Chapter 5: Is Science Scientific

The Taoist perhaps does not like oxen and horses, or perhaps feels that Zhao Ran lacks the qualifications to be his ox or horse. In any case, he does not permit it, and after saying a few words, seeing that Zhao Ran continues to persist, he becomes too lazy to say more and turns to leave.

Zhao Ran quickly explained: "There are many types of shock absorbers; let us discuss the air cushion shock absorber. If the immortal falls from a height and can emit a force of air towards the ground, it can slow down the descent. This is the principle of air cushion shock absorption."

Zhao Ran secretly chuckled to himself, thinking that even immortals have things they do not know. However, he did not stop speaking and continued to explain: "Have you ever seen someone inflate a leather bag made of cowhide? Once the bag is inflated and you sit on it, it feels comfortable and pleasant... Why? It is because the air is not truly empty in this space. Although our naked eyes cannot perceive it, there is air present everywhere... It is just like when you strike a fully inflated leather bag with force, the bag will burst... It is because the air is not truly empty in this space. Although our naked eyes cannot perceive it, there is air present everywhere... It is just like when you strike a fully inflated leather bag with force, the bag will burst..."

Chuyang Cheng instructed Zhao Ran to wait in the cave for a moment. Soon, he returned, holding a mountain chicken in his hand, which he tossed at Zhao Ran's feet: "Cook it yourself to fill your stomach, as we need to continue our journey tomorrow!" After saying this, he paid no further attention to Zhao Ran and headed deeper into the cave.

Zhao Ran did not find it offensive; on the contrary, he was quite pleased that the Taoist could respond to him. He then complimented, "The immortal's journey is truly both swift and steady, as if there were shock absorbers on your feet"

Zhao Ran was looked down upon by the Taoist priest, and despite his thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a flush on his face. He could only sigh inwardly: "This is truly an ignorant and superstitious world that disregards science." But then he thought again, in a world that had not yet come into being, there was no scientific reasoning to speak of; otherwise, how could this highly skilled Taoist priest appear before him?

The immortal elder ... ... still wanted to say a few more words, but Zhao Ran suddenly found himself trembling all over, unable to move even a fraction, not even able to move his tongue, let alone speak

I see, but may I ask the esteemed name of the immortal? It is truly a great fortune for me to receive guidance from the immortal today, I am indeed blessed beyond three lifetimes

This Taoist was originally wandering in the western Sichuan region, yet he was unaware of why the Baima Mountain garrison on the border was breached by the troops of Xia, resulting in the loss of vast lands, including the Chuanling copper mine, and even the Baima Mountain formation had lost its effectiveness. The failure of the Baima Mountain formation was his greatest concern; if the disciples of the Buddhist sect truly discovered the secret to breaking the formation, then various places along the border would face a tremendous crisis

Zhao Ran was greatly alarmed and hurriedly said: "Immortal, please save me once more! I am just a stranger here, unfamiliar with the land, in this desolate wilderness, and I do not know where to go."

Do you know about the Zhengyi School and the Quanzhen School? Which one is more powerful? ... ... Haha, just kidding, I certainly know that the Zhengyi School is powerful ... ...

I, the humble Daoist Chu Yangcheng, advise you to cease your nonsensical talk and simply remain in peace.

Zhao Ran wanted to cling to life desperately, yet that did not mean he could achieve it. He felt a sudden jolt throughout his body, and involuntarily flew backward, landing several meters away, crashing down onto the ground. Fortunately, the Taoist priest did not intend to make him suffer; Zhao Ran fell as if he had landed in a pile of cotton, feeling no pain whatsoever.

Cursing inwardly, Zhao Ran felt exasperated. The excellent opportunity was right in front of him, yet this obstinate individual remained unyielding, leaving him utterly helpless. After contemplating various options without finding a solution, Zhao Ran had no choice but to temporarily give up.

The Taoist walked for a while, suddenly leaving the mountain path and leaping directly into the valley below. When encountering a deep ditch, he leaped over it in a single bound, and when reaching a low-lying area, he stepped onto the treetops and floated gracefully, truly light as a feather

Chuyang Cheng shook his head: "Your innate talent is extremely poor, it would be best to give up on this thought as soon as possible. Do not speak any further, it is disturbing the peace!"

Zhao Ran was taken aback: "Quanzhen? Could it be that Wang Chongyang truly exists?"

Zhao Ran quickly built a bonfire from the flames, plucked the feathers from the mountain chicken, and roasted it over the fire. He also collected a few leaves of mountain spring water from between the rocks to quench his thirst. After the mountain chicken was cooked, Zhao Ran tore off the drumsticks and wings, wrapped them in leaves, and held a torch as he walked deeper into the cave. There, he saw Chu Yangcheng sitting cross-legged on a protruding rock in the cave wall, his hands forming a hand seal, his eyes seemingly closed yet not fully shut.

"Is it a wise person?" asked the Taoist.

Nonsense! Schools of thought are merely methods for self-cultivation; there is no such thing as superiority. Cultivating one's essence and refining one's spirit can lead to enlightenment, and communicating with the heavens can also lead to enlightenment. Internal alchemy can lead to ascension, and talismans can also lead to ascension. The practice relies entirely on one's own efforts, and there is absolutely no distinction in the superiority of methods... Do not call me a venerable immortal any longer; I am unworthy of such a title.

The Taoist pondered for a moment and asked, "What is the reasoning behind this?"

The Taoist rebuked, "The surname of the True Immortal of Chongyang is not something you can call out!" Seeing Zhao Ran's bewildered expression, he quietly adjusted his breath and examined Zhao Ran's meridians, only to find them blocked and filled with impurities, utterly crude and unrefined. He then snorted coldly and admonished, "Hearing things from others and deliberately showing off here, be wary of trouble arising from your words!"

Chuyang Cheng, however, paid no attention to his remark, so Zhao Ran continued to probe: "Senior, may I ask how my aptitude is? Will I have a chance for a Dao affinity in the future?"

Zhao Ran was unwilling to leave, only becoming increasingly respectful: "Thank you, esteemed immortal, for your life-saving grace! Zhao Ran is willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay your kindness!"

Zhao Ran firmly disagreed, stating that he must serve as the ox and horse of the immortal leader, willing to follow the immortal leader and serve one or two in the front and back; otherwise, he would feel guilty and lose the meaning of living

Zhao Ran had already discarded his package while fleeing the battlefield, and thus he anxiously said: "Immortal, there is no fire..."

The Taoist suddenly stopped, set Zhao Ran down, and glanced over, asking: "Have you studied the Quanzhen School?"

Zheng Yi Sect

The Taoist was once again taken aback: "What shock absorber?"

Zhao Ran had never seen this before, and thus he expressed another round of admiration. This provoked the Taoist to exclaim, "Noisy!"

The Taoist waved his hand to stop and said: "There is no need for this."

Zhao Ran also did not dare to call out casually; what if the person was in the midst of cultivation and found it taboo to be disturbed? If he were to shout, "Immortal, the meal is ready," and something went awry, it would be quite disastrous. Thus, he placed the food on a protruding rock and quietly retreated.

Having said that, the Taoist picked up Zhao Ran and continued onward

Zhao Ran, at a loss for words, saw the Taoist take the bait and immediately spoke incessantly: "One step is 1.6 kilometers, which is equivalent to 3.2 miles. The immortal's pace is very swift, able to cover 92 miles in one hour, ten times faster than an ordinary person"

In the evening, Chu Yangcheng carried Zhao Ran to a secluded valley, where he found a remote cave and set Zhao Ran down. As soon as Zhao Ran touched the ground, he felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, and he was once again free to move and speak.

The Taoist was taken aback and scolded, "Nonsense!"

Zhao Ran got up and moved closer to the Taoist priest. Although he was excited inside, he still had some awareness and realized that he had just lost his composure. Therefore, he refrained from making any further embarrassing gestures and respectfully bowed to the Taoist priest.

Zhao Ran was carried by the Taoist at his waist, feeling as if the trees and rocks on both sides were rapidly retreating. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Master, your skills are impressive, at least thirty miles per hour!"

What is thirty miles?

Therefore, the Taoist was eager to return and report this matter to the Taoist gate. Although he was somewhat annoyed by Zhao Ran's persistent entanglement, Zhao Ran's reasoning was sound. In this desolate wilderness, amidst the dangers of war, if he were to abandon Zhao Ran and ignore him, it was highly likely that Zhao Ran would die here. Thus, the Taoist swiftly picked up Zhao Ran, carrying him on one shoulder, and headed rapidly towards the east

It turns out to be the esteemed Immortal Master Chu, whose name is well-known far and wide. Unfortunately, Zhao Ran is unable to serve by the side of the Immortal Master, which is truly a regret in his life... Zhao Ran spoke while stealing glances at Chu Yangcheng, continuously probing with his words

Zhao Ran's curiosity was piqued, and he could not help but ask: "You mentioned earlier, Immortal, that there is a Complete Reality School? May I inquire which sect you practice?"

Zhao Ran nodded vigorously, emphasizing that the common people of the Ming Dynasty were protected by the Daoist sect, and that issues of identity must not be mistaken. He immediately began to lament his experiences, naturally portraying himself as a brave and fearless warrior. He embellished his account of fighting fiercely, and just as he was animatedly recounting his exploits, the Daoist had already understood, realizing that Zhao Ran had little knowledge of why the Xia soldiers had appeared in this place. Thus, frowning, he directly interrupted: "Enough, no more talk. Those Xia soldiers have already been killed by me; you should leave quickly."

The sound of the voice had not yet faded, when a dry branch by the cave ignited with a "whoosh," but Chu Yang had long since vanished into the darkness

A year of longing and pursuit has unexpectedly arrived, and Zhao Ran cannot help but be overwhelmed with tears. His knees weaken, and he kneels before the Taoist, clutching the Taoist's thigh and refusing to let go. To a gentleman with integrity, this behavior could be deemed as having no moral standards. However, from another perspective, compared to the 'ancients' of this world, Zhao Ran, as a time traveler, harbors an admiration and yearning for immortals that is immeasurably deeper! Moreover, having endured nearly a year of hardship since his arrival, he finally sees hope at this moment, and he cannot remain calm under any circumstances. Yet, from another angle, compared to the 'ancients' of this world, Zhao Ran's admiration and yearning for immortals, as a time traveler, is unfathomably deeper! Furthermore, having suffered for nearly a year since his arrival, he finally sees hope at this moment, and he cannot remain calm under any circumstances.