120: Chapter 120: You Talk About Inheritance, I Talk About Productivity

The project of "industrializing spiritual medicine" was passed unanimously at the highest-level meeting in the capital as soon as it was proposed.

The project code name — "Shennong Project".

The goal was clear: within three years, build at least ten large-scale automated alchemy factories nationwide to thoroughly solve the potential medicine shortages in the upcoming era of "universal cultivation".

The chief engineer of the project was, naturally, Jiang Ning.

With the success of the Zhenhai Project as a precedent, Jiang Ning's status in the hearts of the high-level officials of the Xia Kingdom was now comparable to that of a stabilizing force.

She got the personnel she needed, the funding she requested, and the policies she required.

The entire state apparatus began to operate at high speed, revolving around her plan.

The first "Shennong No. 1" demonstration factory was sited in the valley next to Kunlun Academy.

This was not only convenient for security but also allowed the academy's students to directly participate in the construction, combining theory with practice.

Once the news reached Kunlun Academy, the entire academy was in an uproar.

"What? Build an alchemy factory? Fully automated?"

"Oh my god! Am I dreaming? Producing one hundred thousand peiyuan pills a day? Does that mean we can eat medicine like meals in the future?"

"That's great! We won't have to fight tooth and nail for a single pill for a few points anymore!"

The students were howling with excitement.

Especially those students with average spiritual roots and slower cultivation speeds, they saw hope.

It didn't matter if one's own cultivation was slow; there was medicine to take! As long as there were enough pills, even a pig could fly to the sky!

Lin Yuan, as the current leader among the students, was also full of anticipation for this new project.

He took his "First Construction Brigade" and submitted a request to Jiang Ning at the first opportunity, applying to be responsible for the construction of the most critical "reaction furnace" part of the factory.

The entire Kunlun Academy was immersed in a beautiful vision of the future, full of enthusiasm.

However, just as the project was about to start in full swing.

A discordant voice came from the capital.

A "position paper" jointly signed by more than a dozen of the country's top masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine, national-level experts, and several reclusive ancient alchemy families was submitted to the desk of the highest leader.

The content of the position paper was earnest in wording but tough in attitude.

The central idea was just one: Oppose the "industrialization of alchemy".

"... Alchemy is the treasure of our Huaxia's thousand-year heritage, emphasizing the unity of heaven and man, the sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy, and the harmony of yin and yang. Every furnace of medicine condenses the painstaking efforts and insights of the alchemist and is a unique work of art."

"And so-called 'industrial production,' using cold machines and assembly line operations, can only produce 'chemical agents' that are devoid of spirituality and may even contain harmful substances! This is not only a blasphemy against the Dao of Alchemy but also irresponsible to the life and health of the people!"

"We strongly demand an immediate halt to the 'Shennong Project'! The refining of medicine must be led by us professional, knowledgeable alchemists! The country can provide resources, but it must never use this crude, amateurish method to ruin our heritage!"

This position paper caused quite a stir at the top level.

After all, the people who signed it were influential figures in the domestic medical and traditional cultural circles. Their influence was significant.

Soon, this voice of opposition also spread to society.

Some media and so-called "cultural scholars" began to hype it up.

"Warning! 'Poisonous Pills' from industrial assembly lines!"

"Can modern technology replace a thousand-year heritage? How should we protect the treasures of our ancestors?"

"Does a young chief engineer in her twenties really understand what 'true alchemy' is?"

For a time, public opinion was turbulent.

Although most of the public still trusted the country and trusted Jiang Ning, these noises did indeed bring some resistance to the advancement of the "Shennong Project".

Kunlun Academy, Dean's office.

Director Zhao Lixin slammed a public opinion report on the table, his face turning blue with anger.

"These old stubborn fools! They don't know anything!" He pointed to a name on the report and cursed, "Especially this Sun Siyuan! Relying on being a descendant of the 'Medicine King Valley', he's jumping the highest! Everywhere he goes for interviews, he says our 'spiritual supplement liquid' is trash, that it's heresy!"

"Medicine King Valley?" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo frowned on the side. "I think I've heard of it. It's a reclusive medical family with a history of thousands of years. It is said that the emperor's pills in the past were all refined by their family."

"Exactly." Director Zhao Lixin snorted. "It's these people who cling to their ancestors' junk, refuse to progress, and can't stand to see others do well! They are just afraid that once our factory opens, their so-called 'ancestral medicine' won't sell for a high price, cutting off their wealth!"

"Then what should we do now?" Professor Chen was a little worried. "The pressure of public opinion is getting bigger and bigger. Although the higher-ups are holding up, in the long run, it is not good for the project."

Everyone's eyes turned to Jiang Ning, who had been looking down at her drawings from beginning to end.

Jiang Ning didn't even lift her head, just asked indifferently: "Where is that Sun Siyuan now?"

"Him?" Director Zhao Lixin was stunned for a moment, flipped through the report, "He is leading a group of so-called 'Alchemy Masters' in the capital to hold an 'Alchemy Culture Seminar', spreading rumors every day."

"Oh." Jiang Ning responded and stopped the pen in her hand.

She raised her head, her face expressionless.

"Notify them."

"Stop holding meetings in the capital; it's meaningless."

"Tell them to come directly to Kunlun Academy."

"Didn't he say my stuff is trash?"

"Then let him see with his own eyes how my 'trash' is produced."

"Doesn't he feel that his 'works of art' are very noble?"

"Then we will... compare."

Jiang Ning's tone was very flat, but Director Zhao Lixin and the others heard a familiar, irrefutable flavor in this flat tone.

They knew that Engineer Jiang was going to... personally step in and slap them in the face.

"I'll go arrange it right now!" Director Zhao Lixin's spirit lifted, and he immediately picked up the phone.

He could already foresee that a good show was about to begin.

He even felt a little sympathy for the guy named Sun Siyuan.

Offending anyone is fine, but why offend this "engineering maniac" who never reasons, only talks about data and efficiency.

You want to talk to her about heritage, art, and spirituality?

She will only use reality to tell you:

In the face of absolute productivity, your pathetic pride is worthless.