Chapter 621
As a cultivation method, the "Chixiao Yuce" (赤霄玉册) is grand in conception and profound in content.
The number of symbols and diagrams it contains is astronomical.
This raises two questions:
First, comprehending this technique requires an exceptionally high level of knowledge in the art of symbols.
Second, the field of understanding is still insufficient; to apply the ideas of the Nine Chapters Calculation Array within it, one must translate this material into something that Tang Lingwu and those programmers can comprehend.
Sister Zhang has done part of this work with the help of the Nine Chapters Calculation Array.
However, she could never match the thoroughness of the old professor Bai, a modern mathematics expert.
The main issue is that Sister Zhang's education from a young age has gaps when compared to modern understanding...
Many of her thoughts and analyses lean more towards the habits of practitioners from the Xuanwei realm, making it very difficult for modern people to grasp.
Moreover, most of those programmers have never been exposed to cultivation or the art of symbols.
Old Bai, on the other hand, interprets the "Chixiao Yuce" in a way that is more accessible to modern minds.
After reviewing the notebook in his hands, Zheng Fa handed it over to the curious Tang Lingwu beside him.
Tang Lingwu flipped through it, grinning at Old Bai with eyes full of admiration.
Old Bai placed his hands on his hips, head held high: "Useful for the Nine Chapters Calculation Array, right?"
"Absolutely!"
Old Bai beamed with pride, while Tang Lingwu cradled the notebook as if it were a treasure.
She was even happier than Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa let out a gentle sigh, a smile creeping into his eyes:
Though there was no one ahead to follow,
Having someone by his side was still quite nice.
...
"The symbols the dean talked about yesterday were so difficult!"
"I thought I was the only one who didn't understand..."
Team Leader Yang walked along the mountain path, still damp with morning dew, on her way to the lecture hall.
The voices belonged to a few disciples from the martial arts school behind her.
Hearing this, an elderly man walking ahead turned back to glance at them, a smile in his eyes.
"Professor Wu, what do you think?"
A young man from the martial arts school asked the elder with anticipation.
"Well, it is a bit complex," the old man pondered for a moment before agreeing.
Seeing his expression, the young man slowed his pace, watching the elder walk away, then sighed:
"Looks like we're the ones who are slow; Professor Wu doesn't seem to find it difficult."
Team Leader Yang watched Professor Wu's figure gradually fade away, nodding gloomily.
Though Professor Wu appeared humble, how could they not hear the ease in his tone?
This kind of heartfelt consideration from a top student was even more painful for those struggling.
If you ask why Team Leader Yang understood this so well, it’s because... she hadn’t understood it either.
Thinking of this, Team Leader Yang felt like crying.
She had to admit that she had sunk to the same level as the muscle-bound, brainless disciples behind her.
Among the thousands attending the lecture, the majority were still those professors and their students.
Next were researchers or engineers from various research institutes who had previously contributed to the retirement home studies.
Finally, there was her, along with the martial arts disciples and employees from the Jiushan Grain Company.
Well, this might also be a ranking of intelligence.
Dean Zheng actually didn’t discriminate against them; he treated everyone equally in his lectures, and they all learned the same techniques.
The subsequent smaller classes, it was said, had little to do with cultivation.
The problem was, could she achieve the same results as those academicians and professors by attending the same classes?
Team Leader Yang considered herself no fool; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been entrusted with important responsibilities in the past.
To put it modestly, her IQ and EQ definitely surpassed eighty percent of the population.
The issue was that among the top one million in the country, no, the top ten million, there were those freaks.
Half of them were probably in the retirement home.
In terms of IQ, the gap between her and a dog might be smaller than that between her and those freaks...
Sitting in the same class, how could she not feel competitive?
Comparing herself to others, she was almost developing a psychological shadow.
Arriving at the lecture hall door, Team Leader Yang took a deep breath, setting aside her distracting thoughts, and silently encouraged herself:
Opportunities for cultivation are rare; they bring glory to the family and blessings for generations.
If she cried, it would be tears of happiness.
...
As soon as she entered, she saw Tang Lingwu standing at the door.
"Lingwu?"
"Aunt Yang, here!"
Tang Lingwu stretched out her small hand and effortlessly pushed a stack of books, nearly half her height, into Yang's arms.
Team Leader Yang hurriedly caught them, flipping through with curiosity.
The books seemed freshly printed, still warm to the touch.
"Introduction to Arrays."
"Basics of Alchemy."
"Topology of Symbols."
"General Theory of Artifact Refining."
"…"
After flipping for a while, she realized this was like a complete set of cultivation textbooks.
Not only did it include analyses of several common Qi cultivation techniques,
But also subjects like artifact refining, array formation, alchemy, and the art of symbols.
There were even two books on agriculture, focusing on spiritual plants.
"What is this…"
Team Leader Yang held the heavy textbooks, beginning to understand.
Her eyes widened, and her lips involuntarily trembled.
"Zheng Fa said the previous lectures were just an introduction, to help everyone get accustomed... it was basically like preschool," Tang Lingwu said with a bright smile, "Now it’s really starting."
Preschool?
Team Leader Yang's face turned pale, and she nearly cried:
Where's the door?
I haven't even entered yet!
...
Zheng Fa sat cross-legged on a cushion, looking at the crowd before him, all holding a new set of textbooks, nodding in satisfaction.
This set of textbooks was what Zheng Fa had previously discussed with Madam Xuanhua.
Of course, it included not only the results from Madam Xuanhua and the Artifact Refiners' Guild.
"Basics of Alchemy" was the brainchild of Elder Xiong from the Qingmu Sect and Sect Leader Song.
"Topology of Symbols" gathered the research of Zheng Fa and others.
"Introduction to Arrays" was primarily created by Sister Zhang.
One could say this set of textbooks was a culmination of various skills from the Jiushan Sect.
Not only that, but Sister Zhang also specifically used the Nine Chapters Calculation Array to review and correct many data errors.
In Zheng Fa's view, this might be the most systematic and comprehensive cultivation textbook in the history of the Xuanwei realm.
It would also be the first universal textbook of Jiushan University.
The first fifty-year plan prioritized education.
Now, there might only be twenty years left for the peaceful development of the Jiushan realm.
The value of a good textbook is self-evident.
He held high hopes for these books, striving for perfection, even thinking of achieving excellence.
Bringing them to the retirement home for lectures was, of course, aimed at nurturing the listeners.
But on another level... it was also to further improve these textbooks.
He saw everyone settled down and picked up a copy of "Topology of Symbols," addressing the crowd:
"Today's lecture will be divided into two parts."
"In the morning, we will start learning this book, 'Topology of Symbols.'"
"In the afternoon, we will continue with the techniques for the Qi refining stage and important notes on cultivation."
"From now on, it will be more or less like this."
The listeners in the lecture hall naturally had no objections; many faces were lit with keen interest, eagerly flipping open their new textbooks.
"Let's first look at the introduction."
As Zheng Fa spoke while holding the book, he sensed the thoughts of the listeners.
Halfway through, he suddenly caught a thought:
"This proof method is too complex; perhaps a different approach would be simpler?"
Zheng Fa's spirit lifted as he looked back at the book; indeed, the symbol transformation he had just discussed had room for simplification.
He lightly marked a key point in the book with his finger, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
Using this textbook to teach this group was naturally aimed at enhancing the research capabilities of the retirement home.
But on the other hand... it was also to leverage the insights and ideas of these experts to improve the textbook.
Although these materials were all related to cultivation,
The similarities between the modern world and the Xuanwei realm led to some connections between various skills in the Xuanwei realm and modern technology.
For instance, symbols are closely related to topology.
Artifact refining is highly relevant to materials science and physics.
Alchemy leans more towards chemistry.
And array formation has ties to mathematical logic and computer theory.
Most of these textbooks were produced by Jiushan practitioners; their practicality might be good, but in Zheng Fa's view, their theoretical depth and systematic approach were quite lacking.
In simple terms, the depth was insufficient, the theoretical height was lacking, and they didn’t get to the essence of the issues.
These scholars might not understand the Dao of Immortality as deeply as Madam Xuanhua and her peers, but they had their own set of thinking systems. From their perspectives and scientific literacy, they could help Zheng Fa clarify the theoretical connections in the textbooks and refine the principles.
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