Seeking Truth with a Sword

"Risheng, reading again, are you?"

Inside the Academic Palace's cafeteria, Yang Yu and Yong Hongzhong came over with their trays.

"Mm, eating while reading doesn't hold me up."

Li Ang glanced up to greet them, then continued to study the thick book wrapped in a dirt-proof protective paper cover, at the same time using a spoon to ladle up the Eight Treasures thick soup, made with white shrimp, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, celery, and so forth, savoring each bite deliberately.

It had been a month since the new students arrived, and one had to admit, the words spoken by the Fourth Prince, Li Hui, had merit—the meals in the Academic Palace cafeteria were truly delicious, not at all inferior and even surpassing the best restaurants in Chang'an.

Li Ang felt he was eating more than before, and the originally slender Yong Hongzhong seemed to have visibly put on a little weight.

"Dr. Du'er's compilation of 'Exotic Beast Taxonomy · Volume Two'?"

Yang Yu set down his wooden meal tray, looked up, and glimpsed the title of the book Li Ang was reading, curiously asking, "Isn't that the second-year Hundred Beasts Studies textbook?"

"Mm, I've roughly gone through the first volume, now I'm on the second. There are some very interesting views in here."

Li Ang said casually, Hundred Beasts Studies was an essential subject at the Academic Palace, and classification textbooks were compiled two hundred and seventy years ago. Since then, every few years or every decade or so, new editions would be published due to research advancements or errors being discovered and corrected.

Therefore, the full name of this "Exotic Beast Taxonomy" should be "Yu Country Higher Education Academic Palace Level Planned Textbook · Natural Science Press Recommended Reading · For Beast Taming, Demon Hunting, Breeding, Prevention and Control Uses · Exotic Beast Taxonomy Twenty-Seventh Edition." This title's length had the flavor of a light novel.

"What views?"

Yang Yu picked up a thick slice of lamb with his chopsticks, dipped it into a dish of horseradish vinegar, and asked somewhat indistinctly.

Li Ang said, "The book argues that although in the minds of many people, including most officials of Yu Country, Yu Country's citizens live in State Mansions and towns, sheltered by the sounds of the Haotian Bell, with little contact with Exotic Beasts, in reality, Exotic Beasts have an extremely profound impact on the entire history, as well as the daily life of Yu Country's common people. For instance, the Level 5 demon 'Earth Mole.' This weak demon species, naturally capable of Earth Manipulation Technique, with poor eyesight but keen sense of smell, and feeds on insects, was previously thought to be of little importance and rare in numbers. Even common snakes, wildcats, and owls could prey on them. However, after over a decade of observations and investigations, the 'Earth Mole' has been confirmed to prefer residing in rock layers with precious mineral veins. They spend half their lives digging through rock layers, searching for rare minerals to bring back to their dens. They only go to the surface to forage. Many incidents of mine collapse in Yu Country and the Former Sui's history were likely caused by the 'Earth Mole.' And the theft of the national treasury's gold and silver during the Late Sui period, which implicated thousands of people, is now suspected to have been caused by this demon species. Therefore, in the twenty-sixth edition of 'Exotic Beast Taxonomy,' the 'Earth Mole' has been upgraded from Level 5 to Third Level, and in places with mines in various State Mansions, they now keep dogs and cats to chase and hunt down this Exotic Beast."

"Is that so?" With raised eyebrows, Yang Yu said, "No wonder I've seen some miners carrying wooden amulets with cat carvings; I never knew why before."

"If you hadn't come to the Academic Palace, you might have never known in your life."

Li Ang's brow furrowed slightly. This "Exotic Beast Taxonomy" was printed by the Academic Palace's own publishing department. Not only did the Academic Palace's publishing department print internal textbooks using woodblock printing techniques, but it also sold dozens of publications throughout Yu Country's State Mansions: to popularize Natural Science and prevent superstition; to spread Agricultural Science and encourage farming and sericulture; to disseminate news and enlighten the populace. Among them, the best-selling and highest-circulating publications were akin to story magazines. They contained not only true or fabricated stories about common people's lives but also completely fictional short stories, novellas, and even serialized novels that attracted a vast readership. The storyteller at Baolai Restaurant in Yizhou was persistent in submitting stories to such magazines, hoping one day to see his own name in the Academic Palace's publications.

However, not all publications could circulate among the public. One of the Academic Palace's rules was that the more you knew, the greater the danger. "Hundred Beasts Taxonomy · Volume One" could barely be found in the Book Collection Pavilions of larger State Mansions, but not the second volume, which was circulated only within the Academic Palace and sent to a select few Yu Country officials, garrison officers, and Honorary Doctors deemed worthy by the Academic Palace to read it. Other sensitive books related to Aliens and Magic were handled likewise. An ordinary person venturing into the wilderness to track and investigate Aliens risked unknown consequences for themselves and the State Mansion they lived in.

A species of mouse that actively searches for rare minerals... sounds rather interesting.

Li Ang's eyes narrowed slightly. He had been diligently nurturing the Mo Si within his body and was now easily able to lift the solid stone tables in the courtyard and repeatedly draw a three-dan Strong Bow. His Spirit Vein strength had also reached a level approaching eleven. But it wasn't enough. Li Ang could clearly feel that the required amount of silver ingots to feed the Mo Si had increased significantly. He needed a higher quantity and quality of minerals for the Mo Si to continue its enhancement.

In the history of the Academic Palace, the top five percent of excellent students took one year to advance from the Qi Sensing Realm to the Body Concealing Realm. The top one percent took half a year.

Li Ang reflected silently. Advancing to the Body Concealing Realm isn't just about an increase in one's realm, replenishing the Qi Sea, or being able to inscribe more talismans and release more Magic; it's not that simple.