Chapter 13: The Stabilizing Needle Calms the Mind, Constants Remain Steady as a Mountain
The stabilizing needle calms the mind, constants remain unchanged like a mountain.Staying true to the original intention leads to the great way; both cultivation and programming are equally suitable.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window into the conference hall, where the five disciples of the Instant Noodles Sect were gathered, arguing passionately over the name of their soon-to-be-formed battle team. With the grand examination of the sect approaching, they needed a striking name in addition to intensifying their training.
“I think we should call ourselves the ‘Five Elements Divine Beast Team’!” Han Duck excitedly waved his arms, “It sounds very imposing!”
Lin Man scratched his head and chuckled, “Well… isn’t that a bit too complicated? I think ‘Instant Noodles Elite Team’ sounds pretty good.”
“Too cliché!” Xiao Lie scoffed, “We are going to participate in the grand examination, how can we use such a rustic name? I suggest ‘Heavenly Gang Beidou Battle Group’, which is both majestic and meaningful.”
Bai Ruoxue softly said, “I think ‘Lingxi Team’ is nice, simple and poetic.”
“Too literary,” Xiao Lie retorted, “Not imposing enough!”
Liuyuyan watched her teammates argue and felt a bit amused. She recalled that in the real world, team projects often faced similar naming disputes. Everyone had their own ideas, but it was hard to reach a consensus.
“Everyone, stop arguing for a moment,” Liuyuyan raised her hand, “Let’s go one by one, each person can say their favorite name, and then we can discuss together.”
Han Duck jumped in, “I already said, ‘Five Elements Divine Beast Team’!”
Lin Man followed, “I think ‘Instant Noodles Elite Team’ is pretty good.”
Xiao Lie snorted, “I propose we call ourselves ‘Heavenly Gang Beidou Battle Group’.”
Bai Ruoxue thought for a moment, “I suggest ‘Lingxi Team’.”
It was Liuyuyan’s turn, she cleared her throat, “I think we can call ourselves ‘Code Learning Battle Group’.”
“Code Learning Battle Group?” Everyone echoed in unison, their expressions varied.
Han Duck was the first to object, “Too mundane! It lacks any momentum!”
Lin Man scratched his head, “It seems… quite modern?”
Xiao Lie sneered, “Too cliché, utterly uncreative.”
Bai Ruoxue seemed to ponder, “Code Learning… sounds quite interesting.”
Liuyuyan remained calm and patiently explained, “Everyone listen to me, the purpose of our battle group is to learn and grow, not for empty fame. ‘Code Learning’ may sound simple, but it carries profound meaning—it represents our determination to learn programming and reflects our attitude of taking immediate action.”
“Moreover,” she continued, “in our cultivation world, it also has a similar meaning. ‘Code’ can be understood as the encoding of formations, ‘Learning’ represents our continuous improvement process.”
Bai Ruoxue softly said, “I think this name is great, simple and clear, and very modern.”
Hearing Bai Ruoxue’s support, Liuyuyan felt warmth in her heart. Since the last incident, Bai Ruoxue seemed to have become more taciturn, but occasionally she would still express her opinions.
“Since everyone has expressed their opinions,” the real person Qingjiao appeared at the door of the hall, “then let’s call ourselves ‘Code Learning Battle Group’.”
The arrival of the master made everyone quickly stand up and bow. Qingjiao waved his hand, “No need for too much courtesy. Liuyuyan, how is the formation of the battle group going?”
“Master, we are intensifying our training,” Liuyuyan replied, “but we still lack some important things.”
“What things?”
“The Stabilizing Needle.”
“The Stabilizing Needle?” Qingjiao’s eyes flashed with surprise, “Are you talking about that legendary artifact?”
Liuyuyan nodded, “Master, I saw in ancient texts that the Stabilizing Needle is not just a weapon, but a treasure that stabilizes the mind and enhances cultivation. If we can obtain a Stabilizing Needle, it will not only enhance our strength but also stabilize our mindset at critical moments, preventing us from going astray.”
Qingjiao pondered for a moment, “You make a good point. The Stabilizing Needle is indeed a rare treasure, but obtaining it is not easy.”
“Master,” Xiao Lie suddenly spoke, “I am willing to search for the Stabilizing Needle.”
Qingjiao glanced at him, “Oh? What are your thoughts?”
“I heard that there is a Stabilizing Needle in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea,” Xiao Lie said, “Although it is fraught with danger, our battle group’s strength should be able to handle it.”
Qingjiao shook his head, “The Dragon Palace of the East Sea is not so easy to access. Moreover, the Stabilizing Needle cannot be obtained so easily.”
At that moment, the mysterious Elder Huang Buji walked in: “Old friend Qingjiao, I happen to know a place where there is a Stabilizing Needle, and the difficulty of obtaining it is relatively low.”
“Where?” Everyone asked in unison.
Elder Huang Buji smiled mysteriously: “The Trial Valley of Wanfa Mountain. There is an ancient trial ground there, and it is said that only those who pass the trial can gain the recognition of the Stabilizing Needle.”
“Trial Valley?” Qingjiao frowned, “The trials there are not simple.”
“Master,” Liuyuyan volunteered, “Let us give it a try. Our battle group has just been formed, and we need such challenges to hone our teamwork.”
Qingjiao looked at Liuyuyan’s determined eyes and finally nodded, “Alright, since you have this determination, then go ahead and try. But remember, safety first.”
That afternoon, the five members of the Code Learning Battle Group set off for Wanfa Mountain. Along the way, Liuyuyan explained the principle of the Stabilizing Needle to her teammates:
“Do you know? In C++, there is a special type of variable called a constant (const). Just like the Stabilizing Needle, once set, it cannot be changed.”
“Constant?” Lin Man asked curiously, “Why set a variable that cannot be changed?”
Liuyuyan explained, “For example, some fundamental laws in our cultivation world, such as ‘the way of heaven has reincarnation’ and ‘good and evil will be rewarded’, these are unchanging truths. In programming, we also have some unchanging values, such as the value of pi, which is always 3.1415926… and will not change.”
As she spoke, she drew a simple diagram on the ground:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
// Define constants, just like the Stabilizing Needle, stable and unchanging
const double 圆周率 = 3.1415926;
const int 五行数量 = 5;
const string 修仙基本法则 = "天道有轮回，善恶终有报";
// Attempting to modify a constant will lead to a compilation error
// 圆周率 = 3.14; // Error! Cannot modify a constant
cout << "圆周率: " << 圆周率 << endl;
cout << "五行数量: " << 五行数量 << endl;
cout << "修仙基本法则: " << 修仙基本法则 << endl;
// Constants can be used for calculations
double 半径 = 10.0;
double 面积 = 圆周率 * 半径 * 半径;
cout << "半径为" << 半径 << "的圆面积是: " << 面积 << endl;
return 0;
}
“You see,” Liuyuyan pointed at the code and said, “The constants we defined using the const keyword are as stable as the Stabilizing Needle. Once set, they cannot be modified. If you try to modify them, the compiler will throw an error.”
Han Duck pondered, “I understand now, this can prevent important values from being accidentally modified during program execution.”
“Exactly,” Liuyuyan nodded approvingly, “In cultivation, it is the same; some fundamental laws cannot be violated, such as not killing innocents and not practicing evil arts. These are like constants, our behavioral guidelines that cannot be changed at will.”
Xiao Lie said with concern, “Liuyuyan, you make a good point. But in reality, how many people can truly stick to their original intentions when faced with temptation?”
Liuyuyan glanced at him, a ripple of emotion stirring in her heart. Since that night in the Three Talents Illusion, Xiao Lie’s attitude towards her had clearly changed; although he still occasionally acted awkwardly, there was more of an indescribable care.
After a day of trekking, they finally arrived at the Trial Valley of Wanfa Mountain. The terrain was steep, shrouded in mist, with traces of ancient formations everywhere.
“According to ancient texts,” Bai Ruoxue took out a small booklet, “there are three checkpoints in the Trial Valley, and only by passing all can one gain the recognition of the Stabilizing Needle.”
The first checkpoint was a huge stone door, inscribed with a line of text: “What is unchanging?”
Lin Man scratched his head, “What does this mean?”
Liuyuyan carefully observed and noticed a small hole beside the stone door, seemingly for placing something. Suddenly, she remembered: “I recall that in the cultivation world, some things are eternally unchanging, such as the laws of heaven and earth, and the rules of the sect.”
She took out a jade slip from her pocket, which contained the rules of the Instant Noodles Sect, inscribed with the basic precepts of the sect. She placed the jade slip into the small hole, and the stone door slowly opened.
“First checkpoint passed!” Han Duck shouted excitedly.
The second checkpoint was a maze, with the walls inscribed with various tempting phrases: “Gain supreme power”, “Achieve immortality”, “Dominate the cultivation world”…
“These are illusions,” Liuyuyan reminded everyone, “On the path of cultivation, we must stay true to our original intentions and not be deceived by these temptations.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the flow of spiritual energy around her, and soon found the correct path. It turned out that the correct path of the maze was arranged in the order of the five elements generating each other, which was the basic cultivation principle of the Instant Noodles Sect, and would never change.
The third checkpoint was the most peculiar, a huge formation with a shimmering Stabilizing Needle floating in the center. However, as they approached, the needle began to shake violently, seemingly resisting their approach.
“What is going on?” Lin Man asked in confusion.
Liuyuyan observed carefully and found a line of small characters inscribed around the formation: “If the heart is not steady, the needle will not recognize.”
“I understand,” she said, “The Stabilizing Needle requires a firm belief and an unchanging original intention. If we have distracting thoughts in our hearts, it will not recognize us.”
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and recalled her original intention of learning programming, as well as her goals in the cultivation world. Gradually, she felt a sense of inner peace, as if she had merged with heaven and earth.
The Stabilizing Needle stopped shaking and slowly descended into her hand.
“We did it!” Everyone cheered.
At that moment, a chilling laugh suddenly echoed through the Trial Valley: “Hahaha, I didn’t expect someone to pass the trial so quickly.”
Everyone turned to see a mysterious figure in a black robe stepping out of the shadows, it was the Blood Fiend Demon Lord!
“Blood Fiend Old Demon!” Xiao Lie exclaimed.
The Blood Fiend Demon Lord sneered, “Little girl, hand over the Stabilizing Needle, and I can spare your lives.”
Liuyuyan tightly gripped the Stabilizing Needle and firmly said, “No way! This is the treasure we obtained by passing the trial, how could we hand it over?”
“Then don’t blame me for being rude!” The Blood Fiend Demon Lord said, raising his hand towards Liuyuyan.
At the critical moment, Liuyuyan raised the Stabilizing Needle and shouted, “Stabilize!”
A miraculous thing happened; the Blood Fiend Demon Lord’s movements instantly froze, as if time had stopped.
“What… what is happening?” Lin Man asked in surprise.
Liuyuyan was also a bit surprised, but she quickly understood: “The command ‘Stabilize’ of the Stabilizing Needle is like const in C++, making all unstable factors stable.”
She took the opportunity to explain to her teammates: “In programming, we use the const keyword to define constants, ensuring that certain values are not accidentally modified during program execution. Similarly, the Stabilizing Needle can stabilize unstable states.”
Xiao Lie looked at the frozen Blood Fiend Demon Lord, his eyes filled with deep affection for Liuyuyan. Since that night in the Three Talents Illusion, he had been deeply attracted to her wisdom and bravery. Especially in dangerous moments, she always stepped up to protect everyone, which made him admire and love her even more. Although he had once been jealous of her talent, now he felt more of an urge to protect her. Seeing her successfully subdue a formidable enemy filled him with both pride and worry; proud of her excellence, and worried about the greater dangers she might face.
At that moment, the Blood Fiend Demon Lord suddenly erupted into wild laughter: “Hahaha, little girl, do you think you can trap me like this?”
What was shocking was that the black aura surrounding the Blood Fiend Demon Lord grew denser, and he began to break free from the Stabilizing Needle’s restraint!
“Not good!” Liuyuyan exclaimed in alarm, “His cultivation level exceeds our imagination!”
The Blood Fiend Demon Lord sneered, “Since you want to know the secret of the Stabilizing Needle, then die together!”
He waved his hands, and countless black tentacles surged towards everyone. In this critical moment, Xiao Lie unhesitatingly stood in front of Liuyuyan, shielding her with his body.
“Xiao Shixiong!” Liuyuyan cried out.
The black tentacles struck Xiao Lie, causing him to spit out blood and stagger.
“Lie’er!” A familiar voice rang out as Qingjiao appeared in the Trial Valley.
It turned out that Qingjiao had been secretly following them to prevent any unforeseen events. With a wave of his hand, he released powerful spiritual energy, forcing the Blood Fiend Demon Lord back.
“Qingjiao, I didn’t expect you to come!” The Blood Fiend Demon Lord sneered, “In that case, we will settle this account another day!” With that, he transformed into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.
Qingjiao hurriedly checked Xiao Lie’s injuries, his expression grave: “He has been hit by a very insidious evil technique, immediate treatment is necessary!”
Liuyuyan anxiously asked, “Master, what about Xiao Shixiong…”
“Don’t worry, he won’t die, but he needs time to recuperate,” Qingjiao said, “Let’s return to the sect first.”
Back at the Instant Noodles Sect, Xiao Lie was immediately taken to the healing room. Liuyuyan waited outside, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Bai Ruoxue walked over to her and softly said, “Liuyuyan, you don’t need to blame yourself; Xiao Shixiong was injured to protect you.”
Liuyuyan nodded, but still had doubts in her heart: “Sister Bai, why do you think the Blood Fiend Demon Lord appeared in the Trial Valley? And he seems very interested in the Stabilizing Needle.”
Bai Ruoxue’s eyes flashed with a complex expression: “I am not sure, but I feel that there may be a greater conspiracy behind this matter.”
At that moment, Qingjiao walked out, his expression even more serious than before: “Liuyuyan, come here, I have something to tell you.”
Liuyuyan followed Qingjiao to his room. After a long silence, Qingjiao finally spoke: “Liuyuyan, how do you think the strength gap is among our battle group members?”
Liuyuyan thought for a moment: “Master, I think everyone has their strengths, but there are indeed some gaps. For example, Lin Man is strong but slow, Han Duck is good at illusions but lacks attack power…”
“And you?” Qingjiao interrupted her, “How do you think your own strength is?”
Liuyuyan was taken aback: “I… I think it’s okay, but there are many shortcomings.”
Qingjiao nodded: “I want you to do something. Starting tomorrow, you need to conduct a comprehensive strength assessment of the battle group members, including spiritual root strength, mastery of spells, combat experience, etc. We need to prepare thoroughly for the sect’s grand examination.”
“Yes, Master,” Liuyuyan replied.
Qingjiao gave her a few more instructions before letting her return.
That night, Liuyuyan sat alone in her room, playing with the Stabilizing Needle. She found that whenever she held the needle, her mind would become exceptionally tranquil, as if all distracting thoughts had been filtered out.
“Just like constants,” she murmured to herself, “In a changing world, some things remain eternal.”
But a question lingered in her heart: why did the Blood Fiend Demon Lord appear in the Trial Valley? Why was he so interested in the Stabilizing Needle? Also, for tomorrow’s strength assessment, how could she accurately compare everyone’s cultivation levels?
These questions felt like a fog, making her feel both excited and uneasy. She vaguely sensed that a greater storm was brewing…
Knowledge Point Summary
This chapter focuses on the application of constants (const) in C++ within the cultivation world, with the main knowledge points including:
-
Definition of Constants
const double 圆周率 = 3.1415926; const int 五行数量 = 5; const string 修仙基本法则 = "天道有轮回，善恶终有报";
- Using the const keyword to define constants
- Constants must be initialized at the time of definition
- Once defined, constants cannot be modified
Functions of Constants
- Prevent accidental modification of important data
- Enhance the safety and reliability of programs
- Improve code readability and maintainability
Applications in the Cultivation World
- The Stabilizing Needle: symbolizes unwavering belief and principles
- Rules and Precepts: fundamental laws that cannot be violated
- Heavenly Laws: basic laws governing the universe
Key Scene Illustrations Prompt
Scene 1: Battle Team Naming Discussion
“In the conference hall of an ancient cultivation sect, the sun shines brightly. Five young disciples are gathered discussing the name of their battle team, including the green-clad girl Liuyuyan, the handsome Xiao Lie, the honest Lin Man, the mysterious Bai Ruoxue, and the clever Han Duck. The hall is decorated in an ancient and elegant style, with various magical tools and paintings hanging on the walls. The expressions of the group vary, some are deep in thought, some are arguing, and some are smiling. The style of the picture is a fusion of traditional Chinese aesthetics and science fiction, blending modern elements into traditional ink painting charm.”
Scene 2: The Stabilizing Needle in the Trial Valley
“In the Trial Valley of Wanfa Mountain, mist swirls, and ancient formations are dense. Five young cultivators stand before a huge formation, with a shimmering Stabilizing Needle floating in the center. The green-clad girl Liuyuyan reaches out to take the needle, while her teammates nervously guard around her. The background features steep peaks and ancient stone carvings, creating a scene filled with mystery and solemnity. The style of the picture is a fusion of traditional Chinese aesthetics and science fiction, with the light emitted by the needle presenting a visual effect of flowing code.”
Scene 3: The Blood Fiend Demon Lord Attacks the Trial Valley
“Deep in the Trial Valley of Wanfa Mountain, the evil Blood Fiend Demon Lord emerges from the shadows, dressed in a black robe, with a sinister expression, surrounded by a black aura. The five members of the Code Learning Battle Group stand nervously together, with the green-clad girl Liuyuyan holding the Stabilizing Needle, and the handsome Xiao Lie standing in front of her to protect her. The background features ancient stone walls and mysterious runes, creating a tense atmosphere of good versus evil. The Blood Fiend Demon Lord is unleashing black tentacles to attack the group, making the scene intense and dangerous. The style of the picture is a fusion of traditional Chinese aesthetics and science fiction, with the evil aura presenting a visual effect of data flow and code.”
Scene 4: Qingjiao Comes to the Rescue
“In the Trial Valley of Wanfa Mountain, Qingjiao suddenly appears, dressed in a green Daoist robe, exuding an aura of immortality. He releases powerful spiritual energy with a wave of his hand, forcing the evil Blood Fiend Demon Lord back. In the background, the members of the Code Learning Battle Group watch the battle nervously, while Xiao Lie, injured, sways unsteadily. The entire scene is filled with a tense atmosphere and a powerful clash of forces. The style of the picture is a fusion of traditional Chinese aesthetics and science fiction, with the light of spiritual energy presenting a visual effect of flowing code.”
Post-Class Assignments
Prediction Questions (Easy)
- Based on the ending of this chapter, what do you think is the true purpose of Qingjiao asking Liuyuyan to assess the strength of the battle group members?
Modification Questions (Medium)
- Please modify the following code to use constants to represent some basic values in the cultivation world:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
// Please define the following values as constants
int 五行数量 = 5;
double 修炼效率系数 = 1.5;
string 泡面门门规 = "尊师重道，勤奋修炼，不得滥杀无辜";
cout << "五行数量: " << 五行数量 << endl;
cout << "修炼效率系数: " << 修炼效率系数 << endl;
cout << "泡面门门规: " << 泡面门门规 << endl;
// Add some calculations or outputs using these constants
return 0;
}
Thought Questions (Difficult)
- In the cultivation world, besides the Stabilizing Needle and the rules mentioned in this chapter, can you think of other things that correspond to the concept of constants in C++? Please provide examples and explain their significance.
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