"Why erase it?"
Lin Ke waved a hand and sighed. "I left the words 'with writing assistance from Wang Qingshan' because this book truly wasn't my creation alone."
"Those who created it alongside me included the farmers tending rice in the fields, the hunters hunting in the forests, the orchard growers cultivating fruit, the fishermen by the sea, the women outside the pigpens and chicken coops..."
"Though I have some small talent for wielding words and ink, all this experience came from the people."
"Leaving the words 'with writing assistance from Wang Qingshan' is, in truth, acknowledging the writing assistance of all the people under heaven. Only with their help was this Encyclopedia of Biology created."
"So there's no need to erase it."
When Lin Ke finished, everyone looked thoughtful.
What Lin Ke had said did indeed seem true.
Hearing this, Wang Qingshan bowed with his hands clasped once more. "Qingshan thanks you, my teacher."
This mighty Fifth Realm expert now seemed like a child who had yet to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony, pouring all his respect into that single bow.
Lin Ke truly deserved his respect!
And at that moment, the changes had only just begun.
One figure after another, each radiating a towering presence, appeared above Lin Ke's courtyard and stood suspended in the air.
Thousands of them!
The civil and military officials of the court!
As their auras surged, Little Wa was so frightened that she fled straight back into the Plum Blossom Tree.
Wang Qingshan's lizard maid, Bi'er, also reverted to her original form.
The Three Dukes-the Grand Preceptor, the Grand Tutor, and the Grand Guardian-stood in the innermost ring.
Outside them stood the ministers and vice ministers of the Twelve Departments, along with the directors and clerks of their various offices.
Farther out was a