Applied Immortality

Myriad Arts Sect inner disciple Geng Peng watched the freshmen practice Basic Swordplay III with a warmth in his heart and a gratified smile on his lips.

Every other sects’ disciples were baffled as to why would Myriad Arts Sect disciples have such passion for all the dull basic martial arts, be it in all kinds of weapons, movements, or fists. Most cultivators saw these proliferated arts as nothing more than basic addition and subtraction up to 10. One used them in everyday life, but not consciously practice them, let alone feel so passionate. Why? What’s so special about learning that 1+1=2 over and over again? Even if it were true, you wouldn’t even think of declaring it, would you?

Geng Peng scoffed every time he heard this.

Myriad Arts Sect disciples believe with fervor that Immortal Institute’s basic martial arts were the embodiment of perfect basic math.

Immortal Alliance’s widespread basic martial arts were put in effect by none other than Myriad Arts Sect’s Unfettered, Crazed Sword Lagrange, a thousand years ago. Lagrange was also called Crazed Calculator, dipping into Transcending Sect and Mystical Star Temple’s research fields. But his proudest achievement was the glorious sword score without diagrams. As it had no diagrams, it had no moves, but following the sword score, any kind of weapon one might use, from a sword to a claw, as long as one discovered its parameters and followed the formula every step of the way, all arts could be broken down. Reverse-engineering the sword arts with these formulas, you could dissect them into simple factors, and then combine them with math. The result was these basic martial arts.

With the movement of every basic martial art broken down to the level of a formula, it became the simplest factor. This implied that every move in the basic martial arts was the most concise and held infinite variations. Once these disciples delved deeper into the martial arts, they would have free reign to create their very own martial art formula tailor-made to fit their needs. 

In the eyes of Myriad Arts Sect, basic martial arts were perfect arithmetics. 

[Oh, look at that kick, it’s the most basic factor (x+a)^2! And that arm extension, b*c! Oh, look at them pushing out their chests…tch, how they’ve grown over the years. Especially that girl, such curvature.]

Geng Peng’s train of thought slipped at the end. He then noticed, based on his achievements in the Myriad Arts Sect, that there was disharmony among the group. 

As the drill instructor, it gave him focus to spot the disturbing element. The off movements the disciple employed gave Geng Peng a shudder, “Wang Qi, come over.”

From being singled out, Wang Qi knew trouble found him. Su Junyu told him Li Ziye was the very rare sociality among the unsociable Myriad Arts Sect disciples, quite popular among his peers. Due to his connection to Li Ziye’s death, most of the Myriad Arts Sect disciples in Argent Apex had a bad opinion of him. It was for this reason he could find no Go partner despite training in Divine Hexagram Computation. He was left to use his only backup, playing cards with Su Junyu—of course, it wasn’t over some lame and weak reason as having little to no friends. Nuh-uh! 

Even Su Junyu admitted that he might see him in a bad light if not for having played cards first, and the fact he was on friendly-ish terms with Xiang Qi. To sum it up, Wang Qi was ready for the Myriad Arts Sect to take it out on him. 

Despite being called out, the instructor was deep in thought.

Geng Peng had to admit he didn’t like Wang Qi and would have stepped in if he caused trouble in the Immortal Institute. But the kid was at worst a slacker, which the most it warranted based on the institute’s regulations was a warning. It was why he called him out impulsively. By giving a harsh punishment, it would be he who violated the rules instead…

With Lord White Marsh having no inhibitions being the only exception, Myriad Arts Sect disciples kept to the rules for the very large majority.

Embarrassment grew within Geng Peng. Xiang Qi would be sure to mock if she was around, ‘Myriad Arts Sect and their abysmal EQ!’

Geng Peng gave Wang Qi an uncertain look, clearly looking for something else. Wang Qi sneered inside, [Buddy, how are you gonna set me straight if ya hold out on me? Ha-ha, I read Immortal Institute’s rulebook from cover to cover. There are only a couple of things you can do to me and I already have counters ready just in case!]

[Yep, smacking people around is a transmigrator’s prerogative!]

In the eyes of the disciples around, the two’s awkward silence looked totally different. Many disciples, with plenty of royalty among them with keen political skills, heard Wang Qi and Myriad Arts Sect were at odds. As a genius switching from the ancient to the modern way and attaining Reaching Heaven, Wang Qi was a strong candidate for being picked as a five best sects’ true disciple. Immortal Institute evaluated a student’s character and qualities as well. The onlookers wished nothing more than for the Foundation Establishment instructor to start docking Wang Qi’s credits for the month. 

There was also the case of the abysmal EQ Myriad Arts Sect disciples tripping in their attempt to put down a freshman, ending up humiliated instead. That had most of the disciples eager to watch the show.

With Geng Peng taking his sweet time thinking, Wang Qi indulged in the other’s reactions by putting the instructor down instead. 

As luck had it, the Myriad Arts Sect’s EQ was the pits, but that didn’t apply to their IQ as well. In moments, Geng Peng came up with the right tactic.

Myriad Arts Sect disciple squeezed a most unnatural smile. Wang Qi focused, [It’s showtime.] 

“Your sword moves are good.”

“Yeah.” Wang Qi gave a bored reply.

“Have you practiced before? Did you apply sword arts in combat?”

“I practiced a bit for self-defense in the ancient way’s Spirit Body period.” 

Geng Peng nodded, “Good…”

[What’s next? Berating me for holding onto the worthless ancient cultivation? Blame my overconfidence instead?] Wang Qi stared at Geng Peng, waiting for his move. 

“Disciples, listen close! Don’t take the basic martial arts as being just basic! They are the core of every martial art. You’d do well to learn from Wang Qi. Learn to integrate your consciousness and knowledge into these arts to develop your personal martial arts path!”

[The play went off script from the first act?]

[Shouldn’t you be warning me to train harder? Then you’d follow with making me practice the sword alone to bring me down on my meager skills. Or pick a random genius to teach me real sword art and bash me around?]

[This development is just too absurd.]

Geng Peng followed, “I will now demonstrate the way of blending the basic martial arts with your intent. Wang Qi is on the same level as you, while also being the best learned. He and I will spar shortly and you are to pay attention to our sword arts to find the weaknesses in your own arts.”

Another Foundation Establishment instructor frowned, “Geng, isn’t this outside of the curriculum? It’s not part of the exam.” 

Sweat trickled down Geng Peng’s scalp, “Just a bonus topic…”

Wang Qi didn’t bother dissing the two Foundation Establishment cultivators that highlighted the key points in their physical ed class. He was rather pondering Geng Peng’s intentions, [This guy plans on smacking me himself? I’m in Qi Refining, he’s at Foundation Establishment. He’s also part of the precise Myriad Arts Sect, so faking a mistake is unlikely. Even if he harms me, he’ll become the true disciples Xiang Qi and Su Junyu’s enemy. A slap on the wrist then? The infirmary’s services are free of charge and there’s also a Golden Core overseeing things. So humiliating me is even less likely. Losing to a Foundation Establishment cultivator is the norm…]

A bunch of freshmen glared at Wang Qi in envy, thinking he had the grand fortune of getting personal guidance from the teacher. Only a minority of them enjoyed the show, believing Geng Peng planned on handling Wang Qi himself.

Wang Qi was utterly baffled. Geng Peng believed he covered all bases. He walked before Wang Qi and took out a training sword, “Wang Qi, pay attention.”

Wang Qi couldn’t for the life of him figure out how the other was going to beat him down. Since he was certain there was no danger befalling him, he entered a stance, “Senior Brother Geng, enlighten me.”

In immortal cultivation ethics, when two people sparred, the weaker one went first. If the weaker cultivator initiated a preemptive strike, the stronger cultivator was allowed a probing attack.

Wang Qi used Basic Swordplay I’s ‘thrust three with shoulder straight’ right at Geng Peng. 

Geng Peng’s mind buzzed with countless ways of breaking the attack. On any other day, he would’ve used all he knew to break it and beat Wang Qi black and blue. But since he used demonstration as an excuse for his act, using advanced sword arts was out of the question. Thus he removed all those fancy and flashy arts from his mind, falling back on basic martial arts, using a move from Basic Swordplay III, to parry and deflect the thrust. 

Geng Peng’s action entered Wang Qi’s mind. It had a clear trajectory but it was by no means average, for it left a trail of sword energy. 

Book of Geometry, a powerful cultivation method that enhanced abstract thinking.

Wang Qi’s spiritual power was in favor of Divine Hexagram Computation’s swift calculation aspect, but the boost he got from the Myriad Arts Sect art, offered him a vague idea of Geng Peng’s next move. He drew back his sword and hastily placed it in front of his chest, not following any particular form.

As he foresaw, Geng Peng followed with a hard slash.

Wang Qi took a half step back and pressed his sword forward, using another move from Basic Swordplay I. Geng Peng parried with another basic sword skill.

The two clashed a dozen times, with Wang Qi getting excited at the prospective gain he would earn from fighting against a sparring partner that would never dare harm him. Book of Geometry and Divine Hexagram Computation also showed progress. The thrill was worlds above merely smacking someone down. No matter how the opponent wanted to set him straight, it was totally worth the pain! 

Unlike the giddy Wang Qi, Geng Peng was turning bleaker with every clash. He had tons of ways of knocking the loathsome fool onto his ass, [B-but this is my stage! So why am I the one looking so humiliated?] 

The Foundation Establishment instructor friendly with Geng Peng could figure out the real deal from his face. But the vast majority of people here were hard-pressed to understand what twisted logic Geng Peng used to come up with this dumb idea of saving his skin. 

When they asked later on Geng Peng’s reasons, he replied, “It’s the Myriad Arts Sect’s feelings.”

Xiang Qi and other cultivators joked about it for days upon hearing it. Xiang Qi’s exact words were, “Ah-ha-ha-ha, they can’t control their emotions and don’t understand social interactions… Ah-ha-ha-ha, we’ll be relying on these emotionally challenged fools for the next half a year!” 

Then came Wang Qi’s judgment after a long time, “No one can understand Myriad Arts Sect’s feelings.”