Chapter 72

"Even a Transcendent cultivator may not be able to maintain their mental fortitude with this kind of mindset."

Upon hearing these words, the three lower-ranking disciples, except for Wang Qi, were all frightened.

Wang Qi was also somewhat surprised. In the history he was familiar with, the Earth mathematician Lagrange indeed abandoned mathematics in his later years due to his obsession with theology. But could it be that the Transcendent cultivator Ge Langri of the Divine Continent lost his mental fortitude because of some mysterious connection between the two worlds?

Is this a coincidence? Or does the connection between the two worlds run deeper than I thought?

But if the connection between the two worlds is really that close, why would there be signs that the development of the Immortal Dao on the Divine Continent is gradually deviating from the historical trajectory of Earth?

Why?

What principle connects the two worlds?

The more he thought about it, the more Wang Qi felt a strange sense of unreality about this world. His face turned pale.

At this moment, the dry wood in the bonfire crackled, pulling him back to reality.

Wang Qi forcibly suppressed his doubts, looked around with a slight sense of unease, and then clenched his fist tightly.

The sensation in his hand made him feel a bit more at ease. At least this feeling was very real.

He could also clearly feel the continuous flow of mana within his body.

"I thought I could accept the fact of crossing worlds and remain as calm as a mountain in the face of any bizarre events." Wang Qi said to himself with a self-deprecating smile: "It seems that subconsciously re-establishing my identity as a researcher isn't entirely a good thing. If I still had the carefree attitude of a villager, I wouldn't have such a strong interest in getting to the bottom of these things."

Wang Qi's unusual state only lasted for a short while. His companions were all stunned by Su Junyu's words and didn't notice him. Su Junyu thought his words had also frightened this new disciple, who was always acting erratically.

Seeing that his "parable" had the desired effect, Su Junyu smiled and changed the subject: "When Senior Ge was born, the ancient methods had not yet been eradicated, and he joined a master with pre-existing skills, so he was more influenced by the ancient methods. You are fortunate to be born in a better time. Now, the modern method system has been fully established, and the techniques for mental fortitude have also been created. Moreover, the Sun God Pavilion's research on mental fortitude has never stopped, and Senior Ge is using their results to re-establish his Dao heart. Although I don't know much about the situation of Transcendent cultivators, I believe it won't be long before Senior Ge returns to the pinnacle of mathematics."

Wu Shiqin asked, "Then, how should one cultivate mental fortitude?"

"This is the question I asked you before," Su Junyu said seriously. "The joy of seeking the Dao and the joy of the joy of seeking the Dao."

Wu Shiqin said, "Please explain in detail."

Su Junyu asked, "Let me ask you a question first. Why do you cultivate?"

Wu Shiqin answered, "I think only by standing at the pinnacle can one say they have not lived in vain."

Wu Fan also answered honestly, "To be frank, my father is a wandering cultivator, and our life has always been tight due to cultivation. I cultivate to rise above others and to make my parents and family live better."

Su Junyu nodded, "Not bad, a very simple wish. Mao Zimiao, what about you?"

The half-demon girl was a bit embarrassed, "I just followed my father in cultivation since I was young, I haven't really thought about this question."

Su Junyu did not comment. He then asked Wang Qi, "What about you?"

Wang Qi looked at the night sky and smiled, "Me? I just want a life full of excitement."

"Excitement?"

Wang Qi said, "Exactly. Doing interesting things is what makes life exciting."

"Ah." Su Junyu nodded, "That's not bad. Fame and fortune, power and authority, longevity, great abilities, wealth, and supreme prestige—these are all benefits of cultivation, the joy of cultivation, the joy of seeking the Dao. With higher cultivation, you can do as you please and do what you want, which is the joy of cultivation."

"But, have you ever thought about the joy of cultivation itself?"

The three looked at each other, puzzled, "The joy of cultivation itself?"

"You have already experienced the joy of cultivation, but you, young ones, only know the joy of cultivation, not the joy of the joy of cultivation!"

The three were still confused, but Wang Qi seemed to have a flash of insight in his mind.

Su Junyu laughed, "The Dao! The Dao! At its root, cultivation is about seeking the Dao, and the joy of the joy of cultivation lies in the Dao!"

Seeing that everyone was still confused, Su Junyu stood up with a spirited air, "The joy of cultivation is merely a seasoning on the long journey. If one becomes immersed in it, even if they achieve immortality, they are just another empty shell in the world, a corpse feasting on the fruits of others. What use is such immortality?"

"Morning hearing the Dao, evening dying, that's what it means!"

"Morning hearing the Dao, evening dying..." Wu Shiqin repeated Su Junyu's words, suddenly thinking of a question, "Senior Su, before you asked me..."

"I remember I said, 'If one day you discover that the Dao you seek is not what you enjoy, what would you do?'" Su Junyu stared at Wu Shiqin and said, "Don't answer me yet, listen to three stories first."

"The first story, the Regret of the Wanderer."

"When Myriad Methods Converge, Master Meiswei used the Heavenly Song Technique to summarize all the laws of the universe, all cultivators on the Divine Continent felt that the way of the universe was about to be grasped, and Master Meiswei would soon ascend to immortality. At that time, countless cultivators of the Unity Alliance were trying to fill the last gap in Master Meiswei's great Dao to complete a complete Dao. At that time, Senior Pu, who was still in the Unity Alliance, to complete the Heavenly Song Dao, studied light and electricity, and ultimately comprehended the Dao of Dispersal and the Dao of Ethereal. This great Dao not only failed to complete the previous Dao but also destroyed the imminent path to immortality. Senior Pu could not accept his own enlightenment and left the Unity Alliance in disappointment, founding the Ethereal Palace."

"The second story, the Error of the Burning Sky."

"Before Senior Pu comprehended the Dao of Dispersal, Burning Sky Marquis Kelvin once said, 'Our Dao is almost complete, though there are two questions left, they are not far away.' At that time, many cultivators thought the great Dao was almost complete, and what we had not sought were just two small questions. However, these two small questions ultimately led to a deeper level of the great Dao—Senior Pu's Dao of Dispersal, Supreme Venerable Taitian's Dao of Correspondence, and Unpredictable Daoist's Dao of Ethereal, all belong to this level of enlightenment. Burning Sky Marquis' words are also known as the Error of the Burning Sky."

"The third story, the Pain of the Flesh."

"Senior Luo Qiefu of the Myriad Methods Gate once had a unique enlightenment in the Dao of Geometry. But this enlightenment contradicted the Myriad Methods Gate's Dao of Geometry and was ridiculed by the world. In his depression, Senior Luo went mad, lost his sight, and was plagued by illness. To this day, he has not achieved Transcendence."

After Su Junyu finished speaking, he looked at the four people by the bonfire and said, "Holding onto the Dao and walking the path is not easy, nor is it a joyful thing. You say, what is the joy in seeking the Dao?"