You Have Science, I Have Martial Arts

Chapter 879 - 398: Knowledge Is the Sword That Pierces Faith

In the hall of the Morning Star Family in Frost Iron City, the flames of the fireplace cast light on three faces, each showing a different expression.

Elise Morning Star took off the Star Pattern Cloak, with traces of wind and snow still clinging to her shining silver hair.

She placed a roll of gold-embellished document on the oak table, the royal family’s emblem gleaming brightly on the parchment in the firelight.

"The Noble Council has preliminarily passed the Bloodline Autonomy Bill, but it requires the signature of you, the Duke of the Northern Territory, to present it to the Privy Council."

Aurelian Morning Star stroked the frost pattern on the Dragon Rider Spear "Frost Winter Oath," but his eyes looked towards his second son: "Laine, what do you think we should do?"

Ye Qingzhou was feeding the Blazing Flame Flying Dragon hatchling on his shoulder. Without looking up, he replied, "Supporting the Imperial Family aligns with our family’s interests, even though it is meaningless beyond self-consolation."

"What?"

Elise paused with her teacup in mid-air: "You publicly expressed support for the bill at the academy..."

"Sister."

Ye Qingzhou suddenly raised his head, the golden eyes of the Sun Bloodline slightly glowing in the shadows: "Please tell me, when a farmer’s child falls ill, where do they go for treatment?"

"Of course, the church’s charitable clinics..."

"And where do apprentices go to learn literacy and arithmetic?"

"The monastery’s free school..."

Elise’s voice gradually weakened as she understood Ye Qingzhou’s point.

The essence of power is obedience from the lower to the higher, and the root of obedience is the dependence of the weak on the strong.

Without a dependency relationship, power is a castle in the air.

A wisp of golden flame sparked at Ye Qingzhou’s fingertips, illuminating the Northern Territory map on the hall wall—densely marked by silver crosses representing the Church, while the institutions established by the Imperial Family were few and far between.

"Nobles only care about bloodline inheritance, the Imperial Family is busy competing with the Church Court for taxation rights, but the true maintenance of the people’s hearts..."

The flame suddenly swallowed the map, forming a line of floating words from the ashes—bread, herbs, and knowledge.

Aurelian, as the Duke of the Northern Territory, felt his finger joints turn pale from squeezing. Even though he was a legendary powerhouse at the pinnacle of the mundane, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

He recalled last month’s border inspection, those who knelt before the church giving thanks for "Holy Light Healing," yet ignored the passing Duke’s banner.

"So, Laine, what is your suggestion?"

The Duke of the Northern Territory’s voice was a bit hoarse.

Ye Qingzhou snapped his fingers to extinguish the flame: "The bill must be signed, but the Morning Star Family will open a school for commoners tomorrow—built directly across from the church."

Thoughts are sharper weapons than swords and the only way to counter the church.

Late at night in the family’s library, Elise used Star Magic to ward off prying eyes.

"Since when did you start caring about the life and death of commoners?"

Her fingertips wrapped around chains of starlight as she looked at her brother, familiar yet making her feel strange: "This doesn’t sound like something you would say."

Ye Qingzhou was flipping through the Holy Sun Scripture, upon hearing, he chuckled lightly: "Chapter three, verse seven—’Where the light reaches, the hungry will be fed.’ The Church can trade three copper coins for piety, while we can provide..."

He suddenly tore a page from the book, revealing an aged ledger hidden among the pages—recording the church’s secret sale of Redemption Certificates.

"Time for the people to know we can give more."

At noon the next day, the square of Frost Iron City was bustling with voices.

After Aurelian publicly signed the bill scroll, he suddenly drew his sword and shattered the tax collector’s silver scale.

"Ten days from now, the Morning Star Territory will open a school for commoners, with tuition only half of what the church school charges!"

Before the crowd could react, Ye Qingzhou uncovered the cloth at the center of the square—twelve brand-new potion distillers glinted in the sunlight.

"These will be placed in the lord’s clinic, with consultation fees also only half of what the church charges."

Suddenly, from the direction of the outermost slum, dragon roars rang out in succession. The Blazing Flame Flying Dragons grabbed wheat-filled baskets and flew low, golden grains falling like rain.

"They’re insane..."

Gray Owl murmured to himself among the crowd: "They’re declaring war against the Church Court..."

At the top of the Holy Sun Church, Gareth crushed the Light Feather in his hand.

"Should we suppress them?"

Celeste’s Chain Whip was adorned with flame runes.

Chief Judge Roland’s single eye stared at Ye Qingzhou being tossed by the people in the square, and the Holy Nail trembled violently: "No... this is an open plot."

In the unseen shadows, Dracula was stroking the head of a crying child.

The young child’s palm held malt candy distributed by the Morning Star Family, unaware that beside him stood a legendary powerhouse feared by the Judgement Knights.

"Such sweet chaos..."

The Blood Race Duke’s soft laughter drowned in the cheers.

Ten days passed in a moment, outside Frost Iron City, the iron gates of White Egret Manor slowly opened in the morning light.

The once-abandoned noble manor had been transformed into a majestic academy building, with newly engraved Morning Star emblems on the bluestone walls, exuding the fresh scent of pine.

Aurelian Morning Star stood under the archway, rare in a deep blue robe with embroidered silver stars over his Profound Iron Armor, watching the crowd winding to the horizon, unconsciously rubbing his fingers on the sword hilt.

"Father is nervous."

Elise Morning Star lightly chuckled, her Star Pattern Robe rippling like waves in the wind.

Beside her, her fiancé, Second Prince Edmund Saint Claire, checked the time with a gilded pocket watch and raised his eyebrows: "It’s a rare scene to see the ’Frost Heart Sword Saint’ lose composure."

Ye Qingzhou leaned by the fountain feeding the dragon, while the Blazing Flame Flying Dragon hatchling, "Xiaohuo," used its tail to wrap the jerky in his palm.

Hearing the sound of maroons, he looked up towards the gate.

Three hundred young ones in coarse cloth stood in line with their parents to register, mud from the wheat fields still clinging to their feet. Further away, a caravan carried silk-clad merchant heirs, curious eyes peeking through the curtains.