Chapter 61 - 23 Hydropower and Coal Gas?

After the evening classes ended, Wang Qi walked toward the north end of the Immortal Institute. After asking for directions from a senior new disciple, Wang Qi found the Artifact Refining Room. When Wang Qi arrived, Xiang Qi was tidying up the equipment. This True Inheritor of Burning Gold Valley was somewhat surprised to see her junior actively seeking her out, "Wang Qi? Is there something you need from me?" And after Wang Qi explained his purpose, she showed a similar expression to that of Mao Zimiao and Wang Zhenqi, "A thousand merit points? Why don't you just go rob someone?" Wang Qi spread his hands helplessly, "With my cultivation, I wouldn't be able to rob anyone, right?" "That's true... But you would if you had enough cultivation?" Wang Qi did not respond. Xiang Qi held her forehead, "The merit points spent to refine a Lifebound Magical Treasure in the Golden Core Stage are about that much. What exactly have you set your eyes on?" "Books in the Book Tower." Wang Qi replied truthfully. There was no point in hiding this matter. Xiang Qi looked skeptical, "Are there books in the Book Tower that are that expensive?" Wang Qi explained the situation, "Actually, last night while I was meditating, a senior suddenly stepped out of the void, said he took a liking to me, and then gave me a reading list. The old man in the ring said that the senior was at the Carefree Stage, and the person claimed to be Xi Baiche." "Xi Baiche?" Xiang Qi frowned, "The 'Master of Calculation' Xi Baiche?" Wang Qi nodded. Xiang Qi suddenly grabbed Wang Qi's shoulders and stared into his eyes. After a moment, she burst out laughing, "The 'Master of Calculation' Xi Baiche, hahaha, you're saying the Master of Calculation gave you guidance... Ah hahaha!" Watching the girl in front of him laugh until she was almost in tears, Wang Qi shrugged helplessly. If an ordinary high school student on Earth told others that a Nobel Prize laureate had offered him private tutoring, people would probably have the same reaction. Xiang Qi laughed for a while before stopping, "This is the best joke I've heard this month... I don't think you're the type to run halfway across the Immortal Institute just to tell me a joke. So, what's really going on?" Wang Qi looked at her seriously. Seeing Wang Qi's expression, Xiang Qi finally calmed down, "Did you really come all this way through half the Immortal Institute to tell me a joke?" Wang Qi's serious expression collapsed in an instant, "Damn it, how deep has my image as a fool sunk into people's hearts! Can't you even guess that I might not be joking?" Xiang Qi's eyes widened, "For real! You received guidance from the Master of Calculation?" "I just said that! Are you only reacting now?" Xiang Qi placed her hand on Wang Qi's forehead, extending her mana, "There's no sign of Deviation. I'm certain I'm not either... What you just said, is it true?" Wang Qi covered his face, "I'm defeated by your reaction speed, Senior Sister..." Xiang Qi said apologetically, "Sorry, it's just that this news... You really received guidance from the Master of Calculation?" Wang Qi shook his head, "I'm not sure myself. The senior claimed to be Xi Baiche." Xiang Qi paced back and forth in the room, her face full of excitement, "You received guidance from the Master of Calculation! You received guidance from the Master of Calculation!" It was clear that she was genuinely happy for her friend. Wang Qi was somewhat puzzled, "It's not like I've been granted enlightenment by a Great Grandmaster, is it really worth being this happy?" Xiang Qi quickly gathered his thoughts, "Looking at your attitude now, neither arrogant nor impetuous, you have a good temperament. However, don't underestimate the guidance of a Master of Calculation. Every Law Gate in the world originates from the Wanfa, and numerous predecessors have been stuck before a hurdle because the Mathematics they mastered did not align with their path, wasting years. With the guidance of a Master of Calculation, you should be able to avoid many detours." Wang Qi said, "The predecessor is merely a guide; it is still up to oneself to walk the path." In his past life, he already knew which research required which mathematical tools; he didn't covet such guidance like others. However, that didn't mean that Xi Baiche's list of books was worthless. Wang Qi was not very familiar with the books of this world, and Xi Baiche's critical eye was extremely sharp; the books he recommended were exactly what he needed, and this list of books actually saved him a lot of trouble. Xiang Qi was very pleased with Wang Qi's attitude and praised him a few sentences. Wang Qi humbly accepted, then frowned, "Guidance is good, but I have no merit points at all right now!" Xiang Qi also began to think, "This should be a long-term process. Why don't you wait first, and later on... why are you looking at me like that?" Seeing Xiang Qi's suddenly guarded tone, Wang Qi sighed, "Can't you help me out a little?" Xiang Qi shook his head vigorously, "Absolutely not. After I finish tutoring this year's disciples, I am going back to my Sect to prepare for Core Formation. This is what I've managed to save up with difficulty. Do you have the heart to ask me to lose my Lifebound Magical Treasure to support you?" The power of a Lifebound Magical Treasure grows together with the cultivator's cultivation, so it is indeed better to refine one as early as possible. Moreover, the Lifebound Magical Treasure is also crucial for a cultivator's future path towards forming a Primordial Spirit; it cannot be treated negligently. Wang Qi, no matter how thick-skinned, definitely couldn't beg someone to sacrifice their future to help him, so he had to turn his thoughts towards other cultivators. Xiang Qi, as if seeing through his thoughts, shook his head, "In terms of merit points, most disciples with cultivation in the human world are the same, all very tight-fisted. Even if they could lend you some, ten or twenty points would be the limit. Only when you reach a Great Grandmaster does it get a bit better." Wang Qi asked, "Does Brother Su always give generously?" "People with several million Stones of Spiritual Energy in their spirit pool may not have many merit points," Xiang Qi shook his head. "Although, according to the current exchange rate, one merit point is worth about two thousand Stones of Spiritual Energy, the Immortal Alliance won't let you exchange Spiritual Energy for merit points. On the streets, you might not be able to exchange twenty thousand Stones of Spiritual Energy for even one merit point." Zhen Chan was greatly surprised and couldn't help interjecting, "Two thousand for one merit point and twenty thousand for one merit point? That gap is too big, isn't it? And a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator has Tens of Thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones worth of Spiritual Energy..." Xiang Qi gave him a look as if seeing a bumpkin who had never seen the world, "What is Spiritual Energy used for?" "Of course, it is to shorten..." Zhen Chan stopped suddenly as he was speaking. Ancient Method Practitioners need Spirit Stones mainly to absorb the Spiritual Energy from them to speed up their cultivation. It is because of this reason that Spirit Stones have been recognized as valuable by the entire Immortal Dao. But Modern Cultivators acquire all the Spiritual Energy they need directly from Heaven and Earth through breathing, harvesting the purest Spiritual Energy from beyond the heavens; they have no regard for Spirit Stones. After realizing this point, Zhen Chan was still not convinced, "Spiritual Energy can also be used for setting up Arrays, Alchemy, and Artifact Refining, saving a cultivator's Mana, which can be considered as increasing the time for cultivation." Wang Qi shook his head, "Old man, don't forget, in order to maintain focus, Modern Cultivators suppress their own cultivation during three stages in the human world, so saving time is meaningless." For Ancient Method Practitioners, Spirit Stones are a necessity for cultivation, akin to money and provisions—indispensable. For Modern Cultivators, Spiritual Energy is at best like water, electricity, gas—a convenience. Having it is better, but not having it doesn't mean they can't live. And in the current Immortal Dao, merit points that can be exchanged with the Immortal Alliance for anything are the capital for cultivators to strengthen themselves. But then, Wang Qi noticed a strange point: Have you ever seen anyone taking water, electricity, or gas out on the street to buy things? Xiang Qi's following words clarified Wang Qi's confusion, "Actually, a hundred years ago, the Immortal Alliance already mastered the method of extracting Spiritual Energy from beyond the heavens using the breath of Heaven and Earth. The continuing trade with Spiritual Energy today is merely to prevent the collapse of the Immortal Dao."