At the strong invitation of the other party, Ji Xiang came to Matteo Ricci's temporary residence. There were many attendants, as well as the old King of the Ministry of Rites from Ying Tian Fu, who also lived there. With pavilions and towers, the facilities were complete, and the environment was quite good.
In the house, Matteo Ricci took out several books. One was the "Our Father" in Latin, and another was a translated version, which was, of course, not fully translated, only a few chapters had been translated so far.
There were also "On Friendship," "Twenty-Five Sayings," and a book called "Ancestral Ten Commandments of God."
Upon seeing these, Ji Xiang maintained a polite and solemn expression, but inwardly, he almost burst out laughing.
Christianity had only recently arrived in the East during this period, and some of the translations looked quite interesting. For instance, the translation of "ancestral" was quite spiritual...
There were also the last words of Jesus' disciple Paul: "First, be in accord with people, then teach them." This had a pure Eastern tone, authentic Chinese, and even if "The Master said" were added before it, there would be no sense of incongruity.
Of course, Christianity preached everywhere to expand its faith. Ji Xiang felt that Christianity coming to Da Ming to preach might also be to make the divine position of Jehovah even more powerful.
Of course, if such a deity truly existed.
"If Jehovah were also in Da Fu Li, I don't seem to have seen it. However, Fu Li is quite large, so it's normal to not recognize everyone. I'll chant the Bible a couple of times later, open a heavenly gate, go up to see, and have a chat. We'll get acquainted then."
"And I'll borrow some incense money. In a monotheistic religion, the incense money possessed by the deity must be inexhaustible... What a rich patron."
Currently, to counter Li Shan He, borrowing incense money from the Western Jehovah was not impossible. After all, it was like having another reserve food source... No, for Da Ming to develop, it needed to communicate with the outside world. This was an exchange... If others could come to your territory to preach, we could also preach out.
After all, if one method is understood, all methods are understood. When the time comes, if there are a couple of angel legions among the 360,000 heavenly soldiers, East and West will be combined, and combat power will rise linearly.
Ji Xiang flipped through these scriptures and works. Indeed, there was a lot of content that could guide believers' wishes. Although these were photocopies, Ji Xiang could feel faint traces of wishes on them.
According to Old Shen, photocopies should not have wishes or manifest supernatural phenomena.
The teachings of Christ indeed had their unique aspects.
Matteo Ricci also wanted to show Ji Xiang some good things, hoping to pique Ji Xiang's interest. He took them out excitedly to display them, but unexpectedly, when Ji Xiang saw these things, he laughed heartily and then accurately stated their names and uses!
"This cross inlaid with pearls, this is for His Majesty, isn't it? It looks quite luxurious."
"This is a globe. The craftsmanship is a bit rough, but overall it's a good item. To achieve this with the precision of hand-drawn maps is already remarkable. I'll help you add a few strokes later."
"Glassware and mirrors. The glass is fired well. Are these flasks for alchemy? We have them too, but they're called 'liuli.' They're not as transparent, but their uses are different. Our technology is indeed lacking, perhaps a fifty-year gap."
"This is a prism. Let me think, the thing you invented is currently used for play. Perhaps fifty years from now, if you are still alive and return to the West, tell someone named Isaac Newton that light scatters when passing through a prism... Oh, he should have just been born then."
"Western calculation methods and numbers. These actually existed in our Song Dynasty hundreds of years ago, but people didn't like to use them. However, yours looks better..."
"Clocks and watches, chiming clocks, timepieces that chime at the hour, and watches with hands that indicate the twelve hours according to the sundial. These are all superb Western skills."
"Portraits of 'Heavenly Emperor Jehovah' and 'Heavenly Empress Mary.' I should be correct, right? You translated them this way, didn't you? However, I suggest you don't translate Jehovah as Heavenly Emperor or God... Although it's convenient for preaching, it will cause a certain degree of confusion in faith for our local deities..."
"This is an hourglass, hmm, belts, fabrics, large silver coins. These are all ordinary items. Rhino horns, we don't even have rhinos here anymore."
"Oh, this is a violin. Shall I play a piece for you? This thing looks similar to our pipa."
Matteo Ricci was completely bewildered. His already large eyes widened even further.
"Oh, no, no! How did you know? Did Western missionaries come to Shuntian before me?"
"Even if you can hear from the nine heavens and see for ten thousand miles, the distance from the West to here is far beyond ten thousand miles. How do you know the names of these things? I only recently translated them. Have you been targeting me for a long time?"
"Who is this Isaac Newton you speak of? Or, have you been to our West?"
Matteo Ricci thought someone had stolen his translation achievements and was a bit unhappy. At the same time, he was greatly shocked that Ji Xiang could operate and name these items.
Ji Xiang smiled slightly and casually explained, "I saw it in the heavens."
After a thousand years of wandering in the divine realm of Da Fu Li, it wasn't necessarily only in the Eastern lands, right?
However, Matteo Ricci looked up at the sky. He couldn't understand Ji Xiang's words at all.
On the other hand, Ji Xiang looked at Matteo Ricci and noticed that his health was not very good.
"Western divine arts can treat injuries, but they are helpless against diseases?"
Matteo Ricci was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily: "Illness is also a grace. God probably fears that I will become too arrogant due to the great revelations I have received, so He bestows the suffering of illness."
"This is both a reminder and a restraint, so that we always know that we are weak, and everything we do is God's grace. This way, we will not be proud, nor will we elevate ourselves above God due to pride and steal God's glory."
Ji Xiang also smiled: "Although it may be rude to say so, you are a good person... I think this grace that God has given you should be treated. As a friend..."
Saying this, he reached out and took Matteo Ricci's hand.
Immediately, Matteo Ricci felt an incredibly powerful, supreme yang energy emerge from his wrist, instantly filling his entire body! Within his body, the previous uncomfortable feelings, which seemed to be hidden illnesses, began to disappear. He felt invigorated, and his entire aura became robust!
A flame seemed to appear within him!
That flame was intense and warm!
"This, this is!"
"Transferring Qi, circulating fire."
Ji Xiang withdrew his hand. With his current cultivation, he helped Matteo Ricci open up the fire element, allowing his body to generate yang energy. This would gradually strengthen his body, and diseases would no longer require medication, extending his lifespan. Because the body is strong, immunity naturally increases.
Fire forces metal, this is the initial circulation of yang energy, and it is the power that needs to be sensed when entering the first stage of cultivation, the "Fire Circulation Realm."
However, Matteo Ricci was from the Western cultivation system. Ji Xiang simply discovered that he had not opened up the fire of the human body, so he offered him a favor.
"The teachings of Christ seem to not focus on the power of the human body itself. I'll help you a bit, open up the fire element's Qi. From now on, your lifespan, unless someone specifically curses you, will be at least one hundred and ten years without any problem."
The so-called grace and tempering of the human body by Christ God seemed to be merely because it had no way to solve the problem. After all, there are priorities in learning, and each profession has its specialties.
Matteo Ricci felt an immense shock at the changes in his body:
"I, I have never felt so comfortable and strong! My energy has returned, just like when I first arrived in India! Have I returned to my youth?"
This, is the wonder of the Eastern cultivation methods?
Ji Xiang smiled: "This is like different cultures. Western methods focus on external forces, while Eastern methods focus on internal strength. Combining East and West, illnesses can be cured without medicine. This is a small favor from me as a friend."
"It's a casual act, no need to mind. I wish you success in your future cultivation and attainment of... hmm... Pope?"
Ji Xiang was momentarily unsure how to describe it, while Matteo Ricci also laughed happily and thanked Ji Xiang very solemnly.
"Having been in the East for twelve years, I have not seen the methods of the Middle Kingdom. Today I have benefited from you, and I will surely repay you in every way in the future! A drop of kindness, a gushing spring repays it!"
Matteo Ricci was genuinely grateful. Although he called his bodily ailments a grace, were they not also real pains that had troubled him for many years?
The people of the Eastern lands are kind and virtuous. Although he is from the West, he has lived in this land for twelve years, doing things of the Middle Kingdom, speaking the language of the Middle Kingdom, and writing books of the Middle Kingdom. He should naturally emulate the virtues of the Middle Kingdom!
Ji Xiang then pointed to the tribute items:
"And these instruments, you don't need to worry about how I know them. However, I can guarantee you that when you meet the Wanli Emperor, these items will definitely be taken seriously."
"When that time comes, please help me convey a message to His Majesty."
Matteo Ricci asked in confusion: "What message?"
Ji Xiang said: "Western learning spreads to the East, learn the advanced techniques of the barbarians to control the barbarians! Please open your eyes and take a good look at this world!"