Late Beginner Equipment

The matter of the handover between the two Free and Unfettered cultivators, Elder Chen and Elder Deng, was underway. Su Junyu was introducing the Xinyue Immortal Academy to Wang Qi. As Xiang Qi was also a formally trained cultivator, she was already familiar with the academy. After getting a basic understanding of Xinyue Immortal Academy's layout, she went to report to the person in charge. Su Junyu, meanwhile, took Wang Qi to collect the items required for new disciples.

The Immortal Academy was where new disciples were taught foundational knowledge. It wasn't much different from what Wang Qi had imagined; it was akin to a high school on Earth. Several large buildings, resembling grand halls, served as classrooms, while places like the alchemy room and artifact refining room were also fully equipped, comparable to laboratories on Earth. What surprised Wang Qi somewhat was the presence of an open library.

It seemed that internal knowledge management within the major sects of the Immortal Alliance was more relaxed. Wang Qi mused.

Beyond these, the most unexpected thing for Wang Qi was a peculiar mirror called the "Myriad Immortals Mirror." Judging by its appearance, it was merely a bronze mirror the size of a washbasin. However, upon channeling magical power into it, it could automatically connect the user's spiritual sense to a wondrous realm called the "Myriad Immortals Realm." According to Su Junyu, the Myriad Immortals Realm contained everything imaginable.

Currently, the Myriad Immortals Mirror was difficult to refine and even Golden Core cultivators found it hard to afford. Only internal sects and the Immortal Alliance were equipped with them.

It was a nascent form of the internet. Wang Qi clicked his tongue in amazement. From Su Junyu's description, the "Myriad Immortals Realm" was not just a connection of several communication artifacts, but it also possessed the foundational functions of the "World Wide Web" and "file transfer" from Earth's internet.

Su Junyu was pleased with Wang Qi's shocked expression and proudly said, "Heh heh, scared, aren't you? This is also the decree of my Myriad Dharma Sect. One method gives rise to ten thousand methods, true to its name."

The Myriad Immortals Realm was a large-scale artifact created with the full investment of the Immortal Alliance. Its prototype was the natal artifact "Bronze Fairy" of Turing, the Supreme Elder of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, also known as "Old Man Ji." It was later evolved by Feng Luoyi, a Free and Unfettered cultivator of the Myriad Dharma Sect, known as the "Master of the Nation," based on the "Bronze Fairy."

This "Bronze Fairy" also had a significant history. Centuries ago, during the chaotic era of the Devil Emperor, the immortal path was in peril. A great demon emerged from Fusang Island in the East Sea of the Divine Continent. This demon was originally a fierce tiger from Fusang, but it later gained fortune, awakening its primordial bloodline and developing into a formidable force. Its demonic treasure, the "Three Tiger Banner," corrupted everything it touched and specialized in countering cultivators' artifacts. It rallied a horde of demonic followers on Fusang and invaded the Divine Continent. Due to the involvement of the Unorthodox Daoists, the Immortal Alliance couldn't spare enough manpower to suppress it, and it managed to occupy a large territory. Later, Turing, relying on the "Bronze Fairy," fought a strategic battle, gradually forcing the demon back to Fusang. It was precisely because of Turing's actions that the Immortal Alliance was able to free up its hands to suppress the rebellion led by the Unorthodox Daoists.

Ultimately, the tiger demon was slain on Fusang by Ao Haimo, a Heavenly Sword cultivator. Turing's actions propelled the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, originally an insignificant sect, to become a major power second only to the Five Absolutes. Its ancient art of mechanisms was also reborn, gaining insights into modern techniques. After the war, the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion permanently guarded Fusang, guarding against any resurgence of demons and devils from Fusang.

This story was considered heroic and moving among the cultivators of the Divine Continent, but...

"Old Man Ji" was a ridiculous title! Didn't they find it awkward to respectfully call someone "Old Man Ji"! Alan Mathison Turing would cry if he knew he was known like this in this world!

To suppress his urge to complain, Wang Qi changed the subject: "Brother Su, this story doesn't seem to involve the Myriad Dharma Sect yet?"

"Don't rush. Later, Old Man Ji, tired of his secluded life, invited fellow cultivators from all over to discuss the Dao on Fusang, hoping to further enhance the utility of the Bronze Fairy. Senior Feng and our previous sect leader, Xiboche, were assisting cultivators from Misty Palace and Guanghua Hall in their pursuit of the Great Dao, but lacked a mathematical artifact to aid them. Senior Feng saw the Bronze Fairy and was overjoyed. He and Old Man Ji... it was like thunder striking fire..."

Wang Qi: "Stop, stop... let's rephrase that..."

Like two gays hitting it off like thunder striking fire...

Su Junyu, not understanding the implication, continued: "In short, that time, they concocted the Myriad Immortals Realm. The Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, originally a subsidiary sect of Yuanli Sect, is now a brother sect to our Myriad Dharma Sect. And after Senior Feng refined the Myriad Immortals Realm, the illusion techniques of the Myriad Dharma Sect became as potent as any other sect, truly achieving 'one method gives rise to ten thousand methods.' There's nothing a Myriad Dharma Sect disciple can't do!"

As they spoke, they arrived near the storeroom. There were no people passing by. Su Junyu suddenly lowered his voice: "Right, Wang Qi, the ring you're wearing, is that where the remnant soul of the ancient Mahayana cultivator resides?"

Wang Qi was startled: "You can see that?"

If not for Zhen Chanzi being so terrified by those Free and Unfettered cultivators from Haisenbao that he nearly lost control of his bodily functions and his soul was almost scattered, Li Ziye might not have been able to tell.

Su Junyu said: "It's clearly stated in your personal profile: 'Possesses a magic artifact ring, containing the remnant soul of an ancient cultivator, and receives ancient cultivation inheritance from this remnant soul.'"

Wang Qi exclaimed: "You guys just casually spread this kind of information?"

Su Junyu was nonchalant: "Every year, there are a few unlucky fellows who find rings from old men, necklaces from old grannies, remnant artifacts from uncles, or unfinished immortal artifacts from young girls. Ancient cultivators who leave behind a contingency to preserve a sliver of their remnant soul before their death are countless, you're not the only one."

Wang Qi was horrified: "How many Dragon Kings and how many underdog counterattacks are there in the Divine Continent?"

Su Junyu was accustomed to Wang Qi's strange remarks, merely giving him a peculiar glance: "You're considered lucky. The cultivation techniques taught by those rings and necklaces are, at the latest, outdated ones from six thousand years ago. If you believe them, your life is over."

Wang Qi tapped the ring with his left hand: "Old man, are there many remnant souls of powerful ancient cultivators?"

Zhen Chanzi's voice was very awkward: "Cough, cough, in the eighty thousand years of immortal history, even if it's a once-in-a-century encounter, there would be over eight hundred, right? This technique isn't unique. As long as there's good material or a good treasure, Nascent Soul Realm cultivators can linger for a thousand years... However, I can guarantee that remnant souls of the Mahayana stage are absolutely rare!"

Wang Qi shivered: "Old man, I'm really not used to you suddenly becoming so meek..."

Su Junyu leaned closer: "It's Mahayana? This ring is a rare item. What a pity..."

Zhen Chanzi, fearing being discovered, directly transmitted his voice to Su Junyu: "What a pity?"

"What a pity it's not a little girl. If it were a soft, sweet voice of a young woman, tsk tsk... what a pity!"

Wang Qi nodded in agreement: "Well said."

Zhen Chanzi became furious: "You two juniors, don't push your luck too far!"

Su Junyu ignored Zhen Chanzi and affectionately put his arm around Wang Qi's shoulder: "Brother, I need to tell you something."

Wang Qi's whole body bristled: "What?"

"Brother here has had a problem since childhood..."

"It's impossible between us!" Wang Qi quickly broke free from Su Junyu, standing aside with full vigilance.

Su Junyu was amused and exasperated: "What are you thinking! I mean, I've always liked collecting rare items since I was young. This ring, are you selling it?"

Do shut-ins have a collecting habit in every world?

However, Wang Qi shook his head: "Not selling."

Although this ring was less practical for Wang Qi than an ordinary magic artifact, the blood feud of the Dabai Village villagers and the life-saving grace from it all rested on this ring. Wang Qi could not sell it easily.

Su Junyu was just asking and didn't hold out hope, nor did he intend to force a purchase. He led Wang Qi forward, and soon they arrived in front of a storeroom.

The storeroom door was locked. Su Junyu cast a few hand seals, then brought his index and middle fingers together, drawing a complex geometric pattern on the door. The vermilion door flashed with golden light, then creaked open.

Su Junyu sighed: "Because this locking technique is too complex, most of the Immortal Alliance's storerooms are guarded by disciples of the Myriad Dharma Sect—they can also serve as accountants."

Wang Qi suddenly remembered something and asked: "Brother Su, it's said you are a true disciple of the Myriad Dharma Sect. Why would a true disciple be doing storeroom duty?"

Su Junyu chuckled: "This is where you're mistaken, brother. Our Myriad Dharma Sect's cultivation is different from other sects."

It turned out that the Myriad Dharma Sect specialized in mathematics and logic. The pursuit of mathematics did not require experimentation like other sects, hence there were few disciples who accompanied their mentors for extended periods. Even the Bai Ze Divine Lord, known for doting on his disciples, only regularly checked their homework and organized discussions.

Therefore, there were two cultivation methods in the Myriad Dharma Sect: one was to diligently cultivate in seclusion, focusing on pure mathematics, and the other was to travel the world, seeking practical problems to solve. Su Junyu naturally belonged to the latter. Gaining insight into the Bai Ze Calculation from a Wuding Card game was his cultivation, and managing the Immortal Alliance's material inflow and outflow was also his cultivation.

"Of course, without this job, it would be hard to buy cards."

Has the Myriad Dharma Sect already branched into pure and applied mathematics? Wang Qi ignored Su Junyu's last sentence, lost in thought.

After Su Junyu finished speaking, he beckoned Wang Qi into the storeroom and said, "Every new disciple is issued basic spiritual artifacts. Of course, you don't need to pay anything now. The Immortal Alliance subsidizes part of the cost, and the rest will be deducted from your earnings after you complete your Immortal Alliance obligations upon graduation—don't worry, by then you'll be at least in the late Qi Refining stage, and paying off these things will be easy."

Wang Qi nodded. Although he was wearing a rare semi-immortal artifact on his hand, its functions were truly terrible! Now, he finally had usable spiritual artifacts!

Su Junyu took items from the shelves and said, "A basic storage bag, twelve cubic units, capable of reducing weight by ninety-five percent."

"Cubic unit" was a measure of volume in the Divine Continent, with one cubic unit being approximately 1.2 cubic meters in his previous life. Reducing weight by ninety-five percent meant that ten jin of goods would weigh only eight liang after being stored.

"A portable spiritual pool for commerce, with a capacity of one hundred shi, currently holding five shi."

A commercial spiritual pool was the same type that Xiang Qi had lent him yesterday. It could store one hundred shi of spiritual energy, which was equivalent to one hundred low-grade spirit stones. According to Zhen Chanzi, one hundred low-grade spirit stones were roughly the entire fortune of a cultivator in the early Qi Refining stage.

"A common long sword, one set of spiritual robes. Additionally, once you decide on your weapon in the future, you can come here again to claim any sharp-grade spiritual artifact. The spiritual robes can help you calm your mind and spirit, making cultivation feel divinely assisted—also, you must wear these robes for classes and training. You can wear casual clothes when you're not engaged in these activities..."

"Several books, all textbooks. I've packed them in the bag for you."

Watching Su Junyu take out items one by one, Wang Qi was overjoyed.

Dear readers, I am truly sorry. The social engagements before the Lunar New Year were more numerous than I had imagined, so there is only one update today.

I beg for your forgiveness.

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