Chapter 142: Return, Rank Advancement Trial

The trial time reached zero, and the Paradise's notification and settlement arrived as scheduled.

During this period, Chu Danqing's Command Base also rose to Level 5.

【Transmission complete. Reserve Acolyte returned to Acolyte's personal space.】

【Beginning settlement of this Reserve Acolyte trial mission.】

【Trial Zone: Taichang Dynasty】

【Trial Difficulty: C-rank (Adventure）】

【Comprehensive Evaluation: A】

【Rewards Received: Paradise Coins ×5000, Attribute Points +2】

【Net Paradise Coin Gain: 24908】

【Net Attribute Point Gain: 38】

Chu Danqing stared at the nearly twenty-five thousand Paradise Coins and thirty-eight Attribute Points, unable to suppress a sigh.

These Paradise Coins were utterly insufficient for an Acolyte growing at his speed.

"First, allocate the points," Chu Danqing muttered. "But I don't know what to do with the extra Attribute Points."

"I can't just save them for use in Rank One."

Chu Danqing first bought Bai Bai a Type-I Information Data Crystal to help it further absorb Paradise knowledge.

Then he took Da Bao and Bai Bai to the Attribute Enhancement chamber.

"Bai Bai, go into Da Bao's head for now—I can't bring you into the enhancement pod," Chu Danqing said.

He feared Bai Bai might suffer an accident if it entered the pod with him.

Upon hearing this, Bai Bai shot out of Chu Danqing's skull in a flash and slipped into Da Bao's body.

During the remaining trial time, under Chu Danqing's guidance, Bai Bai and Da Bao progressed from strangers to close friends.

This likely stemmed from the enhanced compatibility of his Command Base.

But Bai Bai couldn't remain inside Da Bao for long.

After all, Bai Bai was a household spirit bound to Chu Danqing; without a physical form, it could only survive and function at full capacity within Chu Danqing's body.

Acquiring a body, however, was problematic.

Chu Danqing had studied the matter—it involved Bai Bai's life form, lineage, and more.

The shrine and serpent spirit quality from which Bai Bai originated were far too low; the Paradise barely managed to bring it into existence and sustain it.

Worse still, the conflict between the shrine and the Xieliu bloodline meant that granting it a new body for reformation would almost certainly shatter its life balance.

The success rate was low, failure meant death, and even success would bring lasting aftereffects and hidden injuries.

Thus, Chu Danqing would not consider such matters until his own strength reached a sufficient level.

After making arrangements, Chu Danqing selected an enhancement pod and began allocating points.

【Strength: 7 → 10】

【Agility: 8 → 10】

【Constitution: 8 → 10】

【Spirit: 7 → 10】

【Perception: 8 → 10】

【Charisma: 3】

Charisma could not be enhanced; Chu Danqing used twelve Attribute Points to raise his five core attributes.

He had tried adding ten more points, but the Paradise issued a warning.

【Reserve Acolyte Rank insufficient. Enhancement blocked.】

Seeing this, Chu Danqing gave up.

"Anesthesia function? Forget it—Paradise Coins are running low. I'll open it next time."

"Besides, it won't kill me. I'll endure it this time," Chu Danqing thought, but then remembered his Paradise Coins were under twenty-five thousand, so he reluctantly shelved the idea for "next time."

Poverty could harden one's will—or numb it?

Declined anesthesia. Initiated enhancement directly.

"Holy shit! Holy shit!! Holy shit!!!"

"Why is it even more painful?!!" As soon as the enhancement began, Chu Danqing lost all composure.

But once enhancement started, there was no stopping it.

Moreover, the five core attributes affected every part of his body—inside and out—leaving him unable to even scream.

When he emerged, he was again a limp noodle.

Da Bao, having undergone this thrice, expertly caught him.

"A god among Acolytes—another one who skips anesthesia," a passing Acolyte said with deep admiration.

Everyone had thought they could endure it; some boasted loudly, but few actually stuck it out.

Bai Bai immediately returned to Chu Danqing's mind and unleashed a flood of single-target healing spells—Spirit Healing—without hesitation.

It had never seen such a scene and feared Chu Danqing was dying.

Unfortunately, it was useless—Chu Danqing's HP hadn't dropped, so the healing effect was minimal.

Yet it did accelerate his recovery.

"I'm fine, Bai Bai. Stop healing," Chu Danqing said, rising with Da Bao's support.

Seeing Chu Danqing was unharmed, Bai Bai ceased its healing.

"Next, let's head to the Acolyte Plaza," Chu Danqing decided. He planned to sell everything he had first.

Especially Close Combat Base and Ranged Combat Base—these two foundational skills were the main event.

He needed to research how to sell them for maximum profit.

On the way, Chu Danqing slowly recovered, and as soon as he was fully restored, the Paradise sent a timely notification.

The Paradise was considerate—it waited until you recovered before sending notifications, unlike capitalists who only cared whether you generated profit.

【Detected: Acolyte's five core attributes have all reached 10. Next trial will initiate Rank Advancement Trial.】

【Please select your trial difficulty.】

【A-rank Difficulty: Prerequisites—All five core attributes at 10. Reward—Talent Awakening Quest + Three Chosen Passive Attributes from: (Compatible Rare Passive + Rare Passive + Common Passive)】

【B-rank Difficulty: Prerequisites—Any four core attributes at 10. Reward—Three Chosen Passive Attributes from: (Rare Passive + Common Passive + Common Passive)】

【C-rank Difficulty: Prerequisites—Any three core attributes at 10. Reward—Two Chosen Passive Attributes from: (Common Passive)】

【D-rank Difficulty: Prerequisites—Any two core attributes at 10. Reward—One Random Common Passive Attribute】

【E-rank Difficulty: Prerequisites—Any one core attribute at 10. Reward—None】

(Note: Remaining postponements for Rank Advancement Trial: 3)

(Note: Fourth postponement will force E-rank evaluation breakthrough)

(Note: Each postponement or failure removes one highest-tier trial option)

(Note: After selecting a difficulty, all trial mission difficulties in the trial world will not fall below the selected rank, and trigger probability increases; missions below this rank will not trigger)

(Note: Failure on a trial rank locks that rank—except D-rank)

(Note: E-rank requires no trial—only submit 10, 00 Paradise Coins to complete)

After reviewing the five difficulty tiers of the Rank Advancement Trial, Chu Danqing finally understood why those Acolytes had fought so desperately.

The Talent Awakening Quest plus a Compatible Rare Passive Attribute—anyone would envy it.

More importantly, there was only one chance; once failed, it could never be regained.

But the difficulty was immense: choosing A-rank meant all future trial missions would be A-rank, with increased trigger probability.

From this trial alone, one could see the dividing line between Acolytes of different dimensions.

Yet the trial also revealed the Paradise's strong encouragement of balanced growth across all five core attributes.

Growth patterns like a mage focusing only on Spirit and Perception, or a warrior only on Strength and Constitution, were not just discouraged—they were actively suppressed.

Clearly, the five core attributes were not as simple as they seemed.

Without hesitation, Chu Danqing selected A-rank difficulty.

【Selection confirmed. Next trial mission changed to Rank Advancement Trial. Difficulty: A-rank.】

For others, A-rank was extremely difficult.

But for Chu Danqing, it was simply a matter of spending Paradise Coins.

As long as he was willing to spend, Rank Two Guo Ming could make him fearless in most battles.

So his next goal was to rapidly accumulate a large sum of Paradise Coins.

Otherwise, the few he currently held would be utterly inadequate.

He also needed to summon Guo Ming and Xiong Mou for a meeting to better prepare for the Rank Advancement Trial.

Only by informing them of its importance could they prepare properly—if they treated it as a regular trial, Chu Danqing himself would suffer the loss.

Secondly, Guo Ming planned to bring Xiong Mou a cultivation technique, to see if it could be practiced.

Its quality would certainly not be high—perhaps only Excellent rank.

He feared Xiong Mou lacked resources and that Chu Danqing's wallet couldn't bear the cost of Fine rank.

Xiong Mou's trial world had a low ceiling but was highly unusual; it might trigger some peculiar reactions.

Just as Guo Ming, after acquiring Close Combat Base, had made explosive progress—

Though merely speculation, the fact that it could produce treasures tradable for Paradise Coins and foundational skills made it extraordinary.

Coupled with the precedent of the former Taichang Emperor, if this chemical reaction succeeded, the rewards would be no less than Guo Ming's.

That's why Chu Danqing decided to give it a try.

As for the possibility of gaining nothing? That's just an investment failure, within the scope of normal risk.

To seek returns, you must invest, and investment always carries risk.

There is no such thing as wanting investment returns without bearing the risk—only scams guarantee guaranteed profits.

He planned out his thirty days in the Paradise while conducting research in the Apostle Square, considering how best to sell the two basic skill manuals.

On the other side, after passing the assessment, the Paradise sent another notification.

【Detected 26 remaining attribute points for Reserve-level Apostle; these points are Reserve-level and cannot be synchronized to Rank 1】

【Attribute Point Conversion Service Activated】

【Conversion 1: Convert at a 5: ratio into Rank 1 attribute points, temporarily sealed; points may be allocated after the trial is completed】

（Note: Excess 1 attribute point may be converted by paying 4, 00 Paradise Points）

【Conversion 2: Convert at a 1: ratio into Skill Points, usable to directly raise skill levels】

（Note: Basic and Excellent skills require 1 Skill Point per level upgrade; Fine skills require 2 Skill Points per level upgrade）

（Note: Special skills require 1 Skill Point per level from Level 1 to 10）

（Note: Basic skills cannot be upgraded using Skill Points）

Chu Danqing saw this and thought the Paradise was truly considerate—helping convert and cash out unused attribute points.

"Attribute points really are precious. Next time, I should've saved more during the pre-assessment boost to upgrade skills." Chu Danqing thought well, but implementation depended on actual circumstances.

(End of Chapter)