With the burst of firecrackers, the old year was gone.

As the first firecracker in Divine Capital resounded, the transition between the years was about to arrive.

In the past, New Year's Eve in Divine Capital was exceptionally extravagant. Although every household remained indoors, they would all set off extra fireworks to celebrate. This became a means for those bored Divine Capital nobles to showcase their extraordinariness.

Although most of them, with just a flick of their fingers, could produce magic with light and sound far more splendid than any firework by a hundredfold. But, executing magic oneself was considered degrading! Why bother when there were fireworks?

Thus, every New Year's Eve, the sky above Divine Capital would be as bright as day. And the fireworks set off by the cultivators had no pungent sulfur smell but were often accompanied by a medicinal fragrance—these exasperating folk even mixed spirit grasses and spiritual medicines into their fireworks, quite the players they were. And the Imperial Family's "Celebration Throughout the Heavens, Peace Throughout the Land" grand fireworks had become an annual ritual.

But this New Year's Eve, Divine Capital was much quieter. A feeling of "imminent collapse" weighed on the heart of every informed person; every Nascent Soul cultivator and more than half of the Golden Core Cultivators were involved in the research of a protective law, leaving no time for other matters.

Although some sober-minded Ancient Method Practitioners raised this question—isn't it unnecessary to connect Wang Qi's control over others through his Gu Technique with the destruction of Divine Capital?

But the Heart Demon Curse had already taken too many minds. Now, within the community of Ancient Method Practitioners, researching the Anti-Heart Demon Spell was the big trend—even though many didn't understand the reason behind the research.

Without the sky filled with fireworks, Divine Capital seemed especially desolate. At least in the eyes of Du Chun, who was outside the city, Divine Capital appeared that alien.

On the night of the 30th, without a moon, the stars were shining brightly. This was not a good opportunity for cultivation according to Yanyue Sect's laws, so he meditated for just a few hours before stopping, staring blankly at the city from atop a mound outside the city.

His family had been annihilated through Ancient Cultivation half a month ago, and now he had nowhere to go.

For the past half month, according to Elder Zhen's guidance, he stayed in the forests north of Divine Capital, hunting Demon Beasts for food, and meanwhile honed his combat skills while also diligently cultivating.

However, his foundation was simply too weak. Even striving for improvement after his engagement was broken off, it had been only a year. That year wasn't enough even for his Foundation Establishment.

To those who exterminated his family, his Cultivation at the Foundation Establishment level was hardly noteworthy.

Du Chun shook the jade token in his hand, "Hey, Elder Zhen, what do you think about me learning Heterodox techniques? I've heard from my father that although one couldn't become an Immortal through Heterodox paths, they possess considerable combat power... Our family hasn't produced an Immortal for thousands of years, I don't see why we should fixate on such a thing. Plus, Guo Qin... Miss Guo is also a Heterodox Cultivator and she seems to be doing quite well. Although our engagement was broken, we did have that contract, maybe if I ask her to look after me and then I switch to the Heterodox path..."

The figure of Elder Zhen materialized before Du Chun, speaking indifferently, "Do you not wish one day to tell that woman 'Do not scorn the poor youth' or 'Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west'? You're going to ask her now? Where's your ambition?"

"It's just a trivial matter between me and her, nothing compared to my family's affairs," Du Chun said with a fierce expression. "Moreover, the inheritance I received from Yanyue Sect is incomplete, it's even less possible for me to defeat the orthodox lineage of Yanyue Sect!" Du Chun exclaimed: "To take revenge, I would not hesitate to fall into the Heterodox path!"

Elder Zhen shook his head with a sigh. Under normal circumstances, indeed it would be a fine choice for him to turn to Modern Cultivation, but now, if this lad, Du Chun, were to have any contact with an ordinary Modern Cultivator, the illusion fashioned by him and Wang Qi would be almost sure to be exposed.

Moreover, if you leave, who shall we use to test the Experimental Cultivation Methods?

But Elder Zhen was a cunning old fox. He quickly figured out Du Chun's true intentions. Once he understood, he felt a sense of "A pillow when one is dozing."

"If you want a Cultivation Technique, just say so!"

Du Chun's face twisted with tension, "Elder Zhen, all this while, you've only taught me the 'Circle of Reason', imparting wisdom to me. But without strength, how can I carry through the 'Circle of Reason'? How can I walk the path of wisdom?"

Elder Zhen spoke earnestly—or rather, spoke sanctimoniously, "The 'Circle of Reason' is the Tao, not a method! By seeking only methods and forsaking the Tao, what does that make you!" Seeing Du Chun's distorted expression, Elder Zhen suddenly changed his tone, "However, in light of the deep-seated hatred you bear, I will impart to you a scroll of Cultivation Technique after all."

"This scroll of practices for combat and such doesn't have any particular advantage over ordinary Cultivation Techniques, but on the other hand, it excels in one aspect—it is completely impervious to that one Gu Technique of Yanyue Sect!"

Du Chun's body shivered, "There is actually... such a technique?"

"It didn't exist originally. I created it specifically for you over half a month," Elder Zhen said. No%te fro#m the e.d+ito*r^:% A%l&w@ay+s+ c!heck! MV2@L!EM+PY&R+ for correct$i@o@ns.

Du Chun's gaze chilled, "Don't joke with me, Elder Zhen. A Cultivation Technique created in a month, how profound can it be?"

Elder Zhen smiled faintly, "But, having lived for tens of thousands of years and having seen countless Cultivation Techniques, how could it be strange to come up with a Technique in the heat of the moment with such a wealth of experience? Moreover, the 'Circle of Reason' is the way of wisdom. Once you have mastered wisdom and understood the way within the Cultivation Techniques, it's not impossible for you to create your own."

Du Chun finally showed interest, "What's so special about this scroll of techniques on its own?"

"It could enhance its own quality!" After a brief silence, Zhen Chan smiled.

Pupils sharply contracting, Du Chun stared unwaveringly at Zhen Chan before him, and only after a long time shook his head. "Impossible! I've never heard of any cultivation technique capable of enhancing one's own quality!"

"Tch, what do you know, you little fellow? Shenzhou is boundless and filled with innumerable wonders—things you deem impossible are plenty in the eyes of someone who has never left the Divine Capital." Zhen Chan mocked disdainfully.

The cultivation technique he intended to pass on to Du Chun was adapted from the Heavenly Calculation Atlas, omitting the Modern Cultivators' step of communicating with heaven and earth while retaining the characteristics of evolution. Chen Feng and Chen Youjia had made several modifications to this piece of cultivation technique. As soon as someone began to practice it, a Divine Skill would be generated, equivalent to the spell that Zhao Qingfeng had deduced for refining the power of the Heart Demon Curse.

Converting Modern Cultivation Methods into Ancient Cultivation Methods wasn't impossible, but that would require an in-depth understanding of Modern Cultivation Methods themselves. And who would be able to achieve this step and then choose to cultivate the Ancient Method? Therefore, "Modern to Ancient Conversion" rarely appeared in Shenzhou.

The Heavenly Calculation Atlas could generate Divine Skills as the cultivator cultivated, of course, it could also produce specific Divine Skills based on certain Qi Flow routes. Many common cultivation techniques in Tianling Ridge were a "degraded version of the Heavenly Calculation Atlas—sacrificing some evolutionary abilities to stimulate specific Divine Skills."

Divine Skills produced by the Heavenly Calculation Atlas were similar to Bloodline Divine Powers, with a certain chance of being passed down hereditarily. According to Chen Feng's plan, if the mature version of this cultivation technique was promoted throughout Shenzhou, it was possible to establish a barrier against the Heart Demon Curse within just a few generations.

And the meaning behind Du Chun's existence was to—perfect this cultivation technique. The Heavenly Calculation Atlas would evolve, as long as people cultivated it, it would continually produce amazing changes that not even the founders could have imagined, and the cultivation technique would perfect itself.

Or rather, life would find its own way out.

After receiving the message from Zhen Chan that "the target has accepted the cultivation technique," Chen Feng smiled faintly. "This might very well be the biggest achievement we've made over the past month, right?"

Wang Qi patted his shoulder. "Boss, I have to remind you of something— even if it really can form resistance in two or three generations, that's of no help to our current situation! Senior Feng won't remove the Heavenly Sword because there might be resistance in two or three generations! We could still possibly be crushed to death any day by a sword technique falling from the sky!"

"At least, we've repaid some of our own mistakes. Shenzhou won't be destroyed because of us," Chen Feng said, still looking optimistic. "Oh, that was you repaying for your mistakes. I was doing a great good."

"At a time like this, you can still joke around," Wang Qi retorted.

Chen Feng responded helplessly, "What else do you want me to do? I've done everything I could."

"Forget it, let's not worry about it anymore." Wang Qi grabbed Chen Youjia, ready to head back to the room. "I still need to continue perfecting the 'Divine Spirit'. Let's go."

Suddenly, Chen Feng called out to them, "Wang Qi, I remember, yours has also hit a deadlock, right?"

Wang Qi replied irritably, "Indeed, it has!"

A program only reveals bugs and collects inadequacies through constant running and repeated use, allowing for continuous improvement and enhancement.

Of course, some companies on Earth also have the "beta" strategy to use. But, the nature of Wang Qi's program was closer to a medical product than an electronic one, with countless people's fortunes and lives at stake; a slightest mishap could create hundreds of insane cultivators. Without achieving perfection, it simply couldn't be used.

Now, Wang Qi could only rely on the power of Jarvis and the Ten Thousand Immortals True Mirror to simulate a Heart Demon Network-like local network based on non-linear algorithms, and gradually simulate the Divine Spirit Program.

"If you think about it, you two aren't lacking this little time, right?" Chen Feng asked. "The data your simulator collects overnight probably isn't enough for you to analyze in an hour."

Chen Youjia inquired, "What do you mean?"

Chen Feng smiled. "Sit down and take it easy. Relaxation is essential for progress. Just for tonight, let's take a break." Then he leisurely took out a big sea bowl of wonton from his Storage Bag. "Come to think of it, we've been in the Divine Capital for so many years and the three of us have never spent a New Year's Eve together, have we?"

Chen Youjia trembled slightly, only then remembering that she had hardly eaten properly this month due to the efforts against the Anti-Demon Spell. Her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked towards Wang Qi. Wang Qi thought it over and decided that taking a break for the night wasn't a bad idea.

Thus, the three of them sat together in the courtyard, sharing a bowl of shepherd's purse and pork stuffed wontons.

And they did this knowing they were being targeted by the Heavenly Sword.

Wang Qi exclaimed, "Brother, if one day, I could be as carefree as you, regardless of the situation, that would be great."

Chen Feng smiled. "Perhaps I won't be so carefree tomorrow."

Under the threat of the Heavenly Sword, the Divine Capital was no longer as splendid as before. But as fireworks fade, the starry sky remains eternal. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)