Transmigrating to another world, starting as a mountain god

Emperor An Yue was still busy with the war in the Qian Kingdom.

Having received a warning from Heaven, Li Yuan naturally would no longer be involved.

So he had to find something else to do.

Since a group of students from the Gewu Academy had just arrived, Li Yuan wanted to see what their 'abilities' were.

Of course, Li Yuan respected the students' wishes and first led them to pay respects at the 'graves' of Zhang Xiaohu and others.

Among those small mounds, there were also cenotaphs erected by Zhang's descendants for Zhang Xiaoniu.

These students may be experiencing difficulties or setbacks in their lives.

We come to the ancestral home of our ancestral temple to pay homage, firstly to show respect to our ancestors.

Secondly, it was also to have some peace and quiet and to see one's own heart clearly.

Gewu Academy was not well-regarded by the world, and the students who joined it were regarded as outcasts by outsiders.

I think their so-called spirit of exploration and pursuit of truth is just indulging in trivialities and going astray.

Instead of reading good ancient books and thinking about making a name for themselves, they actually go and study some kind of universal truth?

Even ordinary people can grasp the true meaning of knowledge, change the environment, and create all things.

This kind of "evil and crooked path" that disrespects both gods and the imperial dynasty is surely poisoning the minds of young people.

Since ancient times, immortals and gods have brought knowledge and power to mortals, and dynasties have guaranteed peace and stability to their people. This is the ultimate truth!

From the outside world's perspective, there was much ridicule and mockery.

Most students at Gewu Academy don't last long and end up having to leave the academy.

The remaining small group of people who refused to give up held fast to their original aspirations, believing that the path of truth would be the great way of seeking knowledge that could change the world!

However, even if they stick to this path, they cannot withstand the constant ridicule and sarcasm from the outside world.

Even worse, in some areas, the Gewu Academy was strictly prohibited from preaching, and any students who joined were regarded as "deviant and misguided."

Unable to withstand the overwhelming doubts and ridicule, the students had no choice but to travel across several countries and spend several years to reach the ancestral land recorded in the books of Gewu Academy.

In the book, the ancestral land is described as having a beautiful mountain range, a tranquil place undisturbed by outsiders. The mountain is abundant with golden and jade-like fruits, and at its base lies a rare treasure...

And so, the students arrived, full of anticipation.

However, when they passed through the Qian Kingdom, they found it to be in the midst of war.

Fortunately, these students from the Gewu Academy all possessed some martial arts skills, otherwise they wouldn't have dared to cross borders to "worship their ancestors."

After listening to the students' stories, Li Yuan simply smiled faintly.

The young female student sighed earlier:

"Books deceive people; though our ancestral land is covered in green mountains, beyond those mountains lies only desert!"

The other students also sighed and lamented.

"Yes! The book says that our ancestral land is rich in gold, jade, and beautiful fruits, and contains hidden treasures, but this..."

The dozen or so students were very disappointed.

Li Yuan laughed heartily.

All the students turned their eyes to him:

"Why is Lord Li laughing?"

Li Yuan pointed them out.

"Don't you understand yet?"

The students looked at each other, bewildered.

Li Yuan shook his head in disappointment and continued walking forward.

He wore a long blue robe and had an elegant face; he could be considered to have an otherworldly air about him.

"Think about what 'investigating things to acquire knowledge' really means!"

Li Yuan walked forward with his hands behind his back, sighing softly.

The students followed, completely bewildered.

The rest of the journey was somewhat silent.

The students were all pondering the meaning behind Li Yuan's words.

Could this young man possibly understand the principles of investigation and knowledge acquisition better than the students of their Gewu Academy...?

"I understand!"

Suddenly, a student exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone turned their attention to him.

The man seemed lost and somewhat agitated:

"Investigate things to acquire knowledge... Investigate things to acquire knowledge!"

Everyone is puzzled.

"How can we verify the truth or falsehood of what is described in the book without witnessing it firsthand?"

"If we do not consistently uphold the spirit of investigating things, how can we enable the world to distinguish between truth and falsehood?"

"Isn't this the very principle of exploration?"

"To thoroughly investigate what is ignorant, doubtful, and uncertain!"

The student started gesturing wildly.

Li Yuan quietly stopped, turned around and looked back, a smile in his eyes.

"We have crossed mountains and rivers to realize that our ancestral land has green mountains, but beyond the green mountains lies a desert!"

"Only when you and I set foot on our ancestral land do we realize that there are orchards here, but the golden and beautiful fruits are just a boast!"

"Only when you and I understand this principle can we see the true treasure left behind by Dean Zu!"

"This is the precious spirit of investigation and exploration, an infinite treasure!"

The man became more and more agitated as he spoke.

The other students also seemed to understand something.

One student's eyes lit up, and he continued the conversation:

"Your words have stirred up a thousand waves in my heart!"

"The pursuit of knowledge through investigation is precisely the principle you are adhering to, brother!"

"If you and I do not explore it ourselves, the ancestral land in the book will forever remain a place of green mountains and clear waters, abundant with gold, jade and beautiful fruits, forever burying treasures unknown to anyone!"

"It is precisely because you and I have come to explore and understand the truth that we can leave the correct answers for future generations!"

Many students were also excited, as if they had glimpsed the truth of this path.

"This is the most complete way Dean Zu preached!"

"Let us move forward with confusion, and finally attain the truth in our ancestral land!"

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; if you don't seek the truth for yourself, it will forever remain buried!"

"This is the ultimate truth of investigating things!"

They cheered for a long time, completely disregarding their image, they were incredibly excited.

It seems that taking just one step on the path of investigating things and acquiring knowledge is worth more than the hardships they endured crossing thousands of mountains and rivers.

Once the students had calmed down a bit, Li Yuan led them to continue walking towards a certain place.

This time, the students looked at Li Yuan's back with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

While they were confused, Li Yuan simply listened to their stories, as if he had already understood the true meaning recorded in the book of Gewu Academy!

Who exactly is this handsome young man in a blue robe with a superficial air?

Why do you seem so familiar with the principles of investigating things to acquire knowledge?

Li Yuan, walking ahead, was almost bursting out laughing.

The pursuit of knowledge through investigation is an inexhaustible treasure.

Zhang Xiaoniu has been clever and quick-witted since she was a child.

He clearly wanted to use that book to lure future students to Anshan and promote its development!

There may be some truth to it, but there's definitely also an element of deception involved!

Currently, a group of 'confused' students, unable to bear the external pressure, have begun to seek spiritual comfort.

Li Yuan could imagine that in the future, more students from the Gewu Academy might be driven to desperation by external pressures and come from all corners of the world...

Ironically, these students are the ones who are most faithful to the spirit of investigating things and acquiring knowledge.

Those who wanted to give up would have given up long ago; why did they have to come to this point?

Of course, those who oppress students and are unable to accept new ideas are people from the outside world.

While Zhang Xiaoniu cherishes her hometown and wants to contribute talent to it, isn't she also leaving these students a way out?

She believed that her mountain god would take in these students from later generations...

Li Yuan chuckled inwardly.

Beneath that light laugh, however, lay a hint of sadness.

Even though the child had already left home, he still felt a pang of sadness for the poverty of his hometown.

They guessed that Anshan and their own mountain god wanted to develop, but would lack capable people.

These students have arrived at just the right time.

The young people in An Yue are all learning new ways of thinking.

However, it lacks the spirit and mindset of daring to put true knowledge into practice.

These students, who are dedicated to the spirit of investigating things and acquiring knowledge, can help An Yue embark on the path of developing new ideas.

Truly, far surpassing the development of this era.