I've Seen This Cultivation Method Before!

Wang Qi prepared to properly observe the murals on the wall. Tianyan Tulu could evolve and wouldn't conflict with any cultivation method. Practicing it casually as a supplementary method would surely be beneficial.

Having been exposed to the theory of evolution since childhood, his understanding of evolution, while not profound, at least possessed a scientific framework.

Zhen Chanzi seemed to sense Wang Qi's thoughts and said, "This cultivation method is not easy to practice. I advise you to consider it carefully."

"You think there's a problem with this method?"

Zhen Chanzi pondered for a moment. "If a disciple had brought this cultivation method to me for guidance ten thousand years ago, I would have likely scolded him directly."

Wang Qi asked curiously, "Why?"

"This isn't a cultivation method at all, or at least not a complete one. To put it this way, in my eyes, it's like a cultivation method with a hundred incantations, but only twenty-odd randomly picked phrases forming an incomplete technique."

Wang Qi was startled. "It can't be that bad, right? You wouldn't be able to cultivate any magical power from it. Even if you forced it, you'd probably go mad."

"However, this cultivation method relies on just twenty-odd incantations to guide magical power to circulate within the body," Zhen Chanzi said. "Then, the remaining seventy to eighty incantations can be deduced through self-study. If every cultivation method forms a framework, and other methods have a fixed framework with all necessary components, then this method's framework is barely holding together, but its flexibility is extremely high, allowing the practitioner to add anything they wish."

Wang Qi's eyes lit up. "Interesting!"

"It's not a matter of whether it's interesting. If you choose this cultivation method, it means you must dedicate a significant amount of effort to the Heavenly Eye, otherwise, it might not even be as good as a second-rate cultivation method!"

Wang Qi shook his head. He wasn't a biologist. In this world where a university degree was at least required to qualify for cultivation, his understanding of evolutionary theory wasn't sufficient.

More importantly, the manuscript from Haisenbao contained spells with a weighting factor exceeding thirty. If he could master them in the early stages of Qi Condensation, his combat power might even surpass that of a generic Primordial Spirit stage cultivator—though this was merely a beautiful fantasy, it also indicated that Wang Qi's potential capital was quite substantial. This field also aligned with his previous life's expertise, so he should prioritize the cultivation methods of Misty Palace and Myriad Dharma Sect.

Wang Qi took a breath and stood up from the meditation cushion. He skipped the Illusionary Demon Seal and Twin Profound Scripture from Sky Spirit Ridge, and the Celestial Object Canon and Celestial Transformation Art from Burning Gold Valley. His gaze fell upon the Sky Song from the Returning to One Alliance.

"Sky Song, the fundamental cultivation method of Myriad Dharma Sect's Mai Siwei, hailed as 'a poetic masterpiece'… 'God's poetry'? Maxwell's equations? The culmination of classical physics. Electricity, light, and force integrated, leading to myriad spell variations, and excellent in close combat, pfft, martial arts. What's rare is that it's also so literary."

Wang Qi looked at the description, his heart stirred.

In the 19th century on Earth, people once believed that physics was nearing its end. A grand edifice of physics, built upon Newton's pinnacle and constructed by Maxwell, stood proudly in the world. From celestial bodies in the sky to stones on the ground, everything moved with solemn obedience according to the rules it set.

Maxwell's equations were incredibly perfect mathematically. The depth, symmetry, and beauty they exhibited intoxicated every scientist. Even in the 21st century, Maxwell's equations were still considered a paradigm of scientific beauty. In the macroscopic realm that humans encountered daily, classical mechanics still reigned supreme.

Wang Qi's gaze lingered on Sky Song for a long time, and he finally shook his head with regret. "A pity. I was involved with those two dark clouds; I believed 'philosophy and God are dead, the universe's laws and order are gone.'"

"Two dark clouds" were mentioned by the British scientist Kelvin in his address to the Royal Society, referring to two clouds hanging over physics. One cloud led to relativity, shattering the classical view of spacetime, while the other triggered quantum mechanics, negating classical determinism. By the 21st century, scientists like Stephen Hawking were even shouting, "Philosophy and God are dead, the universe's laws and order are gone."

Ultimately, three cultivation methods remained for Wang Qi to choose from.

Yao Ding Suanjing, Geometry Book, and Da Li San Cantong Qi. The first two were Myriad Dharma Sect's foundational methods, while the latter came from Misty Palace.

Da Li San Cantong Qi was Misty Palace's fundamental method. Unlike all mainstream methods of the current era, the magical power cultivated by this method was not continuous but discrete. The magical power from Da Li San Cantong Qi circulated within the practitioner's body in discrete units, and numerous secret arts of Misty Palace, including the Misty Unfixed Cloud Sword and Unyielding Electric Sword, strictly required this form of magical power to be activated.

Yao Ding Suanjing: Practitioners would generate a "yin-yang hexagram" in every acupoint of their body, greatly enhancing their calculation ability.

Geometry Book: A cultivation method that emphasized abstract thinking even more. Practitioners would learn martial arts, weapon combat, drawing talismans, setting up formations, refining pills, and crafting artifacts faster than others.

"Da Li San Cantong Qi is the foundation of all Misty Palace cultivation methods. After the Foundation Establishment Realm, one can also cultivate the Wuding Yun Jing," Wang Qi mused. "But for theoretical physics, computational power is equally important."

Theoretical physics, before the 20th century, was also called "mathematical physics."

In the end, Wang Qi decided to look around first.

After making up his mind, Wang Qi first headed towards the side room where Yao Ding Suanjing was located. Unexpectedly, a semi-transparent blue light film blocked him.

"What's going on?" Wang Qi was bewildered. If the cultivation methods were displayed, why wouldn't they let people see them?

However, he soon understood that this was not the case.

There were a few lines of small text on the light film, seemingly a question.

It turned out that the cultivation methods in these side rooms required a certain level of knowledge to understand. Lacking an understanding of the essence of the cultivation method, forcing oneself to practice would only lead to madness and the collapse of one's cultivation base. Therefore, the Immortal Alliance had set up barriers on the doors of the side rooms, allowing only those who could answer the questions to pass.

Zhen Chanzi quickly recognized the question. "Calculation of ten fingers on both hands?"

Translating the unique terminology of this world in the question into Earth terms, Wang Qi also arrived at the answer. "Hmm, it's a problem of converting between decimal and binary."

Zhen Chanzi's tone was solemn. "This problem is not easy. It's just an introductory test?"

This problem was considered a top-tier difficulty in mathematics even ten thousand years ago. Even he, who didn't care about miscellaneous studies, had heard of it.

Wang Qi nodded, inwardly complaining: For elementary school math, it's not easy.

Even a middle schooler could solve this.

Before the advent of modern methods, the Divine Continent only valued cultivation and looked down upon everything else. Zhen Chanzi's calculation ability in the Mahayana stage was indeed terrifying, but in reality, the old man's mathematical level was only at the level of basic arithmetic operations.

Since the question was too simple, Wang Qi did not answer immediately. He tried walking towards other side rooms. As expected, there was a light film in front of each side room.

The question for Geometry Book was a simple proof of Euclid's first four axioms—a mathematician like Gauss could solve it at ten years old, and in terms of standardized testing, it would probably be middle school level.

The question for Da Li San Cantong Qi was a bit more difficult, interpolating two empirical formulas into one—as expected of a super sect where even a casual spell had a weighting of eight or more! This was like the difference between calculus and basic arithmetic compared to the previous two questions!

Wang Qi inwardly complained about this question. However, it wasn't difficult for him. Planck figured out the correct formula in an afternoon, and he knew the answer, plus his calculation ability was stronger than most Earthlings. Even if this light film required process points, it would only take half an hour.

But...

Wang Qi glanced at the sky outside. He had unknowingly spent several hours looking at cultivation methods. Although he had slept for a whole day before, so he wasn't sleepy yet, maintaining a regular schedule was important.

He would look at Yao Ding Suanjing first, and then go back.

After making this decision, Wang Qi returned to the side room of Yao Ding Suanjing.

Zhen Chanzi's tone was solemn. "This question is not simple."

Wang Qi raised his hand and tapped the light film. The spot he touched immediately turned red.

Oh, it's touchscreen too.

Wang Qi was slightly surprised, then began solving the problem. After he scribbled down a few numbers, the light film shattered like a pricked soap bubble.

"Wait!" Zhen Chanzi screamed in Wang Qi's mind: "How is that possible so quickly?"

"Because of intelligence."

Is it fun for a math graduate student to bully elementary schoolers or semi-illiterates with math? Is it fun?

From the wicked smile on Wang Qi's lips, it was not difficult to infer his answer.

Zhen Chanzi lost face again, sulking.

The wall opposite the side room was carved with cultivation techniques. More than ten futons were arranged on the floor. Wang Qi sat down and spent another half an hour memorizing this cultivation technique.

After confirming the markings, Wang Qi stood up, ready to leave. At this moment, Zhen Chanzi, who had not spoken since the beginning, suddenly said to Wang Qi: "This cultivation technique, I seem to have seen it somewhere before."

Wang Qi frowned: "Old man, have you gone crazy from being hit by me?"

To create this cultivation technique, one needs to understand binary. In this world, binary was invented by the Myriad Dharma Sect's Merit Venerable Lai Buli, and this Free and Unfettered cultivator was from the same era as the Lord of Yuanli. As far as Wang Qi knew, Zhen Chanzi was still lying in the back mountain of Dabai Village at that time.

Zhen Chanzi said: "I have indeed not seen this cultivation technique. But its qi circulation routes and energy manipulation methods feel somewhat familiar."

Wang Qi pondered: "Doesn't the Ancient Method also have cultivation techniques to increase calculation ability?"

Zhen Chanzi said: "I thought of that too, but it doesn't seem like it?"

"The Myriad Dharma Sect has also been passed down from ancient times. Perhaps you've seen it?"

"Impossible. Ten thousand years ago, the Myriad Dharma Sect was a small sect on the verge of extinction. I barely remember it, let alone being acquainted with the Myriad Dharma Sect's founder."

Wang Qi scratched his head: "Then take your time to think about it. We can talk again when you've figured it out."

The old man is also a pitiful person. After being lonely for ten thousand years, he discovers that what he dedicated his life to was a joke, and he's repeatedly struck down by current achievements. Now he can only rely on a slight illusion to brush up his sense of existence.

There are many rumors about ancient cultivator remnant souls sealed in magic artifacts. Should I find him an old woman in a ring? Wang Qi began to seriously consider this question.