Chapter 211, One-Month Dash

Translator: Tamon

 

Back at the Immortal Institute, Wang Qi went straight for his room to visualize the Upper Clarity Fractal.

 

[Today was lousy. But the more this happens, the more I need to keep calm.]

 

Wang Qi felt that he should readjust his ‘one-month plan.’

 

Forewarned is forearmed. A genius’ success might be attributed to a momentary spark of inspiration, but without constant study as ‘fuel,’ a single spark couldn’t light anything, only blow out black smoke.

 

A true bookworm’s learning had defined planning and guidelines.

 

Wang Qi sat at his desk to ponder. “An Immortal Institute graduate can cultivate in a sect for five years. Because of that teeny-tiny trifle, I lost that right. In that regard… it only worked to increase the true disciple position’s value for me. Only through a true disciple’s allowance and merit exchange discount can I hope to offset this setback.”

 

Arguing and complaining over reality was pointless. It was far better to use that energy on figuring out how to turn it around and make up for it through other means.

 

“Chen Jingyun told me, ‘prove me you’re better than anyone,’ to be incontestably better, in fact. This is too vague. To be this ‘best’ means I have to be the very best.

 

“Banished immortal stigma aside, I’d say the heart trial was a smashing success. As for the written part, as long as it’s not as appalling as the ‘Landau barrier,’ I should be good. (StarRead: the nickname for a series of very harsh tests one had to pass to be part of Lev Landau’s research group)

 

“From what others told me, Ai Changyuan has the highest score among all of this batch’s disciples. I beat him, with more than a little luck, yes, but this proves I have what it takes to contend for the first spot.

 

“If I take the then Ai Changyuan as the framework… wait. My cultivation soared these past six months, and there’s no way he’d be any slower. There’s still the matter of cultivation method restraining to consider. The little insight into fractal dimension I gained combined with Riemann geometry happened to counter Ai Changyuan’s cultivation method. The odds are high for another disciple to have a counter for my skills, cultivation method, and special abilities.

 

“In that case, let’s go with five times Ai Changyuan of six months ago.”

 

The conclusion had him scared for a moment there, but then a confident smile appeared. “Actually, even this ain’t a challenge.”

 

A knock came from the door. Of all the people Wang Qi knew, there was only one who had this habit. He sighed, “Senior Sister Xiang, you don’t have to comfort me…”

 

He didn’t finish. Something lunged at him, carrying a sweet scent, and throwing him to the ground. Feeling the exceptional masses pressing on his chest, he knew it was Ai Dinglan.

 

[Holy shit! Coach, charging globes foul!](StarReader: basketball reference, among others…)

 

The feel had him blank out for a few moments. Ai Dinglan sat up on him with eyes gleaming in excitement.

 

“Yo, Junior Brother!”

 

Wang Qi had a cool comeback: “Senior Sister, before that, you better give me an explanation about this. I don’t recall us being so close. For your physical needs, please follow your vine for reference about handling it yourself.”

 

“It ain’t physical, but mental! Mental!”

 

“Crap, plants can’t help you with the heart, only with the body, sonny. Then let’s get—as if I’d believe that! Explain already!”

 

“Aya!” Ai Dinglan leaned closer as she explained. “Junior Brother, you see, um, the heritage from your bloodline… Could you give me…”

 

[Passing chromosomes off the bat? The girl’s being deliberate!]

 

“S-S-Senior Sister Ai, n-nya! Y-y-y-you seem… t-that’s not good, nya!” Mao Zimiao’s voice came from beyond the door. Wang Qi had no way to see her, not when his full view was occupied with Ai Dinglan.

 

More footsteps approached. Xiang Qi yanked Ai Dinglan’s scruff and threw her off Wang Qi. “Start talking!”

 

Ai Dinglan lunged herself back at Wang Qi. “Junior Brother, you’re a banished immortal! Banished immortal!”

 

Wang Qi facepalmed. “The odds are even…”

 

“Your bloodline has research value, you see? With banished immortals so rare, it’s a miracle if I ever find one.”

 

“Oh, come on, I’ve suffered the biggest blow in my life, and you aren’t even going to comfort me?”

 

Xiang Qi shook her head. “Now you know why they call her Witch. She doesn’t listen, ever.”

 

And yet Ai Dinglan did listen to Wang Qi, her eyes gleaming. “Junior Brother, do you need com-pa-ny? What kind?”

 

“Nya!” Mao Zimiao’s hackles were raised. Before Wang Qi could form a reply, Xiang Qi yanked his collar. “I’ll only say this: philandering will come back to bite you sooner or later. This girl’s unchecked head aside, while you might be a funny weirdo, you’re still normal-ish.”

 

“Hey, Xiang Xiang, that’s going too far!” Ai Dinglan grabbed Xiang Qi’s waist. And did you just blurt out a huge secret?””

 

Wang Qi was struck dumb for the second time. “Shit, Senior Sister Ai, are you marrying off?”

 

In terms of figure, Ai Dinglan was a bombshell, but on the inside… [No one in their right mind can put up with her!]

 

“Anyway, if it’s only that.” Wang Qi pulled his sleeve and reached out a hand for Ai Dinglan. “I’m not one to be petty.”

 

Before he finished, Ai Dinglan took out a vacuumed vial from her storage bag and placed it on his arm.

 

A while later, Wang Qi gave her a flat look. “Senior Sister, that vacuum vial is for collecting a lot of demon blood. That quantity must be controlled with an array, right?”

 

Ai Dinglan pouted. “Stingy.”

 

“Hey!”

 

“This isn’t a joke, Qinglan!”

 

“You’re sucking out his life, nya!”

 

The other three rushed to get the vial off. Ai Dinglan then explained with a sour look. “Using the mortal world to temper my heart doesn’t fit me. My Dao Heart is strong enough, and so is my talent. That’s why, once this year’s Immortal Institute disciples graduate, my training will finish, and I will go back to Heavenly Spirit Range’s Gene Valley, stuck until Golden Core. My heart aches just thinking of only ever having this sole chance at collecting such a precious sample.”

 

Xiang Qi sighed. “So am I… my mind should now be ready to reach for Golden Core.”

 

“Stuck in the Spirit Beast Mountain for five years, nya.”

 

Wang Qi started. “Hey, are you here to comfort me or seeking comfort instead?”

 

“What do you need?”

 

“You’re funny, Junior Brother.”

 

“Don’t kid, Little Qi.”

 

Xiang Qi explained, “Su Junyu already told us. I can’t say you aren’t a banished immortal for sure, able to push through the Primordial Spirit’s tribulation, but I believe you. With your talent, it’s nothing but a minor setback.”

 

Mao Zimiao agreed. “Yeah, exactly, nya! That’s how Little Qi is!”

 

“I’m feeling slightly touched…” Wang Qi teared up. “Now why are you all here?”

 

“Keeping Qinglan company.”

 

“Senior Sister Ai heard you might be a banished immortal and insisted on coming over, nya.”

 

“Alright…” Wang Qi shook his head, turning to Ai Dinglan. “Senior Sister, I need you to answer one question for me. “Do you know about souls?”

 

Ai Dinglan frowned. “Somewhat. If it’s about using soul research to clear away any suspicions about being a banished immortal…”

 

Wang Qi cut her off. “I’m not that stupid. Since it was a Radiant Divinity Pavilion Unfettered that gave the verdict, unless I give up on the part of the soul related to computation, I have no hope of defying this verdict.”

 

Wang Qi only asked out of curiosity.

 

Going by Divine Province’s soul research, the soul was a spiritual energy field carrying consciousness—it’s eigen-equation already derived. In other words, the Earth’s physics simply didn’t permit the existence of such a field whose energy index wasn’t one.

 

Then why did he cross over? Why did the Earth researcher’s consciousness pop into Wang Qi’s soul? He obviously didn’t have a soul in his first life, so what could it ever be in this life? It was nothing more than a line of thought. So what caused his soul’s variation?

 

Ai Dinglan shook her head. “If it’s about planning ahead to tackle Primordial Spirit’s tribulation… I can’t let you come to harm. How about this? I know an expert in the field. I’ll tell you how to contact him later, and you can meet with him after graduating.”

 

“After graduation, nya?” Mao Zimiao was doubtful. “Why wait so long?”

 

“The research won’t help Junior Brother with his graduation exam anyway.” Ai Dinglan took on a ruthless stance as she stared at Wang Qi. “I may not be able to help when it comes to souls, but I may know a thing or two about tempering even Su Junyu doesn’t.”

 

Wang Qi smiled, “I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

 

What followed next was a month-long dash.