Chapter 182, Wu Shiqin’s Talent

Translator: Tamon

 

“What’s the situation with the martial examination?”

 

Blacking out from all the puking, he was brought to Ai Dinglan to recover and didn’t know how the fights went.

 

“Aww~, does Little Wang Qi cares about someone else? Very suspicious.”

 

“I still have four more fights, alright…”

 

Ai Dinglan nodded. “I guess. It’s in the afternoon right now. With your speed, you should have enough time to finish them.”

 

Wang Qi relaxed. His next fights were with Argent Apex Immortal Institute’s disciples, and the only one that would give him some slight grief was Wu Shiqin. Thinking about it, winning them couldn’t be easier.

 

“How’s Ah’Zimiao?”

 

“After you gave her a vomit makeup, she ran out to wash up, almost missing her last fight.”

 

Wang Qi breathed easier. “She made it.”

 

“By the way, Ai Changyuan came by. You should’ve seen the look on his face when he saw you, like he stepped in dog crap. ‘I must’ve been an idiot to fight like I did when simple use of Universal Pull would’ve been enough to win.’ Wa-ha-ha-ha, you should’ve seen it!”

 

Wang Qi massaged his temples. “I feel my biggest weakness was exposed…”

 

[Should I learn some Universal Pull to at least maintain the gravitational constant around me? But I didn’t see it in the Arts Archive. I’ll have to use merits to borrow it. Also, I’m not from Transcending Sect or Ai clan to get a discount…]

 

“Is it that much of a headache?”

 

“How can it be, when my head is already killing me.”

 

After going through some basic checkup, giving Wang Qi the green light, Ai Dinglan let him return to the trial area.

 

The four fights felt boring as hell to Wang Qi. The fact his opponents lost their nerve before they even faced him and conceded the moment they found themselves at a disadvantage was infuriating.

 

“Little Qi, you beat someone as tough as Ai Changyuan, so of course everyone would be scared of you, nya.”

 

Said Mao Zimiao, her hair still damp.

 

Wang Qi gave her a side glance. “You don’t have to stand so far.”

 

The cat-eared girl chatting with him had been keeping a healthy seven steps distance from him.

 

“Disgusting, nya…”

 

“Don’t think whispering will help… I heard that. That hurts, you know?”

 

The afternoon was far more unbearable than Wang Qi thought. As he was considering solving a couple of problems at the side, the final fight was announced. “Argent Apex Immortal Institute’s Wu Shiqin and Langde Immortal Institute’s Hu Jianghao, 2nd stage 3rd arena.”

 

“This should be interesting.” Wang Qi opened his half-lidded eyes.

 

Mao Zimiao was nervous. Wang Qi found it intriguing to watch since both had relatively high levels. The girl said, “Will Shiqin lose, nya?”

 

Wang Qi shook his head. “As long as she isn’t being too much of a fool, the fight will be hers.”

 

Mao Zimiao was stumped. “Her opponent looks strong.”

 

“Their cultivation methods are at odds, is all. Didn’t Wu Shiqin lose last time? Who was it she fought? Kun something, an extra anyway. I beat him in one hit, so who would I remember?”

 

“But in our normal spars, Wu Shiqin could go on for dozens of moves. What do you think is the difference between the two’s cultivation?”

 

In regards to using a cultivation method’s bane, ancient cultivation practically ignored it. It believed in power alone, in powerful cultivation. When it came to the five elements countering each other discussion, ‘metal counters wood,’ or ‘water counters fire.’

 

In the modern system, however, the deeper one’s insight in Dao, their mastery of ‘art’ and ‘skill’ trumped ancient system’s. When finding yourself fighting against your art or skill’s counter, not even all your power could overcome it.

 

Wu Shiqin’s mental art was Celestial Hymn Odyssey, based on electromagnetism. Heavenly Light Transmutation’s mental art was Heavenly Light Transmutation and Solar Flare, everything about light. But light was simply part of electromagnetic waves. Hu Jianghao’s prized light embodiments had no effect on Wu Shiqin. In regards to power, Solar Flare could never stand a hint of the godly ‘can’t you see the eternal lightning?’ art.

 

 

 

It went exactly like Wang Qi expected. Wu Shiqin didn’t have to use electromagnetic waves like Ai Changyuan did with gravity to discern an object’s location. A mere electromagnetic field acting as interference was enough for Hu Jianghao’s images to warp in the wind.

 

Ai Changyuan was right. The skill was elaborate for sure, but against a true bookworm, it was nothing but a parlor trick. It was enough to blindside your average opponent or an ancient cultivator, but not Wu Shiqin and her exemplary handling of electromagnetism.

 

What got Wang Qi excited wasn’t the fight itself, but the new ideas it offered.

 

Ai Changyuan offered Wu Shiqin an invitation to partner up in research. It regarded his plans for the Grand Unified Theory, but one thing was certain. The Transcendent’s descendant saw something in Wu Shiqin. It helped change Wang Qi’s perspective of her.

 

Wang Qi saw Wu Shiqin’s talent in fighting alone. Based on his experience hanging out with her, the disciplinary officer’s interest in bashing stuff was higher than crunching numbers. She chose the Celestial Hymn Odyssey mostly to serve her style.

 

But thinking about it some more, the modern system’s seeking Dao wasn’t for cultivation. Without some understanding of electromagnetism, how the hell could she come up with even one of those ingenious moves?

 

Neither Wu Shiqin nor Wang Qi discovered this butch’s talent in electromagnetism. Unlike Wang Qi, however, she had no interest in math.

 

Math was recognized as the language of the scientific community. Without math, one’s thoughts couldn’t be related to existing scientific concepts, and no theory could be understood. Be it Earth or Divine Province, this was universal. That was why Wang Qi ignored Wu Shiqin’s academic achievements and needed a stranger, Ai Changyuan, to open his eyes to his misconception.

 

Mulling it over, it was easy to find Wu Shiqin’s concept of ‘art’ to be subtle. It was why Wang Qi sparred with her in the first place. This inspiration would help him greatly in organizing what he learned and applying it to his own cultivation.

 

In other words, if Wu Shiqin could make up for her lack of math skills, her talent in the electromagnetic domain would shine. But if she sucked at math theories, then she would be just like everyone when she reached Primordial Spirit Realm.

 

Wang Qi’s interest in the other fights fell at the end of this fight. He pulled Mao Zimiao away and left together since she finished her fights as well.