Chapter 29

Wang Qi prepared to carefully observe the mural on the wall. *The Evolutionary Chart* could evolve and wouldn't conflict with any cultivation techniques. Practicing it as a secondary technique would likely be beneficial.

Since childhood, Wang Qi had been exposed to the theory of evolution. While his understanding wasn't thorough, he at least had a scientific concept of it.

Zhen Chanzi seemed to sense Wang Qi's thoughts and said, "This technique is hard to practice. I advise you to think it over carefully."

"Do you think there's something wrong with this technique?"

Zhen Chanzi pondered for a moment, "If a disciple had brought this technique to me ten thousand years ago for advice, I would have scolded him outright."

Wang Qi asked curiously, "Why?"

"This isn't even a complete cultivation technique. To put it bluntly, it's like a technique with a hundred mantras, but only twenty of them are randomly pieced together, forming an incomplete technique."

Wang Qi was startled, "It can't be that bad, right? You can't even cultivate any magical power with this. Even if you force it, you'll likely go astray and suffer a mental breakdown."

"But this technique can guide magical power to circulate in the body using just those twenty or so mantras," Zhen Chanzi explained. "The remaining seventy or eighty mantras can be deduced on your own. If each technique forms a framework, other techniques have a fixed framework with everything inside it almost complete. This technique, however, has a barely maintained framework but offers high flexibility, allowing practitioners to add freely."

Wang Qi's eyes lit up, "Interesting!"

"This isn't about whether it's interesting. If you choose this technique, you'll have to spend a lot of energy on it, or it might not even be as good as a second-rate technique!"

Wang Qi shook his head. He wasn't a biologist. In a world where one needed at least a college degree to qualify for cultivation, his understanding of the theory of evolution was insufficient.

More importantly, the manuscript by Heisenbao contained spells with a weighted value exceeding thirty. If he could integrate it during the initial stage of cultivation, his combat power might even surpass that of a mid-stage Essence Spirit cultivator—of course, this was just a beautiful imagination, but it also indicated that Wang Qi had a substantial foundation. This aligned with his expertise from his previous life, so he should focus on the techniques of the Ethereal Palace and the Myriad Laws Sect.

Wang Qi took a breath and stood up from the cushion. He skipped over the *Phantom Demon Seal Technique* and *Dual Profound Canon* from Heavenly Spirit Ridge, and the *Heavenly Object Canon* and *Heavenly Transformation Technique* from Burnt Gold Valley, and his gaze fell on the *Heavenly Song Walk* from the Unity Alliance.

"The *Heavenly Song Walk*, the fundamental technique of the Myriad Laws Sect, known as the 'Saint of Poems'... 'God's Poetry'—the Maxwell equations? The pinnacle of classical physics. Integrating electricity, light, and force, the spells are versatile, and even hand-to-hand combat is top-notch. It's rare to find something so rich in literary charm."

Wang Qi read the introduction and felt a bit moved.

In the 19th century on Earth, people once believed that physics was nearing its end. A physics edifice, built on the foundation of Newton and constructed by Maxwell, proudly stood in the world, from celestial planets to terrestrial rocks, all following its rules.

The Maxwell equations were mathematically perfect, their depth, symmetry, and beauty captivating every scientist. Even in the 21st century, the Maxwell equations were still considered a model of scientific beauty. In the macroscopic world that humans interact with daily, classical mechanics still ruled.

Wang Qi's gaze lingered on the *Heavenly Song Walk* for a long time, but he finally shook his head regretfully, "Unfortunately, I'm focused on those two small clouds, believing that 'philosophy and God are dead, and the universe has no order.'"

"The two small clouds" were mentioned by British scientist Lord Kelvin in his address to the Royal Society, "the two clouds hanging over the sky of physics." One cloud led to the theory of relativity, shattering the classical view of space and time, while the other sparked quantum mechanics, negating classical determinism. By the 21st century, scientist Stephen Hawking even declared, "Philosophy and God are dead, and the universe has no order."

In the end, Wang Qi had three techniques to choose from.

The *Yao Ding Calculation Canon*, *Geometry Book*, and *Great Discrete Concordance*. The first two were techniques of the Myriad Laws Sect, while the last was from the Ethereal Palace.

The *Great Discrete Concordance* was the fundamental technique of the Ethereal Palace, different from all mainstream techniques. The magical power cultivated by this technique was not continuous but discrete. The magical power was divided into units within the practitioner's body, and numerous secret techniques of the Ethereal Palace, such as the *Ethereal Cloud Sword* and *Electric Sword*, required this form of magical power to be activated.

The *Yao Ding Calculation Canon* generated a "Yin-Yang Trigram" in each acupoint of the practitioner's body, significantly enhancing their computational ability.

The *Geometry Book* emphasized abstract thinking. Practitioners would learn martial arts, drawing talismans, setting up formations, and alchemy faster than others.

"The *Great Discrete Concordance* is the foundation of all Ethereal Palace techniques and can be converted to the *Indeterminate Cloud Canon* after the Foundation Establishment stage," Wang Qi thought. "But computational ability is also crucial for theoretical physics."

Theoretical physics was called "mathematical physics" before the 20th century.

In the end, Wang Qi decided to take a look first.

After making up his mind, Wang Qi walked to the side room where the *Yao Ding Calculation Canon* was located. Unexpectedly, a semi-transparent blue light membrane blocked him.

"What's going on?" Wang Qi was puzzled. If the techniques were displayed, why wouldn't they let people see them?

However, he soon understood. The light membrane had a few lines of small text, which seemed to be a question.

It turned out that the techniques in these side rooms required a certain level of knowledge to understand. Without a deep understanding of the technique's essence, forced practice would lead to mental breakdown and the collapse of the magical power. Therefore, the Immortal Alliance set up barriers at the doors of the side rooms, and only those who solved the questions could pass.

Zhen Chanzi quickly recognized the question, "The calculation of ten fingers on both hands?"

After converting the unique terms of this world into Earth terms, Wang Qi also got the answer, "Yes, the conversion between decimal and binary."

Zhen Chanzi's tone was serious, "This calculation isn't easy. It's just an entry-level test?"

This question was a top-level problem in mathematics ten thousand years ago, even he, who didn't care about miscellaneous studies, had heard of it.

Wang Qi nodded and sarcastically thought: For elementary school math, it's not easy.

This was something a middle school student could solve.

Before the emergence of modern techniques, the continent of Shenzhou only valued cultivation and neglected everything else. Zhen Chanzi's computational ability at the Great Perfection stage was indeed terrifying, but in practice, his math skills were limited to basic arithmetic.

Since the question was too simple, Wang Qi didn't answer it immediately. He tried walking to other side rooms. Sure enough, there was a light membrane in front of each one.

The *Geometry Book* had a question about the simple proof of the first four axioms of Euclid—something a mathematician like Gauss could solve at ten years old, and in the exam system, it was probably at the middle school level.

The *Great Discrete Concordance* had a more difficult question, combining two empirical formulas using interpolation—indeed, the blackbody radiation formula. Shouldn't it be expected from a super sect where even a random spell has a weighted value of over eight? This was the difference between calculus and basic arithmetic compared to the previous two questions!

Wang Qi sarcastically thought about this question. However, it wasn't difficult for him. Planck spent an afternoon piecing together the correct formula, and Wang Qi knew the answer and had stronger computational skills than most Earthlings. Even if the light membrane required a detailed process, it would only take half an hour.

However...

Wang Qi looked at the sky outside. He had spent several hours looking at the techniques, and although he had slept for a whole day and wasn't tired, maintaining a regular schedule was important.

He decided to look at the *Yao Ding Calculation Canon* and then go back.

Wang Qi returned to the side room of the *Yao Ding Calculation Canon*.

Zhen Chanzi's tone was serious, "This question isn't easy."

Wang Qi raised his hand and touched the light membrane, which immediately turned red where he touched it.

Oh, it's a touch screen.

Wang Qi was slightly surprised and then started solving the problem. After writing a few numbers, the light membrane shattered like a punctured soap bubble.

"Wait!" Zhen Chanzi screamed in Wang Qi's mind, "How could it be so fast?"

"Because of intelligence."

Is it interesting to use advanced math to bully elementary school students or semi-literates? Is it interesting?

From the wicked smile on Wang Qi's lips, it was clear what his answer was.

Zhen Chanzi lost face again and sulked.

The technique was inscribed on the wall opposite the door in the side room. A dozen cushions were arranged on the ground. Wang Qi sat down and spent half an hour memorizing the technique.

After confirming the memorization, Wang Qi stood up, ready to leave. At this moment, Zhen Chanzi, who had been silent, suddenly said, "I seem to have seen this technique somewhere."

Wang Qi frowned, "Old man, are you being mentally affected by my performance?"

To create this technique, one needed to understand binary. In this world, the inventor of binary was the Myriad Laws Sect's Integral Venerable Lai Buli, who was from the same era as Yuan Li Shangren. According to Wang Qi, at that time, Zhen Chanzi was still lying on the back mountain of White Village.

Zhen Chanzi said, "I indeed haven't seen this technique. But the way it circulates and the method of exerting power seems familiar to me."

Wang Qi thought, "There are techniques in ancient methods that increase computational ability, right?"

Zhen Chanzi said, "I've thought about it, but it doesn't seem to match."

"The Myriad Laws Sect has been passed down from ancient times. Maybe you've seen it?"

"It's impossible. Ten thousand years ago, the Myriad Laws Sect was a small sect on the verge of extinction. I have almost no memory of it, let alone any connection with the founder of the Myriad Laws Sect."

Wang Qi scratched his head, "Think about it slowly. We'll talk when you figure it out."

The old man was pitiful. After a lonely ten thousand years, he found that what he had fought for all his life was a joke, and he was frequently hit by the achievements of the present. Now, he could only rely on a bit of illusion to affirm his existence.

Wang Qi began to seriously consider whether to find a ring for the old man. After all, there were many ancient cultivators' residual souls sealed in magical artifacts.