287: The power of fixed and uncertain

Every drink and every peck has its fixed measure.

Lin Chen, having thought a lot, realized he had grasped a sliver of the Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness. For this supreme power, he had stepped through the threshold and could expand his mastery through this sliver.

Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness—fixed numbers and variables—are naturally opposing yet two sides of the same coin.

Sometimes it happens just like that, suddenly.

Lin Chen didn't focus on comprehending this supreme power, but during his daily meditation, a flash of inspiration allowed him to master it.

One could only say that flowers planted with care do not bloom, while willows planted casually grow into shade.

The Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness, as a supreme power, is indeed strong.

But Lin Chen's Main Body didn't have the energy to comprehend it, and other Clones had their own paths. The best way was to create a specific Clone, just like Faith Lin Chen.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Chen made a decision.

His Soul capacity was constantly increasing; Myriad Transformation Soul Spirit was very useful. Before his Soul quality reached Main God Level, he didn't need to worry about Soul resources.

So Lin Chen could split another Clone to carry that sliver of Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness.

Soon, based on the External Incarnation single-Clone Cultivation Technique, Lin Chen split a Clone named Variable Lin Chen.

Variable Lin Chen was born at the Lower God Realm, with the sliver of Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness as its core.

To improve this supreme power, he needed to find variables in the world and seek out those who represented fixed numbers.

Variables? The greatest variable in this world was Lin Chen himself.

Fixed numbers? Any being below Foundation Level in this world has their fixed measure.

So Variable Lin Chen just needed to stay by the Main Body, and his power would soar. It wouldn't take long before he could freely utilize this supreme power.

This was quite overpowered.

Among many supreme powers, the Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness might be the first to reach Foundation Level, growing even faster than those he mastered earlier.

And Lin Chen had a resource for it.

The polyhedral crystal from the Gods Graveyard.

It contained this supreme power.

He hadn't used it before because he didn't want to waste such a carrier.

Now it could be used directly; it was the most suitable resource to stabilize his Foundation.

"Main Body, with our connection, I don't need to be with you always. I need to walk the world to understand the power of fixed numbers to balance the variable power we've materialized."

"Reasonable. Go then."

Variable Lin Chen left the Ancestral Court Great World, entered a spatial crack, and arrived at his destination.

This was not Human Race Territory, but a common star system near the Immortal Race Territory.

Stepping out again, Variable Lin Chen landed on an ordinary life planet, embedding himself into the web of fate.

Formed yet formless, outside the influence of fate and Karma, both an insider and an outsider.

This is the ability of Variable Lin Chen and why the Power of Fixedness and Unfixedness is supreme.

Shielding from fate, Karma, time, and space rules to an extent, being both inside and outside the game.

A variable and a fixed number.

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Fengyuan Star, East Continent, Jing Kingdom, Qingshan Village.

"Erniu, I'm going to the Immortal sect selection. Do you want to come?"

"Brother Hao, our Aptitude is low. We didn't enter when young. Now we're seventeen or eighteen, is it too late?"

The honest youth named Erniu scratched his head and asked.

"Erniu, it's never too late to pursue longevity. Do you want to be a handful of dust in a hundred years?"

"Our friend Cuihua entered an Immortal sect. She's back, so beautiful. She's a Tier 3 Golden Core Great Cultivator, a Qi Refiner with centuries of Lifespan."

Zhou Hao kept talking, trying to convince Li Erniu but actually firming his own resolve.

Li Erniu was tempted, but had elderly parents to care for. How could he leave them?

"Brother Hao, I won't go. You know my situation. I'm not as free as you."

"Sigh, Erniu, we don't know when we'll meet again. Goodbye."

Zhou Hao left Qingshan Village for Qianyuan Sect, thousands of miles away, to seek immortality.

Twelve years passed.

"Erniu, Erniu, come back! Zhou Hao is back!"

"Brother Hao is back."

Li Erniu, tired from farm work, was dazed.

In the ancestral hall, Zhou Hao in fine clothes received compliments from elders.

After much hardship, he was a Tier 2 Foundation Establishment Cultivator, returning home in glory.

Night at Li Erniu's house.

Erniu's parents were gone; he had a wife and two kids. It was a good life.

Zhou Hao had missed his friend and regretted not bringing him along.

"Erniu, I'm successful now. Want to come to the sect? If not for you, for your kids' sake."

Erniu hesitated.

Before he could answer, Zhou Hao took out a jade talisman, received an urgent message, and left immediately.

"If you want, wait for me. I'll take your family to the sect."

Zhou Hao left; Erniu couldn't sleep.

He wanted a better life for his family, to see the world.

Another decade passed.

Erniu thought Zhou Hao died, as he'd heard stories of Immortals falling.

Twelve years later, Zhou Hao returned, missing an arm but with a deeper aura.

At Erniu's again.

"War kept me away for twelve years. I'm ashamed. Will you come?"

"I will!"

Erniu agreed firmly.

"Good, pack up, we leave tonight."

Some things aren't meant to be; that's the fixed measure.

While they packed, Zhou Hao looked at the sky nervously.

"Brother Hao, we're ready."

"Good, let's go!"

As he prepared a flying artifact, a black light appeared.

"Zhou Hao, you are here."

Zhou Hao fought the black light.

"Erniu, wait for me."

He led the enemy away and disappeared.

Erniu stared at the sky.

"Wait... luckily he left money for us."

Erniu sensed something but said nothing.

Twelve more years passed.

Zhou Hao came and left.

Another twelve years.

Zhou Hao returned.

Erniu was dying; he had a final burst of energy.

"Brother Hao, it's fate."

"Yes, fate."

Silence.

Five times Zhou Hao tried to bring him to the cultivation world, but failed.

First, parents.

Second, war.

Third, enemies.

Fourth, Erniu was old, Qianyuan Sect was destroyed, and Zhou Hao was fleeing; he only left techniques for the kids.

Fifth, the sect was gone, Zhou Hao was dying, and the two dying men talked, filled with indescribable emotions.

Both died.

Erniu never saw the cultivation world, or saw it but couldn't enter.