Chapter 138: Trial Run of the First Innate Divine Ability
Chapter 138: Trial Run of the First Innate Divine Ability
“It worked, but something seems off.”
Chen Xiyi sensed the Innate Divine Ability within his Primordial Spirit. It didn’t have a name yet, but he planned to call it the System.
‘First step, test the data input and storage functions.’
He’d tested this self-made Innate Divine Ability system many times before integrating it into himself, and it performed flawlessly.
Still, this was his first time operating directly on his own Primordial Spirit, so he felt a bit nervous.
As the Innate Divine Ability ‘System’ activated, a phantom panel appeared in Chen Xiyi’s vision. Only he could see it. Countless 0s and 1s woven from Yin Qi and Yang Qi danced across the panel, rapidly forming a unique interface.
System 1.0
Functions
1. Storage
2. Search
The functions were simple: just two. One stored various kinds of data, the other handled searches.
Combined, it acted like an extra memory bank for Chen Xiyi, storing recollections – a foundational feature.
“Binning it with Qi Refiner techniques was barely successful. Next step is developing it for logical calculations. I wonder if it could become an artificial intelligence, like an Artifact Spirit. I don’t need high-level predictive abilities; a dumb AI capable of assisting in experiments will do.”
Chen Xiyi didn’t know programming, nor even what binary truly was. But he understood Qi Refiner knowledge. His grasp of computing from his past life was hazy, yet through three months of trial and error, he’d pieced together his own unique program.
He then shaped the entirely unscientific Qi Mechanism into a special Innate Divine Ability structure fused with his Primordial Spirit. Success.
Science?
That concept didn’t belong here. Perhaps the Holy Purple Iris Empire discussed science, but on this land, Qi Mechanism reigned supreme.
Besides, nearly every part of Chen Xiyi defied science, so crafting something seemingly immortal like an Innate Divine Ability into a ‘System’ felt strangely appropriate.
After multiple tests, the system ran without any bugs – probably because its functions were still so basic.
Once developed into versions 2.0 or 3.0, glitches might emerge.
Completing this first Innate Divine Ability gave Chen Xiyi greater insight into the relationship between the Primordial Spirit and such abilities.
“Innate Divine Abilities are extensions and applications of the Primordial Spirit. Think of them as the complete versions of spells, Ritual Implements, or Formation Arrays.”
He didn’t know how it worked in other worlds, but within this land’s Qi Refiner system, the Primordial Spirit was the foundation, Qi Mechanism was the environment, and Innate Divine Abilities served as tools.
Lesser spells and talismans were mere supplements for when Divine Abilities fell short, or tools for Qi Refiners classified as Nourishment Resources.
Therefore, for Qi Refiners, cultivating the Primordial Spirit wasn’t just about strengthening it. It meant adding tools called Innate Divine Abilities within to unlock diverse functions.
Chen Xiyi suspected that modern Qi Refiners could likely survive even if the Qi Mechanism environment vanished.
If he could devise the White Cloud Method – nurturing his Primordial Spirit without Qi Mechanism – then surely others could too.
Moreover, these ‘Divine Abilities’ felt more like passive skills, similar to his Formless Astral Energy. Had he built that Formless Astral Energy directly upon his Primordial Spirit base, it might have become a true Divine Ability. Right now, it was just a prototype.
[You acquired a new ability: Unnamed. Please name it.]
Chen Xiyi stared at the Game Log notification. He hadn’t expected his crafted Divine Ability system to be recognized by the Home Game.
After renaming it to ‘System 1.0’, he fell into deep thought.
The Formless Astral Energy and White Cloud Method hadn’t received the Home Game’s recognition, but the System did.
‘So only Innate Divine Abilities fused with the Primordial Spirit are acknowledged by the Zhou Tian Qi Circulation Module.’
Correct; Chen Xiyi believed it was the Module granting approval, as this functionality wasn’t originally part of the Home Game.
‘My hunch was right. My approach to spell development was flawed. Spells, talismans, and artifacts are merely inferior substitutes for true Innate Divine Abilities.’
The Qi Refiner system perfectly embodied the principle of concentrating limitless power within oneself.
Coupled with the enhanced thinking, logic, learning, and research capabilities amplified by a Qi Refiner’s Primordial Spirit, their Primordial Spirits and Innate Divine Abilities underwent rapid updates and refinements.
‘Truly, two different worlds.’
The Qi Refiners designated as Nourishment Resources rigidly followed bait-based traditions. Fixed Primordial Spirit templates endowed power but stifled growth.
As a true Qi Refiner, Chen Xiyi was initially weaker than these Nourishment Resource Qi Refiners. They weren’t just nourishment for elite Qi Refiners; they themselves contained Nourishment Resources derived from ingrained traditions.
Once Chen Xiyi acquired sufficient knowledge, however, his rise outpaced theirs significantly.
Take Innate Divine Abilities. Nourishment Resource Qi Refiners only obtained theirs upon first forming their Primordial Spirit during Qi Refinement and couldn’t gain more. Their Primordial Spirits held fixed forms.
Unlike Chen Xiyi, who could freely add and alter his Divine Abilities.
Spells might appear dazzlingly diverse. But possessing an Innate Divine Ability granting precise Qi Mechanism control and manipulation would render countless spells trivial, executed with a single thought.
Every Qi Refiner likely possessed such Divine Abilities. Aeons of existence meant Chen Xiyi couldn’t fathom how many Divine Abilities or deeper secrets lay hidden within their Primordial Spirits.
The Library Repository held vast collections, yet it was merely a smidgen compared to the knowledge residing within the Qi Refiners of the Void Heaven.
Chen Xiyi stretched. As his Primordial Spirit prepared to journey to the Void Heaven, he suddenly realized: He could indeed leave his body.
He recalled his equipment could manifest on his Primordial Spirit.
The Spirit Wandering Realm signified the Primordial Spirit growing strong enough to withstand external Qi Mechanisms.
Usually, this meant adopting a defined form – perhaps dragon-headed human, or triple-headed, six-armed – unlike Chen Xiyi’s current, shapeless Primordial Spirit.
Such forms provided a protective Qi Mechanism layer, enabling free movement.
One could skip form assumption, but shielding an amorphous Primordial Spirit required immense innate strength. A form was simply protective; it wasn’t essential.
Most opted for one. After all, one never complains about too much defense.
Admittedly, Chen Xiyi suspected these ‘common sense’ lessons were hopelessly outdated. The Primordial Spirits in Void Heaven hardly seemed in need of protection. Rather, should those spirits ever leave the Void Heaven, it was the external environment needing protection.
Likely, the Void Heaven persisted only because Ji Shan used it as his dining table. Otherwise, who knows what ruin they’d wreak.
Chen Xiyi attempted Primordial Spirit projection. An armored iron figure drifted out.
[Chen Xiyi, Health Points: 100%, Status: Primordial Spirit Projection]
“???”
Chen Xiyi stared at the title floating above his own body. So he had one too.
‘But why no prefix? Because I’m the Player?’
As soon as this thought surfaced, his Game Log flooded with alerts about Yin Qi damage from the Shu King Palace.
[Yin Qi Erosion dealt 0% Health Points damage to you.]
[You acquired the negative status: Yin Qi Invasion]
[Yin Qi Invasion: Deals 1% Health Points damage per second]
[Enchantment: Tenacity takes effect. You resisted the negative status: Yin Qi Invasion]
The Game Log cycled relentlessly. Every ten cycles, a message flashed noting durability drops across his armor pieces.
This meant Chen Xiyi now possessed the capability for Soul Possession and Revive.
“Can I store my own body in the Inventory?”
Chen Xiyi brainstormed wildly. Thinking further, though, it seemed pointless.
He was a Player. He couldn’t truly die. He hadn’t progressed to the state like those Qi Refiners, whose Immortal Primordial Spirits rendered bodies obsolete.
Their Primordial Spirits were indestructible monstrosities, needing no physical forms. Freed from the body’s constraints, they could unleash their full power.
Chen Xiyi was different. A true Qi Refiner? Perhaps, but not exactly proper. Fundamentally, this Qi Refiner path was just one Module within him, not his entirety.
“No. Can’t store it. The Inventory definitely rejects storing myself.”
After several failed attempts, he reluctantly returned his Primordial Spirit to his body.
Inspecting the lowered durability of his armor, he noted the external Qi Mechanism damage was classified as an attack. This was good; it meant an extra layer of protection for his Primordial Spirit.
“But if my Primordial Spirit manifests wearing the armor, what happens to the armor on my physical body? Does it vanish or sync?”
Chen Xiyi grew curious. He considered deactivating the cosmetic effect and projecting again to check.
“Definitely synchronized. Just shared damage.”
Chen Xiyi now knew: if his Primordial Spirit lost Health Points, his physical body would mirror the loss.
It made sense. Primordial Spirit and body shared the same existence; shared Health Points were logical.
Back in his body, Chen Xiyi didn’t feel he’d truly entered the Spirit Wandering Realm. This was purely equipment trickery.
His inherent Primordial Spirit hadn’t met the standard. Projection wasn’t hard; achieving a self-sustaining Primordial Spirit capable of independent existence was the true marker of the Spirit Wandering Realm.
He could still claim to be at this realm, though. Few would argue, as he functionally replicated its capabilities.
“The Qi Refiner knowledge I learned earlier was certainly outdated.”
Previously, he might have distinguished the Qi Controlling Realm and Spirit Wandering Realm. Now, however, he saw Qi Manipulation and Spirit Projection as mere baseline abilities for any true Qi Refiner, not separate cultivation stages.
Mastering these dual abilities marked the transition from Qi Refiner novice to a true practitioner. Otherwise, one remained just a rookie.
The system itself had limited potential. It ended after mastering Qi Manipulation and Spirit Projection.
The true ceiling-shattering aspect was these Qi Refiners themselves. Through Primordial Spirit mastery and Innate Divine Abilities, they forcibly elevated this limited system to staggering heights.
They carved new paths where none existed. No wonder there were so few – less than a hundred.
Their true power level remained a mystery to Chen Xiyi. He suspected further development might lead to multiversal incursions.
Pulling entire worlds into their domain seemed harder, but fighting on home turf offered significant advantages.
“I got sidetracked testing too long. Delayed this long. Time to head to the Library Repository and grab books. It’ll also test my system’s data transfer speed and storage capacity too.”