novelraw Chapter 16: Daily Question
Chapter 16: Daily Question
“What are the differences between cultivation methods?”
Su Yuan blinked slightly. He hadn’t paid much attention to cultivation methods on Blue Star. The gray mirror always presented the cultivation method that best suited him, so there was no need to waste effort studying others.
While Su Yuan pondered, characters continued to appear on the gray mirror’s surface, further explaining the reasons.
Ten minutes later.
Su Yuan’s expression brightened.
“I see.”
He nodded slightly.
According to the gray mirror’s explanation, cultivation methods drive the continual evolution of life. It wasn’t only on Blue Star that many cultivation methods existed; in the depths of the starry void, those overwhelmingly powerful forces and individual lifeforms likewise possessed their own cultivation methods.
Cultivation methods propel life’s evolution, and life’s evolution can be divided into six aspects — or call them six dimensions.
They are —Body.
Soul.
Will.
Wisdom.
Comprehension.
Potential.
Body is easy to understand: the physical form. The vast majority of cultivation methods can advance the body’s level. The soul is a nebulous force contrasted with the physical body; it can evolve into mental force and spiritual power. Will is the foundation of a life’s existence — the higher a life’s evolution, the more crucial will becomes. Wisdom pertains to cleverness, strategy, and planning. Comprehension is the ability to learn, understand, and create. Finally, potential is the deep reserve behind a life’s evolution; only with sufficiently high potential can evolution continue.
...
These six dimensions of life’s evolution are what all cultivation methods ultimately pursue. However, the vast majority of cultivation methods cannot develop all six dimensions simultaneously.
Therefore,
one way to judge a cultivation method’s quality is to see how many of the life-evolution dimensions it addresses. A cultivation method that covers one dimension is a one-dimensional cultivation method. One that covers two dimensions is a two-dimensional cultivation method.
...
A cultivation method that covers all six dimensions is a six-dimensional cultivation method.
Across the vast universe, cultivation methods are countless. The most numerous are naturally the one-dimensional methods, and especially those one-dimensional methods that only refine the body. After all, training and improving physical strength is the simplest and most convenient path, spawning innumerable methods.
“So, the national martial arts cultivation method of Xia Country is a two-dimensional method?” Su Yuan thought to himself.
National martial arts train both visible force and hidden force, both of which develop the body. Upon reaching Transforming Force, one can cultivate mental force to attack enemies. Mental force originates from the soul. In other words, the national martial arts method addresses body and soul — two dimensions — making it a two-dimensional cultivation method.
“Not bad,” Su Yuan thought.
From what the gray mirror revealed, one-dimensional methods are mostly what indigenous people on primitive planets practice. In the cosmic expanse, two-dimensional and three-dimensional cultivation methods are the mainstream.
“What dimensionality is the cultivation method I practice?”
Su Yuan suddenly asked.
[Six dimensions]
the gray mirror answered.
A six-dimensional cultivation method perfectly balances the six aspects of life’s evolution. Only evolution driven by such a method is the most complete, with no flaws or blind spots.
“I understand.” Su Yuan looked thoughtful.
Although his current cultivation stage was the Great Accomplishment Stage of Transforming Force, it was the Great Accomplishment Stage of a six-dimensional cultivation method — a Transforming Force Great Accomplishment that balanced body, soul, will, wisdom, comprehension, and potential. Six dimensions advancing together. In terms of life and soul, Su Yuan might even surpass someone at the Perfection Stage of Transforming Force.
“Then why does my strength rank only forty-eighth in Magic City?” Su Yuan recalled the ranking the gray mirror had given. Could Magic City really have forty-seven Grandmasters at the Embracing Elixir stage? That seemed impossible. Even in modern times, national martial arts made cultivation easier, but becoming an Embracing Elixir Grandmaster was still not simple; such a figure would be recognized by major forces across nearby universes as a Level 1 lifeform.
The gray mirror’s surface shimmered and replied again.
“My life tier is high, but my combat ability is weak; and inside Magic City, certain Transforming Force masters, seeing no hope of breakthrough, underwent human modification, causing their combat power to surge...”
Su Yuan read the gray mirror’s response and felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Indeed. He had little real combat experience. But Su Yuan didn’t need battlefield experience. With the All-Knowing Mirror, the most suitable approach was to stay hidden behind the scenes and orchestrate plans. Combat? That was too dangerous. Even if forced into it, Su Yuan would only act when victory was certain — an Embracing Elixir against Transforming Force, a Level 2 lifeform against Level 1 lifeform. He would only consider it when he could definitely win.
...
Top floor of Zhongshan Hospital, Ward 3.
Shortly after Su Yuan left, Zhou Weiwei, who lay in the hospital bed, woke up.
“Weiwei.” Tang Zhien smiled. Although he had paid an unimaginable price that might destroy three generations of the Zhou family’s life work, if Zhou Weiwei had died, all that effort would have meant nothing — what use is legacy if the family no longer exists?
“Uncle Tang, I feel much better.” Zhou Weiwei looked at Tang Zhien. Her voice no longer sounded frail; instead there was a trace of joy.
“That’s good.” Tang Zhien kept nodding. “Her late grandfather in heaven will bless Weiwei.” The “grandfather” Tang mentioned was naturally the first-generation head of the Zhou family.
“Was Director Lu the one who saved me?” Zhou Weiwei asked. While she had been unconscious she had no clear awareness of the outside, but in the fog she felt her body growing colder and her consciousness fading. Just as she was about to completely lose consciousness, warmth spread back into her limbs bit by bit, and then she gradually felt warmer until she came to.
“No, not Director Lu.” Tang Zhien shook his head. If Lu Fusheng had possessed such medical skill, Zhou Weiwei would never have suffered so for so many years.
“Then who?” Zhou Weiwei’s face showed puzzlement.
“I don’t know who he is.” Tang Zhien was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
“You don’t know?” Zhou Weiwei was confused. “Did he get paid? Was he given some other reward?” Whoever restored her heart condition should certainly receive thanks — basic courtesy demanded it.
“.....” Tang Zhien fell silent for a while, then spoke with complicated emotion: “Whatever he wants, he’ll come collect it himself.”
...
Jinshan Villa District, Villa No. 66.
After studying some hacking techniques, Su Yuan looked at the gray mirror again.
“Are there any treasures that can significantly help me right now, that I can easily obtain without any hidden risks or threats?” Su Yuan asked. This was also his daily question.
Because Su Yuan’s strength increased each day, his initial conditions effectively changed day by day. So every time he asked, the gray mirror would give different answers. Some treasures would be perilous for someone who had only practiced twice, contradicting Su Yuan’s safety and “no hidden risk” premises, so such methods would not appear in the mirror’s answers. But for someone who had trained five or six times, those same items might be safe to acquire — asking again at that time could bring surprising results.
Sure enough.
No sooner had Su Yuan finished speaking than the gray mirror’s surface shimmered and blurred, then characters began to appear.