Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Sui Xiong spent some time demonstrating his creation in detail to the higher ups in his church.

  “This can reduce the cost of obtaining knowledge significantly, and it also could promote the communization of knowledge,” he said. “And we all know that knowledge transforms life, knowledge transforms fate, and knowledge transforms the world. Hence, these few inventions of mine would promote the advancement of the entire world!”

  But, his impassioned speech still failed to get him the support of his believers.

  “Your Majesty, I think that these things…… The cost didn’t seem to be low, either.” Rhode, who was in charge of finance, said. He then listed his calculations, and continued. “Shatter wood, boil them, remove the color using magic, spread them across a piece of cloth, then flatten and oven-dry…… The entire process, I feel, isn’t any simpler than using parchment.”

  “Yeah. Although beast skin is very expensive, it isn’t troublesome to process simple parchment.” Satan, who once made parchment during his childhood as a side job, agreed with Rhode’s opinion. “First, soak the beast skin, and then remove the oil with alkaline water. Next, cut away the hair and oil, then polish it carefully. When I was young, I worked in a workshop that produced parchment. Although it was hard work, it was really uncomplicated. Comparatively, these things that you are talking about, they are too troublesome, when it comes to production.”

  “Is it very troublesome?” Sui Xiong was a little confused. “I find that it’s very easy.”

  “Forget about the rest, then. Just the step requiring the smashing of the wood is troublesome enough,” Satan said. “We could let the carpenter shatter the wood, then soak them in water and grind them. Under such a situation, where no magic is involved, that is probably the only way. That would mean soaking the wood until it could be mashed. But, God knows how much time and effort that would require! Otherwise, it would be a big problem, having to remove wood pieces from the wood pulp.”

  He continued his line of thinking. “Not only that, but it would require the help of a mage during the production. I looked at the magic that you have designed, then made an estimation of effect. To purify the wood pulp in a normal big pot, transforming it into a completely white color, it would require at least an intermediate mage to cast the magic. Did you consider about the cost of inviting a mage to cast the magic?”

  Sui Xiong was stunned, then mumbled quietly, “Doesn’t our church have mages?”

  “Yes, but when it comes to cost calculations, you have to include the cost of hiring a mage.” Satan didn’t give Sui Xiong any chance to further debate, but continued. “After purification, when the white wood pulp has been achieved, lay the gunny flat on the wooden plank, then spread the wood pump the cloth. Then, flatten and oven-dry it…… This is very troublesome, because it is difficult for hot air to go through the layers of wooden plank. This is exactly why a mage may need to be involved.”

  “If by completing this process, we could obtain soft, smooth paper that feather brush could write on, it is actually quite worth it. But, I fear that the paper we will get is either going to be too soft or too hard. Hence, what’s the use of it?”

  “I also invented brush……” Sui Xiong attempted to interject.

  “It would be too slow to write with that pen,” Palin said, “It is much much slower than writing with a feather pen! Plus, after writing one or two words, it would need to be dipped in the ink again. The expenditure of ink alone would be too much. Besides, it is inconvenient, too.”

  “I improvised on the ink too!” Siu Xiong again chimes in.

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  “You made an ink block that is convenient to bring around. I think that is the only reliable invention.” Satan finally showed a smile. “With slight improvisation, it could become a good commercial item. At the very least, it is much cheaper than normal ink, and also much more convenient to conserve and transport.”

  Sui Xiong was upset to hear their feedback, as he was planning to continue with his experiment to improve his version of four treasures of the study. At that moment, Wor, who was quiet the entire time, suddenly spoke up.

  “These inventions are not too shabby!” He spoke in a low voice. “They do possess the power to change the world and push it towards advancement!”

  Everyone looked at him suspiciously, as they didn’t understand what had made him say such things. Wor didn’t explain in detail, but stood up and saluted Sui Xiong.

  “Your Majesty, please pass these things to me. I will work hard to improvise the production techniques and process, so that I can make writing tools that everyone is satisfied with as soon as possible!”

  Sui Xiong looked into his eyes, seeing a passion and motivated desire that he had never seen before. Ever since he had known Wor, this expert that was once well-known across the world looked like he completely lacked vigor. Even when they had talked about his hatred towards the church of the Sun God, he would only display deep resentment, but no action. He had simply looked gloomy and dull, like a really old man.

  Because of this, Sui Xiong had given Wor the nickname of “sweeping monk” secretly in his mind. Although the nickname signified his unusual power and excellence in martial arts, it also symbolized how he was overly calm and lacked the sharp imposing manner of most experts. He was just like an old monk, who stood aloof from worldly strife.

  But, at that moment, the look in Wor’s eyes had changed. In fact, his complete manner had changed, too.

  Although he was still dressed up like an old man, the vigorous manner that he gave out was like a flame of burning passion in his eyes. It testified to his renewed and refreshed identity!

  “Very well!” Sui Xiong smiled. “Looking at the look in your eyes now, I will entrust this to you fully!”

  Wor smiled and lowered his head. “I will not disappoint you!”

  After the meeting, Wor brought along the samples and technical information that Sui Xiong had provided him, then returned to Geerteng via transportation portal. He built a workshop in a remote mountain area, hiring some experienced carpenters and workers. He also asked for two experienced low-level mages from Satan, then started with his research work.

  He decided to start with improvising the ink block first. From its initial start, the job had been carried out smoothly. In fact, it only took two or three days time until he had made an ink block in strips with a grass smell. Due to the fact that it was mixed with sufficient glue and oil, the ink block was much better than Sui Xiong’s invention. When needed, it only required one to file the ink block lightly to obtain some scraps, then mix them with water.

  Sui Xiong, who was paying attention to his experiment, saw that he had completed the new ink block and was surprised. He asked, “Is this going to produce ink by grinding it on the ink stone?”

  “Ink stone? What is that?” Wor was confused by the question.

  Sui Xiong roughly explained about the concept of ink stick, ink stone, ink and so on. Wor was suddenly enlightened. Once he understood, it only took him a day’s time to make an ink stone.

  As expected, it was made just like how Sui Xiong’s ancestors had made it. With the combination of ink stick and ink stone, it could replace ink entirely. Although it possessed the disadvantage of having a slow speed, its benefit of being able to stored and transported easily made it worth it.

  Not only could this type of ink be used for brushes, it also could be used by feather brushes, too. Plus, its price was much cheaper than ink. If it was calculated according to the same volume of writing, its total costs were only about one-fifth of ink’s.

  Upon his completion of the research of ink and ink stone, Wor started to simplify the process and enhance the quality. The most crucial task was to eliminate the usage of a mage, so that the entire production process could be completed solely by a commoner.

  After about half a month, at the personal estate of Olian, the feudal lord of Geerteng, there was a workshop that was built for producing ink stick and ink stone. In the workshop, the wood was put in a specially built kiln, then slowly burnt to obtain ashes.

  There was a specially made magic tool that gathered large amounts of the pure ashes, then the workers mixed them with a glue oil that was cooked with great care. They then twisted and beat the mixture to make it into a soft ink block.

  Next, they used a mould that would make the ink block into strips, then put the strips into the magic oven-dry room that was built with quite a large amount of money. After about ten days, they retrieved the now solidified ink block, then polished it neatly.

  They carved the Geerteng’s family badge on each, giving a clear indication of its production place and the amount within. After adding a slight bit of brass powder for color, it was then wrapped with cloth, thus finishing the production process completely.

  From the beginning stages of burning the wood to the finished product that could be sold, the entire process required about thirty days time. Calculating the costs, it would still only be one-tenth of the cost of ink!

  Right when it launched into the market, this new and interesting product was immediately widely popular. Geerteng, which was previously unknown, suddenly gained great fame and attention.

  However, after its sudden profit, Olian had no choice but to spend some time and effort in battling with people that intended to take a share of the business. She was able to successfully defeat the few greedy ones severely, thus defending her benefits.

  “I calculated roughly. Depending on the business of ink stick and ink stone, Geerteng would receive a surplus of almost twenty thousand gold coins.” In the year-end meeting, Olian announced happily. “This is the result that I calculated according to the strict control of production volume that was requested by His Majesty. If we were to produce more, I reckon the amount could be doubled!”

  The large amount of money surprised everyone. No one had expected that an ink stick and ink stone would bring about such a huge amount of profits.

  “It’s a pity that the cost of the magic oven-dry room was so high,” Olian sighed and said. “It cost us ten thousand gold coins! We will need to wait till next spring to cover our capital. Although the profit is high, the capital required wasn’t small!”

  Sui Xiong chuckled. “There’s no need to be so calculative about money, as long as we can earn something in the end. It’s a pity that your teacher has yet to complete the improvisation of paper making technology. Otherwise, the combination of sales for paper and ink would definitely promote the spread of knowledge!”

  After using the ink stick that was produced in Geerteng, everyone looked at Sui Xiong with a new admiration and now believed in his judgment beyond the shadow of a doubt. Upon seeing this, Satan couldn’t help but laugh. “Paper making technology and ink, with the two inventions! Your Majesty has already contributed greatly in culture! Maybe, you should just seek for clergy in culture, how about that?”

  “Clergy in culture was occupied by the God of Art and Culture.” Sui Xiong smiled as he spoke. “I am not planning to fight with Him for that.”

  “Yeah, a few days back, a book collector (the God of Ceremony) sent his people from the church to get in touch with us. He expressed his intention of buying a few large orders of ink block and ink stone, and hoped that he could get a cheaper price.” Olian recalled and said, “Your Majesty, do you think we should receive the orders?”

  No one was surprised at this request, as the invention of ink stick would greatly benefit the church of the God of Ceremony. Thus, it would be strange if the God of Ceremony didn’t bestow honor on Olian and Wor for having created them!

  “They mean well, I am sure,” said Sui Xiong with a smile.

  A few days later, the church of the God of Ceremony threw a grand ceremony in Geerteng. In the ceremony, the God that was called the Book Collector by commoners, shed divine light and gave a blessing to the feudal lord, Miss Olian, and her teacher, Mister Frye (Wor’s alias). They were suddenly catapulted to a higher level in society, talked about with approval by everyone all of the sudden.