Qingxu Temple, Scripture Repository side hall, a newly established "Artifact Theory Debate Room." Different from the main hall's solemn, book-lined atmosphere, this debate room was quite "alternative." The walls held no bookshelves but were covered with beast skins and jade boards drawing complex energy circuits, rune array decomposition diagrams, and bizarre artifact configuration schematics. In the center was not meditation cushions but a giant sand table. Different colored spirit sands piled various three-dimensional artifact structure models. Around were scattered many small modular components made of different materials.
Over a dozen young disciples surrounded the sand table, expressions focused, even carrying a hint of fanaticism, intensely debating. Most came from the Artifact Hall, with a few from the Formation Court or Spirit Planting Hall. They were all attracted by those several texts attributed to "Luo Feng" and spontaneously gathered here to discuss, "unorthodox" types. "I think Senior Brother Luo's 'Dynamic Rune Array' concept in Chapter Three of the 'New Interpretations' is absolutely feasible!" A tall, thin disciple with bright eyes pointed at a model in the sand table that continuously flickered, changing rune combinations, excitedly saying: "Traditional artifact refining, runes are fixed, functions singular.
But if runes can adaptively change combinations based on input spiritual attribute and intensity, could not one artifact achieve several or dozens of different effects? This would completely change artifact usage paradigms!" "Easy to say!" A short, stout disciple beside immediately countered. He was handling several freely connectable metal components: "But how do you guarantee rune stability? How do you design energy circuits to withstand such dynamic changes without collapse?
Senior Brother Luo himself said this is merely theoretical deduction, far from practice! I think it is actually the 'modular construction' idea that is more practical! Look, my 'spiritual gathering' module and 'sharpness' module combined, plus this 'lightness' module, does not it become a low-grade flying attack artifact prototype? Though power is not great, it wins on low cost, simple making, and can replace damaged parts anytime!" "Brother Wang is taking shortcuts!
Modularity is good, but have you solved spiritual power conduction loss at module interfaces and energy interference between different attribute modules? Does anyone understand the 'Spirit Mediator' theory Senior Brother Luo mentioned at Chapter Two's end? Where do you find that imagined material that can balance different attribute spirits with near-zero loss conduction?" Another female disciple interjected. Before her lay an open handwritten notebook dense with calculation formulas and deductions.
"If you cannot find ready-made, cannot you try synthesizing? Did not the appendix mention several composite material conjectures possibly having similar characteristics? We can completely try!" "Right! And that 'optimal energy circuit conduction' theory, I think it can be applied to repairing damaged artifacts, bypassing damaged parts, reconstructing energy paths.
Might save a batch of artifacts considered already scrapped!" The debate rose and fell, thoughts colliding, sparks flying. Their "New Interpretations" was fully titled "New Interpretations of 'Heretical' Artifacts," precisely the artifact theory work Luo Feng exhausted his effort completing. This book was not hoarded but archived at the Scripture Repository for disciple borrowing. The book's viewpoints, to traditional artifact refiners, could be called earth-shaking.
It weakened materials' absolute importance, emphasizing structural efficiency of energy circuits; it challenged traditional fixed rune pairings, boldly proposing dynamic, adaptive rune array ideas; it abandoned the pursuit of artifacts being comprehensive, instead focusing on maximizing specific functions and free module combinations. These ideas completely overturned existing artifact refining knowledge systems. That is why it was labeled "heretical." Yet this "heresy" was like having magic, attracting a batch of young disciples unwilling to blindly follow conventions, with active thinking. They saw infinite possibility and the joy of breaking shackles in these "heresies." At this moment, in the debate room corner, on an unremarkable wheeled chair made from countless parts, sat Luo Feng quietly.
His face still pale, aura faint, cultivation remained at Qi Refining early stage, as if a gust of wind could blow him down. But his eyes were exceptionally bright, like stars in the dark night, focused on disciples' debates, the corner of his mouth occasionally showing a faint, proud arc. He did not speak to guide, did not intervene in debates. In his view, collision of thoughts was far more valuable than indoctrination.
His "New Interpretations" provided not standard answers but a brand new exploration direction full of unknowns. These young disciples could draw inspiration and develop their own thinking and attempts from it. Even if those attempts seemed naive or even wrong currently, they were all valuable treasure. "Senior Brother Luo," the tall, thin Chen disciple noticed Luo Feng in the corner, quickly stopping the debate, respectfully saluting: "Disciples are debating Senior Brother's 'Dynamic Rune Array' stability issues, arguing endlessly.
May Senior Brother enlighten us?" Other disciples also quieted, gazing eagerly at Luo Feng. Luo Feng slightly shook his head. His voice was somewhat hoarse yet carried peaceful power: "My book writes of 'possibility,' not 'certainty.' The road must be walked by yourselves, verified, even overturned. What I can do is merely push open a window for you, point a direction.
As for what scenery is outside the window, what thorns are on the road, use your own eyes to see, your own feet to measure." He paused, looking at these young faces full of vigor and exploration desire, slowly saying: "Do not be afraid of mistakes, do not fear others' words. The way of artifact refining, indeed all methods under heaven, are not unchanging. Old methods were once new; today's 'heresy' may not be tomorrow's 'principle.'" His words were like a stone dropped in a lake, spreading ripples in disciples' hearts. Right, why must we cling to ancient methods?
Why not boldly hypothesize, carefully verify? "Disciple understands!" The Chen disciple's gaze grew firmer: "We will continue attempting, even if failing thousands of times!" "Right! We are applying for a batch of basic materials to conduct composite experiments according to the appendix conjectures!" The stout disciple rubbed his hands in anticipation. Watching disciples fall back into heated discussion and planning, Luo Feng slowly pushed his wheelchair, silently leaving the debate room.
Sunlight through the window lattice shone on his thin back, casting a lonely yet upright shadow. His cultivation had not recovered; his body remained his prison. But he knew his thoughts had broken free from this body's shackles, like seeds falling into fertile soil, quietly sprouting. "New Interpretations of 'Heretical' Artifacts" might still be considered unorthodox babble by many, but within Qingxu Temple, it had already attracted a batch of firm followers.
A new artifact refining faction with "Luo Feng Theory" as its core was quietly gestating a tender form. This was not something he deliberately created, yet it was a brand new road full of unknowns and possibilities he opened for the sect through wisdom and thought from desperate circumstances. This achievement, unrelated to cultivation, might nonetheless have profound influence on Qingxu Temple and even the entire cultivation world in the future.