Chapter 184, End of the Year

Translator: Tamon

 

Fractals were figures that couldn’t be expressed through the integer dimension, a construct of finite and infinite, a peculiar form where the whole mirrored its parts.

 

Going the cultivation way, a fractal’s greatest importance lay in arrays and magical arts optimization. Myriad Arts Sect spent hundreds of years unearthing thousands of meaningful fractals. Many of them had broad applications in magical arts, arrays, mental art, tool refining and so on.

 

For a complex system to make sense, it has to have absorbing spiritual energy as its sole condition.

 

Wang Qi had it hard in grasping this iron physics law of this universe, prioritized over Earth’s unshackled second law of thermodynamics. It was precisely why Celestial Entropy had free control over entropy.

 

Fractals were geometric figures that fit this law like a glove. Any magical art with a fractal would naturally improve.

 

However, the Upper Clarity Fractal Wang Qi scraped from an ancient scroll didn’t quite match with Immortal Alliance’s fractals. Browsing the merit exchange list, Wang Qi had looked at the papers on the fractals with magical art meaning costing just one merit, and none could focus one’s thoughts by controlling soul power.

 

[What is the cause, then?]

 

[Why does this fractal have such a function? What’s the theory behind it?]

 

The question perplexed Wang Qi to no end. The more he studied the more he learned that the Divine Province’s universe physics laws and Earth’s universe’s were highly similar, with only a slight, yet stark, difference.

 

It got him excited.

 

[What led to the two worlds starting off the same yet end up so different?]

 

[What…]

 

“Hey, boy.” Zhen Chanzi barked into his thoughts.

 

Wang Qi started. “Old man, can’t you see I’m thinking?”

 

The worst you could do to a scientist was to butt in his work.

 

“When will you go back?”

 

The question had the youth pause his thoughts. “Go where?”

 

“Maybe Argent Apex, or maybe Albion Village. Who knows?”

 

Wang Qi threw the papers in his hands, plopping on the bed. “Jiongli is cool. The mountains and the rivers, as well, make this place a high-class hotel.”

 

Zhen Chanzi smiled. “With your character, you’re better off spending the New Lunar Year somewhere familiar.”

 

Wang Qi’s eyelids dropped then rose, recalling Zhen Chanzi’s words a while back. “Why, are you still insisting I find someone to spend it with?”

 

“A stranger in a strange land will feel double the longing for home on holiday.” Zhen Chanzi said, “It’s the root of your inner demon. You’ll feel better in a familiar place and help you in expelling it.”

 

Wang Qi huffed. “Fine, I’ll think about it.”

 

And threw the ring off into his storage bag.

 

A knock came from the door, and Wang Qi said. “Come in, it’s open.”

 

Wu Fan stepped in and looked aghast. Maybe interrupting his thinking or Zhen Chanzi’s words touched a nerve, but Wang Qi’s face looked particularly off. Wu Fan picked up a paper and asked. “Did I interrupt you? This looks hard. I don’t get any of it.”

 

Wang Qi had been running calculations in regards to integrating infinite dimensional Hilbert space into cultivation.

 

Wang Qi shook his head. “No, I was out of inspiration. What is it?”

 

Wu Fan scratched his head. “Wu Fan, you’re from Divine Province’s central area, yes? I came to ask you if you want to return together.”

 

“My home village is right where the central area and the southeast area cross, the middle reaches of Heavenly River.” Wang Qi thought about it. “A bit far in the central region.”

 

Divine Province’s central region was a general term for the place through which the Kunlun Mountain Range, the first mountain range, and the greatest river, Heavenly River, passed through.

 

Wu Fan looked conflicted. “Alright. I just thought we were going the same way…”

 

Bookworm Wang sighed, snatching the paper from his hand and carefully arranged the messy pages from the ground. The papers’ math and Divine Continent’s had subtle differences. He would rather not let anyone see. He spoke while doing this. “It’s fine, I’ll probably just go straight to Argent Apex. We can just go together.”

 

[Oh, the old relic does make sense, I guess. Straight to Argent Apex is better…]

 

[Speaking of, didn’t Ah’Zimiao go with those unhealthy, violent disciples from Langde Immortal Institute? That sounds like a start of something.]

 

Wu Fan started, “You’re not going home for new year’s eve?”

 

The youth squinted. “I thought I mentioned it. Passing ancient cultivators razed my home village to the ground. Why would I go back, to suffer?”

 

“Sorry, I forgot…”

 

After Yang Jun, Wang Qi had spoken about this, but with his cheerful nature on a daily basis, it was hard to picture him ‘devastated, or crushed.’

 

Cultivators needed little time to pack. Wang Qi had everything stuffed in his storage bag.

 

“Um, Wang Qi, did you book a spirit boat?”

 

“You need to do that?”

 

Wang Qi was amazed.

 

“All spirit boat runs are set by the All-immortal Realm. You can’t board without a reservation.”

 

Wang Qi facepalmed. [Divine Province’s ancient China style always gets me confused, making me forget all the tech it’s using from the information age.]

 

Wu Fan shook his head. “I knew it…”

 

“Are you saying it’s normal for me to screw up?”

 

Wu Fan gave a helpless smile. “That’s not it. To be frank, I really admire you.”

 

Wang Qi sneered. “Being orphaned?”

 

“No,” Wu Fan rushed to deny, “I just think your incredible talent, hard work, and free behavior, living only for yourself, are very admirable.”

 

Wang Qi flinched, taking Wu Fan’s hand with excitement. “Do you see me so classy?”

 

“What’s classy?” Wu Fan was bewildered. “If you don’t use those weird corny jokes no one understands, then…” He gnashed his teeth and dropped the bomb, “You’d be like a paragon of cultivating clans.”

 

The blow sent Wang Qi staggering a few good feet. He rushed out of the dorm, saying. “I’ll book it right now.”

 

Wu Fan sported a goony look.

 

[Can it be that he can’t take a compliment?]

 

—

 

Getting some distance, Wang Qi took out his ring. “Hey, old man, let’s just spend the Lunar New Year at Argent Mountain.”

 

Zhen Chanzi gasped. “Did you… flip?”

 

[Isn’t this guy always secretive about his inner demon? Isn’t he always unnerved against it?]

 

Wang Qi rubbed his nose. “I just found out what I’m lacking after hearing another’s adoration for me.”

 

“Huh?”