Solar Energy

"Solar... energy?" Cult Master Chi was stunned. As the leader of the Shining Sun Cult, he knew everything there was to know about the sun, but what in the world did this "solar energy" Young Cult Master Lu spoke of mean...? "Taking it literally, does it mean the energy of the sun?" "At a basic level, that is indeed what it means." Lu Yang suddenly brought up something else. "You mentioned earlier that the Sun-Ascension Project has continually failed. Presumably, this project was only initiated in recent years, whereas before, you studied the power of the sun from a distance." "If that is the case, why ascend to the sun to study it?" Cult Master Chi sighed. "Young Cult Master Lu might not know, but our research into the power of the sun recently hit a bottleneck. The radicals proposed ascending to the sun to study it up close. But how could the sun be so easy to approach? Several Body Integration stage experts have already been burned alive by it." Lu Yang leaned back lazily against his chair, picking at nonexistent dirt under his fingernails. "Your esteemed cult is quite bold, daring to ascend to the sun." "Did you know that the stars filling the sky were originally mere phantoms, until over a hundred years ago, a supreme being with boundless Dharmic powers used astounding methods to fill the positions of those astral phantoms?" How could Cult Master Chi not know? The previous cult master had been sacrificed to the heavens precisely because of that incident. "That supreme being of boundless Dharmic power is an existence that even our Heavenly Court Cult finds quite troublesome. And yet your Shining Sun Cult dares to ascend to the heavens and probe the sun? Are you not afraid of offending that entity's taboos, prompting them to annihilate your Shining Sun Cult in a single breath?" Cold sweat broke out across Cult Master Chi upon hearing this. An existence that even the Heavenly Court Cult found troublesome—that meant this supreme being was an immortal! The Shining Sun Cult attempting to ascend to the sun was tantamount to stirring up trouble right under an immortal's nose. An inadvertent action might incur the immortal's displeasure, bringing catastrophic ruin upon the Shining Sun Cult. He had opposed the Sun-Ascension Project when it was first drafted, but the higher-ups were dead set on seeking death. Look at it now: they might as well just wait for an immortal to wipe out their sect. "Then in Young Cult Master Lu's view...?" "The Shining Sun Cult's objective is to spread its faith, not to ascend to the sun, correct?" "Correct." "Cult Master Chi should know that the power of the sun encompasses both light and heat. Light provides illumination, while heat provides warmth." Cult Master Chi nodded. This was written in the True Explanation of the Power of the Sun. Everyone in the Shining Sun Cult knew it; it was a mandatory question on the year-end examination. The True Explanation of the Power of the Sun was an internal text of the Shining Sun Cult, and every member was required to possess a copy. Lu Yang produced a magnifying glass. "This is the cheapest magnifying glass. As long as you place it under the sun, the power of the sun will converge at a single point. At the very least, it can burn ants to death; at most, it can spark a fire. This is an elementary manifestation of solar energy." Cult Master Chi continued to nod. Everything Lu Yang was explaining was basic knowledge. In fact, Cult Master Chi himself had invented the magnifying glass, so no one was more familiar with it than him. "Since the sun possesses energy, why not put this energy to use?" "We have already put it to use by developing cultivation methods for the power of the sun and devising ways to increase the efficiency of absorbing it." Lu Yang shook his head placidly. "Not that kind of usage. Why would cultivators want to cultivate the techniques you created? Just because they are power-of-the-sun cultivation methods? Lunar, solar, Three Powers, Four Symbols, Five Elements—cultivation methods are as numerous as ox hairs. Why would cultivators necessarily choose yours?" "If cultivators don't choose your cultivation methods, your belief in venerating the sun cannot spread, and you will never gain the world's recognition." Cult Master Chi reflected on what the Shining Sun Cult had done over the past sixty thousand years. Indeed, most cultivation methods in the world centered on spiritual energy. They had expended immense effort to research methods based on the power of the sun, yet hardly anyone ever looked at them, making evangelism exceedingly difficult. "Please bestow your guidance, Young Cult Master Lu." "I have already given you the method: put solar energy to use. Not by compiling cultivation techniques, but by bringing solar energy into the homes of ordinary mortals. For instance, what if you stored solar energy and used it to generate light?" "Allowing ordinary mortals to use solar energy? How is that possible?!" Cult Master Chi blurted out. He had never even considered such a question. Lu Yang smiled nonchalantly. "Why wouldn't it be possible? The 'Dream Bubble' developed by Tao Yaoye of the Dao Seeking Sect is affordable even for commoners. Would it really be impossible for you to accumulate solar energy using formations and then release it at night?" "As for the reach of Dream Bubble, Cult Master Mu has the most authority to speak on that." Mu Baiyi nodded. The wider Dream Bubble spread, the greater the fame of their barbecue restaurant and the more prosperous their business became—something directly reflected in their profits. "Even a mere disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect could develop something like that. Could it be that the Shining Sun Cult cannot?" "If this research succeeds and candles are replaced, with every household possessing your Shining Sun Cult's invention, how could you ever worry about failing to spread your faith?" Lu Yang gave Cult Master Chi a meaningful look. "If you want the world to believe in the sun, the first thing you must do is let the world benefit from it. Cult Master Chi, you should understand this principle." A sudden flash of enlightenment struck Cult Master Chi. As expected of an ancient faction, their cognitive horizon was a whole realm above his own! "Of course, using solar energy for lighting isn't something that can be accomplished overnight. How to collect and store solar energy, how to release it, how to simplify the structure, how to reduce the cost, and so on—these are all matters requiring thorough research. Your esteemed cult can take it step by step." "Besides, that is merely a casual example I gave. There is far more that solar energy can do. Cult Master Chi can study it slowly after you return." Research was Cult Master Chi's forte; it was precisely because he had invented the telescope that he had risen to the upper echelons of the Shining Sun Cult. Moreover, this plan was far more dependable than the Sun-Ascension Project. It was bound to be approved by the leadership. If tangible results were produced, wealth and fame would pour in continuously. This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for the Shining Sun Cult's development! He absolutely had to lead the research himself and keep the results firmly in his own hands. That way, the leadership wouldn't dare sacrifice him to the heavens whenever they hit a roadblock! A boon on so many fronts! Cult Master Chi's excitement was beyond words. Was this the wisdom of an ancient faction's successor? In just a few words, he had not only resolved the Shining Sun Cult's problem, but also saved him from his own predicament! If even the successor was like this, what staggering, earth-shaking wisdom must the legendary Dou Tianzun possess! Lu Yang turned his gaze to Mu Baiyi, remaining silent, which exerted a subtle, mounting pressure on him. After a long pause, Lu Yang spoke. "As for the matter of taxes on the barbecue restaurant, Cult Master Mu might consider collaborating with the Shining Sun Cult." "Collaborating?" Mu Baiyi was utterly astonished. Setting aside the fact that their two cults represented Yin and Yang and were innately incompatible in nature, even if they were naturally aligned, where would they even begin to talk about collaboration? Seeing Mu Baiyi's bewildered expression, Lu Yang knew the man had completely missed his point. "Cult Master Mu, you seem to know far less about Great Xia's policies than an ancient like me." "Did you know that Great Xia offers preferential tax policies for research-oriented industries? That there are massive tax cuts or even total exemptions for developing new technologies? And that there are likewise substantial tax reductions or exemptions for utilizing energies other than spiritual energy?" Lu Yang looked at Mu Baiyi as if looking at a fool. To think this guy was a cult master—he knew even less than him.