Chapter 371: Chapter 370: Industrialization

"Report to the Celestial Venerable, the validation of Spiritual Energy Etching at the research institute has been completed and can now be fully implemented."

An elderly man dressed in new-style clothing stood under the Inquiry Stone, reporting the results to Lv Bai, his tone carrying a barely concealed excitement.

"Has Spiritual Energy Etching really been accomplished first?"

Lv Bai raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

By the way, during the implementation of laws, he also established a research institute, recruiting cultivators specializing in puppets and mechanisms, to research technology that mortals could also use.

The reason is simple, he knows well that no matter how strict or lenient the laws he establishes are, they will inevitably perish once he is gone.

So he must do something else.

For example, increasing productivity is a feasible direction.

However, he did not set many demands, mainly providing the research institute with some ideas, such as directions like steam engines and internal combustion engines.

There’s no choice; the spread of scientific technology requires not just techniques, but crucially accumulation and a liberation of thought, enabling people to cultivate basic scientific literacy.

This is actually not as simple as it might seem.

In carrying out such a top-down reform, if it weren’t for his formidable strength enough to suppress Xuan Province, he would likely have met a fatal end long ago.

It must be known that High-Tier Cultivators can live for thousands or tens of thousands of years, and the history of the Cultivation Realm can be traced back to ancient times.

Such a long time, without significant changes on the social level, inherently means cultivators do not wish to make changes.

With the cultivators’ methods, manufacturing machinery can be said to be a breeze.

Do they not know that providing mortals with machinery can increase output?

The answer is, of course, no.

Only, the cultivators see no need to do so.

Mortals are like chives; once harvested, another batch grows. Their value to cultivators is just to serve as servants and provide Immortal Seeds.

War chaos, plagues, natural disasters, and even Demonic Cultivators ravaging a region are insignificant to various Immortal Sects as long as everyone isn’t slaughtered.

To cultivate wisdom among mortals, in cultivators’ eyes, is an unstable factor, not to mention specially researching machinery for mortals to use.

Under such circumstances, through endless ages, mortals can only live and sustain themselves in the oldest ways.

The mundane world has never had national governance; socially, it still belongs in the category of slavery.

Lv Bai wants to elevate the status of mortals, besides relying on bloody enforcement, naturally he has to find ways to improve mortals’ productivity.

"Uh...report to the Celestial Venerable, it’s not like that. Actually, the technical difficulties of steam engines and internal combustion engines have long been overcome, and we have glimpses of electric and nuclear energy, but..."

The Sect Leader of the Immortal Puppet Sect, also the Deputy Head of the research institute, explained hesitantly: "...according to experimental results, the efficiency of these new energy machines is far inferior to that of Spiritual Energy Etching machines."

The research institute’s Deputy Head said while presenting a detailed experimental report to Lv Bai.

Lv Bai glanced at him; he would not doubt the intelligence of these old immortals.

Even amid unprecedented great changes, they can vaguely speculate from past experiences that granting science and technology to mortals will definitely affect the cultivators’ secure status.

But facing Lv Bai’s overwhelming power, these Immortal Sects dare not stand in opposition and can only make subtle manipulations in certain areas.

For example, in such energy research.

On the surface, their approach appears reasonable.

Whether in development prospects or effects, Spiritual Energy Etching is undoubtedly ahead of other energies.

There’s only one problem: Spiritual Energy Etching—mortals can use it but cannot independently manufacture it.

Based on this, Lv Bai couldn’t be bothered to negotiate with them, calmly asking in return, "Can mortals learn the crafting process?"

The Deputy Director paused, deliberating before saying, "With our researchers teaching carefully, perhaps..."

"Then continue researching Spiritual Energy Etching, and wait for further results before proceeding. For now, spread the other energy machines."

"This..."

"Is there a problem?" Lv Bai’s face showed an innocent smile.

The Deputy Director shuddered subconsciously, hurriedly saying, "No, no, no problem."

...

Three months later.

Lv Bai, wearing the Cyan Hope Sect’s standard robe, quietly landed at the gate of a large city, easily blending into the queue of people entering the city.

The city gate wasn’t guarded by soldiers or cultivators, only four registrars were responsible for recording the entry and exit information of people.

Cars and pedestrians came and went freely, the noise and bustle showcasing its lively prosperity.

He scanned the queue, observing those dressed in tight, dense fabric clothes, all without cultivation, genuine ordinary people.

He recalled when he first arrived in this Cultivation World, mortals wore only hemp clothes.

Food, clothing, housing, and transportation—even just clothing—show that the living quality of mortals has improved by leaps and bounds.

It’s worth mentioning that almost all queued carriages were of mechanical structure. Using Divine Sense to scan the bottom of the carriages reveals exposed components like bearings and differentials, the carriage tails spewing thick smoke.

In Lv Bai’s view, the overall design had a somewhat absurd steampunk flavor, leaving him puzzled as to why there’s still a horse tied to the front.

After not lining up for long, the engine roar of an internal combustion train was heard from the other side of the city—that was a freight train passing through the city.

After all, in a world with cultivators, they are willing to put aside their pride, making construction speeds far exceed any large-scale machinery.

The train engine spews thick smoke that floats above the city and gradually disperses.

Under Lv Bai’s deliberate intervention, the Cultivation Realm’s advancement into industrialization was more like riding rockets than running.

Ordinary people naturally have no concept of environmental pollution, and with improving living standards, this smoke is seen by them as a symbol of industrial progress.

Thinking about how their city developed better than neighboring cities, city residents would involuntarily puff out their chests.

Moreover, Lv Family laws clearly spell out labor laws, the history of exploitation and oppression of the lower class before industrialization in the real world did not reenact in the Cultivation Realm.

Advanced and still rapidly developing productivity, combined with rigorous regulatory systems leaving no room for loopholes, fills many mortals with anticipation for the future.

On the road, randomly pulling someone aside, they would likely say with longing that the good times are still ahead.

Lv Bai stepped into the city, his Divine Sense swiftly scanning through various corners; ultimately time is still short, the execution stage’s blood hasn’t cooled, and for now, no one dares breach the laws. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In hidden corners, not even beggars are found, and no illegal or disorderly acts are visible.