Knife splashing

Chapter 713 The Academy's Elite Gathering
Li Yan was not surprised by Wang Jingxiu's enthusiasm.

It wasn't that they were particularly close; in fact, they had only spent a few days together.

This old Taoist priest is simply a madman.

His father was Wang Daozong, the "Golden Toad Ancestor," a direct disciple of Zhang Sanfeng. Although he was not the sect leader, he was highly respected in Wudang.

It can be said that Wang Jingxiu has never suffered any grievances since childhood. His cultivation aptitude is average, but he is a genius at alchemy. He was pampered when he was young and treated with deference when he grew up. He is obsessed with alchemy and is harmless, so naturally no one wants to provoke him.

Therefore, when this old Taoist priest gets angry, he's just like a child who never grows up.

Even the guards at the door looked troubled.

Wang Jingxiu didn't care, but Li Yan wouldn't act recklessly; he only entered the mountain gate after verifying the token.

After passing through the door and looking up, Li Yan secretly praised it.

The Qiankun Academy occupies an extremely vast area, far surpassing ordinary academies.

After passing the screen wall upon entering, one arrives at a magnificent plaza paved with square blue bricks, with a circular platform in the center. The courtyard is square and upright, subtly reflecting the ancient Chinese concept of a round heaven and a square earth. Two enormous bronze beasts stand opposite each other, somewhat resembling yin and yang fish, also subtly representing the Qian and Kun trigrams.

In the distance, palaces rise and fall in a staggered pattern, their flying eaves and brackets vaguely forming a sense of grandeur.

The layout of the academy was by no means arbitrary. Looking around, Li Yan even felt that his supernatural powers were being suppressed.

"Senior, who is in charge of the design of this place?" Li Yan couldn't help but ask.

Wang Jingxiu chuckled and stroked his beard, saying, "You can see it now, this place is no ordinary place. It was built with the combined efforts of many people. Whether it was the Mo Sect or those feng shui masters, they all contributed. This mountain was not originally a good location, but they managed to create such a scene."

Shalifei clicked his tongue and said, "That must have cost a lot of money..."

What does money matter?

Wang Jingxiu glanced at it and said, “Not to mention the importance of Qiankun Academy, the experience of building it together is invaluable. You know, before the academy was even finished, Quanzhou was going to build a new port and used the academy’s methods. I heard that after it was built, the Japanese pirates and the red-haired pirates were no longer able to harass us.”

I see…

Upon hearing this, Li Yan suddenly understood.

Whenever I think of the academy, the steam engine always comes to mind, but I forget the original reason why the academy was built.

This was the first specialized academy for investigating things in the Great Xuan Dynasty, with a focus on various crafts and skills.

Judging from the old Taoist's words, there has been a breakthrough in architecture and formations.

The fact that this achievement was made even before the academy opened made Li Yan even more eager for more.

"This is the 'investigation of things'."

Wang Jingxiu led them along a wide and smooth main path paved with bluestone, explaining as they walked: "This path runs through the academy, symbolizing its foundation. Look at the flowers and plants on both sides; they are not ordinary flowers and trees, but 'Hundred Crafts Herbs' specially cultivated by Ge Pusheng of Baicaotang. They are both ornamental and medicinal..."

Li Yan's eyes lit up. "Is he the personal disciple of that Medicine Saint Li?"

He had heard of Ge Pusheng before.

The Medicine Saint has passed away, but the Li family lineage has not been broken, and a Taoist medical master, Li Facheng, has emerged.

But the most famous of them all is Ge Pusheng, his direct disciple.

He was the "Ambassador of the Imperial Medical Academy's Storehouse of Medicines," and was renowned within the Xuanmen (Taoist) community.

"Ah."

Wang Jingxiu nodded, his eyes full of admiration. "Ambassador Ge's expertise in pharmacology is truly remarkable."

As they spoke, the three of them had already passed through the main hall in the front courtyard square.

As the road extends, the outlines of several distinct functional areas come into view.

In the distance, smoke and dust rise from the workshop area, and the faint clanging of metal can be heard.

Nearby are several exquisitely designed pavilions with upturned eaves, white walls, and black tiles. The windows are bright and clean, suggesting that these are places where students study and research.

There is also a cluster of scattered houses near the stream, with various rocks, ancient trees, and fossilized bones of unknown animals piled up in front of the doors.

Among them are even complete giant dinosaur fossils that have been pieced together.

Unfortunately, it lacks any spiritual energy and is not a spiritual object.

"Good heavens, this must be a mythical beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas..."

Shalifei stared in disbelief, then turned to say, "Brother Yan, this is even bigger than the one we found in Qinglong Mountain!"

Li Yan nodded, his eyes also full of interest. "Senior, are there people researching this?"

"It is the Imperial Observatory's Zhengbai Chenshan."

Wang Jingxiu nodded and said, "He is very interested in these things. One of the important tasks of the academy is to re-survey the landscape and topography of China. Many geomancers are involved in this, and you, the disciples, probably have the most contact with them."

Li Yan frowned. "Offerings?"

He only knew that he could join the academy, but he didn't know his specific position.

"You don't know yet?"

Wang Jingxiu was somewhat surprised and explained, "In addition to the instructors, the academy has also hired many worshippers, all of whom are highly accomplished in their cultivation. Besides you 'Twelve Yuan Chen,' there are also three wandering immortal teams."

"To survey the landscape of China, we inevitably have to go to those dangerous places that are rarely visited by people. If we send troops to escort them, it would be a waste of manpower and resources. Therefore, we hire people to protect them. Of course, the academy will not use people for free. The merits earned can be used to receive spiritual treasures from the treasury and hire academy craftsmen to do things."

"That's not a bad idea."

Li Yan was surprised at first, then a smile appeared on his face.

He was looking for something to repair his Great Luo Dharma Body, and the spiritual treasures in the academy's storeroom were his target. Not to mention that the academy had gathered many famous craftsmen from all over the country. In the past, they were scattered in different places and had different temperaments, so asking for help would require using personal connections.

Shalifei, standing nearby, was interested in something else: "Who are the other three teams?"

Those who dare to call themselves wandering immortals must all be masters of the mystical arts.

Wang Jingxiu replied, “'Sea Treasure', 'Dragon Erosion', and 'Cloud Guest'.”

Li Yan frowned upon hearing this. "I've never heard of this before."

He traveled the world and collected a lot of information about the mystical sects along the way, and he also knew several famous wandering immortal teams.

However, all of these names were completely unfamiliar.

Wang Jingxiu shook his head and said, "I don't know about that old Taoist priest. I didn't ask him for details."

Li Yan seemed to be deep in thought, and he wrote down these names.

"Let's go to the 'Hundred Crafts Building' first!"

Wang Jingxiu, in high spirits, led the two to turn to a small bluestone path on the left.

The path meanders through a lush bamboo forest, accompanied by the babbling brook at your feet, creating a sense of seclusion.

A covered bridge, entirely constructed from massive logs joined together with mortise and tenon joints, spans the stream, without a single trace of iron nails.

On that bridge, there were ingenious wooden gears and mechanisms that were driven by the water flow, and there was also a conveyor belt made of animal hides that transported some semi-finished wooden components or stone carving fragments to the inside.

Noticing his gaze, Wang Jingxiu smiled and said, "It's just a small trick, Master Tao's doing."

"And who is Master Tao, this master?"

"Tao Fengchun, a master of the Mohist school, was appointed as the supervisor of the Ministry of Works' Construction Office. The 'glutinous rice mortar' used to build the Shenji Camp opposite was his creation."

"Oh, I was indeed ignorant."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan's expression immediately turned solemn.

He had never heard of Tao Fengchun before, but the gray exterior walls of the Shenji Camp looked somewhat like cement...

After walking for a short while, a magnificent three-story pavilion came into view.

Above the massive wooden door hangs a plaque with the three characters "Baigonglou" (百工楼).

The entire building is mainly constructed of dark hardwood and bluestone, with a robust and sturdy structure, and each floor features large windows.

The windows were wide open, and figures could be vaguely seen moving about inside. The sounds of hammering, sawing, and drawing could be heard faintly. The doors were open, and before Li Yan even got close, he could smell a complex aroma that was a mixture of the fragrance of fine wood, the smell of turpentine, and mineral powder.

Upon entering the gate, you are greeted by a large central atrium display area, where exquisite architectural models of various buildings are displayed—from miniature palaces and pavilions to complex defensive towers and hydraulic gate devices that can simulate opening and closing, all of which are meticulously crafted and can be demonstrated.

The surrounding area is divided into many independent but open "work areas".

Some were covered in ink, with densely packed lines, and the drawings were spread all over the floor…

Wood shavings flew everywhere as the old craftsman and his apprentice carefully polished the carved components...

Some areas display various peculiar bronze artifacts, bone tools, and even ancient objects with unknown uses and faint traces of spiritual energy...

At this moment, in the center of the building, stood a sprightly old man dressed in simple craftsman's clothes.

In front of him was a huge model of an "arch bridge" made up of countless tiny wooden blocks nested together.

The old man looked displeased and scolded the two young craftsmen, "How many times have I told you!"

"Mortise and tenon joints! The wonder of mortise and tenon joints lies in their natural perfection and their precision!"

“If these ‘horse-riding pins’ are even slightly off, the force will be misaligned by three inches! If they were used in a critical spot, the house would collapse and we would have to start all over again!”

The old man puffed out his beard and glared, his face full of stubbornness.

When he saw Wang Jingxiu and the others come in, he only frowned slightly and nodded as a greeting.

Wang Jingxiu did not step forward to disturb him, and said in a low voice, "Master Tao's architectural style is truly a pillar of the nation."

After saying that, he led Li Yan to a quieter corner on the side.

In other places, there are also many skilled craftsmen who create items that are famous throughout China.

The "rhinoceros-hide lacquer" from Huizhou was carefully applied to the joints of the mechanical puppets, supposedly using a "seven-day sun exposure and nine-day shade method" to make the lacquer surface resistant to the earth's moisture...

The "Dongyang bamboo weaving" technique from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces was used to make materials for inlaid talismans...

The "spotted tin relief" in Dianzhou is clearly a depiction of copper gears being made...

The numerous skills dazzled Li Yan and Sha Lifeng, leaving them overwhelmed with admiration.

"As expected of the Hundred Crafts Pavilion!"

After leaving the house, Li Yan couldn't help but praise him repeatedly.

He hadn't expected the academy to make such a grand spectacle; it seemed that various technologies in China were likely to experience a boom in the future.

After leaving the Hundred Crafts Building, the three headed towards the workshop area.

This place is somewhat similar to the Shenji Camp, but much smaller, with the faint sounds of clanging metal and the smell of gunpowder emanating from it.

"This place is not easy to enter for the time being..."

Wang Jingxiu shook his head and then led them further inside.

"It's done! It's done!"

But just then, a middle-aged man wearing a short jacket stained with gunpowder and oil, with several black streaks on his face, rushed out in a flurry and almost bumped into Wang Jingxiu.

He clutched a small porcelain jar tightly in both hands, half-filled with snow-white powder resembling ice crystals. Ignoring Wang Jingxiu, he rushed straight towards a dark-faced old man approaching from a distance, his thick Ganzhou accent filled with ecstatic joy: "Master Zhao! It's done!"

"Look at these 'frost flowers,' look at the color! The purification is at least 40% higher than the previous methods!"

The burly man with a dark face, known as Master Zhao, suddenly flashed a sharp glint in his eyes: "Alright! Come with me and give it a try!"

After saying that, he hurriedly walked inside, glancing at Li Yan and his group, and only called out "Master Wang" as a greeting.

Watching the two rush into the workshop, Wang Jingxiu shook his head and said, "The one who came out earlier is called 'Zhou Baixiao,' a hereditary gunpowder craftsman from Yichun, Ganzhou. I heard he's researching and improving new types of gunpowder. The dark-faced old man is called 'Zhao Huogong,' and I heard he used to be a cannon maker for the Dengzhou navy. Later, he learned the art of forging breech-loading muskets. As for what they're doing, you should be able to guess."

Upon hearing this, Shalifei, who was standing nearby, turned green with envy.

He was worried about how to make a magical firearm, but he never expected that the academy would hide such a person.

Li Yan patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down, and then continued walking with Wang Jingxiu.

The old Taoist priest had clearly become familiar with the place, and he led them to "Bai Cao Ju" (Hundred Herbs Residence), where they visited the famous doctor Ge Pusheng, and also met Wu Dingpan, a descendant of Yang Yunsong from Ganzhou, as well as Zhao Lingtai, a descendant of the Huihui Astronomical Observatory of the Golden Horde Wolf Kingdom, a staff member of the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's Office, and a student of Pan Jixun...

Li Yan was completely convinced.

Wang Jingxiu said that the academy is full of hidden talents, and that's not all.

Having already spent a considerable amount of time walking around, Li Yan hurriedly asked, "Daoist, we came here to find Yan Jiuling, and Brother Zhao Luzi has also come to the academy. Do you know where they are?"

"Brother Li, Brother Li!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yan turned to look.

A red-robed official hurriedly approached with several people; it was Yan Jiuling.

"Brother Li, why didn't you say hello when you arrived?"

He was slightly out of breath and sweating. He first greeted Wang Jingxiu before speaking, "The academy is about to open, and we are very busy. We were discussing important matters just now, and the clerk did not dare to disturb us. He only informed Brother Li of our arrival after leaving the academy."

"It doesn't matter."

Li Yan smiled and said, "The Daoist Master has shown us around; the academy truly lives up to its reputation."

Then he asked, "Brother Zhao, what happened...?"

"He's alright, we'll find out soon enough."

Yan Jiuling did not answer, but looked at Wang Jingxiu and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Daoist Wang, I will leave Brother Li to you. Thank you."

"let's go."

Wang Jingxiu stroked his beard and laughed, "Young friend Li, now that you've entered the academy, come and chat with this old Daoist when you have time. This academy is great in every way, except that everyone here is even more eccentric than this old Daoist, it's so boring."

Li Yan quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "I will certainly have to bother you often, senior."

He knew what Wang Jingxiu was thinking and always wanted him to go to Ailao Mountain to find the elixir.

But that place is not like the one in the previous life. Long Yan'er told them that it is mysterious and unpredictable, with naturally formed dangerous places nested in one another. Even a leader of the Gu Sect once went in to search for spirit Gu, but he disappeared without a trace and never came out again.

They're busy these days, so naturally they don't have time to go in and cause trouble.

After leaving Baicaotang, Yan Jiuling led them to the side courtyard at the back of the academy.

As they walked, he whispered, "Zhao the Donkey has been hired by the academy and is currently being invited by Supervisor Bai to help him."

"Bai Jianzheng, what are they busy with?" Li Yan asked curiously.

"I can't explain it clearly, you'll know when you get there."

Yan Jiuling looked mysterious, but after taking a few steps, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Li, do you remember my guess?"

Li Yan was slightly taken aback. "Of course I remember."

Yan Jiuling's statement was based on his research and conclusions: there have been two major changes in the world.

One is Yu the Great's flood control, and the other is the Shang and Zhou dynasties' war of investiture of the gods.

After Yu the Great tamed the floods, the heavens and the earth were separated, and the land of China never had an emperor again!
After the War of the Gods, the rituals and sacrifices of the human race gradually began to change.

Yan Jiuling nodded, a hint of melancholy mixed with pride. "My guess has been confirmed."

As they spoke, they had already led them to the side courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with stones, jade ritual objects, and inscriptions.

Bai Chenshan, the director of the Imperial Observatory, Zhao Luzi, and many others were busy inside.

Yan Jiuling then explained, "According to the 'Seeking Immortality' by Xu Fu that Brother Li found, the imperial court secretly sent people to excavate. These are the things we found deep in Mount Tai."

"Before Yu the Great tamed the floods, there really was a passage between the human world and the celestial realm, and it was called Jianmu!"

(End of this chapter)