Exploring Immortality Cultivation

"You're amazing!" After an eager exchange, the atmosphere between Wang Qi and Ai Changyuan had heated up. Wang Qi could now hold a jar of wine and drape his arm over Ai Changyuan's shoulders, calling him brother happily: "So the method can actually be used in this way!"

"The arrangement of restrictions inside this ghost soldier is quite fascinating!" Ai Changyuan was amazed, "Although the majority are based on my Magic Foundation and re-created…"

"Part of it is iterated by the Heavenly Calculation Method on its own, and I don't know why using it this way produces a strong effect, but it is indeed stronger!" Wang Qi patted the ghost soldier under the table: "It was with its help that I was able to successfully use the Time Technique!"

The two had by then moved from the main hall to a more private booth. The items "to accompany the wine" had also changed from fresh fish to a pile of blueprints. After their discussions, both felt they had gained greatly. Naturally, Wang Qi learned a lot about gravity laws from Ai Changyuan, but Wang Qi's superior knowledge in the physical domain also provided Ai Changyuan with much inspiration.

"To tell the truth, if I had known you were here, why would I have traveled to the sea every day for the last half year? Such a waste of time!" Wang Qi began to resent the time he had wasted at sea: "I had only taken on that lousy task…"

"Isn't fighting with the Demon Clan also part of tempering?" Ai Changyuan responded offhandedly to Wang Qi, while reaching his hand into the ghost soldier: "So it is, so it is… The Heavenly Calculation Dao, 'accumulation' and 'change,' indeed form a grand scene. Brother Wang, this is very helpful for my Golden Core design. Can I borrow it for a few days?"

"As long as I'm onshore, feel free to use it." Wang Qi generously pushed the ghost soldier towards Ai Changyuan: "Speaking of which, Brother Ai, are you already preparing for Core Formation?"

"Just a few years' work. It would certainly be best to form a core with the unified Dao approach, but this does not seem promising at the moment, all established methods may not be reliable." Ai Changyuan shook his head: "What about you, Old Wang?"

"Me? I have too many Cultivation Techniques. I even had to design a Magic Foundation specifically to bring them together, and the existing Golden Cores can't display the features of my techniques."

"Indeed. Foundation Establishment is just stacking Spirit Prohibitions, and Golden Core is about forging a hub, transforming Mana Flow into a stable system, paving the way for the Primordial Spirit. The Golden Core itself isn't the problem, the issue is its compatibility with the whole." Ai Changyuan nodded: "But I remember your Magic Foundation is based on Calculator Theory, so in a pinch, it should work."

Wang Qi shook his head: "I actually have an idea already." Then, he explained his idea of a "Double Golden Core."

"That's a great idea. The Golden Core serves as a tangible 'hardware', with another 'Golden Core' operating inside it as the hub for flow."

"This is different from the existing methods of multiple Golden Cores. This involves embedding a Golden Core within another Golden Core, rather than stuffing more Golden Cores into other acupoints. Both the 'outer layer' and 'inner layer' are relatively independent. The outer Golden Core in the Calculus Domain still exists, and the inner Golden Core can be dispersed and reformed at any time, just like reinstalling a system in a calculator."

"Impressive, impressive." Ai Changyuan's eyes lit up, and he applauded: "This is excellent! At any time, the Heavenly Material Circulation..."

Wang Qi waved his hand: "It's not that I disdain Guiyi and the Mysterious factions. It's just that the Heavenly Material Circulation Dao has become increasingly elusive, with textbooks changing monthly; we must be prepared to overturn the established system tomorrow. Under this premise, I really cannot entrust the Foundation of Longevity to unconfirmed theories."

Ai Changyuan nodded understandingly: "I see. Calculus has its own consistency, while other 'Daos' merely mimic the Heavenly Dao—ah, you've made me want to take up Calculus myself."

"Start working on the Yao Ding Calculating Scripture, achieve the minimum standard for a Calculator-type Golden Core, and you're still in time."

Ai Changyuan pondered a bit, not taking immediate action: "Let me think about it. But that idea of compiling spells and Cultivation Techniques into the Heavenly Calculation Atlas to create Divine Skills does sound interesting, how did you manage it?"

Wang Qi took out another blueprint: "This involves the Life Path..."

"Truly deserving of the Dao Seed Award! Let me see..."

After three rounds of drinks, the discussion reached a pleasant peak. Wang Qi couldn't resist deepening the conversation and asked quietly, "By the way, what exactly were you researching before? I've only heard that your popularity is quite high in the Guiyi Alliance, and that it's possible you could win the next Dao Root Award."

"The Dao Root Award," similar to the Dao Artifact Award and Dao Seed Award, was designed for low-level cultivators below the Primordial Spirit Lauderdale.

Heavenly material circulation, Dao forms everything. "Material" and "circulation" are the foundational bases of this world, the root of the Great Dao, hence it is known as the Dao Root Award.

Wang Qi, a physicist in his previous life, had only won awards in mathematics and biology in this life. He was still very curious about Ai Changyuan's work.

Ai Changyuan first glanced back at the person the Guiyi Alliance had sent to monitor him. The middle-aged cultivator gave a tacit approval, and Ai Changyuan then took out a pile of papers and said, "Just some ideas, most of which have already been proven by predecessors."

The contradiction between the Mysterious and Shape Comparison paths, similar to the past conflict between Yuanli and Heavenly Song. Well executed, it was a smooth path to becoming an Immortal or a Saint, and many were exploring this area.

"Is it actually... Quantum Gravity?" Seeing something familiar, Wang Qi felt quite mixed. Although the symbols and expressions were different, these theories had all appeared on Earth before.

Just like the interpretations of Wave Function Collapse, there are many theories, yet none are universally accepted.

"The main point is this last one, about the space-time model derived from quantum gravity," Ai Changyuan pointed out one paper and said, "For it to be established, time needs to be expressed in imaginary numbers. In imaginary time, time cannot be distinguished from the direction of space, and the past and future are equivalent. When I first deduced this, I drove myself restless. However, after accepting it, my cultivation surged—and then I came here, also prohibited from thinking too much about such matters until I achieved Perfection."

Past and future, unified as one… Wang Qi looked at Ai Changyuan and marveled. According to the Ancient Method Practitioner's statement, Ai Changyuan had already found the path to becoming a high-order Immortal, just waiting for his mana to increase a bit more to acquire the characteristics of a high-order Immortal.

Wang Qi repeatedly read Ai Changyuan's thesis but found some parts still unfamiliar to him. So, he asked, "Brother Ai, do you have the latest on the Shape Comparison Technique? There are some ideas here that I don't quite understand—you seem to have used some unproven conjectures?"

"Unproven? How is that possible?" Ai Changyuan took out a Spirit Rhinoceros Bottle. But as Wang Qi reached out to take it, he suddenly withdrew his hand, "Sorry Old Wang, this part is confidential to the Immortal Alliance. Not that I don't want to let you see it."

Wang Qi asked curiously, "How so? The theoretical aspect of the Immortal Alliance is supposed to be open, aren't all theories supposed to be non-confidential?"

"Indeed, there are some," suddenly, Feng Luoyi's voice appeared in Wang Qi's mind, "There are certain parts. To prevent unrest, the Immortal Alliance has covered up the picture of the cosmos and our exploration of it. In fact, some celestial phenomena discovered in the stars could directly prove certain theories. But as you have seen, most of the results from the Xuanxing Temple have been deliberately confined by the Immortal Alliance."

Wang Qi was shocked, "That's not fair! Why is it a secret to me?"

"Aren't you also aware of some confidential stuff?" Feng Luoyi said, "Do you think you're the only one who has accidentally approached the 'Ultimate Picture' or unintentionally joined our war with the Immortals?"

Wang Qi was shocked, "Ai Changyuan knows it too?"

"You can try."

"Brother Ai. Take a look at this." Wang Qi activated his calculator and sent Ai Changyuan a Spirit Message. This message was written in a special cryptographic script. To the ordinary person, it looked more like a matrix or gibberish. It was a cryptic script taught to Wang Qi by Liu Yi, used among "special personnel" of the Immortal Alliance to prove their identity.

When Ai Changyuan received the Spirit Message, his expression intensified, "Good heavens, you are..."

Wang Qi smiled cunningly, "It looks like, we can delve deeper into exchanging secret techniques now."

"That won't be a problem then." Ai Changyuan tossed the Spirit Rhinoceros Bottle to Wang Qi.

"Brother Ai, I'm really interested in 'that' version of the Wanxiang Heavenly Attraction, but I currently don't have enough merit points to exchange for it. As a descendant of Yuanli Master and the successor of the Ai Family, you actually have the right to give it away, right?"

"That..."

"I won't hide it from you, how about 'Cave Heaven Ruler' and 'Jumping Out of the Long River's exclusive insights?"

"Deal!"

…

The results of the new round of exchanges were also very satisfying for both individuals. Wang Qi obtained the Wanxiang Heavenly Attraction's method of borrowing celestial gravity, solving the problem of low output in gravity superpowers. Meanwhile, Ai Changyuan acquired the method from the Cave Heaven Comparison Ruler using gravity to escape reference frames.

Ai Changyuan looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late, I still have some tasks, Old Wang you take your time!"

Wang Qi exclaimed, "Now I can't help but want to go out to sea and beat up a few from the Demon Clan to put into practice the inspiration I just got."

Ai Changyuan found it strange, "Fighting the Demon Clan is a good way to hone skills, but it doesn't have much to do with validating theories?"

"As long as it's a theory that can support a spell, it has to be consistent," Wang Qi gobbled down a jug of wine, "At least it proves that this approach works."

As Ai Changyuan packed up, he commented, "But a feasible approach does not mean the theory is correct, right? Even incorrect theories can support spells. Conversely, many spells are now supported by incomplete theoretical systems."

"Eh?"Ai Changyuan's words dropped Wang Qi into a chill. The excitement from the alcohol vanished instantly.

"I still have tasks in a few days, I'll come tomorrow to study your Ghost Soldier. I'm off!"

Long after Ai Changyuan left, Wang Qi finally woke up from his stupor. He drew his sword, waved it casually a couple of times, and sighed, "Damn, I've fallen into the trap of empiricism again." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel welcome to visit QiDian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)