Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 372 - 125: The Bet

In a place unknown to Wang Qi, a terrifying struggle had already erupted. This battle was between individuals at the Carefree Level. However, its impact had spread throughout the entire Wanfa Sect. All the disciples of the Wanfa Sect were clearly divided into three parts: the Li Sect, the Zongli Sect, and a very small number of neutrals.

The bet was simple, limited to three months, the side of the Mathematics Lord or Master of Calculation who could produce more results would be the victor.

Wang Qi was somewhat puzzled. On Earth, these kinds of projects were planned for ten or twenty years at a time, and even the most optimistic expectations wouldn't yield results in less than three to five years. Where did the Mathematics Lord get the confidence to overcome the Master of Calculation in just three months?

"It's all out of necessity," Feng Luoyi shook his head. "The Mathematics Lord doesn't have much time."

This time Wang Qi was truly startled, "Who could harm a top Carefree practitioner so severely that they are beyond healing?"

"Hey, what are you talking about, kid?" Feng Luoyi laughed. "I mean he can't stay in Shenzhou for too long."

Feng Luoyi first asked Wang Qi, "What do you think is the reason that Ximen Master can spare the effort to gather outstanding Arithmeticians to study the foundation of mathematics?"

Wang Qi found it strange. Wasn't it simply because the Master of Calculation was the strongest? What else could it be?

Feng Luoyi hinted, "What about the Mathematics Lord then?"

It was then that Wang Qi realized the crux of the matter.

In Earth's history, the decline of Henry Poincaré, the wane of Intuitionism, and the rise of David Hilbert and the development of Formalism happened simultaneously. But in Shenzhou, where everyone was a Cultivator, it was impossible for Mathematics Lord Pang Jialai to become too old to calculate due to a mere few hundred years.

"Ximen Master was able to control the development of Shenzhou's mathematical studies simply because the Mathematics Lord has been absent these years," Feng Luoyi said. "Apart from the Mathematics Lord, no one dares to challenge Ximen Master. Likewise, aside from Ximen Master, very few people dare to openly criticize the Mathematics Lord. And there is a reason why the Mathematics Lord stepped away from the forefront of Shenzhou's mathematical research."

Wang Qi was very puzzled, "Isn't the Mathematics Lord the type to do whatever he wants?"

"The Mathematics Lord is a smart man," Feng Luoyi spoke obliquely, "do you know what the fundamental pursuit of the Immortal Alliance is?"

"Seeking Dao."

"And the necessary conditions for seeking Dao?"

"The necessary conditions? Are you talking about necessary but insufficient conditions?" Wang Qi frowned in thought. "Hmm, there are many. Research materials, the Heart of Seeking…"

Feng Luoyi spoke out the most important one, "Survival." Seeing Wang Qi still looked puzzled, he waved his hands and created a model of a stele in front of him: "If all the necessary conditions for seeking Dao were inscribed on this stele, then the one at the very top would definitely be 'survival'; only by staying alive can one seek Dao—this stele can also be seen as the reason the Immortal Alliance exists. The Immortal Alliance is for organizing all the Cultivators of Shenzhou to seek Dao, and the most important thing for seeking Dao is to keep on surviving."

Wang Qi stroked his chin, staring intensely at the stele, "Hmm, Teacher Feng, does this stele also have 'pleasure' and 'maintaining and improving one's low entropy level in a universe of increasing entropy' inscribed on it?"

Feng Luoyi answered in a muddled way, "I can sort of understand 'maintaining and improving one's low entropy level in a universe of increasing entropy.' Why is 'pleasure' a necessary condition for seeking Dao? Many people consider it one of the goals."

"That's good, that's good," Wang Qi chuckled, "Please, continue."

Feng Luoyi looked at Wang Qi with suspicion. Fortunately, the phrase "maintaining and improving one's low entropy level in a universe of increasing entropy" had a very obvious Modern style and couldn't possibly be something of the Banished Immortal's Innate Wisdom. He continued, "The Immortal Alliance was established to deal with certain matters. There are many Secret Realms that require the Carefree Practitioners to suppress, and some tasks must be overseen by the Carefree Practitioners. While some tasks can maintain constant communication and keep up with Shenzhou's research progress, others are isolated from the world, inconvenient for information exchange, only able to receive papers at the rate of one or two a day."

"So, when the Immortal Alliance was first established, there was a drawing of lots," Feng Luoyi said with a hint of schadenfreude in his smile. "The Mathematics Lord was very unlucky."

Wang Qi said nothing. He was relieved that he had only used a part of the power of the calculator when he entered; this virtual body wouldn't show too realistic reactions—like a heartbeat.

He was sure his physical body must have been experiencing tachycardia. The warning from Zhen Chan over a year ago came ringing in his ears again.

The Immortal Alliance has a formidable enemy.

Cultivators below the Carefree Stage don't even have the qualifications to participate in this war.

This really isn't funny at all!

"I also can't tell you too much about this matter; it's enough that you know the reason," said Feng Luoyi, obviously now accepting Wang Qi and seeing him as part of the Immortal Alliance. "So, we only have three months, we must determine the victor within three months."

"What if the Master of Calculation loses?"

"The Mathematics Lord will guard the Secret Realm," Feng Luoyi responded. "I've said before, aside from the Master of Calculation, very few can face the Mathematics Lord directly. As long as the Mathematics Lord stays in Shenzhou, the development of mathematics in Shenzhou is bound to lean towards the Li Sect."

Wang Qi pondered, "But in these three months, we might not necessarily be able to produce results..."

Feng Luoyi said, "The Mathematics Lord has always disdained to do proofs himself; he loves creation and wishes only to create the heavenly vault of mathematics. The Ximen Master, on the other hand, hopes to find the earth of mathematics, to lay the foundations."

"The Mathematics Lord loves to create, so he can use his own creations as results—I understand that he can do many things. But there are disadvantages too. This person is too proud, a loner with no followers. The Carefree cultivators in Shenzhou who can participate in the debate are essentially Ximen Master's disciples, friends or associates. Moreover, we have another great advantage—we already have your Completeness Law; that itself is a result."

Wang Qi asked, "But there's another problem, how do we determine the value of results? All of Senior Xi's achievements are considered non-mathematical by the Mathematics Lord."

"Naturally, others will evaluate," said Feng Luoyi.

"Who?" Wang Qi asked doubtfully. "Who is qualified to judge the accomplishments of the Mathematics Lord and the Master of Calculation? Taiyi Heavenly Venerable?"

"Him?" Feng Luoyi rarely showed a trace of pride. "Old Ai always thought the struggle between the Li Sect and Zongli Sect was a fight between frogs and mice, but how could he judge the dispute between the Moon Palace Toad and the Void Sun Rat?"

"The ones who can make a choice are only the Carefree and Grandmasters from the neutral Wanfa Sect!"

Feng Luoyi's gaze gleamed as he looked at Wang Qi. "Among these people, the most important are the members of the Bo Family and the Bai Ze God Monarch."

"Don't worry about the Bo Family for now; they will most likely lean towards you. The Bai Ze God Monarch loves to mentor the younger generation, especially those of humble origins but with exceptional talent. As long as you perform well, you will definitely get his attention!"

"We will do our utmost to help you win the Dao Artifact Award, and your winning the Dao Artifact Award will be the greatest help to us!"

Wang Qi's blood boiled for a moment before he felt a bit of dissonance.

"What does 'Don't worry about the Bo Family' mean? The premise is all wrong, Teacher!"