I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

Chapter 547: Chapter 380: Series of Reforms 2

Looking at his good friend Wang Erxiao’s expression, Duan Lingxiao knew that the new potential ranking list from Battle Peak might be different from what he had imagined.

In his view, the so-called potential ranking list should be based on who improved their strength the most in the same amount of time. The greater the improvement, the more likely one was to get on the list.

This would undoubtedly favor disciples with better Spirit Root Talent.

Both he and Wang Erxiao had Three Spirit Roots, which was not considered an advantageous Spirit Root Talent within the sect.

The majority of disciples in the sect had Three Spirit Roots; for them, Dual Spirit Roots was the truly advantageous Spirit Root Talent.

"Erxiao, this potential ranking list you mentioned—do you have a clear idea of how it’s calculated?" Duan Lingxiao asked.

"Of course I do," Wang Erxiao said, thumping his chest. "Our Battle Peak’s potential ranking list naturally looks at the speed of strength improvement, but the gap caused by Spirit Root Talent has been eliminated."

"What do you mean?"

Duan Lingxiao asked subconsciously, but he quickly figured out what Wang Erxiao was trying to say.

"Well..."

"I get it now."

Wang Erxiao, who was just about to explain, was cut off by Duan Lingxiao.

’Eliminating the gap caused by Spirit Root Talent must mean that Battle Peak’s potential ranking list sets higher standards for disciples with better Spirit Root Talent.’

’In the same period, disciples with Dual Spirit Roots would have to improve their strength more than disciples with Three Spirit Roots to achieve the same potential rating.’

Although Duan Lingxiao had cut him off, Wang Erxiao still explained it all in detail afterward.

His explanation was more or less what Duan Lingxiao had figured.

"No wonder you’re so happy." Duan Lingxiao was happy for his friend. "At the rate your strength is improving, you should be able to claim next month’s potential ranking reward."

"Of course!"

Wang Erxiao pointed a thumb at himself, looking both confident and smug.

He had a decent talent for magical arts, and among the disciples with Three Spirit Roots, his strength definitely improved quickly.

The two chatted, with much of their conversation revolving around this potential ranking list from Battle Peak.

Duan Lingxiao mulled over the benefits the Battle Peak potential ranking list could bring.

’Setting higher standards for disciples with high Spirit Root Talent and having them compete on the same stage as those with lower talent will undoubtedly fuel the competitive spirit of the more talented disciples.’

’They’ll want to prove they’re superior to the less talented disciples in every way, not just because of their good Spirit Root Talent.’

’They’ll want to have the advantage in all aspects.’

Meanwhile, the disciples with lower Spirit Root Talent would also be eager to prove themselves on the potential ranking list.

’This will make things difficult for those high-talent disciples who like to slack off.’

As he thought about it...

Duan Lingxiao felt that if his own efficiency in improving his strength was decent, he’d like to get on this potential ranking list too.

’Unfortunately, I’m really no good at combat.’

’I should just stick to Alchemy.’

’It would be great if I could achieve even thirty percent of the Sect Leader’s heights in the future.’

The Sect Leader had not only achieved incredible heights in Alchemy, but also in Artifact Refining.

"Oh right, Lingxiao, the triennial Inner Sect Grand Competition is at the end of the year. You could sign up and give it a try."

"Me?" Duan Lingxiao pointed to himself. "Why would I sign up for the Inner Sect Grand Competition? Getting on the Dueling Platform would just be asking for a beating."

"The rewards for this year’s Inner Sect Grand Competition are better, and the requirements for advancing through the rounds are lower. If you get lucky and draw weak opponents, you might just be able to snag the lowest-tier reward."

"I’d rather not. With that time, I’d be better off Refining pills. You’re talking about getting lucky. If my luck is bad, wouldn’t I just be wasting my time?"

Ever since receiving the extra reward from the sect, Duan Lingxiao had become even stricter with himself, so as not to betray the sect’s expectations.

"Once the news gets out, there will definitely be a ton of disciples signing up for the Inner Sect Grand Competition. Maybe even a lot of disciples from your Dan Cloud Peak will sign up. Most of them probably aren’t very strong, just like you. So even if your luck isn’t that great, you could still get the lowest-tier reward."

"Why does that sound so... insulting?" In the end, Duan Lingxiao still shook his head. "I think I’ll pass."

Seeing this, Wang Erxiao didn’t push him any further.

’If my friend doesn’t want to participate in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, so be it.’

"Regarding the Inner Sect Grand Competition, I have another piece of good news, but I don’t know if it’s true."

News about the Inner Sect Grand Competition was irrelevant to Duan Lingxiao. He wasn’t going to participate anyway, so no matter how good the news was, it wasn’t good news for him.

But it was good news for his friend, and since Wang Erxiao wanted to share it with him, he would listen attentively.

"Isn’t the Inner Sect Grand Competition held every three years? I heard that after this one, the next will be held in just two years."

"So you’re saying the triennial Inner Sect Grand Competition is becoming biennial."

"Right." Wang Erxiao nodded. "The rewards for the Inner Sect Grand Competition are increasing, and it’s happening more frequently. This is great for us disciples from Battle Peak—no, it’s great for all disciples. For example, Lingxiao, even if you don’t participate now, you’ll have to when you’re at the Ninth and Tenth Layers of Qi Refining."

"I..."

"Don’t tell me you won’t even be able to beat an Inner Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer by then. Don’t worry, even if you really can’t, I’ll help train you and improve your practical combat skills."

Looking at his friend’s enthusiastic expression, Duan Lingxiao decided to leave future matters for the future and not dampen his friend’s spirits now.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a year went by.

The sect had undergone many reforms in recent years, especially after the annihilation of the Celestial Demon Sect.

As the Celestial Cloud Sect changed, disciples found more and more rewards available to them—though, of course, most rewards required effort to obtain.

The change to the Inner Sect Grand Competition’s schedule was officially confirmed.

The triennial event had indeed become biennial.

This was good news.

But along with the good news came some bad news.

"Junior Sister, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Your Senior Brother here just got the latest news. If nothing unexpected happens, it will spread quickly."

"What news? Senior Brother, tell me quickly!"

"The old Sect Leader... he has passed away."

"You’re saying... the old Sect Leader has passed away..."

The disciples who heard this news all fell rather silent.

This was the passing of one of the sect’s Core Formation higher-ups.

Every time a Core Formation expert passed away, the sect’s overall strength would diminish; every time a new one emerged, the sect’s strength would grow. The former’s decline was always greater than the latter’s growth.

Veteran Core Formation Cultivators were generally much more powerful than new ones. Furthermore, the emergence of a new Core Formation Cultivator also meant the sect had lost one at the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

These were all factors in the disparity.

"I can completely accept this news. I heard the old Sect Leader was already over five hundred years old."

"Ever since Elder Fang Taishang took the position of Sect Leader, I knew the old Sect Leader didn’t have much time left."

Many disciples were mentally prepared for the old Sect Leader’s passing.

Before he passed, their Celestial Cloud Sect had annihilated the Celestial Demon Sect, so many disciples believed the old Sect Leader had left without regrets.

"With the old Sect Leader’s passing, the number of Core Formation Cultivators in the sect has returned to eight."

"When will our Celestial Cloud Sect’s Core Formation Cultivators reach double digits?"

"If this were the past, Elder Yu, I’d say you were dreaming. But now? It might only take fifty or sixty years."

The number of Core Formation Cultivators in the sect had always fluctuated. For most of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s history, the number hovered around three or four, with a new Core Formation Cultivator emerging only once every hundred years or so on average.

But things were different now.

Ever since the Sect Leader, back when he was still an Elder, became capable of perfectly Refining Foundation Establishment Pills, the sect had seen a net increase in Foundation Establishment Cultivators in most years.

The number of Elders breaking through to Late-stage Foundation Establishment had clearly increased recently.

Many of these Elders had successfully broken through thanks to the benefits of the Foundation Establishment Pills Refined by Fang Yun.

Within the sect, there was an ample supply of Purple Essence Pills to help those at Late-stage Foundation Establishment break through to the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

In another fifty or sixty years, most of these Late-stage Foundation Establishment Elders would likely break through to the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

By then, the number of Elders entering seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to Core Formation would increase.

With a larger base number, no matter how small the probability of success, there would inevitably be some Elders who would successfully reach Core Formation without needing a Golden Core Pill.