Speak?
He couldn’t say a single thing!
He had written over 10,000 words—how could he possibly explain all that?
More importantly, he didn’t even understand half of what he wrote himself.
And above all, reading that much was exhausting. He wasn’t the kind of person who enjoyed studying in the first place.
Qin Tian was the classic underachiever. Back in class, he always sat in the last row. If you asked him to quote classical prose, all he could spit out were a few crude phrases.
“Elder, I’ve written too much. If I explain it word by word, it would waste everyone’s time. Why don’t the elders review it themselves instead?”
“Everyone else explained their views themselves. Yet you want the elders to read yours? Do you not understand respect? Do you even know what courtesy is?” the golden-haired youth Li Longfei immediately rebuked. He already had a grudge with Qin Tian.
Now that Qin Tian had a peerless talent, he would surely become a future threat once admitted to the sect. If he could stop Qin Tian from entering the sect, it would be perfect.
“What does that have to do with you? Who do you think you are? The elders haven’t even said anything, so what are you barking about? Keep yapping and I’ll beat you up,” Qin Tian shot back without hesitation. He even made up his mind—if he got into the sect, this would be the first person he’d deal with.
“You—” Li Longfei’s jaw dropped. This guy was out of control. He hadn’t expected Qin Tian to insult him right in front of all the elders and the Sect Master.
“Elders, Sect Master, this man is rude and arrogant. He doesn’t respect the occasion. He’s selfish and overbearing. Please discipline him,” Li Longfei cupped his hands and pleaded. The ruder Qin Tian acted, the better it was for him.
The Absolute Righteous Sect valued etiquette. No matter how talented Qin Tian was, his kind wouldn’t be tolerated.
The Grand Elder, Vice Sect Master, and many other elders frowned deeply, their expressions stern.
Qin Tian’s behavior was far too reckless, completely at odds with the Absolute Righteous Sect’s values. He acted more like someone from the demonic path.
Only the Sect Master and the Second Elder remained calm.
“Qin Tian, show some respect. You can’t go around threatening others, especially when that person might one day be your fellow disciple,” the Grand Elder couldn’t hold back and scolded.
“Elder, this guy’s trying to trip me up. Shouldn’t I teach him a lesson?” Qin Tian pointed at Li Longfei.
Everyone looked at one another. Sure, tripping someone up deserved punishment—but did it have to be now? In front of all these people?
“This guy is interesting. He won’t take even the slightest injustice,” Jiang Xiyue murmured. It was her first time encountering someone like this. Her dimples appeared, making her look like a charming little elf.
“This boy is too violent. In my opinion, he shouldn’t be allowed to join the sect,” the Grand Elder said seriously. A peerless talent might be rare, but the Absolute Righteous Sect wasn’t lacking one.
What the Absolute Righteous Sect took pride in was its Confucian lineage—the honor of being a Saintly Sect. The third test, the virtue test, existed precisely to weed out disciples who might tarnish that name.
“I agree. He’s too ruthless. If he acts like this in public, imagine how he behaves in private. He’s clearly a wicked person,” said the Fifth Elder.
“Exactly. This boy must not be allowed into the Absolute Righteous Sect,” several elders echoed.
Perhaps if they knew Qin Tian’s talent, they’d hesitate. But since no one knew, they naturally judged him based on his conduct.
Li Longfei smiled. “Perfect. As long as he doesn’t get in, what use is his talent?”
He couldn’t believe a few words had gotten rid of his biggest threat. Li Longfei was quite pleased.
Qin Tian looked displeased. “So what if I don’t get in? What’s the big deal? It’s not like I desperately need the Absolute Righteous Sect.”
“You… You’re arrogant!”
A group of disciples stared at him, eyes wide with shock.
The elders erupted.
This guy was too arrogant!
He actually dared say such things to the leaders of the Absolute Righteous Sect.
“Boy, I’m telling you right now—you will never join our sect!” the Grand Elder shouted in fury. This brat had no respect for elders. If he acted like this now, imagine how he’d treat ordinary people.
“Exactly. If we let you in, I’ll slap myself in the face!” added the Fifth Elder.
The Grand Elder pointed at Qin Tian, voice icy. “I hereby declare you have failed the third test. Leave the mountain immediately!”
“Fine, I’ll go.” Qin Tian didn’t waste any time. He turned around, ready to leave.
“Wait a moment,” the Sect Master’s voice was calm, in stark contrast to the furious elders. Stroking his beard, he spoke gently, “Young man, your written interpretation of virtue hasn’t been reviewed yet. How can we say you’ve failed?”
“Sect Master, someone like him—what could he possibly understand about virtue? I bet it’s all nonsense,” the Grand Elder argued.
“How do you know without looking? Don’t ruin the sect’s rules,” the previously gentle Sect Master suddenly grew serious.
Though the Absolute Righteous Sect had a good reputation, its strength had declined over the years. Once a revered saintly sect in the Eastern Wastelands, it now clung to a remote corner of the Southern Mountain Region.
Kindness, tolerance, integrity—these were all admirable traits.
But they wouldn’t make the sect stronger.
Qin Tian was someone he believed could break conventions. He couldn’t let him walk away just like that.
In the past, he would’ve expelled Qin Tian without hesitation. But now, he had to keep him.
Some elders wanted to argue, but seeing the normally gentle Sect Master suddenly become stern, they all fell silent.
“Young man, what’s the rush? We haven’t even looked at your writing yet,” the Sect Master said warmly.
Qin Tian paused. This old man reminded him of his elementary school teacher—the one who had always been kind, patient, and smiled even at naughty students like him.
“If that’s what you wish, then if what I’ve written doesn’t meet the sect’s standards, I’ll leave on my own accord,” Qin Tian replied respectfully. He had always held respect for kind elders.
“Very well, then let’s take a look,” said the Sect Master. The Grand Elder, though unhappy, could only comply.
Though they often ridiculed the Sect Master in private, none dared to argue with him in times of decision.
The Grand Elder collected the thick stack of papers from Qin Tian.
It was quite a hefty pile.
He decided to distribute copies to everyone.
But no one really wanted to read it—except for the Sect Master, who picked it up and began reading intently.
“Education without discrimination!”
Those four large characters seemed to carry the profound essence of the Dao, glowing before the Sect Master’s eyes.
The Confucian Saint once left behind the path of the Dao, proclaiming that all things under heaven are equal, and all beings have the right to learn.
The ancestral Saint himself once said his understanding of the Confucian Way was still shallow, and he hoped future generations would carry it forward.
But disciples had declined with each passing generation, and the Confucian path weakened.
Yet these four characters perfectly embodied the Saint’s teachings.
A truth even the ancestors failed to articulate had now appeared before his eyes.
The Sect Master’s breath became profound. He entered a meditative state.
“The Way of the Confucian Saints… finally has a successor.”