This Version of Shi Jian Has Been Strengthened!

Shi Jian frowned and went on reading this Ultimate Dao of the Electromagnetic Thunder Cannon. What followed read: "In those days, the mortals of the lower realm clung to the old arts, using saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal fire as projectile weapons. Flames leapt to the heavens, yet their force scattered easily. The might of bursting fire waned in an instant. Their range had an end, and their power to kill was shallow. Moreover, when saltpeter and sulfur burned, turbid filth spread, disturbing the spirits of the earth and dissipating primordial essence." "Coming down to recent times, firearms have grown ever finer. Short guns carried on the person fire bullets in a steady string, and within ten paces they punch clean through iron armor. Long guns drawn up in ranks volley like rain, and beyond a hundred paces they pierce stout ramparts. There are moreover mechanical repeating guns that in an instant pour out dozens of lead balls, their firepower dense as woven cloth. Great field cannon, from several li away, topple cities and shatter walls; where their iron shot passes, not a blade of grass or a tree remains. There are also hand-hurled bursting thunders, fragments flying in every direction, and within several zhang flesh and blood are reduced to pulp. All these weapons, set against the saltpeter-and-sulfur bamboo tubes of old, are many times greater in might, and ever broader in use." "???" Huh? Had the Celestial Worthy really descended into the world to play with guns and cannon?! Shi Jian kept reading. His expression grew blanker and blanker as he stared at what was written. "...Though men of insight have slightly grasped the mysteries of electromagnetism, their grasp is still superficial and crude. They stop at drawing lightning into a vessel and setting direction by a magnetic needle. They have not penetrated the ultimate principle by which the clash of yin and yang generates thrust. Thus the devices they make turn slow and stiff, fire no great distance, and strike no great depth—like an infant swinging a great hammer, its strength unequal to the task, its might unshown..." "...I now observe the kalpic fortunes of the future. Demonic evil burns ever fiercer, and the miasma of demons grows ever heavier. Ordinary weapons of gunpowder will in the end meet the calamity of exhaustion. The craft of mortal artisans can hardly break the barrier of utmost yin. Therefore I now expound the ultimate Dao of the future, divulge a mystery heaven and earth have not yet revealed, and transmit the method of the electromagnetic thunder cannon. Though this method has not yet taken form at present, the principle has long been complete within the primordial qi of heaven and earth. It is like a spring seed buried in frozen soil: before its season it does not sprout, yet the impulse of its growth has never perished for a single day. I now first leak its workings and entrust them to those of later generations who have the affinity. When heavenly timing and human affairs accord, it will of itself emerge in answer to fate. This method does not rely on the ferocious might of slaughter. In truth it is a great compassion, for sweeping away wicked delusion and protecting all living beings. It is not a fondness for fierce force, but a showing of the mystery of inexhaustible primordial transformation, of utmost yang breaking yin..." "...The making of the electromagnetic thunder cannon is divided into three essentials: two rails, metal paths that conduct current; a thunder projectile in the center that communicates with spirit; and an electric storehouse that gathers primordial magnetism. Once the three paths are complete, they fully accord with the rules of yin and yang in heaven and earth." "...Two parallel metal rails: one is the anode, one the cathode. The anode sends forth the qi of yang motion; the cathode carries the resonance of primordial magnetism. Between the two rails a surging configuration forms of itself. When current runs between the twin rails, layer upon layer of gang-qi fields of magnetic resonance arise all around. Magnetic light stretches within the two rails, like thunderbolts spread through gaps in the clouds—hidden, yet mighty; formless, yet full of force." "...The thunder projectile in the center is cast of spirit-communicating refined gold and set crosswise between the twin rails of yin and yang. The body of the projectile bears the qi of yang electricity and travels within the gang-qi fields of magnetic resonance. The yang electricity borne by the projectile and the resonance of primordial magnetism interact, and thus a fierce forward force is born. This force is named the primordial magnetic thunder force." "...What, then, is the principle? It is like a Maoshan grandmaster performing the Five Thunders Orthodox Method. He must first refine his own body within, making the heart the electric storehouse and the kidneys the magnetic root. When heart-yang circulates, electrical resonance arises of itself; when kidney-yin congeals and is stored, magnetic gang qi forms of itself. Only when yin and yang within the body join can one resonate with the thunder of heaven and earth. The wonder of the electromagnetic thunder cannon lies precisely in using a device of metal and iron in place of the human body, current in place of heart-yang, and primordial magnetism in place of kidney-yin. This is the Dao of person and device as one, inner and outer answering each other. The electricity in the projectile and the primordial magnetism between the rails are as sail and wind. When primordial magnetism responds, thrust is born of itself..." "..." A Maoshan grandmaster?! That settled it. This thing had been made up by Liu Xiu... Wait. Liu Xiu had made up... a whole Daoist canon!! Shi Jian's expression went from blank to stunned, and then to blanker still. Right after that, he frowned his way through the entire text, and his gaze locked onto certain characters in it that had been deliberately written wrong. Once the names of immortals and gods, of the Celestial Worthy, and of the deities in the book had each gained a few extra strokes, his eyelid twitched. He drew several deep breaths and looked toward Liu Xiu. "Mm. It really is only 'suspected'!" He meant nothing else by it. He only felt that if these characters had not been written wrong, thunder might suddenly have crashed down from the sky. And then it would, ever so conveniently, send Liu Xiu down to be re... Fine, fine. Liu Xiu probably would not have any chance of reincarnating at all! The reason he thought so was simple. In the text he had seen that electromagnetic cannon Liu Xiu had talked about when chatting with him before. And then there was that line about a Maoshan grandmaster. Shi Jian felt that if this had not been made up by Liu Xiu... He stopped trying to think about who had written it and who had made it up! Expressionless, he merely raised his head and looked at Liu Xiu before him, who had committed... crimes that, set in ancient times, could be called privately carving the imperial seal, falsely transmitting an imperial edict, and deceiving the sovereign. Your nine clans really have suffered along with you! Shi Jian griped that one line in his heart. His left hand moved slightly, and the formations of the Yizhuang, which ordinarily hardly ran at all, ran at full power. It was not that he meant to carry out heaven's justice and execute Liu Xiu on the spot. He meant to fight for a chance. When the Thunder Bureau truly sent down heavenly thunder, he would do his best to leave Liu Xiu an opportunity to reincarnate! They were master and disciple, after all. This was as far as he could help! "Master, what's wrong?" "...Nothing!" Shi Jian badly wanted to say that he was not his master, but he still did not say it aloud. He only frowned and solemnly warned Liu Xiu: "This is not the Celestial Worthy transmitting a method!" "Oh, oh!" Liu Xiu nodded and asked, curious, "So, Master, may I cultivate the Ultimate Dao of the Electromagnetic Thunder Cannon in this book?" "..." Shouldn't you be a little worried about yourself! If you won't worry about yourself, you ought at least to spare a thought for your master. Helpless, Shi Jian thought this, then looked strangely out the window. Strange. Where was the thunder? Why hadn't heavenly thunder come down?! Strike him! Just strike him already! Shi Jian waited and waited, and at the same time strained to drive the Yizhuang's formations. It was still that same thought. He would do his best to leave Liu Xiu a chance to reincarnate. They were master and disciple, after all. He would strive to cultivate hard in the days to come, and when that future came, then lead Liu Xiu into the Daoist gate. Though he felt this hope was very slim! It was just very strange. He waited a few minutes, and outside the window the sun still blazed high. Let alone heavenly thunder coming down—there was not a single dark cloud. "Hm? It can't really be the Celestial Worthy transmitting a method, can it?" Doubt and uncertainty began to rise in Shi Jian's heart as he looked toward Liu Xiu. But Liu Xiu was not looking at him. He was looking instead at the portrait of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Responds to the Origin and Universally Transforms with the Sound of Thunder, enshrined on the offering table. That made Shi Jian ask aloud, puzzled. "What's wrong?" "..." Liu Xiu did not speak. Only the little person in his heart showed a trace of blankness on its face, looking toward a blurred, indistinct figure that had appeared upon the portrait of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Responds to the Origin and Universally Transforms with the Sound of Thunder. What the other's face looked like, Liu Xiu could not see clearly. He only saw the third eye at the center of the other's brow, the sudden look of astonishment that came over the other's face, and the gun in the other's hand! Yes—the gun of an electromagnetic cannon! The gun that had appeared when the other reached out and, across empty space, made a grasp at that book he had made up, The Celestial Worthy Expounds the Ultimate Dao of the Electromagnetic Thunder Cannon. Liu Xiu only saw the other's expression go from astonishment to keen interest as he played with the electromagnetic-cannon gun. After blasting apart some pitch-black object beside him several times, the other looked toward him. Liu Xiu could not quite read the look in the other's eyes. He only saw the other suddenly go from a cheerful, beaming look to glancing at Liu Xiu's kidneys with a bit of distaste—and then vanish! "???" Bewilderment showed in Liu Xiu's eyes, but he soon returned to his usual expression. As the saying went, even a side-eye still counted as a look. He felt his road of the immortal Dao was secure! "???" Shi Jian blankly watched the look on Liu Xiu's face. Very soon he was looking even more blankly at the book in his hands as a streak of divine light flashed across it. He fell silent, his expression blanker still, staring at the scripture in his hands. The wrong characters were gone. It had grown thicker, and its name had been changed to The Celestial Worthy Expounds the Primordial Magnetism Jade Pivot Precious Scripture. No. Had the Celestial Worthy really gone off to play with guns and cannon?! Pah. Wrong. Had the Celestial Worthy really transmitted a method?!