Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 390 An inch of heart
For the next seven days, Huangfu Yi lived and ate with Liang Jiuding, practiced together, and made progress together, learning the introductory chapter of the Taiyi Divine Calculation Technique.

It must be said that Huangfu Yi's talent for arithmetic was really lacking. His strength lay in concentration; when it came to being single-minded and focused, honing his skills, training his muscles, practicing breathing exercises, and cultivating internal energy, these were his forte. However, as everyone knows, learning arithmetic requires a certain amount of talent and comprehension; rote memorization alone is useless. You either know it or you don't. Therefore, Huangfu Yi, with his mediocre abilities, immediately found himself mired in the arduous task of endless practice problems from the very beginning.

Fortunately, Liang Jiuding was very patient and skilled at teaching. After all, most of his fellow disciples at Songshan were already trained in their skills and were undergoing adult re-education. Ninety-nine percent of them were terrible at math, so they all relied on him for tutoring and guidance. He had accumulated many years of teaching experience.

Therefore, unlike some guys who readily berate and scold scum, idiots, trash, and useless people, Liang Jiuding thought that Huangfu Yi's aptitude was quite good. Among the inner disciples of the Xuanmen sect, he was at least qualified to pass the exams. Moreover, he was focused and careful enough to rarely make mistakes. However, he was sometimes not very bright and easily got stuck on trivial matters.

While they may not be on par with those born with innate knowledge who can master everything instantly, they are still promising talents. Don't be discouraged; if others do a hundred practice problems, you do a hundred practice papers. With consistent effort, passing the college entrance exam shouldn't be a problem. After all, there's a limit to the scores on a test; you won't fall too far behind…

Fortunately, few of those who study arithmetic in the Xuanmen school truly expect to attain enlightenment through mathematics. They don't need to solve the various conjectures of grandmasters at a young age. It's enough to keep up with the current mainstream topics in Xuanmen arithmetic.

Of course, even 'keeping up' is difficult, since Huangfu Yi has no foundation in mathematics, so it is really hard for him to learn. However, although he is not smart enough, roughly equivalent to a math dunce, Huangfu Yi can still use his cheat codes.

"Damn, this is the first time I've ever seen someone travel through the outer heavens. No wonder they're doing practice problems here instead of doing other things. Do you have to be so serious? Are you a college entrance exam candidate? Hey, the counting rods are set up wrong here."

Just then, a sergeant major who had returned to base to replenish ammunition passed by and glanced at what the new recruit was doing all day squatting in the pit. He was also taken aback.

"Ugh...it's like starting all over again..."

Now, Huangfu Yi spends his days studying arithmetic with Liang Jiuding and his evenings reviewing what he's learned at Yangjingbang. He's utterly exhausted, collapsing to the ground, face up. Looking up, he sees countless missiles trailing long plumes of flame streaking across the sky, roaring and flashing like a meteor shower, bursting into blinding flashes that illuminate the entire wasteland.

The swarm of drones surged in like a black cloud, their buzzing deafening. Each drone was flashing red sensor eyes, laser beams tearing through the hot air and dust. Explosions echoed one after another, debris rained down, hitting the ground and kicking up dust. Countless buildings collapsed in the flames, making a deafening roar. Dust filled the air, blotting out the sun, leaving everyone feeling utterly exhausted.

"This lousy place... how long are we going to fight here...?"

The sergeant chugs down three large bottles of electrolyte drink, munches on nutritional paste, and casually fiddles with the counting rods on the ground, correcting Huangfuyi's calculations.

"It won't be long before they start deploying PCA. At the latest, we should be disengaged from the front lines by this week."

"What? PCA?"

The sergeant casually dialed the number, sending over holographic video data, sharing footage of the supersonic drone carpet bombing, as well as weapon data analysis and evaluation reports he had collected and filmed on the front lines.

"Perma-Corrosive Aerosol, a persistent corrosive aerosol, an environmental chemical weapon, micron-sized artificial aerosol particles."

The core corrosive agents are likely chemicals like nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, chlorine, or hydrogen sulfides, used to combat drones. These chemicals rapidly oxidize metals, forming a rust layer, dissolving compound semiconductor chips in silicon-based circuits, and corroding circuit boards, damaging electronic systems. This can lead to the malfunction of motors, sensors, and battery components.

These corroding cores use synthetic perfluoroalkyl substances as carriers. These compounds are highly stable and non-biodegradable. Once adsorbed onto the equipment surface by aerosol particles, they penetrate deep into the gaps and ventilation openings of electronic devices, continuously releasing core corrosives like semi-volatile pesticides. "Swarm drones will be scrapped within weeks; they have no choice but to be withdrawn."

Huangfu Yi was curious.
"If you have a foolproof method for dealing with bee swarms, why are you only using it now?"

Sergeant Major chuckled.
"Didn't you hear me say it's not biodegradable? These synthetic things aren't products of nature at all. Once they're used, they'll float in the air like smog, circulating repeatedly in rainwater and the atmosphere, and can persist in the environment for at least several centuries. For at least several decades after that, it will rain acid. How can living people withstand a place where even drones can't stay? At that time, not a single blade of grass will grow on the ground."

I've seen them drop airdrops continuously; I estimate they intend to completely cover the central battlefield of 600 square kilometers. If this amount of explosives spreads out, the entire coastal area will probably become uninhabitable. In less than ten years, this megacity, Yangjingbang, will be transformed into a ghost town where intelligent machines cannot be used, becoming a complete wasteland.

Of course, this also meant they couldn't launch a large-scale mechanized army landing at Yangjingbang, and neither side needed to continue the stalemate there.

Huangfu Yi fell silent for a moment, unable to understand no matter what.

"But why?"

"Why? Of course, it's for the ultimate victory. Since we can't win no matter what, we can't attack, we can't defend, so let's destroy everything we can, flip the chessboard, and then we won't have lost this game. That's what total war is all about."

The sergeant fiddled with the calculator for Huangfuyi until he finished solving the equation, then casually tossed him the extra counting rods.
"The Taiyi Divine Calculation is outdated. Now, the Twelve Kingdoms are in turmoil, and the Thirty-Three Heavens are in constant strife and change. There is no chance for you to calm down and deduce the plan."

To go far, you must be adaptable and decisive in all situations. I advise you to just get started with the Taiyi method; if you really want to delve into arithmetic, you should learn the Divine Calculation of Inch-Mind from the Divine Sect.”

Huangfu Yi sighed.
"Thank you for your guidance, senior. It's a pity I don't possess the Mind-Bending Divine Skill..."

The sergeant rubbed his fingers together.
"Let me teach you, do you have any sense of propriety? I'm just a tiny bit short of getting a new mech. Come on, let's get some support."

"……Oh."

Originally, Huangfu Yi's mind was still on the Taiji Realm. With the system planning his upgrade path, he didn't need battlefield points much. Besides, the elder soldiers had helped him a lot by mentoring new recruits, and they readily transferred all the points to him.

"Wow! Two thousand!? You're pretty good at spending money, kid! You're quite generous! Here, I've sent you the Mind Calculation, please receive it."

"take over……"

Well, the learning method of Tianwaitian is much more advanced than that of Taijitian. It directly transcribes knowledge, transmits data, generates images and graphics, creates 3D images, and even provides AI-assisted explanations. It's practically a self-contained system! Moreover, the sergeant was quite agreeable. After all, the front line was already full of PCA (presumably referring to equipment), and going online would only damage equipment and reduce durability. So he simply explained it to Huangfuyi from the rear.

It must be said that the sergeant's mathematical skills are also extremely strong. Or rather, he is a proper cultivator. Mathematics is the most basic of the basics. At least one must pass the college entrance examination before daring to call oneself a master. Moreover, when people do practice problems, they can't just focus on one book. Of course, they use a sea of ​​problems strategy, rote memorization, and integration. With this level of skill, it would be a piece of cake to give Huangfu Yi, a primary school student, extra tutoring.

In this way, while receiving adult education from Liang Jiuding and extracurricular tutoring from the sergeant, Huangfuyi's mathematical skills also improved by leaps and bounds. Although he dared not say that he had entered the field, he gradually saw through the fog and knew what he was learning.

Although the cultivation paths and methods of refining essence, qi, and spirit of the three major schools are vastly different, they share many commonalities in the field of numerology and arithmetic.

Liu Ren, Qi Men Dun Jia, and Tai Yi are all considered classic textbooks in mathematics. In short, Liu Ren emphasizes divination and requires setting up a chart for calculation, which is time-consuming and laborious. Qi Men Dun Jia relies on time, space, and direction, making it susceptible to environmental interference. Tai Yi uses the Nine Palaces and, while proficient in Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, is limited to static hexagrams. Therefore, there is no single method that makes one invincible simply by mastering one of these three.

The God Lord, based on his extensive knowledge of various schools of thought, realized that everything in the world can be quantified, and that the mind is the most powerful calculating tool.

Therefore, he drew on the algorithmic foundation of the ancient "Nine Chapters" and the geometric deduction of "Zhoubi", while incorporating concepts only found in the Yuanshen method. He viewed the mind as a multi-dimensional vector space, instantaneously rotating to solve variables, using thoughts to simulate infinitesimal changes, predicting the trajectory of events, and ultimately creating this unprecedented "Inch of Heart".

The core of the so-called "inch of mind" lies in the unity of mind and body. This scripture is based on the method of primordial spirit. When starting the calculation, one closes their eyes and concentrates their mind, transforming the mind into a virtual "calculation domain". Each thought is arranged like the Taiji celestial counting rods, yet it can switch between binary like the bits of a computer in the outer heaven. When deducing, there is no need for external manifestation; one can simulate complex models simply by mental calculation.

For example, when facing changes in the battlefield, the positions of the enemy and ourselves can be regarded as a coordinate system, and vector analysis can be used to calculate the intersection of trajectories; or probability theory can be used to estimate the hit rate of enemy moves, and combined with the "odd and even mutual generation" principle of yin and yang probability, the optimal countermeasure can be obtained instantly. This makes the "Inch-Mind Divine Calculation" not like the Taiyi method, which requires slow formation and arrangement, but truly as fast as lightning and as swift as thunder, truly achieving "calculation as soon as the mind moves, and decision as soon as the calculation is completed".

As Liang Jiuding said, the terrifying aspect of the Inch Heart Divine Calculation is that the Divine Lord seems to have borrowed the 'Synchronization Method' of Taiji Heaven and combined this method with the Primordial Mystic Method. The followers, spirit pets, and even blood puppets can all cultivate the Primordial Mystic Method of the Calculation Domain together, refining themselves into "clone calculation devices". In this way, the brainpower and consciousness of all beings in the sect are linked together to form the so-called 'Great Calculation Domain'.

At this point, the vast computing domain resembles a neural network in the outer heavens. The clone computing units are interconnected like neurons, and the data transmitted by the souls is like synaptic signals, enabling adaptive learning. Once a calculation error occurs, the computing network will automatically correct the error using an algorithm similar to gradient descent, optimizing the next deduction. In other words, this is how the Divine Lord, based on parallel algorithms and using the methods of the Primordial Spirit, deduced a cloud computing architecture, establishing a distributed computing model, turning each clone into a computing node, with the main brain acting as the central processor, distributing sub-tasks.

When the great battle was simulated, the main brain was responsible for the macro framework, using topological analysis to connect the battlefield and find weak nodes, while hundreds of cult clones processed the micro details in parallel. One puppet calculated the enemy's velocity vector, another spirit pet simulated the partial differential equations of wind direction interference, and the blood puppet used Monte Carlo simulation to randomly sample and test thousands of possible outcomes.

In this way, with the human heart as the tool and all beings working together, it is not just one person calculating, but millions of people working together. The computational complexity jumps from linear to exponential, naturally far exceeding the limits of Taiyi, and truly achieving the supreme realm of "calculating without omission".

This is the true essence of divine calculation.

Incidentally, the leadership of the Immortal Palace depends on bloodline inheritance, and the head of the Xuanmen decides whether someone commits suicide or engages in a sword duel.

In the Divine Cult, the most powerful practitioners can usually only serve as 'protectors,' and even those with the highest bloodlines can only be 'holy maidens.' This is because only the most skilled mathematicians in 'Inch of Mind' and 'Calculation Domain' can assume the important role of the head of the Calculation Domain and the mastermind of the altar.

Even more extreme, some people actually gouge out their brains and put them in jars to avoid being interfered with by the five senses and six senses in their calculations, which is also the origin of the name 'jar master'.

"Well, brother, can you predict the outcome of this battle and how the situation will change?"

The seven-day agreement passed in the blink of an eye. Huangfu Yi and Liang Jiuding sat by the earthen slope, pointing out the battlefield not far away where two armies were clashing and tens of thousands of soldiers were fighting and scrambling. They drank wine, ate potatoes, and made calculations.

After spending the last few days learning arithmetic under the guidance of two renowned teachers, Huangfu Yi finally began to grasp the basics. So, this time, he used the battle between the Qianzhou soldiers and the Heavenly King Army in Hedong as a test question, and started the mini-test directly.

From this vantage point, one can see the Heavenly King rebels, carrying black dragon flags, and the Qianzhou allied forces, waving white phoenix flags, locked in a fierce battle. The drums thunder and the battle cries are deafening, like two great dragons on a chessboard, locked in a life-or-death struggle, their blood and energy surging into the sky. The conflict is intense and the two forces are locked in a stalemate for two hours, making it difficult to determine a clear winner. It is truly awe-inspiring.

Although the Heavenly King's rebel army numbered 100,000, they had already besieged the city for three months and had to divide their forces to surround it from all sides, so they couldn't muster all their forces for open battle in a short time. Meanwhile, the Qianzhou reinforcements had finished assembling and launched an attack. Five-colored streams of light could be seen shooting into the sky from their ranks, indicating that they had the assistance of a Xuanmen master. If nothing unexpected happened, they should be able to win this battle.

However, winning only this one battle is obviously not enough. Although the Heavenly King Army is at a disadvantage for the time being, its formation is not chaotic at all. Looking to the east, the rebel army camp can still be seen, which is so large that it blocks out the sun and its depth is unknown. Every now and then, iron cavalry like clouds gallop from the horizon, like rolling thunderclouds, to come and help. Moreover, the northern troops are good at fighting. If the battle in Qianzhou drags on for too long and the pursuit is too intense, the outcome is uncertain.

Huangfu Yi immediately understood. While studying the Taiyi Formation on the board, he simultaneously aided his mental calculations, and began to calculate with his fingers.

"With the upper trigram Dui and the lower trigram Kan, there is no water above the marsh, ultimately leading to a predicament."

Liang Jiuding smiled and munched on a sweet potato, gesturing for him to speak.

Huangfu Yi also consulted various classic mathematical formulas and attempted to solve the problem.

"A marsh is meant to hold water, but now the water has flowed away, leaving the marsh empty. This is like the isolated city of Luzhou being besieged, surrounded by enemies on all sides, and lacking resources. Although reinforcements have arrived and are in high spirits, they may win battle after battle and advance in turn. However, the lack of reinforcements will weaken the advance. Seeking a quick victory is like trying to advance through a dangerous ditch. Once blocked, it may not last long."

Although the northern troops suffered a setback, their morale remained high, and they had ample supplies. By this time, they had reinforced the city with deep moats and high walls, securing their foothold. The defending troops inside the city were attacking from the outside, while the reinforcements outside were advancing fiercely. The enemy was as vast as a swamp, and it was impossible to completely repel them in an instant. However, since there were strong troops attacking day and night from the outside, they could only close their fortifications and defend themselves, and they were powerless to break through the city in a short time.

It is likely that the two sides will engage in fierce fighting, ultimately reaching a stalemate and finding themselves in a dilemma, with no clear victor within a year.

Liang Jiuding smiled and nodded, then raised his hand, asking for an explanation.

Huangfu Yi stood up, gazing at the chessboard of heaven and earth, with humans as pawns. After a moment's thought, he looked up and sighed.

"A wise man can achieve his goals even in adversity. He should remain righteous and wait for the right time, and not be impatient to avoid greater trouble."

As the hexagram "Kun" suggests, this situation requires cultivating virtue internally and seeking external assistance in order to turn adversity into prosperity.

It all depends on which side can turn adversity into opportunity and seize the moment.

It is said that,
The isolated city is surrounded by enemies on all sides; reinforcements, though victorious, are stained with blood. The enemy forces surge like a tide, impossible to retreat; their assault on the fortress is futile, and the sky seems to hang low.

"When the marsh is dry and the river is treacherous, one should seek refuge amidst hardship; a virtuous person's resolve remains steadfast even at the cost of death. Waiting for the opportune moment to uphold righteousness as the winds of change shift, one will eventually break through the encirclement and see the dawn's light."

"Crack, snap, snap."

Liang Jiuding clapped his hands with a smile, swallowed the sweet potato in his mouth, and mumbled, "..."

"Brother, that's impressive! You've already grasped the basics. With this skill, you won't go hungry if you set up a stall on the street and tell fortunes or interpret divination slips."

Huangfu Yi smiled bitterly.
"In this world, it's good enough to have enough to eat. Thank you for your guidance, Brother Liang."

Liang Jiuding waved his hand cheerfully.

"The master leads you through the door, but the practice is up to you. Whether I give you guidance or not is my business, and whether you can learn it is your business. No need to thank me, farewell."

At this point, Huangfu Yi also understood the situation. He knew that the seven days had passed, the celestial secrets had been revealed, and he had passed the arithmetic test. Naturally, their fate had run its course, so he didn't try to hold on. He simply bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Liang."

"We'll meet again someday at Mount Song, if the mountains and rivers allow us to meet once more!"

When he looked up, only the lingering sound remained in his ears, while Liang Jiuding had already vanished underground.

Huangfu Yi stood up and sighed, looking with pity at the thousands of soldiers and officers on the battlefield, caught in the fierce fighting, already fallen into a hellish abyss from which they could not extricate themselves.

"The hermit of Xuanmen Mountain is truly unfathomable. Even the diviners of the Divine Sect are difficult to defeat, though compared to them..."

The system sneered,

“There are not many talented people in the world, but the Immortal Palace cannot use any of them. Naturally, they have all been taken by the Xuanmen Divine Sect. What’s so strange about that?”

So, didn't you used to dream all the time about going to the battlefield, making a name for yourself, and becoming a great general? Since you're already here, why not go down and have a go?
If I can seize the initiative in this battle, whether by being the first to charge and slay an enemy general, I will become famous throughout the land. It wouldn't be impossible for me to be ennobled and appointed a high-ranking general, haha.

This time, however, Huangfu Yi merely shook his head slowly, turned away, and refused to glance once more at the battlefield where corpses piled up like mountains, bones lay like forests, and blood flowed like rivers.
"Fame, fortune, imperial ambitions, all are like fleeting clouds. I'd better hurry up and kill the Blood Demon, then go back to the village and have a good drink."

So he turned and left, continuing south, crossing the river to Sizhou.

(End of this chapter)