Chapter 55: The Seventy-Two Sages

Western outskirts of Pengcheng, a peach blossom grove.

Seventy-two young scholars sat in a circle, some composing poetry, others plucking at stringed instruments. Among them was a woman of exceptional beauty, the very center of attention, surrounded by these brilliant youths as though she were the moon encircled by stars.

Whenever a scholar offered her wine, she would raise her own cup of hundred-blossom brew and drink with them. If anyone wished to recite a newly penned poem, she would clap in rhythm, generously applauding their talent.

For a time, everyone was filled with joy, and not the least bit embarrassed by the obvious imbalance between men and women.

“Shameless!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out, tinged with both ridicule and jealousy, shattering the harmony.

At the edge of her lips, Fan Yuehua revealed a barely perceptible, cold smile as she immediately pinpointed the source—southeast.

An old man and a young woman stood there, the latter being the one who had spoken.

The old man fixed Fan Yuehua with a deep gaze and remarked lightly, “Indeed, only at the ninth rank of the Nascent Soul stage. Zhi’er, you surpass her.”

With haughty pride, Nangong Zhi declared, “I have already reached the first rank of the Spirit Transformation stage. How could Fan Yuehua compare to me? Second Elder, please assist me in holding the line—I will kill her with my own hands!”

Even as her words faded, the seventy-two scholars opposite rose to their feet in unison. Their stance made it clear—they were ready to face formidable foes to protect Fan Yuehua.

Seeing this, the Second Elder immediately attempted to dissuade them.

“You are all scholars of the Confucian path, are you not? Just from a glance, I see ten among you have reached the Spirit Transformation stage! Such talent—I was nowhere near your level in my youth.”

“I cannot bear to see so many prodigies perish. Why not leave now and spare yourselves for the sake of the Lihuo Sect? Why throw away your prospects and lives for the sake of this Fan woman?”

He had believed his words would cause at least half to waver and withdraw. Yet not a single one of the seventy-two moved.

Growing stern, the Second Elder demanded, “Are you all muddled? Would you rather die than retreat?”

Nangong Zhi was especially infuriated. She could not fathom whether Fan Yuehua possessed some witchcraft that bewitched these talented youths, making them willing to die for her.

At this moment, a scholar of the fifth rank Spirit Transformation stage stepped forward. On closer inspection, he was visibly more mature than the others, long past the age of romantic pursuits and poetic dalliance.

“There is no need for further words, sirs. The seventy-two of us are here precisely to await your arrival.”

“What!?” The Second Elder was shaken. Was he the one who had fallen into a trap?

Impossible! It was supposed to be the Blood Phoenix High Priestess and the Sect Master who had devised the plan, splitting their forces in four directions to annihilate the Fan clan. How had he ended up ambushed instead?

“Who exactly are you? Why oppose the Lihuo Sect?” the Second Elder pressed.

“I am Yan Yuan, and these seventy-one are my fellow disciples. As Confucian scholars, we honor Heaven and value the rites. Your Lihuo Sect seeks to disrupt the legitimate succession of the Great Chu throne, and once ruler and minister cease to uphold their roles, the very fabric of propriety unravels.”

“We, as scholars, pursue wisdom and virtue, thus we must defend the righteous path of Heaven and earth. Our strength is lacking, so we must rely on numbers to keep the two of you here.”

At last, the Second Elder was moved.

“Yan Yuan? You are the personal disciple of Lord Wenxin? All seventy-two of you?! Lücheng has always remained neutral, and now you would stand against our Lihuo Sect?”

“Does Lord Wenxin not know that a Saint of Pure Sound and Sacred Land stands behind the Lihuo Sect?”

Though his words came in a flurry, the Second Elder already understood—this would be a bitter battle.

Taking advantage of his questioning, he prepared to strike first.

But Yan Yuan offered no further reply, instead stepping forward with quiet resolve. His lips moved as if reciting an incantation.

At first, the Second Elder could not catch the words. Then, behind Yan Yuan, the seventy-one scholars intoned in unison:

“The Sage said: The gentleman understands righteousness, the petty man understands profit.”

Their voices resounded across Heaven and earth. At the same time, the once clear sky gathered a vast sea of clouds, visible to the naked eye.

The cloud sea shone with a verdant green, reflecting boundless vitality.

The Second Elder recognized it as the unique righteous energy of Confucian cultivators, yet never had he seen such a grand formation—it must have covered a radius of ten miles or more!

Suddenly, the sea of righteous energy shot forth two beams of light—one black, one white—falling upon the two opposing parties.

Fan Yuehua and the seventy-two scholars were enveloped in white, their auras surging as if they had all ascended a realm in strength.

The Second Elder and Nangong Zhi, shrouded in black light, felt their bodies grow heavy, their spiritual energy stifled, their strength drastically reduced.

“What… what’s happening?!” Nangong Zhi exclaimed.

“This is the Confucian art of words made manifest!” The Second Elder understood at last the meaning behind “The gentleman understands righteousness, the petty man understands profit.”

“The Sage said: Never fail to do good, however small; never do evil, however slight,” Yan Yuan recited again.

Immediately, the seventy-one scholars echoed his words.

The sea of righteous energy shifted once more, casting down a pillar of gray light that fell only upon the Second Elder and Nangong Zhi. Both felt yet another layer of burden, their strength diminished further.

Yan Yuan suddenly offered, “If the two of you depart now and swear by the Dao of Heaven never to act against Chu, this battle ends here.”

“Hmph! They rely on numbers to suppress me for a time, but it cannot last! I will slay the weaker scholars, break the righteous formation, and then destroy Wenxin’s disciples!” the Second Elder calculated, still convinced of victory.

“Zhi’er, the plan remains unchanged! You focus on Fan Yuehua; I’ll deal with these scholars!”

“Yes!”

Nangong Zhi, seeing the Second Elder’s fighting spirit, regained her confidence.

“Divine Fire, Heaven-Scorching!”

With a furious roar, the Second Elder thrust his palms forward, unleashing a torrent of blazing fire like a tidal wave upon the grove.

“This attack is at the level of the Unity stage, infused with centuries of cultivation. Let’s see how you withstand it!”

Yet, as his words fell, every one of his opponents moved in practiced unison, each taking out and swallowing a pill.

“Fire-Repelling Pills?!” The Second Elder, knowledgeable as he was, recognized them instantly.

But he could not fathom how the other side could afford such costly and rare pills for every person present. What kind of wealth would that require? For the Lihuo Sect’s own finances, it would take a year of austerity just to amass so many!

The pills worked wonders. With the righteous energy sea suppressing from above, and the pills’ potent effects, the flames reduced a vast swath of the peach grove to ashes—yet Fan Yuehua and the seventy-two scholars remained utterly unharmed.

“You… you’re cheating!” Nangong Zhi cried, grinding her teeth in fury.

“You’re not fighting fair! First you rely on numbers, now you use supreme-grade pills—do you have no shame?”

Fan Yuehua finally spoke, her smile sweet, though her tone carried a mischievous bite.

“How is it cheating? You excel at cultivation; my Fan family excels at business. These Fire-Repelling Pills were all bought by my brother through legitimate trade—why shouldn’t we use them?”

As she spoke, Fan Yuehua, previously dressed in simple attire, began to don her equipment before everyone’s eyes.

Treasures and pills alike were divided into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Mystical, and Yellow.

Fan Yuehua pinned a Heaven-grade phoenix hairpin in her coiffure, slipped a Heaven-grade jade ring on each finger—ten in all, each enhancing or protecting—then added Heaven-grade earrings and a necklace.

With seventy-two scholars shielding her, Fan Yuehua took her time, unhurried. By the time she finished, she was adorned with more than a dozen dazzling accessories.

Nangong Zhi could scarcely believe her eyes.

“I hear you wanted to challenge me one-on-one?” Fan Yuehua flicked out a silver whip—none other than a Heaven-grade flood dragon sinew whip.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Nangong Zhi was both enraged and envious. All her own ornaments and equipment together could not match even Fan Yuehua’s single phoenix hairpin.

Though only separated by a single rank in cultivation, with such equipment and the blessing of the righteous energy sea, the tables had not merely turned—they had been overturned entirely.

Fan Yuehua grinned. “As my second brother says, I am redefining what it means to be wealthy enough to rival a nation.”