Chapter 82 - 44 I Want Longevity [2nd Update]

Under the early summer night sky, Wang Qi spoke softly, "According to Su Junyu, I only know my joy but not the joy of my joy." The so-called "joy" is just an emotion, something that everyone has. The pleasure of eating well, wearing comfortable clothes, making money, marrying and having children—all of these are forms of happiness. "To know the joy of one's joy" means understanding why one is happy and what makes one happy. Not everyone understands this level of self-awareness. Some people think they crave fame and fortune, yet when they attain it, they feel a profound emptiness and lament with phrases like "In the next life, I will not be born into an emperor's family," thus negating their entire lives. If such individuals with these mentalities attained longevity, I fear either the world would just have another soul stealing life in a shell, or they would be unable to withstand the torment of immortality, leading to madness, deep slumber, or self-destruction. To cultivate life without cultivating character is the primary illness of cultivation practice. Zhen Chan asked, "So, have you figured it out? What is it that you truly love?" Wang Qi smiled. Finally, there was a hint of ease in his smile, "I know." I've known all along. In fact, the day Li Ziye introduced me to the laws of the modern world, I should have known. When I was verifying the mathematical laws of two different worlds. When I drew comparisons between the two worlds. When I discovered that this world could be analyzed step by step. At that time, I felt that I could actually continue the dream that I didn't finish in my past life. "This world is very interesting. The Great Dao that modern practitioners seek, the truths of this world, are very interesting," Wang Qi said, as if answering Zhen Chan's question and yet as if speaking to himself. Whether in his past life or this one, the obsession in the depths of Wang Qi's heart never changed. Scenes from Wang Qi's previous life passed through his mind. The solitude of performing experiments, the irritation of crunching numbers... The unfinished papers... The joy when his theories were acknowledged by others... Most importantly, the bliss of completing calculations and deriving results at that instant. In his last life, Wang Qi had chosen theoretical physics and mathematics as his field of study because he felt that the joy of inching closer to the truths of the world after arduous seeking was unrivaled. "Old man." Wang Qi suddenly called out. "Hmm?" "I suddenly feel that being born in this world where the Immortal Dao flourishes is truly great." "Is that so?" "Having longevity is simply wonderful." Zhen Chan was puzzled, "The whole world knows the goodness of longevity; do you still need to say it's not good?" Wang Qi shook his head with a smile, remaining silent. When Su Junyu recounted the stories of Modern Carefree, Wang Qi suddenly realized a difference between Shenzhou cultivators and Earth's scientific community. Shenzhou cultivators are not Earth's scientists—they have longevity! The Earth mathematician Laplace died without witnessing the emergence of a scientific theory of his dreams, one that didn't require God's initial push. However, his otherworldly analogue, Bai Ze God Monarch, could wait for Taiyi Heavenly Venerable to construct a world model that didn't rely on the power of the Great Dao! Earth mathematician Robachevsky didn't live to see Earth mathematician Riemann prove Non-Euclidean Geometry for him, but Wanfa Grandmaster Luo Qiefu could wait for Surface Sky Demon Riemann! Earth mathematician Pang Jialai was born at an inopportune time, missing the chance to explore the frontiers of physics with his mathematical talent. When Einstein opened a new chapter in physics and presented a more expansive universe to humanity, Pang Jialai was already in his twilight years, leaving the exploration of this new realm to the younger generation. However, Shenzhou Carefree, Mathematics Lord Pang Jialai, would not end his life in regret because of this! When in my last life, I used the deeds of my predecessors to inspire myself, I felt regret for these very deeds. Yet, in Shenzhou, such things would never happen! Every person who holds steadfast to the truth, has the opportunity to see their Great Dao spread throughout the world! Wang Qi said softly, "I want to achieve immortality." Immortality grants one the opportunity to seek the ultimate truths of this life! "I want to achieve immortality!" Wang Qi clenched his fists and repeated it again. My only wish is to live a happy life, my passion lies in seeking the Great Dao, and I desire immortality. True Self, True Heart Difficult! These eight characters emerged in Wang Qi's mind, and he felt as though his entire body had lightened, as if the heavy shackles that bound him were being peeled away layer by layer. "Clear thoughts, steadfast heart!" Zhen Chan's voice carried a layer of joy: "Although I'm unsure if the cultivation laws of today still value this principle, congratulations nonetheless." Clear thoughts refer to a cultivator's mindset and thoughts perfectly aligning with the cultivation technique they practice, making their cultivation flow smoothly. Once a cultivator reaches this step, as long as they don't encounter calamity or lose their Dao Heart, there will be no more obstacles on their path of cultivation. Wang Qi carefully felt the changes within himself and said leisurely, "Modern Cultivation still has a heavenly moat to cross. The transition from Golden Core to Nascent Soul requires a certain understanding of the Dao." Saying this, Wang Qi couldn't help but frown and sigh, "It's a pity that this is a world dominated by academic papers, and being steadfast will just make me more resolute on the path of seeking Dao. If this were a world of Character Cultivation and Enlightenment Flow, would I not have ascended during broad daylight, don't you think?" "Just as I was about to compliment you on finally resembling a true Cultivator of the Wang Family, you've gone and..." Zhen Chan sighed. Wang Qi laughed out loud: "Resign yourself, old man! This is just what your juniors and nephews are like!" Zhen Chan harrumphed and fell silent. Wang Qi curiously asked, "Old man, you don't seem too happy?" Zhen Chan sighed, "You have found your steadfast heart, but this old man is about to lose his." Wang Qi was shocked: "Damn, you're not about to have your soul disperse, are you?" Zhen Chan replied, "It's not that exaggerated. With this Immortal Artifact protecting me, I won't die. It's just that seeing you find your steadfast heart reminded me of my own early days in cultivation." Yet I cannot seem to recall what my own True Heart was, Zhen Chan silently lamented in his heart. The Method of True Heart in ancient times was simple and crude. If there were parts within one's thoughts that didn't align with their Cultivation Technique, then one simply had to sever them. Slicing away thoughts, clarifying the heart. By doing this, a cultivator could easily reach a perfect state of True Heart. At least, to Zhen Chan's knowledge, no Ancient Method Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage or above had ever been troubled by issues of True Heart. Modern Cultivators often ridicule this method as only leading to personalities becoming more like that of the founders of their Cultivation Techniques, but they cannot deny its simplicity. Ten thousand years ago, Zhen Chan fell in defeat and his body was destroyed, his Residual Soul hid in a ring and slept for ten thousand years. When he awoke, the whole world had changed. Everything he had owned had turned to dust; his enemies had been nearly wiped out by unrelated people; and the Dao he believed in had been completely surpassed by a group of juniors. All of this left him completely at a loss. Hearing Zhen Chan's words, Wang Qi actually smiled quite happily: "Old man, this might be an opportunity for you." "How so?" "An opportunity to forget those ancient methods." After finishing his statement, Wang Qi jumped to the ground and casually slapped a rock: "Time to go back." However, just as Wang Qi had not turned around, something strange happened. The rock he had slapped actually shattered! Wang Qi was dumbfounded: "Damn! I clearly didn't use much force!"