Chapter 44: Upgrade Threshold

2 a. m.

Chen Shicheng and Shuigu Tang, when the Illusion Body Talisman's effect ended, finally slipped to the deserted lakeside of the park.

Tearing off the now‑useless Illusion Body Talisman, Shuigu Tang plopped onto the bench by the shore and, thinking of having escaped death, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

A pair of great Lightning bolts rose and fell with the laughter, making it seem to Chen Shicheng that a "duangduang" sound rang in his ears.

He was momentarily stunned, then a bizarre image flashed in his mind: Shuigu Tang's flawless exterior turned illusory, and a foot‑scratching hulking man transformed into a sissy beneath that perfect façade, laughing loudly with a deep voice. "Huh"

In an instant, all the allure in his heart vanished, and a nauseated expression spread across his face.

This woman is far fiercer than those online beggars; those people only tweak their looks within a framework and don't even dare to show themselves.

But the gear of the person before him has no limit; they can reshape their appearance at will, male, female, old or young, as they wish. If you don't know his/her/its background, a person will be lured like a gull. "Alright, stop laughing; after modifying such a pair of gadgets, you don't find them burdensome?"

"What modification? This is the original, okay?" Shuigu Tang glanced aside, lifted a strand of hair behind her ear with her left hand, and idly fidgeted with the bench's armrest with her right, looking unwilling to talk to Chen Shicheng.

"Shake your head vigorously, then speak to me." Chen Shicheng sized up the Shuigu Tang who performed eighteen fake moves in a second, and said disdainfully.

"You pervert!" Shuigu Tang quickly crossed both hands over her chest, shielding what she was proud of, "Even if you saved me, I won't satisfy such a boundary‑less proposal!"

"MD idiot!" Chen Shicheng said in a fit of anger, "I told you to shake your brain evenly before talking to me. Who wants to see you, a fake thing less real than silicone, and also—"

He extended his hand toward Shuigu Tang and gestured, "Friendship's friendship, gratitude's gratitude; I saved you, you owe me something, right?"

"No money, no life, no lewdness." Shuigu Tang stared at Chen Shicheng with a wary expression.

"Isn't that so? You're a tight‑fisted goose?"

Chen Shicheng looked at her with a shocked face and said, "I just saved your life, and have you ever thought that this is reality with no resurrection system? I'm a newcomer who's been in the game less than a month, risking death to save you, and get nothing in return? I'd rather save a piece of pork; stabbing it at least relieves loneliness."

"Indeed, you men are all big pig hooves!" Shuigu Tang wrinkled her nose, with a look that said "just as I thought," "If you don't want that little thing between men and women, can you die?"

Even though he knew her appearance was most likely fake, Chen Shicheng's heart still trembled at her expression, almost breaking his guard; he quickly recited the Pure Heart mantra a few times in his mind, and only then returned to Sage mode.

"Death can't happen, but living isn't meaningful either!"

"Pah, you make me feel sick!"

Shuigu Tang brushed the gooseflesh on her shoulder, her face full of disgust, but then she turned her head as if recalling something and began to size up Chen Shicheng.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Shicheng leaned back tactically and asked in surprise.

"Only a month into the game, and you can hurt that pervert. What level are you?"

After that battle, Chen Shicheng had a clear understanding of his current strength; facing Yu Wei, who was covered in Relics, might end inconclusively—he couldn't kill himself, nor could he do anything to Yu Wei.

But confronting the woman before him was another matter; with a price, killing her shouldn't be hard. In the face of absolute power, his earlier apprehension vanished, and confidently he stated his level, "Just over level four with a bit of experience, not yet level five, what's the problem?"

"Almost level five."

Shuigu Tang pondered briefly, glanced at the air as if searching the storage, but soon she drooped, "I almost forgot, I sold the medicine a while ago, but it's fine."

She instantly perked up, slapped her chest and promised, "After a while, when players gather at Bu Xian Shan there will definitely be stalls; then I'll ask an acquaintance for you if there's any Elixir, guaranteeing you a direct jump to level six."

"Elixir? Jump to level six? What's the connection?" Chen Shicheng was baffled.

Seeing his expression, Shuigu Tang slapped her head, "You should know that, because of our character roles, no matter what cultivation technique we practice, the Attribute boost is fixed, right?"

Chen Shicheng nodded, indicating he knew such a thing existed.

Seeing he understood, Shuigu Tang continued, "Moving from level five to six is the transition from Body Refining to Qi Refining, and Body Refining to Qi Refining requires raising the three Attributes—Spirit, Qi, and Essence—to their peaks, then, under the technique's effect, transmuting into True Essence."

"But players' Attributes are stuck at the minimum standard of this realm, so the success rate for upgrading is extremely low; at that point a blood‑condensing Elixir is needed as aid to successfully reach level six, otherwise one remains at level five, waiting for a lucky encounter to meet the Attribute standards."

With Shuigu Tang's explanation, Chen Shicheng finally realized that moving from level five to six isn't just a Qi Refining technique plus enough experience; all Attributes must meet the criteria to succeed.

He silently calculated in his mind: according to Shuigu Tang, the Spirit and Qi Attributes each need at least ten points, and the Essence Attribute needs five, to upgrade successfully without an Elixir.

For a normal player at level five, the average Spirit, Qi, and Essence Attributes are 6, 6, and 3.5 respectively.

Except for some lucky players who find rare materials that boost Attributes or possess a Relic, others need an Elixir to upgrade.

But he himself—Chen Shicheng—glanced at his Attribute panel; with the system‑rewarded Elixir's aid, his three Attributes already meet the standards at level four.

【Spirit: 10.3】

【Qi: 10】

【Essence: 8.7】

And after reaching level five, his Attributes will increase further, making future upgrades unimpeded; for him, an Elixir is essentially optional.

But watching Shuigu Tang's smug, self‑congratulatory face, Chen Shicheng neither announced anything nor refused.

Because he was interested in the likely Trading among players after they gather, the gold in his pouch and the "Summon Deity" Skill he bought from the Horse Immortal were still gathering dust.

Later he might trade with those veteran players for good items to boost his own strength, perhaps.

(End of Chapter)