Chu Fei looked around carefully. This was a small plaza with a rough, heavily weathered concrete floor.
Beneath the flagpole stood an instructor in his forties, glancing at his watch.
On the north side, near the hillside, was a row of wide benches and some strange wooden racks, where four muscular old men were playing chess.
More and more youths arrived, panting heavily.
Suddenly, the instructor under the flagpole looked up and said coldly,
"Time's up! Seventeen arrived, ten failed."
After a short wait, Cao Liwen appeared, driving a group of teenagers toward the benches.
The four old men stood up; two of them came forward, grabbed a boy's arms, and forced him onto a bench, holding him down.
One old man produced a two-meter-long whip.
Chu Fei's eyes widened. A real teaching whip!
The old man cracked the whip sharply, producing a crisp snap.
The boy screamed in terror and struggled.
The old man sneered,
"Lesson one: lagging behind means punishment!"
He swung the whip in a wide arc, emitting a terrifying shriek as it struck the boy's back.
A sickening crack echoed.
The boy's head jerked back exaggeratedly; his mouth opened wide, eyes bulged, whole body trembling violently, his throat wheezing — he couldn't even scream.
Chu Fei's heart tightened painfully; his scalp tingled.
An indescribable fear exploded deep inside.
Three lashes fell in succession, and the boy collapsed, twitching on the ground.
Two old men moved on to the next boy.
Screams, cries, and pleas for mercy burst out, some even trying to run.
But there was nowhere to escape.
Moments later, ten figures twitched on the ground — screaming, crying, vomiting, wetting themselves — all kinds of suffering.
The old men put away the "teaching whip" and left laughing.
Cao Liwen approached the flagpole, coldly looking at Chu Fei and the others.
"Top three, step forward."
Chu Fei took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and stepped forward.
Cao Liwen said calmly,
"You three performed well. In this apocalypse, those who don't strive to be first will become others' stepping stones."
"Now, you may enjoy the rewards of victory. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them."
Chu Fei quickly asked,
"Teacher, can you introduce Dawnlight Academy? Also, our study plan?"
"Dawnlight Academy was built under Principal Wu Yong's leadership to train Awakened Ones for Feihu City. Wu is also a senior cultivation advisor to Feihu City, second only to the city lord."
"As for you, of course, work hard to master Big Data Cultivation and strive to become Awakened Ones! The best elites may even become Principal Wu's personal disciples!"
Several youths' eyes lit up.
Chu Fei asked again,
"What is Big Data Cultivation?"
Cao Liwen explained:
Big Data Cultivation is the pinnacle of technology.
Its core is the Metaverse Theory and the Cosmic Brain Theory.
The Metaverse Theory holds that the ultimate building block of matter is the "string," which is neither matter nor energy, but a kind of "high-dimensional data structure."
The Cosmic Brain Theory suggests that the brain's structure closely resembles the macrostructure of the universe — it is a natural "cosmic brain" with powerful data processing abilities and infinite potential.
Together, these theories form the scientific foundation of Big Data Cultivation.
The goal of Big Data Cultivation is to become a "pure data lifeform," transcending the material world.
The body's first layer of Big Data is the genes.
Big Data Cultivation starts with unlocking genes, which can make one an "Awakened One."
Big Data Cultivation is the product of peak science, requiring rich scientific knowledge.
"Cultivation aptitude" directly reflects one's learning ability — which can be pushed, for example… by the teaching whip!
Finally, Cao Liwen added,
"Learning is hard because Big Data Cultivation requires an enormous and complex amount of knowledge.
Now that it's an apocalypse, knowledge inheritance is even harder, so only 'endless hard work' can carry you through."
Hard work indeed.
Chu Fei looked silently at the twitching youths on the ground.
This is way too harsh!
After explaining some minor issues, they started assigning dorm rooms.
The top three had priority; Chu Fei naturally took the chance and chose a cleaner, sunny room.
As the sunset deepened, Chu Fei collected his supplies and sat on the somewhat worn bed, pondering his situation — especially the "gem" that had flashed twice in his mind.
No matter how hard he tried, no trace remained.
"Doesn't show up? Fine, I have it anyway."
Chu Fei looked around the dorm.
It wasn't big.
A mechanical clock hung on the wall, next to a schedule.
On the desk was a worn math textbook, Elementary Mathematics.
Opening it, Chu Fei was stunned — the characters were still characters, largely unchanged.
This was a unique trait of the Yanhuang civilization — unlike some phonetic languages, which lose recognition of words every couple hundred years.
However, the technical terms, formulas, and theorems were unfamiliar.
After searching, Chu Fei finally found a popular science book on Big Data Cultivation theory — essential reading.
Big Data Cultivation centers on Metaverse Theory and Cosmic Brain Theory.
Human brains resemble the universe's macroscopic structure by more than 99%.
But this resemblance includes not only biological structures but also energy structures and even quantum levels.
Ordinary people's "cosmic brains" are latent and must be activated into an explicit state.
This requires a special kind of abstract mathematical thinking training — a unique meditation form of Big Data Cultivation — to form a pure mathematical structure.
This is the cosmic brain and the start of cultivation.
The cosmic brain naturally possesses powerful computing power; this computing power is cultivation strength.
The formula for computing power S is:
S = A × Bⁿ
S consists of three parts: base number A, base B, and potential exponent n.
Base number A represents the body's basic Big Data — genes.
The human genome has about 26,000 genes, but only about 3,200 core genes determine the body's biological structure, with little variation among individuals.
A is usually recorded as 3200.
Base B is the numeral system; the body uses octal (base 8).
Genes' base pairs are grouped in eights, fixed as 8.
Potential exponent n is the intelligence index of life, related to negative entropy and Schumann resonance, commonly called "potential."
Normal people's initial potential ranges from 7.2 to 7.8.
7.2 is the lower limit.
7.5 is the median, with most people around 7.5 ± 0.05.
7.8 is the upper limit.
Below 7.2, the brain's computing power is too low to meet the needs of intelligent life, manifesting as congenital intellectual disability.
Genius potential typically ranges from 7.6 to 7.7, with very few exceeding 7.7.
According to the formula, cultivation can be increased by raising A, B, or n.
Increasing A is easiest — through exercise, tech assistance, drugs — unlocking some latent genes.
Research shows reasonable exercise can improve body functions (energy supply, neuron density, signal speed), increasing by about 10% before plateauing.
Changing B is nearly impossible; DNA's four base pairs cannot be altered easily.
Diploidy might help, but risks death.
Finally, potential n fluctuates most and directly relates to human intellect.
Improving n is cultivation's core — via effort, self-improvement, learning, thinking, practice, refining character, and emotional cultivation.
The "cunning old foxes" mainly improve potential greatly.
Higher computing power demands more energy, which the body can only provide in limited amounts — explaining why exercise boosts intelligence and why elderly people's computing power declines due to weaker energy supply.
When potential exceeds 7.8, the brain's computing power overflows physiological limits, producing "superpowers," or "psychic power."
This psychic power is a fusion of body energy and computing power, creating "execution power" — like a computer and its driver module.
Breaking through to 8.0 enables psychic power to alter the material world, e.g., actively adjusting one's genes.
This is the Awakened One.
"Ah, so this is Big Data Cultivation!
8^7.5 and 8^7.7 differ by 51.57%!
No wonder ordinary people and geniuses differ so much.
I wonder what my potential is?"
Chu Fei turned to the next chapter: Cosmic Brain and Abstract Thinking.
Abstract thinking is vital in math research and is the meditation method unique to Big Data Cultivation!
To master Big Data Cultivation, besides mathematical thinking, one needs vast scientific knowledge — biology, genetics, physics, chemistry, computer theory, ergonomics, and extensive natural sciences — all-around development.
"So, the core of Big Data Cultivation isn't mystical energy, but knowledge!
Truly, knowledge changes destiny.
I want to change my fate!"
Between the glorious future of Big Data Cultivation and the brutal teaching whip, Chu Fei's heart exploded with an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
He reopened Elementary Mathematics.
Though called "elementary," it was inherited from a glorious era and was quite difficult — more like a dictionary of elementary math.
As dusk deepened, Cao Liwen's figure passed outside the window, and he kindly turned on the light for Chu Fei.
Chu Fei glanced back; Cao Liwen was already walking away, saying,
"Turn on the light when it's dark, protect your eyes.
Dinner in 20 minutes, the cafeteria is to the east."
Watching Cao Liwen's departing figure, Chu Fei resumed reading.
Before he knew it, the clock chimed.
Chu Fei suddenly woke with a start, surprised at his own study efficiency — he'd read a fifth of the math dictionary in less than 90 minutes!
Recalling the points, each knowledge detail flashed clearly before his eyes.
Then his vision blurred again; a "gem" surfaced from deep within his consciousness.
This time, Chu Fei saw it clearly:
It was a sparkling fruit, thumb-sized, shaped like a paulownia seed, with a calyx.
Mysterious information rose in his mind:
A seed of the Wisdom Tree.
Like an ordinary seed needs water and fertilizer, the Wisdom Tree seed needs knowledge!
Because knowledge can be copied, Chu Fei need not expend extra effort.
In return, the Wisdom Tree seed grants powerful learning ability!
(End of chapter)