After the introduction section, the researchers put away the chuckles and gathered around Anji to offer her snacks while testing her knowledge about spells and arrays. According to the senior researchers, Anji was a special child prodigy who could do complicated calculations and had interesting ideas. The Mystical Qilin Sect scouted and brought her back after convincing her parents.
In other words, many researchers speculated how Anji was a candidate to become the sect’s new successor. Their blind leader would not select anyone inapt. In fact, she had long declared that nobody in the sect met her requirements to study the secret clairvoyance art unique to the sect. Then again, not many people in the sect could get past the Radiant Core stage of cultivation. Many senior researchers were hard stuck at the Radiant stage, giving up making cultivation progress and turning their attention to more experiments instead. Some have left the mountain, frustrated by the lack of progress in the mountain, believing that widening their experience and world by leaving would give them the insights required to break through. Only a handful of senior researchers managed to touch the transcendent core, but nobody came close to their sect master, who was a half-sage at the apex of the Divine Core.
"Do you know the five-element theory? Explain how the five elements can help to stabilise each other when there is an imbalance."
"What about the energy conversion theory? Which method do you find most useful when converting dense qi collected from the environment over time that has to be displaced intermittently?"
"Can you suggest a method you would use to identify a mistake in a spell circuit? How would you control each variant to ensure it is accurate without miscalculating a three-tier circuit?"
With an endless stream of questions fired at her from every direction, each more complicated than the last, Anji’s eyes spun. Was this the real test?
Unable to keep up but determined to reply to as many as she could with her inferior knowledge, Anji ignored the pleasantries and manners, answering them straightforwardly.
"Yes, I know the five-element theory. The five elements water, earth, metal, fire and wood can be used as support and growth accelerators for each direct relationship. When there is an imbalance, adding more of the supporting element could help sustain the weakened element for a while. However, replenishing the weakened element is more important than continuously adding a supporting element that could burden the supporting element of the supporting element."
"The energy conversion theory states that one breath of qi is not always equal, and the quality of qi is determined based on the amount of work it can do on the same device, measured by the time it takes to become fully exhausted. Typically, processed qi, also known as dense qi, is more effective for short explosive uses but works poorly for long continuous uses due to the circuit conversion energy loss. For frequent intermittent uses, the circuit to convert dense qi into useable qi should be in constant circulation instead of hibernating until activation to minimise the consumption of qi upon circuit activation. However, depending on the length of the intermittent activation, a conventional circuit might be more cost-effective. Alternatively, increasing the storage capacity using low-level crystals for less dense qi can be more effective."
"In a three-tier circuit, I would normally draft the circuit elements and connections before inserting the calculations to ensure there are no engraving mistakes. The calculations I use can be cross-checked using a matrix method. However, I’m not very good at tabulation, so I use the linear listing method with indented signs for easier identification."
With so many questions to answer, Anji’s stress levels drastically increased when she started forgetting questions that someone else had asked previously. At the same time, the number of questions asking her about theories she was unfamiliar with or had never heard about became more. In the end, all she could do was apologise for her incompetence when the researchers asked for her opinion on space-time conversion triangular theory, anti-gravity regulations and semi-filtering security ward arrays.
Taking note of her answers, the researchers nodded and discussed among themselves while others continued to ask Anji their questions. In their eyes, Anji’s understanding of spells and arrays was no less than that of any senior librarian. It might even be on par with some research assistants. For such a young child, this was an astounding accomplishment. However, unlike the research assistants and researchers, Anji did not seem to have a specific niche. Her answers for everything were very generalised.
It made sense for Anji to be a jack of all trades. She must not have any real experience with experiments, only calculations and theory. The practical aspect of research requires many years of testing and setbacks. Many doubted that Anji understood what a setback was. She looked like a sheltered young miss raised by good parents and a loving household. No wonder her orientation period was one month. Whoever her patron was wanted them to toughen her up. Presently, Anji was like tofu. She would easily be squished and damaged under a little pressure. No matter how bright she was, the sect could not continuously coddle her whenever she made a mistake. Yet, they were expected to guide her on top of toughening her up.
Eventually, the technical questions stopped as the researchers gathered to exchange opinions with each other. Anji stood there awkwardly, not knowing if she did well enough.
After what felt like a long time, they concluded their discussions and turned back to Anji. With a solemn expression, the oldest-looking researcher asked her one last question.
"What do you want to accomplish from joining the Mystical Qilin Sect? Is there anything in particular you want to study or research?" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Stumped by the question, Anji paused for a long time. As the minute passed, the frown on her face grew deeper. This time, it was the researchers who waited in anticipation of her answer. Most applicants had their answers ready when applying to join their sect. However, Anji was a special case. Someone poached her from her parent’s nest to raise her in their isolated sect. It was merely a question out of curiosity, not a question meant to test her knowledge. Yet, for Anji, it seemed to be the most troubling of them all.
For a long time, Anji thought about her reason for joining the Mystical Qilin Sect. She never thought about wanting to study or research anything in particular. If anything, she was here to repay her shifu’s kindness and accept the successor training.
Yet, after witnessing part of her dream through the amazing inventions hidden inside the Mystical Qilin Sect, Anji became more certain that spiritual tools can be used to better the lives of common folks. Unlike the researchers who had a particular interest or obsession, Anji only thought about learning it to better others.
"On my way here, I passed by the Eternal Night Valley. There was no sunlight in that valley, so the only things that grew there were mushrooms. However, I thought it would be wonderful if I could create an artificial sun inside the valley so people could grow their own food, so merchants would not need to travel a risky path, and people would not have to go into bidding wars for food."
Hearing her answer, the researchers exchanged glances. It was not uncommon for people to invent things to make their chores easier. However, mass-distributing these to commoners who did not know anything about cultivation could be dangerous.
"In addition," Anji added after a lot of hesitation. "I would like to create a special shield for cultivators so they would not sustain fatal attacks. Although cultivators recover quickly, it’s over if they receive damage to a vital organ or sustain damage to their golden core. My father is heading to war against the demonic sect, and my brothers are joining. I’m still too young to participate but want to help them. If there is some way to merge my medical knowledge into spells, maybe I could create a spiritual version of a first aid kit too!"
Hearing the child’s innocent intent, the researchers paused. Although they had never left the sect since they joined, they knew there was a war ongoing that never concluded properly with the demonic sect. If the girl’s father and brothers were going to fight in that war once more, it could only mean she was from a cultivator family. There were only a few cultivator families with influence like that. However, not knowing the truth of her identity might be better for them.
Instead, they agonised over her niche interest. There were not many researchers who specialised in domestic and medical research projects. These were usually side projects done by senior researchers who were not on a deadline to present their newest findings to the sect every three years to keep their office. There was no merit in doing domestic research, and the only person in this sect with enough medical knowledge was Doctor Yun, who was a civilian.
Stuck in a dilemma, they huddled together to discuss what they should do with the smart tofu princess. Nobody wanted to take responsibility for toughening her up without the right skills to nurture her. Anji’s basics were already strong. They had nothing else to teach her that would be of use.
Standing in the middle of the meeting hall, Anji waited nervously, watching the backs of the researchers turned towards her.
Did she pass the interview?