As the two Free and Unfettered Cultivators, Chen and Deng, handled the handover arrangements, Su Junyu introduced Xinyue Immortal Academy to Wang Qi and Xiang Qi. Since Xiang Qi was also a formally trained cultivator and was fairly familiar with immortal academies, she went to report to the person in charge after getting a basic grasp of Xinyue Immortal Academy's layout. Su Junyu then took Wang Qi to collect the items required for newly admitted disciples.
An immortal academy was a place that taught foundational knowledge to newly admitted disciples. It was not too different from what Wang Qi had imagined; it was more or less a high school on Earth. Several large buildings resembling great halls served as classrooms, while pill rooms, artifact-forging chambers, and the like were all present, roughly equivalent to laboratories on Earth. What surprised Wang Qi somewhat was that there was even an open library tower here.
It seemed the core sects within the Immortal Alliance were somewhat more relaxed in their control over knowledge. Wang Qi pondered this.
But beyond all that, what surprised Wang Qi most was a strange mirror called the "Myriad Immortals Mirror." Judging by its appearance alone, it was merely a bronze mirror the size of a washbasin. Yet after mana was poured into it, it could automatically connect the user's spiritual sense to a wondrous illusion realm known as the "Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm." According to Su Junyu, the Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm contained everything.
However, at present, the Myriad Immortals Mirror was difficult to forge, and even Golden Core Cultivators could hardly afford one. Only sects and the Immortal Alliance were equipped with them now.
A rudimentary internet. Wang Qi clicked his tongue in wonder. From Su Junyu's description, this "Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm" was not merely a connection between several communication artifacts; it had also begun to possess the two great functions of Earth's network: the "World Wide Web" and "file transfer."
Su Junyu was quite pleased by Wang Qi's astonished expression and said smugly, "Hehe, startled, weren't you? This too is the doctrine of our Myriad Dharma Sect. One principle gives rise to ten thousand dharmas—it truly lives up to its name."
The Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm was a massive artifact forged through the Immortal Alliance's full investment. Its prototype was the Natal Treasure of Turing, the Supreme Elder of the Thousand Machines Pavilion, the "Bronze Fairy." It was later evolved from the Bronze Fairy by Feng Luoyi, the Free and Unfettered Cultivator of the Myriad Dharma Sect known as the "Hand of the Common People."
The Bronze Fairy itself had quite an extraordinary history. Several centuries ago, when the Demon Emperor threw the world into chaos and the immortal path swayed precariously, a great demon emerged from Fusang Island in the East Sea of the Divine Land. This demon had originally been a fierce Fusang tiger, but later obtained a stroke of fortune, awakened the primordial bloodline within its body, and achieved great cultivation. Its demonic treasure, the "Three Tiger Banner," could foul anything and was specially suited to counter cultivators' artifacts. It gathered a host of demonic followers in Fusang and invaded the Divine Land. Because of Unforgiving Taoist, the Immortal Alliance was temporarily unable to spare manpower to suppress it, allowing it to seize a vast stretch of territory. Later, relying on the Bronze Fairy, Turing advanced step by step and gradually forced it back into Fusang. It was precisely because of Turing that the Immortal Alliance was able to free its hands to suppress the rebellious cultivators led by Unforgiving Taoist.
In the end, the tiger demon was slain in Fusang by the Heavenly Sword Cultivator Ao Haimo. Turing's actions allowed the Thousand Machines Pavilion, once no more than an insignificant sect, to rise in one leap into a major sect second only to the Five Excellences. Its inherited ancient art of mechanisms was also reborn through transformation, gaining a glimpse of the mysteries of modern methods. After the war, the Thousand Machines Pavilion remained stationed in Fusang forever, guarding against the return of Fusang's demons.
This story was moving enough to make cultivators of the Divine Land sing and weep, but...
What the hell was "Old Man Ji"?! Didn't they find it wildly jarring to respectfully address someone as "Old Man Ji"?! If Alan Mathison Turing knew that this was what he was like in this world, he would probably cry!
To restrain his urge to complain, Wang Qi changed the subject. "Brother Su, it seems the Myriad Dharma Sect has not appeared in this story yet?"
"Don't rush. Later, after living in seclusion for so long, Old Man Ji grew restless from too much stillness. He invited fellow cultivators from across the world to discuss the Dao in Fusang, hoping to further improve the wondrous functions of the Bronze Fairy. Senior Feng and Xiboche, the previous sect master of our sect, had been helping cultivators from the Ethereal Palace and Guanghua Hall explore the Great Dao, but they suffered from having no mathematical artifact to assist them. When Senior Feng saw the Bronze Fairy, he was overjoyed beyond measure, and he and Old Man Ji were like thunder meeting earth fire..."
Wang Qi said, "Stop, stop... Use a different phrase..."
Like thunder meeting earth fire with a gay bro...
Not understanding why, Su Junyu continued, "In short, they fiddled around and came up with the Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm that time. The Thousand Machines Pavilion had originally been merely a small sect attached to the Yuanli Sect, but it is now a brother sect of our Myriad Dharma Sect. And after Senior Feng forged the Myriad Immortal Illusion Realm, the Illusion Techniques of the Myriad Dharma Sect were no weaker than those of any other sect. We truly achieved 'one principle gives rise to ten thousand dharmas.' There is nothing Myriad Dharma Sect disciples cannot do!"
As they spoke, they had already reached an area near the storerooms. No one passed through this place. Su Junyu suddenly lowered his voice. "By the way, Wang Qi, the ring on your hand is where the remnant soul of that Ancient Method Cultivator who taught you the Mahayana Stage methods resides, right?"
Wang Qi jumped in fright. "You could tell that?"
If Zhen Chanzi had not been so terrified by Haisenbao and those Free and Unfettered Cultivators that he nearly lost control of his bowels and almost had his soul scatter, even Li Ziye might not have been able to tell.
Su Junyu said, "It was written plainly in your personal profile: 'Possesses one artifact ring, containing the remnant soul of an Ancient Method Cultivator; inherited Ancient Method teachings from said remnant soul.'"
Wang Qi exclaimed, "You just spread something like that around?"
Su Junyu did not care. "Every year, there are several unlucky fellows who pick up things like old men in rings, old women in necklaces, uncles in damaged artifacts, half-finished immortal weapons, little girls, and so on. There are countless ancient cultivators who left behind contingencies before dying to preserve a wisp of their remnant souls. You are hardly the only one."
Wang Qi shuddered. "Just how many Long Aotian types and useless trash who rise against the odds are there in the Divine Land?"
Su Junyu had already grown used to Wang Qi's strange words and merely cast him an odd glance. "You are one of the lucky ones. The cultivation methods those rings and necklaces know—the newest among them were obsolete six thousand years ago. If you believe them, your life will be finished."
Wang Qi tapped the ring with his left hand. "Old man, are there many remnant souls of powerful figures passed down from ancient times?"
Zhen Chanzi's voice was extremely awkward. "Ahem, ahem. In eighty thousand years of immortal history, even if there was only one every century, there would still be more than eight hundred, right? And this kind of art is not exclusive. As long as one has a good material or a fine treasure, even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators can drag out a wretched existence for thousands of years... But this old man can guarantee that Mahayana Stage remnant souls are absolutely rare!"
Wang Qi shivered. "Old man, I really am not used to you suddenly becoming so weak..."
Su Junyu leaned closer. "It is actually Mahayana Stage? This ring is quite a rare treasure. What a pity..."
Fearing that the other party might spot something amiss, Zhen Chanzi directly transmitted his voice to Su Junyu. "What is a pity?"
"What a pity it is not a little girl. If it had a soft, sweet female voice, tsk tsk... What a pity!"
Wang Qi nodded deeply in agreement. "Well said."
Zhen Chanzi flew into a rage. "You two juniors, do not bully this old man too far!"
Ignoring Zhen Chanzi, Su Junyu warmly draped an arm over Wang Qi's shoulders. "Brother, I need to tell you something."
Wang Qi's skin crawled all over. "What?"
"Your big brother here has had a problem since childhood..."
"We are impossible!" Wang Qi broke free of Su Junyu at once and darted to the side, full of vigilance.
Su Junyu did not know whether to laugh or cry. "What are you thinking?! I mean, ever since I was little, I have liked collecting rare objects. Are you selling this ring or not?"
Did shut-ins in every world have a collecting fetish?
However, Wang Qi shook his head. "Not selling."
Though this ring was not even as practical to Wang Qi as an ordinary artifact, the blood feud of Dabai Village's villagers, as well as the life-saving grace he had received, both rested upon this ring. Wang Qi could not possibly sell it lightly.
Su Junyu had only asked casually and had not held out any hope, much less intended to force a purchase. He led Wang Qi onward, and before long, they arrived before a storeroom.
The storeroom's doors were tightly locked. Su Junyu formed several hand seals, then pressed together his index and middle fingers and drew a complicated geometric pattern upon the door. Golden light flashed over the vermilion doors, which then opened with a creak.
Su Junyu sighed. "Because this locking art is too complicated, most Immortal Alliance storerooms are guarded by Myriad Dharma Sect disciples—who can also work as accountants on the side."
Wang Qi suddenly recalled something and asked, "Brother Su, they said you are a True Disciple of the Myriad Dharma Sect. Why would a True Disciple be working in a storeroom?"
Su Junyu smiled. "That is something you do not understand. Brother, the cultivation of our Myriad Dharma Sect differs from that of other sects."
It turned out that the Myriad Dharma Sect specialized in mathematics. Mathematical investigation, unlike the work of other sects, did not require experimentation, so there were few cases of disciples remaining with their teaching masters for long periods. Even Divine Lord Bai Ze, known for doting on the younger generation, merely checked disciples' schoolwork periodically before organizing them to discuss problems.
Thus, there were two methods of cultivation in the Myriad Dharma Sect. One was to enter secluded cultivation and focus on pure mathematics, while the other was to travel the world and seek practical mathematical problems. Su Junyu naturally belonged to the latter. Comprehending Bai Ze Calculation from Wuding Card games was his cultivation; managing the storeroom and handling the Immortal Alliance's flow of materials was also his cultivation.
"Of course, without this job, it would be really hard to buy cards."
Had the Myriad Dharma Sect already divided into pure mathematics and applied mathematics? Wang Qi ignored Su Junyu's final remark and fell into thought.
After finishing, Su Junyu beckoned Wang Qi into the storeroom. "Every newly admitted disciple is issued the most basic artifacts. Of course, you do not need to pay anything now. The Immortal Alliance subsidizes one portion, and the other portion will be deducted after you graduate from the reward you earn by fulfilling Immortal Alliance obligations—do not worry, by then you will at least be at the late Qi Refining stage. Repaying the debt for these things will be easy."
Wang Qi nodded. Though he wore a Half Immortal Weapon that was impossible to encounter except by chance, its functions were simply too goddamn useless! Now, at last, he would have artifacts he could use!
As Su Junyu took items from the shelves, he said, "One basic storage bag. Twelve cubic units. It can reduce weight by ninety-five percent."
A "cubic unit" was a unit of volume in the Divine Land; one cubic unit was approximately 1.2 cubic meters in Wang Qi's previous life. Reducing weight by ninety-five percent meant that ten jin of goods would become eight liang after being placed inside.
"One portable spirit pool for trade, with a capacity of one hundred shi. It currently contains five shi."
A spirit pool for trade was the same type Xiang Qi had lent him yesterday. It could store one hundred shi of spiritual power, equivalent to one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. According to Zhen Chanzi, one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones were roughly the entire fortune of an early Qi Refining cultivator.
"One ordinary longsword and one artifact robe. Also, after you decide upon the weapon you will use in the future, you may return here to collect any sharp-weapon-grade artifact. The artifact robe can help you clear your mind and steady your spirit, making cultivation feel as though aided by the gods. Also, you must wear this robe during classes and cultivation. When you have nothing to do, you may wear ordinary clothes..."
"Several books, all textbooks. I have put them in the bag for you."
Watching Su Junyu take out item after item, Wang Qi was delighted beyond measure.
Dear readers, I am truly sorry. There were more social obligations before the New Year than this poor Daoist had expected, so there is only one update today.
I beg everyone for forgiveness.
Before you continue