Applied Immortality

Chapter 72: The Joy in Seeking Dao

“Resolve is uncertain even to an Unfettered.”

All but Wang Qi gasped in shock, but even he was affected.

In Earth’s history, Lagrange deserted math in his later years due to his obsession with theology. Yet, due to some yet unknown connection between the two worlds, Divine Province’s Unfettered Lagrange’s resolve broke as well.

[Coincidence? Or are the two worlds more connected than I assumed?]

[If that is indeed the case, why then did Divine Province’s cultivation community’s development deviate so much?] 

[Why? What is it that ties the two worlds together?]

The more he pondered, the more Wang Qi felt that this world was a baffling illusion. He went deathly pale.

The sudden crackling from the firewood snapped him out of the downward spiral. Wang Qi pushed down the rush of doubt. He looked around with a racing heart, clenching his fists hard.

The feeling in his hands brought a necessary comfort and proof of this reality. He could clearly feel the revolving spiritual power within him as well.

[I thought I could accept the idea of having crossed over, believing no matter the oddity, it wouldn’t faze me.] Wang Qi, though self-deprecatingly, [It would seem that seeing myself as a researcher in my second life isn’t entirely a good thing. If I had just wanted to live a peaceful life back in the village, I wouldn’t be interested in digging into these matters.]

Wang Qi’s abnormality went unnoticed by his teammates, who were too shocked by Su Junyu’s story. Su Junyu also thought his story spooked this quirky freshman.

His fable having the desired effect, he chuckled, “When Senior Lagrange was born, ancient cultivation was still strong. He also trained under an ancient cultivator who influenced him. You guys were born in a good era. The modern system is established, and resolve is clearly defined. Furthermore, Radiant Divinity Pavilion’s research into the heart and mind is ongoing, with Senior Lagrange making use of their findings to mend his Dao Heart. I know not about an Unfettered’s situation, but I believe Senior Lagrange’s return as a top arithmetician won’t be far.”

Wu Shiqin pursued, “And how do we train our resolve?”

“That was my previous question to you.” Su Junyu was stern: “The issue with the Dao you enjoy and the enjoyment in seeking Dao.”

Wu Shiqin said, “Please explain.”

Su Junyu asked, “Answer me this: why do you all cultivate?”

Wu Shiqin replied, “Only standing on top will make life worthwhile.”

Wu Fan was honest: “Senior Brother, I’ll be frank. My father is a rogue cultivator and has lived a hard life for the sake of cultivation. I do not train for personal gain but to ensure a better life for my parents.”

Su Junyu nodded. “Very good, a simple ambition. Mao Zimiao?”

The demonborn girl hesitated. “I’ve been following my father in his cultivation since I was little, nya. I haven’t thought about it yet.” 

Su Junyu turned to Wang Qi and asked, “And you?”

Wang Qi gazed at the night sky with a smile. “Me, you ask? I’m all about excitement.”

“Excitement?”

“Yes. It means doing things one finds interesting.”

“Oh.” Su Junyu nodded. “Well said, fame and fortune, authority and power. A long life, miraculous power, resources, and endless glory are all things cultivation offers you. All are the joys of cultivation, the joy of seeking Dao. At higher cultivation, you can do whatever you want, whatever it pleases you. This is the joy of cultivation.

“However, have you ever stopped to think of the joy in cultivation itself?”

The rest shared odd looks: “Cultivation itself?”

“You all understand the joy of cultivation, having tasted it. But that’s all you brats know, not having realized the joy in cultivating.”

The trio blinked, with only Wang Qi looking pensive.

Su Junyu laughed, “Dao! Seeking Dao lies at the root of cultivation. The joy of cultivation, the joy in cultivation, they are all in Dao!”

Seeing their stumped looks, Su Junyu jerked to his feet, thundering with vigor, “The joy of cultivation is nothing more than alleviating boredom on the long road ahead. In the case of indulging, even with an everlasting life, you’d be nothing more than another empty, shambling skin tube. What’s the point of a longer life, then?

“Just like the saying goes, learn Dao in the morning, and you may die at peace in the evening.”

Wu Shiqin repeated the saying, then asked, “Senior Brother Su, before coming here, you asked me…”

“I remembered saying, ‘What will you do when you find that the path you seek isn’t the one you like?'” Su Junyu fixed her gaze and said, “Before you answer, I have three public cases for you to hear.

“The first is Planck’s regret.

“In the days when Unified Arts Maxwell induced the world’s arts through the Celestial Hymn Odyssey, Divine Province’s cultivators felt that we were on the cusp of grasping how all things operated. Senior Maxwell was just a few days away from advancing. Back then, Harmony Coalition’s cultivators rushed to solve the last gap in the Dao that Senior Maxwell comprehended to perfect it. Senior Planck was with the Harmony Coalition at the time. In his attempt to mend the Dao, he discovered light and electricity, leading him to comprehend the scattered path and the elusive path. This new Dao not only failed to mend the previous theory of Dao but ruined the imminent ascension. Senior Planck couldn’t accept his discoveries, leaving Harmony Coalition in sadness and forming Elusive Palace.

“Second case, Searing Heaven’s Fallacy.

“Before Senior Planck comprehended the scattered path, Searing Heaven Kelvin once said, ‘Our path is at an end. Though two questions are left unanswered, they are close to being solved.’ Many cultivators thought Dao was nearly complete, only lacking the answers to these two small questions. However, these two proved to lead to an even deeper understanding of Dao. Senior Planck’s scattered path, Supreme Lord’s comparative path, and Daoist Proscribe’s elusive path, all belong to this profound realization. Searing Heaven’s testament is also known as Searing Heaven’s Fallacy.

“Third case, bitter anguish.

“Myriad Arts Sect’s Senior Lobachevsky found different discoveries as he delved deeper into the path of geometry. The sudden discovery went against Myriad Arts Sect’s path of geometry, earning the ridicule of all. Senior Lobachevsky was obsessed with it, losing sight of reality and deviating. To this day, he has yet to reach Unfettered.”

Su Junyu paused, looking at the four faces illuminated in the bonfire. “Resolve in Dao is by no means easy, nor is it joyful. So you tell me, where is the joy in seeking Dao?”