Outside the Capital City of Jing Country stood a certain tall mountain.
Its slopes were steep and shrouded in mist. The narrow mountain path was crowded with devout Haotian believers.
They prostrated themselves, touching their foreheads and lips to the stone steps of the mountain path, worshipping the grand and solemn Haotian Taoist Temple at the summit. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel✶fire.net
Among these believers were wealthy and powerful figures in fur hats and coats, alongside beggars in tattered clothes, their bodies covered in sores.
They were so devout, making no sound, merely worshipping silently.
In the Haotian Taoist Temple at the summit, a black-haired young man in an exquisite Daoist robe ignored the dense crowd of believers below, his attention fixed on the Natural Science publications on the table.
This was Yu Feiyu, Deputy Envoy of the Torch Language Mechanism and one of the leaders of the current Haotian Mission Group.
He leafed through a Natural Science publication, his brow furrowing slightly at the vivid, lifelike anatomical diagrams of animals printed on its pages.
Dissection—a term that had only become popular in Yu Country a year ago.
Unlike the art of Butcher Cutting Cattle or the work of butchers slaughtering livestock, dissection involved breaking down an animal’s body to study the size, position, and function of each internal organ, as well as the mechanisms of their interactions. It was a means, not an end.
Cows, sheep, horses, donkeys—
The Academic Palace’s Natural Science publications had spent nearly half a year planning a major special feature to establish an anatomical system for common livestock.
The different functions of a cow’s four stomachs, the principles of rumination in sheep, the bone density of chickens and ducks...
This was information that not even butchers, nor leisurely scholars, would typically expend energy to research. Yet, the Academic Palace had done so.
And the author of these articles...
Yu Feiyu’s gaze fixed on the name "Li Ang" in the author column. His brows knitted tightly, and he remained silent.
A light laugh from a distance in the Haotian Taoist Temple interrupted Yu Feiyu’s thoughts.
Slightly annoyed, he closed the book, adjusted his Daoist robe, pushed open the door, and walked toward the source of the laughter.
The laughter came from a young man in a Haotian Daoist robe. He was leaning casually against a beam of the pavilion, animatedly discussing something with his companions, a Natural Science publication also in his hand.
"Chen Pei, what are you talking about?" Yu Feiyu approached and asked calmly.
Seeing Yu Feiyu arrive, the youth named Bian Chenpei straightened up from his lounging posture, wiped the broad smile from his face, coughed lightly, and said, "We were just laughing about the Yu Kingdom’s Academy. Instead of focusing on proper Cultivation or their Natural Science, they’re studying domestic poultry and livestock. They’re even seriously prescribing medicine for pigs!"
"Things like ’five maces of dried tangerine peel, three maces of licorice, with ginger juice as a guide, decoct in water to treat stomach ailments in pigs caused by eating moldy fodder.’ It’s simply ridiculous."
The youth named Bian Chenpei grinned, a smirk playing on his lips as he flippantly waved the Natural Science publication in his hand.
A group of Cultivators, who should be comprehending the ultimate truths of heaven and earth and exploring the gifts bestowed by Haotian, were instead running off to prescribe medicine for pigs. To Cultivators from other countries, this seemed utterly absurd and fantastical.
"Is that really so funny?" Yu Feiyu’s face remained devoid of a smile as he glanced over the small group of young men and women. "The Academic Palace’s efforts to treat sick domestic animals can save farmers from losses and strengthen national power."
"Just a bid for fame," Bian Chenpei pursed his lips, the only one daring to speak. "Yu Country barely has enough doctors to treat people, let alone to find medicine for pigs."
"Are the doctors in Jing Country and Zhou Kingdom truly sufficient?" Yu Feiyu swept him a glance. Bian Chenpei’s father was the head of the three Deputy Envoys of the Judicial Cardinal and the most likely candidate to succeed the Cardinal. That was why the young man dared to speak to him so brazenly.
"Or are you saying," Yu Feiyu’s expression remained indifferent as he pressed on, "you think the inventions of Li Ang from the Academic Palace, like the forceps and Allicin, are just bids for fame? He is merely your age, yet he is now famous throughout Yu Country. Even in the Far Western Country, his name is renowned. His forceps save women from the perils of childbirth. And his Allicin is regarded as a Divine Medicine by everyone, from Kings and Nobles down to the common people."
The others present remained silent in response.
"..." Bian Chenpei offered no rebuttal, but his lips were still turned down, clearly unconvinced.
His father was a Deputy Envoy of the Judicial Cardinal, and his mother was a noble from Zhou Kingdom. He was a favored son of heaven, standing above tens of thousands. Why should some country bumpkin achieve greater success than him?
Such sheltered flowers... Yu Feiyu sighed inwardly. Taihao Mountain is the center of the Haotian Taoist Sect. Those who can study here are either the children of the sect’s cardinals, Priests, or priests; or the children of Royal Families from various nations; or geniuses who displayed exceptional Cultivation Talent from a young age and were brought to Taihao Mountain. This group of young men and women has been isolated from the outside world since childhood. They study Cultivation Methods and the Haotian Classics. Their understanding of the lives of common people is purely theoretical. They have grown accustomed to being worshipped and admired by mortals. They grow up step by step into Cultivators, as expected. They barely experience sickness or injury and are completely unaware of the impact of forceps and Allicin.
"When you reach Chang’an, remember: your every word and action represents the Haotian Taoist Sect and Taihao Mountain," Yu Feiyu said indifferently. "You have received the finest education since childhood. In poetry, calligraphy and painting, music, eloquence, or Cultivation, you must outperform the Academic Palace Disciples. And you must do so impressively. Do not disappoint your teachers and parents."
"Deputy Yu," Bian Chenpei squinted, raising his hand. "That Li Ang from the Academic Palace, will he also participate in this exchange?"
Yu Feiyu paused for a moment, then said lightly, "He might, or he might not. Academic Palace students only begin formal Cultivation around thirteen or fourteen. And Li Ang, despite being the Academic Palace Top Scholar, is rumored to have poor Spiritual Vein Talent. Now in his second academic year, he should still be in the Body Concealing Realm."
The Academic Palace has the entire Yu Country to support it, while Taihao Mountain gathers resources from all nations that believe in Haotian.
If the Academic Palace Disciples are one-in-ten-thousand talents, then the geniuses of Taihao Mountain can only be more outstanding.
Body Concealing Realm... Bian Chenpei drawled out his words, a glint in his eyes. A small Dagger materialized in his palm, spinning rapidly as it floated. "HEH."