Chapter 31 (1/2)

This Is Not Taking Advantage but an Equivalent Exchange

The key?

The cogs in Song Qing’s mind spun at full speed. His brain searched through all the variables that differentiated the success from the failures.

The initial steps were the same but the last step was crucial—the lightning!

How was the lightning different?

Realization struck Song Qing in the chest. He exclaimed, “I know! I know! Xu Ningyan, you are a genius! Although you never witnessed our attempts, you knew the reason behind our failures.”

‘No, I don’t, but please tell.’ Xu Qian smiled at the rambling man.

“What is the key? Brother Song, did you figure it out?”

“Brother Song, come on! This transformation has plagued me for the past month.”

The white-robed alchemists urged Song Qing to quickly reveal his observations.

Song Qing let out a cough and looked at his disciples. “It’s the strength of the lightning strike.”

He turned to Xu Qian for confirmation.

Xu Qian smiled and nodded. “I call it voltage.”

The voltage needed to purify sodium from molten sodium chloride was 6 to 15 volts.

Voltage?

Song Qing was stunned. He had never heard of that word being used in relation to electricity.

It was an incredible piece of knowledge, just like the profound writings in the blue-covered book.

One of the white robes stepped forward and bowed before Xu Qian. “Please enlighten us. What is this voltage you speak of?”

“Please.” The other white-robed alchemists followed suit.

Standing in the corner, Chu Caiwei watched in silent envy. She was fond of being an educator but as a seventh-ranked Feng Shui master, she was unqualified to take in students.

‘Voltage—also known as potential difference—is the difference in the amount of energy that charge carriers have between two points in a circuit. Of course, none of you would understand that.’ Xu Qian coughed and put on a stern expression.

“Electricity is like water, it’ll flow towards a low point.”

Xu Qian picked up a teacup and poured out the tea. “The water that fell from this cup wouldn’t hurt anyone but a waterfall can break bones and take lives. The same principles apply to electricity. I call it voltage.”

He used a simple example to explain the concept of voltage.

The white robes of the Imperial Astronomers entered a state of deep thought. They could not fully grasp Xu Qian’s words.

Song Qing said excitedly, “Is that why lightning strikes trees? Because the trees are at a lower point, the same applies to humans. A weak electricity will only cause minor paralysis whereas a lightning strike can cause death. The lightning from the sky is like a waterfall whereas electricity is like the water from the cup.”

The white robes were enlightened by Song Qing’s explanation. It opened their eyes to the wonders of the world. They turned to Xu Qian with inquisitive looks.

‘Huh, is that correct? I thought trees being struck down by lightning was due to water conductivity? What did my high school teacher say?’ Despite his unsurety, he smiled and said, “You are promising.”

A young white-robed disciple asked curiously, “Was this written in that old alchemy text you found?”

“Yes. Only I have read and researched that text. The contents in the book that I sent over were only a drop in the ocean.”

After a pause, Xu Qian continued saying, “That ancient text not only had knowledge and facts, it also contained many never-seen-before alchemic processes.”

A collective gasp sounded from the room.

Xu Qian chuckled and gave the white robes a promise. “I have decided to share the contents of the ancient text with the Imperial Astronomers.”