Unexpectedly, the Deputy Minister of the Honglu would say such a thing in public.
Was this something to be mentioned during a banquet?
It was akin to saying, "You've just come from the countryside and haven't tasted watermelon, have you?"
Was it appropriate to say such things in public?
This was already quite unseemly.
As soon as these words were spoken, many people covered their faces with their sleeves, but their robes shook uncontrollably, some even forgetting to muffle their giggles.
However, those from Wu Deity Mountain, especially Li Qi, did not look pleased. Besides being displeased, Li Qi harbored other concerns.
Though there had been hostility during the alliance oath ceremony, now at what should be a state banquet, such aggressiveness...
The Tang Kingdom was being... well, peculiar.
This behavior didn't match what he knew about them; there must be some underlying reason or something unknown to him.
The Grand Shaman had returned in the evening with bloodstained clothes after going out at noon, which might be related to this matter.
Unfortunately, they were still young and had no right to meddle in such affairs.
But if the conflict escalated so intensely, it would certainly fall on their shoulders.
No matter how much the adults fought, they wouldn't truly turn against each other because the cost was too high, potentially escalating the current tension into a full-scale war.
But with things having gone this far, they couldn't pretend nothing happened.
It must be what the Grand Shaman said...
They would definitely have to send the younger ones to fight.
This way, the conflict wouldn't escalate beyond control, nor would it seem like both sides were backing down.
It was like two families with poor relations where the adults might argue but wouldn't fight, yet if a child kicked another child, the adult might reward their own child with extra food for standing up for themselves.
But as someone who didn't want to fight, Li Qi felt a headache coming on.
However, on the other side,
Upon hearing this, the Grand Shaman smiled and replied, "Indeed, I have never seen such narrowness as Chang'an."
"In Wu Deity Mountain, what we see are vast landscapes: waves that touch the sky, mountains calling clouds away, awe-inspiring cliffs, towering peaks, and endless vistas from thousand-meter-high summits!"
Then, he chuckled, looking around, "The scenery of Wu Deity Mountain is grand and reveals the essence of heaven and earth. Unlike Chang'an, where every three steps require a turn, fifty miles for a banquet to accommodate three thousand people, truly Chang'an's land is precious and cannot afford extravagance."
These words silenced the crowd.
Not because they were intimidated, but everyone knew the argument was about to begin between the Deputy Minister of the Honglu and the Grand Shaman of Wu Deity Mountain.
The Deputy Minister laughed and responded, "Hahaha, though small, this place is filled with exquisite items."
"Vegetables served on ice plates, meat on open trays, fruits on large porcelain dishes, all arranged according to etiquette. I hadn't expected Wu Deity Mountain to lack familiarity with fine utensils, only knowing vastness, truly our mistake."
"At the next banquet, we will arrange it in the western wilderness, spanning ten thousand miles without tables or chairs, focusing solely on hunting and roasting. Surely then, the Grand Shaman will feel at home."
The Grand Shaman bowed and said, "So your understanding of vastness is like this. If so, arranging today's venue isn't surprising. We have 'Etiquette Rituals' available for your perusal, ensuring proper conduct for future visits."
The Deputy Minister shook his head, "We have 'Etiquette Rituals,' but Wu Deity Mountain lacks ancient heritage, piecing together scattered chapters. You must have read a counterfeit version, hence the conflict."
The Grand Shaman frowned but quickly relaxed, replying, "In ancient times, numerous tribes coexisted, and Wu Dao protected humanity. These texts were written by shamans and diviners, making ours the orthodox. Humanity evolved from Wu Dao, akin to parent and child. How can children claim parents wrong when copying incorrectly?"
Li Qi slapped his forehead upon hearing this.
Trouble was brewing again.
He had heard about this debate (see Chapters 217 and 218).
This was one of the main conflicts between Wu Dao and Humanism.
Humanism originated from Wu Dao but diverged, leading to a split within humanity.
The Deputy Minister sneered, "Humanism originated from Wu Dao, but Wu Deity Mountain isn't its father."
"Ancient sages deserve respect, but the true inheritors of Wu Dao are the Zhong and Li clans, appointed by the Human Sovereign. Wu Deity Mountain usurped Wu Dao, claiming orthodoxy. How dare you call yourselves fathers?"
"Wu Deity Mountain's practices lack reverence, causing people to value worship without understanding blessings. Such behavior doesn't qualify as Wu Dao's orthodoxy."
"King Li's tyranny led to widespread discontent. He employed a Wei shaman to suppress dissent by killing critics, silencing the populace. Isn't one of your branches the Wei shaman?"
Seeing Bo Yue's anger, Li Qi understood.
The Deputy Minister referenced an ancient story where King Li's(厲) brutality led him to use a Wei shaman to silence critics. This Wei shaman belonged to Bo Yue's lineage.
Clearly, Bo Yue was being insulted.
Given the nature of diviners, they simply followed orders without moral judgment.
Now, the Deputy Minister blamed the Wei shaman for King Li's sins, criticizing Wu Deity Mountain.
How would the Grand Shaman respond?
The Grand Shaman smirked, "King Li was a Human Sovereign."
This statement intensified the confrontation!
Both sides exchanged sharp remarks, turning the banquet into a sarcastic debate.
They quoted classics, showcasing eloquence and wit, making it hard to distinguish who was winning.
Only two participants: the Deputy Minister and the Grand Shaman, with others watching helplessly.
Eventually, they began insulting each other directly, leading the Grand Shaman to bang the table angrily, "Using mere words to challenge guests is disrespectful!"
The Deputy Minister retorted harshly, "Why show respect to unwelcome guests?!"
Reactions varied among the audience:
Some scratched their heads, trying to follow the complex arguments.
Others glared silently, unable to speak against the elders.
Some took notes, recording new information.
Others trembled, fearing physical violence.
Li Qi pondered the Grand Shaman's earlier reminder to perform well.
Could this be the moment?
If left unchecked, the debate could continue indefinitely. They couldn't wait until next year.
Deciding it was time to intervene, Li Qi stood up suddenly, catching everyone's attention.
Ignoring the stares, he bowed and declared loudly, "Two esteemed gentlemen, using pedantic arguments shows you're like corrupt scholars. How could such a scene occur between you two?"
His bold statement shocked everyone.
The Grand Shaman smiled approvingly.
By calling them corrupt scholars, Li Qi subtly criticized Humanism's leaders for being all talk.
Moreover, he knew the Deputy Minister was a Confucian scholar.
In fact, among the Hundred Schools of Thought, the Confucian School, the Miscellaneous School, and the Legalist School are particularly well-known for their focus on climbing the ranks of officialdom. As a result, most of the vermilion and purple nobles of the Tang Kingdom are Confucian scholars and Legalist scholars.
However, Li Qi risked severe consequences for his words.
Immediately, he walked forward, declaring, "Instead of debating, let us test our knowledge. Since you two cannot move, let us, the students, prove who better understands ancient wisdom through 'Eight Classics.'"
Li Qi challenged hundreds of attendees.
Suddenly, a strong resonance surged towards him, a terrifying presence overwhelming him.
Dao Resonance couldn't parse it!
Unable to react, the threat approached swiftly.
At that moment, the Grand Shaman stepped beside him, dispelling the danger instantly.
Patting Li Qi's shoulder reassuringly, he sternly warned, "Youngsters like you shouldn't claim to understand ancient truths. It's presumptuous!"
Li Qi lowered his head, knowing his plan worked.
The Grand Shaman continued, addressing the crowd, "Despite his arrogance, this young man has a point. Our discussions are pointless as our convictions won't waver. Let the younger generation decide who holds the true path."
Everyone looked at the Deputy Minister, who nodded, "Very well, I'm curious to see how this young man proves Wu Deity Mountain's authenticity."