Mathematics

Hyuga Ningyuan never expected that after fusing nearly his entire skill bar, he'd only end up with a single green skill.

Yet just adding math to it directly upgraded it to blue!

And this wasn't an isolated case!

Green + math = blue.

Yellow + math also equaled blue!

That was just absurd.

What did this mean?

It meant that math, seemingly unremarkable, was actually that ridiculously overpowered additive—like Vibranium—capable of super-upgrading any skill it touched!

"Math is this powerful?" Hyuga Ningyuan's face was full of shock, yet it also felt somehow inevitable.

The title "Math is the mother of all sciences" wasn't earned for nothing; there was no reason it should stop working just because supernatural forces were involved.

With math's boost, any Cultivation Method should theoretically see improved efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and increased output.

Because math could optimize processes, and algorithms could boost efficiency.

But the problem was, he only had one math skill, while three skills needed fusing!

Not enough!

"Can I grind out a few more math skills?" Hyuga Ningyuan asked.

The system didn't answer. Looked like he'd have to test it himself.

He thought it over. Math was indeed great for Cultivation Methods, but theoretically, it wasn't the best fit for all of them.

Math should have the highest compatibility with [Arcane Art Gallery], since recording knowledge required precision and efficiency.

And [Arcane Art Gallery] was equivalent to the human brain—if the brain didn't need math, what did?

The best fit for Phoenix Nirvana Scripture should be physics and biology, since that method involved a lot of movement and bodily content.

The best fit for the Glazed Robe should be Structural Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, and Energy Mechanics, since the Glazed Robe was a flow of energy.

Math could upgrade these skills, so sciences with even higher compatibility should work even better!

"I won't fuse for now. It's enough for the moment, and my math level is too low anyway. Let me level it up and see if there's a stronger effect!"

Maybe a max-level math skill could even push a method to purple!

He glanced at his panel. Math was Level 1 (2/10), and he had 444 General Experience left.

Now that he'd felt math's power, of course he'd go all in on leveling it up to see the results!

"Add points!"

8 points invested. Level 2 (0/100).

Hyuga Ningyuan felt his mind clear, as if his entire being had become much more lucid.

And a flood of math knowledge surged into his mind, like memories he'd once forgotten now resurfacing.

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, area formulas, volume formulas, the Pythagorean Theorem.

Mm, roughly up to sixth grade!

Keep adding.

100 points down. Level 3 (0/500).

Another wave of clarity, then even more math knowledge poured in.

Linear Equations in Two Variables, squares, cubes, Trigonometric Functions.

That was jumping from elementary to middle school!

"It seems... my perception of the world has become much more precise!" People who understood math and those who didn't perceived the world in completely different ways.

That was the so-called Mathematical Thinking.

For example, in China, many people understood math. When they talked about ninjas, they liked to use numbers to describe someone's strength—like Kakashi's Chakra being one Ka, Naruto's being a hundred Ka, and so on.

If someone who understood math were to rank ninjas, they'd never settle for just three grades like upper, middle, and lower. They'd at least split it into a hundred levels from 1 to 100, then slot each person in based on their Chakra intensity.

But the ninja world didn't have that habit—at least not yet. Once those Ninja Academy students who learned math grew up and took power, ninja rankings might change.

Provided that math-challenged Naruto didn't take the top spot.

"My breathing rhythm has stabilized a lot too!" His Phoenix Nirvana Scripture was only Level 2, and its breathing rhythm still followed bodily instinct. But after his math level increased, Hyuga Ningyuan unconsciously started noticing the rhythm issue and actively adjusted it toward a more regular pattern.

So.

"Even without fusing, just leveling up math alone is hugely beneficial to my training!" Hyuga Ningyuan marveled.

That was when he realized: unrated skills weren't necessarily weak, and green or yellow skills weren't necessarily strong.

Color only represented the starting point, but the effect of leveling up a low-grade skill might not be inferior to a low-level colored skill.

"Let me test Phoenix Nirvana Scripture!" Hyuga Ningyuan got up, went to the bathroom, and paced back and forth in front of the mirror twice.

"There's definitely a change, and it's obvious!"

Before, Hyuga Ningyuan was no different from any other Branch Family member—hunched over, with a gloomy, bitter expression.

But now, his steps were light, his posture straight, and his shoulders bounced slightly as he walked, giving off a lively, springy rhythm.

If someone played a tune beside him, he could even match the beat!

His eyes had changed too. Though they were pure white, you could somehow see a spark of liveliness in them.

Bright eyes, gleaming teeth, radiant as stars—his gaze shimmered with charm.

Demeanor—that is, one's bearing and expression—is part of charisma.

Some celebrities look pretty, but walk with a slouch and let their hair ornaments flop around; playing a princess, they come off as maids.

Others aren't good-looking and are even overweight, yet carry themselves with such grace and dignity that a three-out-of-ten face gets boosted to seven, radiating full charm.

Hyuga Ningyuan was far from ugly—a solid eight out of ten. But his former gloomy expression was a drawback. Now, not only was he no longer gloomy, but his features were jade-like and vivid. Add in his upright, bouncing demeanor, and that eight was pushed to a nine!

On top of that, the [Glazed Robe] kept him spotless, his skin crystal-clear like an immortal's child, adding another 0.5 to the nine!

The remaining half-point was left as room for growth, since the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture was still low-level.

"This headband is getting in the way!" Hyuga Ningyuan looked at the white cloth wrapped around his forehead. It was meant to hide the Caged Bird mark, but the white cloth was just too ugly.

Switching to red would be fine, right? It's not like there aren't forehead ornaments like that. If not, he could just make one!

Strength is temporary, but style is forever!

"Forget it, I'll keep it on for now. Can't stand out yet!" Hyuga Ningyuan checked the time—it was already late.

He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.

This was his first day after transmigrating. In just one day, he had created three highly promising skills, awakened three talents, and even held Yūhi Kurenai's hand.

This single day felt more eventful than his entire 28 years in his past life!