Chapter 218: The Struggle Between Cyber Buddhist and Daoist Paths

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

A tripartite balance was thus formed and has continued to this day.

The Infinite Web Buddha was a typical representative of cultivating spirit without body, regarding cybernetics and physical bodies as burdensome, with the true spirit residing in digital space.

The Eternal Yin Spirit Ghost Mother, on the other hand, cultivates only body, not spirit. Followers of the Ghost Mother lineage entrust their consciousness together, forming a collective consciousness and unified computational resource control. They focus only on stacking armors and firepower, without needing to think for themselves.

The Supreme Turing Celestial, recuperating under the Arctic ice, defined “spirit” and “body.”

Indeed, befitting a great being, his statement criticized both parties.

There were personal grievances involved in this.

The Infinite Web Buddha dismissed his statement. After all, the Ghost Mother was a consequence of their fight; trying to shift the blame was just wishful thinking.

In the debate over “who is the father of the child,” all explanations seem feeble.

After going through Gu Ying’s memories.

Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu exchanged glances, both bewildered.

This world was too bizarre.

Unconventional yet logical, it possessed a beauty that was both cyber and cultivational.

“Since the cultivation here is achieved through technological means, why start with Qi Refining?”

Cheng Lingzhu pondered this question.

“One could start with a full transformation, directly achieving Golden Core or even higher realms, right?”

Gu Ying’s understanding of “cultivators” was limited to the Golden Core stage. She and her brother were mere mortals, without even a Mud Pill Palace implanted.

In remote areas like the Sangna Plains, “network” access was only available in cities, and it was wired, extremely expensive.

This was something only Qi Refining lords could afford.

Therefore, what realms lay beyond and how higher-level cultivators were modified were unknown to them.

For a commoner like Gu Ying, knowing who ruled the world, that it was governed by sects, and that becoming a cultivator required surgical means…

was already quite impressive.

“Cultivation in this world must be gradual, probably related to ‘spirit’ and ‘body,”‘ Lu Xuan speculated.

“Just as the Supreme… Supreme Turing Celestial said, cultivation is about nurturing both spirit and body. In the context of cyber technology, control over computational resources is an indispensable aspect.

For an ordinary person with no exposure to any learning or training, even if given a powerful chip and cybernetics, they lack the means to mobilize and use their computational resources.

If hacked, not knowing how to counteract, even advanced cybernetics could be easily usurped by the enemy…

Hmm, probably only programmers well-versed in the Micro Machine Dao and cyber technology can fully utilize the power of cybernetics.”

Cheng Lingzhu hesitated for a moment, “So, like practicing martial arts without cultivating inner strength, it all comes to naught?”

“Exactly,” Lu Xuan clapped his hands in admiration. “My wise wife, far more insightful than the Supreme Turing.”

To become a top-level powerhouse, creativity is key.

Knowledge is static; it can’t just be fed through a chip, one must learn how to apply it.

Only with the talent for innovation can one ascend to the pinnacle… This somewhat mirrors the cultivation in the Archean Eon Realm.

Lu Xuan compared in his mind.

Hearing his praise, Cheng Lingzhu’s lips curled into a proud smile, chin lifted slightly.

Her starry eyes twinkled, and a few strands of hair fluttered on her forehead. Lu Xuan couldn’t help but lower his head and plant a soft kiss on her cheek. After the kiss, Cheng Lingzhu said, “These siblings were commissioned to go to a nearby town. Let’s check it out.”

“Of course, we should.’

Lu Xuan heartily agreed.

Disciples of the Dushi Sword Sect needed to experience the mortal world to comprehend life, encountering as many events as possible.

Whether happening to oneself or others.

If they can influence and change the course of these events, the gain would be even greater.

Lu Xuan snapped his fingers, casting an illusion, a layer of magical light enveloping him and Cheng Lingzhu.

In their eyes, each other’s appearance and clothing remained unchanged, but to outsiders, they now resembled Gu Ying and Gu Tie.

“Let me try driving this Scorpion Il model…”

Lu Xuan climbed onto the driver’s seat of the scavenger’s vehicle, extending his hand to Cheng Lingzhu.

From her perspective, it looked as if a young, white-robed immortal was standing on a tractor-like broken vehicle, inviting her to join him.

She smiled slightly, placing her delicate hand in his.

Yellowstone Town.

“Clang, clang, clang… Clang!”

The garbage truck came to a halt in front of a wooden fence.

“Who’s there?”

Several townspeople armed with guns emerged from the side, stopping the truck. These were the local militia responsible for guarding the area.

“Brother Wu, it’s me,” Lu Xuan called out as he hopped down from the truck, a smile on his face.

“Little Gu?”

The leader, recognizing “Gu Tie,” relaxed his demeanor considerably.

He approached with a smile: “Don’t you usually come at the end of the month? What brings you here a week early this time?”

“We’ve got some good stuff this time,” Lu Xuan replied with a grin, moving to the side of the truck and pulling off the black cloth covering it.

“A light machine gun and three boxes of ammo.”

The man known as Brother Wu took a quick look and whistled appreciatively: “Now that’s some fine gear… Where’d you get it?”

“We partnered up to raid a warehouse, probably belonged to the Black Tiger Gang before… Most stuff was damaged, but we managed to get some weapons,” Lu Xuan explained.

Life for scavengers often involved finding weapons and other valuable goods, which they would trade in settlements for food, water, and other necessities hard to come by in the wilderness.

Brother Wu approached the truck, running his hand over the barrel of the gun with undisguised envy: “I’m really jealous of you, kid. You got a truck, got a gun, roaming the wastelands freely, and even have a… Sister to keep you company.”

He was aware of the true nature of Gu Ying and Gu Tie’s relationship, a common occurrence in the wastelands.

“Brother Wu, you jest. If anyone should be envied, it’s us wanderers who envy you stable folks,” Lu Xuan replied, tapping the side of the truck. “Roaming the wilderness every day without a stable place to live, how can that compare to your life?”

“Alright, alright, enough flattering me,” Brother Wu waved his hand, beckoning Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu: “Come on, let’s talk inside the town. Liu, you and the others unload the machine gun and ammo…”

In Huangyan Town, at the Mayor’s house.

As “distinguished guests” who brought a light machine gun and three large boxes of ammunition, Lu Xuan and his companion were given significant attention.

In front of each of them was a large plate of a mushy substance, somewhat resembling curry.

Lu Xuan stirred it with chopsticks. It was a mixed food consisting of diced carrots, peas, some type of root vegetable, and even minced meat.

This was already quite an impressive hospitality for the guests.

Besides the honored guests Lu Xuan and his companion, the host Mayor, and Brother Wu, who was on good terms with the Gu siblings, were present.

Brother Wu was eating quietly, gulping down the food. The Mayor looked at him sympathetically and kicked him under the table.

Lu Xuan and his companion chose not to try this wasteland specialty.

After casting an illusion, and in the spirit of not wasting food, they discreetly returned their mushy plates to the pot.

“Little Gu, Little Ying,” the Mayor of Huangyan Town said with a smile.

“Yes?” Lu Xuan responded.

“Well, I won’t lie to you, this batch of goods is indeed very good and just what our town needs,” the Mayor began, hesitating before continuing, “But the timing of your arrival is a bit unfortunate. Someone came last week and exchanged a batch of food, and we don’t have much surplus grain in town right now. Your goods are quite valuable…”

“What do you suggest?” Cheng Lingzhu asked proactively.

“Well, we don’t have much grain left, but we do have some canned meat. If you’re willing, we can trade with canned meat,” the Mayor pondered for a moment before adding, “Or, at the end of next month, we’ll have a new batch of grain from outside the village. We can give you part of it today and complete the trade next month.”

“We’ve done many transactions before, and you know our town’s reputation.

We won’t cheat you out of your goods.”

Canned meat was valuable, but not popular among scavengers.

It was overpriced; one can could be traded for a bag of flour, but a can of meat would only last a day, while a bag of flour could last a week.

The Mayor paused: “There’s also something we received last week. I don’t know if you might be interested..”