Chapter 131 - 115: The Idea of Entering A-Rank

Chapter 131: Chapter 115: The Idea of Entering A-Rank

Zhang Ji’s current plan was to reach A-rank as quickly as possible.

But not just any A-rank. He wanted a sufficiently powerful Epic-level crystal that, upon reaching A-rank, would ensure he was no weaker than any Saint King.

The Five Elements True Skill, the Qi Condensation and Divine Tempering Method, the Profound Iron Body Refining Skill, [Indestructible Diamond Body], [Great Eater Technique], the Nine Yin Divine Skill, and the Nine Yang True Skill.

These seven were the martial arts crystals he currently planned to synthesize later.

As for [Wind God Kick], the martial arts crystal from the Profound Heart Stream, Zhang Ji didn’t plan to fuse it into the mix.

It belonged to a different system. Synthesizing it wouldn’t increase his attributes much; at most, it would just add another tool to his arsenal.

Zhang Ji also had a rough idea of where to get the remaining three martial arts crystals.

First was the Lishan Sect’s Lishan Qingsheng Skill.

This was an (Excellent Eight-Star) martial art.

In the game, it had only one function: to increase one’s Primordial Qi capacity limit.

Mastering this martial art directly increased one’s Mana Bar limit.

In the game, it was a fixed fivefold increase.

Theoretically, however, the actual increase depended on the individual practitioner’s condition.

The stronger the martial artist’s constitution, the greater the boost.

Next was the Heart Stabilizing and Body Lowering Method from the Jade Sect in the Xia Yu Country.

This was a method for unlocking the body’s potential, and it was also an (Excellent Nine-Star) martial art.

Successful practice could significantly enhance one’s Spirit, physical attributes, Primordial Qi capacity, and more.

Most importantly, it also increased Control.

With this method, combined with the other martial arts crystals, Zhang Ji felt he might be able to completely master Spiritualization before even reaching A-rank.

For the final martial arts crystal, Zhang Ji’s choice was the Five Elements Longevity Skill from the True Buddha Sect.

This was another (Excellent Nine-Star) martial art.

It was a Primordial Qi Sect method passed down from the Shoushan Temple for over five thousand years.

It allowed one to cultivate a comprehensive, five-element-attributed Primordial Qi and also had life-preserving and life-extending functions.

It was said that upon reaching great mastery, one’s lifespan could reach a thousand years, comparable to many A-rank martial artists.

However, the creator of this method was rumored not to be the Child Venerable, but a friend who had once discussed the Dao with him.

But who created it wasn’t important. Zhang Ji just needed to acquire and use it.

Zhang Ji had run a rough simulation.

If he gathered all ten of these martial arts crystals, the resulting Epic-level crystal should grant him Primordial Qi with both Five Elements and Yin-Yang attributes. His Primordial Qi storage would be absurdly large, more than ten times that of his peers. It would also provide him with powerful Horizontal Training, a formidable Spirit, enhanced digestive abilities, and multiple resistances.

Its support and utility functions would be maxed out, while its attribute and energy enhancements would also be outstanding among those at the same rank. Overall, it could be considered extremely comprehensive.

However, he had to go to the Xia Yu Country to get the Heart Stabilizing and Body Lowering Method and the Five Elements Longevity Skill. He would have to wait until he mastered the Nine Yin, Nine Yang, and the Lishan Qingsheng Skill.

...

「July 17th.」

Kratos arrived at the Five Elements Sect with Wu Chen and Gu Jie.

Zhang Ji had invited them.

Kratos had to return to Shanli Island; he was expected to become the mayor there.

As for Gu Jie, however, Zhang Ji planned to have him stay at the Five Elements Sect to be trained.

Kratos’s right hand had been replaced by a cybernetic prosthesis.

He hadn’t opted for synthetic skin, instead choosing a metallic finish that gave him a rather cyberpunk feel.

Inside the room, Zhang Ji poured a cup of tea for himself and one for Kratos.

"It’s Spirit-Nourishing Tea from the Lishan Sect, a specialty from their grotto-heaven. Try it," Zhang Ji said.

"Can’t tell the good from the bad," Kratos said, shaking his head after taking a sip from the cup he had grabbed.

He still preferred chugging alcohol.

"That hand is pretty modern. Are you getting used to it? I have a friend with excellent Alchemy Technology. Maybe he could grow a new one for you," Zhang Ji said to Kratos.

When the Guning Country had previously sent Zhang Ji a congratulatory message, Zhang Ji had taken the opportunity to have someone contact the Guning royal family.

It was mainly to ask about Robby.

Fortunately, Robby hadn’t been caught yet. And after Zhang Ji put out the word that Robby was his friend, Guning Country had indicated they would no longer pursue charges against him.

So, Robby was no longer a wanted man.

The only thing was, Zhang Ji only knew he was somewhere in the Color Cluster Country, but his exact location was still unknown. He would have to ask someone from the Color Cluster Country later.

Incidentally, the upper echelons of the Guning Country really knew how to read the room.

After Zhang Ji returned to the Eastern Extreme Country, they had offered to compensate for the harm Falin had caused to the Five Elements Sect’s disciples, providing a good deal of money and resources. At the time, Zhou Hao was still hesitating over what to do with it, but Zhang Ji had now distributed it all to the disciples who had been beaten by Falin.

Because of this, Zhang Ji, who had originally planned to find an excuse to storm their gates and just take the Sun Scripture, would now probably have to make a "friendly visit" instead.

After all, they had shown him so much respect. He couldn’t be completely unreasonable, could he?

"It works great. Not much worse than a real hand. In fact, I feel it’s much stronger than my original," Kratos said. "No need to replace it."

Kratos was telling the truth.

The arm had a considerable number of functions.

With memory mode activated, he could even transform into a master artist.

He could pick up a pen and copy all sorts of paintings. Operating machinery, playing instruments—all he needed to do was install the corresponding software.

His left hand, by contrast, was a bit pathetic.

It was completely disobedient. How could it fail to learn something after he’d already watched it done once?

If he didn’t think it was too extreme, Kratos would have even considered getting his left hand surgically replaced with a cybernetic one too.

"Alright, as long as you think it’s fine," Zhang Ji said.

"You were so ruthless with your purge. Won’t there be any repercussions?" Kratos asked Zhang Ji.

"Kratos, you were the one who taught me the law of survival on Shanli Island," Zhang Ji said with a raised eyebrow.

"Sigh, I’m getting old," Kratos sighed.

"But it’s true I’ve left some loose ends," Zhang Ji said. "They’re no threat to me, though. At most, they might come after you for revenge. But don’t worry, I’ll arrange for more forces to protect you."

"I’m not important. Gu Jie is your disciple. If they seek revenge, he’ll probably be their primary target," said Kratos.

Just as Kratos said this, Zhang Ji suddenly felt his mind tense up.

A spiritual premonition.

"Does someone really have the nerve to cross me?" Zhang Ji said, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

He couldn’t be a nanny to everyone around him forever, but if someone truly dared to do this, he would make sure their death was anything but quick and painless.

At that moment, Kratos’s breath caught in his throat, and he felt as if he couldn’t breathe.

The leaking killing intent was almost tangible.

Seeing that Kratos was struggling, Zhang Ji retracted his Spirit and stopped releasing it.

His Nine Yin Divine Skill was already at six essences and was approaching great mastery.

His Spirit had been significantly enhanced, so now, when his emotions became too pronounced, they would stir up spiritual particles, forming a mental Force Field akin to an "aura."

"What realm are you at now? Are you really comparable to the ancient sages?" Kratos asked.

He was the only one who dared to ask such a question.

Others, not even Zhou Hao and his group, would dare to pry.

A gap had formed between them and Zhang Ji.

"It depends on which sage. In any case, the founders of the Five Elements Sect and the Diamond Sect were definitely not as strong as I am now," Zhang Ji said, taking a sip of tea.

"But how old are you?" Kratos asked in disbelief.

"Would it be easier to accept if you just thought of me as the reincarnation of a sage?" Zhang Ji teased.

While chatting with Kratos, Zhang Ji also quietly issued an order, having the military send some additional armored robots to the Five Elements Sect—everything from Vanguards to Spirit Soldiers.

If he hadn’t destroyed most of the Zhenxians, which were still not repaired, he would have brought a batch of them over as well.

Only after doing all this did he relax a little.

’With robots equivalent to several dozen Grandmasters on guard, safety is guaranteed unless a B-rank martial artist shows up.’

.....

.....

In an underwater laboratory somewhere.

Remnants of the Councillor’s faction who had escaped the purge were hiding here.

After all, Zhang Ji was only one person. Although his subordinates were efficient, it was impossible to kill every single person involved in such a short time.

The leader here was a man named Lin Yuan.

He was Lin Kang’s great-grandson.

Though only twenty years old, he was exceptionally talented in scientific research.

He had played a key part in the research and development of the [Zhenxian].

At this very moment, an experimental model of a [Zhenxian] stood before them.

Although it lacked its main armaments and only had an experimental laser cannon, its base attributes alone were enough to crush a host of Grandmasters and standard-model armored robots.

"Lin Yuan, are we really going to get revenge on him? Why don’t we just leave? We could go abroad..." one of his companions suggested.

"He killed so many of our people! He didn’t spare a single person in my family—my younger brother and sister, my male cousins, my female cousin... he even killed my family’s dog! I’m going to make him feel the pain of losing someone important too!!!" Lin Yuan roared.

"But..."

His friend tried to persuade him further.

"But what? Weren’t your families killed?" Lin Yuan cut him off and looked at the others. "I’m telling you, if you dare to leak this, I’ll die for sure, but you’ll all die before I do! If you keep quiet, after I kill his disciple and sect members, I can activate the submarine and take you all with me... Now, hurry up and help me install this!"

Hearing this, the others didn’t dare to argue anymore and could only step forward to help with the installation.

...

「July 18th.」

The conversion of a concentrated solar power station near Gesite Lake in Shengling Province was complete.

Zhang Ji immediately flew over to test it out.

This power station was far, far larger than his Gathering Light Tower in Lanz. It covered over a thousand mu, had a higher average of daily sunlight—more than seven hours a day—and the intensity was even more incredible.

After Zhang Ji reached the top of the concentrated solar power tower, countless rays of sunlight were gathered via the control console.

The temperature here began to rise sharply, and soon Zhang Ji felt his entire body being immersed in warm energy.

’It’s too much! So much I can’t absorb it all!’

Zhang Ji had been a little worried his Fire resistance might not be enough, but upon sensing it now, his resistance was perfectly adequate. This level of heat couldn’t harm him.

After all, he had withstood a nuclear blast. This temperature was nothing.

However, with such a vast amount of sunlight gathered, his bloodline could no longer absorb it all.

In other words, his body had already reached its maximum absorption saturation point.

He estimated that even reducing the concentration to one-third would be more than enough.

Zhang Ji circulated his Nine Yin Divine Skill here and, after sensing the rate of improvement, made a rough estimate.

If he could bask here for a full six hours every day, supplement it with sunlamps at night, and consume some other nourishing medicines...

...in eight days at most, he could master the remaining three essences of his Nine Yin Divine Skill and also bring the Nine Yang True Skill to great mastery.

Then, after spending a little more time mastering the Lishan Qingsheng Skill, he could go to the Xia Yu Country to get the Heart Stabilizing and Body Lowering Method from the Jade Sect and the Five Elements Longevity Skill from the True Buddha Sect. Once he mastered those, he could synthesize the ten martial arts crystals, advance directly to A-rank, and obtain Saint King Level combat power.