Chapter 940 - 485: Global Megaquake
Great Xia.
Linjiang City.
"Is this the Highest National Hero Medal?"
The female secretary, Ling Shuiling, dressed in a sheer embroidered gown, her alluring figure faintly visible, gazed intently at an exquisitely crafted jade pendant.
The pendant was of a double-layered concentric design, with the outer layer circular and the inner layer square.
Around the outer layer were twenty-four bamboo slips, made of an unknown material, appearing as translucent as white crystal, yet with a metallic sheen.
The inner layer was carved with the four noble plants: plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, and outlined with golden threads depicting the map of Great Xia.
At the very center was a pure, flawless, colorless gem, which upon closer inspection seemed to have clouds flowing endlessly inside. The gemstone’s base had a miniature bearing allowing it to rotate freely.
The entire medal was housed in a transparent crystal box, adorned with a dark cyan woven silk ribbon.
As the angle changed, the ribbon’s color shifted, faintly decorated with script reading "Because of selflessness, hence one achieves self-fulfillment."
Yesterday, a governor came to Linjiang City very discreetly and held a simple award ceremony, personally presenting this item to Yang Fan.
Ling Shuiling stared for a long time, sighing, "It’s absolutely stunning!"
She didn’t open the crystal box, nor did she pick up the medal for a closer look, because she felt touching it was a desecration.
This medal is only fit for veneration!
The female secretary curiously asked, "Is the double-layered concentric design symbolic of ’heavenly circle and earthly square’?"
Yang Fan nodded, "The ancient people observed the celestial bodies’ orbits as circular, while the great land was stable and square, representing the pure essence of ’heavenly circle and earthly square.’
"It also symbolizes the spirit; ’circle’ represents the scholar’s ideal of ’supporting the world when successful,’ while ’square’ corresponds to ’acting with integrity when poor.’"
Ling Shuiling pointed to the bamboo slips on the outer layer and asked, "What do these twenty-four bamboo slips symbolize?"
Yang Fan replied, "Bamboo slips were once the carrier of Great Xia language, so they symbolize the heritage of civilization and the resilience and integrity of scholars.
"The twenty-four bamboo slips evidently refer to the twenty-four solar terms, but it’s not only a natural rhythm, it’s also a node for self-cultivation and a marker of history.
"The day the Body Tempering Liquid was born was during the ’Beginning of Autumn,’ one of the twenty-four solar terms, hence that bamboo slip is slightly longer, which is the medal’s way of recording history."
As he spoke, he tapped the bamboo slip engraved with the two seal characters ’Beginning of Autumn’ from a distance.
The next moment.
The bamboo slip glowed faintly, and the ’Beginning of Autumn’ seal script seemed to come alive, projecting a beam of light.
It was the virtual image of a foundational passionfruit tree.
The female secretary was utterly amazed, "Now I understand the meaning of masterful craftsmanship."
She never expected a mere medal to contain such wondrous mechanisms, giving her a feeling of awe and insight.
Ling Shuiling asked another question, "Was it deliberate that the Body Tempering Liquid was born on the exact day of ’Beginning of Autumn’?
"’Beginning of Autumn’ signifies the transition from abundance to maturity, and the Body Tempering Liquid greatly enhances the Canglan Civilization’s power, also signifying it walking towards maturity."
Yang Fan shook his head, "During that period, I was tirelessly nurturing the plants day and night, without any regard for the solar terms."
The female secretary pondered for a moment, then said, "Perhaps it’s a sign of fate, indicating that the Canglan Civilization may grow into a formidable super civilization in the future."
She continued to ask, "Does the medal have other hidden mechanisms?"
Yang Fan spoke the truth, "Yes!"
He moved his fingers again, projecting a strand of power.
The gemstone began to slowly spin, and the carvings of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum lit up in succession, with beams of light shooting out from each pattern, converging at a point in the center of the gemstone.
After the gemstone made one full rotation, the hundreds of beams of light made the gem significantly brighter.
"Buzz!"
The medal gently vibrated.
Seven stars rose slowly from the gemstone, hovering above the medal.
Behind the stars appeared a blurred script: "A scholar must have broad ambition, as the path is long and the responsibilities great."
Ling Shuiling immediately recognized it, "The Big Dipper!"
Yang Fan smiled, "The ancient people of Great Xia used the Big Dipper for navigation, so you should understand the medal’s implication."
Ling Shuiling’s charming face was full of admiration, "It symbolizes that the recipient of the Highest National Hero Medal uses wisdom to guide the entire country’s direction."
"Click!"
The sound of a camera shutter could be heard.
A minute later.
The female secretary posted on her social media: "Witnessing the masterful craftsmanship of the Highest National Hero Medal firsthand, I am utterly amazed."
The post included a picture of the "Big Dipper."
This was an extremely luxurious display.
As expected, the likes soon surpassed ten thousand, many from people who weren’t even friends, but were drawn in to admire the legendary Highest National Hero Medal.
Her father, Ling Jianshan, sent a message through chat: "What’s the use of the Highest National Hero Medal?"
Ling Shuiling replied with three words: "Can’t say."
Ling Jianshan instantly replied: "Understood!"
The so-called "can’t say" implies—exceptional connections.
The female secretary habitually brushed her slightly protruding belly, looking at Yang Fan who had just started a new game, and whispered, "You all have an extraordinary father."
Yang Fan’s ears twitched.
Ling Shuiling flashed a charming smile, "Husband, I’m becoming increasingly inconvenient, shouldn’t we have Zhao Xiaoying come over to keep you company in bed?"
Yang Fan turned around and gave his girlfriend a sidelong glance.
Ling Shuiling continued to smile enticingly, "I wasn’t joking, that last remark was from the bottom of my heart.
"I am quite aware of my limits; with someone as legendary as you, already immortalized in history, I don’t think I can have you all to myself."