I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Jiang Yuebai found Shi Xiaowu when he was explaining the basics of Math Dao to new Entry Level Qi Cultivation Disciples at the Preaching Court on Heavenly Cry Peak.

The thirty-plus disciples below were all children, none older than ten.

Most listened intently, constantly taking notes, or using abacus and counting rods to calculate.

This was also the master’s requirement. Just as the master chose to popularize Five Elements Rotation to them in their youth years ago, the master always believed that foundations should be built from childhood. Compared to learning as adults, when young, learning such things comes faster.

Jiang Yuebai lowered her presence, watching the current Shi Xiaowu from outside. He was still at Peak Foundation Establishment, having tried to form a core three times, all ending in failure.

Therefore, his lifespan was nearing its end; he had consumed a fifty-year-old Lifespan Extension Pill and a Youthful Appearance Elixir, so he still appeared to be in his twenties.

Yet, Jiang Yuebai could still sense his old age from his sluggish movements and tired eyes.

Regarding Shi Xiaowu, the master was also regretful and heartbroken, but Core Formation is the greatest threshold in a cultivator’s life. Crossing it means extending one’s lifespan, a vast sky ahead, while failing to cross means relying on Lifespan Extension Pills to hang on.

Shi Xiaowu was typical of a Five Spirit Root Cultivator.

Little junior sister Jiangg Ziying switched to Jiang Yuebai’s old "Five Elements Returning to Truth Skill," speeding up her cultivation, yet she too was stuck at Peak Foundation Establishment.

However, Jiangg Ziying was relatively young and stronger in cultivating the Five Elements Cultivation Technique than Shi Xiaowu, with a higher chance of succeeding in Core Formation.

The master said Shi Xiaowu’s failure in Core Formation was due to his mindset. He was fixated on understanding the exact amount of Spiritual Energy needed for Core Formation, always feeling he would fail without clear numbers.

Shi Xiaowu went to extremes, using the "Great Derivation Scripture" and "Great Derivation Calculation Scripture" to convert everything into numbers, everything needing fixed standards, unable to accept anything ambiguous or inexplicable.

In Math Dao, Shi Xiaowu was an absolute genius, but the insight required in cultivation is hard to articulate or quantify entirely by numbers.

Nonetheless, Shi Xiaowu’s achievements over the years weren’t nonexistent; he accomplished a groundbreaking task—accurately quantifying Alchemy Elixir Formulas.

How many Spirit Plants, how much Spiritual Liquid to extract, what level of fire, how long to calcine, how much auxiliary material to add in the end, stew duration, stew temperature, etc., all quantified to the smallest, most precise unit.

Initially, the elders at Elixir Hall condemned and resented his methods, saying he complicated simple alchemy.

Fortunately, the Great Elder of Elixir Hall, who once taught Jiang Yuebai, Master Bailu, now True Monarch Bailu, was open-minded, giving Shi Xiaowu ten years and ample resources to try, personally helping several times.

Ultimately, Shi Xiaowu succeeded. Using his quantified elixir formulas, a Qi Cultivation Disciple unfamiliar with alchemy needed only three to five days to familiarize themselves before increasingly succeeding and stably refining high-quality elixirs.

Now the bulk supply of Low-Grade High-Level Elixirs has become one of the main income sources of the Heavenly Interence Sect.

Currently, Shi Xiaowu is trying with Qii Yue to combine puppets with alchemy. If successful, they could automate low-level elixir refining.

It’s undeniable, Shi Xiaowu and Qii Yue were influenced by Jiang Yuebai, getting inspiration from her past whimsical ideas, opening their minds, no longer restricted by conventions.

Shi Xiaowu was an absolute genius. His cultivation path shouldn’t end like this, so Lii Jiuchuan was extremely regretful, yet helpless, even asking Jiang Yuebai to help think of a way, at least to help him surpass Core Formation.

In truth, there were many ways, but most involved the Evil Dao or crooked paths. Jiang Yuebai knew, given the master’s character, he would never approve of her using those unscrupulous methods, and even Shi Xiaowu himself couldn’t accept them.

So, what to do? Jiang Yuebai was currently clueless.

After a class, many children lingered, asking Shi Xiaowu questions, evidently enjoying Math Dao, showing genuine respect for Shi Xiaowu.

Finally, when Shi Xiaowu came out, seeing Jiang Yuebai made him freeze, after a moment his eyes gradually brightened.

Regrettably, his now elderly body wouldn’t allow him to jump and shout like the reckless lad he once was.

With a few tears in his eyes, Shi Xiaowu slowly stumbled to Jiang Yuebai’s side.

"Senior sister, you truly returned. I thought the master was deceiving us."

Jiang Yuebai suppressed her sorrow, smiling lightly, "The master is principled and upright, never deceived anyone. Where’s the little sister?"

Shi Xiaowu glanced up the mountain direction, "In seclusion, failed Core Formation once before, master personally guided her for half a year, this time she’s likely to succeed."

A touch of undisguisable envy and bitterness slipped across Shi Xiaowu’s eyes.

Jiang Yuebai inwardly sighed but didn’t show it, asking instead, "Where are Guo Zhen and Hong Tao?"

Guo Zhen treated Shi Xiaowu as a son, Hong Tao had once helped Jiang Yuebai, naturally, she’d show concern for them upon returning.

Shi Xiaowu motioned for Jiang Yuebai to follow him to another Quiet Room to chat, saying as they walked, "My adoptive father and Brother Hong are also stuck at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, unable to move forward, they’ve given up, exchanged for Lifespan Extension Pills, returning to the Mortal World."

Jiang Yuebai nodded slightly; this was common.

Many of the elders in the sect unable to form cores return to their mortal hometowns, supported by the Heavenly Interence Sect, building small families, nurturing clan descendants, continuing to supply talent for the Cultivation Realm.

In the Heavenly Interence Sect, they are just Entry Level Disciples unable to form cores, but in the mortal world, they can become respected ’Old Ancestors’ within their families, spending the remainder of their lives well.

Jiang Yuebai asked where Shi Xiaowu’s family was established, in case she passed by, could visit, leaving some of her cultivation techniques and books for them, giving their family a chance to develop better.

In the Quiet Room, Jiang Yuebai inquired about Shi Xiaowu’s experiences over the years while helping him check his physical condition.

Shi Xiaowu hadn’t left the sect much, continuously delving into Math Dao, Array Dao, and Alchemy Dao within the Heavenly Interence Sect.

His body was indeed nearing exhaustion; Lifespan Extension Pills merely suspended his life, letting him live in such an old state.

After checking, Jiang Yuebai had some ideas.

The easy part was replenishing his essence, so his body temporarily regained vitality; this she could achieve with her Cloud Mushroom and Transformation Demon Technique.

The hard part was Shi Xiaowu’s mindset, his ’Deviation’ regarding Math Dao.

Anything done to extreme good invariably comes with extreme bad; this is the Dao of balance, the number of Yin Yang.

Shi Xiaowu understood but was simply obsessed with Math Dao, unable to help it.

"...Senior sister needn’t worry about me. Perhaps after a hundred years, living anew, things won’t be like this."

Living anew?

Jiang Yuebai had a flash of inspiration, suddenly thinking of a method worth trying.

"Younger brother Xiaowu, I’ve brought you something good again. Quickly try it, after trying you’ll definitely succeed in Core Formation."

A slightly familiar voice suddenly came from outside, followed by a vigorous, imposing blue-clad cultivator entering through the window.

As he stood, he saw Jiang Yuebai inside, his eyes bulging in shock, retreating in disbelief.

"Jiang Yuebai you!"

Seeing the newcomer clearly, Jiang Yuebai stood to face Li Shen Zhi, smoothing her sleeves, playfully smirking.

"Nephew Shenzhi, addressing your uncle by name, isn’t it a bit improper?"

Li Shen Zhi stared wide-eyed, speechless and agitated.