Chapter 139: Version 2.0 Optimization

“It seems you’ve resolved the problem,” Ji Shan remarked as he watched Chen Xiyi prepare to leave the Library Repository.

Chen Xiyi had just finished moving the entire Library Repository using his System when Ji Shan emerged to chat. Chen Xiyi couldn’t help but think silently: ‘So there really is your surveillance in the Library Repository… or perhaps all throughout Void Heaven.’

After all, Void Heaven was fundamentally an extension of Ji Shan’s Primordial Spirit or some form of Divine Ability.

Naturally, he didn’t voice these thoughts. Instead, he pretended ignorance and respectfully replied, “I must thank you, Fellow Daoist, for the guidance. Without it, I’d still be foolishly memorizing everything.”

He handed Ji Shan the credit—it cost nothing but a few flattering words.

As for owing Ji Shan a favor?

Minor assistance was manageable, but if it strayed beyond his own interests, that would be too bad. Having analyzed how Qi Refiners acted with detached self-interest in nearly all interactions, Chen Xiyi understood how painstakingly slow it was to raise their Favorability.

Unless he surrendered tangible benefits, they might smile and offer trivial gifts, but that was the limit. Gaining real goodwill? Hopeless.

Void Heaven served as a mutual aid platform among Qi Refiners, yet it too rested on calculated benefit.

Why did they reside in Ji Shan’s Void Heaven? Partly for the shared space, but also to collectively curb Ji Shan’s dominance.

As the undisputed foremost among Qi Refiners, Ji Shan alone compelled this alliance. All Qi Refiners deftly balanced rivalry with collaboration; changing circumstances had forged a strange blend of orderly competition and cooperation.

This was Chen Xiyi’s deduction—formed from observing their past exchanges.

“Most credit lies with you. Without your insight, no solution would’ve emerged,” Ji Shan stated. He asked no details; every Qi Refiner guarded their Innate Divine Ability as a core secret, inseparable from their Primordial Spirit.

Qi Mechanism was no longer fundamental to them—merely vestigial. They arose within it, yet had broken free.

Except for Chen Xiyi. Still a novice, he needed Qi Mechanism.

“With your leave, I’ll depart,” Chen Xiyi cut in. Chatting raised no Favorability, nor unlocked Friend Tiers. Building such bonds demanded relentless effort he currently lacked—he must turn this massive trove of knowledge into strength first.

Friendship under 4 stars yielded little gain. And lifting a Qi Refiner’s Favorability to Friend Tier 4? Anything but simple.

“Very well, I won’t delay you,” Ji Shan smiled. He bore no offense at Chen Xiyi’s brisk farewell. Ancient and poised, Qi Refiners no longer startled easily. Though calculating, they held expansive perspectives from enduring power.

“Then I bid farewell.”

Chen Xiyi logged off instantly.

Back in Shu King Palace Shelter, he began organizing data stored within his System.

“So much… studying it would consume lifetimes. Even scanning by Primordial Spirit requires ages. And my brain holds only a tenth,” he muttered, transferring that fraction from his mind into the System.

A solution existed: upgrade the System.

Currently, stored content remained separate—mere digital books. He needed integration—linking System and his consciousness.

This was his next step. Success would unlock recording: visions captured by his eyes or the Eye of Qi Observation could save directly to the System.

“Copilot? Cyber-brain?”

He leaned sci-fi-ward for this Divine Ability’s evolution. Future expansions might monitor his body, Primordial Spirit.

Enhanced logic engines would advance White Cloud Method further.

Now, those technique-summoned silhouettes required manual control—difficult when coordinating hundreds when human concentration already faltered.

With System logic handling multiple threads? Each silhouette could execute intricate actions—be it assisting research or combat.

An average human’s physique offers poor limits, yet high flexibility. Special forces versus civilians? Equal strength at times, but worlds apart in combat flow.

Loading combat programs wouldn’t just skyrocket silhouette effectiveness—Chen Xiyi himself would gain potency. Programs fit either silhouettes or his own frame.

Since mastering formidable close combat seemed improbable, he’d invent mobility substitutes.

Qi Refiners weren’t inherently combatants, yet their derivative technologies could excel at war.

“Next step: System upgrade. Plans exist already, but trial remains necessary. Computer illiteracy complicates matters—I’d finish hundredfold faster otherwise.”

He’d mapped the System’s growth, but stalled functions awaited deeper integration—seamless mind-and-System unity.

His Innate Divine Ability, System, operated plug-in mode—much like grafting a foreign lens. Caution had driven this safety-first, testable prototype approach.

Now with Version 1.0 stable, an overhaul came due.

No patchwork updates. He’d craft System Version 2.0 anew, replicate all data, and switch over.

Version 1.0? He’d detach and shelve it.

Experience eased rebuilding. Deep integration reduced complications compared to the meticulous plug-in trials, which demanded airtight security layers.

[System Reboot Complete. Copying Stored Content From Version 1.0…]

[Copy Successful. Version 1.0 Uninstalled.]

[Version 2.0 Install Success.]

Chen Xiyi retrieved the uninstalled V1.0 test module from his Primordial Spirit.

[Your Ability: System 1.0 Updated → Unnamed Ability. Please Assign Name]

This prompt came from his Home Game log—a synchronized update.

Detecting the upgrade, Chen Xiyi promptly renamed it System 2.0.

Closing his eyes, he saw floods of his borrowed knowledge. Even browsing directories no longer needed the System UI—all flowed instinctively.

Here, the System shone truly.

New features included Recording: everything witnessed henceforth would be saved—reviewable even a century later.

Sensory Harmony emerged too: inputs from Zhangliu’s hearing, Tongmu’s sight, and Moyan’s taste aligned seamlessly.

Chen Xiyi had struggled to channel their escalating gifts without sensory torrents overwhelming him—constant shutdowns were necessary. With Sensory Harmony? Amplification could run fully unhindered.

The System strengthened as Fairies matured, magnifying their blessing power—vast gains that Chen Xiyi’s mortal senses couldn’t naturally shoulder.

Prior, constant sensory dampening was required; now, unshackled potential surged.

“No System issues detected… But breathing room vanishes,” Chen Xiyi groaned inwardly. Time scarcity choked him—learning, System upgrading, evolving White Cloud Method and Formless Astral Energy consumed all possible moments.

“Maybe… I’m inefficient?”

An insight struck. If learning crawled, he’d accelerate himself.

Method One: Primordial Spirit deepening—natural learning enhancement.

Method Two: Buffs stacking.

Strategies like Focus or Calm Minds channels might foster distraction-free immersion. Chen Xiyi wasn’t prodigy; diverted attention and restlessness hampered study. Buffs impose hyper-focus, artificially multiplying learning density.

Alternatively, mental acuity boosts grant lightning cognition permitting sprint-paced comprehension.

Both achievable. Yet both bore constraints—artificial overclocking drives suppression or depletion. Consequences? Inevitable burnout. Even Qi Refiners paid small tolls.

Chen Xiyi activated System Search, yielding abundant answers—Qi Refiners surely harbored variations galore!

Culling Innate Divine Abilities duplicates, then trimming spells and talismans, he isolated Formation Array solutions and Ritual Implement tools—both requiring near-zero maintenance once instilled with Qi-gathering structures. They worked endlessly with ample Qi Mechanism, maximizing cost efficiency.

Learning dedicated amplification abilities proved harder—base knowledge gaps demanded postponement. Repository-provided Divine Abilities were too risky; hidden flaws might lurk.

Ritual Implement crafting and Formation Arrays? Inherently simple. Long-active. Stackable. Duration multiplied by layering.

Quick execution. Cheap expenditure. Massive yield. Chen Xiyi chose practicality—why fuss for originality when functionality crowned king? No actual interests were harmed, so efficiency dictated action.

Chen Xiyi resolved: Optimize by scavenging legacy knowledge. For now.