Chapter 546: Chapter 47: I’ve Gotten Smarter
May 23, 2018
The debate at the Senluo No. 7 Test Site did not continue.
For the Celestial Divine Sword, which values efficiency, wasting time debating with people is the most unrewarding behavior. With only 13 days left until the Sword Fighting Tournament, what is needed is a race against time, not enlightening the mind of the ignorant.
Faced with the doubts of his researchers, Wang Jiu used very direct means.
He sealed the entrances and exits of the No. 7 Test Site, then said.
"Next, I need 5 official researchers and 3 test subjects, please make your choices quickly."
As soon as he finished speaking, the agile members, led by Zhang Tie, immediately sprang into action, quickly dispersing to various locations, starting to mark and record the exotic beasts in the containment boxes, and simultaneously investigating the related basic test information.
Some people were slower to react, for instance, Ji Changle, who was still in the midst of arguing with the dean and hadn’t finished speaking, didn’t come to his senses until the end.
"Hey, are you really going to conduct such research? Have you considered the consequences?"
The consequences were obvious, and Wang Jiu walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said, "You’re now the head of the Materials Group."
"Don’t even think about it! Even if you’re the dean, don’t try to turn me into something weird!"
Wang Jiu said, "Not something weird, but an enhanced Sword Cultivator after rigorous adjustments, even capable of possessing the Sword Dao Divine Techniques in the Illusory Arena."
When the Illusory Arena was mentioned, Ji Changle was immediately stunned.
When Wang Jiu first took office, to organize the Sword Group, he led most of the researchers to experience the Sword Dao Divine Techniques in the Illusory Arena, igniting the researchers’ enthusiasm for the Sword Dao in an instant. But after the enthusiasm subsided, although the warmth lingered in their hearts, the researchers also knew that with their own talents, it was impossible to truly reach the dreamlike level of the arena.
And just as Ji Changle was in a daze, Wang Jiu had already begun directing five members of the research group to start extracting tissues and fluids from different organisms and forcibly fed several Elixir Pills to the three members of the Materials Group.
As Ji Changle and others digested the pills, Wang Jiu explained.
"From a human baseline, your potential is very limited. Besides innate conditions, the wrong cultivation habits of decades also greatly restrict your Sword Dao development. But this judgment is based on human standards. If we can draw on the strengths of other creatures and undergo a complete transformation, then the Divine Techniques in the arena would merely be the starting point of your Sword Dao cultivation."
In essence, what Wang Jiu showcased in the arena was merely a drop in the vast ocean of his Sword World. Compared to the world-shattering Divine Swords of the Immortal Demon wars, the arena’s petty tricks were really insignificant.
But how easy is it to cultivate to the level of the Celestial Divine Sword?
"Humans are not the perfect biological entities. In terms of individual Immortal Cultivation, they’re not even the best species. Whether it’s short lifespan, fragile bodies, or complex physiological needs, all greatly reduce human cultivation efficiency. In the natural world, innumerable creatures have qualities that surpass humans. Some species are born with Divine Techniques equivalent to the Cloud Surge Realm of human cultivators; upon maturity, they can summon winds and rains, move mountains and fill seas. Humans have managed to stand out among countless beings by relying on the power of civilization. Our united strength and the inheritance of power from generation to generation allowed us to gradually establish the position of rulers after the dark ages of ignorance. But as civilization continues to progress, human individual qualities have long become a shackle. Knowledge and theory may be well in place, but the difficulty lies in practice—a common problem in human societies."
Not only Ji Changle, but also several other cultivators nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
As the forefront of Xiangzhou Immortal Dao theory, the theoretical prowess of Cyan Lotus Academy is unquestionable. And the problem the academy faces regularly is that the meticulously designed Immortal Dao Techniques are nearly impossible to find suitable cultivators for in the real world. No matter how much the demands of the cultivation technique are streamlined, their strict requirements for the cultivator remain incomprehensible. So, for a long time, the techniques circulated outside the academy were mostly abridged versions, while the fully refined versions crafted by scholars with painstaking efforts remained shelved, awaiting future generations to unlock.
"Therefore, an overhaul of humanity is imperative; otherwise, the civilizational dividends will eventually be exhausted, leading to no new techniques or realms, as humanity’s limits would have been reached. Even if a few geniuses occasionally break through these limits, it wouldn’t be enough to drive the masses. In this respect, cultivators from small families should especially resonate."
Zhang Tie immediately nodded vigorously.
As someone from a remote area, he most feels the frustration of being among few geniuses. Even if he could leave many Immortal Dao legacies for his family through his efforts, the majority of his family’s talent and aptitude are insufficient to inherit them.
If they can’t even break the Wind Barrier, what meaning do the cultivation insights of the Wind-Rising Realm and the Cloud Surge Realm have?
"The essence of human civilization is the same. Upon reaching the limit, there are only two paths to choose from. One is to remain in a certain stage and not advance, and then likely perish under some external force. The second is to shift focus to external objects, continuously developing sharper Magical Treasures and Immortal Arrays to compensate for our shortcomings. In this process, we’ll either form a brand-new tool civilization or inevitably modify ourselves using tools to progress, which brings us back to the current path. Thus, instead of wasting time on detours, it’s better to progress along the correct path from the beginning."
After speaking, Wang Jiu calculated the time and nodded, "Alright, the effects of the Marking Pill should have fully manifested now. Prepare the data panels for the three individuals."
Beside him, Zhang Tie nodded, reciting an incantation. True Essence blossomed from his right hand, sketching in mid-air three extremely orderly tables with meticulously neat text and frameworks. They were densely packed with various data and three diagrams of human anatomy.
The elixir pills Wang Jiu fed to Ji Changle and the others were a type of drug capable of diffusing throughout the body to conduct detailed inspections. Utilizing specific magic, the inspection results are compiled into a clear and comprehensive data panel. The All Things Group frequently uses this method to feed various exotic beasts to collect biological data, so it’s not particularly rare. However, using it directly on humans like Wang Jiu did is truly...
After reviewing the data panels of the three individuals, Wang Jiu nodded and commented, "Very good. According to the data, the members of the materials group meet the experiment’s requirements quite well. Whether it’s physical strength, temper, explosiveness, tenacity, or regenerative ability, they are all quite subpar among cultivators of the same realm. In fact, finding physical materials with such a stark contrast to their True Essence Realm is quite challenging. I appreciate the contributions of the three material group members."
Then came a round of sparse, awkward applause.
Ji Changle and the others, surrounded by their colleagues clapping for them, turned red and white in the face, yet had nothing to say as they looked at the clearly displayed data panels.
"Next, we will target and enhance the weak points of these individuals. I had previously asked the All Things group to gather various exotic beasts with combat talents. Now, we need everyone to extract the combat functions from these exotic beasts and transplant them onto the material bodies."
At this point, Zhang Tie raised a question.
"Excuse me, is there a target value set? I know the data for these three material bodies is poor, but what exactly is considered ideal?"
Wang Jiu thought for a moment: "That’s indeed a good question. Let me find a template for you all."
Then, Wang Jiu directly used the Mind Passage to contact his number one steed.
"Qingming, I need to ask a favor."
"No."
This decisive attitude took Wang Jiu by surprise.
"I haven’t even said what it is yet."
Shen Qingming sneered in the Mind Passage, "I don’t want to hear it. Hmph, you’ve almost never contacted me on your own initiative all this time, and now the first thing is to ask a favor. How are you any different from those acquaintances who suddenly send a wedding invitation out of the blue after years of no contact, just to ask for a gift!? What do you take me for? A domesticated animal?"
"Your metaphor is not entirely off the mark. You are the number one steed I signed with after awakening in Xiangzhou. Considering the close connection and long-term cohabitation between us, it’s not a stretch to call you family."
"Fa-family..." Initially aggressive, Shen Qingming stuttered upon hearing the words, "Who taught you to say these things?! Zhao Chenlu?"
Wang Jiu replied, "For such basic human interactions, there’s no need for others to teach me."
As for Zhao Chenlu, she had indeed advised Wang Jiu about Shen Qingming: given Shen Qingming’s intellectual level, she was not fit for the work of a steed; she should be used as a tool... However, Wang Jiu still trusted his judgment. Shen Qingming was only mildly intellectually challenged, not to the point of being beyond redemption.
If she had hesitated for another half-minute when facing the Vajra Subduing Demon back then, Wang Jiu would have concluded that she was moderately intellectually challenged and then proceeded with her tool conversion.
"Considering that between you and me, there’s no need for the formalities between strangers, I approached you first when support was required for the sake of efficiency. Do you find this inappropriate?"
"No, it’s nothing inappropriate," Shen Qingming said. "I didn’t expect you to be sweet-talking... Never mind, what do you want?"
Wang Jiu then explained the academy’s challenge against the Sword Fighting conference, and the experiment he was conducting with the All Things Group, saying, "Now I need a template with exemplary physical qualities as a reference for the experiment."
"..." On the other end, Shen Qingming was silent for a long time, then asked, "So, you want me to demonstrate my physical qualities?"
"Yes, you have inherited the Immovable Tyrant Body bloodline, although its development is not high at this stage, it still possesses excellent demonstration value."
"By demonstration value, do you mean beating me until my bones break to demonstrate my body’s recovery capability?"
"That is indeed part of the demonstration."
"Dream on!"
