"Heh," Jiang Yixing smiled, mimicking Xie Shun's earlier sarcasm almost perfectly, "What wouldn't I dare to do?"

"I heard that you successfully established your foundation at the age of 28. Unfortunately, I am not talented enough and am only 22 years old."

Does this mean Xie Shun's talent is nothing special, and he has no right to act high and mighty just because he's lived a few decades longer?

The audience below automatically translated Jiang Yixing's words, and a sense of tension rose in their hearts. Those who needed to lower their heads lowered their heads, and those who needed to look to the side looked to the side, for fear that the two gods would fight and cause innocent bystanders to be caught in the crossfire.

Xie Shun couldn't keep up his cold demeanor any longer; the anger in his eyes was enough to burn Jiang Yixing to death. For so many years, no one had dared to speak to him like that.

Jiang Yixing wouldn't indulge him. Respecting the elderly and caring for the young? She's several generations older than Xie Shun. This kind of illness should be treated.

"Tell me, what did Rong Hang say wrong?" Jiang Yixing seemed to have taken a step back, but he pressed on relentlessly. He addressed Rong Hang as "you," but the sarcasm in his tone was obvious to everyone.

Xie Shun slammed his hand on the table, nearly causing the solid wood table to fall apart. The tea on the table spilled over, splashing water all over the floor.

"His writings are full of empty words and empty rhetoric; everyone knows the principles he's talking about."

"Oh, what are you saying? Does everyone think that a truth that everyone knows isn't a truth? You have to come up with something trendy to be considered good? I didn't expect you to be so old, with such modern tastes."

"Ignorant brat, speaking recklessly!" Xie Shun's voice was cold and hard, and everyone present could hear his anger.

Jiang Yixing's eyes narrowed. "Alright, then I'll have a proper discussion with you."

"We cultivators defy fate, it's not an easy path. There are three thousand methods, and the vast world, but we cultivate our own path and walk our own way. Understanding one's own path is the first step. Upholding one's true nature teaches you to forge ahead without hesitation, and eliminating external distractions requires you to firmly adhere to your own path. Many schools of thought have elucidated this principle. Today you say it's flashy but impractical, that everyone understands it, but I see your spiritual energy is mixed and chaotic. Have you truly upheld your own path?"

Jiang Yixing ended with a rhetorical question, his voice resounding throughout the hall through the microphone, his resounding question drawing everyone's attention to Xie Shun.

Although they couldn't see through Xie Shun with their abilities, Jiang Yixing's words made them suspect that it was true.

A ruthless glint flashed in Xie Shun's eyes, "A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to presume to speak ill of my spiritual energy?"

Jiang Yixing smiled and did not refute, but continued along the lines of his own words: "The lessons of our predecessors should not be forgotten by those who come after. The principles worth passing on will not be outdated if we talk about them today. On the contrary, if everyone stops talking about them, wouldn't they really be lost? What do you think?"

Jiang Yixing's words left the crowd speechless; those who wanted to applaud dared not, and those who wanted to agree dared not speak.

Only two rounds of applause rang out in the silent venue, one from Rong Hang and the other from Gu Chun.

Rong Hang's lips curled up slightly. People with different values ​​cannot work together. He never argues with others, but if Jiang Yixing stands up for him, he feels differently.

Gu Chun still had a stern face. When everyone saw that Gu Chun was clapping, they hesitated for a moment and then followed suit. After all, there's no crime in numbers. With so many people, Xie Shun wouldn't target me specifically, would he?

Looking at Rong Hang's smile, Jiang Yixing had a very inappropriate thought: could he be considered a hero saving a damsel in distress?

Xie Shun's expression darkened as he heard the applause and someone shouting "Well said!"

Jiang Yixing didn't give Xie Shun a chance to refute. She glanced at the host below the stage, blinked, and said, "I need to pay attention to the time, right? It seems like a person can only speak for ten minutes."

The host practically knelt down to Jiang Yixing! Where can you find such a thoughtful guest?! I love Jiang Yixing!!

After receiving a nod of approval from the host, Jiang Yixing straightened the manuscript in his hand, then showed it to everyone. "I had prepared so many speeches for today, but Fellow Daoist Rong helped me organize them. So Fellow Daoist Rong may not be taciturn, but he just put all his effort into this manuscript."

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience, and Rong Hang couldn't help but smile.

“However,” Jiang Yixing changed the subject, “since someone wants to hear something practical today, then I’ll share something practical.”

Zhou Wei almost burst out laughing. Jiang Daoyou's sarcastic remarks about Xie Shun, both overt and covert, were exactly what he wanted! No wonder he's a young genius, so promising!

Some people in the room couldn't help but laugh, but Xie Shun's cold glare silenced them. They straightened their posture and pretended nothing had happened.

Jiang Yixing smiled, then straightened his expression and said seriously, "Spiritual energy is meant to be used by us to strengthen our bodies. I remember when I first came into contact with spiritual energy, I had no distracting thoughts and absorbed it very quickly. But as I cultivated, it became increasingly difficult, and I often wondered why."

Until I reached the Foundation Establishment stage and broke through that threshold, I began to realize that I didn't love spiritual energy as much as I used to; instead, I felt awe. In order to live a long life, I embarked on the path of cultivation, but as my lifespan increased, I began to fear that one day I would die.

From being a master of spiritual power to becoming a slave to it, this transformation occurs gradually with the increase of one's cultivation level.

At that time, I began to feel that I was not even as good as my former self before I cultivated immortality. At least when I was an ordinary person, I knew that I would eventually die, but I was not afraid of death. I lived each day with a spirit of facing death and tenaciously. But after I gained a very long lifespan, there was a period of time when I was filled with anxiety and fear.

The topic returns to what Fellow Daoist Ronghang said about upholding one's original intention, which I believe is the final steadfastness for us cultivators. We will not become greedy because of extended lifespans, nor will we resort to violence because of increased power. The Dao is both a constraint and an enlightenment.

After understanding my own path, cultivation became very smooth. Spiritual energy was like a companion, not a medicine that would kill me if I lacked it.

The scene fell into an unexpected silence as everyone looked up at the stage. The lights shone on Jiang Yixing from above, making her shine brightly in the darkness.

Even Xie Shun did not refute, his expression was complicated, his face a mixture of ruthlessness and regret.