Chapter 325
She scrutinized the diagram of bone cells in the booklet, seemingly trying to discern whether Zheng Fa and the others were just making things up.
“This is, of course, a hypothesis based on our findings... right? Actually, there’s no conclusion yet,” Zheng Fa explained.
“I don’t know much about the Zhu Xian Fa, but the Ben Ming Fa Bao…” Xiao Yu Ying paused for a long moment before continuing, “makes a lot of sense.”
“…”
“My master once told me something similar.”
This was the first time Zheng Fa had heard her mention her master, but he knew that Xiao Yu Ying’s teacher was at least a Hua Shen (Transformation Stage) cultivator.
Xiao Yu Ying lowered her gaze, staring at the little booklet. After a long while, she suddenly asked, “Do you need me to teach you about archaeology?”
Her tone was laced with deep self-doubt.
“Xiao Xianzi, this is just our research method... but whether it will be effective in the Xuan Wei realm, and who can maximize its value, are all questions,” Zheng Fa said, his intention to collaborate with Xiao Yu Ying was straightforward.
After all, he only understood the broad strokes of archaeology, but when it came to practical application—Xiao Yu Ying was far more suited than he was.
“My idea is about how to explore secret realms; you’re the expert, Xiao Xianzi.”
“But when it comes to analyzing the data we gather, I’m more confident,” he added.
“Together, we can benefit both ways.”
Xiao Yu Ying nodded, then suddenly asked, “I have a feeling about this. Can I take the archaeology report back with me?”
“Of course.”
As she held the booklet in her hand and turned to leave, she couldn’t help but let her expression slip…
She had visited countless secret realms.
The copper tower of the Tian He disciples was hardly the most valuable one.
But now it seemed like she had picked up a sesame seed and dropped a watermelon?
She didn’t lack treasures, so compared to others, she actually valued knowledge more.
For instance, she had no qualms about sharing a bit of the precious knowledge from “Electromagnetism,” which others were reluctant to part with.
This showed her mindset.
If only she had known about this method earlier…
She hurried away, mainly to avoid revealing her frustration.
…
Mu Qing Yan and a few other cultivators were on their way to Zheng Fa’s courtyard when they happened to bump into Xiao Yu Ying as she walked out.
Seeing her expression, the disciples fell silent.
Once she was far enough away, a senior sister shot a glance at Mu Qing Yan.
The look was so cryptic that Mu Qing Yan was a bit puzzled.
“Senior sister?”
“It’s like you looked after hearing the first lesson of the ‘Jin Dan Project,’” the senior sister remarked.
She didn’t dare name names, but Mu Qing Yan immediately understood. She turned to look at Xiao Yu Ying’s retreating figure.
Oh, so you’re feeling shattered too?
…
Zheng Fa understood as soon as he saw them in the courtyard: “So you all took on the task of the national health check?”
Mu Qing Yan and the others nodded.
“Alright, I’ll teach you what you should measure and what to note down.”
The national health check was aimed at the mortals on Le Tu Island, primarily for the purpose of the “Jin Dan Project.”
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 302: First Principles, Modern Transmission of Martial Arts**
On Le Tu Island, Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang were observing the “national health check.”
Xiao Yu Ying, seemingly at a loss for what to do and having never seen such an event, stood beside them, curiously watching the two long lines.
The lines were divided by gender, and at the end of each line were two courtyards designated for the health checks, where Mu Qing Yan and the others were waiting.
Among them, the most important were two disciples who had practiced the “Dong Xu Ling Yan” (Void Spirit Eye)—or rather, in the Xuan Wei realm, those who had cultivated the “Dong Xu Ling Yan” were considered excellent health check instruments.
Zheng Fa’s younger sister, Zheng Shan, stood in the women’s line with their mother, gazing at Zheng Fa with a silly smile.
However, she knew that Zheng Fa was currently the “Sect Leader,” so she didn’t approach him and simply stood quietly in the crowd.
“Are you doing this for the ‘Jin Dan Project?’” Senior Sister Zhang asked Zheng Fa.
Xiao Yu Ying overheard and felt a bit confused—aside from “Electromagnetism” and “Mathematics,” she hadn’t looked into other courses.
Thus, she had never heard of the Jin Dan Project.
“Yeah.” Zheng Fa didn’t mind Xiao Yu Ying being nearby and spoke plainly, “I have a few questions in mind…”
Xiao Yu Ying blinked, her ears perked up quietly.
Senior Sister Zhang, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to cover her ears.
“The Dan Ding (Alchemical Cauldron) is said to mimic the human body; what exactly does it mimic?”
“Why mimic the human body?”
“What’s the purpose of the so-called three gates and nine orifices?”
Xiao Yu Ying listened, feeling increasingly bewildered, as Zheng Fa’s questions seemed to get harder to answer:
Mainly, wasn’t this something passed down from the Xuan Wei realm?
“…” Senior Sister Zhang seemed to have grown accustomed to this and simply asked, “What are your thoughts?”
“I want to throw away the so-called human body simulation from my mind. What kind of tools are needed to create an external dan (pill) outside the body?”
“Throw away?”
“Yeah!”
Under Senior Sister Zhang’s puzzled gaze, Zheng Fa nodded gently.
He had been pondering this for quite some time—he had come across a concept called “first principles” in modern times, which sounded profound, but simply put, it was about grasping the essence and questioning every assumption within knowledge.
For instance, Zheng Fa questioned Senior Sister Zhang: What does creating an external dan have to do with the human body?
Whether it’s external dan or the Jin Dan Project, the names may differ, but in Zheng Fa’s mind, their essence was the same: they were about creating the Jin Dan (Golden Pill).
According to modern nuclear engineering, this was merely about how to build a reactor, with no relation to human anatomy whatsoever.
So, in the external dan method, it was said to use the dan ding to mimic the human body…
Is that really the case?
What’s the significance of that?
Once Senior Sister Zhang understood Zheng Fa’s point, she opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to refute him, but she didn’t know how to counter, ultimately just managing a wry smile, “But don’t those external dan methods say the same thing?”
At this moment, Xiao Yu Ying finally understood—Zheng Fa wanted to overturn the ancestral external dan methods!
She knew a thing or two about external dan methods.
Not to mention, the two external dan methods in Zheng Fa’s hands were both given to him by her.
Realizing this, Xiao Yu Ying’s gaze toward Zheng Fa became peculiar—she thought she was proud enough, but here was Zheng Fa, who wanted to challenge the established dan path. She felt a bit petty in comparison.
…
Zheng Fa’s goal was certainly not to overturn anyone, at least not for the sake of overturning.
He was simply accustomed to questioning.
The health check was a means for him to seek answers.
Through the health check, what Zheng Fa truly wanted to clarify was one thing—the physical structure of the people from the Jiu Shan realm, including their spiritual roots, meridians, acupoints, and flesh and skin.
He aimed to summarize a relatively standard human model from this.
Then, by comparing the physical changes during Senior Sister Zhang’s simulation of three different cultivation methods and the differences in the dan ding among the three external dan methods, he hoped to uncover some truths.
“In fact, even without the ‘Jin Dan Project,’ I would still conduct health checks,” Zheng Fa added.
“Hmm?”
“I plan to promote entry-level martial arts in the Jiu Shan realm,” Zheng Fa shared his previous thoughts, “to enhance the physical fitness of the mortals in the Jiu Shan realm.”
Senior Sister Zhang nodded, “This idea could indeed help increase the population of the Jiu Shan realm, but what’s the purpose of the health checks?”
“To measure the effects,” Zheng Fa replied. “I hope to create one or several of the most universal entry-level martial arts… I’ve already selected a few that are relatively easy to learn. After these mortals practice martial arts, I’ll conduct health checks on them. Through their progress, I can naturally see which martial arts are more effective and which are less so.”
This meant that not only Senior Sister Zhang, but even Xiao Yu Ying understood—Zheng Fa wanted to use these mortals as experiments.
But to be honest, she actually felt these mortals were quite lucky:
Zheng Fa’s purpose for the experiments wasn’t for himself, nor even for the Jiu Shan Sect… but for these people to have better cultivation methods.
Xiao Yu Ying had wandered through so many secret realms and had seen far more ancient texts than most.
But looking back now… she couldn’t recall anyone, like Zheng Fa, who cared so much for these mundane cultivators.
In fact, there was another purpose for the health checks that Zheng Fa didn’t mention, as Senior Sister Zhang probably wouldn’t understand.
What he valued most were the data…
Having experienced the era of big data, Zheng Fa understood the value of this data better than anyone in the Xuan Wei realm.
…
In modern times.
In the main conference room of the nursing home, a flowchart of the three external dan methods was displayed on the screen—this was observed from Senior Sister Zhang.
Among them, Zheng Fa focused on introducing the concept of the dan ding.
“Human body simulation? Three gates and nine orifices?”
At the conference table, Cheng Yun furrowed his brows, “We don’t understand these terms!”
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