"The situation is ," Wang Qi said to Feng Luoyi in the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm, recounting the events that had occurred the day before. Holy Light, as a Lower Divine Power of the Life Flame, with a focus on the spirit and soul domain, had almost completely replenished his depleted spirit.
Feng Luoyi seemed not to fully grasp the purpose of Wang Qi's story. Wang Qi felt it necessary to explain, "You asked me to blow everyone away—shouldn't we do some targeted training?"
Feng Luoyi glanced at Wang Qi askew, "Why bother?"
"Ah, well, my mana is definitely not as good as those guys who started training two years before me..."
Feng Luoyi still shook her head, "If it's just a gap in pure mana, up to three times the mana isn't enough to make a fundamental difference."
For an Ancient Method Practitioner, the amount of mana could directly determine the outcome of a battle, but for a Modern Cultivator, mana was just one of several factors in deciding victory. Divine Skills, spells, and martial skills were more decisive in battle. It was like when Earth People fought; when both sides used cold weapons, physical strength was the only factor. But once both sides could use firearms without restrictions, personal physical strength became much less important.
Feng Luoyi looked sternly at Wang Qi, "Although I did tell you to win, don't disrupt your own pace for this matter. Your primary task right now is still to study mathematics."
Subsequently, the two immersed themselves in mathematical problems once more.
Wang Qi felt the task becoming increasingly difficult. In recent days, Feng Luoyi had consistently brought challenging and profound problems, all related to proving the compatibility of arithmetic systems through Transfinite Induction. As discussions with Feng Luoyi deepened, the problems became more difficult, and the required calculations increased. Feng Luoyi, as an embodiment of himself, bore most of the computational load, but Wang Qi still found himself mentally exhausted to the brink.
This made Wang Qi realize he had underestimated the Arithmeticians of Shenzhou. Among other things, Feng Luoyi's mere avatar, a single Divine Thought, and a fraction of his computational power vastly outperformed Wang Qi. It made him feel that he should expedite his cultivation plans.
Whenever Wang Qi reached his limit, Feng Luoyi would instruct him in spells, martial skills, or share some technical insights. Occasionally, Wang Qi would also ask Feng Luoyi for advice on constructing his Magic Foundation.
Feng Luoyi wasn't a good mentor, but his theoretical knowledge was exceptional. He didn't teach disciples partly because few could keep up with his pace of thought. But Wang Qi, with his prior life's accumulation of knowledge and a slightly higher level of mathematical understanding than those in Shenzhou, combined with his own extraordinary talents, managed to barely keep up with Feng Luoyi's thinking and actually learned something from him.
With each passing day, Wang Qi's strength improved greatly.
In the Northern Suburb of Divine Capital, at the Immortal Alliance Inn.
If a Modern Cultivator came to Divine Capital, he would mostly aim for the Immortal Alliance's outpost located in the Divine Capital Plain—the Life Beings Research Hall. Most Modern Cultivators preferred not to enter Divine Capital because of this; therefore, the Immortal Alliance Inn was located next to the Research Hall rather than inside the city, as was common elsewhere.
Suo Wenhong sat alone beneath the moonlight, holding a Jade Cup. The Jade Cup enhanced the color of the drink, making the amber liquid glisten with a golden hue. With long black hair draped over his shoulders, he cut an elegant figure.
After a few drinks, Suo Wenhong praised, "This wine is good. Divine Capital is truly the most lavish place in the world, probably gathering all the best things from throughout Shenzhou."
"It's just a pity that the descendants of the Ancient Method don't know that the best things are always free," another handsome man emerged from the darkness. Several butterflies fluttered around him, giving off a metallic sheen—upon closer inspection, they were small Mechanical Beasts made of metal foil.
"That lad doesn't know what's good for him; he will most likely choose a duel—after all, he is a freshly-inducted Banished Immortal and hasn't learned the rules of Modern Cultivation," Suo Wenhong stood, bowing, "I'll trouble you to be a witness when the time comes, Senior Brother Ran."
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all. I'm practically a local in Divine Capital, aren't I?" Ran Yingwei of Mysterious Palace responded with a congenial smile.
Wang Qi once again emerged from the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm. After switching his vision back to his physical eyes, he found Chen Youjia looking at him, her expression... somewhat puzzled. She asked, "Is a senior providing guidance through the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm? Is that the source of your confidence to win?"
Wang Qi stood up and said, "One of the factors. More importantly, I am a genius."
Chen Youjia's lips curled up as she observed Wang Qi's unsteady footing, "Stand firm before you boast, 'genius.'"
"My recovery power is also improving; this sort of exertion will be fixed with a meal and some sleep."
"It's because these past few days you've been pushing yourself to the limit with training, and the Holy Light itself has been put through its paces," Chen Feng entered, saying, "Just three days left now, excluding the last day when you need to rest well, you can only receive guidance from that senior twice more. But I still think your chances of winning are slim."
"Three times," Wang Qi held up his fingers, "You know better than I do about the recovery capabilities of the Life Flame."
Three instances of guidance, each lasting two hours. This was all the help Wang Qi could receive from Feng Luoyi before the upcoming battle.
Chen Feng still lacked confidence, exhaling, "I'll accompany you as a witness when the time comes, so you don't end up bedridden for weeks after being beaten, delaying my empirical research."
Seven days after receiving the challenge, in the Eastern Suburb of Divine Capital, Suo Wenhong, Ran Yingwei, and a total of eight Cultivators including Jiang Lin awaited Wang Qi's arrival.
The place was the training grounds of Dragon Camp. The Dragon Camp was a direct guard squad for the Da Lian Royal Family, equivalent to the Imperial Army in ancient China. It was entirely composed of Cultivators, although most were rushed-training Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with only a few officers being true Peak Foundation Establishment experts. The training grounds were naturally not your typical fragile land; the area was heavily warded with Spirit Prohibition, and unless a Golden Core Cultivator intervenes, the ground wouldn't deform in the slightest.
Suo Wenhong gently patted a Junior Brother's shoulder and asked, "How are you feeling, nervous? Although Wang Qi is somewhat arrogant, he is still an official True Inheritor of our sect, with some skills."
The disciple scheduled to fight was full of confidence, "Perhaps my talent isn't as good as his, but I did start two years ahead of him and have practiced for two extra years."
"Here he comes!" someone shouted, prompting everyone to turn in the direction the voice indicated. From the way of Divine Capital, a large group was seen hurrying toward them.
"A large group?" Suo Wenhong was a bit puzzled, "Is that Wang Qi planning to bring a crowd to watch himself be beaten?"