Exploring Immortality Cultivation

That was an endless one-dimensional filament.

The entire field of view was filled with one-dimensional strings. There were no ends or beginnings in sight. Wang Qi knew what he was observing.

It was the world.

The world was such a terrifying tangle of threads. It was so daunting that it prevented one from finding any pattern, let alone feeling any "rhythmical beauty."

Wang Qi and Han Jue frantically searched through this mass of threads with their hands. Each time he pulled on one string, he inadvertently caused several others to move. Just when he finally found some pattern and tried to unravel this "tangle," he realized he had only managed to pull apart a small portion.

...

"What a nightmare..." Wang Qi woke up with a feeling of tightness in his chest. He pressed on his chest, dispelled the disrupted mana, and then leaned back on the bed, breathing slightly.

"Deviation?" Zhen Chan asked from inside the ring, "Can't you properly control your mana even in your sleep?"

Wang Qi pressed his forehead and swung his palm to open the window. The refreshing sea breeze slightly eased the tightness in his chest. He steadied his breathing and then shook his head, "No, it's nothing."

Zhen Chan puzzled, "You've been like a lost soul since you finished talking with Ai Changyuan. What exactly are you thinking about?"

"Suddenly, I feel like all my mana is an illusion, that all my ideas are completely wrong... that's all..."

Zhen Chan was startled, "Kid, are you alright? Doubting your own path is not a good sign!"

Doubting one's own path could shatter the heart into pieces, reduce the affinity between the soul and mana, and prevent the continued manipulation of mana.

How could this be "just that"?

Wang Qi shook his head, "I'm fine... just embracing some new concepts... new concepts..."

"New concepts?"

"I always believed that the cultivation technique I practiced had a solid theoretical foundation. In reality, this theoretical base is not as solid as I thought..." Wang Qi shook his head, "They just seem solid."

Zhen Chan grew even more puzzled, "Just... seem..."

"Because they are consistent with mathematics, forming a rational and justified model, and indeed, they can be used to construct spells to achieve the 'Heaven and Earth's Power,'" Wang Qi looked at the ever-changing hues in his hand, frowned and said, "But is the 'system' we built really aligned with the Great Dao?"

"Kid..."

Suddenly, Wang Qi clenched his fist, as if to extinguish the light in his palm, and said, "I've been deceived."

I've been deceived by the appearance of things and by myself as well.

In this world, any technology does not necessarily need the correct theory to support it; primitive people might randomly discover nuclear fission by drilling wood.

Because I know the concept of the "Technology Black Box", aware that one does not need to master every minute detail to use a technology, I thus neglected contemplating this aspect.

We still have not unravelled everything about spiritual energy. For a spell, how many details have we really figured out? At the microscopic scale, what form does a spell take?

I have used many unverified theories in this world... Quantum Color Dynamics and even Unified Field, none of which I have deduced with the inclusion of spiritual energy, only using the Earth version of Primordial Spirit Qi. Yet they all worked, all supported the spells.

This is not scientific, extremely unscientific!

If erroneous theories can support spells...

"Then what's the point of developing physics in this world?" Wang Qi felt extraordinarily nauseous and sick to his stomach.

Zhen Chan sensed the turmoil of mana inside Wang Qi, as if something was brewing. He recognized this reaction. Mind lost, heart demon emerged, Dao foundation damaged, falling forever into the mortal world... Although such misfortune did not happen often, he had still seen it happen.

"The Modern Method has merely been fortunate in finding a representation of Dao that aligns with mathematical models." Wang Qi, seemingly oblivious, continued earnestly, "Our theories... are they really true? What's the damn point?"

Wang Qi remembered the String Theory from his previous life. Although considered the closest system to the Grand Unification Theory and heralded as the hope to usher in the next chapter of physics, the number of theoretical physicists who truly accepted String Theory was not in the majority.

The reason might sound funny. Mathematics is the foundation of physics, but String Theory was overly mathematical. Within String Theory, physics seemed more like the manifestation of mathematical rules.

Not just String Theory—any model pointing towards the "Theory of Everything" has this issue to varying degrees. They lack the meaning of physics, the "physical reality."

And in this universe, the phenomenon is even more severe. The mysterious physical properties of spiritual energy allow it to interfere with almost all phenomena. The system of the Modern Method could even be regarded as a spiritual energy system defined and constructed by mathematical rules, with its physical significance derived from phenomena.

And creating a system with spiritual energy does not necessarily require the use of mathematical rules.

"After all this fuss, what is the significance of Modern Cultivation?"

"Well asked." Feng Luoyi suddenly materialized, standing before Wang Qi. He gestured for Wang Qi to sit down, then spoke leisurely, "This could indeed be deemed the most profound question of the current stage, couldn't it?"

Wang Qi held his forehead, "Teacher Feng, you actually don't know the answer to this either, do you?"

"Of course," Feng Luoyi nodded, "This question is on many people's minds, but so far, no one has been able to answer it."

Wang Qi took a few deep breaths, "Then what's the point of me continuing to think about it..."

Feng Luoyi suddenly exclaimed, "Keep thinking!"

"Keep thinking?"

"I told you just today, Red Dust Heart Refining, everything you do is 'Experience,' and every thought you have is 'Contemplation,'" Feng Luoyi said, "This question is also the 'Longevity Tribulation' of a Modern Cultivator, every Cultivator will face this mental ordeal to some extent. Understand it, and you'll enjoy endless millennia carefree; fail to understand it, and a long life will only lead to degeneration."

"Everything you do is an 'Experience,' every thought is 'Contemplation'..." Wang Qi seemed to gain some insight from Feng Luoyi's words but became even more perplexed, "Since the ultimate goals are 'Longevity' and 'Achieving the Dao'... If Modern Method is not necessarily closer to the Dao, and the Ancient Method can also achieve longevity, why bother with Modern Method? Why shatter the entire cosmos?"

"That, you'll have to ask yourself," Feng Luoyi pointed to Wang Qi's chest, "Think carefully."

"I firmly believe we are closer to the Dao... But if it turns out we are not…" Wang Qi quietly reflected, "Putting aside factors like 'I like it'..."

After a while, Wang Qi shook his head, "I don't know."

"You don't know? Is that your answer?"

Wang Qi nodded, "I can't answer this question. Perhaps until we have nowhere else to go, I'll remain unable to answer. But I am nearly certain that our path is closer to the Dao than any method I've seen."

"It looks like you've finally realized it," Feng Luoyi looked at Wang Qi and smiled slightly, "You once told Bai Ze God Monarch that seeking the Dao is as treacherous as walking on thin ice, and when it came to Golden Core, you also said our theoretical system might not be correct and you dare not entrust the path to longevity to it. But until this moment, you hadn't truly grasped the weight of 'walking on thin ice.'"

"Although you are generally steady, your actions are always somewhat erratic, too fond of using unrigorous theories, unproven conjectures, or ideas that flash brightly but briefly."

Feng Luoyi relegated Wang Qi's unintentional preconceptions to "the use of lax thinking," hearing which Wang Qi couldn't help but wryly smile. However, Feng Luoyi changed his tone, "But now, I can probably congratulate you — Wang Qi, you have finally begun."

"Begun?"

"For those who seek Longevity Sight, this is necessary to achieve the Dao," Feng Luoyi smiled, "A long life will only make us more biased towards our own theories. If you can't maintain a mindset of 'neither believing nor disbelieving,' you are ultimately unsuited to be a Seeker of Seeking Dao."

Wang Qi realized "So that's it..."

Elderly scientists do not always have a positive impact on science. The mindset needed for Earth's scientists and Shenzhou's Modern Cultivators are absolutely different.

"Do not fear confusion, do not fear denial. We have reached this far by continually denying ourselves," Feng Luoyi patted Wang Qi on the shoulder, "But also, do not let confusion cloud your mind."

Wang Qi nodded in agreement, "I understand now, Teacher."

"If you've thought it through, then advance to the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment," Feng Luoyi said, "Understanding this will bring your mind closer to Longevity and Carefreeness."

Hearing Feng Luoyi's words, Wang Qi quickly closed his eyes, organized his thoughts, and calmed his emotions. Then, in the process of breathing, he connected to more of the "Qi Vein River." The nature's spiritual energy, operating according to physical laws, naturally converged. Under Wang Qi's direction, Wang Qi began to add Spirit Prohibition and Talisman to the Magic Foundation just as he had deduced thousands of times before. Mana continuously piled up, inducing a qualitative change. He began to feel some resistance, but before he could thoroughly explore it, this "lag sensation" burst naturally, like a soap bubble.

In an understated manner, Wang Qi broke through to the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Feng Luoyi looked into Wang Qi's clear eyes, finding no hint of instability under the influence of power, and nodded in satisfaction, "Looks like, you have finally seen your own path clearly. What will you do next?"

"I've just realized that I was misled by the Mysterious Uncertainty Cloud Sword, subconsciously accepting the nonsense explanation of 'Observer Effect,'" Wang Qi scratched his head, "Perhaps I should try something in these areas? There's also Mathematics, hmm… some stuff in the domain of Logic. Maybe my old thoughts have bound me for too long."

"Nonsense?" Feng Luoyi frowned, "Well, it indeed is absurd, but there's still no better explanation at this stage…"

No, there should be one.

But the facade of the Mysterious Uncertainty Cloud Sword had deceived almost everyone! There must be deeper mechanisms at play here!

Observer Effect is certainly not the essence of physics!

"No matter what, you have already forged your own path," Feng Luoyi shook his head, dropping the topic for the time being, "At this rate, maybe in a few months, you could break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection, no need to adhere to the six-year limit of Refining Heart."

Wang Qi, taken aback, said, "Teacher, haven't you always reminded me not to be rash? Why have you suddenly accelerated your plan?"

"There's been a new development," Feng Luoyi said, "Near the Holy Dragon Abyss, high-order members of the Demon Clan and Ancient Method Practitioners have suddenly shown unusual activities. On the other hand, Sea Demons of the Western Border are also rioting at the same time."

"You need to advance to Foundation Establishment Perfection as soon as possible, then go overseas to investigate the incident at Holy Dragon Abyss!" (To be continued. If you like this book, you are welcome to cast your vote of recommendation or monthly ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)