Chapter 201: Equation (4K)

When Zheng Fa entered the room, both Bai Lao and Tang Lingwu were busy.

Tang Lingwu was processing data collected from various sensors on her computer: the current magnitude and voltage intensity of each electric shock, including temperature, as well as the shape and color of the lightning captured by high-speed cameras.

Bai Lao was studying various diagrams on paper, trying to find the key within them.

Zheng Fa first walked over and sat beside Bai Lao; he felt a rare sense of fatigue.

The lightning techniques of the Heavenly Stele Realm were somewhat strange: the power of the heavenly tribulation lightning far exceeded that of ordinary lightning techniques, yet the cultivation requirement was relatively low.

For instance, Zheng Fa, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, had just unleashed nearly eight or nine bolts of heavenly tribulation lightning; if not for wanting to reserve some spiritual power for the Spirit Mountain Art, he probably had enough strength to cast two more times.

He hadn't felt it then, but now his head throbbed with pain, most acutely at his temples—as if someone were holding an electric drill, intending to bore a tunnel straight through his skull from left to right.

Sitting by the table, pinching his temples, he recalled that the Jiushan Sect's records mentioned a similar situation—this was a sign of slight damage to the divine soul after excessive consumption.

This was rare for him; compared to his Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivation, the strength of his divine sense even surpassed that of the Foundation Establishment late stage.

Generally, his spiritual power should have been exhausted before his divine soul.

This inevitably led him to speculate: did the excessively powerful might of the heavenly tribulation lightning stem from the excessive consumption of a cultivator's divine soul?

"Zheng Fa, what's wrong?"

Bai Lao's gaze had been fixed on the draft papers before him, but sensing something was amiss, he turned his head, saw Zheng Fa's pale face, and couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing, my divine sense was overused; a few days of rest will suffice," Zheng Fa shook his head and said, "Have you, elder, discovered anything?"

Heavenly tribulation lightning is considered the most basic lightning technique among the Heavenly Stele lightning techniques.

Yet Yan Wushuang and others failed to master it; the reasons were mainly two:

First, no one knew exactly how heavenly tribulation lightning was produced.

That is to say, among so many diagrams, which one could be the talisman diagram of heavenly tribulation lightning?

Without understanding this point, the second problem naturally arose: how to control the strength of heavenly tribulation lightning.

At this moment, Bai Lao was attempting to research the first point; the train of thought was actually very simple: whenever Zheng Fa successfully cast heavenly tribulation lightning, collect that spiritual power trajectory, then use topology to find identical patterns within the trajectories:

This approach was exactly the same as researching talisman paths.

But for cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm who had not received topology training, these trajectories might not have a single identical one...

"Hmm, this is simple." Bai Lao pointed to the draft paper on the table: "These few patterns appear every time, only the frequency of their appearance differs each time."

Zheng Fa looked, nodded, and said, "If the Five Elements Sub-Talismans are added, this is likely the talisman of heavenly tribulation lightning."

According to the Three Sub-Talisman Law conjectured by him and Bai Lao, if spells are viewed as another form of manifestation of talismans, then the spiritual power itself can provide the Five Elements Sub-Talismans, and these running trajectories should correspond to the second and third types of sub-talismans.

"Yes... unfortunately, no common sub-talisman was found between this heavenly tribulation lightning pattern and the talismans of other lightning techniques." Bai Lao had been looking back and forth just now because of this: "If Lingwu's conjecture about interactive sub-talismans is true, then lightning techniques... should have completely identical sub-talismans."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa also fell into thought.

Their research into lightning techniques was actually because the object of such spells was relatively simple; whether the essence of lightning techniques acted upon electrons or upon electromagnetic fields... the object should be the same, meaning there exists a common sub-talisman.

But...

There was none.

This caused them to feel like blind men touching an elephant regarding these two types of sub-talismans, and every time they touched a different part.

"Done!" Just as they were speaking about Tang Lingwu, a soft exclamation came from Tang Lingwu's side; the two turned to look. On the computer screen before Tang Lingwu, various lightning patterns appeared, differing in color and length.

Beside them were some fluctuating curves.

Displaying the current, voltage, and temperature magnitude formed by each lightning bolt on the metal pillar.

Zheng Fa and Bai Lao walked over, looking at the various data on the screen.

"Is there any pattern?" Bai Lao asked.

"No special pattern, except for the correspondence between current and voltage, and between temperature and lightning color."

Zheng Fa nodded; these correspondences already existed in physics.

"Look at this?" Bai Lao handed over the analyzed pattern. Tang Lingwu took one look, frowned, suddenly seemed to remember something, and operated the keyboard continuously, even neglecting to attend to Zheng Fa and the other.

Zheng Fa and the other exchanged a glance, walked forward, and looked at the computer screen.

"This is... fitting?"

Zheng Fa understood after a moment; Tang Lingwu was fitting the frequency of appearance of those identical talisman diagrams against various data, trying to find a pattern.

These data were not complicated; one could even say they were simple.

An equation soon appeared on the computer.

Bai Lao looked, stunned, and directly summarized: "Current intensity is roughly proportional to the sixth power of this frequency?"

Zheng Fa was also somewhat surprised; the result derived from the fitting here was truly a bit simple: just a simple sixth-degree equation. Putting aside the coefficients, the variable x in the equation was the frequency of the talisman diagram's appearance, while the other side of the equality was the peak current.

"That is to say, to control the power of the lightning, one only needs to control the frequency of the talisman diagram's appearance?"

Several people looked at this formula, all falling silent; the formula was too simple, so simple it made one feel insecure.

"That is to say, the number of times the talisman diagram appears determines the energy magnitude of that heavenly tribulation lightning." Bai Lao frowned and summarized: "This... seems similar to the process of a talisman's effect?"

"Yes." Zheng Fa also thought of this: "When drawing a talisman, one absorbs talisman diagrams from the void; that is to say—this increases the frequency of the talisman diagram's appearance; the more frequent, the greater the power."

Zheng Fa spoke slowly; looking at this formula, he suddenly added: "This thing reminds me of a concept from middle school physics..."

"What?"

"Work." Zheng Fa explained slowly: "Whether it is spiritual energy or spiritual power, these talisman diagrams are the paths of their flow—only along certain special paths can the correct effect be produced; it can almost be analogized as doing useful work on certain substances along this path."

"And I can feel that as the spiritual power moves along the trajectory, my spiritual power is also being consumed—that is to say, my spiritual power, through this trajectory movement, is transformed into the energy of the lightning."

"Speaking of which..." Bai Lao said in confusion: "It's very similar! Spiritual power doing work, transforming into corresponding electrical energy, only it is not linear..."

"So we have summarized the functional equation of heavenly tribulation lightning?" Tang Lingwu, having listened for a while, summarized.

"It should be called the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning Spiritual Energy Equation; with this equation, at least controlling the strength of heavenly tribulation lightning is no problem." Bai Lao corrected: "However, yes! We made a discovery on our very first experiment!"

Speaking to this point, Bai Lao sighed again: "Why does researching cultivation feel like one can easily get new results..."

He even regretfully said: "Pity we have no journals here... otherwise, if we published papers, it would be like an old sow giving birth to piglets!"

Zheng Fa smiled. If he could truly control the Heavenly Stele Realm and secure a safe rear base, what about the journals... he did have plans for that too....

Xuanwei Realm.

Zheng Fa sat in meditation in his room, slowly restoring his divine soul, while still thinking about the heavenly tribulation lightning spirit energy equation.

This equation revealed an extremely simple yet long-neglected phenomenon—the power of a spell is determined by how many effective paths the spiritual power, or spiritual qi, traverses.

In fact, the people of the Xuanwei Realm were not without this feeling; they actually knew that the more similar talisman patterns a spirit talisman attracted, the greater its power, but understanding the quantitative relationship behind it was another matter entirely.

By now, at least the control over the power of the heavenly tribulation lightning had a direction for Zheng Fa.

While Zheng Fa focused on his cultivation, in the main hall, Uncle Pang was chatting with Zhang Shijie, and the center of their conversation was, unsurprisingly, Zheng Fa.

"If we can control the Heavenly Stele Realm..." Uncle Pang's eyes inevitably held an excited look: "Our Jiushan Sect will be worry-free in the future... I just wonder how much confidence Senior Nephew Zheng has."

Zhang Shijie knew this wasn't because Uncle Pang lacked trust in Zheng Fa, but that facing such a huge opportunity, people inevitably became anxious about gains and losses, indulging in wild thoughts. She comforted him: "Senior Zheng Shidi's character... you know him well, Uncle."

"Hmm?"

"Coward!"

"Hmm... that's true too!"

"Senior Zheng Shidi has always been cautious. I discovered this when he helped me manage the market... he never speaks too fully; for something with ten-tenths certainty, he speaks at most of eight-tenths." Zhang Shijie's words made Uncle Pang nod slowly: "Now that he tells us he intends to control the Heavenly Stele Realm, he must be quite certain in his heart."

Hearing her say this, a smile gradually appeared on Uncle Pang's face, even carrying some embarrassment: "You see through things clearly, Senior Nephew. I lost my ordinary state of mind and actually needed you to comfort me."

Zhang Shijie shook her head: "Uncle isn't unclear about this; you just value the Jiushan Sect too much..."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Pang's smile became even more embarrassed. He looked toward Zheng Fa's room and said softly: "It's a pity that nowadays, few disciples of our Jiushan Sect cultivate lightning techniques... we can offer Zheng Fa little help... No, I must send someone to the market again to see if there are any new spirit materials!"

Seeing his worried appearance, Zhang Shijie couldn't help but laugh.

Just as Uncle Pang was about to call a disciple to go to the market, the two suddenly seemed to sense something at the same time and looked toward the outside of the market.

A wisp of purple mist descended from the horizon, landing before the Lei Chi market in the blink of an eye. As the mist scattered, a stunning woman with a tall figure and a small bell tied in her hair bun stood before the market. Facing the Five Dragons Tiangong, she clasped her fists and said: "Is True Person Pang of the Jiushan Sect available? Xiao Yuying has come to visit."

She looked to be in her twenties, yet her words carried the implication of standing on equal footing with True Person Pang.

The bustling Lei Chi market fell silent for a moment. People in the market watched the woman cautiously, wondering why she spoke with such boldness.

"Xiao Yuying?" Uncle Pang of the Five Dragons Tiangong paused, as if recalling something, his expression changed drastically, and he walked outside.

The main gate of the Five Dragons Tiangong swung wide open. Uncle Pang walked briskly toward the outside of the market, intending to welcome her personally.

"Immortal Lingye's arrival brings honor to our Five Dragons Tiangong... Please, come in, please come in!"

Hearing his words, the people in the market finally realized who this woman was.

"It is indeed Immortal Lingye... no wonder True Person Pang is so solemn."

"She came for this Lei Chi as well?"

"What nonsense? Immortal Lingye was hailed as the first in Jin Dan lightning techniques during her Jin Dan period, equal in fame to Immortal Zhang of the Jiushan Sect, and she entered the Nascent Soul stage even earlier than Zhang Wuyi... Besides the Lei Chi, what else is worth her coming here?"

"Who says there isn't? The Heavenly Stele, for one?"

"Immortal Xiao, you are also here for the Heavenly Stele?"

Inside the Five Dragons Tiangong, Uncle Pang was receiving Immortal Lingye, Xiao Yuying, with Zhang Shijie. After exchanging a few words, she finally stated her purpose.

"Indeed. I heard that the Heavenly Stele here is greatly related to lightning techniques. I intend to investigate. I also came to pay respects to you, True Person Pang, to ask if your sect has any knowledge of this Heavenly Stele."

"Knowledge... of course, we have some." Uncle Pang glanced at Zhang Shijie, knowing that for a Nascent Soul True Person, investigating such matters would be easy; hiding it would be petty.

He straightforwardly explained the matters concerning the sealing earth and the Heavenly Stele lightning techniques. Xiao Yuying's beautiful eyes flashed repeatedly as she listened, appearing extremely interested.

Uncle Pang and Zhang Shijie exchanged a glance, feeling increasingly uneasy. He asked Xiao Yuying dryly: "This Lei Chi has been revealed for a long time; why has the Immortal only come now?"

Xiao Yuying seemed somewhat embarrassed: "The Lei Chi is inherently treacherous, and the Zizaimo Sect is nearby... I naturally had to be cautious."

"..."

Zhang Shijie was somewhat speechless. So, now that they had beaten the Zizaimo Sect into hiding, she finally arrived?

"But... if someone else had entered earlier and obtained this Heavenly Stele, would the Immortal not have missed her chance?"

Xiao Yuying smiled: "Someone else? Who? Yan Wushuang of the Tianhe Sect?"

She even began to comment on Yan Wushuang: "This person lacks nothing in breadth of mind and perseverance, but his talent and comprehension are a few points lacking... I could let him have a few months, and it would not matter."

The tone of her speech revealed her extreme confidence in herself.

After gathering the information, Xiao Yuying suddenly said: "I came here for another matter as well..."

"Hmm?"

"If I control that Heavenly Stele, I'm afraid the Lei Chi will no longer be able to stop the Zizaimo Sect." Xiao Yuying actually said such a thing: "I came specifically to visit you, True Person Pang, to remind you and your Jiushan Sect to prepare early."

"This..." Uncle Pang was stunned and didn't know what to say: "Thank you for the Immortal's reminder."

"That's good." Xiao Yuying nodded and said to the two: "Then I will take my leave. Thank you again for the information, True Person Pang."

"No need to mention it, no need to mention it..."

Watching her gradually depart, Uncle Pang remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said: "This person is truly extraordinary."

"Hmm?"

"Without extraordinary ability, such a personality that makes good intentions sound so infuriating..." Uncle Pang sighed: "How could she survive to become a Nascent Soul?"

Zhang Shijie thought for a moment, then looked at herself, and actually felt that Uncle Pang's words...

Made a lot of sense!

"However, this person's talent in lightning techniques is certainly not inferior to your talisman path talent, Senior Nephew Zhang. She should be a formidable rival for Zheng Fa..." In Uncle Pang's tone, deep worry was revealed.

(End of Chapter)