Chapter 242: Vital Qi Age Defying

“Director Lu, Eunuch Xu is a Fifth-Rank master, right? Can he also regenerate severed limbs?”

Yang Ling couldn’t help but voice his guess.

Lu Yunchen revealed a strange smile on his face and nodded slightly:

“We suspect so, but no one actually dares to examine the body of a Fifth-Rank Lesser Master. Only he himself knows the truth.”

Yang Ling nodded inwardly. The players born in the capital now had another Class Change path.

Change professions to become a eunuch—after all, at Fifth-Rank, the little guy would regenerate anyway.

This should suit some players who had no other options!

He estimated that in a few years, some player would definitely emerge from this profession and become a top-tier expert!

“Never bring this up again. Eunuchs hold grudges, understand?”

Lu Yunchen warned.

Yang Ling: “Understood, subordinate.”

After a pause, “Director Lu, then how does one achieve Body Forging? Is it enough to just cultivate Internal Techniques and raise one’s cultivation level?”

“That’s the gist, but there’s a crucial factor.”

“Vital Qi.”

Lu Yunchen smiled faintly: “This thing called Vital Qi can be nurtured, but it’s not easy to maintain. As age catches up, it even declines.

That’s why any rare exotic herbs and flowers that boost Vital Qi fetch sky-high prices on the market—extremely hard to come by.

If you ever manage to break through to Upper Sixth-Rank and have sufficient Vital Qi, and your Cultivation Technique is at Second-Rate level...

Then you have a chance at Body Forging!”

“You’re barely past twenty and already a Newly Promoted Sixth-Rank. If you can reach Upper Sixth-Rank before fifty, you still have a shot at Body Forging.”

“If you exceed fifty, Vital Qi starts declining. Only special circumstances can grant Body Forging then.”

Yang Ling understood. After fifty, the chance for genetic mutation decreased significantly.

He had to nurture enough Vital Qi before fifty to trigger cellular genetic mutations.

“Once you break through to Lesser Master, you can lock your Vital Qi. Even if you’re on the verge of death from old age, your Vital Qi won’t leak a single bit.”

“Also, your recovery ability will skyrocket. If a blade pierces your heart, as long as it’s handled properly, you can still survive.”

“Most importantly, if you want a long life, strive to break through to Fifth-Rank. A Lesser Master can live around 150 years!”

Lu Yunchen said with emotion:

“My Lu family still has two living ancestors—my grandfather’s grandfathers. Both are Lesser Masters, already close to 150 years old.”

Yang Ling gasped sharply inwardly.

He had suspected this before, but no one had ever confirmed it to him.

Now hearing such a secret from Lu Yunchen’s mouth left him both shocked and exhilarated.

Fifth-Rank meant living 150 years!?

Then how long could Fourth-Rank, Third-Rank, Second-Rank, and First-Rank live!?

Yang Ling’s heartbeat quickened a few beats. Every cell in his body felt alive and excited.

“Already thinking about Fifth-Rank? Then you need to work harder. Accumulate more merits, and the rewards from above will be greater.”

“Why are the Twelve Sacred Martial Medicines considered sacred? Because they boost Vital Qi massively.”

“Without external help, unless you’re naturally gifted with abundant Vital Qi, it’s impossible to break through to Fifth-Rank by following standard cultivation. Upper Sixth-Rank is the limit!”

Saying this, Lu Yunchen suddenly smiled:

“If that Li Jun really is the son of the Immortal God Sect’s Sect Leader, and this case is handled brilliantly enough...

Perhaps your merits might already warrant the Department Head applying for one of the Twelve Sacred Martial Medicines on your behalf.”

Yang Ling felt a flicker of joy and asked eagerly:

“Director Lu, does our Ironclad Department have any of the Twelve Sacred Martial Medicines? Is it the Water Bodhi seed?”

“Water Bodhi seed? Don’t even think about it.”

Lu Yunchen chuckled: “The Twelve Sacred Medicines have varying strengths. Water Bodhi is among the top tier.

If we had any, the nobles would take them personally or gift them to family descendants with a chance to break through to Fifth-Rank.

The Twelve Sacred Martial Medicine our Ironclad Department can apply for is Vital Qi Age Defying.”

“Vital Qi Age Defying? This item specifically boosts Vital Qi?”

“Correct. And in terms of boosting Vital Qi, it’s actually stronger than the other Twelve Sacred Martial Medicines.”

“If you can consume this item, you’ll have at least a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Fifth-Rank!”

Yang Ling felt he had at least an eighty to ninety percent chance.

He had already eaten Water Bodhi seed and consumed the three-hundred-year-old Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit.

His current Vital Qi was a full 1800 points—that was definitely not weak!

“If Vajra Bright King Technique reaches the fourth layer and attains Skilled level, it should give me a few hundred more Vital Qi points.”

The third layer had given him a hundred points. By Yang Ling’s estimate, the fourth layer would give at least two to three hundred.

He believed that 2000 points of Vital Qi would make him a standout among his peers!

“Director Lu, how do you assess whether someone has abundant Vital Qi?”

“How to assess abundant Vital Qi? Simple. The Ironclad Department has a method called the Crossbow Test.”

“It checks how many crossbow bolts your Vital Qi can withstand.”

Lu Yunchen smiled: “Most experts start nurturing Vital Qi from Eighth-Rank. At that stage, Vital Qi is weak and can’t stop a crossbow bolt.”

“By Seventh-Rank, due to various reasons, Vital Qi is nurtured to a certain level—both offensive and defensive, offering some protection.”

“But that defense is fine against fists, kicks, and blades. Against a crossbow bolt, it might break with just one shot.”

“Newly Promoted Sixth-Rank is when Vital Qi truly expands and grows.”

“Take you, for example. Your Vital Qi isn’t weak. I suspect you can withstand ten crossbow bolts without faltering.”

Lu Yunchen: “This qualifies as Lower Sixth-Rank Vital Qi.”

“Vital Qi is classified starting from Lower Sixth-Rank. Some naturally gifted individuals at Lower Sixth-Rank might possess Upper Sixth-Rank Vital Qi—those are absolute standouts among their peers.”

“If you can withstand thirty crossbow bolts without your Vital Qi breaking, that’s Mid Sixth-Rank Vital Qi.”

“Upper Sixth-Rank Vital Qi requires enduring a hundred crossbow bolts in a relentless barrage.”

A hundred? Yang Ling was inwardly shocked. Although he was confident in his Vital Qi, a barrage of a hundred crossbow bolts...

He had to admit his Vital Qi would definitely be exhausted!

Thirty, maybe he could try.

“Director Lu, what kind of crossbow are you using?”

“Naturally, our Ironclad Department’s Seventh-Rank Crossbow.”

“I only have ten of these myself. Your Changhe Prefectural Capital doesn’t have them—only ordinary crossbows.”

Saying this, Lu Yunchen grew interested. He took a Seventh-Rank Crossbow from his waist:

“I brought one with me on this trip. Want to test your Vital Qi?”

Without a second word, Yang Ling stood up and walked to a distance.

“Five zhang is enough. Any farther and accuracy suffers.”

“Five zhang is the optimal range for a Seventh-Rank Crossbow’s power!”

The two immediately positioned themselves five zhang apart.

When Yang Ling’s Vital Qi enveloped his body, Lu Yunchen fired the first bolt.

This bolt was easily stopped by the Vital Qi.

Yang Ling glanced at his Status Panel.

His Vital Qi had dropped by 100 points.

He instantly knew he was still far from Mid Sixth-Rank Vital Qi!

Next, Lu Yunchen fired nine more bolts in succession. Seeing that Yang Ling’s Vital Qi remained strong, a hint of seriousness appeared in his eyes:

“A Newly Promoted Sixth-Rank possessing the Vital Qi of Lower Sixth-Rank—you’re quite impressive!”