Hundred Schools of Thought, Buddhism and Taoism

Su Yu was helpless, but he had no choice but to read. Patriarch Bodhi tested him on something every day. With his cultivation sealed, Su Yu could not defeat Patriarch Bodhi. After being beaten a few times, he obediently settled down to study.

He had never had the chance to read many books before, but now he was nearly sick of them. Even the college entrance exam only tested a few subjects, and not every day. Yet he had to be tested on the two teachings and twelve schools—a total of fourteen subjects—every single day.

The twelve schools of the Hundred Schools of Thought were Legalism, Taoism, Mohism, Confucianism, the School of Yin-Yang, the School of Names, the School of Miscellany, the School of Agriculture, the School of Minor Talks, the School of Diplomacy, the Military School, and the School of Medicine.

These were what Su Yu had to study every day, but studying the Hundred Schools of Thought all at once left him confused.

When it came to governing a nation, Confucianism advocated "benevolent governance" and opposed harsh laws and severe punishments, while Legalism advocated rule by law and emphasized harsh laws and severe punishments.

As for one’s attitude toward life, Confucianism advocated actively engaging with the world and emphasized social responsibility, while Taoism advocated a carefree way of life, withdrawal from the world, and transcendence.

To be honest, when it came to governing a nation, Su Yu agreed with Legalism. After all, the place he had once lived in had been a society ruled by law. So he did not know which of these two opposing methods of governance he should study.

And when it came to one’s attitude toward life, Su Yu naturally agreed with Taoism’s carefree outlook. Yet he could not entirely reject Confucianism’s views on life either. It was truly frustrating.

Patriarch Bodhi had told him to master the Hundred Schools of Thought, but how was he supposed to study so many different schools with opposing views? Was he meant to study them all? Wouldn’t that drive him insane?

And these were only the relatively simple Hundred Schools of Thought. The things he had to learn from Buddhism and Taoism were what truly made one’s head spin. Patriarch Bodhi had not demanded that Su Yu master them, but he still had to understand most of them.

Su Yu carried two books on methods of governing a nation to Patriarch Bodhi’s door. He knocked, and Patriarch Bodhi’s voice came from within. "Come in."

Su Yu pushed open the door and entered. Looking at Patriarch Bodhi, he said, "Master, I have a question I would like to ask."

"Oh? This is the first time you’ve come to me with a question. Go on." Patriarch Bodhi smiled in surprise.

Su Yu placed the two books before Patriarch Bodhi. "Master, these are two books on governing a nation. One is Confucian, and the other is Legalist. Confucianism advocates benevolent governance, while Legalism advocates rule by law. How should I study them? I’m afraid I’ll go mad if I research both!"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled. "That is precisely why masters exist: because some people do not understand. Little Yu, have you truly been studying properly all these years? You have merely memorized those books by rote to deal with my examinations."

"But now that you can raise this question, it shows that you are thinking and studying these things. Your master is very pleased. After all, there are some answers that you can only obtain by actively exploring them yourself."

Su Yu rolled his eyes at Patriarch Bodhi. "Master, don’t change the subject. You still haven’t answered my question."

Patriarch Bodhi smiled. "Why the rush? Since you have begun studying these things, let me offer you one piece of advice: take the essence and discard the dross. To put it simply, books are dead, but people are alive. You cannot follow where books lead; instead, you must turn books into treasures that help you move forward."

Su Yu pondered those words carefully, then gave a slight bow with cupped hands. "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I was too foolish."

After that, Su Yu took the books and left.

After returning to his room, Su Yu shut himself inside. He was still somewhat interested in the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought, Buddhism, and Taoism. After all, they were Huaxia’s heritage. Since he could not escape anyway and could not learn any spells or divine abilities, what harm was there in studying them?

Once Su Yu decided to do something, he would not give up easily. Ancient emperors treated their words as promises worth a thousand gold. He was a Sovereign—since he had decided to do it, he could not quit.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed. Throughout those hundred years, Su Yu never stepped out of his room. He spent that time studying the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought, Buddhism, and Taoism. He even used the Reality Stone to produce many more books. By now, he had thoroughly researched the twelve most widely circulated schools among the Hundred Schools of Thought, and his entire temperament had changed greatly.

The former Su Yu possessed strength capable of destroying heaven and earth, yet he looked no different from an ordinary person. Now, however, he had developed a temperament of his own—a natural air of transcendence.

Su Yu had also studied the classics of Buddhism and Taoism, but he had not delved deeply into them. He had merely grasped a little of the basics.

His closed-door cultivation ended. Su Yu pushed open the door to his room, and sunlight poured in. He instinctively stretched.

"Little Yu, have you finished your seclusion? It seems you gained quite a bit. Come to the main hall. Over the past hundred years, you’ve gained three junior brothers. Come meet them."

Patriarch Bodhi’s voice sounded beside Su Yu’s ear, and Su Yu immediately headed toward the main hall.

Inside the main hall.

Patriarch Bodhi sat at the highest seat, while three disciples dressed in white Taoist robes sat below him. Patriarch Bodhi was currently expounding the Dao, but Su Yu could not be bothered to listen. He was already a Sovereign—what Dao did he need to listen to?

Su Yu took three prayer mats and lay down behind his three new junior brothers to sleep. Patriarch Bodhi’s lips curled upward. With a flick of his whisk, a wooden fish striker appeared above Su Yu’s head and came crashing down.

Dong!

"Ah! Master, are you having fun? It’s been a hundred years, and you’re still using this thing to hit me?" Su Yu leaped to his feet at once.

The three men listening to the lecture were startled by Su Yu’s shout and all turned to look at him.

The three immediately stood and bowed to Su Yu with cupped hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

Su Yu returned the greeting with a smile. "No need to be so polite, junior brothers. Since you have come to Square Inch Mountain, we are family from now on."

The three nodded happily.

Patriarch Bodhi spoke. "Little Yu."

Su Yu walked over to Patriarch Bodhi and said, "Go ahead. What do you want me to do this time, old man?"

Patriarch Bodhi gave a wry smile. "No respect at all. I thought studying so many books would give you at least a little scholar’s refinement. It seems it had no effect whatsoever."

Su Yu smiled and shook his head. "No, no, it had an effect. It’s just that there’s no need to put on a scholar’s act in front of you, old man."

"That makes sense as well. Fine, come to my room after I finish expounding the Dao." Patriarch Bodhi smiled.

"Yes." Su Yu bowed with cupped hands.

After saying that, Su Yu sat down. Patriarch Bodhi continued his lecture. Su Yu’s three junior brothers listened with great interest and seemed to gain some insight, while Su Yu was completely uninterested. After sitting there for an entire day, Patriarch Bodhi finally finished. Su Yu rose and followed Patriarch Bodhi to his room.

Inside the room, Patriarch Bodhi looked at Su Yu. "A hundred years have passed. It is time to teach you some spells and divine abilities. Otherwise, having only magical power is of little use."

PS: Starting tomorrow, the update schedule will be changed. Updating in the early morning every day is not ideal, so it will be changed to around six in the morning and around nine in the evening.

I just saw comments saying that I got the cultivation realms mixed up… Uh, that is true, but I will not change them now. If I do, I will get confused, since I already used Great Luo before Taiyi earlier on. I will just keep using them this way. Anyway, this is Journey to the West, not Prehistoric Times.

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