Chapter 1126
Chapter 1126 - 1112: Lu Mou’s Fifth-Tier
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As the "Eating gadget" was under major repair, and most of the team members were on vacation and rushing to take emergency courses, Lu Ping’an, the "Captain", also entered into a rare period of leisure.
However, due to the change in his identity, becoming a "significant figure," he could not help but get involved in one "political activity" after another.
After all, you can choose not to socialize, but it’s best not to offend people at will; individuals in key positions could simply "operate safely" and prevent project funds that should be yours from arriving, have the fire department inspect your shop three times a day, or delay reinforcements at your most critical moment.
When you’re "invisible" rather than a "significant figure," you can afford to be lazy and complacent.
But at this time, Lu Ping’an had become too significant to ignore; if you were to "refuse to meet" or "not fit in," it would inevitably lead to unwanted speculations.
Of course, this was because Lu Ping’an had risen too fast and hadn’t established stable connections at the top, or to put it another way, many people were now eager to establish a connection with him.
And he, seemed quite indifferent... which surprised others.
Yes, it was a "surprise" rather than "dissatisfaction" or "disgust."
Rule-level and Quasi-rule level strongmen are notoriously difficult to deal with; they’re practically above worldly jurisdiction, maintaining only the most basic respect for mortals.
The most frustrating thing is, they’re mostly busy with their own affairs and have no interest in "tedious trivial matters"... It’s quite possible that they’d lost their "humanity’s anchor," becoming true ticking bombs.
And after reaching this "level," Lu Ping’an knew that it wasn’t the case.
The Rule-level’s physical and spirit bodies had completely transformed and mutated; they themselves were exceptional pollutants, which naturally brought them a whole new understanding of the "world."
Just like the endless corruption Lu Ping’an saw when he first awakened Spirit Vision, or the "Polluted world" he witnessed through the Eye of Truth, they might not have the strong perception of Lu, but they also vaguely sensed the essence of the world.
In such an environment, they couldn’t possibly be deluded by "fantasies;" what mortals view as money, beauties, and ’delicacies’ might appear to them as nothing more than a pile of garbage stinking dog X, so they naturally seemed quite "impatient."
"Mortals are too fragile; their bodies and souls are riddled with holes due to the erosion of pollutants."
"In some sense, this is also a good thing; as Quasi-polluted organisms, they are more likely to awaken so-called ’innate abilities,’ but as a result, they are too fragile..."
Big Cat once explained to Lu Ping’an the world as seen by Rule-makers, why those Quasi-Gods and Deities are all pursuing their own Divine Kingdoms... that’s the truly clean land, a sanctuary where the Deity has used their own "pollution" to expel other "pollutants."
But Lu Ping’an doubted that, dismissing the idea of any true "sanctuary" as self-delusion by the Deities.
Of course, as for such matters, Lu Ping’an wasn’t at that stage yet and couldn’t accurately judge, but he could very well understand why other Rule strongmen seldom made appearances...
"...I’m really annoyed; I so want to punch that nagging speaker in the face, even more annoying than our high school Principal."
Even the "good-tempered" Lu Ping’an felt extremely uncomfortable after enduring four hours of tiresome speeches.
And such a lengthy speech, in the end, was just to advocate the pilot implementation of a paperless office in a certain department... although the time was about right, was there a need to repeatedly emphasize the convenience and cost-saving qualities of using paper? Isn’t it clear that this is the general trend?
Even if he felt his current work was meaningless, he still managed to chat casually and speak in official terms with these people... He knew some things had to be done, and he had to come off as "harmless" and "sociable."
The result? From the progress of the projects handled by Lu Ping’an, it seemed that all parties were very satisfied.
The Eastern Country might have many faults, such as being bureaucratic and inefficient, not to mention all kinds of formalism, but if they really affirm you as one of their own, they become quite generous and "not strict with procedures."
At least for now, Lu Ping’an did not have to worry about being dealt with as a "ticking bomb"... even if sometimes he felt that the tedious meetings, speeches, and conferences might actually be tests of patience.
"It’s a wonder you can endure."
Even Big Cat was somewhat amazed.
"I actually see it as a form of Cultivation... or rather, Exploration."
Lu Ping’an’s words had a deeper meaning; as for whether Big Cat believed it or not, that was another matter altogether.
At this time, Lu Ping’an was not wasting his time either. The consecutive deathmatches and the entry of professionals from other professions into the fourth-tier had greatly "worn down" his body, and he needed rest and adjustment.
On the other hand, he also had to think, to ponder his path ahead...
"Fifth-order life system, what exactly do I need..."
In the eyes of the masses, the fifth tier is actually a somewhat awkward rank, because the real bottlenecks are the fourth and seventh tiers which are extremely difficult thresholds. Generally speaking, if someone can enter the fourth tier, so long as they endure time, insist on hard cultivation, entering the fifth tier is highly probable... Of course, there are not a few unlucky folks like Old Qian, but compared to the one in a thousand chance of advancing from the third to the fourth tier, the difficulty of advancing from the fourth to the fifth tier is indeed much lower.
"...If one really advances casually, then that person is indeed finished."
At this juncture, Lu Ping’an actually stopped.
In his view, the decree-level fourth tier is very difficult because it’s about "solving the problem"; it’s difficult at the beginning, a qualitative change from nothing to something.
For the fourth tier, especially the unique fourth tier for professionals, it’s about integrating what one has learned into a unique path, it’s all the "curse techniques" refined into a "unique decree."
As for Lu Ping’an’s "Life Investor" profession, it encompasses his talent abilities, scholar, life, trade, beastmaster, soldier and other professional paths of rules, built upon many keystones.
Having obtained this "decree," how to advance becomes a major issue, because the advancement of a unique profession can only be pioneered by oneself.
For Lu Ping’an, simply becoming a fifth-tier is quite easy, he could find a fifth-order gardener and skip to that level in just two days without use.
But if one wanted to go further, to become a true rule-level power, then the best path is to continue down one’s own unique main path.
"...Above Life Investor, how should I lay out the fifth-tier form?"
At this time, Lu Ping’an, holding his pen, was in no hurry.
He found that although he could "move the pen," he feared that the result wouldn’t be a very valuable answer.
After solving the problem of the fourth tier, the fifth tier is about filling in content, like writing an essay. The introduction is of course important, but the "content" that follows is what the reader truly looks at, the soul of the essay... Those diverse yet ordinary "accumulations" are the real keystones.
After solving the problem, it’s about defining the "main body" and also determining the major direction for advancement.
"It seems that I’ve truly encountered a bottleneck this time..."
This time, Lu Ping’an knew he couldn’t rush it, while looking for inspiration and direction in his reading, repeatedly reviewing the materials and "knowledge" given by Lin Nu’s daughter, he also seemed to be drifting, attempting to blend into "society."
"The operating logic of my Life Bank and Life Investor is actually human society itself, perhaps, the direction I take further could be found within society..."
Ping’an was not lying; he was indeed "learning," "cultivating," exploring the direction of his future.
But unfortunately, besides getting a swollen head from all the information, he didn’t gain much.
As the leader of the team, "becoming stronger" was his first priority, but after this voyage ship journey, Lu Ping’an, with his significantly enhanced combat power, had enough confidence to pause and make a well-thought-out plan for the future.
His logic, his reason, even his inspiration all told him that the choices he made next might not just pertain to the professional leaning of the fifth Order Commandment, but also the form of "rules" on top of it.
Lu Ping’an needed to think carefully, look around, experience human sentiment, and feel the mechanisms of societal operation.
He was cultivating, exploring, thinking, reminiscing.
That notebook, crowded with "pollutants," was written in then torn apart, torn then written again...
In the end, what was left there was just one word, a word that made him sigh at fate’s mockery...
— End of Chapter 1126 —