During a meeting of several Carefree Practitioners, Wang Qi was pondering deeply on his own bed.
Xiong Mo's experiments had given him a glimmer of inspiration. But this vague notion wasn't enough to make a breakthrough.
Because what he was challenging was the common knowledge of the Shenzhou Immortal Path.
In the transmigration novels Wang Qi had read in his previous life, the protagonist's purpose was to stump the locals' knowledge. But this was reality. Shenzhou Cultivators, as seekers of the Dao of Heaven and Earth, probably didn't have such glaring loopholes in their cultivation theories for him to exploit.
Since it's said, "Without understanding the theory, one cannot practice the cultivation technique to a profound level," then he wouldn't likely bypass Evolution Theory and practice the "Heavenly Calculation Atlas" easily.
"Why would Xiong Mo, a practitioner from Spirit Beast Mountain, come to teach a course at Liuyun Sect?"
Wang Qi had pondered this question for a long time. But now, it was replaced by an even bigger question.
"His experiments involve zoology, genetics, biochemistry, and bioengineering. The Insect Demon's experiment involves the aerodynamics represented by Liuyun Sect; the Flower Demon's experiment would require optics..."
If these were ordinary experiments, one might explain them as the work of a large research team. But Xiong Mo's studies were too extreme; no cultivator wanted to engage in tentacle play with him. According to experiment plans and reports, these were all completed by him alone.
But could one person master so many theories?
"Mastering" and "memorizing" theories aren't the same thing. Otherwise, Modern Cultivators wouldn't need to turn away the majority of those Seeking Immortality from their Law Gates, nor would they need to trouble themselves dealing with Ancient Method Practitioners—with the memory of high-order cultivators, memorizing a library is trivial. If memorization were sufficient, wouldn't Modern Cultivators just need to distribute the theoretical books to flatten the world?
"I need a Watson to find the blind spots..."
Wang Qi turned over and murmured to himself.
As a result, he thought about this problem all night.
The next day, when Su Junyu saw Wang Qi, he was genuinely startled, "You look so listless, did you delve into the Life Path last night?"
"Delving into the Life Path" among cultivators is akin to studying biology on Earth and is the shorthand for "Delving into the Reproductive Path of Life Beings," carrying a lewd connotation in certain contexts. But Su Junyu forgot that Wang Qi had just stepped onto the Immortal Path not long ago and couldn't grasp such implications.
Wang Qi, thinking about the experiment of a practitioner from Spirit Beast Mountain, nodded, "Indeed so."
Su Junyu's expression suddenly became subtle, "Xinyue which family... ah, wrong! I'm an assistant teacher; I have to deduct your behavior points, damn it! You're a student ahhhhhh!"
Wang Qi reflected for a moment and understood Su Junyu's implication; however, his focus was elsewhere, "Xinyue actually has that kind of place?"
"You don't know?" Su Junyu looked as if he'd taken a Spirit Attack, "Could it be so-called true love... fuck, it hasn't been that long..."
What is up with your FFF Inquisition-like outburst... Wang Qi looked at Su Junyu with a pained expression, "First time spending time in a pleasure place is way too lowbrow..."
This remark hit Su Junyu like a critical strike, "I-I-I, I don't envy the guys who indulge in such places at all... not one bit!"
"Eh?" Wang Qi became interested, "How many years have you been single?"
"Damn it, ahhhh even you are mocking me... You too, right?"
Wang Qi casually replied, "How old am I and how old are you?"
Su Junyu was devastated by Wang Qi's malicious combo, curling up defensively—or perhaps curling up and weeping. Seeing the pitiful state of an old friend, Wang Qi felt genuinely happy.
Is this indulging in happiness at the expense of others' pain? What? I spent my last life grinding away? Aha ha ha ha, such trivial matters... Aha ha, why do I suddenly feel a bit down?
After a while, Su Junyu finally recovered, "Forget it, thinking about you won't put me a huge step ahead... What exactly did you do last night?"
"I read Teacher Xiong's experimental reports and plans."
Su Junyu showed a look of sympathy, "What? So you're just having nightmares because your mental health stats are too low."
Wang Qi, "I'm seriously pondering a question. How did Teacher Xiong complete those experiments?"
Su Junyu's face showed shock, "You've awakened a new... preference?"
"I think being half-human, half-insect has its own charm," Wang Qi said earnestly. "And I'm not thinking about replicating the experiment."
Having said that, Wang Qi shared his doubts with Su Junyu.
Why could Xiong Mo conduct experiments based on theories that span so many domains?
Isn't it said that understanding theories is necessary to grasp related cultivation techniques and spells?
After listening to Wang Qi's theory, Su Junyu shook his head, "You've got a basic concept wrong."
Wang Qi was confused, "What?"
"'The principles sought by our predecessors' and 'the techniques practiced by our generation,' these two are not as simple as you think." Su Junyu waved his finger at Wang Qi, "But, you've asked the right person! One law generates countless laws, and when it comes to understanding the relationship between these two, no one is stronger than our Wanfa Sect."
He stood arrogantly, with an "I've got the answers, so come and beg me" expression.
Wang Qi bowed, "I humbly request Brother Su's teachings."
Su Junyu nodded in satisfaction, "A teachable young man. Do you know what you're studying now?"
"The axioms summarized by the predecessors of various sects when they explored the Great Dao."
Su Junyu nodded, "So, do you think one axiom is enough to construct a spell?"
Wang Qi paused, as if he'd caught onto something.
"One Daoist skill, one law, is supported by multiple axioms," Su Junyu continued. "Just as a tree needs both bark and xylem to grow—you understand what xylem is, right? Good. If we compare a spell to the leaves, then the Basic Path of the spell is the tree's xylem, and the other axioms involved are the tree bark."
"Without the other axioms, the tree is still a tree, still considered good timber, which can be used as material to build your path to enlightenment or a ladder to the heavens. However, without the 'bark,' which is the other axioms that make up the spell, the wood will always be just wood, and the Dao remains just the Dao, never producing 'skill.'"
"And if there's only the bark, the leaves might exist, but without the xylem, they can't grow tall and will collapse at the first gust of wind. Therefore, no one can achieve enlightenment just through a skill, unless they have such high insight they can deduce the basic Dao from the skill."
"In other words, a Great Skill will involve many axioms. Even if you're not familiar with the fundamental Dao of that skill, as long as you understand one of the axioms involved, it's enough. Of course, a tree stripped of its bark from root to tip, leaving only a sliver, will not be lush; a spell derived this way will usually not be as powerful as one mastered by someone who understood the Basic Path."
After finishing his explanation, Su Junyu looked smug, waiting for Wang Qi's praise. However, he was disappointed. Looking at Wang Qi, he saw that his face was frighteningly somber.
Wang Qi asked, "Brother Su. After a cultivator grasps a major Dao, how is it generally celebrated? What customs are there in the Immortal Dao?"
Su Junyu pondered, "The customs... Our Wanfa Sect does retain traditions modeled after the Geometric Demon Lord. The Demon Lord has an epiphany while bathing one day, forgetting to dress, he flies up into the sky with Sword Control and shouts 'I've got it!' Many of the Demon Lord's disciples imitate him—Hey! What are you doing?"
Wang Qi yanked off his belt, his hand on his collar, and replied coldly, "Following the example of the sages."