"What is this?" Wei Dongliu returned to the back hall and placed the thing in front of Jiang Li'an.

"Oh, this." Witch Jiang said lightly, "I have heard about this as well. It seems that many monks are just trying to interpret your thoughts, and then spreading rumors that become more and more outrageous, and finally it becomes a collection of words that are falsely attributed to you, hehe."

So that's why rumors spread... Wei Dongliu was speechless and his brows furrowed.

It's not fun to have someone pin something on you that you didn't say.

"This matter can be traced back to the study of the mechanism of the Dharma Hall." Jiang Li'an continued to explain.

It turns out that the stone statue in the Dharma Hall seems to like to give people three choices recently: one with the greatest potential but potentially extremely difficult, one that is average but lacks potential, and one that is obviously simple but has the lowest value.

The third option is the safest, but no one wants to choose the third option; there are also many people who choose the second option, but those who pass the test are often depressed, beating their chests and stamping their feet, wishing they could regret and choose the first option again, "If I had known it was so simple, I would have chosen the first option."

Due to the fear of failure that most Mortal Dao monks have, an industry that specializes in analyzing the logical mechanisms of the Dharma-teaching stone statues soon emerged. Some Mortal Dao monks recorded the choices of all applicants for Dharma-teaching, the specific content of the trials, whether they passed or not, etc., compiled them into a booklet, and then sold them among their fellow disciples for money.

Since making the wrong choice will result in a total loss, everyone is of course happy to spend a little more money to buy this booklet to increase their chances of making the right choice. This is the same principle as the college entrance examination cram schools.

However, the booklet was purely about data statistics and did not draw any simple and clear conclusions. Many monks did not have the ability to conduct logical analysis and could not understand the patterns hidden behind the big data, so they extended the annotations to the booklet. Many monks had nothing to do and waited for the booklet to be updated and then conducted their own data analysis, and then took the results of the analysis out to sell and explain.

Although no one knew what "knowledge payment" meant, people soon started selling this concept and using various methods to increase their own authority.

For example, based on a certain statement made by Master Wei, I analyzed the psychology behind his setting up of the stone statue for spreading the Dharma, and thus came to certain conclusions... Although the reasoning process for reaching the conclusions is often far-fetched, most cultivators lack brains.

Since Master Wei did say this, then this conclusion is indeed credible, and there are many fools who think this way. So the monks who do paid knowledge are involuntarily competing with each other to take the lead, and finally came up with "Master Wei's Thoughts", which summarizes all the words said by Wei Dongliu, and then adds the author's own annotations for everyone to study.

After hearing the latter part, Wei Dongliu was also numb.

If Confucius knew that there were people in later generations who made a living by studying (or misinterpreting) his theories, he would probably be very upset... However, Wei Dongliu obviously had no intention of becoming Confucius. He began to seriously consider whether to completely ban idol worship, lest these people continue to mess around and really deify themselves.

To be deified... Actually, there is no problem. The main reason is that I am only at the Golden Core stage of cultivation. It is too early to be deified now. It will make people laugh.

The will of the people is like water, it can carry a boat or overturn it. The key is that public opinion must be used for my benefit and not allowed to grow wildly. Otherwise, given the nature of these monks, they will definitely compete to see who can spread more rumors and attract more attention. Who knows what they will portray me as in the end.

The phenomenon that the masses love to read violent talk is unavoidable in any world.

"My dear, this book is quite interesting." Wei Dongliu said indifferently, "Everything in it is true, but the analysis is completely wrong. If this continues, it will inevitably mislead the sect and corrupt the atmosphere."

"I think it's quite interesting." Jiang Li secretly became interested.

Spreading rumors, misinterpreting, and brainwashing, doesn't this sound very interesting? Mahadeva wanted to try it himself.

"In my opinion, it is better to disperse than to block." Wei Dongliu continued, "Although many people are spreading rumors, the more you try to refute them, the more you will encourage them to spread. Why don't you come forward as the headmaster's wife and compile these statements to set the record straight."

"Do you want me to do it?" Jiang Li was clearly eager to try, but on the surface she pretended to be cautious and asked hesitantly, "Why can't you write it yourself? I'm afraid I can't write it well... Why don't you write it yourself, my husband?"

Sure enough, when Wei Dongliu heard about writing a book, he felt a bit overwhelmed and could only explain:

"How can you make up your own words? It just makes people laugh. I don't like this matter, but I can't sit idly by and watch them misinterpret it, so I had to intervene."

"My wife is the one who sleeps beside me. She knows me and understands me. I will feel most at ease if I leave this matter to you."

This is what I've been waiting for! Jiang Li laughed wildly in his heart, but said:

"Then...then I'll give it a try. If I can't do it well, you can write it yourself."

"How can you not do well? You are smarter than ordinary people, you will definitely do well." Wei Dongliu flattered her quickly and handed the right to interpret the scriptures to Jiang Li'an.

A few days later, the genuine version of "Wei Dongliu Theory" had not yet come out, but the Blood Sea Ancestor called him over first.

"I heard that you have come up with some kind of teachings recently?" asked the Blood Sea Ancestor, who was covered in snow and frost, at the top of Zhongtai Peak, under the huge rock.

"Yes." Wei Dongliu explained the whole story in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

"Well, very good." The Blood Sea Patriarch had no objection. "Since it is the Taoist heritage of your Wanfa Tongxuan Sect, I will naturally not say anything if you share it with all the mortal Taoists."

“It’s just that I heard that someone is recording your words and trying to analyze some principles from them. This is really too outrageous.” He sighed leisurely, “If this gets out, it will be laughed at by other sects.”

"I'll have someone clarify this to the entire sect right away." Wei Dongliu said hastily, "The Dharma-transmitting stone statue's Dharma-transmitting mechanism is to select three Dharmas that a cultivator may learn. But whether or not a cultivator can learn them depends mainly on his or her own abilities."

"That's right." The Blood Sea Patriarch said approvingly, "As long as one's own abilities are sufficient, any trial can be handled with ease. On the contrary, if one does not think about how to improve one's own strength, but instead spends all day thinking about which method to choose and which trial is easier to pass, then that is putting the cart before the horse."

Wei Dongliu sighed in his heart: Everyone understands the truth, but human nature is not like to be down-to-earth, and they like quick things that can be achieved in one step.

Working hard to improve your own strength requires years of continuous efforts, but studying how to choose only takes a few days, and it goes without saying what most people will choose.

"Oh, right." The Blood Sea Patriarch said again, "I heard that Wen Yang from the Yin Ghost Sect is an old acquaintance of yours?"

"She was recently accepted as a personal disciple by Bai Gu. If you have time these days, please go to congratulate Bai Gu and present her with a gift on my behalf."