Chapter 153 Western Learning Spreads Eastward

At the strong invitation of the other party, Ji Xiang arrived at Matteo Ricci's temporary residence. There were many followers here, as well as the old Wang from the Ministry of Rites of Yingtian Prefecture. They were also staying here. Pavilions, terraces, and complete facilities made for a rather pleasant environment.

Inside the house, Matteo Ricci took out several books, one of which was the Latin version of the *Lord's Prayer*, and another was a translated version, though it was not fully translated. Only a few chapters had been translated so far.

There were also *On Friendship*, *Twenty-Five Sayings*, and *The Ancestral Ten Commandments of the Lord*.

Ji Xiang's expression remained polite and solemn, but he almost laughed out loud.

Christianity had only recently been introduced to the East at this time, and some of the translations seemed quite interesting, like the "Ancestral" translation which was rather inspired...

And then there was the teaching of Paul, the disciple of Jesus—"One must first be the same as the people before teaching them." A pure Eastern tone, authentic Chinese, and it wouldn't feel out of place even if you added a "Confucius said" at the beginning.

Of course, the purpose of Christianity's evangelism everywhere was to expand its faith. Ji Xiang felt that Christianity's missionary work in the Ming Dynasty might also be to make that Jehovah's divine position even more powerful.

Of course, if there really was such a god.

"If Jehovah is also in Dafuli, I don't seem to have seen him. But Fulili is quite big, so it's normal to not know everyone. I'll recite the Bible a few times later, open the Heavenly Gate, go up and take a look, and we'll all get to know each other."

"And while I'm at it, I'll borrow some incense. In a monotheistic religion, the god's incense must be inexhaustible... this is a tycoon."

Currently, in order to fight against the Inner Mountains and Rivers, it wouldn't hurt to borrow some incense from the Western Old Lord. After all, it's good to have some reserves... no, the Ming Dynasty wants to develop, and there must be foreign exchanges, this is an exchange... If others can come to your territory to preach, we can also preach abroad.

After all, once you understand one law, you understand all laws. When the time comes, among the 360,000 heavenly soldiers, there will be two more angel legions, a blend of East and West, and the combat power will increase in a straight line.

Ji Xiang flipped through these scriptures and writings. There was indeed a lot of content inside that would guide believers to generate certain wishes. These were obviously just copies, but Ji Xiang could feel some vague wishes on them.

According to Lao Shen, copies shouldn't have any wishes or produce any divine power.

The method of Christ is indeed unique.

Matteo Ricci also wanted to show Ji Xiang some good things, hoping that these things would arouse Ji Xiang's interest. He took them out with great enthusiasm, but he didn't expect that when Ji Xiang saw these things, he laughed and accurately said the names and uses of these things!

"A pearl-encrusted cross, this is probably a gift for His Majesty, it looks quite luxurious."

"This is a globe. It's a little rough, but overall it's a good thing. It's amazing to be able to make it like this with the precision of hand-drawn maps. I'll help you add a few strokes later."

"Glassware and glass mirrors. The glass is well-fired. Are these alchemical flasks? We have them here too, but they're called colored glaze. They're not as transparent, but the uses are different. Our technology is indeed lacking, about fifty years behind."

"This is a triangular prism. Let me think, it seems that you guys invented this thing and are still using it for fun. Maybe fifty years from now, if you're still alive and return to the West, tell a person named Isaac Newton that light will scatter when it passes through a triangular prism... oh, he should have just been born at that time."

"Western calculation methods and numbers. We actually had this in the Song Dynasty hundreds of years ago, but people didn't like to use it. But yours looks better..."

"Clocks and watches, chiming clocks, timepieces that chime on time, and watches with needles that point to the twelve hours, all Western wonders."

"Images of 'Jehovah, the Heavenly Emperor' and 'Mary, the Mother of the Heavenly Emperor'. I should be right, you translated it like that, right? But I suggest you don't translate Jehovah as Heavenly Emperor or Shangdi... although it's convenient for evangelism, it will cause some confusion in faith among our local Shangdi..."

"This is an hourglass, um, belts, cotton cloth, large silver coins, these are all ordinary things. Rhinoceros horn, we don't have any rhinoceroses here anymore."

"Oh, this is a violin. Shall I play you a tune? This looks similar to our pipa."

Matteo Ricci was in a state of shock. His already large eyes were even wider now.

"Oh no no! How do you know all this! Could it be that before me, there were other Western missionaries who came to Shuntian?"

"Even if you can hear the Nine Heavens and see ten thousand miles, the distance from the West to here is far more than ten thousand miles. How do you know the names of these things? I only translated them recently. Have you been watching me for a long time?"

"Who is this Isaac Newton you speak of! Or rather, have you been to our West?"

Matteo Ricci thought someone had stolen his translation results, and he was a little unhappy, but at the same time, he was greatly shocked that Ji Xiang could manipulate and call out the translated names of these things!

Ji Xiang smiled slightly and explained casually, "I saw it in the sky."

Having traveled through the Dafuli land for thousands of years, it's not like he could only travel through the Eastern soil, right?

However, Matteo Ricci looked up at the sky, and he couldn't understand what Ji Xiang meant at all.

On the other hand, Ji Xiang looked at Matteo Ricci and found that the other party's body was not very healthy.

"Western divine arts can heal injuries, but are helpless against diseases?"

Matteo Ricci was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily: "Disease is also a grace. The Lord fears that I will be too proud because of the great revelations I have received, so there is the suffering of disease."

"This is both a reminder and a restriction, letting us always know that we are weak, and that everything we do is the Lord's grace, so we will not be arrogant, and even more so will not place ourselves above the Lord because of arrogance, stealing God's glory."

Ji Xiang also smiled: "Although it's rude to say so, you are a good person... I think I should still help you heal this grace that the Lord gave you, as a friend..."

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Matteo Ricci's hand.

Immediately afterwards, Matteo Ricci felt an incomparably powerful and supreme yang energy born from his wrist, instantly filling his entire body! The previous uncomfortable feelings, seemingly hidden diseases, began to disappear. His spirits lifted, and his entire being became vigorous!

A flame seemed to appear in his body!

That flame was strong and warm!

"This, this is!"

"Transferring Qi, circulating fire."

Ji Xiang withdrew his hand. With his current cultivation level, he could help Matteo Ricci open up the fire element, allowing his body to generate Yang Qi. In this way, his body would gradually become stronger, and diseases would not require medicine to be treated. His lifespan would also be extended, because the human body is strong, and immunity is naturally improved.

Fire forces the metal element to move, which is the initial operation of Yang Qi, and also the power that needs to be sensed when entering the first realm of cultivation, the "Circulating Fire Realm."

But Matteo Ricci was of the Western cultivation system. Ji Xiang just noticed that he hadn't opened up the fire in his body, so he helped him.

"The method of Christ doesn't seem to focus on the power of the human body itself. I'll give you a hand, opening up the fire element. From now on, if no one specifically curses you, living to be one hundred and ten years old won't be a problem at all."

The so-called disease as a grace and tempering of the human body by the Christian Lord seems to be just because it has no way to solve this problem. After all, there is an order of precedence in learning, and each art has its own expertise.

Matteo Ricci felt the changes in his body and was truly shocked:

"I, I have never felt so comfortable and strong! My energy is back, just like when I first arrived in Tianzhu! Am I back to my youth?"

This, is this the magic of the Central Earth method?

Ji Xiang smiled: "This is like a cultural difference. The Western method focuses on external force, while the Central Earth method focuses on internal force. Combining East and West, disease can be cured without medicine. This is just a small favor I'm doing for you as a friend."

"It's just a casual act, no need to mind it. I wish you success in your future cultivation, and attain... um... Pope?"

Ji Xiang didn't know how to describe it for a moment, and Matteo Ricci also laughed happily, thanking Ji Xiang very solemnly.

"In the twelve years since entering the East, I have not seen the method of Central Earth. Today, I have benefited from you, and I will surely repay you in every way in the future! A drop of water in need shall be repaid with a spring!"

Matteo Ricci was sincerely grateful. Although the disease in his body was called a grace, wasn't it a real pain that had troubled him for many years?

The people of the Eastern Earth are kind and virtuous. Although he is a Westerner, he has lived on this land for twelve years, doing the things of Central Earth, speaking the language of Central Earth, and writing the books of Central Earth. He should follow the virtues of Central Earth!

Ji Xiang then pointed to those tributes:

"Also, you don't need to care how I know about these instruments, but I can guarantee you that when you go to see the Wanli Emperor, these things will definitely be valued."

"When the time comes, please help me convey a sentence to His Majesty."

Matteo Ricci was puzzled: "What words?"

Ji Xiang said: "Western learning spreads eastward, learn the strengths of the barbarians to subdue them! Please open your eyes and take a good look at this world!"