Chapter 31: Let me tell you a story

The hunger marketing strategy kept the Colorful Fabric Store firmly gripping the public’s appetite; the 16 Colorful Fabric Stores sold only 50 to 100 bolts of fabric each day, completely at random, which piqued interest. This tactic also ensured that the crowd didn’t bother with other fabric stores.

Every day, carts traveled from An Yang to Wuyang, unloading goods before immediately returning to An Yang, constantly shuttling back and forth. The first day, they delivered 1,000 bolts; the second day, 1,200; the third day, 1,600; and by the fourth day, 2,000 bolts arrived! Wuyang became even more lively.

Afterward, Li Xian did not increase the number of looms; the weaving speed remained steady at around 2,000 bolts per day. This was sufficient for temporary needs, especially since raw materials were not very abundant.

However, watching the carts shuttle back and forth and seeing the unprecedented hustle and bustle at Qingyun Valley, Li Xian still wore a worried expression. The issue with the wiring was causing him great distress.

Others only saw that the Sea Soul Silk was temporarily usable and the industrial prosperity, but they didn’t understand the immense demand for materials in industry! When real industrial development kicks in, the wiring could easily require hundreds of thousands or even millions of kilometers. Relying solely on the limited Sea Soul Silk from the sea folk was far from enough; not to mention how expensive that silk was!

Naturally, that day’s research on wiring ended in failure.

“Let’s continue tomorrow,” Li Xian sighed. He knew there was no rush, but it was frustrating! Developing industry without wiring was quite absurd!

Suddenly, a newly joined cultivator stood up, hesitated for a moment, and walked up to Li Xian. This person seemed uncertain and hesitant.

Noticing the hesitation, Li Xian took the initiative to ask, “Yang Qianjiang, what’s the matter?”

This newcomer, Yang Qianjiang, was at the Foundation Establishment stage but was a disabled soldier; his right arm was amputated at the elbow, and he had lost his left thumb.

Typically, a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be full of vigor, but his severe disabilities had almost destroyed Yang Qianjiang’s confidence. Now, seeing Li Xian, he was too timid to speak up.

When Li Xian inquired, Yang Qianjiang finally hesitated and said, “Young master, I… I… I want to tell you a… story.”

What?  

Yang Qianjiang’s statement surprised everyone—wait, you want to tell the young master a story?  

Li Xian was taken aback but then smiled slightly, “Sure!”

Yang Qianjiang stuttered, “There’s a legend that ancient immortals used heavenly fire… used heavenly fire… to refine fine gold from regular gold, secret silver from silver, red copper from purple copper, and black iron into dark iron. It is said these four metals can be used to craft immortal artifacts.

Some say it takes a thousand pounds of gold to refine one pound of fine gold; others claim one hundred pounds can yield the same.

But… but… it seems no one has ever succeeded.”

Li Xian suddenly stood up upon hearing this, his heart echoing with a roar: “Yes, yes! In the past, I always thought about alloys, but I never considered further refinement. After all, this is a different world; perhaps there are different rules.

Try it, try it, try it! I must try it!

But, what is heavenly fire?”

With that, Li Xian immediately asked everyone, “Does anyone know what heavenly fire is? Or what characteristics it has? Legends are fine too!”

Everyone started talking at once:

“No one has ever seen heavenly fire; it’s said that it was very rare even in ancient times.”

“It’s said that during the tribulations of ascension, there is heavenly fire.”

“Only immortals can control heavenly fire, or so the legends say.”

“Heavenly fire is said to have an extremely high temperature, with nothing able to withstand its burning.”

“It’s said that heavenly fire can burn through the earth.”

“Legend has it that heavenly fire is golden.”

“No, it’s pure white.”

“That’s wrong; it’s crimson, like beautiful jade.”

“It’s purple.”

“It’s blue…”

Li Xian didn’t smile; instead, he seriously recorded everything and continued to think about the characteristics of heavenly fire.

High temperature, capable of spontaneous ignition without any material, able to incinerate nearly all substances, possessing a luster like jade, with seemingly uncertain colors. Considering all these properties, Li Xian thought of one thing—plasma! 

Plasma comes in various colors, but it has one characteristic: extremely high temperatures! In another world, plasma can reach temperatures of at least six thousand degrees, capable of burning away all materials in the physical world! In laboratory conditions, it can even create sustained high temperatures of one million degrees and instantaneous highs of three hundred million degrees!

Yes, that’s it—plasma! Heavenly fire is plasma! 

Li Xian felt a door open within him! It will definitely succeed; this time, it will definitely succeed! Wires, I need wires!

Now that he knew it was plasma, the next steps became clearer. Ordinary combustion cannot reach plasma temperatures; the extreme heat on Earth is generated using ultra-high voltage electricity.

So, how do you generate ultra-high voltage electricity? 

Build a power plant! Spare no expense in building a power plant!

Wait, just as he was getting fired up, Li Xian realized a problem: establishing a power plant with his current capabilities and foundation was nearly a delusion—at least it would take several years, which is unacceptable. What about using formation techniques instead?

That’s right, lightning techniques, Heart Lightning!

“Does anyone here know lightning techniques? Or the formations for lightning techniques?”

Li Xian’s sudden shift from wires to lightning techniques caught everyone off guard for a moment.

Fortunately, someone responded, but the results weren’t optimistic.

Tang Rong said, “Young master, we do have Heart Lightning, but it’s not true lightning; it’s just a mimetic attack of true essence. Also, while there are the five elements of yin and yang, there is no lightning attribute. Thunder in the sky is merely a change in yin and yang.”

Li Xian wouldn’t give up: “Is there a formation that can generate lightning through the changes in yin and yang?”

“I’ve never heard of one.”

Li Xian looked around, and everyone indicated they hadn’t heard of it either. Even Xu Ren, the strategist, expressed ignorance.

Li Xian felt a wave of disappointment; with so many people unaware, it was safe to assume that such formations did exist. But why, in a realm filled with cultivation techniques, was there no mention of lightning techniques?

“It’s useless!” everyone responded with an obvious answer.

Useless… Li Xian felt a wave of frustration, but he soon understood after the explanation.

What is the purpose of cultivation and ascension? It’s simple—ascension to the heavens! Given this goal, it’s only natural to choose the easiest cultivation methods. As a result, the resource-rich five-element techniques thrived, while lightning techniques and other less resourceful methods gradually disappeared.

Moreover, the combat effectiveness of lightning techniques truly pales in comparison to universal techniques—at least universal techniques have many researchers, with a variety of attack methods emerging continuously. Additionally, there’s no spiritual energy related to lightning in the world; it’s all dominated by the five elements of yin and yang.

Furthermore, does having powerful combat abilities compare to quickly breaking through a level? Clearly not! A quick breakthrough means that one can easily crush an enemy with just two fingers; not to mention that a higher level also means a longer lifespan.

In short, while Heart Lightning exists, it’s merely a mimetic form; true lightning techniques and formations… Young Master Li Xian will have to research them himself.

Despite encountering difficulties, Li Xian still rewarded Yang Qianjiang with ten taels of gold, as he had at least provided a direction for research.

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