Chapter 727

“Great Xuan prospers under heaven’s mandate; sacred virtue shines bright.”

“Today, we establish the Qiankun Academy in the capital, upholding the Dao of Heaven and the craft of Earth. We must follow the legacy of the Kaogong, emulate Mozi’s ideal of universal love, base ourselves on the investigation of things to attain knowledge, and take as our duty the mastery of nature and the fulfillment of affairs. All students must understand three essentials.”

“First, uphold truth: wear silk and hemp to understand the toil of farming and weaving; handle square and compass to grasp the principles of construction…”

“Second, embrace change: once, Gongshu carved wood into a magpie that flew for three days without landing. Times shift like rivers rushing forward; those clinging to the old will be swept away by the tide…”

“Third, uphold righteousness: firearms can repel foreign aggression, yet also harm the people; Gang qi can subdue demons, yet also fuel greed. Remember the warning of the Yinfu: ‘Fire born of wood brings disaster inevitable!’ In all intentions and undertakings, consider the benefit of the nation and the people…”

On the high platform, Yan Jiuling wore his official robe, his expression solemn.

A person’s fate is sometimes impossible to explain.

He came to the capital merely hoping to pass the imperial exams and give his family some face.

Who knew that because of his grandfather’s “Ten Strategies for Securing the State,” he was thrust into the eye of the storm—and under the emperor’s tacit approval and the combined efforts of many factions, he was unexpectedly named the top scholar.

Being top scholar wasn’t much to begin with; the emperor even intended to marry him a princess, granting him the title of imperial son-in-law, so he could live in comfort in the capital as a man of leisure.

Yet he became interested in the Qiankun Academy, giving up much to enter it.

The academy was initially not well regarded; he exhausted himself from planning to the present, expending countless energies, especially after the steam engine’s emergence, which drew opposition from countless factions and interference from others.

Fortunately, everything held up.

As Li Yan said, from now on, it was a new beginning.

On the square, the many disciples were also filled with excitement.

They stood in two rows, east and west, grouped by discipline:

The “Investigation of Things” students gazed curiously at the massive levers and gears visible in the workshop sheds beside the square, whispering about the legendary “Iron Ox, Divine Ox…”

The “Mystical Engineering” students were calmer, their glances occasionally sweeping over the peachwood Seven-Star Sword hanging from the eaves of the Hundred Crafts Hall and the roof tiles engraved with protective talismans—the marks left by the academy’s mystic artisans…

The academy was newly founded; many things were still incomplete.

This first cohort of students was simply divided into two disciplines: “Investigation of Things” and “Mystical Engineering.”

The disciples of “Investigation of Things” were all commoners, either learned scholars well-versed in diverse arts, or skilled apprentices meticulously trained by folk craftsmen, possessing exceptional hands-on ability.

As for “Mystical Engineering,” the numbers were fewer, all disciples who had awakened supernatural abilities.

Earth masters, puppeteers, alchemists, mystic artisans… their future paths were varied.

After reading the academy’s code of conduct, Yan Jiuling did not speak immediately. Instead, he carefully handed the silk scroll to the scribe, then straightened his robe and addressed the crowd below with solemnity: “Other academies revere Confucius and Mencius and the sages. Our Qiankun Academy also has a deity to worship.”

Its name is the True Lord of the Sui Wheel and Water-Fire, bestowed by the Emperor!

Saying this, he turned and called out in a deep voice: “Set up the altar!”

The academy’s opening drew not only hundreds of disciples but also many spectators from the capital.

Their gazes had long been drawn to the towering statue before the Investigation Hall.

Yet it was covered by a massive red cloth, so no one could see it.

Hearing Yan Jiuling’s words, many murmured among themselves.

The academy had a new deity?

This was no small matter—and from his tone, it seemed the state would offer it imperial sacrifices.

The True Lord of the Sui Wheel and Water-Fire?

No one had heard of it before…

Minds varied among the crowd, but the platform was bustling with activity.

Below, the crowd was astonished to see the altar arranged in the highest rank of Great Xuan ritual protocol. The original master of ceremonies, Jianzheng Yuanfeng, now wore a black Daoist robe edged with cloud-qi patterns, and on its back were embroidered red-and-blue water-and-fire motifs twisted into a Taiji.

“Begin—!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At Yuanfeng’s cry, three cannon shots split the air.

A hundred craftsmen pulled the crimson ropes, and the scarlet curtain slowly slid down.

As the red silk fell, morning light slanted across the front of the Investigation Hall.

Looking up, they saw a divine statue towering in the morning light.

Three eyes, fierce visage; the vertical eye on the forehead slightly open, the other two lowered as if observing the turning of water and fire wheels. Skin crimson, expression majestic.

He wore a deep blue cloud-patterned robe with left lapel, but the cloud motifs were embroidered with hidden gear patterns; the right sleeve bore flame patterns symbolizing steam energy. In his left hand he held a bronze bell as a ritual artifact.

Up close, it was a miniature prototype of a steam engine.

His other hand formed the Water-Fire Seal.

Spectators far away stood on tiptoe, their expressions strange.

The statue resembled those in Daoist temples, yet with the addition of steam and gear elements, it looked distinctly different—imposing and novel.

Of course, Li Yan on the platform felt uneasy.

He knew it was due to the influence of his past-life memories.

After all, such a thing had never existed in his past life.

Regardless of others’ thoughts, the ritual on the platform proceeded normally.

Indeed, it was the highest ritual: the “Three Offerings.”

The “Three Offerings” was the supreme rite for honoring deities.

For example, at the Heavenly Empress Palace worshipping Mazu, the “Three Offerings” required nearly a thousand ritual items, strictly following ancient protocols.

Ritual vessels included bamboo and wooden baskets and dishes, bronze vessels such as jue and xing; folk traditional vessels included bronze incense burners, candle screens, fruit trays, and food trays. The ceremonial procession included imperial youbu banners, road-clearing flags, warning plaques, title flags, pheasant-tail fans, lanterns, incense burners, nine-curved yellow umbrellas, and over a hundred other staffs and implements.

The attire of the ritual participants also followed strict rules.

The “Three Offerings” for the True Lord of the Sui Wheel and Water-Fire was no exception.

The first offering was “Craftsmanship as Heart.”

Eight bare-chested apprentices carried the steam engine model to the altar basin; Zhou Bai sprinkled saltpeter and sulfur into the cracks.

“Sssss!” A blue flame shot up, instantly turning into white sulfur smoke.

The disciples closest below felt the acrid stench and quickly held their breath, but Master Craftsman Zhao Huogong fell to his knees, leading the craftsmen in a loud cry: “Ancestors, grant us our craft!”

The disciples below, seeing this, quickly bowed and clasped their hands.

The second offering was “Grains in Place of Blood.”

The Agriculture students poured millet, broomcorn, rice, glutinous rice, and beans onto the iron wave base.

When boiling water was poured in, it hissed out with a “pfft,” scalding the nearby disciples who jumped back; grains rolled onto Yan Jiuling’s ceremonial robe hem.

The third offering was “The People’s Prayers.”

The physician Ge Pusheng jammed a pill into the gears; a hundred craftsmen struck the gear chimes, off-key and chaotic:

“Water and fire turn—hey ho!”

“Don’t let the steam valve burst—hey ho!”

Yuanfeng formed the seal, held his dust whisk, and circled the statue continuously.

Above, Li Yan saw this and frowned slightly.

“Young Master Li.”

Beside him, Wang Daoxuan mused: “The Sui Wheel has not yet gathered spiritual essence. Even if listed among the state temples, it will take much time. Isn’t it premature to activate its light now?”

Li Yan shook his head slightly. “I don’t know.”

“Perhaps because there are so many disciples, they’re rushing to gather incense and devotion…”

Before he finished speaking, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at his chest.

Just now, the Gou Die had subtly reacted.

Though only for an instant, it was unmistakable: a cold-and-hot alternation.

This sensation was not the sign of a yin disturbance.

It was more like when he had encountered temples before—some common deities attempting to communicate with living yin officials.

Could it be… the True Lord of the Sui Wheel has already taken form?

As he wondered, the ritual below finally ended.

The hundreds of disciples on the square, led by the academy’s servants, first toured the various pavilions and workshops to learn their way, then returned to their dormitories for rest before preparing for tomorrow’s lessons.