Wen Sheng Lineage

Overview

The Wen Sheng Lineage (文圣一脉) is a prominent, highly influential, yet historically controversial academic and philosophical faction within the Confucian Temple (文庙) of the Haoran Heaven. Founded by the supreme sage known as the Old Scholar (老秀才) or Wen Sheng (文圣), the lineage is distinct for its pragmatic focus on "merit and action" (事功), directly translating scholarly learning into practical governance, rules, and worldly defense.

Despite enduring a period of severe political and academic suppression—during which its founder's statues were removed from Confucian temples and its teachings were marginalized—the lineage ultimately proved indispensable to the survival of humanity. During the apocalyptic Haoran-Manhuang War, the unparalleled strategic, academic, and martial contributions of its incredibly small but elite group of disciples saved the Haoran Heaven, leading to the lineage's full restoration in the Confucian Temple.

Core Philosophy

The Wen Sheng lineage fundamentally diverges from the purely theoretical discourses of other Confucian factions, such as the Sub-Sage lineage (亚圣一脉).

• Human Nature is Evil (性本恶): In contrast to the Sub-Sage's "Human Nature is Good" (性本善), the Old Scholar argued that human nature is inherently flawed and driven by desires. Therefore, ritual, law, and education are strictly necessary to correct humanity and maintain the world's order.
• Merit and Action (事功): Originally proposed by the eldest disciple Cui Chan, this doctrine dictates that scholarly learning must ultimately manifest in concrete, practical action. It argues that true scholarship is meant to govern nations, stabilize the world, and solve actual crises, rather than remaining as high-sounding theoretical concepts. It places heavy emphasis on enduring hardship, assessing real-world conditions, and making difficult moral or strategic sacrifices for the greater good.

Key Figures

The lineage is notoriously small in numbers, completely lacking the sprawling, continent-wide academies and massive student bodies of its rivals. However, its direct disciples are among the most capable and powerful figures across multiple worlds:

• The Old Scholar (文圣老秀才): The founding patriarch. A supreme Sage of the Confucian Temple who merged his Dao with the mountains and rivers of three continents to protect them from absolute destruction during the war.
• Cui Chan (崔瀺): The eldest disciple (首徒). Known as the "Embroidered Tiger" (绣虎). He ostensibly rebelled against the lineage to become the Great Li National Teacher, utilizing the lineage's pragmatic philosophy to build an empire capable of defending the northern continents against the Manhuang invasion.
• Zuo You (左右): The second disciple. A rigid scholar who turned into a peerless Great Sword Immortal, possessing the highest, most unrestrained sword technique in the world.
• Qi Jingchun (齐静春): The third disciple. A remarkably brilliant and gentle sage who willingly sacrificed himself to save the inhabitants of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven.
• Liu Shiliu / Jun Qian (刘十六 / 君倩): The fourth disciple. A towering martial artist and cultivator who operates largely in the shadows to protect the lineage's interests.
• Chen Ping'an (陈平安): The closed-door disciple (关门弟子). Inheriting the heavy mantle of the lineage, he became the Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the new National Teacher of Great Li, and a central figure in navigating the complex aftermath of the world wars.
• Mao Xiaodong (茅小冬): A registered disciple who protected Shanya Academy during its most difficult times. He later formally transferred his academic affiliation to the Ritual Sage (礼圣) lineage and became a Siyi (司业) at the Liji Academy.

History & Major Events

The Three-Four Dispute and Fall from Grace

At its peak, the Old Scholar's teachings were treated as orthodox doctrine. However, an intense ideological conflict within the Confucian Temple, known as the "Three-Four Dispute" (三四之争), erupted between the Wen Sheng and the Sub-Sage. The Old Scholar lost the debate/wager. Consequently, the lineage suffered a massive fall from grace; the Wen Sheng statues were removed from temples (eventually banished entirely), and his academic influence was heavily suppressed. The Old Scholar voluntarily confined himself to the Merit Forest (功德林).

The Haoran-Manhuang War

When the Manhuang Heaven invaded, many orthodox academies struggled to mount an effective defense. In stark contrast, the Wen Sheng lineage's "merit and action" philosophy proved to be the salvation of the Haoran Heaven. Cui Chan orchestrated the overarching defense of the northern continents, Zuo You, Liu Shiliu, and Chen Ping'an fought relentlessly on the front lines, and the Old Scholar sacrificed his foundational stability to anchor the southern continents.

Restoration in the Confucian Temple

Following the war, public and scholarly opinion shifted drastically. Scholars across the Haoran Heaven fervently argued that the Wen Sheng lineage's practical philosophy was best suited for achieving true immortality and societal peace. During a monumental Confucian Temple assembly, the Wen Sheng statues were officially restored, cementing the lineage's absolute vindication and reaffirming the Old Scholar's position as the fourth highest deity in the Confucian pantheon.

References

• 剑来3：肩挑草长莺飞, 第十章 — 请破阵: Supports the history of the "Three-Four Dispute" (三四之争), the Old Scholar losing his position as the 4th sage, his statues being destroyed, and his confinement to the Merit Forest.
• 剑来25：天地皆同力, 第八章 — 陈十一: Supports the early history and interpersonal dynamics of the disciples Cui Chan, Zuo You, Qi Jingchun, and Liu Shiliu.
• 剑来27：风雪夜归人, 第三章 — 春风得意: Supports the core philosophy of "Merit and Action" (事功学问) being proposed by Cui Chan and the "Human Nature is Evil" (性本恶) doctrine being championed by the Old Scholar.
• 剑来29：左中皆好剑, 第六章 — 议事: Supports Chen Ping'an's status as the closed-door disciple, meeting his senior brothers Zuo You and Jun Qian (Liu Shiliu) together in the Merit Forest.
• 剑来29：左中皆好剑, 第七章 — 无话可说: Supports Mao Xiaodong transferring from the Wen Sheng lineage to the Li Sheng lineage, and the official Confucian Temple decree restoring the Wen Sheng's statues and his rightful divine position.
• 剑来30：一剑破万法, 第四章 — 酒中又过风波: Supports the detail that the Sub-Sage's doctrine relies on "Human Nature is Good" (性本善) and the "Four Hearts," sharply contrasting the Wen Sheng lineage.