Chapter 21 - 16 Manuscript of the Daoist of Uncertainty

Li Ziye, in the end, did not wait for the sunshine he longed for. In the early hours of the morning, this Wanfa Sect disciple took his last breath. Once it was confirmed that Li Ziye was dead, Wang Qi sighed, "Honestly, Senior Brother Li, you did not die heroically. How much better it would have been if you had boldly stated you had no regrets." Zhen Chan said, "You..." Wang Qi laid Li Ziye's body flat on the ground, then stepped back and sat down on the ground, "Alright old man, now let's talk about our issues." Zhen Chan was silent, "There's nothing to say." Wang Qi sneered, "So, you're not denying it, you're to blame, right?" "Indeed." "That means, you lied to me." "You have been lied to before." "Indeed." Wang Qi's expression returned to normal, "But, I am indeed very angry now." "Mhm." Zhen Chan's tone was neither happy nor angry, "I have always been gambling. I bet that you would not easily encounter someone who holds another piece of that set of Immortal Artifacts—after all, the chance of you encountering the Master of Heaven Splitting Dao was minuscule." "What ultimately did he use to sense you?" "The replica of that Immortal Artifact taken by the Master of Heaven Splitting Dao. The cost of making a replica isn't too high if it's just required to sense other Immortal Artifacts. But in ancient times, everyone feared others taking away their opportunities, so this method was never used." Ancient Method Practitioners acted only for themselves: countless examples of friends turning enemies, mentor and disciple betraying each other, and spouses fighting each other for a mere chance. "However, no matter what, if you had told me about this earlier, I might not have always worn this thing." Wang Qi took off the ring and said, "If I had left this broken thing at home, I wouldn't have faced danger." "Now you know the truth. If you throw away the ring, I can't blame you." Wang Qi smiled, held the ring in the palm of his hand, and raised his hand holding the ring, pretending to throw it: "One last question, what is the real function of this ring?" "I don't know." "You don't know? You don't know your own Sect's magical treasure?" Zhen Chan bitter-smiled, "Our founding ancestor got it by luck from an oblivious Loose Cultivator. The known functions are only to accelerate the cultivator's absorption rate of Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy, assist in minor skills like Concealing Breath Skill, sense other parts of that set of Immortal Artifacts, and contain souls." "I see." Wang Qi lowered his hand and put the ring back on the index finger of his left hand. Zhen Chan, "...What do you mean? You know this ring is useless to you and a hidden danger, yet you still keep it?" Modern cultivation was far superior to the Ancient Method, and Wang Qi's talents in modern cultivation were shockingly exceptional. Choosing the Modern Path seemed definite. The first function of the ring was useless to a Modern Cultivator who draws Outer Heaven Spiritual Power instead of nature's spiritual energy; the enhanced spells by the ring were low-level Ancient Method Skills, too challenging for the difficult Modern spells; as for containing souls? One was already inside, unless Zhen Chan was willing to come out, that function was also useless. As for the rest, it obviously was a hidden danger. Wang Qi leant back slightly, resting on his right hand, and with his left hand flat, he raised the ring before his eyes, "No matter what. You have been with me for so many years. I never formally took you as my teacher, and you had no obligation to be utterly honest with me. Let's forget about this incident. Besides, as a Mahayana Cultivator, your experience has some usefulness. If in the future you are willing to tell me everything, as I promised before, should I one day master an exquisite method, I can recreate a body for you." Zhen Chan questioned, "Is it that simple?" "You seem to mistrust my character?" Wang Qi looked at the ring with a smile that was not quite a smile. "It's not a matter of character, but... your motives likely aren't so simple." Zhen Chan had just finished speaking when he realized Wang Qi's smile was somewhat eerie. Wang Qi looked at Li Ziye's body, "Indeed, it's not that simple. Without you, I wouldn't know where to find Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao." Zhen Chan exclaimed, "You crazy kid?" Wang Qi pondered for a moment, "What if I report to the Modern Sect?" "Are you using yourself as bait, hoping a Modern expert will protect you?" Zhen Chan quickly understood, "If the first few attempts fail, then Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao will only see you as a trap, and later even if you swagger down the street, they will consider you a trap. If they deploy a top-tier expert for the first time, Modern Cultivators prepared in advance can probably respond in time. The only risk seems to be losing a piece of an Immortal Artifact that is completely useless to you—and that's useless to other Modern Cultivators as well." "What do you think?" Zhen Chan said, "If we had not talked tonight, and Li Ziye had not unexpectedly gone out, I might think this is a good plan." Wang Qi frowned, "What do you mean?" "Li Ziye's combat power was stronger than the Nascent Soul of that Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao. Together with that mixed Nascent Soul, Li Ziye still had a chance to win. Thus, if they wanted to win, their only chance was to seriously injure Xiang Qi first, then let three Foundation Establishment Stage followers set up an array, using the girl as bait to lure Li Ziye into the formation, and combine the array's power to defeat Li Ziye. And this strategy requires separating Li Ziye and Xiang Qi. Who could predict the exact time Li Ziye would leave?" Wang Qi suddenly realized, "That passing Golden Core! You mean there's a traitor within the Modern Path." Zhen Chan said, "There is another layer of strangeness to this. Modern Cultivators have very low resource demands, there's no reason to betray the currently dominantly powerful Immortal Alliance for a bit of profit." "If it's not just a little?" Wang Qi pondered, "That means, old man, you also had it tough before, right?" "Yes, I really admire the person who created the Modern Immortal Dao. Without relying on resources, hehe." Zhen Chan chuckled twice, continuing, "But there's another layer of strangeness involved. The scholarly systems you described last night sound feasible. However, have you considered why hasn't a similar system emerged under Modern Immortal Dao?" Wang Qi didn't need to think long, "Feudal conservatives and stubborn factions obstructing progress." Zhen Chan scoffed, "Fool! Could a Great Power capable of creating the Modern from the Ancient be someone who clings to old systems and is resistant to change?" Wang Qi scratched his head, "A science student who doesn't understand politics?" "...What do you mean?" "Basically, that nerds don't understand the art of influence." "Unlikely," Zhen Chan said, "Since spreading knowledge greatly benefits the advancement of Modern Immortal Dao, but Modern Cultivator leaders are obstructing, or at least blocking among lower-level cultivators, the spread of knowledge, then there must be only one reason." Wang Qi, truly confused about what Zhen Chan was implying, responded, "Go on." "Modern Cultivators have a formidable enemy at present, and must not recklessly reveal the foundations of their cultivation techniques." Wang Qi was startled, "That's not possible. According to what Li Ziye described, Modern Cultivators have completely overcome the Ancient Method Practitioners. Now they even have to stealthily, and painstakingly kill two talented disciples, hardly seeming like a strong force." Zhen Chan spoke lowly, "Indeed, Ancient Method Practitioners can now even gift Immortal Artifacts to Nascent Soul Stage disciples to enhance their chances of hitting a dead mouse—a situation considerably dire. Where is this enemy from? The Demon Path, which had caused havoc with a single master a fifty thousand years ago, has been completely suppressed; the Demon Clan became human prey twenty thousand years ago; even the strong Dragon Demons from across the seas cannot come ashore... Where is this enemy from?" "Jeez," Wang Qi looked at the ring and said, "So in your eyes, Modern Immortal Dao is completely unreliable?" "Not necessarily. From just looking at Li Ziye and Xiang Qi, Modern Immortal Dao seems to properly cultivate their disciples under normal paths into the Modern Sect. They shouldn't rush and risk their lives using their power." Wang Qi nodded, "It looks like keeping you around is quite beneficial, old man. Then let me ask you one more question, what is Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, and how strong can the strongest be?" "Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, one of the most domineering Sects among the Ancient Methods." Perhaps because he mentioned the enemy's name, Zhen Chan's tone grew grim, "Not only in actions but also in inheritance. The Ancient Inheritance 'Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao Sutra' is the most tyrannical cultivation technique in the history of Immortal Dao, a law that disintegrates all other laws when it emerges... hehe, it's ironic that today it's suppressed by 'thousands of laws'." "How much of Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao's essence has this Nascent Soul Stage learned?" "The stronger the cultivation in Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, the more miraculous it appears. This one is just a True Inheritor, and not a very favored one." Zhen Chan seemed to relish the death of Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao Disciple, "If it were the Mahayana Realm, they would be virtually invincible among their peers. Ten thousand years ago, I was ranked alongside that era's Master of Heaven Splitting Dao as the foremost under the heavens. Modern Dao only developed about two thousand years ago, in the eight thousand years from my death until the birth of Modern Dao, the emergence of three or four Mahayana wouldn't be odd—unless they're killed by Modern Cultivators." Wang Qi contemplated, "If I cultivate the Ancient Method and reach Mahayana, it's unlikely that I'd be able to defeat Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao's Mahayana. With Modern cultivation, it seems ordinary Great Grandmasters wouldn't stand a chance against Emperor's Extreme's Mahayana." "You should know, to take revenge you must learn to be patient." At that time, dawn was barely breaking, and the weak sunlight pierced through the overcast clouds. Wang Qi, carrying Li Ziye's Storage Bag, stood up and stretched, "I've been sitting stiff... old man, I must have told you, what I seek is a carefree life." "I understand." "If I always feel like I owe someone something, I won't be happy. And things that make me unhappy, it's better to end them sooner." After a while, Zhen Chan sighed, "I suddenly think you seem like a normal person now." "Earlier, I thought the world was mad. So I went mad with it. But now, I found out the world isn't mad, I should be happy, so there goes my brain." Wang Qi spoke lightly, "Now, I am not happy." His words were cryptic, and Zhen Chan wanted to ask more when Wang Qi continued, "Those who make me unhappy, I will only make them suffer twice as much." He looked at the weather, deciding it was clear enough, and started rummaging through Li Ziye's Storage Bag. "What are you doing? Spirit Ink, spirit paper... Kid, can you paint Talismans?" Zhen Chan was puzzled as Wang Qi took out a bunch of items from Li Ziye's belongings. "No, I need to copy something." "You squandering everything?" Zhen Chan couldn't help but scold, "These are all top-quality spirit ink and spirit paper!" Wang Qi finally pulled out a stack of papers from the Storage Bag, "This." Zhen Chan was stunned, "This is... the Daoist of Uncertainty's manuscript!" "There are benefits to be cached. Xiang Qi knows about this pile of manuscripts, so it can't be hidden." Zhen Chan warned, "These aren't secret manuals. These are deductions by a Carefree Stage Cultivator, incomplete and without matching cultivation techniques, can you understand them?" Wang Qi laughed, not answering. If his guess was correct, then there must be some connection between the Daoist of Uncertainty's cultivation techniques and Earth scientist Heisenberg's theory. Do you know where I gained experience in my past life? Niels Bohr Institute, the Holy Land of the Copenhagen School, where scientist Heisenberg battled!