Applied Immortality

[Did my mind get swept into the All-immortal Realm? Nah, that’s not it. There’s no way Su Junyu would toy around with uploading his mind without safeguarding his body.] 

Wang Qi closed his eyes to get a better sense of everything around him. All illusions weaken once a person meditated and became focused. Meditation and scrutiny of one’s surroundings were the best ways to test whether the world you perceived was real. 

Wang Qi confirmed he was in reality.

The others turned to Wang Qi’s odd behavior. Mao Zimiao asked, “Little Qi, what’s up, nya?”

Wang Qi shook his head. “I am just curious how these light screens came to be. An average water screen or light art has similar effects, but none of those magical arts created the light screens here, capable of sharing information with cultivators.” 

Su Junyu explained, “Oh, you mean that? Just an illusion art.”

“The highest of illusion arts can interact with a person under its effect. But what does this mean here?” The ever-silent Wu Shiqin finally spoke.

Su Junyu offered, “The highest of illusion arts can form illusions based on the target’s memories and disposition, or created by the user, which is an interaction between the art, user, and target. The light screens are under the All-immortal Mirror’s control, a part of the All-immortal Realm. The illusion is presided over by the immortal artifact of calculations, the All-immortal True Mirror. Connecting with some cultivator consciousness isn’t an issue. Cultivators come here to use the elements of these illusions as long as they use their spiritual power and open their souls to the All-immortal Realm. Like this light screen, this is the Immortal Alliance’s notice board for random tasks.”

Su Junyu pointed out, “Above is a large-scale All-immortal Mirror, with each of the nine major branches having one. A lot of things can be done with but a thought in this place.”

On Earth, the only items capable of augmenting reality were Google eyeglasses, a technology in its infancy that made Wang Qi forget about it for a while. 

It was freaky to discover that Divine Province developed reality-augmented technology before they even got around to making personal computers. It only helped prove Wang Qi’s theory that the two worlds had similar development but different foundations. 

At Wang Qi’s thoughtful look, Su Junyu added, “I remember that you have the Calculator Mind Theory in your book list, right? If you’re interested, you can study this aspect further. Contraption Elder Turing and People’s Champion Neumann are grandmasters in this field.”

With introductions done, Su Junyu walked before a screen and placed his hand on it. The light screen refreshed—ahem, changed. Then he used his other hand to touch a few times, taking out dozens of light balls. He threw most of them to Wang Qi’s group of four while keeping one for himself. “All of those are tasks regarding the trials. Take a look.”

Wang Qi was in a rush to get them all. “No point; just accept them all.”

Su Junyu shook his head and said, “Give them here.” And he took the light balls from Wang Qi, putting them back in the light screen before taking out some more. “If you’re in a hurry, I recommend this combination. It won’t deduct merits upon failure.”

Wu Shiqin held a light ball with a curious look. After reading its information, she winced. “This is the trial?”

Su Junyu nodded. “Yes, trials of exploration.”

Wu Shiqin’s light ball said, ‘Record sightings of the Thunder Clap Stag in the trial area.’

Wu Shiqin shook her head and said, “I’m out.”

Su Junyu shook his head. “Too late.”

Wu Shiqin nodded. “I’m not good with this.”

Su Junyu turned grave. “Do you seek Dao? Do you want Dao?”

“Of course I do.”

Su Junyu stared at Wu Shiqin, asking, “What will you do when you discover that the path you seek isn’t the one you like?”

Wu Shiqin’s brow shook. These introspective questions were common in immortal cultivation. It was easy to stumble into them, but each tested one’s resolve. Whenever seniors posed these questions to juniors, it was always with the intention of giving advice. 

Senior continued, “You seek Dao out of joy, but do you know the joy in seeking Dao? Plenty of seniors end up seeking a path completely different from what they envisioned.

“Elusive Palace’s founder, Planck, was a disciple at Harmony Coalition in his early days. In order to perfect the ultimate Celestial Hymn Odyssey, Unified Arts Maxwell solved two of Searing Heaven Kelvin’s major problems regarding the perplexity of Yin-yang Radiancy. After a lengthy and arduous thinking process, the results were concluded into Heavenly Variations. The Heavenly Variations, however, could not be included in the Celestial Hymn Odyssey system for a very long time. Senior Plank left Harmony Coalition in the end, creating Elusive Palace. But the elusive path is anything but what Senior wished to seek.

“What would you do if it happened to you?

“What will you do when the path isn’t the one you wanted?”

Su Junyu struck Wu Shiqin’s heart with every question. The battle-loving disciplinary officer frowned. “What should I do, Senior Brother?”

“I don’t know. This is your resolve and heart. I can offer hints, but you have to find the answers yourself.” Su Junyu shook his head and said, “Though I have a recommendation.”

“What?”

“Follow me.” Su Junyu hinted to the other three to follow to the center of the lobby as he talked to Wu Shiqin: “Exploration trials are the harshest part when it comes to seeking Dao. Modern cultivation bases its roots on seeking Dao. If you’re unable to handle this trial, you’re not fit to cultivate.”

He arrived at the counter.

Mao Zimiao whispered to Wang Qi, “From last time, I never knew Senior Brother Su was this kind of person, nya. He’s just how a senior cultivator acts.”

[I didn’t see this side of him after days of being around him!] Wang Qi’s smirked. 

[For the sake of a collector’s item, he perfected his skills for drivel. Even towards a girl, he… Senior Brother Su, what a life of solitude you have.]