Beginning, Talent Upgrade!

For martial artists, Eighth Grade and Ninth-Rank Martial Artist were both foundational realms, equivalent to Foundation Establishment.

Within these two realms, cultivation methods did not even have grades. No matter how one cultivated, it was merely a matter of using various methods to temper one's blood qi, muscles, and bones.

But once one reached Seventh Grade or above, things were different. Like martial arts techniques and Talent Abilities, cultivation methods above Seventh Grade were divided into seven ranks: D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS.

Within the Seventh Grade realm, martial artists mainly cultivated force, which was generated from the blood qi within their bodies before gathering in the Dantian.

Sixth Grade martial artists, on the other hand, converted force into inner force. Once their cultivation reached great completion, they could even project their inner force beyond their bodies and kill enemies from afar.

Once one broke through to Sixth Grade, the existence of inner force marked a clear dividing line between them and ordinary martial artists.

Jiang Li had killed two Seventh Grade martial artists in a row without feeling much pressure. But with his current strength, even with the third stage of Crimson Blood Transformation, facing a Sixth Grade martial artist would still be like an egg striking a rock.

Even with the Yellow Book, the only thing he could improve was his Talent Ability.

"Most people find it difficult to advance their Talent Ability even in their entire lives. Now that the Yellow Book has nearly two thousand years of lifespan, it should be enough to upgrade it."

"I wonder what kind of ability it will become after upgrading to C-Class."

Jiang Li stared at the demons that had begun to flee, his heart itching with temptation.

A severely wounded Sixth Grade demon like this was something one could only stumble upon by chance.

According to Yun Fei, these demons originally had to cultivate to Fifth Grade before they qualified to assume demon forms. And Fifth Grade demonic beasts had lifespans of at least several centuries.

On top of that, there was Sixth Grade Demon Marrow and the like. All of it was treasure.

With that thought, Jiang Li made his decision without hesitation. With a thought, the Yellow Book appeared.

"Consume lifespan. Upgrade Talent Ability!"

[Because your Talent Ability has already reached the Transformation Realm, improving it is exceedingly difficult. In the thirtieth year, you finally sense that your Talent Ability is somewhat different.]

[In the one hundred and tenth year, your Talent Ability begins to undergo changes. The Command Flag seems as though it is about to crack.]

[In the one hundred and sixty-seventh year, after your constant use, the Command Flag finally begins to change, splitting into an identical Command Flag. Yet its ability does not seem to have grown significantly.]

[In the two hundred and thirty-fifth year, you discover that, at some unknown point, this pair of Command Flags has become banners like war flags, standing proudly before you. Yet their ability has never increased.]

[In the three hundred and sixty-fifth year, after you repeatedly use the war flags, finally, on one occasion, what you summon is no longer the war flags, but a towering outline. It seems to be a human figure, broad and powerful, appearing behind you with a pair of crossed war flags on its back.]

[In the four hundred and nineteenth year, the terrifying figure behind you finally fully condenses. A headless figure two meters tall stands there, bearing crossed war flags upon its back.]

[You have completed the Talent Ability upgrade.]

[Ability]: Martial Soul (C-Class Beginner)

[Cultivatable Lifespan]: 1460

At that moment, Jiang Li absorbed the information sent by the figure behind him.

Wang Hai and the others beside him stared at the two-meter-tall headless figure, shocked beyond words.

"Is that... a Talent Ability!?"

"What kind of Talent Ability is that? It's way too terrifying."

"Shh!"

They looked at the figure behind Jiang Li. Carrying war flags on its back, it guarded Jiang Li firmly like a sentinel.

Suddenly, Jiang Li opened his eyes, a sharp gleam within them dazzling like the sun.

The corners of his lips curved upward as well, revealing an exceedingly satisfied smile.

The C-Class ability Martial Soul not only retained every attribute of his original D-Class ability, Command Flag, but had even improved them.

Now, his Blood Qi Value enhancement could reach 110 percent, while its range had expanded to 110 meters.

And that was not all. This Martial Soul possessed strength and speed equal to his own, and could even be controlled by him. Its range, however, was currently only ten meters.

Even so, it was equivalent to having a helper exactly like himself.

Moreover, these abilities were only at the beginner level. If he raised them to the Transformation Realm, perhaps he might unlock new abilities as well.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li chose to cultivate his Talent Ability again without the slightest hesitation.

He had plenty of Cultivatable Lifespan now, so naturally he could spend it lavishly.

Lines of fresh text emerged across the Yellow Book.

[You begin cultivating the Martial Soul ability. At first, the Martial Soul improves very slowly. In the fifteenth year, you are able to use the Martial Soul ability proficiently. Your Blood Qi Value rises noticeably, with Blood Qi Value enhancement reaching 150 percent and its range reaching 150 meters.]

[Though cultivation is difficult, you never give up. Through your unrelenting persistence, in the sixty-seventh year, you cultivate the Martial Soul ability to the Mastery Realm. Blood Qi Value enhancement reaches 200 percent, and its range reaches 200 meters.]

[In the one hundred and ninetieth year, you cultivate the Martial Soul ability to the Control Realm. You can clearly control every movement of the Martial Soul. Blood Qi Value enhancement reaches 240 percent, and its range reaches 240 meters.]

[In the three hundred and thirty-third year, you cultivate the Martial Soul ability to the Transformation Realm. The Martial Soul ability reaches completion. Blood Qi Value enhancement reaches 300 percent, and its range reaches 300 meters. Furthermore, you discover that you can actually merge the Martial Soul with your body, gaining Martial Soul Protection for a short period. Aside from your head, both your Blood Qi Value and defense rise dramatically.]

[Ability]: Martial Soul (C-Class Transformation Realm)

[Cultivatable Lifespan]: 1127

Others might spend their entire lives without necessarily being able to raise a Talent Ability to its peak. Yet Jiang Li, in less than a minute, had raised his newly advanced C-Class Talent Ability to completion.

"A 300 percent bonus means my Blood Qi Value is effectively quadrupled."

"With Martial Soul Protection added on top, it can nearly reach five times my Blood Qi Value for a short period."

"Based on the Blood Qi Value of a peak Eighth Grade martial artist, using the Fire Spirit Breathing Technique would raise my Blood Qi Value roughly fivefold, to around 50. With my Talent Ability fully activated and Martial Soul Protection, my Blood Qi Value would increase another fivefold from its original base, reaching 100 points. That already exceeds a peak Seventh Grade martial artist. Add the third stage of Crimson Blood Transformation, and my Blood Qi Value could rise to 110 points. With the Swift Wind Thunderous Charge Saber unleashed to its fullest, the power of this strike would probably match the full-force blow of a martial artist with 220 points of Blood Qi."

Jiang Li calculated silently. A Blood Qi Value of 220 points was already the strength of a Sixth Grade martial artist.

All of this was based solely on the test results from the school's Martial Testing Tower and the Heavenly River Martial Arts Hall.

What he did not know was that his base Blood Qi Value had long since broken past the 10.00 threshold.

"If I use the Blade Wielding Technique as well, this strike would be equivalent to a full-force blow from someone with over 300 points of Blood Qi."

"A severely wounded monster should die from that, right?"

Jiang Li thought about it. He felt that he was taking a risk, after all—the Blood Qi Value of a Sixth Grade martial artist ranged from 100 to 1,000.

But...

At that moment, Jiang Li's eyes were filled with chilling killing intent and eager excitement. An involuntary smile even curled across his lips.

What true man would cower from a little gap in strength?

Just do it!

An Eighth Grade taking on a Sixth Grade—the advantage is mine!