Applied Immortality

Done with showing off, Wang Qi toned it down, only a little. They were in a trial area, and flexing one’s spiritual power here had the knack of drawing unwanted attention from demons.

Wu Fan stayed next door to Wang Qi, but even he didn’t think his neighbor was so incredible. He looked from Wang Qi to the marks on the ground and muttered, “Brother Wang, you’re really…”

“On another level, I know!” Wang Qi switched topics: “Easy on the flatter, please; I blush easily.”

His mock meekness had Wu Shiqin thinking, [Blush, you? Your skin is thicker than a corner wall! Who knows how many people have to bleed out for it to show even a hint of red?] 

“Little Qi is amazing, nya!” Mao Zimiao was taken over completely.

Su Junyu interjected, “Elusive Palace’s true disciple might be doable, but you’ll have to reconsider Myriad Arts Sect.”

Wang Qi was bemused. “That can’t be true. Myriad Arts Sect’s entry is easy while being harder to excel at. Even the minimum grade is lower than Elusive Palace’s. Senior Brother Su, you should find another way to make yourself look good.” 

Su Junyu shook his head and said, “No, no, no. It’s only this year’s requirement to become a true disciple that has grown in difficulty. Leyan Immortal Institute has a genius freshman.”

Wang Qi snapped, “Fricking shit! Decided on candidates before even announcing it?”

“Bernoulli? Why does that sound familiar? Hold up…”

Wang Qi’s unphased look turned grave as he recalled one frightening family.

There were very few scientist families on Earth, and the one mentioned here had to be that one’s analogy from Earth…

“The same family has 11 Unfettered and dozens of Eminence cultivators.” Senior explained, “The Bernoulli family is very close to the Myriad Arts Sect, with every generation joining it. My sect’s peerless expert, Senior Euler, is actually a disciple of a Senior Bernoulli.”

Scientist families on Earth were an extreme rarity, but one among them stood above all the rest. Science was the Bernoulli family’s legacy. They had many geniuses spanning four generations, with more than ten mathematicians. It was considered a miracle in the history of math.

Su Junyu felt sorry. “If only you joined last or next year, becoming a Myriad Arts Sect true disciple was more likely. Alas, you had to join this year.”

“A Bernoulli’s senior is just another Bernoulli senior. Their descendants and disciples tied to the family.” Their fame was not enough to scare Wang Qi. He was an expert in math on Earth, and even if not world-class, it was at the 21st century’s level. Divine Province’s math barely reached the late 20th century on Earth. Coupled with the fact that the Bernoulli family’s disciple was a freshman at best, Su Junyu grossly overestimated the gap between him and Wang Qi.

Wu Shiqin asked, “Is the true disciple quota only one per year?”

Su Junyu shook his head. “It’s not specified, but the five best usually accept a true disciple every few years. Normally, Myriad Arts Sect takes on a new true disciple every two to three years.” 

Wu Fan braved a question: “Senior Brother Su, you see, uh, I’m thinking of joining Landscape Metropolis.” 

Su Junyu sized him up. “Tides of Change is a solid art. I may not know your grasp of theories, but since you’re at the Immortal Institute, you must have a high perception. Becoming an inner disciple won’t be a problem.” 

Every branch of the Immortal Institute across the lands took in talented geniuses, be it from clans or otherwise. With a rogue cultivator background, Wu Fan’s admission to the Argent Apex Immortal Institute spoke volumes about his abilities.

“What about me?” Mao Zimiao asked in excitement.

“You’ll need to work hard, but Heavenly Spirit Range has far more requirements for new disciples than the other sects. True disciple aside, you’d have to put in a lot of effort to become an inner disciple.”

Su Junyu answered their questions, while Wang Qi was lost in thought. [This scene is just like the talks I had in my past life with family and friends before and after a college admission exam.] 

Wu Shiqin hesitated, while Su Junyu raised an eyebrow.

“What does that mean for me?”

Su Junyu sighed. “If I’m to be honest, I have the least hopes for you.”

Wu Shiqin jumped to her feet and said, “Why? How come? I even solved a problem in the back hall.”

Su Junyu shook his head. “Arts Archive’s back hall’s problems are just topics. Like Celestial Hymn Odyssey’s problem, aside from implicating the Celestial Element Series, it’s nothing more than a simple math problem. The most I can say about you solving it is that you have some talent in math. Talent in math is crucial in today’s cultivation society, but… you lack resolve.” 

Wu Shiqin looked skeptical. “Resolve?”

She had never heard of this before.

Su Junyu didn’t reply, asking Wang Qi instead, “Do you know what resolve is?”

Wang Qi answered, “Resolve, or cultivation of the heart, to be precise. In times of ancient cultivation, each sect’s cultivation method required a certain resolve. As the saying goes, cultivating life but not one’s nature is the number one cause of failure as a cultivator. By not training your heart as well, your mind won’t be in tune with your cultivation method, making it easier to suffer from deviation and sink into madness. The more you persist on this path, the further you stray from everlasting life. Of course, this was what ancient cultivators stated. I don’t know what is modern cultivation’s take on it.”

Modern cultivators who pursued Dao often quoted ancient cultivators who summarized their insights, which led to some words having different meanings in ancient and modern times. 

Su Junyu smiled. “Guess there’s an upside to carrying an old man around all the time.” 

Zhen Chanzi huffed in everyone’s mind to let his show his annoyance. As for matters of resolve, the ancient cultivators only touched upon them after the Establishment Stage. Wang Qi knew so much about it due to Zhen Chanzi’s input.

Su Junyu continues, “The saying hasn’t changed much since then, having the same general meaning. The process of drawing spiritual energy into yourself and turning it into spiritual power triggers the soul to come up with various thoughts. These thoughts vary depending on the cultivation method. When your thoughts clash constantly with the thoughts your cultivation method triggers, it causes your mind to become restless and lose control of your spiritual power. This is how you suffer from deviated cultivation.”

In ancient times, water cultivators were mellow, fire cultivators were intense, metal cultivators were fierce, and earth cultivators were sincere. Sword cultivators were resolute and upright with a heroic spirit, while demonic cultivators had a strong hostility. 

Su Junyu turned to Wu Shiqin once more and said, “As for you, your resolve is lacking.

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