A modest-sized secret chamber.
Cao Zhen sat cross-legged on the slightly yellowed meditation cushion, facing the China Cloud he began to exhibit the unique research spirit of a programmer.
"How can I become a Level 2 administrator?" Cao Zhen asked, addressing the sea of clouds in his mind, "What's the highest level? Are there any benefits to being a higher-level administrator?"
"Increase your cultivation base to obtain a higher-level administrator identity," the sea of clouds emitted a mechanical voice, "Level 1 administrators do not have the authority to know the highest level. Becoming a Level 2 administrator allows the addition of connected users..."
Add more connected users? Cao Zhen immediately understood that meant increasing the number of users who would passively benefit him. The more users there were, the more excess cultivation experience points would overflow, and all those experience points would belong to him.
"No wonder Internet capitalists are always thinking about how to snatch up users." While nodding in understanding, Cao Zhen sent another message to the cloud, "Can you calculate how far I can advance my cultivation if I exchange all 149 experience points?"
"Limited by aptitude, you can advance to the Perfect State of Foundation Establishment, Nine Taoist Platforms," the China Cloud responded instantly.
Nine Taoist Platforms? Cao Zhen frowned in displeasure. According to the memories of this body, he knew that throughout the countless years of the Immortal Cultivation realm, various prodigies had broken through the limits and reached the tenth Taoist Platform, achieving Perfect Fulfillment.
Since then, every generation of geniuses would strive to reach Perfect Fulfillment before advancing.
Moreover, the Peak Master of Starshine Peak possesses a cultivation base in the Immortal Bridge Realm, a higher level than the Foundation Establishment Stage. Using these experience points to reach the ninth platform without increasing administrator privileges... Losing the Third-grade Spirit Field of Four Treasures Peak would be a minor issue, but taking a beating from Starshine Peak would be an unfortunate and heavy loss.
How can I quickly increase my cultivation base? Cao Zhen thought of pills.
Chinese Taoism records that Zhang Daoling obtained the upper volume of the Great Hollow Scripture, learning its immortal techniques and refining its Immortal Pills, becoming the progenitor of drug consumption, achieving ascension in broad daylight.
In that instant, Cao Zhen felt a surge of empowerment, as if holding the secret to the world! Master Zhang obtained the upper volume of the Great Hollow Scripture and ascended to unrivaled greatness in daylight, founding the lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain! If he secured all three volumes... Wouldn't he be set to soar?
As for the inevitable defeat in the duel two months from now? With both time-traveling and cheats on his side, would he fear someone ranked ninety-fifth from the bottom? Believe it or not, after taking the pill, he could teach them a lesson!
Master Zhang concocted Immortal Pills and ate them to ascend in daylight; Cao Zhen didn't have the ingredients for making Immortal Pills, but from his memory, the storeroom of Four Treasures Peak had nearly enough materials to concoct a batch of minor Dragon Tiger Pills! The only thing missing was a Rainbow Phoenix Tail Fish!
From the three volumes of the Great Hollow Scripture left by Zhang Daoling, Cao Zhen knew there are two main types of pills: one category has slow effects, common ordinary pills, and the other captures the essence of heaven and earth, where the most powerful pills can even allow mortals to ascend immediately upon consumption.
To concoct such a pill that allows mortals to ascend immediately upon consumption, Four Treasures Peak lacked not only materials but also the alchemist's level; even a Great Grandmaster would only have a chance to successfully concoct one.
"China Cloud, can I allocate those 149 points of experience from Ling Xi to my alchemy skills?" Cao Zhen looked up again at the cloud in his mind, anticipating an affirmative answer, as this might be his best chance for a comeback.
"Possible," the sea of clouds responded simply.
"Then how high can I stack with these points?" Cao Zhen pressed on.
"Theoretical Experience Level 98, Proficiency 0, data anomaly, unable to conjecture," Yunhai honestly replied.
Only then did Cao Zhen realize that with a strong theoretical foundation, he should have relatively gained more proficiency. Since it was unpredictable, he decided to take a gamble and invested all 149 experience points into alchemy.
Alchemy level +1, +1, +1, +1... Promoted to Pill Master... Alchemy level +1, +1, +1, +1... Promoted to Alchemy Master... Alchemy level +1+1+1+... Promoted to Alchemy Grandmaster...+1
When Cao Zhen heard Yunhai's voice stop, he looked at his document and saw, "Alchemy Level: Level 32 Alchemy Grandmaster."
149 experience points raised me by over thirty levels? Cao Zhen felt fortunate he had downloaded a backup of the three volumes of Zhang Daoling's Great Hollow Scripture. It nearly maxed out his theoretical knowledge; otherwise, he wouldn't even know if those 149 experience points could have made him a Pill Master.
It seemed that even the entire Hundred Peaks Sect didn't have many Alchemy Grandmasters? Cao Zhen analyzed using his known memories and figured out that he now was a rare talent in the Hundred Peaks Sect. If he set aside the inherent dangers of deceit and abduction, he could look forward to an impressive life using alchemy.
"Master, are you all right?"
Ling Xi's concerned inquiry came from outside the door again.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, your master will exit the retreat now," Cao Zhen said, his courage bolstered by the qualifications to concoct the lesser Dragon Tiger Pill as an Alchemy Grandmaster.
The greatest benefit of the lesser Dragon Tiger Pill wasn't just its ability to rapidly increase one's cultivation base, but also its capability to improve a person's aptitude, far surpassing the innate cultivation techniques of Four Treasures Peak by following the paths of Zhang Daoling's Dragon and Tiger Golden Body and Dragon-tiger Righteous Method.
In this way, as long as he got ahold of the Rainbow Phoenix Tail Fish, he could beat anyone at Starshine Peak in minutes.
"Master..." Seeing Cao Zhen exit the retreat, Ling Xi quickly asked with concern, "Do you feel unwell anywhere? Should I have junior sister You Rong fetch our family's assets to accompany you to the Medicine Immortal Hall for Immortal Doctor Yi Zhi to take a look?"
"No need, no need," Cao Zhen waved off his beautiful disciple while absentmindedly saying, "Your master remembers that we at Four Treasures Peak also have fishing rods and gear. Do you know where they are right now?"
Fishing rods? Fishing gear? Ling Xi was tempted to reach out and feel Cao Zhen's forehead to see if his master had scorched his brain practicing cultivation to the point of delirium. Why think about fishing at a time when one should be diligently cultivating?
"What are you standing around for? Go fetch them for your master," Cao Zhen urged. "Hurry, if it's any later, we won't have enough time to prepare the fishing spot, and then we really won't be able to catch any fish."
Ling Xi was hurried along by his urging, and without further thought, she ran to the storage room to rummage through and brought back the entire set of fishing equipment.
Cao Zhen frowned in thought. According to the records from the three volumes of the Great Hollow Scripture, Starfall Lake, which led to the East Sea within the Hundred Peaks Sect, should have the Rainbow Phoenix Tail. Preparing the fishing spot might take at least two months to make the lured Rainbow Phoenix Tail feel safe. Fortunately, he had more than two months left before the time to compete in the cultivation battles.
"Your master is going to fish," Cao Zhen said, picking up the fishing gear and heading straight out the gate.
Ling Xi stood in place, looking somewhat dumbfounded at the departing figure of Cao Zhen, then turned to her two junior brothers and quietly asked, "Has the master scorched his brain from cultivation frenzy?"
Cao Zhen left and headed straight for the Immortal Cloud Carriage station, feeling nostalgic. He died from overwork in his past life of 996; in this life, since he was reborn, he intended to live leisurely. If he could be a cash player and level up quickly with potions, he absolutely refused to cultivate in a torturous and bitter way.