It does not surprise me that my Inner World uses different terminology to describe the simulations. Rather than Heaven grade, or D rank, it uses a star and class system. After all, these simulations are not objects — technically — and they are not knowledge either.

The theoretical models that my Inner World facilities produce are also classified in this way, leading me to conclude that all virtual constructs in my Inner World follow this grading system. My Inner World does not care whether the virtual representation can match up perfectly with the real-world counterpart, so long as it is relative enough that useful data can be extracted from experimentation.

For a reference on what Class V, 7* rank means, I compare Sun Zhen to a known quantity: Li Feng.

Li Feng

Class IV Entity

5* rank

Li Feng’s highest record in the Second Layer challenge was a 22nd-floor finish, 8 floors less than Lan Xiaohui’s, and 36 fewer than Sun Zhen’s latest achievement.

When I compare this data to the average records of the simulation entities, it becomes quite clear that the Class describes overall power level and access privilege, while the star rank grades an individual’s performance potential.

In other words, the class is similar to a cultivator’s Qi cultivation, while the star rank is a measurement of their martial arts, knowledge, and equipment. If Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan were animated by a sliver of my consciousness, I would assume that they possess a very high star ranking which is ultimately limited by their class grade. In their current cultivation realm, they will no longer advance quickly and learning methods that are superior to the ones they possess now is highly unlikely.

I decide to follow Sun Zhen as he goes about his routine in order to determine what improvements I can make to my Inner World.

My Inner World currently has several outstanding issues that need to be remedied. Most importantly, my Dao progress has slowed down to a point where it has basically halted. I do not have years or decades to absorb my Insights at this low absorption rate — at least, not yet.

I already know what the problem is, but Sun Zhen’s routine makes it absolutely clear beyond any doubt.

First, Sun Zhen visits the Forging Hall, the [Inscription Hall] subdivision to be specific, and updates the enchantments on his armor. These arrays — called inscriptions — are pseudo-temporary effects implanted into objects that, unlike normal arrays and formations, fade with time and use.

Sun Zhen’s inscription is an array that distributes the force of impact through the metal in a more efficient manner than what the specific molecular configuration of his armor is normally capable of.

I also do not find it surprising that my Inner World can perform such feats even though I have never even considered doing it myself. After all, this technique falls under the Dao of Arrays, and Forging to a lesser extent.

If I did want to do it myself, I am not certain I would be capable of creating an inscription. While it does require tremendous soul and consciousness force — both of which I have plenty of — it also requires a staggering amount of Qi.

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Perhaps with [World Eater], I could compress my Qi into a state where I could burn the inscriptions into an object, but that is just as likely to damage my spiritual vessel as it is to produce positive results.

Next, Sun Zhen visits the Alchemy Hall and restocks on pills he likely used during the Second Layer challenge.

Both of these visits cost him several Inner World Tokens.

Before heading to the Formation Hall, he stops at a relaxation garden where he spends an hour staring into the pond and reading a book of poetry. I assume this improves his mood, as I see no other benefit in wasting an hour in this place.

Sun Zhen does not strike me as someone who is from the Seven Killing Swords sect. It is true that Li Feng also had some sort of chivalric code, if it could be called that, because he offered to let Lan Xiaohui live if she just hands over the sword.

But even so, Sun Zhen simply doesn’t possess that demonic cultivator air about him. He appears very righteous, both in appearance and mannerisms. If it is true that Sun Zhen is not from the Seven Killing Swords sect, then it makes me wonder even more where he came from, and what happened during the two years when I did not form my consciousness yet.

For the rest of the day, Sun Zhen spends his time cultivating in a formation called the [Volcanic Energy Field] which is, as the name suggests, an underground environment that is a platform above a sea of lava. The lava itself is extraordinary, and other than possessing extreme amounts of Fire Qi, it also exhibits strange Yang and metal properties that Sun Zhen absorbs.

His training method is peculiar in that Sun Zhen generates a field of sword Qi around himself to shield himself from the heat — an intense process where I can see his sword Qi materialize, immediately melt from the heat, and then instantly become replaced by more sword Qi.

This regenerative property of his sword Qi is not merely a martial art, but is systematic enough to be an advanced breathing method.

Sun Zhen, were he still alive in the world, would no doubt also be considered a genius. To use the creation and destruction of one’s sword Qi and incorporate it into a breathing method for continuous Qi generation is something that seems extremely difficult.

Then again, if Sun Zhen were still alive in the world, he likely never would’ve been able to develop this technique. There’s no telling how many times the water in Sun Zhen’s body turned to mist while still inside him before he managed to achieve this result of not exploding.

In the world outside, there are no Inner World Tokens that can improve his comprehension rates, and this is the crux of the issue with my Inner World.

Sun Zhen spends the remainder of the Inner World Tokens he earned in this place and this is the telling indicator of my Inner World’s issues. The resources are limited, and at this time, all the simulations have reached an equilibrium where they can no longer progress in their class and star grade with the resources they have.

This means that fewer simulations are solving theoretical models and progressing my Dao.

I withdraw my consciousness from Sun Zhen and observe my Inner World where I see hundreds of simulations going about their own routines in a similar fashion to Sun Zhen’s.

I decide to invest 450,000 Inner World Energy into improving the Martial Hall’s rank to C, which should improve the quality and class of all martial arts within it. This also affects the energy generation properties of the [Killing Field] formation and its rewards, creating an incentive for the simulations to spend more time within it.

Although this is a long-term solution and necessity, it doesn’t directly improve the workforce part of the equation as I had originally intended, but without a Sect Master, goal, or enemy, there is little else I can do.

Out of curiosity, I query the Martial Hall to find out what is required to improve its grade from Supreme to Immortal and it happily informs me that it requires me to consume 50,000 kilograms of Heaven grade stone, 35,000 kilograms of Heaven grade metal ore and 50,000 Spirit Stones.

The [World Eater] talent lives up to its name.