The commotion Li Yundong stirred up while speaking on stage was already a headache for the school leadership, but what caused even more distress was that the city's top scorer among the freshmen openly challenged Li Yundong in such an important setting.

The school leaders silently cursed, thinking how increasingly unrestrained and self-absorbed today's youth were, utterly failing to gauge the appropriateness of their words and actions.

The Vice Principal forced back his anger and said to Yan Hua, "Yan Hua, mind the occasion!"

Yan Hua seemed not to hear him, his gaze instead fixed on Vice Mayor Luo standing nearby.

Vice Mayor Luo hadn't anticipated that attending the Tiannan University freshman military training conclusion ceremony would lead to such an incident. While reflecting on how competitive Old Yan's son truly was, he felt a pang of indecision, wondering if he should still offer support.

But this hesitation lasted only a second before a colossal wave of shouting erupted from below on the field: "Do it! Accept!"

The students on the field were beside themselves with excitement, especially the freshmen. They never imagined that the university they got into would offer such stimulating, exciting, and lively drama time and again.

Great! University life looked like it wouldn't be boring and dull after all!

Since it was "better his neighbor than himself," and watching a spectacle was never enough, the mass of freshmen began to egg them on. Even Su Chan and Cao Yi were loudly urging Li Yundong to accept Yan Hua's challenge.

Cao Yi frowned and sneered, "If someone declines a public invitation to battle under so many eyes, the Sect Leader’s reputation will plummet immediately!"

Su Chan nodded vigorously. In her view, Li Yundong could certainly defeat this annoying fellow, in every conceivable aspect.

Zhou Qin, however, tilted her head back, looking at Li Yundong on the rostrum, a slight worry stirring in her heart.

Seeing the students below stirring up the crowd, clearly repeating the scene from the small auditorium, Li Yundong felt a monumental headache coming on. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a chorus of instigation from nearby: "Li Yundong, accept! Don't be afraid of him!"

Li Yundong turned his head and saw Feng Na waving her arms high, looking as if she hoped the world would descend into chaos. He immediately glared at her, which made Feng Na stick out her tongue and turn away.

Li Yundong was now in a predicament, unable to back down, and he wasn't one to shy away from trouble either. He asked coldly, "How do you propose we debate?"

The school leaders had been hoping Li Yundong would remain calm and not stoop to Yan Hua's level, but who knew that both were young and full of pride, neither willing to concede to the other? In front of so many people, who would back down first?

Seeing the situation deteriorating, the Vice Principal immediately moved to signal someone to cut the microphone's power. But just then, Vice Mayor Luo suddenly smiled and said, "Tiannan University has such a lively campus spirit! It reminds me of when I debated topics back in my day. Excellent, young people should have this kind of spirited drive!"

This single comment settled the matter. All the other teachers were stunned. They weren't fools; who couldn't tell this was a veiled endorsement for the two students to proceed with their pi?

At this point, the teachers relaxed. After all, if the sky were to fall, the tall ones would bear the brunt. Since there was a spectacle to watch... they might as well watch!

With this support, Yan Hua’s courage swelled immediately. He declared loudly, "Do you dare debate Buddhist doctrines with me here, in front of these thousands of teachers and students?"

Li Yundong, having thoroughly studied the classics of both Buddhism and Taoism these past few days, was no longer the naive fool who knew nothing when questioned. While he wouldn't claim encyclopedic knowledge, he could certainly articulate the essence of Buddhist and Taoist teachings clearly.

Seeing Yan Hua’s arrogance, Li Yundong felt a surge of anger and said, "What is there to dare not!"

Yan Hua sneered, "However, I must establish a rule for this doctrinal debate!"

Li Yundong sneered back, "What rule?"

Yan Hua pointed toward the thousands of students below on the field, speaking loudly into the microphone: "These thousands of people down here, almost ninety-nine percent support you. Whatever you say, they will cheer and agree. Debating you under these circumstances puts me at too much of a disadvantage..."

Before he finished speaking, some students on the field below started booing, and others shouted loudly, "You have the ability, you should have such popularity too!"

Li Yundong scoffed and said, "Haven't you heard the saying, 'Though thousands stand against me, I shall go'? If you lack such fortitude, why issue a challenge in front of so many people?"

One of them spoke into a microphone, drowned out by the jeers from below, making it hard for many to hear him. The other spoke without one, and the moment his voice carried, everyone, no matter how loud the surrounding noise, could clearly hear what he said. In this comparison, even before any debate on doctrine, a winner and loser emerged. The students below began to roar even louder in their condemnation of Yan Hua.

But Yan Hua remained composed and asserted plausibly, "Even the Buddha dared not spread the Dharma against the will of the common people. He had to shed his princely finery, don the clothes of a beggar, and walk the streets among the populace to propagate his teachings. This shows that the people's will cannot be defied, not even by the Buddha! If Shakyamuni himself had to do this, how could I presume to be superior to him?"

Li Yundong frowned, "Then what exactly do you want?"

Yan Hua pointed down at the field and boomed, "Very simple. Even if these people remain neutral, their hearts already lean toward you. No matter what I say, they won't cheer my approval, and no matter what you say, they will cheer yours. Therefore, for a fair debate, you must have them oppose you. Whatever you say, they must speak out in opposition."

Li Yundong inwardly sneered with disdain, but before he could speak, the students below started making noise again, shouting abuse: "Go to hell! Can you be any more shameless?"

"Exactly! Why don't you just say Li Yundong isn't allowed to speak, only you are!"

Yan Hua, however, remained unmoved and stated, "You think I am shameless and without face, but have you considered how much pressure your cheering and support for one person puts on me?"

At that moment, someone shouted loudly, "If the pressure is so great, why did you even step up? Go back where you came from!"

Another yelled, "Li Yundong isn't afraid of that kind of pressure!"

Yan Hua deliberately pretended not to hear the insults directed at him, immediately seizing upon the words of the interjector. He proclaimed loudly, "Li Yundong is also afraid of this pressure! Don't believe me? You can test it later! No one can remain composed amidst a chorus of boos. I bet he won't even be able to finish a complete sentence later!"

Yan Hua’s statement caused a stir below; students leaned in, whispering to each other.

Cao Yi also frowned and murmured quietly, "This is a trap. The Sect Leader must not fall into it."

Su Chan wasn't worried about that. She believed Li Yundong would win, but she was curious about Yan Hua's words. She asked, "Will Yundong really not be able to finish his sentences later?"

Cao Yi chuckled, "The Sect Leader has faced duels with the young masters of major sects without fear; how could he be afraid of mere verbal sparring?"

Su Chan’s eyes darted around, filled with immense curiosity.

After finishing his statement, Yan Hua on the rostrum turned to Li Yundong and asked, "Do you dare accept?"

Li Yundong thought, I've seen far more intense situations than this. Am I going to fear this little trick? Ridiculous! He said proudly, "What is there to dare not!"

Yan Hua nodded, then turned to the crowd on the field and announced, "Since Li Yundong has agreed, you may boo him and oppose him the moment he starts speaking. Let's see if he can remain composed amidst your jeers."

Most students on the field ignored him, only a scattering of them shouting loudly, "Deal!"

Yan Hua paid no mind to the rest. He turned back to Li Yundong and said, "Then, Li Yundong, as we debate Buddhist doctrine, shall you ask first, or shall I?"

Li Yundong replied, "Does it make a difference whether you ask first or I do?"

Yan Hua proclaimed loudly, "Of course, it makes a difference! Heaven and Earth, the Sun and Moon, have sequence; the elder and younger, the respected and humble, have order. Asking first or second naturally holds a significant difference!"

Li Yundong noticed that while Yan Hua was asking who would start, his words subtly concealed stratagems, hinting at Buddhist principles. A thought moved him; he knew Yan Hua had already launched his opening move in the debate. Li Yundong said, "Since you say Heaven and Earth, the Sun and Moon have sequence, then tell me, is the sun first, or is the moon first?"

Although the quality of students on the field varied, most had earned their university spots through diligent study and weren't foolish. They immediately grasped that Li Yundong and Yan Hua were locked in a serious contest and began listening intently to their debate.

Those who didn't understand what the two were saying whispered to those beside them, "What are they talking about?"

Immediately, someone quickly explained in a low voice, "Yan Hua is fighting for the initiative in the debate. Whoever seizes control first can dictate the direction of the topic, controlling or influencing the other's train of thought, forcing the opponent to follow his line of reasoning."

"And how is Yan Hua trying to seize it?"

"Didn't you see him ask who speaks first, then use that point to assert that the Sun and Moon have a sequence, and that hierarchy exists? This is equivalent to laying down a thesis in the debate, proposing a premise. Li Yundong must then refute this premise, or he'll be immediately on the defensive."

"And how is Li Yundong refuting it?"

"Li Yundong is very cunning; he's shifting the concept, countering by asking whether the moon appears first or the sun appears first. If Yan Hua says the sun is first, Li Yundong can counter: based on visual observation of distance, the moon is much closer to us, so clearly it is first."

"And what if Yan Hua says the moon is first?"

"Then Li Yundong can retort: according to astronomy, the sun's appearance precedes the moon's by far, so the sun should be first!"

"Damn, so it's a dilemma? No answer is right?"

"Exactly, which is why Li Yundong is so crafty—there's a trap in his question."

"Hey, who are you supporting?"

"I was planning to support Li Yundong, but according to the rules of their debate, I have to support Yan Hua for now."

"Whoa, no way! You're actually supporting Yan Hua?"

"Nonsense. If I don't support him now, and he loses the debate, he might blame it on us. Hmph, I want this guy Yan Hua to lose convincingly!"

"Mmm, that makes sense!"

The students below exchanged whispers while the debate between Li Yundong and Yan Hua on the stage intensified.

Faced with Yan Hua's aggressive opening question, Li Yundong skillfully avoided the direct thrust and countered with a question designed to set a trap. However, Yan Hua was no ordinary opponent; he instantly saw the hidden snare in Li Yundong's statement. He didn't take the bait but instead countered with a question of his own: "Then I’d like to ask you: which came first, the Buddha or humanity?"

This question made Li Yundong, Cao Yi, and other cultivators immediately take pause!

Although Su Chan had trained since childhood with Ao Wushuang in the mountains, focusing mostly on Daoist arts, she had also read her share of Buddhist classics. She opened her mouth in shock and exclaimed, "This guy is formidable! How can one possibly answer this question?"

Zhou Qin, though sensing a trap in Yan Hua's statement, didn't grasp precisely where the trap lay or how profound the question was, so she asked Su Chan, "What's wrong with this question?"

Su Chan knew that although Zhou Qin was intelligent, she was completely ignorant of these Buddhist philosophies. She explained, "This question mimics Li Yundong's previous counter-question: Is the sun first or the moon first? Now he asks: Is the Buddha first, or is humanity first?"

Zhou Qin nodded, "I understand that, but how should one answer? Shouldn't humanity come first? Humans existed before Shakyamuni Buddha, right? Isn't that an obvious question?"

Su Chan shook her head, "There's no way to answer correctly. If you say humanity came first, you fall right into his trap. He can then say the Buddha taught that 'Man is Buddha, and Buddha is Man.' Man is the future Buddha, and Buddha is the past man. Since the Buddha himself said man is inherently Buddha, why do you claim man precedes Buddha?"

Zhou Qin frowned, "Then what if one says the Buddha came first, and humanity later?"

Su Chan said, "That violates the most fundamental principle. When humans first evolved, they were barely different from beasts. At that time, people understood nothing of etiquette or morality, let alone Buddhist wisdom. Yan Hua could refute you from a biological standpoint."

Zhou Qin asked again, "Then what if I say the Buddha and humanity existed simultaneously?"

Su Chan shook her head, "No, that won't work. The premise Yan Hua threw out earlier was about the sequence of the Sun and Moon, meaning there must be a before and after; they cannot coexist. This question seems to be about the Buddha and man, but it's actually still arguing whether the sun or the moon came first. If you say the Buddha and man appeared simultaneously, it’s like surrendering your weapon, admitting your previous premise is invalid, meaning you lose."

Zhou Qin gasped sharply, "Then how do you refute this question?"

Su Chan looked at Li Yundong on the rostrum with worry, "I don't know either."

Cao Yi, his face grave, remarked, "This person doesn't seem like a cultivator. If it were a contest of magical powers, the Sect Leader could crush him with a single finger. But in a debate of doctrine, this man is the Sect Leader's worthy adversary!"