Applied Immortality

Chapter 71: A Challenging Math Problem Is Better than an Immortal Pill

Su Junyu said, “As for you, your resolve is lacking.”

Wu Shiqin wasn’t good with words, glaring at Su Junyu in demand of an explanation.

He said, “I’ll be honest here. The cultivation method affects the mind, but so does the mind affect it. Bring out Celestial Hymn Odyssey’s spiritual power, and you’ll see.”

Wu Shiqin extended her left hand, and a blue current crackled in her palm.

“You solved the problem, but that doesn’t mean you control Celestial Hymn Odyssey.” Su Junyu frowned. “You can’t even control your spiritual power. This supreme cultivation method is based on the Celestial Element Series and the Celestial Changes Series. These four principles include everything about light, heat, electricity, and magnetism. In regards to how the universe operates, the Celestial Hymn Odyssey and the three fundamental laws are equally crucial. It is the cornerstone by which Unified Arts Maxwell reached Unfettered.” 

Su Junyu pointed at Wu Shiqin again. “Look at how you trained it. Do you see any difference from another lightning cultivation method?”

Wu Shiqin replied, “At least it makes me stronger than my peers.”

Su Junyu said, “Wang Qi, you’re double cultivating in the Celestial Hymn Odyssey, right?” 

Wang Qi nodded.

Wang Qi extended his right hand, and his hand flared with a deep blue light, giving off a cracking sound.

Su Junyu threw Wu Shiqin’s cooking pot to him, only to speed up midway, making Wang Qi hold it back with his hand. 

“Spiritual power turned into light and electromagnetism, the right way Celestial Hymn Odyssey’s spiritual power should be.” Su Junyu said, “Your effort can’t show even a tenth of this cultivation method’s ingenuity.” 

Wu Shiqin glared hard at Wang Qi. “I admit that I’m weaker than him.”

Wang Qi grinned. “There’s no need to feel shamed.”

Wu Shiqin bore daggers with her stare. “But I can still beat most people.” 

“You’re wasting away your talent. When others’ math skills catch up, you’d be lagging behind.”

Mao Zimiao said shyly, “Senior Brother Su, how should our resolve be? How do we train it, nya?” 

Su Junyu’s face softened as he thought with a smile, “Alright, I’ll be giving you brats a lesson on resolve.”

With the decision to clarify things for his juniors in mind, Su Junyu moved closer to the bonfire. The other four gathered around.

He began by asking Wu Shiqin, “Have you found the answer to my first question? You seek Dao out of joy, but do you know the joy in seeking Dao?”

Wu Shiqin shook her head, to which he continued, “Then do you know what modern cultivation is all about?” 

Wu Shiqin nodded. “Seek the Dao of the world and blend with the breath of the world.” 

“Well said. Modern cultivation gathers spiritual energy from beyond through the breath of the world. The process not only protects but also nurtures the world. It is a relationship of mutual cultivation between us and the world. This, you all know.” Su Junyu asked, “Wu Fan, do you, by chance, know how we blend with the breath of the world?”

“B-by seeking Dao…” Wu Fan was tense: “The breath of the world is the spiritual energy flowing between all things. Researching the laws and rules governing the relations between all things is researching the breath of the world.”

Secular praised, “Precisely. This is the next step, natural Dao, the harmony between man and heaven. The previous step in transcendence was to advance beyond Secular and enter Eminence; only then can you glimpse it. I won’t be talking about it today. Wang Qi, you’ve started off with ancient cultivation. What do you believe to be modern cultivation’s greatest asset?” 

Wang Qi said with contempt, “Isn’t that what all teachers taught us on our first day? Why beat around the bush? Just tell us already what you want us to recall.”

Su Junyu laughed, “I was only setting up a teaching mood.”

“It’s how modern cultivators connect with the breath of the world, while ancient cultivators always cultivate.”

Su Junyu said, “Right. Modern cultivation is all about comprehension. The more you understand Dao, the closer you become to the breath of the world. Take me, for example. I train in Celestial Harmony and the White Marsh Algorithm. My path is naturally that of arithmetics. To me, a challenging math problem is better than any immortal pill.”

A good problem was a significant insight into Dao. Comprehension was beyond any fancy pill.

Su Junyu cleared his throat. “I digress. In any case, modern cultivation is all about seeking Dao. Modern cultivation’s resolve is nothing more than a seeker’s resolve.”

Wu Shiqin muttered, “Seeking Dao…”

Seeing the three unconvinced, besides Wang Qi, Su Junyu said, “Hey, you think attaining resolve is that easy?”

Mao Zimiao replied, “Senior Brother Su, the axioms in our textbooks are quite interesting, nya.”

Su Junyu smiled, “Good attitude,” then sneered, “But what if you had to start from scratch and come up with these axioms yourself?”

Mao Zimiao was stumped.

“Don’t think for a second that resolving is easy. Fifteen hundred years ago, Myriad Arts Sect had just two talents in the generation following Transcendent.” 

“One was Lagrange, known later as Crazed Sword, and the other was Laplace, referred to today as Lord White Marsh.”

Su Junyu couldn’t fight the glorious and prideful smile as he mentioned Lord White Marsh: “My ancestor was a disciple of Lord White Marsh’s direct disciple. If I can reach Eminence, then I’ll be able to learn under him. Thinking about it, I am the perfect choice to tell you this story.

“The Lord seeks fame and fortune, eager to display his virtue before others, and his style is unbound by trivialities. Uh, you could say he’s quite shameless? Senior Lagrange, on the other hand, is more refined and polite.” 

Wu Shiqin was bemused. “This isn’t about how Senior Crazed Sword attained Unfettered while Lord White Marsh stagnated, and only when he mended his ways, pursuing Dao with all his heart, did he advance, right?”

[The moral of the story is…] Wang Qi quipped.

Su Junyu shook his head and said, “Not at all. There were but a few years between their advancement to Unfettered. The Lord hasn’t changed a bit to this day. There’s no mending, no nothing.” 

“Then what is this about?”

“After reaching Unfettered.”

Su Junyu turned grave, “Senior Ge’s interest in math wanned after advancing, his resolve breaking, and his cultivation stalling. In the olden days of the two stars, only the Lord was still active in the cultivation community.

“Resolve is uncertain even to an Unfettered.”