this time, the light rain was still falling. Apart from those already gathered near the tall building, everyone else heard it and looked up in confusion.

This was the bell for the Dean to preach the Dao and teach the arts.

What was going on?

Wasn't the Dean entertaining that Prefect Liu from Longyan today? Why was he going to personally preach and lecture?

This was something the Academy had not encountered in a long time!

"Quick, quick, quick, gather at the Square!"

"Is the Dean lecturing personally?"

"This is a rare event that hasn't happened in many years!"

People began to grow excited, thinking to themselves that perhaps because this imperial envoy from Longyan had arrived, the Dean needed to lecture to let the imperial court understand the strength of their Academy?

Good!

If that were the case, wouldn't this Wangbei Academy, which had avoided the world for thousands of years, finally be linked with the imperial court? Among these people, although many avoided the world, there were certainly many who wished to display their ambitions; wasn't this a great opportunity?

"Lecturing?"

Situ Kong and the others at the tall building also looked at each other in dismay.

The Dean was going to lecture? How did he plan to lecture? On the Cloud Platform? He had locked himself up with Prefect Liu to prevent him from returning for the Emperor's birthday, so was he bored now and simply using this time to lecture?

Thinking of it this way, there was no major problem.

But soon.

They received news from Wang Chao.

The news was incredibly explosive!

The one lecturing this time was not Dean Wang Chao, but that Prefect Liu?

Shock!

Surprise!

"Ha, is he joking? He is completely grandstanding!"

Zhang Yang burst into loud laughter, laughing until he was doubled over: "He is lecturing? A man in his early twenties, he wants to lecture? Hahahaha!"

The others could not help but smile, shaking their heads one after another.

Yes.

They admitted that when ascending the stairs, this Prefect Liu had performed truly brilliantly. Facing questions from all fields, he had handled them with ease, striking down gods and Buddhas alike. However, this was lecturing!

Since ancient times, those qualified to lecture were either great literary masters with widespread fame, or leading figures in a certain field within the Academy.

For instance, Third Senior Brother Mo Chen often lectured on the Investigation of Things.

But you, Prefect Liu, by what right?

"Lecturing?"

Mo Chen, however, thought differently from the others; his eyes lit up when he heard the news.

After Liu Zheng ascended the mountain, he was the only one who wanted to have an in-depth exchange with this great talent, but he had never had the chance. Because he had a feeling that this young man would help him break his own limits and overcome the shackles of the Mohist School that had existed for thousands of years.

Soon.

In this Academy, those from the Inner Court, the Outer Court, and those on the Worldly Walk had all gathered together. These people were exceptionally excited; at a glance, there were over three thousand people in the entire Square, with all kinds of temperaments—some with the bearing of Daoist immortals, some rigid and formal, some dressed in simple attire, and some eccentric and strange. With so many people together, the scene was very lively.

When they learned that the person lecturing today was not the Dean, but that Prefect Liu, the scene immediately erupted in a clamor as if a pot had boiled over.

Wang Chao, on the Cloud Platform, looked at the people below, and then looked at Liu Zheng over here.

"Prefect Liu, why are you so stubborn?"

"The matter of lecturing, to preach the Dao, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts, is something only a sage can do. Does Prefect Liu know that if you spout twisted logic and evil theories today to bewitch the students, and fail to convince the masses, that is a Great Evil!"

Wang Chao chuckled and reminded him.

In his view, Liu Zheng was simply throwing his life away!

Liu Zheng smiled and said: "So, if I succeed, it is a Great Good, and it is very likely I can go down tonight? Is that it?"

Wang Chao laughed in spite of himself.

So this young man was thinking about that. He nodded: "That is true, but..."

"There are no 'buts'!"

Liu Zheng shook his head and smiled faintly: "High risk means high reward. The Academy record is seven days, right... Good, then today Liu Zheng will see if I can go down within one day!"

Seeing Liu Zheng so stubborn, Wang Chao also shook his head.

Just kidding...

You carry the sins of a million lives on your shoulders! Although quite a bit has been cleared away just now, what remains is still a lot. Wanting to go down today is simply a pipe dream!

"Let's begin!"

Liu Zheng did not waste words.

Time was tight and the task was heavy, and the rain was already showing a trend of getting heavier; he did not want to catch a cold!

On the Square, heads were moving in a crowd.

Quite a few people, hearing that it was not the Dean lecturing, were already grumbling and planning to leave. Why not go back and farm while it's raining instead of wasting time here?

Quite a few people were already laughing loudly and mocking, sitting on the ground, waiting to see a joke. A mere young man, where would he even start his lecture?

Quite a few people were gloating.

So that Prefect Liu has already reached the Cloud Platform? If he messes this up, won't he lose even the chance to come down?

Who would have thought.

Just at this moment.

A resonant voice rang out across the entire Square.

"In my view, the so-called students of Wangbei Academy are all trash!"

The entire crowd was furious.

【Author's Note】

Took a routine day off yesterday.