Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Commencing Development of the “Physical Strength” Charm

Translator: 549690339

Not a moment of mourning for the banned “Liu Talisman,” the one busy with developing a new talisman was none other than – the second-class Talisman Master Jiang Cheng!

Having smoothly handled the Virtue and Intelligence categories, Jiang Cheng was about to tackle the “Physical” category.

In the principle of “Virtue, Intelligence, Physique, Art, Labor” for admissions, “Physique” means “strong body.”

According to “Dialogue with College Students,” Jiang Cheng equally adeptly concluded Lotus Cloud University’s testing content for the “Physical” category.

The “Physical” category was thoughtfully summarized by Jiang Cheng as “deciphering”!

From the case examples provided in “Dialogue with College Students,” the practical test subjects for deciphering usually consist of the same old three: Demonic Killing, the hidden Demonic Tao, and Demonic Escape.

As for why it’s these old three, the answer is quite simple.

Because “deciphering” type exams require students to enter an illusion realm created by Lotus Cloud University, assume the role of a character within, and follow directives to complete corresponding tasks.

If you play a character from the righteous path, you need to identify and kill the hidden Demonic Tao practitioners.

If you’re playing as a Demonic Tao practitioner, you need to locate the designated righteous target and kill them.

Since the illusion realm is a faithful reproduction of reality, and the narrative involves many characters in an open-world setting, it demands significant computational power to run, something that ordinary illusions can’t achieve; it can only be maintained with the use of Magical Treasures.

Lotus Cloud University possesses only three third-tier illusionary Magical Treasures; therefore, the “deciphering” exam questions truly consist of only these three subjects.

Fortunately, the school can randomize questions and randomly combine identities and tasks for students in the illusion realm. Moreover, since the Cultivation World lacks internet and information exchange isn’t so fluid, these three subjects have not been systematically studied and solved, allowing them to be passed down through generations and used to this day.

At this point, some clever students might ask: “Shouldn’t ‘deciphering’ type questions be categorized under ‘Intelligence’? Why are they considered ‘Physical’ instead?”

Is it because “combat” falls under “Virtue”; “character” under “Intelligence”; so, since “deciphering” couldn’t be assigned to “Intelligence,” it was lumped with “Physique”?

This classification is not as hasty as it seems but is the result of Jiang Cheng’s thorough analysis and careful deliberation.

First off, the grading criterion for deciphering type questions is the speed at which the student completes the task upon entering the illusion realm!

That is to say, if the student is from the righteous path with the Demonic Tao as the target and the mission is to kill the Demonic Tao.

The time the student takes to find and kill the Demonic Tao is the score for the deciphering exam.

The shorter the time, the higher the score.

Because this represents the student’s “deciphering” ability.

So the question arises, how can one complete the task in the shortest time possible?

Is it like the idiot who watched the entire narrative, then took time and energy to analyze the plot, speculate on the psychological motivations of the characters, and finally form a complete chain of evidence to identify the target? Afterward, even more thought must be given to designing a trap that leaves no trace, luring the target into it…

Jiang Cheng, for one, wouldn’t do it that way.

He planned to skip the narrative explanation the moment he entered the illusion realm and shark everyone inside!

His reasoning was simple.

Since it’s an illusion, there are no real people in it apart from Jiang Cheng himself.

Since there are no real people, it doesn’t matter how many he sharks, he is not actually sharking anyone.

Since he hasn’t sharked anyone, he hasn’t broken the law.

And as the law states that what is not forbidden is permitted, Jiang Cheng’s sharking is completely legitimate and reasonable, without any issue at all.

After this detailed chain of reasoning, the only thing Jiang Cheng needed to consider was how to “efficiently clear” the illusion realm.

After all, Jiang Cheng in the illusion realm is a reflection of his real self.

Whatever combat prowess he has in reality, he possesses the same in the illusion. The Talisman and Magical Treasures he brings in real life can be used in the illusion.

Therefore, deciphering type questions should undoubtedly be classified under “Physical” categories.

Because what ultimately affects Jiang Cheng’s clearing speed is not any puzzle, deduction, or crime motive, but whether his arm swinging the blade will become sore.

Jiang Cheng needed a Talisman that could enhance his physical prowess and combat abilities. He wanted to avoid a situation where his arm would tire from all the slashing, slowing him down and thus, negatively impacting his clearing time and score.

“Enhance physical prowess and combat ability…”

Jiang Cheng keenly grasped the Talisman design requirement for the “Physical” category exam and began to think specifically about it.

As a numerical strategist, Jiang Cheng was very familiar with the mechanisms of various types of Talisman in “Immortal Gods.”

Whenever the Talisman design requirement included “enhancement,” it was heavily associated with “support” type Talisman.

Even if not a “support” type, it should be a “blessing” type like the Fishing Talisman.

But now, Jiang Cheng faced the same dilemma he had when initially designing the Immobilization Talisman.

That is, “support” and “blessing” mechanisms, under the restriction of being first-tier, could hardly offer significant enhancement to the user.

It was precisely because “control” type Talisman couldn’t achieve “immobilization for a minute” that Jiang Cheng had to “draw the curve” and used a healing type Talisman, the Muscle Relaxation Talisman, to realize the effect of “immobilization for a minute.”

Now, neither “support” nor “blessing” types of Talisman could meet Jiang Cheng’s demand for an enhancement in figures.

He had to refer to the design approach of the Muscle Relaxation Talisman and break out from an unexpected type to fulfill the requirements of “enhancing physical prowess and combat abilities!”

Thus, he would design a Talisman specifically for the “Physical” assessment at Lotus University!

Thinking up a new Talisman is not easy, and even Jiang Cheng had to enter into deep contemplation.

Honestly, if the “Liu Talisman” could be used twice, then simply letting the Liu Talisman act would make clearing the illusion realm effortlessly.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t be used.

If Jiang Cheng were willing to ask Liu Qing for help, he could easily win the opportunity to use the Liu Talisman twice. But Jiang Cheng believed that since he promised Liu Qing, he would keep his word.

He said he would only use it one last time, and that’s exactly what he would do.

Once a promise is made, it must be kept, as four horses cannot retrieve it.

Finding excuses every time would only lower standards more and more—a bad move.

“Enhance quality, increase combat power, no sore arms, enhance quality, increase combat power, no sore arms…”

Jiang Cheng repeated the new Talisman design requirements to himself.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he quickly took out his notebook with notes from “Dialogue with College Students.”

He opened the notebook, searched carefully, and at last, Jiang Cheng found a key piece of information he needed!

[In the illusion realm, candidates don’t feel pain and won’t die even if attacked by other characters.]