Zhou Qin, seeing the sharpness of Yan Hua's question, couldn't help but frown and ask, "Then wouldn't Li Yundong be wrong to debate with him before everyone?"

Cao Yi, Zhuang Yating, and Liu Yuehong all spoke in unison: "Absolutely not!"

Cao Yi said, "Though this situation has nothing to do with martial prowess, if it spreads outside that the sect leader lost a debate against a non-practitioner student, how will others view our sect leader? How can he maintain his standing within the cultivation world?"

Hearing this, Zhou Qin fell silent and looked anxiously toward the rostrum.

When Li Yundong heard Yan Hua's question, his mind jolted. He began appraising their opponent anew, knowing full well how thorny this issue was. One couldn't answer it directly at all. After a brief pause, he said with feigned casualness, "You ask me who came first—the Buddha or the human? I'll ask you back—what about the chicken and the egg?"

This question sent ripples through the student crowd below. Many erupted into laughter as they applauded Li Yundong's sly evasion.

Whether it was whether the Buddha or man came first, or the chicken or the egg, these were all unsolvable paradoxes.

With a deft sidestep that turned their opponent's question back on them, Li Yundong effectively sealed the inquiry.

Suchu burst into laughter. "! How could I have thought of it!"

Zhou Qin smiled slightly and remarked with admiration, "Clever rascal."

Seeing his question hadn't stumped Li Yundong, Yan Hua realized if he continued pressing, they'd just fall into meaningless back-and-forth. He declared loudly: "The body is a bodhi tree, the mind a polished mirror stand. Always diligently cleanse it—don't let dust arise. What does this mean?"

Without hesitation, Li Yundong responded immediately, "To constantly care for one's mind and spirit through cultivation to resist external temptations and demonic influences—it represents an engaged worldview emphasizing practice itself. It's Master Shenxiu's cultivation philosophy!"

No sooner had he finished than Li Yundong countered with another loud question: "The bodhi has no tree, the mirror stand is not real. Originally nothing exists—how could there be dust to cling? What meaning does this hold?"

Yan Hua replied instantly, "This is a gatha by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng saying worldly troubles don't exist inherently—so why polish your mind's mirror daily?"

Recognizing they were exchanging Buddhist gathas in reverse, Zhou Qin recognized it as a familiar philosophical duel but didn't understand their intent. She turned to Suchu and asked, "What are these two talking about now?"

Suchu explained, "Earlier they tested each other's reflexes through questions. Now they're testing depth of Buddhist understanding. These gathas come from the Fifth Patriarch Hongren's disciples—Yan Hua cited Shenxiu's verse while Li Yundong quoted Huineng's. Later these verses divided Chan Buddhism into Northern and Southern schools representing two contrasting approaches to cultivation."

Nodding in comprehension, Zhou Qin stopped speaking and continued watching intently.

After their philosophical sparring, Li Yundong and Yan Hua abandoned subtlety for direct confrontation like fencers engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

Yan Hua declared loudly: "The Lotus Sutra Volume I says: 'Form is not different from emptiness. Emptiness is not different from form. Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.' Please explain what constitutes form."

Without delay, Li Yundong responded, "All elements are empty, the five aggregates non-existent. Since all things arise through compounded causes and conditions, though forms manifest endlessly in myriad variations creating the ten-thousand-worlds, fundamentally—form is one!"

Yan Hua pressed further: "If we view form as singular, then explain what constitutes emptiness."

Li Yundong replied smoothly, "Form exists conditionally through causes and circumstances—it reduces to oneness. Emptiness isn't true void but boundless potential. Tracing their origins they too reduce to oneness—this is the principle of all phenomena converging into unity."

Yan Hua quickly followed: "Then if all phenomena converge to one, where does this 'one' return?"

Li Yundong laughed heartily, "All phenomena converge to one—and one remains as one!"

Seeing his questions unanswered, Yan Hua pressed once more with impatience: "What is the formless method without eyes?"

Spontaneously Li Yundong answered, "Thick curtains deter viewing paired flowers; high towers fear seeing nesting pairs."

"What is the formless method without ears?"

"Never let flute notes startle willows, don't allow flutes to summon phoenixes."

"And what of the formless method without nose?"

"Lan grass avoids royal fragrance, daylilies avoid daughterly scents."

"What is the formless method without tongue?"

"Thankfully I never tilled black soil—how does this relate to you blooming lotus?"

"What is the formless method without body?"

"I'm used to mixing filth with West Lake water, don't pretend in learning Xiao Lian's ways!"

"And what of the formless method without will?"

"It's precisely feeling that creates brief sufferings, yet reaching enlightenment through boundlessness!"

Their verbal duel became a storm of questions and counterpoints, like swordsmen locked in mortal combat. The students erupted into wild applause.

Even teachers who'd initially frowned now nodded silently, admiring these two young men debating Buddhist philosophy before thousands.

Cultivators like Cao Yi and Suchu were equally impressed. Nodding, Cao Yi admitted, "The boy's questions were extremely difficult—had it been me, I might not have answered them."

Liu Yuehong praised, "It's rare for a sect leader so young to master Buddhist teachings this thoroughly—it's truly remarkable!"

Zhuang Yating mused, "This debater is also impressive. I wonder what connection he has with Yan Fang?"

Most students didn't grasp the philosophical nuances of their debate, but they sensed Li Yundong and Yan Hua were locked in an intense verbal duel. While many didn't understand exactly what was being discussed, the momentum suggested Yan Hua held initiative while Li Yundong deflected every attack calmly—his bearing radiating confidence and magnetism.

Unbeknownst to most students, their applause for Li Yundong quickly drew warnings: "You're foolish! You can't cheer for Li Yundong or Yan Hua will renege. We must oppose him instead—it's the only way to support Li!"

Soon realizing this game, students laughed aloud, "So it's simple!"

Suddenly many began chanting disapproval. Initially sparse, these boos grew louder as more joined in. Some who didn't understand asked why—after explanations they nodded knowingly, "Ah right! Better let him lose with good reason!"

Suchu and others near the field watched the growing boos with alarm but erupted into laughter upon learning the cause. Suchu loved playing practical jokes on Li Yundong best—they found this situation both novel and exciting. Clapping excitedly she declared, "Great idea! We'll join in too!"

And so she led the charge with a loud cry.

Fox spirits from the Huxi Sect naturally followed Suchu's lead. As they joined the boos, Cao Yi and others felt uneasy but couldn't quite articulate why.

These young foxes' cries unexpectedly triggered an aesthetic phenomenon—many men nearby began joining in too.

Initially meant to help Li Yundong, these jeers now exploited human psychology—the more he dominated on stage, the more some began feeling sympathy for Yan Hua. Some even turned their mockery into genuine opposition toward Li Yundong.

Every time Li Yundong opened his mouth, thunderous boos and jeers erupted below. No matter how deep his cultivation or strong his spirit, trying to argue against such overwhelming noise was exhausting.

Worse still, he sensed Suchu's voice among the mob of mockers. Scanning downward, he confirmed she led a pack of young foxes in their mischief.

Seething with anger at this betrayal—especially from That Girl—he nearly broke. How could they turn on him so cruelly?

Yan Hua noticed Li Yundong's faltering and darkening expression as he kept glancing below. This revelation made him triumphant, "Now you know the feeling of being booed by everyone?"

Li Yundong's face turned green—realizing he'd fallen into Yan Hua's trap.

Though his cultivation gave him strong willpower, no one could maintain perfect clarity when thousands opposed them simultaneously. Especially with Suchu mindlessly joining in without realizing they were all ensnared.

Letting out a cold snort, Li Yundong fought to maintain mental focus during the debate. But most students had now fully turned against him—they found it amusing and thrilling to mock this school legend.

Rebelliousness overpowered admiration for strength. Many began eagerly awaiting his eventual defeat's reaction.

Each time Li Yundong spoke, the crowd erupted in jeers. Every argument he made was countered with "Opposition! Opposition!" When he refuted Yan Hua, they cheered, "Agreement! Agreement!"

Even if Li Yundong possessed divine powers, he couldn't function under these conditions. Finally losing patience, he snapped at the students below, "Are you all enjoying your little mob so much?"

When Li Yundong finally showed frustration, the students laughed heartily—elated they'd pulled off such a prank.

Roaring, Li Yundong asked, "Is it that whatever I oppose you support? And whatever I support you oppose?"

The students roared with laughter: "Exactly!"

Turning to Yan Hua, Li Yundong demanded, "So if I can convince these people not to oppose me anymore, does this debate become mine?"

Now seeing total support from the crowd, Yan Hua swaggered proudly, "Of course. If you convince them they have no more reasons to oppose me, then naturally I concede!"

Then addressing all students again, Li Yundong asked, "Are you determined to oppose everything I agree with and support whatever I disagree with?"

The students laughed louder: "Precisely! Whatever you endorse we oppose, whatever you reject we endorse!"

"Very well," Li Yundong declared loudly. Taking a deep breath, he uttered what would become an infamous line echoing through eternity.

With earth-shaking force, he roared: "I OPPOSE SHIT EATING!!"

Suddenly complete silence fell over the entire field.