"Solar... energy?"
Master Chi was taken aback. As the Master of the Yaoyang Sect, he was very familiar with everything related to the sun, but what exactly was this "solar energy" Young Master Lu was referring to?
"Taken literally, it seems to refer to the energy of the sun?"
"A simplistic understanding, but that’s the gist of it."
Lu Yang suddenly brought up another matter, "You just mentioned that the Sun Ascending Project has been continually failing. It must be a plan that has been put into action in recent years; previously, the study of the sun’s power was always conducted from a distance."
"Given that, why embark on a Sun Ascending Study?"
Master Chi sighed, "Young Master Lu doesn’t know, but recently, our research on the sun’s power hit a bottleneck. The radicals proposed that we should study the sun up close by ascending to it. However, the sun is not so easily approached. Several Body Integration Realm cultivators have already been burned to death by the sun."
Lu Yang leaned back in his chair lazily, toying with the non-existent dirt under his fingernails, "Your sect is quite bold, daring to ascend to the sun."
"Are you aware that all the stars in the sky were originally Illusory Shadows, and over a hundred years ago, a supremely powerful being used a world-shocking method to fill in these stars’ positions?"
How could Master Chi be unaware? The former Master of his sect sacrificed his life for this very event.
"That supremely powerful being is an existence that even our Heavenly Court Sect finds troublesome. Your Yaoyang Sect dares to ascend and probe the sun, aren’t you afraid of violating that being’s taboo and having your sect eradicated in one fell swoop?"
After listening, Master Chi broke out in a cold sweat. An existence that even the Heavenly Court Sect found troublesome must be an Immortal.
The Yaoyang Sect’s Sun Ascending was tantamount to causing trouble right under the eyes of an Immortal. A single careless act could potentially offend the Immortal and bring catastrophe upon the Yaoyang Sect.
He was against the Sun Ascending Plan from the start, but the higher-ups were determined to follow through, even if it meant death. Now, all they could do was wait for an Immortal to annihilate them.
"So, what is Young Master Lu’s opinion?"
"The purpose of the Yaoyang Sect is to spread faith, not to ascend to the sun, right?"
"Correct."
"Master Chi should know that the sun’s power contains both light and heat, light for illumination and heat for providing temperature."
Master Chi nodded. This fact was written in the "True Interpretation of the Sun’s Power," something everyone in the Yaoyang Sect knew and was a required topic for the annual exams.
The "True Interpretation of the Sun’s Power" is a book internal to the Yaoyang Sect, mandated to be owned by every individual.
Lu Yang then took out a magnifying glass, "This is the cheapest magnifying glass. Simply place it under the sun, and the sun’s power will converge at one point; at its mildest, it can burn ants, and at its worst, it can start a fire. This is the initial manifestation of solar energy."
Master Chi continued to nod. What Lu Yang was saying was all fundamental knowledge, and the magnifying glass was his own invention; he could not be more familiar with it.
"Since the sun possesses energy, then why not make use of this energy?"
"We have already been utilizing it, researching Cultivation Techniques for the sun’s power and improving methods for absorbing it more efficiently."
Lu Yang calmly shook his head, "Not in this way of usage. Why should cultivators practice the techniques you’ve written? Just because your techniques pertain to the sun’s power?"
"Yin and Yang, the Three Talents, the Four Images, and the Five Elements—there are as many types of cultivation techniques as there are hairs on an ox. Do cultivators really need to choose your techniques?"
"If cultivators do not choose your techniques, then your doctrine of venerating the sun won’t spread and won’t gain recognition from the people."
Thinking back on the Yaoyang Sect’s actions over the last sixty thousand years, Master Chi realized it was indeed true. In a world where most cultivation techniques were centered around spiritual essence, they had expended great effort studying sun’s power techniques that very few people looked at, making it difficult to spread their faith.
"Please enlighten me, Young Sect Master Lu."
"I’ve already explained the method, to utilize solar energy. Not by composing a cultivation technique for the power of the sun, but letting solar energy enter the homes of ordinary people. For example, storing solar energy and using it to provide light?"
"Allowing ordinary people to use solar energy, how is that possible?" Master Chi exclaimed in disbelief, having never considered this possibility.
Lu Yang smiled casually, "How is it not possible? If Tao Yaoye from the Seek Dao Sect can make ’Dream Mirage’ affordable for the common folk, can’t your sect use array methods to accumulate solar energy and release it at night?"
"As for the propagation of Dream Mirage, Mu Baiyi has the most authority to speak."
Mu Baiyi nodded in agreement. The wider the spread of Dream Mirage, the more famous his barbecue shop became, and the more prosperous his business, which was directly reflected in the profits.
"If a disciple of the Seek Dao Sect can research such a thing, surely the Yaoyang Sect can do it too?"
"If this research is successful and candles are replaced, with each household holding an invention from your Yaoyang Sect, why would you worry about spreading your teachings?"
Lu Yang looked meaningfully at Master Chi, "To make the world believe in the sun, the first thing to do is to let the world profit from it. Master Chi, you must understand this principle."
Master Chi suddenly felt as if a great truth had been revealed to him, truly, an ancient power possessed a higher level of cognition than his own.
"Of course, generating light with solar energy won’t happen overnight. How to collect, store, and release solar energy, how to simplify the structure, how to reduce costs, etc. These are issues that require in-depth research, which your sect can address step by step."
"Moreover, this is just one example I’ve given on the fly. There are many things solar energy can do, and Master Chi, you can study them slowly after you return."
Research was Master Chi’s forte, and he had become a high-level member of the Yaoyang Sect because he invented the telescope.
Furthermore, this plan was much more reliable than the ’Ascend to Sun’ project, and it was bound to be approved by the higher-ups. If he could produce results, wealth and fame would flow to him endlessly.
This was an unparalleled development opportunity for the Yaoyang Sect!
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He must lead the research himself and keep the results in his hands, so the higher-ups wouldn’t dare to sacrifice him at the first sign of trouble.
It was a deal with multiple benefits!
Master Chi’s excitement was beyond words.
Was this the wisdom of an heir to an ancient power? With just a few words, not only had he solved the problem of the Yaoyang Sect, but he had also resolved his own plight!
If heirs were like this, what sort of extraordinary wisdom must Heavenly Venerate Dou, the legend himself, possess!
Lu Yang’s gaze rested on Mu Baiyi, silent, exerting a subtle pressure on him.
After a pause, Lu Yang spoke.
"Regarding the tax issue for the barbecue shop, Mu Master can consider cooperating with the Yaoyang Sect." Stay tuned for updates on freewebnovel
"Cooperate?" Mu Baiyi was extremely surprised. Apart from the fact that their sects were as different as Yin and Yang in nature, even if they were naturally aligned, where would they start with cooperation?
Seeing the astonished look on Mu Baiyi’s face, Lu Yang knew that the other party hadn’t understood his meaning.
"Mu Master, you’re less familiar with Great Xia’s policies than this person from ancient times," Lu Yang said.
"Do you know about Great Xia’s tax incentives for research industries? The high reductions or even exemptions for developing new technology? The high reductions or even exemptions for using energy other than Spiritual Energy?"
Lu Yang looked at Mu Baiyi as if he were looking at a fool, thinking to himself that even a sect master like him didn’t know as much as he did.