Chapter 746: The Skewed Opening of the 2nd Debate

Shang Tingjie smiled and said, “Let’s change the order for who goes down. You go first, and instruct the disciples who follow: we’ll humor them. Focus the discussion entirely on ‘storage,’ and don’t mention ‘computation’ whatsoever. We’ll try to bluff our way through.

“Even if he realizes something is off, it won’t matter. Without the topic of ‘computation’ to point them in the right direction, they’ll have no idea where the real issue lies. They’ll be left stumped and worried!”

“Understood!”

“Got it!”

“…”

As they responded, the nine members of the fleet’s Rainbow Bridge council all broke into smiles. Down below, Fang Lei’s opening argument was drawing to a close.

…

When Fang Lei concluded his argument, no disciples stepped forward to offer a rebuttal.

As the other party exited, Yuu Guang materialized on the plaza, much to the surprise of many onlookers. He began his discourse on the storage and retrieval of big data, then guided the topic, drawing comparisons between the two paths and extending the discussion toward Array storage.

As the discussion progressed, many disciples felt as if they were listening to a foreign language. Over in the Array Department, however, many High-Tier Disciples sensed something was amiss, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it. They listened intently, wracking their brains.

The strange atmosphere lingered, and the skies remained silent. If things didn’t pick up soon, this debate initiated by Celestial Spirit would be considered a total bust.

The Celestial Universe Federation, however, was actively ‘helping,’ selflessly contributing to the discussion of ‘storage.’

This continued until Shang Tingjie descended. He scanned the crowd, his gaze pausing for a moment on the Spirit Nurturing Peak’s Floating Island Group before he spoke. “Seeing as the last discussion was quite effective, I’ll take a page from that book.

“I believe that our Celestial Universe’s big data storage and Hongmeng’s Array Skill Space are much the same. Both are virtual, and both deal with the storage and retrieval of data.

“The only difference is that we use mechanical retrieval, whereas you use manual, selective access. That’s why they appear to have some differences.

“Fundamentally, however, there is no difference. It’s all essentially about the storage and retrieval of data. To put it plainly, it’s like a bookshelf. Data storage and retrieval is just like taking books off a shelf and putting them back.”

In the sky, Zhang Deming paused for a moment. ‘He wants to completely steer all the disciples into discussing just the storage and retrieval aspects of the Array Dao so they can reap the benefits? What a beautiful dream!’

As the thought crossed his mind, Zhang Deming spent a few points and descended to offer a rebuttal.

At the sight of Zhang Deming, all the disciples in the sky—especially those who had been zoning out for a while—instantly became attentive. Shang Tingjie’s expression also grew slightly more serious.

Zhang Deming gave Shang Tingjie a respectful salute. “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Shang.”

“The honor is mine, Fellow Daoist Zhang,” Shang Tingjie replied, returning the gesture.

After their exchange of courtesies, Zhang Deming began, “Fellow Daoist Shang is correct. An Array Dao Technique’s Magic Space and a big data storage database are, in fact, no different. They both concern the storage, retrieval, and processing of data.”

Zhang Deming stressed the word “processing,” and Shang Tingjie’s expression shifted slightly as he realized they might not be able to muddle through after all.

Zhang Deming paused, paying no mind to the other man’s reaction, and continued, “However, the two paths also have a fundamental difference. They cannot be generalized.”

“Oh? How so, Fellow Daoist Shang?” Shang Tingjie asked, his face a neutral mask.

Zhang Deming didn’t reply at once. Instead, he looked up, scanned the host of Cultivators filling the sky, and said, “I imagine quite a few disciples were just practicing some Divine Travel, weren’t you?”

A wave of silence washed over the disciples in the sky.

Zhang Deming nodded. “To be honest, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I was doing some Divine Traveling myself. Their topic was too profound, and we’re… too short. We can’t get a word in at all!”

Many of the disciples nodded in agreement, but others wore strange expressions.

“Oh, and don’t you dare tell the Sect Leader,” Zhang Deming added with a mischievous, conspiratorial look. “Otherwise, I’ll get dragged over the coals right here in this meeting. I’m a little… short.”

“Ahem…”

Just then, Sect Leader Dang Jun’an let out a few coughs. Zhang Deming put on an expression of feigned shock. “No, no, not that deep! It couldn’t possibly be that deep!”

“Haha…”

The joke itself wasn’t that funny, but Zhang Deming’s delivery and his final line sent everyone into hysterics.

But then Zhang Deming’s expression changed once more, becoming coolly detached. “Every disciple who just laughed has completed one cycle of data retrieval, storage, and processing! That is the foundation of the Big Data Dao!

“What you knew before is your ‘stored’ knowledge. When you heard my words just now, you ‘retrieved’ your past experiences, ‘processed’ them, and the final result was ‘laughter.’ This is a perfectly standard data flow.”

The disciples across the sky were taken aback. Guided by the experience of the previous discussion, many of them fell into deep thought.

Zhang Deming didn’t drag it out. He stated directly, “First, I must explain the fundamental difference between the two paths’ methods of access. Hongmeng initiated the Array Dao through Skill, perceiving Array Runes from between Heaven and Earth.

“As it developed, concepts like Magic Space and True Space emerged, which then gave rise to Arrays.

“In a Trapping Array, we modify an occupied portion of True Space and open an Array Space to confine a target;

“In a Killing Array, we use a Magic Space to store the corresponding Magic Runes, constructing a Killing Daoist Technique to strike a target;

“In an Illusion Array, we combine True Space with illusory space, using an Illusion Skill to delude a target.

“The convergence of these three systems, supplemented by the various paths of Hongmeng, gives rise to the Hongmeng Array Cultivator. This has formed countless Arrays and constitutes the whole of Hongmeng’s Array Dao.”

Zhang Deming’s discourse on the Array Dao was concise. Those who had passed the Entry Level could understand it completely. Those who hadn’t felt like they both understood and didn’t at the same time. It was enough to follow along, but not nearly enough to base an argument on.

He paused, then continued, “As for the Celestial Universe’s Array Dao, the reason I say it’s completely different is that its fundamental data storage involves no space whatsoever.