Exploring Immortality Cultivation

The rise of Modern Cultivation lay in the axiomatization and systematization initiated by the Yuanli Master. This groundbreaking effort placed all cultivators within the same system, laying the foundation for mutual understanding. Henceforth, the knowledge of predecessors could be fully inherited without loss, and descendants could truly build upon the foundation of their forebears; companions could also support each other in ascent, greatly reducing redundant research...

This advantage was certainly not small. Take the cultivation techniques, for instance— a mature technique, aside from its own fundamental theories, would invariably involve mathematical reasoning in abstraction, topology, the Heavenly Transformation Formula, and system theory; Spirit Energy Theory within the Heavenly Material Circulation Domain, Classical Field Theory, the Shape Comparison Technique, and the Mysterious Path; in the Life Path, human anatomy, soul studies, and so on. After a Great Power summarizes and creates a mental method from their learning, it would undergo countless optimizations. Apart from the Heavenly Calculation Atlas, a mental method that can deduce on its own, there was not a single Supreme Divine Skill that was created by one person alone.

Every theoretical breakthrough in mathematics, Heavenly Material Circulation, and the Life Path meant an update and replacement of all cultivation practices within the Immortal Alliance. However, to learn one cultivation practice, to master one theory was enough; the rest just needed to be understood.

For someone like Wang Qi, who needed to create his own path, it was very important to know one or a few friends who had achievements in other domains.

After Wang Qi channeled a stream of Spiritual Power into the calculator, a blue interface immediately appeared before his eyes, displaying only a few icons. Wang Qi lightly tapped one, and the Path Rank activated instantly, darkening the entire interface, and then a silver interface expanded from small to large before him, brandishing several ink-brush style characters that floated within it, representing the names of those who had left the Illusion Immortal Record for Wang Qi.

Since the main topic he wanted to inquire about was Life Span, which belonged to the realm of the Life Path, Wang Qi didn't even think before clicking "Ai Qinglan." The selected name swiftly diffused, covering the entire interface.

At this moment, Zhen Chan said, "The one outside has murderous intent toward you. He might make his move."

Wang Qi had already asked via Spiritual Sense Transmission, "What's going on? Isn't he just here to watch?"

"From the moment you took out the calculator, his hostility surged. The only reason he hasn't acted is that he's unsure of what you are doing. This old man estimates that the moment you put away the calculator will be when his deadly force descends!"

Wang Qi's thoughts raced. It was already too late to put away the calculator, and Chi Lianxue was clearly about to show his hand. The first strike would certainly be with full force. So, the best option now was to calculate the formula for the first strike while discussing with Ai Qinglan...

Just as Wang Qi was contemplating the upcoming battle, the dark interface lit up again. Ai Qinglan, wearing the green robe of Tianling Ridge, appeared on the interface. Wang Qi noticed that the robe was embroidered with gold thread forming a double helix pattern at the hem and cuffs, clearly representing the garment of a True Disciple.

Wang Qi glanced at Ai Qinglan's hem again and asked, "Senior Sister, such grand attire— is there some special occasion today?"

Only on significant occasions did True Disciples have to wear such formal attire. Among the few exceptional True Disciples that Wang Qi knew, such as Su Junyu, Xiang Qi, and Ai Qinglan who tended to dress casually, they did not favor elaborate robes.

"No big deal, just accompanying some Senior Brothers and Sisters to other Sects to pay respects to elders," Ai Qinglan laughed. "Oh, Junior Brother, you missed me so soon? I am truly touched!"

Wang Qi, facing a formidable enemy outside, had no time for idle chatter and went straight to the point, "Senior Sister, actually I have a question about the Life Path I want to ask."

Ai Qinglan squinted approvingly, "Not bad at all! You turned down the True Disciple Position of our Tianling Ridge and still put effort into studying the Life Path— you've come across a new question so quickly."

"It's not deep research, I've just encountered a problem in my cultivation."

"It's good to have questions. The Heavenly Calculation Atlas is ever-changing and all-encompassing in practice, but the most feared thing is self-righteousness, not knowing that one has strayed until it's too late to turn back," said Ai Qinglan. "But what is your specific question? I must say in advance that the Life Path is profound and extensive, and even someone as formidable as I doesn't know everything."

"Regarding lifespan," Wang Qi said, "for some reason, I suddenly found today that I can sense another person's lifespan, and even gauge the rough longevity they have remaining. I clearly haven't specifically studied theories related to lifespan, so why would I possess this divine skill?"

Ai Qinglan pondered for a moment, then asked, "This issue needs to be addressed from the beginning—Junior Brother, what do you believe to be the principle behind aging?"

Wang Qi habitually wanted to respond but then realized that he had absolutely no memory in this respect.

The mystery of aging, like the secrets of lifespan and longevity, is equivalent, for it leads to the ancient cultivators' ultimate pursuit spanning eighty thousand years of history—immortality, to share the same lifespan as heaven and earth!

This topic seemed enormous, and even the courses taught at the Immortal Institute hadn't really touched on it.

Ai Qinglan laughed and said, "It's normal that you don't know. After all, the mechanism and principles behind aging are rather advanced content, not something the Immortal Institute would teach as it lays the foundation. Besides, there's no definitive conclusion on this matter to date; it's still a topic of discussion and not suitable for those who have just stepped onto the path to delve into."

Wang Qi thought for a long time, then said, "Is it the weakening of Life Fire, soul decay?"

The mechanism of aging was equally a mystery on Earth; no one had figured it out. To Wang Qi's knowledge, among the hypotheses known, free radicals and the natural crosslinking hypothesis of biological molecules can only serve as accelerators of aging, not the fundamental mechanism. The immune imbalance hypothesis even had plenty of evidence to the contrary, and the somatic mutations hypothesis collided with current immunology and genetic theories. The telomere hypothesis seemed to be onto something, but it couldn't explain the control mechanism of telomerase or elucidate the similarities and differences between cellular apoptosis and aging or death mechanisms.

Moreover, this was a world with Spiritual Energy, and many phenomena were different due to the involvement of Spiritual Energy. The intuitive experiences of Ancient Method Practitioners served as evidence too. Phrases like "burning lifespan" and "Life Fire" weren't coined randomly. According to Zhen Chan, regarding "life," Spiritual Energy indeed displayed characteristics of "fire."

Although the presence of Spiritual Energy made scientific experiments in this world incredibly complicated, where many experiments that could be done in just a couple of trials on Earth had to be repeated hundreds or thousands of times in various Spiritual Energy environments in Shenzhou before extrapolating patterns from the exceedingly complex experimental reports. Yet, on the other hand, Spiritual Energy also made it easy for this world to form 'Technology Black Boxes.' The intuitive experiences of Ancient Method Practitioners shouldn't be considered the essence of phenomena, but they also counted as a type of evidence.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Wang Qi's response, Ai Qinglan burst into laughter. At first, she simply began shrugging her shoulders, but then she started laughing unrestrainedly, "Ah hahaha... Junior Brother, you're so naive! Really... I shouldn't be laughing at you, Senior Sister shouldn't, but I haven't seen such an unthoughtful answer in a long time!"

Wang Qi, eager to learn, asked, "Is there a big problem with this explanation? Mainly in what area? Also, Ancient Method Practitioners do indeed have similar intuitive feelings. The ancients believed in seeking dragons to find waters, and tigers for the royal mansions. Phrases like 'subdue the dragon and the tiger,' 'harmonizing water and fire,' and 'cultivating spirit and life harmoniously' have indeed been passed down."

Ai Qinglan wiped the tear from the corner of her eye with her pinky finger, stopping her laughter and said, "Oh my... pff... wait a moment. Cough cough, first off, it seems you've gotten something wrong. The concept of harmoniously cultivating spirit and life does exist in Modern cultivation methods, but the Life Cultivation mentioned by Ancient Method Practitioners is unlikely to be the essential mechanism of aging and death of Life Beings."

"The most straightforward method of refutation—the majority of Life Beings in the world live in environments with Spiritual Energy Values close to one, which Ancient Method Practitioners would call thin Spiritual Energy environments. However, their aging follows the same principles as those of Cultivators."

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I revised this chapter many times, which is why it was a bit late in coming out. It's longer than usual, consider it a little compensation.

The next chapter is an exposition on the theory of life, which might be somewhat dry. However, "consciousness is data, life is negative entropy" is the principle behind cultivation in Volume Two, as well as the basis for Wang Qi to integrate all of his learning into one, belonging to a core setting. So, I hope everyone at Hailing can forgive me for being so fixated on these settings.