Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 766 Cooperation and Unity

The East Sea Dragon Clan, a branch of the dragon race with true dragon blood, migrated to the East Sea in their early years to avoid trouble during the power struggles of the dynasties.

Although the East China Sea is vast, its environment and living conditions are far inferior to those of the great empires occupied by those dynasties.

As a result, the younger generation among the dragons developed a longing for the various kingdoms and dynasties.

However, each clan has its own rules. Even if they go to those dynasties, they must keep a low profile. Otherwise, if they cause any trouble, the East Sea Dragon Clan will not be able to protect them.

Moreover, the Dragon Clan holds a rather special position within the entire Demon Clan. If they were to act in a high-profile manner, it would only alert other forces.

Ao Qing was deeply moved and couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you stay..."

Ao Jing thought to himself that he didn't like to suffer without effort, and because his identity was rather sensitive, it was really not good to be too ostentatious.

Ao Jing said slowly, "Their rules are very strict. Even nobles from the dynasty have to obey them. Can you handle it?"

Ao Qing thought for a moment and said, "What's so unbearable about that? Doesn't it just show how capable he is?"

Upon hearing that even important figures from great dynasties had to abide by the rules, Ao Qing became even more interested.

He had been cooped up in the East China Sea for too long, and his boundless energy was looking for an outlet. He wondered if he should go and take a look there himself.

The next day, early in the morning.

Lu Zheng then left the merchant ship with the two dragons, Ao Jing and Ao Qing.

With two local dragons leading the way, Lu Zheng didn't need to worry about not finding the East Sea Dragon Clan's territory.

The three were flying at high speed in the sky.

Above the vast sea, a few dark dots appeared faintly on the horizon.

Those were islands that came into view.

Ao Qing excitedly said, "That's our dragon clan's island over there."

It is said that the East Sea Dragon Clan lives in the deep sea, but Ao Qing and his companions are not like that.

The environment in the deep sea is harsh, far worse than that on land islands.

Given the choice, who wouldn't choose a better place to live?

As they got closer, the shapes of the islands gradually became clearer.

It is evident that there are many buildings on the island, but the style of those buildings is somewhat different and they look a bit old.

Ao Jing led Lu Zheng to the largest island, the main island of this island.

The island is guarded by the older generation of the East Sea Dragon Clan.

Ao Jing sent a message directly to the elders of the clan, and then went to meet them with Lu Zheng.

Few outsiders visit this place, and the elders of the dragon clan were somewhat surprised when they heard the news.

It was strange that Ao Jing had emphasized this person so much that he personally brought them over.

Lu Zheng was led to a large hall to wait.

Ao Qing sat beside him, and chatted excitedly with Lu Zheng about world affairs.

As the two got into a lively conversation, Ao Jing and several elders of the Dragon Clan also came over.

During this time, the dragons also gained a general understanding of Lu Zheng.

Therefore, when they met Lu Zheng, they did not look down on him because of his youth.

Both sides greeted each other very politely.

Afterwards, Lu Zheng chatted with several elders of the Dragon Clan.

He stated frankly that his purpose in coming to the East Sea was to visit the Dragon Clan, hoping to deepen his ties with them and have more opportunities for exchange in the future...

Some of the words that came out of Lu Zheng's mouth were so difficult for the elders of the Dragon Clan to understand that they felt as if they were out of touch with the times.

Lu Zheng spoke eloquently, and the elders nodded slightly in agreement, roughly understanding Lu Zheng's purpose.

However, they really didn't expect that a young man like Lu Zheng would come looking for them.

The East China Sea and the Northern Regions are separated by countless miles!

There seems to be no need to go to such lengths to promote communication...

Lu Zheng didn't care about anyone's thoughts. He came here to contact the East Sea Dragon Clan not to try to build a relationship with them immediately, but mainly to take a look, get to know them better, and learn more.

Of course, it would be best if we could unite these forces that can be united.

The meeting ended in pleasant conversation between the host and guests.

Lu Zheng was taken by a dragon girl to a nearby palace to rest.

Ao Jing, Ao Qingze, and several high-ranking members of the Dragon Clan stayed behind.

An elderly dragon looked at Ao Jing, "You've been in the Northern Region for quite some time, tell me more about it..."

After hearing this, Ao Jing thought for a moment and then carefully recounted everything he had seen and heard over the years.

Everyone was puzzled, thinking to themselves that the situation in the world had changed so drastically.

It felt as if time stood still in the mountains, while a thousand years had passed in the world.

Someone stroked his beard and said, "Hearing you say that, that young human is truly a remarkable talent..."

Even though they were far away in the East China Sea, they knew that the Northern Region was not a good place. It was simply unbelievable that someone could govern the Northern Region well.

Someone muttered, "It's rare to see someone who can maintain close ties with the major dynasties and play both sides so well."

Some people were still wondering if Lu Zheng was here on someone's orders, or if he was genuinely trying to win them over.

Ao Qing couldn't help but say, "Since he sincerely invites us to go there for exchanges in the future, why not send some people over! Our dragon clan can't stay at sea forever, can we?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this. If there had been no better option, their ancestors would never have come here back then.

In the past few hundred years, the world has been divided and various dynasties have been fighting each other. They are not sure which side to take, so they can avoid getting into trouble.

But if given the opportunity to return to their homeland, they would naturally be happy to do so.

Ao Qing said, "I'll take a few of my clansmen with me. It's not a big deal anyway..."

Ao Jing, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but say, "When you get there, you have to follow the rules and be able to endure hardship..."

Ao Qing said leisurely, "I just asked him, and the rules aren't that strict. Under normal circumstances, you can't break the rules. As for hardship, it's not that exaggerated. It's just some construction work. One generation works hard to accomplish the work of several generations, and future generations can enjoy the benefits..."

"He also said that what he learns in the future can be used to lead the people to revive the tribe! Times are moving forward, and being complacent will only make people fall behind, which is unacceptable... I think what he said makes a lot of sense!"

Everyone turned their heads upon hearing this, wondering how Ao Qing had accepted some of Lu Zheng's ideas and concepts so quickly.

An elder couldn't help but say, "Ao Qing's words are not without reason. Even the royal families of various countries can go there, so why can't our East Sea Dragon Clan go? Let's select some reliable young descendants to go out and gain experience..."

"Ao Jing, you are more familiar with the Northern Region, so you will lead the team there from now on!"

"Ah this..."

Ao Jing looked like he was about to cry. He hadn't even warmed up his cave dwelling when he returned, and now he had to go back there again?

An old man said calmly, "Is there a problem?"

Ao Jing's lips twitched slightly, "No..."

When the elders of the clan spoke, he dared not voice any objection.

Ao Qing couldn't help but ask, "What about me? What about me?"

An elder looked at Ao Qing, knowing that he was a restless person, and said, "Let's go together!"

After the discussion was finished, everyone dispersed.

Ao Qing couldn't wait to find Lu Zheng and explain what had happened.

Lu Zheng was not surprised to learn of the Dragon Clan's decision. As long as they weren't blindly arrogant, they wouldn't reject some of his proposals.

Lu Zheng stayed in the territory of the East Sea Dragon Clan for some time, during which he met several highly respected dragons.

However, no dragons from the Holy Realm were seen.

According to Tian Jiu, there are individuals in the East Sea Dragon Clan who have reached the Saint Realm, and there is more than one.

Lu Zheng felt that perhaps his influence was not enough to alarm such a big shot.

He didn't feel any regret about it.

The purpose of this trip has been achieved, and there will be plenty of opportunities to have deeper contact with the East Sea Dragon Clan in the future.

The dragon clan quickly selected a number of young disciples, more than ten in total.

They all looked energetic and full of enthusiasm.

These young dragons had never left the East Sea before, and they were all quite excited when they learned that they were going to a very far place to train.

Some people even wished they could fly there immediately.

When Lu Zheng first met these young dragons, he felt that they were too full of energy, probably because they had been suppressed in this sea area for too long.

Some people, seeing that Lu Zheng was too young, said they wanted to have a match with him.

Then Lu Zheng completely convinced him of his superiority.

Afterwards, Lu Zheng led the dragons back the way they came.

When they passed through the State of Qi, the changes in the Confucianism were "accidentally" leaked, and the scholars in Qi knew about it.

The fact that some imperial examinations that were supposed to be held this year were cancelled further supports this claim.

Even when some virtuous and noble families stepped forward to appease the people, it was difficult to win their hearts and minds.

At the same time, a new Confucian force emerged.

This force, represented by Confucian and Taoist scholars, advocates practical action and practices the ways of sages to elevate the realm of Confucianism and Taoism...

This force is mainly composed of scholars from humble backgrounds and ordinary families.

Although these people's backgrounds and resources cannot compare to those of high-ranking and wealthy families.

However, the Confucian and Taoist realm that one cultivates oneself is far more valuable than that of scholars who advance through the imperial examinations.

The departure of Confucian and Taoist sages actually gave them an opportunity to rise to prominence.

Some even broke through their spiritual realms in public, proving that Confucianism and Taoism had not declined, but rather that something else had declined...

As Tian Jiu received intelligence from various places, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

The various events currently occurring within the territory of Qi are inevitably orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

And he was also one of those who fueled the flames.

Besides him, there were naturally some who disapproved of the power of those sage families.

It's likely that even some members of the Qi royal family tacitly approved of this.

Otherwise, some things wouldn't have escalated so quickly.

Tian Jiu said quietly, "The world hasn't changed in so many years, what will it be like in the future? It's really something to look forward to!"

……

Meanwhile, Lu Zheng and his group headed to Taiping Domain.

They would occasionally stop along the way so that the young dragons could learn more about local customs and broaden their horizons.

After traveling for a while, the group finally entered the Taiping Domain.

When they saw a place completely different from the previous urban areas, Ao Qing and the others widened their eyes, their faces full of curiosity.

Ao Qing exclaimed in surprise, "This feeling... were those places we passed through before really some kind of dynasty?"

After making this comparison, why did he feel that those dynasty cities were quite backward?

I thought those cities were quite prosperous, but now they seem unremarkable.

If those places can be considered major cities of dynasties, then what is this place?

Ao Jing remained relatively calm, after all, he had been to Taiping Domain before and was amazed by the earth-shaking changes that had taken place there.

Lu Zheng smiled faintly, "This is the result of everyone's joint efforts. As long as you are willing, even a barren land can be transformed into a paradise that everyone yearns for."

These words were a great encouragement to these young dragons.

Lu Zheng led everyone into the city and then instructed people to make arrangements for Ao Jing and his group.

When Ao Jing and his companions first arrived, they were overwhelmed by all sorts of novel things. This sense of ignorance made them lose their pride as dragons, and they all became quite honest and well-behaved.

"Huh, the East Sea Dragon Clan? Do you know them...?"

One of the receptionists, after reviewing the information on Ao Jing and the others, couldn't help but strike up a conversation.

Upon hearing this, Ao Qing asked curiously, "Hmm? Who are you?"

"I am from the Qu clan of the Chu Kingdom, and my great-grandmother was a member of the Dragon Clan of the East Sea..."

After getting to know each other, they discovered that they were actually related by blood.

Ao Qing clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "I remember the Qu clan of Chu was a prominent clan, right? How did you end up here, as someone like this..."

The man chuckled and said, "Although I belong to a prominent clan, I am from a collateral branch and it is difficult for me to be given important responsibilities. I came here to settle down because I heard that there are places to realize my ambitions in the Taiping Domain..."

"But we don't care about big or small clans here. Since you're here, don't cause any trouble."

Ao Qing nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand, I understand."

Ao Qing and the others were somewhat shocked. This place was truly a place where hidden talents resided. Even the scions of powerful families of the dynasty were just lowly staff members here.

……

"Here, this is something Daoist Yunxiao asked me to bring to you. He hopes you..."

Qingwan handed a storage bag to Lu Zheng and explained Yun Xiao's purpose for coming.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng couldn't help but smile helplessly. Was this some kind of desperate measure? They actually wanted him to participate in compiling the Daoist scriptures.

Lu Zhengdao: "Alright, I'll take a look when I have time."

Since Yun Xiao has sent so many Taoist classics and drafts, he can still study them.

As for what kind of sacred text he would compile, Lu Zheng had never even considered such a thing.

Qingwan smiled and said, "This trip went smoothly, didn't it? Did you really bring them to heaven?"

Lu Zheng nodded.

Qingwan clicked her tongue and asked, "When will they come down?"

Lu Zheng said softly, "It depends on what kind of changes Confucianism will undergo in this world. If there are no changes, it will probably remain unchanged."

Qing Wan said leisurely, "It's better if they don't come down. It's time to let certain people or families realize their own limitations. Do they really think they can do whatever they want forever?"

Qingwan paused, then continued, "If those countries are smart enough, they could take advantage of the situation to eliminate some powerful families..."

Lu Zheng smiled slightly. He had once given An Taixuan a heads-up, but he didn't know what kind of commotion An Guo would cause.

In any case, it has cleared away some obstacles for the world, which is beneficial for future development. (End of Chapter)