274: Chapter 29: A Battle of Wits: Civilization vs. Imperial Way

The Dao Debate Platform rose, and the roar and phenomena of colliding rule projections gradually subsided. However, a deeper and more treacherous clash had already begun silently between the two young gods on the stage, within the torrents of rules they represented.

This was no longer a slaughter between followers, nor a collision between divine kingdoms, but a struggle of orthodoxies, a debate of ideologies, and a fundamental duel between paths of civilization!

The principal's voice rang out again, setting the tone for this unprecedented final format: "The rules of the Dao Debate Platform are set. Both sides' divine kingdom projections will be deployed into the randomly generated [Trial Sub-plane · Unnamed-734] in ten breaths. The time flow ratio within the sub-plane is 1:1. The total duration of the finals is 24 hours in real time, and 24 hours (ten days) in internal time."

"During this period, the Dao Debate Platform will continue to operate. The gods themselves must sit within their respective frameworks on the platform, maintaining their rule projections with Divine Thought, and may debate and elaborate on their respective paths, rules, and ideologies. All results of 'practicing the Dao' within the sub-plane—including but not limited to the range of rule coverage, resource integration efficiency, growth of followers, and the results of guiding and providing Enlightenment to the native civilizations—will be fed back to the Dao Debate Platform in real-time, buffing or weakening the corresponding rule projections."

"The final victory will be decided by the judging panel based on the 'strength', 'completeness', and 'clarity of ideological manifestation' of both sides' rule projections, as well as the 'quality' and 'efficiency' of their practical achievements within the sub-plane!"

"Now, divine kingdom projections, deploy!"

As the words fell, two giant light screens above the spectator stands instantly lit up. The left screen showed a panoramic view of a rapidly generating miniature sub-plane, approximately one hundred thousand kilometers in diameter. The right screen split into two, tracking the landing points and initial movements of the two divine kingdom projections.

In the sub-plane, mountains, rivers, forests, grasslands, deserts, and glaciers quickly took shape, and even scattered settlements of primitive tribes appeared, representing the faint Fire of Civilization. Strange energy turbulence filled the sky, and faint roars of beasts came from deep within the earth; the overall environment appeared complex and full of challenges.

In a relatively fertile river valley area to the east, a pale blue light emerged. The phantom of the [Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom] shifted from illusory to solid, slowly descending. Its area stabilized at around 3 square kilometers, and its iconic structures, such as the Jixia Academy and the river of civilization phantom, were clearly visible.

To the west, in a more open plain with seemingly richer resources, brilliant golden light tore through space as the even larger and more majestic projection of the [Heavenly Emperor Divine Kingdom] descended with a boom! Its area exceeded eight hundred square kilometers, and the nine cauldrons phantom floated above the divine kingdom, shedding wisps of Mystic Yellow Qi. The murderous Aura of the Angel Legion and prehistoric beasts could be faintly felt even through the light screen.

The moment both divine kingdoms descended, the corresponding rule projection frameworks on the Dao Debate Platform lit up slightly, as if the initial Foundation had been injected into them.

Immediately afterward, both divine kingdoms began their actions almost simultaneously.

Within the Heavenly Emperor Divine Kingdom, Order reigned supreme. The Angel Legion split into several units, scanning and surveying the surrounding environment with extreme efficiency, clearing potential threats (several groups of wild Demonic Beasts around LV3), establishing outposts, and beginning to purposefully guide several scattered, primitive Human Race tribes that were still in the Stone Age.

Within the Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom, the movements were slightly slower but more diverse. Civilization Elvess formed scouting teams carrying simple mapping tools; Creation Dwarves began building fortifications and basic workshops at selected sites; and the Celestial Constitution Fishmen attempted initial contact with a nearby semi-civilized fishman tribe living by the water and surviving on fishing and hunting, using "mental ripples" prepared in advance by Lin Zhou that contained Concepts of simple Order and mutual benefit.

The practical phase had begun, but everyone's gaze was focused more on the Dao Debate Platform itself, on those two young men sitting opposite each other, looking calm while their Divine Thought clash was already like stormy waves.

The true "Dao Debate" had begun.

First Day of the Dao Debate (Internal Time: First 24 Hours)

Xuanyuan Hao was the first to strike. He did not directly attack Lin Zhou's rules, but instead began to lay out his "Imperial Way" with the posture of one expounding the supreme truth.

His voice was magnificent, carrying a convincing majesty, and every word seemed to trigger a resonance in the golden framework on the Dao Debate Platform, making its light grow brighter: "The way of a god lies in dominion. To dominate the heavens and the earth, to shepherd and provide Enlightenment to the people. Just as there are not two suns in the sky, a country cannot have two masters. Therefore, the 'Imperial Way' is the ultimate principle of heaven and earth, the discipline of civilization. When the heavens are exalted and the earth is lowly, the Universe is fixed; when the sovereign is exalted and the subjects are lowly, Order is established. Only with a single origin can one stabilize the Universe, unify all directions, resist external aggression, and cultivate internal virtue. This is the eternal and unchanging Great Dao!"

As he spoke, rule Concepts such as "Dominion," "Order," "Mandate of Heaven," and "Absolute Supremacy" moved and condensed like living things within the golden projection on the left side of the Dao Debate Platform, emitting an increasingly strong sense of pressure and beginning to encroach upon and squeeze the blue framework on the right. It was a top-down, unquestionable rule of power that demanded absolute obedience.

Many spectators, especially those who believed in power and Order, couldn't help but nod in agreement. This was the common perception of the mainstream path of gods in the Universe: the god is supreme, the followers are subjects, and Order stems from authority.

Facing the pressure of this grand imperial majesty and the direct impact of the ideology, Lin Zhou did not back down. His mind communicated with the Temple of Civilization, and the river of wisdom from the Masters of the Hundred Schools flowed through his heart. He chose Confucianism as his weapon for the first round of the clash.

He spoke, his voice clear and calm, not as magnificent as his opponent's, yet possessing its own resilient, silent power:

"The 'Dominion' and 'Order' Senior Xuanyuan speaks of are indeed important. However, if the 'Imperial Way' is supreme, where does that leave the people? I have heard the sages of old say: 'The people are the most important, the state comes next, and the ruler is the least.'"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap! Under the mainstream view where gods are supreme and followers are lambs, the idea that "the people are more important than the ruler" was simply heterodox!

The audience was in an uproar! Even many professors on the judging panel showed expressions of surprise or deep thought.

Xuanyuan Hao's brow furrowed, and the encroachment of the golden framework stalled slightly.

Lin Zhou took the opportunity to continue, triggering the river of civilization projection on the right side of the Dao Debate Platform, where the texts representing Confucianism shone brightly: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The power of a god originates from faith, from the vitality and Power Of Will of the followers. If there are no people to work and produce resources, no wise men to study and understand principles, and no brave men to guard the borders and protect the land, then even with Divine Might, it would be like a tree without roots or water without a source. Therefore, the way of 'Civilization' prioritizes 'People' first. The sovereign (god) is not appointed by heaven, but is the co-lord chosen by the people; power is not for exclusive enjoyment, but should serve the masses. This is not weakening divine power, but clarifying the fundamentals, so that god and man can harmonize and be of one mind, allowing civilization to flourish continuously rather than being tied to the rise and fall of a single person."

He was expounding a philosophy of governance based on responsibility and service, a way of thinking that incorporated the god into the development of civilization rather than as an absolute Dominator. This was not a denial of Order, but an attempt to find a more stable and vital Foundation for Order—the hearts of the people and the collective interest of the civilization.

Following his words, phantoms of people farming, scholars debating, craftsmen building, and soldiers guarding the land emerged within the river of civilization projection. Though not as majestic as the Imperial Way projection, they were full of vigorous vitality and real weight. These phantoms stood in subtle opposition to Xuanyuan Hao's projection that emphasized the "Supremacy of the Mandate of Heaven," actually forming a delicate balance in certain areas and even beginning to analyze and absorb the relatively moderate parts of the opponent's rules regarding "shepherding the people" and "virtuous governance."

"Absurd!" a teammate behind Xuanyuan Hao couldn't help but shout from off-stage, "Followers are but ants, how can they be compared to gods? This is confusing the social Order!"

But Xuanyuan Hao's own eyes grew slightly solemn. He felt that within his "Imperial Way" rules, the originally seamless and supreme Concept of "Divine Right of Kings" had developed a tiny, almost imperceptible... sense of sluggishness because of the "people-oriented" thought proposed by the opponent. It was as if a drop of uniquely property-endowed "acid" had been dripped onto indestructible stone; although it was temporarily unharmed, it made him feel a faint sense of unease.

What shocked everyone even more was that as Lin Zhou's argument of "the people are more important than the ruler" triggered ripples at the rule level, one of the nine giant cauldron phantoms floating in the center of the towering golden framework on the left side of the Dao Debate Platform developed a tiny, new crack—finer than a hair and almost impossible to catch with the naked eye—along an originally invisible natural vein on the cauldron's body!

Although it was barely perceptible, the venue was filled with powerful experts, and many possessed sharp Divine Thought! Especially the judging panel and the spectators in the front rows, who almost simultaneously gasped!

"The nine cauldrons... have developed a crack?!"

"Is it a rule backlash? An ideological impact?!"

"A mere few words could shake Xuanyuan Hao's Foundation projection?"

"This 'people-oriented' thought actually has such power?"

Xuanyuan Hao naturally felt the abnormality of the nine cauldrons as well. Beside his internal fury, he grew more vigilant. He snorted coldly, and the golden framework's light intensified, forcibly stabilizing the nine cauldrons phantom and suppressing the influence of that tiny crack to the minimum. At the same time, he shifted his direction of attack.

"Even if, as you say, one must value the 'people,' the masses are disorganized, ignorant, and short-sighted. Without the dominion of a strong power and strict Laws to settle disputes, would they not be like a heap of loose sand, fighting among themselves and eventually being exploited by external enemies?" Xuanyuan Hao's voice turned sharp, invoking the rule Concepts of Legalism and the School of Military's conquest. "Therefore, the majesty of the Imperial Way lies in 'No Exemption from Punishment for high officials, and no omission of rewards for commoners,' and in 'Under the wide heaven, there is no land that is not the King's; within the sea-boundaries of the land, there are none who are not the King's subjects'! Only with absolute authority can absolute justice be implemented! He who uses force while pretending to be benevolent is a hegemon; he who practices benevolence through virtue is a king. I am the one destined by heaven, protecting benevolence with force and manifesting virtue through punishment—that is the ultimate Dao!"

This discourse combined Legalism's "the Law does not favor the noble" with a shell of Confucian "benevolent governance" (though the core remained the supremacy of the Imperial Way), attempting to reclaim the moral and practical high ground. Within the golden framework, phantoms of a legal dragnet and conquering iron cavalry emerged, their majesty even greater than before.

Lin Zhou's expression remained unchanged, but he thought to himself: As expected, he is using 'Law' and 'force' to counter-attack.

He triggered the river of civilization again, and this time, the chapters for Legalism and Mohism lit up simultaneously.

"What Senior says about 'the Law not favoring the noble' is very good!" Lin Zhou first affirmed the reasonable part of the opponent's argument, which made his rebuttal seem more impartial and gave Xuanyuan Hao the awkward feeling of punching cotton. "However, where does the root of the Law's justice lie? If the power to legislate, enforce, and interpret the Law all rests with the 'Son of Heaven' alone, how is this 'Law' any different from the 'Son of Heaven's' private whims? Today there may be 'No Exemption from Punishment for high officials,' but tomorrow, punishment could also reach the innocent."

"In my path of 'Civilization', there is also 'Law'. However, the Foundation of this Law lies in 'public consensus', in 'established customs', and in 'protecting the basic rights and long-term development of the majority of members of civilization'. The establishment of Law requires debate within the 'Academy' to clarify its pros and cons; the execution of Law requires an 'independent judiciary' (Tianxian Mermen Enforcers, based on the rules of the Temple of Law rather than simply following Lin Zhou's personal will); the modification of Law must follow the needs of 'civilizational evolution'. This Law is not the Law of one person, but the Law of civilization!"

He paused for a moment, his voice suddenly rising, carrying the awe-inspiring Righteous Qi of the Mohist "Universal Love and Non-Aggression": "As for 'using force to feign benevolence' and 'all under heaven is the king's land'! These are not the ways for a civilization to flourish, but are in fact excuses for hegemonic conquest and bullying! A true civilization should 'regard another's state as one's own, another's family as one's own, and another's person as one's own' (Mohist Universal Love). The contact between my dependents and the indigenous tribes of the demi-plane is not for conquest, but for exchange, for teaching the ways of farming, medicine, and writing, to help them become enlightened and allow them to voluntarily merge into the river of civilization. This is 'universal mutual love and interchange of mutual benefit', which is far more stable and gains more sincere faith than conquest by the sword or forced conversion!"

This discourse, which combined the "public nature of Law" from Legalism with the "Universal Love and Non-Aggression" of Mohism, was like two swords merging into one, pointing directly at the core contradictions of "privatization of authority" and "expansion through conquest" within Xuanyuan Hao's "Imperial Way"!

Don't you say that "Law does not distinguish between the noble and the common"? I am telling you, true Law is a public instrument of civilization, not your private tool!

Don't you say that "force is used to protect benevolence"? I am telling you, the "benevolence" promoted by force is a fake benevolence; the true spread of civilization relies on exchange and mutual benefit!

Boom!

On the Dao Debate Stage, the projection of the river of civilization surged once more. The "Public Justice Law Net" of Legalism and the "Radiance of Universal Love" of Mohism intertwined, fiercely clashing with, neutralizing, and eroding the rule phantoms of the opponent's "Private Law of the Son of Heaven" and "Hegemonic Military Edge".

Crack—!

This time, an even more audible, though still faint, sound of shattering came from the golden frame on the left!

Within the nine cauldrons phantom, new cracks, slightly longer than before, appeared simultaneously on two more cauldrons! This symbolized that the purity and absoluteness of the two core Concepts in the "Imperial Way" rules—"Law originates from the Monarch" and "Conquest is the Mandate of Heaven"—were being directly questioned and impacted!

Xuanyuan Hao's expression finally became somewhat unsightly. He felt his Dao Heart fluctuating more noticeably due to these successive, pointed interrogations. The cracks on the nine cauldrons were the most direct feedback at the level of rule projections!

The audience had long since fallen silent. Everyone held their breath, deeply captivated and shocked by this clash of ideas that transcended the level of power. Who could have imagined that the blade of words could be sharper than divine arts, directly shaking the rule Foundation of a deity?

On the judges' bench, the eyes of Professor Gongsun Yan, Professor Mo Heng, and others sparkled. Professor Xun Wenruo even murmured to himself: "Law as a public instrument... Universal Love and Non-Aggression... Though idealistic, it strikes directly at the heart..."

Second Day of the Dao Debate (Internal Time: 24-72 hours)

Xuanyuan Hao adjusted his strategy. No longer in a hurry to crush his opponent head-on, he began to package the "Imperial Way" with a higher perspective and a grander narrative, attempting to reclaim the moral and historical high ground as a "Leader of Civilization" and a "Giver of Order". He spoke at length about how the "Imperial Way" brought unity, peace, and technological development (concentrating resources for major tasks), how it protected the masses, and how it represented the "only correct direction" for civilizational progress.

Lin Zhou countered blow for blow, using Daoist thoughts like "Tao Follows Nature" and "Governing through Non-Action", the School of Names' "Conjoining Differences" and "Separating Hardness and Whiteness", and the Syncretist idea of "All Rivers Run into the Sea" to explain the diversity, spontaneity, and adaptability of civilizational development. He questioned the hegemony of the "only correct" way, emphasizing that civilizations in different environments, stages, and with different endowments should have different development paths. The true essence of "Civilization" lies in providing an inclusive, open framework that encourages exploration and trial and error, rather than a single template that must be followed.

The debate between the two sides grew deeper, involving fundamental issues such as the origin of civilization, the nature of power, the individual and the collective, freedom and Order, and Legacy and innovation. On the Dao Debate Stage, the two colors of light intertwined and shifted—sometimes the gold shone brilliantly, sometimes the blue light surged—and the collision of rule phantoms evolved into countless profound patterns and Concepts.

During the fierce clash on the second day, two more cracks quietly appeared on the nine cauldrons. Although Xuanyuan Hao tried his best to maintain it, the "halo" of his "Imperial Way" rule projection, which was originally flawless and integrated, had already shown obvious "impurities" and "ripples". These were signs of being parsed and penetrated by the inclusive rules of "Civilization".

Third Day of the Dao Debate (Internal Time: 72-12 hours, Real Time: 12 hours passed)

In the demi-plane practice of the first three days, both sides also made progress.

The Heavenly Emperor Divine Kingdom, relying on its powerful strength and efficient organization, had basically controlled a fertile area of over a thousand square kilometers around the landing point. It had annexed or forcibly converted five or six primitive tribes and established several outpost towns, with resource extraction and faith collection proceeding in an orderly manner. However, the methods were relatively forceful, causing some sporadic resistance and flight.

The Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom's controlled area was smaller, about five hundred square kilometers. However, by teaching farming, medicine, simple writing, and tool manufacturing, it had successfully established stable mutual aid Alliances with three indigenous tribes (including that fishman tribe) and began to promote the budding civilizational Order such as simple "village covenants" and "guild rules". Its development speed was not as fast as the opponent's, but its Foundation seemed more solid, and the faith it obtained appeared more "proactive" and "devout".

These practical results were constantly fed back to the Dao Debate Stage. The practice of the Heavenly Emperor Divine Kingdom reinforced its rule projections related to "Governance", "Efficiency", and "Conquest"; while the practice of the Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom enhanced the vitality and persuasiveness of rule projections such as "Enlightenment", "Mutual Benefit", and the "Spontaneous Growth of Order".

By the third day of the Dao Debate, both sides had passed the initial probing and fierce confrontation, entering a deeper and more dangerous battle over the "core of their ideologies".

Xuanyuan Hao began to contract his defensive line, fully stabilizing and sublimating the most core and inviolable part of his "Imperial Way"—"The Mandate of Heaven is bestowed, and the Orthodoxy is one and only". He attributed his own Bloodline, Divine Artifacts, achievements, and even the glory of his divine kingdom to "Receiving the Great Mandate of Heaven", claiming it was the "inevitable choice" and "ultimate form" of civilizational development. This was the final cornerstone of the "Imperial Way's" legitimacy and sanctity.

Lin Zhou knew that this was the final and most crucial fortress. If he could shake this cornerstone, the opponent's Dao Heart would suffer a heavy blow.

He no longer dispersed his firepower but instead condensed the "Aura" accumulated over the three days of clashing, along with the most profound thoughts on the "Mandate of Heaven" and "Orthodoxy" from the Hundred Schools of Thought (especially the Confucian interpretation of the "Inconstancy of the Mandate of Heaven", the Daoist recognition of "Tao Follows Nature", and the records in the Temple of Civilization regarding historical cycles and civilizational diversity), into a final strike.

He did not directly deny the existence of the "Mandate of Heaven", but instead explained a brand-new "View of the Mandate" from the grand perspective of the river of civilization.

"Senior says 'The Mandate of Heaven is bestowed'." In the third day of the Dao Debate, Lin Zhou's voice took on a sense of historical vicissitude and civilizational weight, "However, what is 'Heaven'? In my path of 'Civilization', 'Heaven' is not a Dominator with a will, but the Laws of nature, the trends of history, and the grand momentum of civilizational evolution!"

"In the past, when men ate raw flesh and drank blood, the Mandate of Heaven was in 'Survival'; later, when cities were built and states established, the Mandate of Heaven was in 'Order'; today, when gods rise together and compete in the sea of stars, the Mandate of Heaven may be in 'Transcendence' and 'Sublimation'! The Mandate of Heaven is not constant; it belongs only to those with Virtue (referring here to the 'Great Virtue' of conforming to the Laws of civilizational development and promoting civilizational progress). How can there be a 'Mandate of Heaven' that remains unchanged for eternity and is tied solely to one person, one race, or one path?"

He pointed to the submerged classic texts representing different eras and thoughts within his projection of the river of civilization: "Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan... Civilization is like a long river, flowing endlessly. Every segment has its protagonist, yet none can be eternal. The so-called 'Orthodoxy' is also not a dead dogma, but a flowing wisdom that should be adjusted, updated, and inclusive as civilization evolves!"

"Senior's 'Imperial Way' may be a powerful path for a certain historical stage or a specific environment. However, if you claim it to be the 'only' one, exclude dissidents, and become complacent, you are acting against the 'Mandate of Heaven' (the Laws of civilizational evolution)! Ultimately, it will be encompassed or... eliminated by a 'Great Dao' that is more inclusive, more vital, and better able to represent the diverse needs of civilization's future!"

"My path of 'Civilization' does not seek to be the 'only' one, but seeks to 'let all rivers run into the sea'; it does not inherit the 'Old Mandate of Heaven', but opens a 'New Path'! The core of this Dao is this never-ending self-reflection, learning, Fusion, and transcendence! This is where the true 'Mandate of Heaven' of civilization lies!"

Rumble—!!!

This discourse was as if the river of civilization itself had let out a roar! It was no longer limited to the refutation of specific rules, but directly elevated to the level of historical Laws and the essence of civilization, launching a fundamental assault on the Foundations of the "Eternal Mandate of Heaven" and the "Unique Orthodoxy" upon which the "Imperial Way" relied!

On the Dao Debate Stage, the blue projection of the river of civilization surged with unprecedented momentum. Within the waves, epic scrolls of the rise and fall of countless civilizations seemed to emerge. That sense of flow and inclusion—"All passes away like this, never ceasing day or night"—formed the sharpest and most fundamental conflict with the golden frame's imagery of the "Eternal", "Unique", and "Static" Imperial Way!

Crack! Crack! Crack—!!!

This time, it was no longer a faint sound. Within the golden frame on the left, the remaining several nine cauldrons phantoms, along with the ones that had previously cracked, vibrated violently at the same time! Dense cracks, like spider webs, spread and extended crazily across the bodies of all the nine cauldrons! The Mystic Yellow Qi, which was originally as stable as a mountain and suppressed everything, now became chaotic and turbulent!

The [nine cauldrons phantom], symbolizing the absolute legitimacy and sanctity of the "Imperial Way", revealed unprecedented, clear, and severe cracks under the impact of the ideological torrent of the "river of civilization" representing historical trends and multifaceted evolution!

Xuanyuan Hao's body shook violently, and his face instantly turned as pale as paper. He felt that his "Imperial Way" Dao Heart, which was originally as solid as a rock and believed in without doubt, now seemed like an icy lake into which a giant boulder had been thrown, showing huge, unbridgeable fissures! A deep, uncontrollable shake and... fear, originating from the very root of his path, surged from the bottom of his heart for the first time!

"You...!" He stared fixedly at Lin Zhou, who remained calm but whose Fire of Civilization in his eyes had blazed to the extreme. A sentence was stuck in his throat, and he was unable to utter it completely.

Below the Dao Debate Stage, there was absolute silence.

Everyone was awestruck by the phenomenon, nearly at the level of the Laws of heaven and earth, triggered by this final clash of ideas.

Three days of debating the Dao, a battle of words.

The discourse on civilization points directly to the Emperor's heart.

The nine cauldrons... have cracked!