Chapter 170 Ma Tianzheng of the Quanzhen Daoist Sect
Xing Honglang's comment, in fact, sparked an idea for Li Daoxuan.
Paving the entire world with cement roads was an imperative, but it was a colossal undertaking. The astronomical quantities of cement required couldn't possibly be supplied by Li Daoxuan alone to his people.
Now that the second cement road was complete, and the workers had gained considerable experience with cement during its construction, it was time he taught the villagers the earliest known cement recipe.
He opened his computer, logged onto his usual history and military forum, and posted anonymously: "Hey guys, anyone have the oldest cement formula? Could you share it? I'm writing a historical transmigration novel and want to teach the ancients how to make cement."
Reply 1: "If it's historical transmigration, focus on romancing ancient beauties. Skip the tech stuff, it's totally played out."
Reply 2: "First floor's full of crap! Definitely no romance, not even female characters. All male cast, hardcore tech is where it's at!"
Reply 3: "First floor gets weak in the knees around women, second floor's got misogyny. Ignore both. Writing to reader demands is a dead end; writing at your own pace is the way to go. Here's the ancient cement formula: ..."
What followed was a trove of professional data, quite detailed.
Li Daoxuan thanked the third commenter, copied the information, converted it to traditional Chinese characters with a single click, then scaled it down, printed it out, and presented it directly to Gao Yiye.
Suddenly, a massive sheet of paper descended from the heavens. Even scaled down, it was still much larger than her.
Gao Yiye could read, but not extensively, and a single glance made her head spin. Xing Honglang also had some literacy, but not much, and a glance made her equally dizzy. The two women peered at the dense characters covering the huge paper, both feeling lightheaded. "Heavenly Lord," Gao Yiye began, "what is this...?"
Li Daoxuan instructed, "Give it to the masons. Tell them to study and mix cement according to what's written on this paper. If they succeed, they will be richly rewarded."
This time, Gao Yiye and Xing Honglang understood. "Is this the method for making the gray divine mud used for paving roads?"
Both women gasped in unison.
Xing Honglang moved swiftly, darting forward to roll up the edge of the large paper. Her left hand alone proved cumbersome, struggling to roll it up. She quickly called out to Gao Yiye, "Saintess, quick, help me roll up this paper!"
Gao Yiye, puzzled, asked, "Why?"
Xing Honglang explained, "This is the divine mud formula, a celestial recipe! If we were to sell it, people would fight over it, even at tens of thousands in gold taels. How can we let just anyone see it?"
Gao Yiye exclaimed, "Huh? It could sell for tens of thousands?"
Xing Honglang sighed, "You two stay in this village too much; you have no idea how many wealthy people there are out there. Especially the princes and nobles, they wouldn't bat an eye at any sum to acquire a divine formula."
Now understanding, Gao Yiye quickly moved to help. As the two women rolled the massive sheet, Li Daoxuan looked down from above, finding the scene quite amusing.
In truth, Li Daoxuan wouldn't have minded the cement formula spreading; he even thought it might be better. But after a moment's consideration, he remembered the frequent natural disasters of the late Ming, and how the common people were already suffering immensely. Last time, when Liang Shixian wanted to build a cement road, San Shier had talked him out of it.
The common folk simply couldn't endure any more hardship.
So, for now, keeping the cement a secret was probably for the best. It would prevent some high-ranking official from suddenly deciding to build a road, only to work countless laborers to death.
The large sheet was rolled up, forming a long, cylindrical scroll.
Gao Yiye tried to carry it back to the masons, but she couldn't budge it. Xing Honglang lent her strength, and the two young women hoisted the enormous paper scroll onto their shoulders, one at the front, one at the back, as if carrying a massive log.
With grunts and effort, they carried the giant scroll into the Craftsman Well, dumped it in front of the masons, clapped their hands, and considered the task done.
Just as the two women were occupied with this, the newly completed cement road was opening for traffic. A public Solar Car, packed with villagers from Wangjia Village, set off for their home...
In truth, the Wangjia Village residents had already returned home many times before the road was finished, diligently tilling their fields and preparing for the spring planting. But with the cement road now officially open, everyone still rushed to board the vehicle, filling it to capacity, eager to savor the ceremonial act of riding a car to their fields.
It was exhilarating; they felt as though life had reached its absolute peak!
Chengcheng County, in the side hall of the City God Temple.
Mrs. San sat with an air of profound solemnity, her eyes gazing at her nose, her thoughts at her heart, like an enlightened Daoist master.
Before her, a large crowd of poor, ragged common folk prostrated themselves.
More and more common folk were being healed by Dao Xuan Tian Zun's "divine medicine." Each person saved meant an entire family becoming devout followers of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, causing the people of Chengcheng County to embrace this "newly arrived" deity at a rapid pace.
Outside the side hall, however, stood a middle-aged Daoist priest, his expression peculiar, watching the scene within with a sidelong glance, silently observing.
The Daoist priest waited for a long time outside the door. After all the devout men and women finished their prayers and respectfully exited, leaving only Mrs. San and her maid in the side hall, the middle-aged Daoist pushed open the door. He made a Daoist salute and declared, "This humble Daoist is Ma Tianzheng, a disciple under Master Wang of the Quanzhen Longmen sect."
The mention of his name genuinely startled Mrs. San. The Quanzhen Longmen sect was an incredibly renowned Daoist lineage, and Master Wang, whose full name was Wang Changyue, was over a hundred years old and considered the patriarch who had revitalized the Quanzhen Longmen sect. For a Daoist practitioner like Mrs. San, his name was already legendary.
Mrs. San dared not be rude and quickly bowed. "May I ask, Esteemed Senior, what guidance you bring?"
Ma Tianzheng's face still held that strange expression. "This humble Daoist travels the world, spreading teachings and expounding scriptures. When I passed through Chengcheng County, I heard there was a lay practitioner here speaking of a deity called Dao Xuan Tian Zun, claiming him to be a true god of our Daoist faith. This humble Daoist found himself rather puzzled..."
Mrs. San prompted, "Oh?"
Ma Tianzheng's tone was peculiar. "This humble Daoist had never heard of Dao Xuan Tian Zun's divine title before. I thought my own learning was insufficient, so I specifically went through many ancient texts, yet I still found no mention of Dao Xuan Tian Zun... Regarding this, I would appreciate your enlightenment, Esteemed Senior Sister."
So that was it!
Mrs. San smiled. "To be honest, before I witnessed the Heavenly Lord's divine manifestation myself, I had never heard of Dao Xuan Tian Zun either. However, the moment I witnessed it with my own eyes, the question was no longer whether Dao Xuan Tian Zun existed, but rather whether the ancient texts had simply erred in their records."
Ma Tianzheng's eyes narrowed. He thought to himself: *A divine manifestation? Has a deity truly manifested? I've... I've lived for over forty years, seeking immortals and inquiring about the Dao every day, yet I've never witnessed a divine manifestation!*
He believed in the existence of deities, yet from childhood through his current forty-plus years, he had never once witnessed a divine manifestation.
*Could it be... that I've been deceived?*
In the quiet of the night, Ma Tianzheng would invariably entertain such thoughts, only to then harshly slap himself, forcing himself to clear his mind and reaffirm his Daoist conviction. He believed that as long as he traveled the world, seeking immortals and inquiring about the Dao, he would one day encounter one.
Mrs. San continued, "Leave the city, head northeast for over thirty li, and you will find a village called Gao Family Village,
"Why not see it with your own eyes, Esteemed Senior?"
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