Everyone was in a heated discussion, seemingly eager to test the theory.
Nothing was more important to a martial artist than enhancing ability!
Low-ranked martial artists were less desperate than high-ranked ones.
The higher the ranks, the more one understood how grave mankind’s crisis really was.
Now, their ability to maintain the current situation had already hit the maximum limit. As time passed, the Catacombs powerhouses increased, and Monster Life and Monster Plant Clan gradually reached a mutual understanding...
If this continued, mankind would be in danger!
For many people, breaking through ranks was extremely challenging. If their same-ranked peers’ could become stronger, then it was crucial for them to become even stronger than their peers.
Seeing that everyone was eager to try it, Fang Ping let out a dry cough, saying, “That... its difficulty level is actually quite high...”
“It’s alright. We’ll try it!”
“Just try it out. At worst, we’ll just get some injuries!
“If we don’t try, how will we know if it works or not!”
“...”
Everyone responded one after another. Even both Rank-9s were no exception.
Fang Ping put on a sheepish look. Alright. It was no use for him to say anything right now. It seemed like these fellows were all willing to try no matter how difficult it would be.
Fang Ping no longer paid attention to their discussion. There was no harm in trying.
Many times, miracles were stumbled upon inadvertently.
At this moment, Fang Ping was still thinking about Celestiality.
Wealth could be converted into Celestiality. It sure was a good thing to have an additional function. Celestiality’s lethality was still pretty great.
On top of that, the Celestiality he condensed earlier was minuscule. By spending a bit more Wealth, he should be able to condense even more. If he really used it like a grenade and tossed it out, by gathering more, his attack might not be any weaker than a Rank-7 powerhouse’s move.
This was actually equivalent to a lethal move, one that could wound high ranks.
Otherwise, middle-ranked martial artists like Fang Ping would find it extremely challenging to stand up to high ranks.
Old Man Li was a Peak Rank-6, a half golden body, one who nurtured his sword for ten years...
After summing up all these requirements, if one slash of his sword was to confront a Rank-7 alone, he might not be able to even hack the other party. The gap between ranks was too wide, too large.
Being able to hack the Rank-8 was not Old Man Li’s achievement alone. Zhang Dingnan nearly got beaten to death alive because of this. This was the result of a Rank-7 risking his life to pin down the other party.
“But, Celestiality is too powerful. I can’t support it right now...”
By condensing Celestiality, Fang Ping needed to endure the adverse effect of the energy as well.
His physique was not weak, equivalent to a Peak Rank-5 powerhouse.
Even so, the adverse effect of Celestiality was something that he found hard to bear. It was fine if it was a small amount. Any more, and he might be injured heavily.
“Are there any other functions other than using it as a lethal move?”
Fang Ping had just started pondering about this when Old Man Li stopped drawing circles. He came forward and asked, “What’s the ratio of your Mentality and Vitality converted into Celestiality?”
“What?”
Fang Ping was at a loss.
“What I mean is, roughly how much Mentality and Vitality have you used to condense a certain amount of power for Celestiality?”
Fang Ping asked quickly, “Celestiality can be measured with a unit too?”
“Of course.”
Old Man Li knew that he had no idea, so he explained, “Giving a unit of measurement is the most convenient way to distinguish whether a powerhouse is strong or weak.
“If there’s an equation to this, then I can give you a theoretical one. ’10Hz Mentality + 100cal Vitality Force = 1C Celestiality’.”
“Car tire?”
“Just ignore the C. Can you understand what I’m saying?”
Fang Ping nodded. “That means that only by consuming 100cal Vitality could I merge them into 1C Celestiality, right?”
“Exactly.”
“What about the difference between their destructive force?”
“About five times more.” Old Man Li said simply. “If you merge Vitality Force and Mentality into Celestiality, 1C Celestiality is equivalent to a 500cal Vitality Force outburst, at least!”
“This doesn’t conform to the Conservation Law!” Fang Ping mumbled. “100cal Vitality plus 10Hz Mentality can expel 500cal Vitality outburst?”
Old Man Li was speechless. He said irritatedly, “Stupid law. Even if it really exists, it also means that you didn’t unleash full Vitality Force earlier. Do you understand now? The Vitality Force you unleash now has yet to hit the maximum limit.
“Just like a hand grenade. If you toss it out directly, not exploding it, how much destruction can you cause?
“But, once you detonate it, only then will it unleash its greatest power.
“This is also the case with Vitality Force. By merging it with Mentality, it will unleash a greater force. This is Celestiality.”
Fang Ping understood. Old Man Li explained it quite simply. It was not too difficult to understand.
After thinking for a moment, Fang Ping continued asking, “This means that if I consume 2000cal Vitality earlier, after converting, it will be 20C Celestiality. Its destruction force should expand five times more, equivalent to ten thousand cal Vitality outburst, am I right?”
“That’s right.”
Fang Ping frowned instantly. “I don’t think so. If that’s really the case, I can even kill a Rank-6 with ten thousand cal Vitality outburst!”
Earlier, his Wealth consumed nearly 2 million. After converting it to Vitality Force, it would be 2000cal Vitality.
Based on Old Man Li’s theory, the energy ball he tossed out earlier contained the power equivalent to ten thousand cal Vitality outburst.
What a joke!
If it was really that strong, he could already blow up a Rank-6 with one energy bomb.
Old Man Li let out a dry cough and said, “I’ve mentioned that this is only the theory. In reality, powerhouses can’t perform a flawless merge. For energy conversion, you will need to attain an insane level of control.
“Under normal circumstances, this is impossible to achieve.
“So, by consuming it realistically, there may be a slightly higher cost.”
Fang Ping was rendered speechless. Then, he frowned. He did not merge this energy on his own. The system did that!
This system should be quite reliable. Why could he not attain a flawless merge?
No, perhaps there was not even 20C in the Celestiality he merged earlier.
Fang Ping quickly turned his head to look at Wu Chuan, asking, “Brother Wu, roughly how powerful is the Celestiality I merged earlier?”
“About two to three C, I guess.”
Wu Chuan replied straightforwardly.
The corner of Fang Ping’s eyes twitched slightly. Now he understood. Consuming 2 million Wealth was enough to make up for 2000cal Vitality in power, yet in the end, it could only merge into roughly 2C Celestiality. A deficit ratio of ten to one!
Or perhaps, ten times the consumption.
This might be the price the system was making him pay. After all, he was not a Rank-7 martial artist.
He knew the system would not be so generous.
If it was 2C, then it was easier to understand now. In theory, 1C Celestiality was equivalent to a 500cal Vitality outburst.
The energy bomb he tossed out earlier was only the power of a 1000cal Vitality outburst.
For a power like this, Fang Ping himself could easily achieve the same result with his moves.
“It seems like it can only be used as a lethal move now. I can only use it when I encounter martial artists who are stronger than me. For those who are weaker than me, it’s better for me to finish the other party off myself. An issue of price-performance ratio.”
However, if he truly encountered a powerhouse, there was a higher chance that he would make a run for it. Who would be so foolish as to think of killing in a situation like that!
“It’s hard to say. When I encounter Rank-6 powerhouses, I may be able to try it.”
“I still think that this is of little value.”
Fang Ping cursed in his heart. Whatever it was, he still thought that this new toy was pretty worthless.
He was still figuring it out when Old Man Li asked again, “You haven’t answered me. What exactly is your conversion rate?”
Fang Ping answered in annoyance, “I consumed one to two thousand cal Vitality and only caused this bit of damage. Can’t you see with your own eyes?”
Old Man Li did not mind his attitude. This kid was swelling with pride recently. There was no rush in teaching him a lesson afterward.
After taking a look at the pit beside him, Old Man Li stroked his chin and pondered. “For a Rank-5 martial artist like you, having the ability to merge Celestiality isn’t easy at all. Right now, it seems like you didn’t waste too much. Your conversion rate is still considered quite high.
“If we judge based on consumption alone, two to one. Consume 10cal Vitality and you can cause roughly 5cal Vitality destructive force.”
Fang Ping suspected that he had gone insane. He did not know whether to laugh or to cry. “I’ll just use Vitality Force directly. Why should I waste it?”
“Idiot!”
Old Man Li rolled his eyes at him. Then, he grinned and said, “Kid, I’ve mentioned that Vitality Force isn’t powerful enough.
“For example, 4 B-class weapons may be double the value of an A-class weapon.
“But, can 4 B-class weapons break an A-class weapon?”
“They could. One of them is attached to Vitality Force...”
“Shut up. I’m talking about the degree of tenacity alone.”
Fang Ping shook his head. “You can’t break it. It’s more likely for an A-class to break a B-class.”
“That’s it!” Old Man Li chuckled. “Hence, rather than giving you 4 B-class weapons, isn’t it better giving you an A-class one...”
Fang Ping retorted once more. “Then I’d rather take the B-class ones, sell them, and exchange for an A-class one.”
“Piss off!”
Old Man Li cursed. ‘I’m only giving an example. What the f*ck are you thinking?’
Fang Ping was only joking. He understood what the old man meant. He thought about it and said, “That means that after conversion, though it looks like I suffered losses, in reality, it’s much more potent now.
“For example, last time, my Vitality Force may not be enough to break a Peak Rank-6 powerhouse’s physique defense. But now, I will be able to do it after the conversion. That’s what you’re saying, right?”
“Yes. Also, Celestiality’s usefulness is much, much more than this.”
Old Man Li chuckled again. “Celestiality can be used in many ways. Kid, have you ever considered being our energy engine?”
“What?”
Old Man Li grinned. “Engine! A manual engine! Do you know why so few Rank-6 martial artists go to the Energy Room or Vitality Pool in MCMAU?
“Because of the low-level of energy richness!
“Celestiality is also a form of energy. Not only that, it is currently the strongest form of energy!
“But, no one is brave enough to ask Grandmasters to be our engines, to be our supply machine, do you agree?
“You’re only a Rank-5 anyway. Moreover, you recover quickly too. Kid, consider it. If you become an energy supplying machine for a period of time in the Energy Room, you can also provide us with a conducive cultivation environment...”
Fang Ping’s expression was beyond dark!
What kind of joke was this!
Old Man Li must be insane!
Before he could say anything in time, Wu Chuan also stroked his chin and said, “A Rank-5 martial artist who can condense Celestiality is indeed very useful.
“Fang Ping, right now, the government often needs Celestiality to conduct research.
“But, typical high-ranked martial artists have missions to do. They’re also really busy, unable to leave and attend to something else. Many research subjects have been delayed because of this.
“Why don’t you bite the bullet a little, go make a few extra trips to some institutions and supply them with some Celestiality to conduct research...”
“I’m very busy too!”
Fang Ping noticed that they planned to exploit him and rejected them immediately. He was extremely alert, saying, “Besides, I only can condense them and toss them in small amounts. I’ll explode if I do any more.”
“The research institution doesn’t need a lot either. Just supply a little each time, that’ll do...”
Wu Chuan was very tempted. Grandmasters were truly busy.
Moreover, all of them had missions to do, each one of them had their own part to play. Where would they find the time to go to the research institute to provide samples for research? Celestiality was also difficult to store after it was separated from the martial artist. It would scatter and disperse in no time.
Fang Ping, this human supply machine, was pretty useful.
He was only a Rank-5 anyway. It would not make much difference whether the Catacombs had an extra Rank-5 or not.
Of course, Rank-5 Fang Ping was also slightly different.
Even so, he was still a young man. Able people should do more work. Wu Chuan figured that if Fang Ping had nothing better to do after returning to the ground surface, there should be no issue with him running some errands.
Old Man Li interrupted, “No can’t do. Fang Ping, I think you should just stay in MCMAU. Don’t worry, we won’t let you suffer any losses. Take more pills, replenish your Vitality, then convert them into Celestiality for us to cultivate. A cultivation environment like this is helpful for enhancing MCMAU’s abilities...”
Qin Fengqing asked quickly, “How beneficial is it to cultivate with Celestiality?”
Old Man Li chuckled. “You can’t. Rank-6 martial artists can try, but the greatest benefit still goes to Peak Rank-6. In this environment, one can come in contact with Celestiality in advance. It will be helpful for Mentality-Vitality fusion...”
“Why didn’t our university use any earlier then?”
Old Man Li said irritably, “Nonsense. The Grandmasters themselves need to cultivate. Besides, they’re Grandmasters. Don’t you feel ashamed asking them to become your supply tank?”
“Oh, that makes sense. Fang Ping is only a Rank-5 anyway. That should be fine.”
Qin Fengqing and Old Man Li were echoing each other. Fang Ping’s expression was so ugly it was terrifying to look at.
A bunch of bastards!
I would never become your engine!
Grandmasters could do it. Why did you not get the Grandmasters to become your supply engine!
But... perhaps I could open a Celestiality cultivation room? One that would collect fees?
Fang Ping was thinking about it. Then, he kept shaking his head. Forget it. The consumption was too big.
If the fees were too high, others would not want it. If the fees were too low, it might not cover his own Wealth consumption.
Although he could earn some cash, he did not actually need money right now.
“Will it be helpful for peak Rank-6 powerhouses’ breakthrough if they’re constantly in an environment that’s exposed to Celestiality?”
Fang Ping started thinking about this in his heart again. He could not help but ask, “Didn’t the government consider forming a team of Grandmaster powerhouses to assist Peak Rank-6 martial artists?”
Old Man Li shook his head and said, “It’s not that they didn’t consider it. It’s just not worth it.
“It delays high-ranked martial artists’ cultivation time by too much. Also, the main thing is that Mentality recovers too slowly. The loss outweighs the gain.
“A long period of time is required to provide for them. This is not a matter of one to two days’ time.
“Of course, I suspect that there must be people doing it. Others aside, the Military Department may be doing it. In the past few years, many old fellows in the Military Department are in closed-door training. Then, a few Rank-7 powerhouses suddenly pop up out of nowhere. They may be trying out something like this.”
Beside him, Zhou Dingguo darted him a look but kept his mouth sealed. As one of the higher-ups in the Military Department, he knew certain things for sure.
However, this was top-secret and could not be exposed.
If the news went out, problems might arise.
Doing something like this would consume immense Mentality. The old Grandmasters often faced situations whereby both their Mentality and Vitality were depleted. If people knew who these people were, a sudden ambush could kill them.
Despite the speculations, there were no specific targets. Whether it was the cults or the Catacombs, none of them would ambush rashly.
Such a thing was only possible at places like the Military Department where Grandmasters were aplenty. In a place like MCMAU, where there were only two to three Grandmasters, once all of their Mentality and Vitality were depleted, a lone high rank could annihilate everyone in MCMAU in an ambush.
Rank-6 martial artists would not make such requests either. Cultivation was an individual’s responsibility from the start.
Old Man Li devised a plan against Fang Ping mainly because Fang Ping was too aggressive. This kid’s Mentality and Vitality Force recovered at a shocking speed. He was the perfect candidate for doing this.
Moreover, it did not involve a higher-end combat strength—what a perfect candidate!
Fang Ping had no intention to entertain him. However, he did learn another function of Celestiality.
Fang Ping did not continue with the subject. Everyone was just speaking idly.
He did not want to do it, nor was anyone thinking of forcing him to do it. If this kid played dirty tricks and detonated Celestiality, he could even blow up those cultivating Rank-6.
Besides, Fang Ping needed to cultivate himself. Now, it seemed like the probability of him becoming a Grandmaster was one hundred percent. It was not necessary to delay Fang Ping’s cultivation time either.
A Rank-5 martial artist who had honed his bone marrow, could expel Mentality, and mastered Celestiality.
To claim that Fang Ping would never break through Rank-7 was something that none of them on the spot would believe.
At this time and moment, the only hurdle that was stopping Fang Ping from reaching Rank-7 was sealing off the Sanjiao Gate. As for other forms of honing, those were not too difficult. Only a matter of time.
As long as Fang Ping could seal off his Sanjiao Gate, he would achieve Rank-7 without a doubt!
He had even attained Mentality-Vitality fusion!
It was fine when one did not think about it. As soon as they thought about it more deeply, not only the young people, even Old Man Li was envious!
Motherf*cker. This kid’s Rank-5 honing might take only a short amount of time.
If everything went well with his Sanjiao Gate, sealing it off very quickly, he might... really achieve Rank-7 in no time!
Zhao Xingwu and Wu Chuan were thinking the same thing.
Both of them took a look at Fang Ping, who seemed to be scheming something. They exchanged glances, unsure whether it was bitterness or trying to comfort each other.
Could this kid really be considered a Rank-5 martial artist?
How they wished they could open up his skull and find out how his peculiarity worked!
Next to them, Fang Ping shuddered. He pulled a distance between them unconsciously. That was enough. He needed to quickly return to the ground surface. It just did not feel safe right now in the Catacombs.
These people would not slice him up secretly, would they?