Applied Immortality

Wang Qi’s voice was low on this early summer night. “Like Su Junyu said, I know joy but don’t know my own joy.”

Joy was a state of mind. Everyone had it. Eating could bring joy or comfort, as well as earning money and starting a family. 

As for the meaning of joy, it was knowing what and why made one happy. Not many people understood the difference.

Some people believed they liked fame or profit, but once they grasped it, they’d feel empty, complaining, “In my next life, I won’t be born into a rich family.” It was nothing more than a denial of their current life. 

Cultivating and attaining everlasting life with such a mentality would either lead to dragging your miserable existence one painful second after another, or the torture of knowing you’d live forever would drive you insane to the point of killing yourself. 

[Cultivating life but not one’s nature is the number one cause of failure as a cultivator.]

Zhen Chanzi asked, “Have you figured it out, then? What do you really like?”

Wang Qi smiled, containing a hint of relief. “I did.” 

[For a long time now.]

[I should’ve realized it from the moment Li Ziye gave me a taste of modern cultivation.]

[When I confirmed the mathematic laws of both worlds.]

[When I compared the worlds.]

[When I realized this world can be solved one step at a time.] 

[In all those times, I believed I could continue my past life’s dream.]

“This world is fascinating. The modern system’s pursuit of Dao, this world’s truth, is all riveting.” Wang Qi might be answering Zhen Chanzi, or maybe just speaking to himself.

Regardless of his former or current life, Wang Qi’s obsession was the only constant. 

Scenes from his past life flashed through his mind.

A solitary researcher, irritated as he performed calculations… 

The unfinished thesis…

Finding joy in the validation of his theories…

And most of all, the end goal of finishing calculations and finalizing projects.

The former Wang Qi specialized in physics and mathematics research. He believed there was no greater joy than taking one step closer to the universal truth after arduous research. 

“Old man.” Wang Qi called out.

“Hmm?”

“I just realized that being born in such a prosperous world of cultivation is great.”

“Is that so?”

“Living forever is the best.”

Zhen Chanzi was bemused. “Everyone knows that. I’d be a surprise if you didn’t.”

Wang Qi shook his head with a smile.

It came to him during Su Junyu’s storytelling of Unfettered affairs. Divine Province’s cultivation world and Earth’s academic world had one distinct feature. 

Divine Province’s cultivators weren’t like Earth’s scientists. They could live forever!

Earth’s mathematician Laplace died before witnessing the establishment of the scientific theory he envisioned, one that didn’t require God’s intervention, or inspiration. On the other hand, his parallel world analogy, Lord White Marsh witnessed Heavenly Lord form a world model without the need for Dao’s power.

Earth’s Lobachevsky couldn’t wait for Riemann to prove the non-Euclidean geometry on his behalf, while Myriad Arts Sect’s Lobachevsky deferred for Warped Demon Riemann’s results.

Earth’s Poincare was ahead of his time, missing his chance to advance physics to the forefront of humanity with his exceptional talent in math. When Einstein opened a new world of physics to humanity, Poincare had been slowly dying, only able to watch as the new generation discovered a new world. However, Divine Province’s Unfettered Lord of Arithmetic Poincare did not develop a grudge due to this reason. 

[When I inspired my previous life with the deeds of my predecessors, I felt regret. On Divine Province, however, these never happened!] 

Every truth-seeker had the opportunity to see their path gain recognition. 

Wang Qi spoke, “I want eternal life.”

Eternal life brought with it the chance of finding the true Dao of this world!

“I want eternal life!”

Wang Qi clenched his fists, reaffirming his resolve.

[I only wish to live happily for the rest of my life. I love to seek Dao, and I want to live forever.]

Harmony in self, endurance in purpose!

As the words flashed through his mind, Wang Qi’s body felt lighter, as if heavy shackles were being removed one by one.

“Profound clarity establishes resolve!” Zhen Chanzi sounded happy: “I may not know if modern cultivation has such particularity, but congratulations are in order.”

Profound clarity meant a cultivator’s mind was in perfect tune with their cultivation method, and their training was smooth. There was no wall, no threshold, no roadblock they couldn’t cross, so long as their Dao Heart never wavered. 

Wang Qi paid attention to the changes within himself, saying, “There’s still a rift in modern cultivation.  Crossing the Golden Core and reaching Primordial Spirit requires a certain understanding of Dao.” Wang Qi frowned and sighed, “A pity this world has the theory theme. Resolve only helps by stabilizing my path. If this were a character- or enlightenment-themed world, I’d be ascending like no freaking tomorrow!” 

“I was going to praise you for finally looking the part as a cultivator, even if a little bit, but here go again with… sight.”

Wang Qi cackled, “Just accept it, old man! That’s just how I roll!”

Zhen Chanzi huffed in reply.

Wang Qi tilted his head and said, “Old man, you’re not looking too chipper.”

Zhen Chanzi sighed. “While you found your resolve, I’m about to lose mine.”

Wang Qi gasped in fright. “Holy hell, don’t tell me your soul is dissipating!” (Tamon: a pun; the idiom’s meaning is being shocked out of one’s mind, while the literal meaning is that one’s soul flies and scatters.)

Zhen Chanzi said, “You’re exaggerating. There’s no way I’ll die inside an immortal item. Seeing you find your resolve took me back to my first steps as a cultivator.”

The old man wasn’t able to recall his original purpose and intent, making him morose. [Ancient time’s resolve was so crude and bland.]

[Since some aspect of my mentality didn’t fit my cultivation method, I’m better off giving it up.] 

[Give them up and achieve clarity of mind.]

This was how cultivators could easily refine their resolve. At least in Zhen Chanzi’s case, no ancient cultivator above Nascent Soul ever had issues with resolve. 

Modern cultivators often mocked these types of cultivation were more and more similar to the cultivation method’s creator, though one had to admit it was beyond simple. 

Ten thousand years ago, Zhen Chanzi perished, his soul fragment sleeping all this time in a ring. When he woke up, the entire world changed.

All he had turned to dust ages ago, his enemy found their end in some no-names’ hands, and the path he believed in had been surpassed by some juniors.

He was still struggling to cope with it all.

Wang Qi’s laughter became clearer: “Old man, this could be your opportunity.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just forget all that ancient stuff.”

Wang Qi jumped and slapped the rock. “Let’s go back.”

  

Before he returned, the rock crumbled to pieces.

Wang Qi’s eyes went wide. “Holy crap! I didn’t put any strength in it either!”