I don't know enough to add to the discussion so I think I'll add an Omake as my contribution
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Ling Qi savored the sweet aftertaste of Lady Cai's blend of tea, while the short micro-expression of distaste flickered across Lady Cai's face. The choice, a favorite of Ling qi's, clearly boded ill of the discussion. It was an unsubtle but effective attempt to soften bad news.
"Economics" Lady Cai dove to the point, "you have achieved strong gains in the political spectrum, and now it is time to expand your repertoire to understand the consequences of action or inaction."
The field had long intimidated Ling Qi, a nebulous combination of mathematics and human factors that were both weaknesses, and combined would only surely be worse.
"Oh, I did not know that it was important to immortals," replied Ling Qi in a poor attempt to head off the coming command.
"Do you not have to rule, to improve the world?" reposted Lady Cai. "Economics is at the heart of this work. It is better learned early and well before arrogance can set in. It shouldn't prove too troubling for you; I would recommend that you pick up an art that supports mathematics to ease the way. I know you are busy, but one cannot afford to sacrifice the foundations for all that matters for progress in a single area."
"I'm sure it will be easy to find a mathematical art that synergizes with music and darkness," Ling Qi replied. "I'm sure that the nearest archive will have just the thing."
"Sarcasm is a weak man's wit," closed Lady Cai before adding in a light tone. "Now go... achieve my impossible task."
____
Where to find a mathematical art, a vague and confusing concept, to aid economics? Ling Qi quickly seized upon an answer and imposed on Li Suyin to see if cultivators on the production track had such a thing in easy supply.
The answer came back swiftly; they did, and even better, Li Suyin had opened the door to an art of unusual potency. However, Linq Qi's early excitement quickly faded when it became clear why this was the case looking at the singular art provided, which had driven the last user to madness. What did it even mean?
Art of Fourier Transforms- "The monk asked the master to explain the Dirac delta function. The master slapped him and he was enlightened."
Ling Qi could see that the art would be a pointless endeavor, a waste of time. However, a command was a command, and she sallied forth to conquer this task.
(Many weeks later)
Ling Qi was practicing her arts on the warm seat of Zhengui. After many weeks of development, she had decided that the Art of Fourier Transforms was beautiful if nothing else; there was a symmetry to switch between time and frequency that appeal to her.
However, the time for games was over. Ling Qi had to develop the Forgotten Melody's next stage quickly before another challenging and life-threatening situation. She raised her flute and let loose with the first note and was assaulted with information from every angle. It flowed back to her from every point where her note was mildly stronger or weaker due to combination. The vast amount of detail overwhelmed her, and she could feel herself toppling sideways, straight into Zengui's shell
<It was amazing, big sister fell like the biggest tree in the forest> Zengui squeezed out between booming laughter. Finally exaggerating <Timberrrrr>
"Laugh it off, you clown," Ling Qi replied good-naturedly.
That moment of information had changed everything about the Art of Fourier Transforms. She could see the possibilities. She could focus her music to sharpen its effects. The slow smile that spread would have chilled even an Elder's bones, but, alas, no one was present to give the world its final warning of the rise of Ling Qi.
A/N This feels like the first time I've done creative writing since High School so... well I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know in PM if I should improve anything