Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1310: Chapter 512: Demonic Desire

Qin De continued: "When one’s innate knowledge perceives one’s father, it knows filial piety; perceives one’s elder brother, it knows respect; perceives a child about to fall into a well, it knows empathy. However, when one sees wealth, it may covet; sees beauty, it may desire, and the innate knowledge also knows this is wrong. Knowing it is wrong, it knows it can be stolen yet does not act. But if it knows it can be stolen, isn’t it a form of ’knowing it can be stolen’? When I say ’innate knowledge is the heart of theft,’ I do not mean that innate knowledge encourages theft, but rather that innate knowledge knows theft can be done and yet refrains from it. Does this not coincide with my assertion of ’knowing is knowing it can be stolen’?"

Zhao Hansheng thought to himself: "Hmm?"

He frowned deeply.

Qin De’s words, although seemingly sophistic, actually touched upon a subtle issue—innate knowledge knows what is right from wrong, and knowing what is wrong is knowing evil. Knowing evil implies knowing it can be unfulfilled. However, is ’knowing evil can be unfulfilled’ the same as ’knowing evil can be fulfilled yet refraining from doing so’, or different?

If innate knowledge knows evil can be done, then it can be said to ’know it can be stolen’; if innate knowledge does not know evil can be done, then how does it know it is evil?

For a moment, Zhao Hansheng was at a loss for words.

Xiao Juxia’s eyes sparkled brilliantly, almost clapping his hands in admiration.

"This Qin De is interesting, very interesting."

No one knew that Xiao Juxia had witnessed this entire debate. He knew very well that throughout the debate, Zhao Hansheng was the aggressor and Qin De was on the defensive. The defense line built on the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ was broken by Zhao Hansheng using the principles of Heart Learning, with unstoppable momentum.

But Qin De was indeed talented!

In the heated debate, he absorbed the logic of Heart Learning and used it to support his own cultivation technique theory. This was somewhat of a clever reversal, using ’one’s spear against one’s shield’, which left Zhao Hansheng temporarily speechless.

"However, this is merely sophistry, a desperate struggle. Zhao Hansheng has probably already grasped the crux of the matter."

Xiao Juxia, observing, had a very clear insight into the entire situation.

"If this debate ends like this, it would be rather unsatisfying. Let me give you a hand."

He suddenly performed a finger technique, employing a mysterious and extraordinary method.

On the other side, Zhao Hansheng was racking his brain, with an increasingly strong feeling that a breakthrough was imminent.

Suddenly, his mind became restless and chaotic like sand in the wind: "Why can’t I figure it out? Why can’t I think of it? I can feel that there is a flaw."

"This is just a trick!"

"Damn it."

"Think quickly, figure it out quickly!"

However, the more anxious Zhao Hansheng became, the harder it was for him to grasp, and his inner restlessness turned into anger.

In the end, he flicked his sleeves and left, leaving Qin De with a parting word, promising to give a fatal blow within three days.

The entire process was recorded in the Jade Slip and soon delivered by the Evil Slaying Hall to Duanmu Zhang.

Duanmu Zhang then summoned Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, Situ Gu, and others, distributing the Jade Slip to let everyone know the details.

Chu Xuangu remained silent.

Song Taosheng sighed deeply: "The power of Heart Learning is indeed unparalleled. The ’Saint Thief Scripture’ almost got completely destroyed! In the end, it was purely Qin De’s sophistry, and Zhao Hansheng didn’t penetrate it in time, failing to achieve full success."

Situ Gu defended Zhao Hansheng: "The person in the situation is confused while the observer sees clearly. We are watching from the sidelines and thus have such a clear insight. If we were in Zhao Hansheng’s place, we might do even worse."

Duanmu Zhang stroked his beard: "Zhao Hansheng did not disappoint our expectations. Once he thinks it over calmly, he will see the essence. Going back to the Cloud Prison, he will achieve a debate victory."

Chu Xuangu finally spoke: "The victory is apparent, but I fear delays could lead to trouble."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators present all showed slight changes in their expressions, with some instinctively looking toward the direction of the Eight Peaks.

Duanmu Zhang remained calm: "No worries."

What Chu Xuangu worried about was evident—it’s the high-ups of the Myriad Images Sect!

After the Myriad Images Sect changed the Sect Leader, their strategy towards the Confucian Cultivator Group also changed.

Qin De had been deliberately kept alive and, over the years, had become the perfect tool for the high-ups of the Myriad Images Sect, firmly suppressing the development and expansion of the Confucian Cultivator Group.

Now, this ’tool’ is clearly set to be destroyed. How will the high-ups of the Myriad Images Sect react?

Deep within the Cloud Prison.

Qin De sat in silence, looking out at the darkness beyond the iron bars, with a dazed expression.

He had been confined in the cell for so many years, rendering Duanmu Zhang and numerous Confucian cultivators powerless. But today, he finally met his ’nemesis’; his self-created ’Saint Thief Scripture’, his proudest idea, was refuted completely, nearly collapsing entirely.

If it weren’t for a last-minute inspiration, using sophistry to struggle through, he would’ve been thoroughly defeated today!

The words Zhao Hansheng left before departing still echoed in his ears, promising to return within three days.

"But why wait for three days? I’m afraid once he calms down, he’ll be able to unravel this knot." Qin De smiled bitterly, "What use is this small struggle of mine?"

"Heart Learning..."

"Indeed profound, indescribable!"

"Even from a brief debate, the benefits I’ve reaped are countless. Is the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ ultimately just a misguided dream?"

As Qin De was pondering and bewildered, a voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Do not belittle yourself, my young friend Qin De. To have persisted thus far in the face of Heart Learning is already commendable."

Qin De shivered, turning his head sharply.

In the shadowed corner of the cell, a person had appeared unknown.

That person wore a gray robe, hair and beard all white, with a thin, serene face, none other than Xiao Juxia.

"Who are you?" Qin De asked cautiously.

Xiao Juxia smiled slightly: "I’m here to visit the cell."

He looked Qin De up and down with considerable interest: "I didn’t expect to witness such an entertaining scene."

Qin De’s eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, urgently wanting to get up but quickly restraining himself.

He glanced quickly outside the iron bars, seeing no reaction, then looked back at Xiao Juxia: "What brings you here, sir?"