However, Yuan Qingqing said it’s correct,
"The Master says that in the world, there are three thousand Great Dao, even ants have a Dao, there’s Dao even in shit, as long as you can apply what you learn flexibly and master it thoroughly, you can achieve Enlightenment and integrate it into oneself."
Tie Dan, "I don’t want to comprehend the Dao of shit. If you do, stay away from me..."
Yuan Qingqing, "It’s a metaphor!"
Alright, Dao can be found even in excrement. Actually, the Mystic Sect Daoist Sutra has similar sayings, mainly implying that all forms of Dao are without distinction of high or low. Don’t discard the heterodox techniques conceived by those from the Demon Sect or Demon Palace, or Mixed Cultivators; as long as it can combat, defend, and kill, it’s a good Daoist Skill.
Evidently, although Mo Mountain also carries this meaning, the focal point of pursuing the Dao is indeed different from that of the Mystic Sect. They care less about combat power or defensive power, and more about whether one can withstand radiation, endure harsh cold, adapt and modify nature, and survive in various extreme environments.
Take for instance a middle school Disciple like Yuan Qingqing, who clearly isn’t proficient in Qi Manipulation, nor in Slaying and Sword Fighting. Her flying maneuverability is merely standard, but in the Insect Control Skill, she’s evidently made some achievements.
As she climbed the icy peak with Tie Dan, she spread her wings, her feathers shining with scales, adjusting the angle like a solar panel to absorb the sword light radiation from all directions for energy collection. Moreover, she continuously secretes an oily, glistening liquid from within her body, forming a transparent liquid layer on her surface like a protective membrane.
Tie Dan couldn’t help but take another look, Yuan Qingqing noticed and said,
"It’s glycerin."
Tie Dan, "...What?"
"It’s a similar substance to ethylene glycol, commonly used in mecha antifreeze fluid. Well, maybe the predecessor hasn’t operated a mecha. In summary, it’s a colligative antifreeze that increases concentration as the temperature decreases, dissolving in body fluid to lower the freezing point."
Yuan Qingqing further explained,
"Predecessor knows about the snow flea, right? It’s a type of insect that survives in polar regions. The Snow Flea Magic involves observing the snow flea’s ecology and simulating its principle of cold resistance.
When observing a shortening of the solar cycle, the snow flea activates molecular-level pre-adaptation through a series of biochemical signals, resulting in the robust expression of genes related to cold resistance. Various sugar metabolism genes and aquaporin genes get activated, forming new pathways, synthesizing glycerin and trehalose for injecting antifreeze and low-temperature protectants into lymph and blood.
Moreover, it will activate a special antifreeze gene to form a glycine-rich antifreeze protein, creating a tripeptide repeat motif. These tripeptide chains form a tight, rigid, spiral bundle brick structure during protein folding. One side is hydrophilic, the other hydrophobic, providing dual-faced properties allowing the protein layer to attach like a magnet to the surface of nascent ice crystals, akin to wearing chain armor, generating a heat lag effect, making it difficult for water molecules to orderly align forming ice crystals, and slowing down the crystallization speed of water.
Thus, glycerin, trehalose, and various proteins form a dynamic complex molecular network within the body fluid, significantly enhancing tolerance to extreme low-temperature environments."
Tie Dan was silent for a while,
"Is this Cold Prevention Path also invented by your Master?"
Yuan Qingqing nodded,
"Of course it is. A Feather Transformation Immortal Level 1 being is inherently formidable and can protect with Qi, naturally disdaining such small techniques.
However, we ordinary people are still too fragile. Moreover, by preemptively mastering this, when there’s no Qi available in the future, we won’t panic.
All these principles have been prepared for us by the Master in middle school textbooks."
Tie Dan couldn’t help but feel curious,
"Your Master is truly a remarkable person. He’s also crossed the threshold? Is he now on the Moon? Can I pay my respects to him?"
Yuan Qingqing sighed,
"Predecessor might be disappointed, the Master has already transformed in Doomsday and can’t come..."
Tie Dan frowned,
"Transformed in Doomsday? Dead ball?"
Yuan Qingqing helplessly said,
"Predecessor, don’t put it so harshly, the Master sacrificed himself to contend against the Chaos Taoist Ancestor for our survival, allowing us to escape to this realm first.
However, the situation of the Final Battle is not optimistic. Previously, he could occasionally use Baobao to transmit sound and teach, holding forums and passing on Magic at the university, but recently it’s said that he doesn’t often conduct open classes anymore."
Oh, using Baobao for transmission... Goodness! It turns out to be him!