Just when Qingxu Temple, because of Tang Xiao Qi's glorious battle achievements, was promoted to First-Rank Superior Sect, Third Senior Sister Liu Yun broke through to Golden Core with supreme sword heart, and the sect was immersed in the excitement and busy schedule of this double happiness, an event seemingly incompatible with this grand atmosphere, yet quietly causing another undercurrent within the sect and even a small circle of the cultivation world's theoretical field, stirred up considerable waves.
The source of the event came from that second senior brother who, due to serious injuries, had his cultivation destroyed and spent all his time buried in various "heretical theories" and strange inventions: Luo Feng.
Ever since his cultivation stalled at Foundation Establishment and his physical body could not bear high-intensity spiritual power circulation due to old injuries, Second Senior Brother poured all his energy into theoretical research and "non-traditional" artifact refining, formation domains, and such. He could not roam battlefields like Xiao Qi, nor prove the dao through swords like Third Senior Sister. But that thinking brain never stopped exploring another possibility of the cultivation path.
In a remote corner of Qingxu Temple's scripture library filled with variousremnant scroll, manuscripts, and bizarre artifact parts, Second Senior Brother Luo Feng worked diligently writing. Before him lay a specially-made jade slip capable of recording massive information. His face still carried the pallor of post-injury, but those eyes blazed with nearlyfanatical wisdom'sradiance.
He had no nimble spiritual power flowing from his fingertips, only a brushdipped in specially made spiritual ink, with the composure and precision of a mortal calligraphy master, outlining countless complex, dizzying runes, energy circuit diagrams, and densededuction formulas on the jade slip.
He was writing a paper, a groundbreaking work about "New Pathways for Energy Core Condensation and Preliminary Exploration of Non-Traditional Golden Core Construction"!
In this paper he playfully called "Random Thoughts Record," Second Senior Brotherboldly proposed a revolutionary concept'sconception: Why must a Golden Core be a solid energy crystal formed by compressing one's own spiritual power combined with the soul inside the dantian?
Through research and analysis of ancient fragments, exotic cultivation systems (such as silicon-based civilization energy cores), and numerous failed cases plus his own inability to form a Golden Core, he proposed several possibilities for "alternative Golden Cores":
First, "External Pill Integration Method." Rather than relying on one's own dantian, use special formations and materials to construct a stable, growing energy core (external pill) outside the body, then through specific soul links and energy channels, integrate it with oneself to replace traditional Golden Core functions. This method might suit cultivators like him with damaged dan tiens or those naturally unable to condense a Golden Core inside their bodies.
Second, "Array Resonance Method." Abandoning the concept of a single core, view the entire body as a whole. At multiple important acupoints or energy nodes, simultaneously construct miniature, mutually related and resonant energy arrays. These arrays working together might match or exceed a powerful Golden Core, even having advantages in certain areas such as energy output stability and multi-thread casting.
Third, "Concept Anchoring Method." This idea was most mysterious. He believed the essence of a Golden Core might not be purely an energy aggregate but rather a materialized anchor point of the cultivator's "Dao." If one could, through some method, directly anchor one's comprehension of heavenly laws, one's profound understanding of a certain "concept" (such as "protection,""purification,""destruction"), into the void or some special medium, forming a "conceptual Golden Core," its power and growth potential might far exceed traditional Golden Cores.
In his paper, he not only proposed these ideas but supported them withnumerous complex'smathematical models, energy conservation derivations, and preliminary frameworks possibly achievable with existing artifact refining and formation techniques. He even used crude calculation artifacts he had tinkered together to simulate several basic models of "external pill" energy circuits. Though crude, they showedastonishing'slogical consistency and theoretical potential.
Of course, the paper alsofilled with numerous"possible,""perhaps,""hypotheses,""needs further verification" and many problems and paradoxes he himself had not fully solved. The entire piece overflowed withunconstrainedsky'simagination and unorthodox'scolor.
When Second Senior Brother finally put down his brush, this papercondensed his years of effort with its mixture of seemingly unreliable yet mysteriously rigorous text, was submitted anonymously (only marked "a theory research enthusiast at Qingxu Temple who prefers not to disclose his name") to several academic jade slip publications that specialized in cutting-edge cultivation theory and controversial viewpoints. Though not very influential, they were quite open. He did not have high expectations, viewing it asthrowing a brick to attract jade, or perhaps simply finding entertainment for himself.
However, he underestimated the impact of his "random thoughts."
After publication, initially it did not attract much attention. But soon, some cultivators focused on theoretical research and some old monsters stuck at bottlenecks seeking other methods, after occasionally seeing this paper, firstsneered at, then fell into deep thought, finallyapplauded (orcursed as absurd)!
"Absurd! The Golden Core path is the unchanging foundation of ten thousand ages. How can it be so desecrated!"
"External pill? What differs that from artifacts? How can it be integrated with one's life?"
"Array resonance? The idea is not bad, but the body's acupoints are extremely complex. How to resolve energy conflicts? Simply seeking death!"
"Concept anchoring? Never heard of! Has this fellow lost his mind?"
Questions and criticisms flooded in like a tide.
But at the same time, many open-minded cultivators or those facing similar dilemmas saw entirely newthoughtpathand hope.
"This theory though slightly absurd, its mathematical derivations are rigorous, energy model construction clever, not shooting arrows at nothing!"
"External pill methods might truly open a new path for those with damaged foundations!"
"Array resonance... if energy coordination problems could be solved, its prospects are limitless!"
"Concept anchoring... hiss, this idea touches the essence of the Dao!"
Controversy quickly fermented in academic circles. This anonymous paperunexpectedly caused quite a'ssensation, even attracting the attention of some Alliance departments specializing in cultivator potential development and injury treatment. Though mainstream views were mainly critical, "a theory research enthusiast at Qingxu Temple who prefers not to disclose his name" had already made a name in theoretical circles.
News returned to Qingxu Temple. Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng held that jade slip recording the paper and some controversial comments, finding Second Senior Brother arranging a new "Auto-sweeping Talisman Puppet." His expression was complex,didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Second Junior Brother... you... what are you up to again?" Mu Qingfeng pointed at thoseshocking the world'sremarks on the jade slip. "Now outside is buzzing, saying our Qingxu Temple not only has the amazing battle powerhouse Lord Tang True Lord but also a thought 'astounding' theoreticaleccentric genius..."
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng raised his head, pushed up those spectacles he had ground from transparent crystal, grinned showing white teeth,with a bit of laziness and cunning: "Senior Brother, isn't this also adding glory to the sect? I'm no good at fighting. Using my brain should be fine, right? Besides,in case... I meanin case, one of these paths works out? Then our Qingxu Temple would have not only the Sword Lord and Purification True Lord but also a 'Theoretical True Lord,' right?"
Mu Qingfeng looked at his appearance, helplessly shook his head. But deep in his eyes flashed a trace of concealed gratitude. He knew that although this Second Junior Brother's cultivation was destroyed, he never abandoned his exploration of the Dao. He contributed unique light and heat to the sect and entire cultivation world in his own way, on another path.
Perhaps his "random thoughts" might truly create unexpected miracles in some future day. Qingxu Temple's glory should indeed be painted with various different colors.