"How is it, girl?" Inside a Virtual Realm, Mr. Wo Shen showed Ai Qinglan a mirage clip. It was about a discussion between the higher echelons of Tianling Ridge and the "Xi" of the Sea God type.

"Xi seems to quite like you, and your Mystical Thought Body is very useful to them as well."

Ai Qinglan tapped her temple, "Sea God type... Are they relic species from the Primordial Sea God Civilization? The Primordial Era dates back at least eight hundred million years... What kind of Grotto Heaven can exist stably for eight hundred million years?"

The Grotto Heavens that humanity has discovered with assumed lifespans exceeding ten million years are already considered treasured places.

Since some sensitive words were muted, and the mirage only captured the conversation between the higher echelons of Tianling Ridge and Xi, Ai Qinglan still didn't know the full scope of the matter.

Mr. Wo Shen shook his head, "The Sea God type and the owners of this planet a billion years ago are not necessarily connected. They just happen to look very similar. Well, to put it this way, they are merely branches close on the evolutionary tree, but actually, their root systems are different."

Ai Qinglan's eyes widened, "Alien Star Demon Race?"

Mr. Wo Shen touched his own mouth, "I didn't say anything—also, the Sea God type aren't of the Demon Clan. They are 'Gods'."

"'Gods'?"

"Divine Tao - Collective System." Mr. Wo Shen continued, "That's your man's theory. The discovery of the Sea God type is also a corroboration of his theory, I suppose. The Yangshen Pavilion should be asking him to delve deeper into his research."

"Hee hee, Xiao Feng is amazing!"

"In any case, that's how things are. He is now a front-line researcher in Divine Tao, and your Mystical Thought Body project has a lot of potentials. Both of you might have the chance to join this project."

Ai Qinglan immediately realized what kind of opportunity this was.

For Modern Cultivators, phenomena that the existing theoretical systems can't explain, or those that are vastly different from known phenomena, present chances for breakthroughs in those systems. Once achieved, it represents a full-scale, multi-layered advancement of the entire Immortal Dao.

The appearance of the Sea God type represented such an opportunity.

Although her own teacher hadn't said anything, by his attitude, he had essentially accepted the identity of the Sea God type as an alien civilization!

And for the Immortal Alliance, what did such an alien civilization signify?

Firstly, it represented a leap in the Life Path. The fact that the Sea God type could be infected by Shenzhou's reverse transcription virus indicated that they shared similar bloodline features with Shenzhou creatures. However, fundamentally, their differences with any species in Shenzhou exceeded the category of "phylum." Their reproduction process under their own environment serves as another model for the Heavenly Calculation Theory, another "Special Solutions" of the Life Path. Knowing two special solutions brings one closer to the "General Solution." Moreover, their Bloodline Spirit Rhinoceros might just be a brand new algorithm. Their social environment could also become a brand-new model of Human Dao.

Moreover, the Sea God type does not have the concept of the decimal system—they have no fingers. Their mathematics is composed of "Existence/Non-existence" or "Existence/Non-existence/Doubt." Their foundational thinking is binary and ternary. Merely their language and logic could drive a leap in Wanfa Sect's mathematics, and also the overall enhancement of the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm!

Approximately in three to ten years, once the Immortal Alliance initiates assimilating the impact brought by the Sea God type, an overall increase in strength will occur—this includes advanced cultivators promoted through research, the iteration of tools, and legislative updates that improve the combat power of all cultivators.

For Modern Cultivators, every unknown variable is a source of strength. Every blank domain is a precursor to a leap. The Sea God type brought exactly such a vast blank.

"Can I really join?"

"There are seven Sea God types joining the Immortal Alliance. As far as I know, as the leader of the Sea God type, number 626 'Mi' will stay at Wanfa Sect, attempting to merge with the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm; number 624 'Chun' will come to Tianling Ridge to assist us in theoretical breakthroughs; numbers 625 'Xi', 627 'Xie', and 628 'Qian' will be stationed in West Sea, Southern Sea, East Sea, and North Sea, respectively, to engage in practical development." Mr. Wo Shen said, "You and Chen Feng are both inclined towards practical cultivation, especially Chen Feng. He might be able to decipher the cultivation methods of the Sea God type, achieving reciprocal understanding between us and the Sea God type. If you are willing, within three months, you will be arranged to go to West Sea and collaborate with Mi in cultivating the Heavenly Calculation Atlas."

Before Ai Qinglan could cheer, Mr. Wo Shen pressed down on her head, adding, "Girl, don't rush to be happy. The situation isn't as simple as it seems."

Ai Qinglan quickly understood the key point, "Xi and the others could come to Shenzhou, which means either we or they already possess the capability to traverse the Star Sea..."

"This is a secret, a huge secret." Mr. Wo Shen gently shook his head: "For outsiders, Xi and the others are portrayed as members of the Demon Clan modified by the Immortal Alliance, based on the template of the Primordial Sea Gods."

"Why? Having the ability to cross the Star Sea, that can't be a bad thing, can it?"

Mr. Wo Shen shook his head and whispered, "Our Human Clan's civilization, built over tens of thousands of years, is founded on a certain basis... And 'Crossing the Star Sea' essentially denies this foundation, even completely reversing it. If it were made public, we, utterly unprepared, would be exposed to the most terrifying scenario in this universe, the turmoil in the Immortal Dao. That is something we cannot accept."

"The most terrifying..."

"Girl, do you still remember the 'Taiji Yin Yang Strategy' mentioned by the Heavenly Selection Divine Monarch?" Mr. Wo Shen suddenly changed the subject.

Ai Qinglan nodded, unsure why her teacher brought this up. He had just refuted the words of the Heavenly Selection Divine Monarch.

"The Yin Yang Taiji Strategy is a general strategic model. This theory, based on habitat characteristics and life parameters, classifies beings into two categories: Yin Strategy and Yang Strategy. Here, 'Yin' and 'Yang' represent intrinsic growth rates and environmental carrying capacities, respectively. According to this theory, the surface environment of Shenzhou changes continuously; one extreme is a stable climate with rare Heavenly Calamities, highly dense and competitive ecosystems; the other is a stable climate with frequent Heavenly Calamities, less dense and weakly competitive ecosystems. In the former type of environment, the population number reaches or approaches the carrying capacity, considered Yang Strategy; in the latter type, population densities are often below carrying levels, typically undergoing expansion, considered Yin Strategy."

To put it simply, Yang Strategy is about quality triumphing, where creatures of Cheng Village in Yang Strategy environments enjoy balanced stability, growth rates suited to their environments, slow and irregular cycles, long lifespans, and long gestation periods. Conversely, Yin Strategy is the opposite, with unstable balances with the environment, high growth rates, rapid growth and decline phases, short lifespans, and short gestation periods."

Ai Qinglan frowned, "This concept... it seems odd. Are the creatures under Yin Strategy at the bottom of the food chain?"

"Yin Yang Strategy is actually just a broad term, many specific cases require detailed analysis. For example, compared to humans, rabbits definitely fall under Yin Strategy, but compared to fish or even insects, rabbits are Yang Strategy creatures," Mr. Wo Shen added, "Moreover, there are many shortcomings to this theory, but it is generally applicable."

Ai Qinglan stuck out her tongue, "Teacher, you really don't like this theory, do you?"

"Because this theory is filled with too much empty talk. What 'strategy,' what 'tendency,' it is either purely statistical or a manifestation of the Big Number Law." Mr. Wo Shen shook his head, "Furthermore, where the theory becomes even more absurd is that it subtly points out another fact."

"What?"

"Our Human Dao is a path diverging from the Great Dao." Mr. Wo Shen's eyes flashed with displeasure, "The Taiji Yin Yang Strategy also includes a 'Taiji' that encompasses both Yin and Yang. Girl, what do you think this whole mechanism is about?"

Ai Qinglan guessed, "Are Yin Strategy and Yang Strategy essentially different paths to the same destination?"

"Whether it's Yin Strategy or Yang Strategy, the ultimate objective is the continuation of the species, the transmission of the bloodline. However, the transmission of the bloodline does not necessarily rely on the reproduction of the population," Mr. Wo Shen sighed gently, "Whether it's Yin or Yang Strategy, at extreme values, both trigger a transformation—through the perpetuation of individuals, ensuring the continuation of the bloodline."

The Dragon Clan is a representative of Yang Strategy; they only need a little effort to achieve longevity. Conversely, the fertility rate of the Dragon Clan is extremely low.

The Sea God Type, on the other hand, represents Yin Strategy. Each individual of their species is different, some Sea God Type individuals even encompass microbes from two different species. It's rare for a species to have two Sea God Type individuals.

Whether it's Yin or Yang Strategy, what ultimately is achieved, are individuals that can endure perpetually.

"Evolution, either, is like the Dragon Clan, where each individual after reaching adulthood possesses strength close to that of an Immortal and can achieve immortality with just a little effort, or it's like the Sea God Type, assembling groups into individuals, a body equal to a race."

"In fact, even all the known cultivation techniques have this tendency—to transform ordinary life beings into perpetual individuals of Taiji Strategy. This tendency, is almost reflected in all known cultivation techniques."

Mr. Wo Shen looked at Ai Qinglan and asked, "Girl, why do you think that is?"

Ai Qinglan shook her head, and then thought of something odd, "Seemingly, whether it's Yin or Yang Strategy, both are based on reproductive inheritance for survival strategies, and an individual's immortality has no significance for the continuation of the species. Taiji Strategy shouldn't necessarily be connected to Yin Yang Strategy, should it?"

"This is a very deep contradiction." Mr. Wo Shen illustrated with his hands, "Very deep, very deep."

"How deep?"

"Profoundest, delving into the fundamental aspects of the Heavenly Material Circulation." Mr. Wo Shen whispered, "It exceeds the contradictions between Shape Comparison and Mysterious, surpasses the chasm between gravity and electromagnetism, overtakes the barriers between micro and macro, at a much more fundamental level."

"This encompasses the contradictions between order and chaos, between the third law of Heaven-burning and the first law of Spiritual Energy." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommended tickets and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)