Wang Qi once examined the Dao of the Ancient Method from the perspective of the Modern Cultivation Method. For example, the Innate Five Elements and the End of Order for him were a kind of "Entropy Increase," and the Innate Five Taos represent the state of matter's motion.

In this sense, it's actually the same in reverse.

The path of the Modern may also be interpreted through the thinking of the Ancient Method.

The true resistance to the Modern Immortal Path comes from the "Yin Side" and "Negative" aspects sleeping in Gou Dabao's heart, that immortal as his subconscious, rather than his surface consciousness. Gou Dabao's current personality does not reject the Modern.

If Gou Dabao could realize that the essence of the Modern Dao isn't entirely contrary to the things in his subconscious, that science also holds spirituality and beauty, then it might slightly improve Gou Dabao's poor perception of the Modern Cultivation Method, and improve his cultivation.

However, after genuinely trying, Wang Qi found—it is far more difficult than imagined.

Completely presenting one person's thoughts to another is inherently a challenging task.

Why do the people of Shenzhou sing "If Heaven hadn't born Newton, all would be eternal night"? It's because the system he perfected, the proof methods he proposed, allow one person to completely convey their thoughts to another, creating a method of communication beyond language itself.

This is higher than any "unspeakable, unspeakable" and "beyond words."

However, one must admit this isn't a complete breakthrough. To master this system requires talent. To adeptly use this system requires even more talent.

And more challenging than depicting one's theory scientifically is depicting it in a popular science way.

In terms of scientific achievements, Hawking can only be considered as having just stepped into the first-class level, and compared to many scientists of his era, he fell short. Those top physicists like Weiteng, Higgs, even Yang Zhenning, were not as famous. Why? Besides being a motivational figure, he was also a top-notch science popularizer. It can even be said he was the world's foremost popular science writer.

In the twenty-first century on Earth, commonly seen theories in popular science works are largely the research results from the seventies and eighties of the twentieth century. Mathematics is especially pitiful, with little content concerning anything beyond the seventies.

Popularizing science is too difficult.

For the average person, "Quantum Mechanics" is even equated to "idealism."

Thus, Wang Qi's first attempt unsurprisingly failed.

Though Gou Dabao was cooperative enough, and tried hard to learn what Wang Qi had explained, it proved too difficult for him. In the end, Gou Dabao told Wang Qi that over the past thirty years, the Immortal Alliance had also educated him in this respect, with such formal education lasting for about eight years. He knew much of the specific knowledge of the Modern backwards and forwards, but the more he remembered, the more he hated it.

"The education in this world, damn it... is really too focused on practicality, so simple and crude." Wang Qi shook his head, and in the end, could only seek help from others.

Ai Qinglan tapped her chin, first pondering troubledly for a while: "My dad and mom... hmm, they actually don't really care what I'm doing. To them, whatever makes me happy is a good thing, they would listen no matter what I say... I've never really thought about this issue."

Wang Qi was a bit frustrated: "I see..."

"Honestly, I've never thought about these things," Ai Qinglan shook her head. "Even though I think the puzzles I've solved and things I've created have the utmost beauty, and those processes bring me unparalleled joy. But, this doesn't mean there's only one kind of beauty or joy in the world. Furthermore, even those on the Modern path together may have different perspectives on the Great Dao. For instance, you think mathematics is like music, while some just find it like a hypnotic spell. I see beauty in the Life Beings of the Bloodline Root, empirical evidence with those fantastic traits in Life Beings revealing infinite wonders of the Great Dao to me, yet others find the former inexplicable and weird, the latter disgusting and inappropriate."

This is what's referred to as a difference in worldview.

"But, we all follow the same law gate, walking the same path—called 'Modern'. This is our shared 'Near Path'."

Wang Qi simply sat on the beach, continuing to ponder his problem. Ai Qinglan sat across from him and asked, "Can you summarize the 'Near Path'? Without using mathematics."

"Summarize..." Wang Qi shook his head: "Without mathematics, this system is just a foundation."

Mathematics can be said to be the most important pillar of science.

Analyzing continuously changing data in nature is one of the fundamental tasks of science. The mathematical tools used for this analysis include Real-Variable Function Analysis, Complex Transformation Function Analysis, Functional Analysis, dealing with functions, differentials, integrals, and infinite series—Calculus.

Without Calculus, people cannot understand so-called "science."

Ai Qinglan pursued further: "What about the other part?"

"Empirical evidence."

Repeatable experiments, experiments unaffected by anyone's will, experiments showing the essence of nature.

Ai Qinglan shrugged: "See, you can't say much more."

"That's true," Wang Qi shook his head. "But this project holds extraordinary significance to me."

"Then, why is mathematics beautiful to you?"

Wang Qi closed his eyes and answered: "Because many paths of the Modern can be seen as one, all because of mathematics."

In essence, natural science is a whole.

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Many major scientific breakthroughs can be seen as driven by breakthroughs in mathematical tools or observational methods.

"Breakthroughs in observation methods" mostly refer to breakthroughs in chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Larger and better lenses, higher-magnification microscopes, more effective experimental reagents, and various experimental instruments are all included.

The breakthroughs in chemistry and materials science were made possible because quantum physics allowed humans to understand the properties of atoms. Chemists, after mastering the properties of the atoms, could freely create materials never seen before.

The development of quantum physics is also the reason why biology entered the genetic era. Without quantum physics, biologists would never have thought about how genetic information would be transcribed.

Quantum physics is a discipline that also relies on mathematics.

Mathematics is the foundation and also the string that connects everything together.

This system is unified.

After Wang Qi finished speaking, he held his head and said, "Such great power, such wisdom, can anyone not be impressed? But..."

But if the audience does not have a rough idea of science itself, they will find it difficult to understand everything Wang Qi is talking about.

When Wang Qi was talking about all this with Gou Dabao, Gou Dabao said as much.

He really didn't understand what was so remarkable about it.

If a needle can sew several pieces of cloth together, does that make the needle remarkable?

If Wang Qi still wants to continue with this line of thought, then before describing the greatness of mathematics to Gou Dabao, he must first make this Banished Immortal understand the wonders of science itself, let him realize that science is not a few pieces of rag sewn together, but a more wonderful whole.

But it is impossible to do this without mathematics.

It falls into a vicious circle.

Ai Qinglan shook her head and gave advice: "Haven't you discovered the problem yet?"

"Haven't... discovered the problem?"

"If you have no concept of Modern Law itself, you wouldn't be able to say these things. But you couldn't be born knowing this, you couldn't know these things from the start. So before this, did you not like mathematics?"

"What you need to share is not your current sentiments, not things that are on the surface, but your 'initial inspiration'."

"'Initial inspiration'..." Wang Qi shivered and suddenly realized something.

Initial inspiration...

Initial inspiration...

His current impression of mathematics is only the overall impression he formed after long-term study, which belongs to the result, not the reason for his sincere love for mathematics. He misunderstood the cause and effect.

"If you ask me why I like mathematics... if you ask me when I started to like mathematics..." Wang Qi nodded to Ai Qinglan: "I think I understand. Thank you, Senior Sister."

"No need, no need, you'll figure it out sooner or later anyway." Ai Qinglan turned and left. After walking more than ten steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, "Oh, by the way, I have something I want to ask you. A fellow disciple wants to know your contact information, saying he wants to consult you about something. Should I give it or not?"

Wang Qi scratched his head: "Life Path? Hmm... isn't it better to ask Chen Feng about this?"

Initially, Wang Qi indeed handled more of this theory. But the further it went, the less Wang Qi contributed. He only provided a mathematical analysis to the theory.

"Maybe he was asked by someone to inquire?" Ai Qinglan shrugged: "Do you agree?"

"If he's inquiring specifically, it probably won't be to insult me, right?" Wang Qi nodded, thinking to himself—even if it's spam, I can ask Jarvis to manage the emails and Spirit Messages for me!

"Then I'll just give your messaging number." Ai Qinglan nodded and then left.

The so-called "messaging number" is equivalent to what Earth calls an "email address." However, in this world, phone numbers, email addresses, bank accounts, everything is under a real-name system, and everything is bound to the "identification number"—Immortal Record.

After bidding farewell to Ai Qinglan, Wang Qi went back towards Langde City. He was considering finding a place to copy Chen Feng's Telepathy, to peek into the thoughts of children in elementary schools, thereby recalling his "initial inspiration."

After all, for him, memories of his past life are too distant.

As Wang Qi walked down the street, suddenly, a hand stretched out and slapped him on the shoulder: "Hey! Junior Brother!"

Wang Qi turned around, surprised: "Senior Sister Xiang!"

Xiang Qi, dressed in red, was pulling Su Junyu, who was engrossed in reading on the street, while placing her hands on her hips and said to Wang Qi: "Kid, you're doing pretty well now!"