NOVPUB"I can't believe that guy's Magic Foundation also borrowed from my ideas," Wang Qi murmured as he walked alone through the alley, his fingers lightly tapping on the Jade Ring he wore.
"Stop tapping, I'm listening," Zhen Chan said in a muffled voice.
Wang Qi emphasized again, "She borrowed my ideas as well."
"Fine, fine, you're great, happy now?" Zhen Chan responded. "Since your paths in Foundation Establishment share similarities, why can't you get along?"
"Ideological similarity and practical resemblance are completely different concepts," Wang Qi replied, looking around before finding a dark alley. Divine Capital was densely populated with few major roads, but many small alleys crisscrossed everywhere. Pointing across the alley, Wang Qi said, "This alleyway leads to another not too far from here; parallel to this one in this section. They are only about ten steps apart, yet they lead to different places. Understand?"
Teasingly, Zhen Chan commented, "From what you're saying, it sounds like you went the wrong way. This alley and the one over there will encounter a courtyard about five hundred steps ahead, forcing the two alleys to detour and then merge."
"Cough cough, get the essence," Wang Qi stubbornly retorted. "Anyway, it's difficult for me to get along with that woman."
"You often speak of the principle that cooperation benefits both sides, so why can't you see it through here?" Zhen Chan wondered. "You're not someone prone to displacing anger."
Wang Qi scoffed, "Initially, my displeasure with her indeed involved Chen Jingyun, but… this is a divergence of philosophies."
The conflict of the Great Dao, that's what this was.
Li Sect detested Piaoyun Sect for turning Mathematics into a messy spectacle, akin to magic tricks, while Piaoyun Sect despised how Li Sect mutilated Mathematics, leaving it fragmented and broken—a contradiction difficult to reconcile.
Although Hilbert's Program had not succeeded, Wang Qi did not consider it a failure. It was precisely because of the "unsuccessful" work of Hilbert's Program that future mathematicians were able to successfully rebuild the foundations of Mathematics, leading to the system Wang Qi had learned nearly a century later. The mathematical foundations of computer science also had profound connections to Hilbert's Program. The development of information technology in the twenty-first century was inseparable from the pioneering work of Hilbert and his contemporaries.
"The Mathematics Lord's theoretical framework discards too many mathematical tools," Wang Qi slowly exhaled, further affirming his own mathematical philosophy.
"No one can expel us from the paradise built upon Set Theory!"
Zhen Chan sighed, "I don't understand all these. But just talking about practical applications, you and that girl are indeed very similar, even your swordsmanship follows the same path. You two could discuss that."
Unexpectedly, Wang Qi firmly contradicted, "Her swordsmanship involves more than one path."
"How so?"
"She is Chen Jingyun's daughter, mostly specializing in Number Theory—the Mathematics focused on studying numbers. Even if her relationship with her father is strained, she would inevitably be influenced by his direct and indirect teachings. The application domain of Number Theory is vast but primarily focuses on coding. Given that her Foundation Establishment borrowed from my thesis, her Magic Foundation is likely also related to calculators—probably even structured on the Bronze Immortal model."
Zhen Chan, not understanding, asked, "What does that imply?"
"Bronze Immortal and similar calculators' Magic Foundations are known for their strong compatibility," Wang Qi frowned. "No matter the style or theory of 'technique,' she can handle any—it's the same for me once I've established my Foundation."
Zhen Chan, thoroughly confused, finally realized after a while, "Hey, at the end of the day, your fields do intersect!"
Suddenly, Wang Qi sensed something was off.
Number Theory… Number Theory… Aren't the methods of thinking in this domain closer to the Master of Calculation's perspective? Why is Chen Youjia from the Mathematics Lord's faction?
With such questions, Wang Qi continued towards the sect's base.
At this time, it was already October, and the days were getting shorter. When Wang Qi came out from Chen Feng's place, the sun had already started to set in the west. While pondering, Wang Qi automatically avoided the noisy main road, preferring to walk through the quieter alleys. There were very few pedestrians here, just a few beggars huddled in the corners for warmth. The sunset stretched the shadows of the houses very long, and the whole alley was submerged in shadow. Coupled with the already cool evening breeze, the world was at peace.
This was a peace that every thinker understood how to enjoy.
Suddenly, a discordant note intruded into this "peace."
It was like a stone had been thrown into a bottlenecked lake. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Wang Qi looked around and then tapped his Jade Ring, asking via Spiritual Sense Transmission, "Old man… It's been a year and a half already, huh. Do you remember the first time we encountered Modern Cultivation?"
Zhen Chan sighed somewhat ruefully, "Indeed, it's embarrassing…"
"That day, Senior Sister Xiang said that the way Ancient Method Practitioners lock up all their aura actually makes them incredibly obvious to Modern Cultivators. Seeing it today, it's really so," chuckled Wang Qi. He then raised his voice and exclaimed, "Tsk tsk, I had heard that Divine Capital is extraordinary, right under the Emperor's feet. Seeing it today, it's indeed true. Who would have thought that even the beggars in Divine Capital would be Foundation Establishment Stage experts!"
No sooner had Wang Qi spoken than the beggars on the ground suddenly tore off their ragged clothes and worn-out cotton, revealing their well-built physical bodies. They no longer concealed their mana; pale blue glows appeared around them, and layers of ice flowers and white fog materialized from nowhere.
All were Foundation Establishment Stage experts.
Unexpectedly, Wang Qi found this amusing.
"It turns out to be this kind of quick success trash—aha, what luck! I've been holding a grudge, and here comes my chance to vent."
These Cultivators' level of Cultivation was only at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, and their Mana Power Intent was exceptionally hollow. These were the by-products of simplified Cultivation under Modern Cultivation. Not to mention characters like Chen Feng and Chen Youjia, who cheat with their Genius True Inheritances, even the Ancient Method practitioners Wang Qi had killed before could easily overwhelm them.
Zhen Chan, already having some tacit understanding with Wang Qi, quickly reported the origin of the foes: "Piaoyun Sect, Cold River Qi, likely a product after the transformation into Modern Cultivation…"
Three Cultivators in front of Wang Qi suddenly burst out with rings of cold Qi, their fingers enveloping them like a net, interwoven layers of cold Qi moving towards Wang Qi. This was one of Piaoyun Sect's renowned skills, "Cold River Net," best at locking down a person's meridians.
"A non-lethal move, intending to capture me… are they afraid to kill me, or do they want to capture and torture me slowly?" Wang Qi even had time to ponder on the opponents' background. When the Cold River Heavenly Net was almost upon him, he quickly drew his long sword and attached a layer of Phase Wave to it.
At the same time, he sensed two "beggars" behind him also erupting in action. However, judging by their speed, he should have enough time to deal with the three in front first…
Suddenly, one of the "beggars" behind Wang Qi's eyes turned blood red. His speed abruptly increased several times. Immediately thereafter, the flickering ice flowers around him surged, and the ice fog transformed into a long dragon charging at Wang Qi.
At the same time, a powerful Thought struck Wang Qi's heart.
Damn! Martial Arts Fist Intent?
Wang Qi hesitated for a moment. Right then, pain shot through his hand as the sword was kicked away by the Cultivator.
