Chapter 705 — The Blazing Thoroughfare
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
These flames were crystals formed from several hexagonal rhombi, endlessly arising and annihilating—most intriguing. "A strange phenomenon of the arts of calculation. " Shen Mu's spirits rose.
He looked on, and saw that within the hexagonal rhombi of the heavenfire there were yet other flame crystals, in the form of equilateral octagons—unstable, now flat, now round. His interest mounting, he looked deeper, and saw that the heavenfire was layered in structure upon structure of calculation.
The further in he went, the more complex the structures became. He kept peering deeper into the heavenfire, and layer after layer of calculative structure revealed itself. The crystal forms further in were no longer confined to a single simple geometric construction, but grew ever more complex.
Shen Mu took out measuring tools, noted his measurements on paper, then assembled his own calculating elemental soldiers to compute, writing out column after column of equations as he tried to unravel the mysteries of the heavenfire. His research delved ever deeper.
He forgot day and night, utterly absorbed in the transformations of calculation.
Without realizing it, he had explored to the very core of the heavenfire, and there he saw tiny points colliding with one another at unimaginable speed, generating tremendous heat and destructive force. Strangely, each of these infinitesimal points followed its own distinct trajectory, tracing out perfect calculative structures as it moved. If vital qi were used to drive the heavenfire, these collisions would grow even more violent, and the temperature of the heavenfire would reach its utmost extreme!
"Is this the most minute form of the heavenfire crystal? " Shen Mu seemed to see before him the most beautiful of paintings, and he could not help but be intoxicated by them.
The arts of calculation were the most perfect and beautiful of pictures—and the two great canons of calculation of the Daoist sect could no longer explain the microscopic structure of the heavenfire. The Taixuan Canon of Calculation and the Sunü Canon of Calculation could explain the macroscopic structure of the cosmos and the stars, but they were wholly inapplicable to the microscopic structure of the heavenfire.
Shen Mu calculated and extrapolated without cease.
His records grew ever more numerous, and his analysis of the heavenfire's microscopic structure ever more extensive. He was immersed in it, and the mathematical equations he compiled could well be gathered into a new canon of calculation. Long Qilin, bearing the sword elixir on his back, found walking rather laborious; and since Shen Mu was absorbed in the microscopic calculations of the heavenfire and had no time to urge him on, Long Qilin grew slack as well.
By the time they reached Jianglong City, more than ten days had passed. At last, Shen Mu finished analyzing the microscopic form of the heavenfire, completing the final calculative equation.
Shen Mu stretched lazily, sorted the thick stack of papers, and read through them from beginning to end. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"The Daoist sect's canon of calculation is called the Taixuan Canon of Calculation.
Xuan means 'great. ' Wei means 'small. ' So I shall call this canon of mine the Taiwei Canon of Calculation.
" The Taiwei Canon of Calculation and the Taixuan Canon of Calculation were entirely different systems of calculation, employing wholly different arts.