Chapter 431: Stunning the Academic World! The Number One Oracle Bone Script Prodigy! (1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Around midday, Master Li and an assembly of over a hundred archaeologists landed on the site in an array of helicopters. On their arrival, Luo Feng approached the professor, engaging him in a brief discussion.
Subsequently, Luo Feng directed his attention towards the large crowd congregating at the edge of the excavation pit. “Proceed with the archaeological survey of the perimeter. Meanwhile, I’ll descend to inspect the site,” he declared, sliding down the rope into the pit. Master Li promptly followed his lead.
The anticipation was nearly overwhelming for the professor. The pursuit of the Nine Zhou Ding had been an arduous task, and his inability to reach the site earlier had left him yearning for it even more.
Exclaiming with sheer excitement, he acknowledged, “It is undoubtedly a bronze artifact. However, its specific classification remains uncertain. The sheer size of this object surpasses any conceivable imagination!”
Following another round of exploration with Luo Feng, Professor Li eagerly reported their discoveries. What was intriguing was how closely his measurements matched Luo Feng’s estimates.
“Although we can confirm it’s a bronze artifact, its identity as a Nine Zhou Ding is yet to be established. Luo Feng, could you share how you arrived at your conclusion?” With this pivotal question, Professor Li placed the onus of clarification onto Luo Feng, the one who had asserted it to be the mythical Nine Zhou Ding.
As this claim was still unsubstantiated, Luo Feng’s perspective was crucial.
“Luo Feng, could you elaborate on how you determined that this is indeed the Nine Zhou Ding?” Qin Rubing chimed in curiously.
Chuckling, Luo Feng replied with a nonchalant air, “Well, it was purely a conjecture. I have spent substantial time studying the Oracle Bone Scripts and am familiar with most existing translations. My deductions were drawn from the deciphered scripts and their context, which I believe are fairly accurate.”
Upon hearing Luo Feng’s explanation, Master Li was momentarily dumbfounded. Luo Feng had based his claims on the Oracle Bone Script, a notoriously tricky ancient language to translate, with even top scholars struggling to provide definitive interpretations. Many of these ancient characters had largely speculative meanings.
Master Li, deep in thought, said, “For now, our speculations are inconsequential. Even if we have correctly deciphered the Oracle Bone Script, we need to physically uncover the artifact and verify its age. From that, we can infer whether if it indeed is the Nine Zhou Ding.”
Resolute, Luo Feng responded, “I maintain my opinion that it is indeed the Nine Zhou Ding. There’s no need for further speculation. The combination of a large area pinpointed via the Oracle Bone Script and a gigantic bronze tripod — it wouldn’t make sense if it weren’t the Nine Zhou Ding! As we must excavate the Ding, I volunteer to lead the team.”
With the use of excavators now banned, Luo Feng had no choice but to acquiesce to the professor’s demands. In a way, he understood their intentions. After all, ensuring that the excavators would not damage any artifacts would be a miraculous feat. With an increased number of hands on the job, he estimated that by the following morning, they would be able to completely unearth the Nine Zhou Ding.
All eyes were keenly observing their progress. The artifact hailed from an era so ancient that its age and period remained unconfirmed in the absence of historical documents or unearthed texts.
As the day aged into late afternoon, more helicopters landed, carrying familiar faces. They kept their distance, engaging in discussions amongst themselves without interrupting the professionals at work.
Long Jianfei, the director of the Forbidden City Museum, greeted Professor Li amicably on his arrival. “Professor Li, it’s been a while since our last meeting, hasn’t it?”
Even though Long Jianfei held a significantly higher status, he maintained respect for Master Li, who was leading the archaeological expedition.
Master Li, engrossed in translating the images before him, offered a brief nod of acknowledgment, “Yes.” His focus lay purely on academics, and he made minimal efforts to conform to societal norms and formalities.
Lin Kede, standing nearby, nudged Long Jianfei and interjected, “Old Long, our friend here is busy translating the Oracle Bone Scripts. Maybe we should avoid interrupting him. Also, is it just me or does Professor Li seem a bit off today?”
“Off? What could possibly be wrong? He just found the Nine Zhou Ding of legend, didn’t he?” responded a bewildered Long Jianfei.
Upon learning the full story from Lin Kede, Long Jianfei asked, “So, are you suggesting Little Luo’s translation is inaccurate?”
“It’s not about inaccuracy,” Lin Kede clarified, “it’s about the usual pace of translating Oracle Bone Script. Translating even a single character could take up to a year or more. Some characters might even remain untranslated. However, with Luo Feng’s assistance, we have significantly accelerated the process.. His input has shed light on characters that previously eluded us!”
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