Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 103 [A Seven-Aperture Exquisite Literary Mind (Sacred Item)]

Inside the main hall of the Jiangzhou government compound, a bronze tripod quietly exhaled sandalwood incense.

The wisps of smoke swirled in the morning light like dragons, resembling scripture or the outlines of mountains and rivers, enveloping the entire government office in a surreal and ethereal atmosphere of literature and philosophy.

"I wonder how many of these scholars will be able to develop their literary talents?"

Prefect Xue Mingyuan gently touched the jade belt at his waist, the cloud and goose embroidered patch on his crimson official robe appearing and disappearing in the fragrant mist. He casually opened the copy of "The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons" on his desk, the yellowed Xuan paper rustling softly.

As far as he knew,
In the past fifty years, the only people in Jiangzhou Prefecture who have been able to open the four orifices of literary talent are Lu Wenyuan, the first disciple of Master Pei, and his sworn brother, the exceptionally talented Jiang Yan.

He was waiting for Jiang Xingzhou's literary mind to open up, wanting to see how much of a breakthrough Jiang Xingzhou's literary mind could achieve!
"If someone could open all four orifices, that would be wonderful!"

Lord Zhou Yanli stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the hall, his dark blue official robe fluttering in the wind.

The judge's pen hanging at Cui Chengye's waist trembled slightly.
The hall was filled with high-ranking officials, all patiently awaiting the results of the literary enlightenment of the one hundred newly appointed scholars from Jiangzhou Prefecture.

Zhang Youyi, the white-haired old scholar sitting at the very end of the hall, trembled violently, his withered hands, as thin as pine branches, suddenly covering his ears.

"Om-"

A clear and melodious sound rippled through the void, like the harmonics of an ancient zither or the lingering echo of a jade chime, instantly piercing Zhang Youyi's ears.

His earlobes gradually developed a lustrous sheen, as if they were carved from jade.

"Heaven's favor! Heaven's favor!"

He stood up shakily, his cloudy old eyes now gleaming with an unusual light, his voice hoarse yet unable to conceal his excitement:
"This old man...this old man's literary mind has actually been awakened!"

This...this sound..."

He slowly released his hands, listened intently as if trying to capture the rhythm in the void, and an unbelievable shock gradually appeared on his aged face.

"I heard... the voices of children reciting the Thousand Character Classic, several miles away! It was as if they were right next to my ears!"

Inside the main hall, the scholars gradually awoke, like dragons just opening their sleepy eyes.

They slowly raised their eyes, their gazes brimming with talent, like starlight falling into an inkwell, or like clouds spreading across an inkstone.

At first, there were whispered exclamations.

Soon, it turned into a cacophony of discussion.

"My literary mind has opened its left ear!"

"Brothers, what is the secret?"

The newly appointed scholars discovered that their intellectual awakenings varied greatly—

Someone opened the aperture of their right eye, and the right eye shone with a clear, bright light, with a wisp of silver light seemingly moving deep within the pupil.

Some people have their left ear orifice opened, and their left ear becomes as smooth and lustrous as jade, with the auricle as clear and bright as if carved from ice and jade.

Some even have a mouth that smells sweet, their breath seemingly carrying the fragrance of orchids and angelica. For scholars who study medicine and pharmacology, being able to discern the principal and assistant ingredients in medicine is an essential literary skill.

There are also those who can open their nasal passages, and with the twitching of their nostrils, they seem to be able to smell scents that are difficult for ordinary people to detect—this is like adding wings to a tiger for those who practice Taoist alchemy and can smell the changes in the heat and the energy of the elixir.

For a moment, the scholars in the hall listened intently, or looked at themselves in the mirror, and even the heirs of medical families were so excited that their hands trembled slightly.

When the mind is enlightened and the eyes are opened, one can gain the power to see the heavens.

Even when he was in a secluded room with his eyes and ears closed, the scholar could still "see" the scene within a hundred feet in radius—the texture of grass and trees, the crawling of insects and ants, and even the handwriting on other people's robes, all of which were clearly visible.

When the mind is opened and the ears are opened, one gains the ability to hear the voice of Heaven.

Not only can one hear the soft sound of falling leaves touching the ground a hundred paces away, but one can also capture the rhythm of flowing literary energy.

Legend has it that when a great Confucian scholar's hearing is fully developed, he can even hear the echoes of sages reciting scriptures throughout history!
Gu Zhimian slowly opened his eyes, a silver light flowing deep in his left pupil, and a jade-colored glow emanating from his left earlobe.

He raised his hand and gently touched his left eye, his fingertips able to feel the scholarly energy pulsating within the pupil.

"The left eye's eye aperture and the left ear's ear aperture have been opened!"

Gu Zhimian muttered to himself, his tone unsure whether to be happy or disappointed, "With such talent, he'd probably only be considered average in the prefectural school."

His right eye remained normal, but he could no longer hear the profound sounds of literature and philosophy in his right ear.

This "half-open, half-closed" state is like a warrior holding a broken sword, possessing sharpness but unable to achieve anything significant.

Gu Zhimian looked at his classmates who had opened all three orifices, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes—those people were now surrounded by their classmates, asking about the wonders of opening all three orifices, like stars being surrounded by the moon.

Seeing that most of the scholars in the hall had grasped the essence, Master Zhou stood in the center of the hall, his voice clear and melodious, and said:
"All students, please be quiet."

The great Confucian scholar Liu Xie recorded in his book "The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons" that he once established a ranking system for literary works.

Today, I, the abbot, will give you, the scholars of the Imperial Academy, your first lesson—a detailed explanation of the scholar's literary mind!

He took out a jade scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it in mid-air, and wrote the magnificent text, each word shining brightly:

"【A Naïve and Ignorant Literary Mind - A Common Taste】"

The phrase originates from the metaphor of "chaos before creation" in the chapter "Responding to Emperors" of the Zhuangzi.

"Though a glimpse has been gained, it's like trying to see flowers through a fog."

"Even if one grasps the basics, it's still like scratching an itch through a boot. This little bit of literary talent is ridiculed by great scholars as 'completely ignorant.'"

"Those who possess such literary talent—"

"Yawning incessantly as I write during the exam, sleepiness creeps in even before the ink is dry."

The writing style is stiff and awkward, like an old ox pulling a broken cart.

"In the examination hall, eight or nine out of ten people who were scratching their heads and looking puzzled were of this kind."

Upon hearing this, some of the scholars in the hall blushed, while others seemed lost in thought.

That's exactly what they're talking about!
Zhou Yuanjun's gaze swept over everyone like lightning: "Now that you have awakened your minds, you should know that this awakening of the literary heart is only the beginning."

The scholars in the hall held their breath and listened attentively.

But then Zhou Yuanjun's sleeves fluttered lightly, and golden patterns flowed across the jade slip, revealing a new chapter:

"【Two Apertures Lead to Literary Understanding - Ordinary Work】"

"This is derived from the profound saying in the Analects, 'Knowing the past and understanding the future.'"

Zhu Xi commented: "This is the image of the two apertures of the literary mind."

Such literary talent—

"The fragrance of ink wafts as the brush touches the paper, and cloud-like patterns appear on it."

"The writing flows smoothly and elegantly, every word a gem."

"Although not quite a genius, he has already grasped the essence of literature."

Zhou Yuanjun's eyes held a profound meaning: "This realm of the two apertures of the literary mind is precisely the beginning of entering the inner sanctum of the literary path."

Upon hearing this, the fifty or sixty scholars in the hall all showed expressions of delight.

Most of these students have already developed a keen interest in literature. Although they are not exceptionally talented, they are like bamboo sprouting new joints, gradually entering the inner sanctum.

They looked at each other with satisfaction in their eyes—after all, in the path of literature and scholarship, those who can enter the inner sanctum are not considered to be lagging behind others.

Zhou Yuanjun took in everyone's expressions, then smiled and said, "Although the two orifices are unremarkable, they are the foundation of literature. They are like the bamboo in the spring garden, which grows steadily without being seen to grow."

As soon as Zhou Yuanjun finished speaking,
He lightly tapped his fingertip and began to explain the Three Apertures of the Mind.

Suddenly, a pure aura rose in the hall, and three blue lotuses appeared in the air. The lotus hearts were like the hearts of scholars, each containing a crystal-clear gem, which made the whole room shine.

"【Three Apertures Clarify the Literary Mind - Medium Grade】"

The *Wenjing Mifu* records: "The Samadhi True Fire can refine literary talent."

As Han Yu once said, "Once the three orifices are opened, one can glimpse the inner sanctum."

"In this realm of literary mind—the three orifices are open and profound, and the logic of the text is as clear as a mirror."

"The inkstone is warm even before it's ground, as if a dragon is breathing within it;"

"The inkstone, freshly ground, already exudes a fragrance, as if orchids and cassia blossoms were burned together;"

“When writing, every word is clear and bright, like the moon shining on a cold pool.”

"This gentleman of the academy entered the path of literature by opening the three apertures of the literary mind!"

Three blue lotuses from his fingertips drifted down onto the inkstone, transforming into the three characters "清" (qing, clear), "明" (ming, bright), and "真" (zhen, true).

Zhou Yuanjun stroked his beard and smiled: "Once the three apertures are formed, one can be considered to have truly entered the inner gate of the literary path."

Of the hundred scholars in the hall, only a dozen or so showed joy.

It was the scholars Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming, Shen Zhiyun, Du Qingyin, Zhou Wenyuan, and Lin Haizhou who had their literary minds fully opened.

After explaining the three apertures of the literary mind,

With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle breeze swept through the hall, and four jade slips flew out from his sleeve, hovering in mid-air, their radiance flowing like stars in a row.

"【Four Apertures of Exquisite Literary Mind - Superior Grade】"

The *Shishuo Xinyu* records: "A dazzling array of treasures, all of which are within reach."

Wang Maohong once exclaimed: "This child's literary mind is exceptionally sharp; every word he utters is a gem!"

"This realm embodies the spirit of literature—"

"As the brush touches the paper, the fragrance of ink wafts through the air, as if orchids and magnolias are growing beside the inkstone;"

"Where the text is written, every word shines, like pearls rolling onto a jade plate;"

"A brilliant line comes to mind, and the room is filled with fragrance that lingers for a long time."

Suddenly, the scholars felt a slight movement at the tip of their noses, and indeed, a faint fragrance lingered, like plum blossoms or orchids, elegant and refreshing.

The Xuan paper on the table moved on its own even without wind, and the ink stains faintly shone with a lustrous sheen, like pearls and jade reflecting light.

Zhou Yuanjun smiled and nodded: "With the four orifices opened, you are already a literary talent that has shaken the entire prefecture, and can be called 'a gem'."

In the past fifty years,
In Jiangzhou Prefecture, there are only two scholars with truly exceptional literary talent: Lu Wenyuan, the chief disciple of Master Pei, and the exceptionally gifted Jiang Yan.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yuanjun shut his mouth and said no more.

The hall fell into complete silence.
Only the swaying bamboo shadows outside the window cast mottled ink marks on the bluestone ground.

The scholars looked at each other in bewilderment, none of them having grasped the four orifices!
They felt as if a thousand ants were gnawing at their hearts, and ultimately they could not suppress their desires—

"Master Yuanjun!"

A scholar in a blue robe suddenly stood up, his sleeves carrying the scent of ink from the desk. "Then what level of understanding is the Five Apertures of Literary Mind?"

This question, like a stone thrown into still water, immediately stirred up ripples throughout the room.

Seventy or eighty pairs of eyes were fixed intently on Abbot Zhou in the hall. Even the birds flying past the window seemed to be touched by this thirst for knowledge, and they lingered on the eaves, unwilling to leave.

"Five orifices?"

Zhou Yuanjun slightly opened his eyes, and suddenly five-colored rays of light burst forth from his sleeve, like a rainbow piercing the sky.

"【Five Apertures of Exquisite Literary Mind - Supreme Grade】"

The sound was like the clash of gold and jade, and the hall was instantly filled with misty clouds.

"Legend has it that Jiang Yan, a genius of the Southern Dynasties, dreamt of Guo Pu and obtained a five-colored brush, which opened the five apertures of his literary mind!" With a light tap of his fingertip, Zhou Yuanjun conjured up magnificent prose in mid-air.
"This realm embodies the spirit of literature—"

"When the brush touches the paper, clouds and mist rise and fall, as if the Weaver Girl were tossing her shuttle."

"As the poem unfolds, heavenly flowers bloom in profusion, and celestial music seems to drift in the air."

Suddenly, the sound of iron bells jingling from the eaves was heard, forming a graceful melody.

The scholars looked up and saw wisps of purple mist swirling between the beams, each breath filling their lungs with the fragrance of ink. "What a pity for Jiang Yan in his later years,"

Zhou Yuanjun suddenly sighed, "The five-colored brush I obtained in my dream was taken back by Guo Pu. Since then, my literary talent has been clouded, and I have been called a 'Jiang Lang with exhausted talent' by the world!"

Before the words were finished, the splendid literary works in the room suddenly dimmed, as if bright pearls had been covered in dust.

The room fell silent.

The scholars suddenly felt a jolt in their hearts, as if they had a telepathic connection.

Dozens of gazes, as if drawn by invisible threads, all turned towards the corner of the hall—

Jiang Xingzhou sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his clothes fluttering even without wind.

A wisp of purple mist rose from his left eye and then entered through his right eye, opening the apertures of both eyes and conjuring up hazy brushstrokes in the morning light.

Jiang Yan was a courtier of the Southern Dynasties!
Jiang Xingzhou is Jiang Lang of the Great Zhou Holy Dynasty!

The Jiang Lang of the Southern Dynasties was said to have a pen that could create flowers in a dream, but this Jiang Lang before us is probably no less impressive!
Little did they know how much of Jiang Xingzhou's literary talent was truly developed.

Perhaps! He might even reach the level of Jiang Yan, the literary genius of the Southern Dynasties, possessing the Five Apertures of Literary Mind?

"You should not belittle or demean yourselves just because you lack literary talent!"

Professor Zhou put his hands behind his back and said,

"The key to literary enlightenment lies in purity and refinement! Even if both orifices shine brightly, they can still illuminate the long road of literature."

Those who can see clearly in all three orifices are already rare!

As for those who have all four orifices open—they are extremely rare in the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture; in the past few decades, there have only been three to five such individuals!

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the hall below.

"Even the two apertures of literary talent are enough to ensure that you pass the imperial examination with flying colors and become Jinshi!"

Zhou Yuanjun smiled and was about to encourage everyone when he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

The hundred scholars who received the initiation ceremony at the Confucian Temple have all awakened, but Jiang Xingzhou remains seated on his prayer mat with his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint purple aura.

The purple aura, like a swimming dragon, flowed and weaved between the four orifices of the left eye, right eye, left ear, and right ear, faintly revealing a mysterious Taoist charm.

Zhou Yuanjun's gaze sharpened, and his heart trembled slightly:

"Open all four orifices!"

This was within his expectations.

However, Jiang Xingzhou has not yet woken up. He is still in the process of awakening!
His smiling expression gradually faded, replaced by a solemn look.

—Those with four orifices are few and far between in Jiangzhou over the past century. They have already caught up with the number of scholars with four orifices in Jiangzhou Prefecture in the past fifty years, just like Lu Wenyuan and Jiang Yan back then.

Jiang Xingzhou, having successfully opened all four orifices during the initiation ceremony at the Confucian Temple, showed no signs of stopping.
Inside Jiang Xingzhou's literary palace, a dormant literary spirit suddenly trembled.

Suddenly, the "literary heart" in his heart was infused with the talent of the Confucian Temple, and a vast amount of talent poured down from the heavens!

Talent is like an awl, piercing through the heart and mind!
In an instant, the shackles on Wenxin's heart were loosened!

A breakthrough!

Jiang Xingzhou's literary soul suddenly opened his left eye—

"Crack!"

The first chain of the Wenxin Shackles snapped instantly!

In that one glance, the world suddenly became bright!

Across the vast sky, clouds drift and gather; hundreds of birds soar, their feathers displayed in exquisite detail. The texture of each feather, the trajectory of each wisp of air, are clearly imprinted on the reader's mind, like ink staining rice paper.

The mind observes the heavens, and the heavens are my mind!
The two orifices are open!

Jiang Xingzhou's right eye suddenly became clear—

"boom!"

The second shackle has shattered!
One glance reveals three feet beneath the yellow earth!

Across ten miles of mountains and rivers, the earth's veins resemble dragons; earthworms meander, their scales and bands clearly visible. Every breath of the soil, every flow of the earth's energy, is like a masterpiece sketched by a skilled painter, vividly reflecting the heart of literature.

The mind observes the earth, and the earth is my soul!
The three orifices are opened!

Jiang Xingzhou's left ear trembled slightly——

"boom!"

The third chain turned to dust!
In an instant, heaven and earth resonated!

The sound of the wind for miles transforms into ancient, profound music; the swaying of grass and trees is a testament to the Great Dao. Every whisper of a grain of sand, every sigh of a flower and leaf, floods into the ears, resounding like a great bell echoing throughout the literary palace!

boom!
The four orifices are open!

Jiang Xingzhou's right ear suddenly rang—

"Zheng!"

The fourth lock snapped!

In this instant, all things return to their heart!

Scholars' morning reading is like the clang of swords, children's babbling is like the chimes of jade chimes, the sound of the wind is like sages reciting scriptures, the sound of rain falling is like metal striking stone, and then there is the clear sound of reading aloud, each word like a sword, cutting through chaos! Heaven and earth are the scroll, all living beings are the pen, in the act of splashing ink and wielding the brush, all sounds become the supreme sound of the Tao!

The five orifices open!

Jiang Xingzhou's left nasal passage is open—

"boom!"

The fifth shackle collapsed with a roar!

In an instant, the fragrance of literature filled the air, and one could smell the vicissitudes of the bamboo slips and the richness of thousands of volumes of poetry;
I could smell the battle cries of clashing swords and the gentle flow of ink-washed ponds. In an instant, the literary traditions of ancient and modern times flowed into my very being.

Every breath is a masterpiece!

The six orifices are open!

Jiang Xingzhou's right nasal passage is open—

"boom!"

The sixth black iron chain cracked inch by inch!

In an instant, the fragrance of plum blossoms penetrates to the bone, its proud spirit soaring to the heavens! A wisp of plum blossom spirit arises from the writer's courage, and three parts of sword energy mingle with the fragrance of ink.

I sense the unyielding spirit of the pine tree under the snow, and the aloof purity of the moon reflected in the cold pool. A solitary flower, unlike any other, possesses its own proud lineage that endures through the ages!

The seven orifices are open!

Jiang Xingzhou's oral skills were revealed—

"boom--"

The last shackle shattered!
Lips that seem to radiate divine authority, tongue that flows with literary brilliance!
A roar shattered the clouds of the nine heavens; with each breath, every word transformed into a dragon soaring through purple mist, every sentence thundered across the universe! Divine light pierced the sun and moon; his words were celestial pronouncements, his writings were traces of the Dao!

His literary mind was completely enlightened!

His literary mind shines brightly, and his divine light soars to the heavens!
Within the literary palace of his consciousness, Jiang Xingzhou's literary soul was fully awakened, his talent surging like a dragon soaring into the abyss!

At the heart of his literary soul, a young, intelligent mind had appeared, opening its eyes, looking left and right, and looking down at the information on the bronze bamboo slips.

Jiang Xingzhou: His ancestral home is Jiangyin County. He was born in the year of Gengchen.

Literary Rank: Xiucai (a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations) – a flawless literary palace and a brilliant literary mind!
Talent: Countless strands

Cultivation level: 100,000 points / 1 million points.

Wenbao: Snake Shadow Cup.

Vehicle: [Deep in the Clouds].

Pet: [Mayfly (Golden Grade)].

The Secret Technique of the Confucian Temple: The Rapid Writing Technique of the "Jijiuzhang" (Exclusive to Top Students).

First treasure: Stone-Edged Treasure Bow.

First collection of poems: "Seeking the Hermit in Vain" (county examination paper), "Grass" (green locust tree and boat), "Bodhisattva's Charm - Ode to Feet" (Xuan paper), "Shooting the Pot" (wooden arrow), "The Ballad of the Frontier - Stone-Edged Arrow" (stone-edged bow), "Looking at the Waterfall of Mount Lu" (prefecture examination paper).

Inside the main hall of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

But see,

Jiang Xingzhou closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, his aura as deep and vast as the sea. Six golden lines meandered down from between his eyebrows, each line containing ancient characters that moved like dragons, with faint sounds of dragon roars and tiger howls echoing through the air.

He suddenly opened his eyes, opened his mouth as if to speak, but first exhaled a purple aura, like a dragon soaring into the sky, instantly dyeing the entire sky with crimson clouds, and the sky above the Jiangzhou Academy turned into a sea of ​​crimson clouds!
The scholars were horrified and staggered back, making way for a ten-foot radius, fearing they would be overwhelmed by the overwhelming literary aura.

Zhou Yuanjun's body trembled violently, the jade slip in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," his expression changed drastically, and his voice trembled:

"He... has actually surpassed Jiang Yan, the genius of the Southern Dynasties!"

"This...this is—"

"Six Apertures Carved with Dragons, a Literary Mind!"

"【Six Apertures Carved Dragon Heart (Immortal Grade)】"

It originates from the "Wenxin Diaolong: Shensi" which states: "The body is in the rivers and seas, but the heart is in the imperial court," also known as "Diaolong Liuhe Xin."

His six orifices are clear and bright, and his writing possesses the spirit of a dragon and a tiger. Every powerful piece he composes is accompanied by the swiftness of wind and rain.

Zhou Yuanjun staggered back three steps, his eyes wide with shock, and murmured to himself, "I never imagined that in my lifetime I would witness... the appearance of [The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons]!"

—Before the words were finished, the world suddenly changed!—

Suddenly, a fierce wind and thunderstorm raged throughout the entire academy. The copper bells on the eaves trembled wildly, and the Xuan paper on the table danced on its own without wind, as if drawn by an invisible force, and even condensed into ancient seal characters in mid-air!
Jiang Xingzhou's last remaining orifice—the "mouth orifice"—suddenly opened!

The seventh aperture opens, and the sacred literary mind is born!
In an instant, the entire Academy of Literature shook violently, as if it could not withstand the immense literary energy!
The boy's seven orifices between his eyebrows radiated brilliant divine light, and within each ray of light emerged ancient sages' writings, each word as precious as gold, illuminating the void!

With a gentle exhale, his breath transformed into a sky full of golden clouds, enveloping the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture; with a slight movement of his fingertips, the Xuan paper on the table spontaneously combusted without fire, condensing into golden lotuses that floated in mid-air, and from where the lotus hearts bloomed, the sound of sages chanting scriptures could be heard!

"The literary mind opens seven orifices!?"

Prefect Xue Chonghu's expression changed drastically. He was forced back ten feet by this overwhelming holy power, and when he regained his footing, his eyes were filled with horror: "This...this is beyond human capability!"

Zhou Yuanjun trembled violently, staring intently at the seven flowing rays of light surrounding Jiang Xingzhou, his voice hoarse:

"impossible!

Seven orifices...a refined and insightful mind?!

"【Seven Apertures Exquisite Literary Mind (Sacred Item)】"

The phrase originates from "When the seven orifices open, chaos dies," in the "Responding to Emperors" chapter of the Zhuangzi, and is used as a metaphor for understanding the Way of Heaven. Later, the "Wenxin Diaolong" praised it, saying, "The writings of sages are exquisitely crafted, with seven orifices."

With all seven orifices clear, a casually written article can trigger extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth.

With a stroke of the brush, golden lotuses bloom; with each breath, clouds and rosy hues appear!

"as far as I know……"

Zhou Yuanjun's voice trembled, "Since ancient times, up to our Great Zhou Dynasty, those who possess the seven orifices of exquisite literary talent have only been Bi Gan of the Great Shang Dynasty and Zhuge Liang of the Great Han Dynasty, a mere handful of people!"

Jiang Xingzhou and Prefect Xue Chonghu's eyes met, and for a moment it seemed as if thunder had exploded in their eyes.

Xue Chonghu's eyes widened, and cold sweat involuntarily seeped from his palms.

This iron-fisted prefect, who was a powerful figure in Jiangzhou, couldn't help but hold his breath at this moment.

(End of this chapter)