Chapter 68: Transcendent System Commonalities

Lu Yan clearly remembered that, to ensure the success of this version update experiment, he had deliberately purchased four basic cultivation manuals and one Low-Grade magical artifact from the inner market of the Green Wu Sect.

The four books included: a Trash Continent Qi Refining technique called Everlasting Spring Manual, Basic Pill Refining, Introduction to Formations, and Basic Talisman Crafting.

Altogether, these four cost Lu Yan just thirty spirit stones.

That price might seem cheap, but for anyone hoping to truly master cultivation arts through those manuals, it was nothing but a pipe dream.

Even the most basic talisman techniques couldn’t be learned from just one book. Lu Yan had only bought them out of curiosity, wanting to test how they would be affected by the version update.

He never expected that all four would really undergo changes during the version transition—and merge into a single USB drive.

As he browsed through the contents of Spirit Energy Code Fundamentals, Lu Yan carefully compared it with his memory and finally confirmed: this new manual had evolved directly from Introduction to Formations.

Because Mysteries of Formations, a Second-Tier formation legacy manual he possessed, included almost all the content of Introduction to Formations, Lu Yan had initially mistaken the updated data for an evolution of Mysteries of Formations instead.

Most of the so-called “Spirit Energy codes” were practically identical to the low-level formation patterns Lu Yan was already familiar with.

This realization immediately raised a red flag in Lu Yan’s mind.

“Formation patterns from the Xianxia version have become Spirit Energy codes—the very foundation of the transcendent system in the Cyberpunk version. Spirit Energy itself might even share the same root as mana.

Though the two versions appear completely different, there is an underlying commonality in their transcendent systems.

This kind of convergence isn’t limited to Xianxia and Cyberpunk. Even the supernatural abilities of zombies in the Apocalypse version, once absorbed into the master soul, manifest with spell-like characteristics.

If I can fully exploit the cross-version similarities, I could take transcendent knowledge to an entirely new level!”

**“For example, can these Spirit Energy codes, derived from formation patterns, be reassembled into actual formations?”

“Could the act of compiling and integrating codes to form constructs be a part of the Cyberpunk version’s transcendent framework?”

Thinking this, Lu Yan couldn’t help but show a trace of genuine emotion on his face.

Looking at the still-anxious Quentin before him, Lu Yan said in a low voice:

“Hand over all the data you have on Compilers.”

Quentin trembled slightly, then gave a bitter smile.

“I—I only tinkered with some broken documents on my own. Most of the Compilers in the Lower District are like me. Real Compilers only emerge after passing extremely difficult university entrance exams and getting formal training in the Upper District.”

Lu Yan’s expression remained calm.

“Just give me whatever you have.”

Quentin let out a long breath and operated his personal terminal. He sent a series of files directly to Lu Yan.

Soon, a list of directories appeared on Lu Yan’s personal terminal.

Basic Applications of Spirit Energy Code 1.2, History of Spirit Energy Code Development, Fundamentals of Spirit Energy Code Integration…

Just as Quentin had said, most of the files were incomplete and lacked key advanced content.

After a cursory read-through, Lu Yan roughly understood the Compiler profession.

In the Cyberpunk version, Compilers were the ones who coded Spirit Energy. They were essentially transcendent programmers of this world.

Low-level Compilers could draw basic Spirit Energy tattoos with code, granting users minor supernatural abilities.

High-level Compilers could write personalized code according to the subject’s biology, helping others undergo Spirit Energy mutation and become full-fledged Spirit Energy users.

Their abilities extended beyond lifeforms—some weapons, large machines, even AI brains—anything involving Spirit Energy required a Compiler’s participation.

Even the personal terminal Lu Yan now used was a Spirit Energy device designed under the supervision of a Compiler.

One could say the entire Cyberpunk version was built by Compilers.

That was why they held such high status here. Even a half-baked tinkerer like Quentin enjoyed considerable prestige in the Lower District.

The more Lu Yan read, the more he felt that Compilers and Formation Masters shared a hidden link.

Formation Masters built macrocosmic constructs by borrowing the power of heaven and earth—wielding the might to move mountains with a single glyph.

Compilers, on the other hand, worked at the microscopic level—refining individuals and constructs alike through precise Spirit Energy coding.

In raw combat power, Formation Masters clearly reigned supreme.

But in shaping civilizations, Compilers far outclassed them.

“Now that I possess knowledge from both systems… perhaps I can fuse their strengths and open a new path.”

“The only pity is that the version update only preserved the Spirit Energy code system. If alchemy, talisman crafting, and artifact refinement had also been translated, the gains would’ve been tremendous.”

Lu Yan sighed slightly in his heart.

Among all the items he had brought into this version, only the spirit stones and Introduction to Formations had been transformed. The other three manuals and his Low-Grade artifact had vanished without a trace.

Lu Yan guessed that the Spirit Energy code system was already a part of the Cyberpunk version, and because it corresponded to formations, Introduction to Formations was successfully converted.

But the Cyberpunk version likely had no existing analogues for pill refining, talismans, or magic artifacts. Without anything for them to “map” to, the remaining manuals and artifact were simply deleted during the update.

Of course, that was just his theory. It was also possible that the spatial shift caused by the update had relocated those items elsewhere—far from where he now stood.

Though a little disappointed, Lu Yan didn’t dwell on it.

Even just mastering Spirit Energy code would take an enormous amount of time. Even if other systems had been preserved, he wouldn’t have the bandwidth to study them all right now.

Having stepped into the massive pit that was the Cyberpunk version—especially with that pseudo-omniscient AI “God” looming overhead—Lu Yan no longer had the urge to stir up trouble like he did in other worlds.

In those other versions, even if he caused chaos, he could always flee into the mountains, sever karmic ties using Xuanhuang Merit Flame, and possibly escape pursuit.

But here in Cyberpunk?

If he drew the attention of that AI god, with its vast surveillance network and divine control, he wouldn’t even know where to run.

Rather than causing chaos, it was far safer to spend the next three months quietly integrating the Compiler and Formation Master systems deep within the underground city.

Once the version update progress bar reached 100%, he would immediately escape this world.

Having made up his mind, Lu Yan subconsciously glanced at his version update interface.

The next moment, he froze in place.

Because displayed clearly before his eyes was a string of chilling text:

【Version Update Progress: 0.1%】

(End of Chapter)