Chapter 144: Cross-Tier Promotion (Part One)

Xin Lang's attempt to enhance the strength of Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu was based entirely on his own hypotheses and experiments. Having no prior experience, the first test subjects would inevitably bear a much greater risk.

Although Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu had been at odds since the day they met, constantly bickering and fighting, their bond was actually profound. Neither wanted to see the other face danger, which led to both of them vying to be Xin Lang's first guinea pig.

Seeing them argue incessantly and unable to make a choice, Xin Lang ultimately decided to elevate their strength simultaneously.

He led the pair into his bedroom, bolted the door securely, and made certain that no one could intrude before turning back to face them.

"Boss, what are we supposed to do? Do we need to take off our clothes?" Fatty Gu asked, looking at Xin Lang with wide, eager eyes.

"Damn it, you absolute horndog! Is stripping down the only thing that ever crosses your mind?" Qian Baidu glared at him with disdain.

"Every novel I've ever read says that transmitting power or empowering through the crown requires you to strip naked!" Fatty Gu argued earnestly.

Xin Lang couldn't help but chuckle. "You only need to take off your clothes when a man and a woman are transferring energy. Since we are all men, it's completely unnecessary."

"Oh..." Fatty Gu nodded in sudden realization. "Well, I must definitely learn this technique from you, Boss, so I can use it to enhance Ouyang Yanran's strength too."

"Despicable!" Qian Baidu spat out a contemptuous insult.

Xin Lang retrieved four Qi-Transforming Pills from the inventory grid of his leveling system, handing two to each of them. "Swallow one pill right now," he instructed, "and keep the second one in your mouth. Wait for my command before you swallow the second one."

"Understood, Boss!" the two replied in unison.

Xin Lang had them sit down right in front of him, then placed his palms firmly against their backs.

Slowly, he channeled the primordial energy from his Dantian through his palms, guiding it into their meridians to probe their physical conditions.

After swallowing the first Qi-Transforming Pills, the medicinal properties began to dissolve. The potency gradually absorbed the nutritional energy stored within their bodies and refined the essence into wisps of primordial energy. Though the energy was extremely faint, primordial energy had indeed manifested inside both of their bodies.

"I am going to guide the primordial energy through your meridians now," Xin Lang said. "You must memorize the path it takes!"

Instead of teaching them the traditional Art of Qi Transformation, Xin Lang combined it with the daily tasks of his leveling system to evolve an entirely new technique. This nameless cultivation method forced the primordial energy to circulate through the meridians along a specific route. As the energy traveled, it not only relaxed and nourished the meridians but also possessed the capability to refine essence and transform it into qi.

Xin Lang only needed to provide the initial guidance. Once primordial energy was generated within their bodies, they would be able to cultivate independently through this method, refining their essence into qi and breaking through to the Grandmaster realm ahead of ordinary progression.

He surmised that when disciples of immortal sects achieved the refinement of essence into qi without any prior foundation, they likely employed a similar methodology.

However, the methods of those immortal sects had been passed down for millennia, whereas Xin Lang's technique was entirely self-invented. Whether it would succeed remained an unknown variable. Therefore, he proceeded with extreme caution, not daring to make even the slightest error. If anything went wrong, Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu would either die or suffer severe injuries, likely destroying their meridians entirely and ending their cultivation paths forever.

Xin Lang carefully controlled the slow circulation of primordial energy through their meridians. Because their internal energy reserves were initially limited, the energy dissipated by seven or eight parts before even a single full circulation cycle could be completed. Not daring to delay, Xin Lang immediately increased his input of primordial energy and instructed the two to swallow their second Qi-Transforming Pills.

As the second pills went down, the amount of internal primordial energy within them surged significantly. Xin Lang resumed guiding the steady flow along their meridians...

After a long while, Xin Lang finally helped them complete a full cycle of primordial energy circulation!

He wiped the sweat from his brow. Although it had cost him a vast amount of energy and concentration, he felt deeply gratified. At the very least, half the battle was won. The rest would depend on Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu's own efforts. Whether they could leapfrog into Grandmasters and enter the Qi-Transformation Stage now depended entirely on their own destiny.

Xin Lang produced another twenty Qi-Transforming Pills, giving ten to each, and instructed them to take the pills whenever their internal energy ran low.

Immersed in their cultivation states, the two would not wake up anytime soon. Xin Lang walked out to the outer hall, splitting his focus between his own cultivation and standing guard to ensure no one disturbed them.

Though he was still unable to complete the daily tasks of a level-seven Grandmaster, Xin Lang persisted in his relentless efforts.

Early the next morning, before Xin Lang had even finished his meditation, he heard Fatty Gu howling from inside the room: "Boss! Where are you, Boss? Save me!"

Jolted awake by the scream, Xin Lang instantly halted his cultivation and rushed into the bedroom.

Upon entering, he found that both Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu had concluded their cultivation sessions and were rolling around on the floor, clutching their stomachs.

Not knowing what had happened to them, Xin Lang asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Did something go wrong?"

Fatty Gu wailed from the floor, clutching his belly, "Boss, we're starving! We're practically dying of hunger!"

Dark lines crossed Xin Lang's forehead. He had not expected them to be howling simply from hunger.

Reaching out, he checked their meridians and found that everything was completely normal, with a small cloud-like cluster of primordial energy lingering in each of their Dantians.

Clutching his stomach, Qian Baidu asked, "Boss, how is it? Have we reached the Grandmaster realm?"

"Mn!" Xin Lang nodded. "More or less. Although the primordial energy in your Dantians is still too sparse to unleash a Heaven-tier low-grade martial skill, you have already crossed the threshold of the Grandmaster realm. As you continue to cultivate, your speed in refining primordial energy will only increase. Becoming advanced Grandmasters will not be a problem."

"Boss..." Fatty Gu lay flat on the floor, tears welling in his eyes, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something but held back.

Soothing him, Xin Lang said, "No need to be so emotional. As your boss, this is only what I should do!"

Just as Xin Lang wanted to flex his eloquence and use the moment of genuine emotion to deeply touch the two of them, Fatty Gu interrupted him: "Boss, since you're our boss, the most important thing you should be doing right now is getting us something to eat!"

"Ugh... Damn it, drop dead!" Furious, Xin Lang sent Fatty Gu flying with a single kick.