Blood and Qi: A Vampire Xianxia LitRPG

Before John could even speak, Avatar nearly crowded him, an excited smile on her face. “It worked! The risk was well worth the reward! This is so exciting! What a body! What results! Oh, and I have wonderful news, John! Wonderful!”

John noticed he seemed more real than he was used to while in his Mind’s Eye and had more range of motion. He tried to think of something witty to say to Avatar. He came up blank.

“Well, do you want me to tell you the news?”

“Please, Avatar, tell me.”

Avatar seemed to become even more giddy as she began speaking. “You’re getting a reward! A physical one! The amount and combined ratings of [Achievements] you received during and for one event hit a threshold. So, instead of the system making a new [Title], you’re to receive a physical reward! This hasn’t been done since before Tech levels were introduced! It’s very exciting!”

John smiled, or he felt like he was. “Can you see my smile? Do I have a face?”

“No, and you do not. What do you think of the news?”

“I think it’s great. What will I get?”

“That’s part of the excitement. We won’t know until it arrives.”

‘When will it arrive?”

“No idea,” Avatar replied as she continued to smile excitedly at John.

A thought hit John. “Would the [Title] have been one of the good ones that do something? Like how the one Gar’tar granted me increases my [Skill] gain?”

The smile stayed plastered on Avatar’s face as she said, “No. System granted [Titles] never do. Most users never receive a system granted [Title]. [Titles] are meant to be a reward from higher-tiered entities. Chances are it would be similar to your [Record Holder] [Title], but state you held multiple records.”

John really wished Avatar could see him smile. “Oh. The first time we spoke I remember you telling me everything that could be done has been done, or some such. That was just a short time ago. And if I’m understanding correctly, I hold two records now?”

“Ha! That’s certainly true. Touché.”

John wondered why the word ‘touché’ didn’t translate to touch. He knew the word in its native Frank. He remembered it being used by many non-Frankish swordsmen too, usually during practice. Not long after he met Thomas is when it started gaining popularity. It became far more popular when firearms took over battlefields, and side-swords evolved into rapiers and such. A touch was made, or a point was scored, and touché would be called out for a reset and new pass. He assumed Avatar meant it to mean a similar thing, but with words instead of swords.

John liked that. The new meaning of it. And he thought the new meaning would explain why the word didn’t translate, and why Avatar would say the word ‘touch’ in any language as she did.

John continued, “And you said you were never wrong.”

Avatar laughed. “I said no such thing! I said my information is always accurate. Big difference, young man!”

John chuckled. He felt the same as he did when he smiled in the real world. He decided he would take Lilly up on her offer to assist him in forming a body in his Mind’s Eye. “Okay. I hope the gift is good. If I have a say, I’d like something to heal my soul. I’m ready to see my summary.”

It seemed to John that Avatar tried to look scandalized. “Well, someone’s in a big rush. I fear you no longer enjoy my company. Just kidding! I know you’re anxious to see your results, but I’d like a moment more of your time, if this is acceptable to you?”

“Of course.”

“Part of the cost of your physical reward is losing out on the usual [Achievement] award of NCU energy cost reduction. If you want, you can refuse the physical reward, receive a new [Title], and receive the usual [Achievement] awards. What say you?”

John thought it would help to know what the physical reward would be and when he’d receive it. His [Record Holder] [Title] was no help to him at all, and Lilly said he should hide it when he could. He had plenty of NCU energy cost reduction already and believed he’d get plenty more in the future. “I’d like the physical reward please, Avatar.”

“As I thought. Just a few more items. I’m required to notify you that, free of charge, you were rescanned upon entrance. It was necessary to find out all the details of your new body. Users are always charged, so this is great news, lucky boy!

“Also, you’ll be required to pick among a few choices for your body’s name. This will also decide the name of your [Undirected Basic Meditation] technique. Sorry, you’ll no longer be allowed to name your meditation technique yourself.”

That he had to name anything annoyed John. Since he could, he did, but he preferred not having a choice to begin with. He asked, “I could tell when I was being scanned last time, so why was I not aware of it this time?”

“What happened during your last scan is the reason you weren’t aware you were rescanned. Oh, an [Achievement] has been adjudicated. And as per your request to have me update your settings, the amount increased is always in parentheses. I don’t want to spoil the surprise but you have something called an ‘effective’ score for [Stats] now. That scheme will go bracketed effective value, current value, then parenthetical amount increased. Anything else, or are you ready to pick a name? I’m excited! There’re some changes you’ll be very happy about!”

John thought he understood what she meant about the scan. He’d figure out what she meant by the rest as he viewed his summary. And he was excited to see what changed – Avatar’s excitement made him even more so. “Thank you, Avatar. I’m ready.”

User will pick a name for acquired body refinement from among the following.

Leech Body of the Morning’s Glory

Parasite Body of the Morning’s Glory

Leech Body of the Red Dawn

Parasite Body of the Red Dawn

Body of the Ancient Leech’s Shadow

Body of the Ancient Parasite’s Shadow

Body of the Aged Leech’s Shadow

Body of the Aged Parasite’s Shadow

Body of the Hoary Leech’s Shadow

Body of the Hoary Parasite’s Shadow

Body of the Timeworn Leech’s Shadow

Body of the Timeworn Parasite’s Shadow

Body of the Venerable Leech’s Shadow

Body of the Venerable Parasite’s Shadow

John was extremely disappointed in the choices offered. Even the NCS, which knew he didn’t actually drink blood, or not much of it, gave him options only related to drinking blood. He tried calling Avatar and she either ignored him or couldn’t hear him. He was stuck on this choice and couldn’t go forward or backward without making it.

Every choice sounded bad to John. Any of them could be acceptable with a different word replacing leech or parasite. He decided leech was a little better than parasite, as leeches had some utility with assisting mundane humans with healing. He then narrowed it down to the three choices he found the most tolerable - [Leech Body of the Morning’s Glory], [Body of the Ancient Leech’s Shadow], and [Body of the Venerable Leech’s Shadow].

Going off [Sunfire Body of the Slave-Empress], John thought he was being rooked. Her name was Sunfire. But she was also known as the Slave-Empress. He picked [Leech Body of the Morning’s Glory] hoping there was a chance he would be considered the Morning’s Glory part of it, and not the Leech part of it. His hopes were dashed when he saw the next line pop up.

Undirected Basic Meditation’s name has been changed to Leech Feckless Retreat Technique.

Great gods below! Is some sort of joke being played on me?

John quelled his frustration and moved on.

Tech Level 4* Restrictions Applied

Age 5,780 to 5,930 USACS years

Race Terran-E(F)

Tree First

Tier 2 (Mortal) (Copper)

Level 9 (High)

Archetype NA

Active Title Blessed by Magnus Gar’tar

Aspects Blood (GB) (Major)

Leech (RL) (Major)

Shadow (D) (Average)

Change (Y) (Minor)

Protection (P) (Minor)

Battle* (O) (Minor)

Affinities (G 99%) (B 97%) (Y 98%) (R 97(96)%)

(D 98(97)%) (P 96%) (L 96(95)%) (O 96%)

NCU Energy Cost 24%(-46.5%)

Active NCU Upgrades Nano Assistance, Emergency Heal, Theta Waves

Heal Delta A, Heal Delta B

STATS [Effective] Current (Increase)

Strength [23%, 83.87] 68.19 (2)

Swiftness [23%, 83.62] 67.98 (2)

Conditioning [24%, 85.24] 68.74

Min. Power [12%, 66.60] 59.46

Capacity [13%, 56.31] 49.83

Runes [10%, 16.53] 15.03

Physical Fortification [23%, 85.14] 69.22 (4)

Elemental Fortification [19%, 82.69] 69.49 (4)

Mental Fortification [10%, 74.33] 67.57

Highest Skills [Leech Feckless Retreat Technique] 96.44

[Mixed Style Swords] 93.64

[Mixed Navigation] 91.12

[Mixed Stealth] 88.83

Synergy Skills Ready

Class NA

Perks Orb of the Crimson Palace, Dynamic,

Physical, Potent, Protected, Strong,

Fast, Healthy, Quick Thinking*, Resilient,

Powerful, Expansive, Harden, Resistant,

Soulful, Good Genes*, Leech Body of the Morning's Glory,

Regeneration

Manifestations Blood Dart, Blood Manipulation, Blood Shield,

Blood Blade, Blood Heal, Blood Buff, Flashburst Pulse,

Battle Closest, Bad Ultimate,

Unnamed Battle/Blood Enchantment, Drain Essence,

Slip

Last Achievement The Interlace Chase 2 - S

Highest Achievement SSUR Body - SSUR

Titles Blessed by Magnus Gar’tar, Ptagmog, Record Holder (System),

Trailblazer (System)

Next required advancement event: Unknown*

-Start Notifications

16 tracked skills increased, 12 of interest, 1 Invalid. Scaled summary per notability/interest user profile.

Notable skills of interest increases: Essence Manipulation – 19(1) (Apprentice), Breath of the Serpent Clan Endless Technique – 13(2) (Novice), Blood Manipulation – 12(2), Manifestation Defense – 10(2) (Novice), Turmoil Within Tranquility Cycling Technique – 9(2) (Novice), Unbind Manifestation – 8(2) (Neophyte), Unbind Defense – 8(2) (Neophyte), Flashburst Pulse – 8(3) (Neophyte), Blood Heal – 4(2) (Neophyte), Unnamed Battle/Blood Enhancement – 3(3) (Neophyte), Drain Essence – 1(1) (Neophyte), Slip – 1(1) (Neophyte).

A skill from the Abjuration school based on a concept (Old) user no longer possesses was made invalid and has been purged from the record.

2 rated Perks attained.

Regeneration (C-rated).

Leech Body of the Morning’s Glory (SSUR-rated). All bodily systems refined with the highest efficiency. Body was infused with 7 material components and 2 incorporated majorly, 1 averagely, and 4 minorly.

Full body repair.

Healing Factor increased 2.6x base +/- .3.

Regeneration*.

Minimum Energy Unit effectiveness* increase applied to the following Stats: Conditioning (14%), Strength (13%), Swiftness (13%), Physical Fortification (13%), Elemental Fortification (9%), Capacity (3%), Minimum Power (2%).

Stat increase, Copper tier*: 4 Physical Fortification, 4 Elemental Fortification, 2 Strength, 2 Swiftness.

New concept/aspect: Drain, Red-Light, Major*

New intrinsic manifestation: Leech.

New concept/aspect: Shadow, Dark, Average.*

New intrinsic manifestation: Slip.

This body refinement Perk had 7 components formed/incorporated into user. To see a detailed list of substances and amounts contained in each component focus here. List sorted by greatest to least incorporation.

1 Dimensional Horror, Greater, rare merge, unnamed

4 Sunlight, infusion

1 Receptive Charm, Iiệượỹằ, S-grade, attuned, activated

1 Unnamed bracer, Zynanget, D-grade, Transcendent tier

1 Ore, arinite, chunk

1 Stone, green rys, brick

1 Sinew, Yyerd (Transcendent tier), cord

2 common Achievements attained.

19 Notable Achievements attained; 1 Title attained.

‘Record Holder (Tier 1 Event 288)’ attained (SSR-rated). Second issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a concept previously considered to be a high-concept within a single-colored and minor aspect being obtained.

‘Concept Except’ attained (SSR-rated). First issuance of newly created Achievement. Obtain a concept previously considered to be a high-concept within a single-colored and minor aspect.

‘Trailblazer’ attained (SSR-rated). Obtain the first issuance of a newly created Achievement.

‘Trailblazer’ Title attained. System Title only. Cannot be active Title.

‘Dark Discoverer (Greater)’ attained (Unrated). Be the first to discover a new dark one classified as a Greater-type.

‘Climber 4’ attained (C-Rated). Participate in the death of an entity at least 4 tiers above user’s own.

‘SSUR Body’ attained (SSUR-rated). Obtain a body rated as superb-super-ultra-rare.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Third issuance of same Achievement. First recording of an SSUR-rated body created by other than an omega-type entity.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Fourth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body forcing two concepts.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Fifth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body refined beyond known efficiency maximum for all types up to and including SSUR-grade.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Sixth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body refinement with additional formation components granting Stats beyond type-grade maximum.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Seventh issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body incorporating 7 material components.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Eighth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body majorly incorporating 2 material components.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Ninth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body refinement increasing Minimum Energy Unit efficiency of the following Stats for a beta-type species: Capacity and Minimum Power.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Tenth issuance of same Achievement. First recording of a body refinement increasing racial grade.

‘Record Holder (Tier 2 Event 197)’ attained (SSR-rated). Eleventh issuance of same Achievement. First recording of non-omega-type holding a top ten spot on the “Best Of’ listings.

‘Racial increase’ attained (F-rated). Increase race by one grade. Race upgraded from F to E-grade. Minimum Energy Unit effectiveness* increased by 10% for all Stats.

‘Hallelujah’ attained (D-rated). During a body refinement, all bodily systems refined with a high enough efficiency to generate a full body heal.

‘Regen-is-great’ attained (C-rated). During a body refinement, all bodily systems refined with a high enough efficiency to grant the Regeneration Perk. Achievement rating equal to Regeneration Perk rating.

‘The Interlace Chase 2’ attained (S-rated). Obtain two high-concepts.

Concepts, aspect, aspect tier changes.

Base-concept of Old, Dark, Minor, 98% has been changed and forced by body refinement into the base-concept of Shadow, Dark, Average, 98%.

Base-concepts of Mercurial, Red, Minor 97% and Separate, Light, Minor, 96% have been changed and forced by body refinement into the high-concept of Drain, Red-Light, Major, 96% (averaged).

End notifications-

The frustration John felt regarding the names of his body and technique went away as he viewed the information on his new body. It came back with a fury when he saw all the [Achievements] he got, and their ratings. He felt like he really was being rooked. Avatar led him to believe he only held two records and had a handful of [Achievements]. If his physical reward wasn’t something amazing, he thought about refusing it and demanding all the usual rewards.

Remembering how he acted the fool last time by losing his temper, John collected himself and tried to remember what Avatar actually said. After considering, he was not sure he was rooked, but he was sure Avatar wasn’t completely forthcoming.

“Avatar, did you purposefully try to sell me on the physical reward? Did you downplay all the [Achievements] I got so I would agree to it?”

Avatar held a serious look on her face and stood in her most dignified stance. “I did not. I wanted you to be surprised when you saw them. It’s not too late to change your mind about accepting the physical reward. You’re approaching one so nothing’s set in motion. If you do change your mind, you’ll receive even more [Achievements]. We don’t decide on new [Achievements]. We only receive the updates. At the most there’d be nine new [Achievements], at the least there’d be five. All would be SSR-rated.

“They weren’t generated because without the usual awards, events only need to be recorded, and the new [Achievements] would be tied to the new records you hold. Same with the [Title]. It’s unnecessary to come up with new [Titles] that won’t be given. It’s a waste of energy since you’re the first non-omega to hold multiple records since the NCS started awarding that [Title].

“Most likely, there’d also need to be a new ‘Best of’ [Title] created. Omegas don’t receive system [Titles]. They’d just remove them. They see them as something for lesser races.”

That explanation took the wind out of John’s sails. “And you still recommend I take the physical reward?”

“I do.”

“Okay. I trust you. But that’s a lot of that energy reduction I’m missing out on.”

“It is. A tremendous amount.”

John still felt like he was being swindled somehow. “What about that leech and parasite nonsense. You know I hardly drink any blood.”

A smirk crept on Avatar’s face. “I do know that. And if you carefully read all you should have you’d know that choice was due to your new high-concept, ‘drain,’ and had nothing whatsoever to do with your vampirism. When a body [Perk] is rare enough to force a high-concept, a word related to that concept is always included in the body’s name and any other notable [Skill] of the same user, such as your meditation technique.”

Some frustration left John. He could understand that reasoning. The choices of leech and parasite made more sense to him. “But [Leech Feckless Retreat Technique]? That must be a joke. Feckless? Can I change it?”

“Sorry, you cannot. The technique is basic and undirected. Feckless is an accurate word. It’s a terrible technique for all but you. Most don’t have the time to raise a technique for nearly six thousand terran years before their journey up the climb begins.”

John didn’t think Avatar was the least bit sorry. She had perfect answers for all that frustrated him, and that frustrated him. He tried to think of something witty and biting to say in response, and he thought he finally managed to. “Touché.”

Avatar just looked at him.

John said, “The body seems a little underwhelming for holding so many records. I grow limbs back already, just much slower. I already have regeneration. The [Stats] showing in brackets look nice, but it says my current [Stats] are basically the same and only a few of them barely increased. I’m guessing it raised soft caps but I’m right back at them again, or will be soon, right?”

For the first time John saw Avatar’s surprised face. “What!? I’d box your ear if it were possible. Didn’t do much else, eh? Fool boy! Your race upgraded! Know what a big deal that is? You managed to acquire the best body recorded of any entity less than omega-type, and one like nothing ever seen! You’re on the ‘Best of’ listings for body. You now have two-high concepts. At Copper! One drains essence! Most cultivators would kill for that concept! And your ‘shadow’ concept is also highly regarded and sought after.

“Did you not see your two new manifestations? When a body [Perk] forces concepts, it comes with manifestations intrinsic to those concepts. In your case, [Drain Essence], and [Slip].”

“What does [Slip] do?”

Deadpan, Avatar said, “If only there was a way you could easily test manifestations within your Mind’s Eye. And, yes, only a few of your [Stats] increased. But they increased by a greater amount than most formation-only bodies give at Bronze while you’re in Copper, and four [Stats] increased! And they continue to increase more and more every tier.

“The best part is the increased efficiency of Minimum Energy Units. Your [Stats] are all more effective. For instance, if your [Strength] goes up by 1 it’s like gaining one-point-two-three [Strength] for you. If you and another terran both had a 100 score in [Strength], you’d be much stronger. Your effective score would be 123. Get it?

“That body and your race upgrade both increased soft caps. We don’t know by how much exactly, but you should be fine until at least Gold tier now.”

Avatar’s face looked disgusted, and she nearly spit out, “Underwhelming! I’ve never heard such a foolish thing!”

John took the admonishment and chuckled. “Touché. But in my defense, most of that wasn’t explained anywhere.”

The look of disgust disappeared and was replaced by a smirk. “If only there was some place where that information could’ve been noted down. Some sort of section called ‘notes’ or the like. Wasn’t there…” Avatar scratched her head. “…oh, I remember, we had a notes section and you told me to remove it.”

John wished he didn’t reply with touché in his last response. He felt it was too soon to say it again but thought it would’ve been perfect if he said it right then. Instead, he said, “What’s with all the stars?”

Avatar’s brows crinkled. “Oh, you mean the asterisks? Those are to draw attention to something. Since you don’t want to see notes, that’s how you know there’s a note I’ll talk to you about. Besides the asterisk for Tech level and two of the [Perks] in the summary. An asterisk on a [Perk] usually indicates the [Perk]’s part of a chain.”

John suppressed his desire to say touché again. He liked that word. He thought it made conversations much easier. Or would, if people didn’t judge him for using it too often, and he knew they would, so he couldn’t.