Chapter 40: The Upgrade Mechanism and Levels of Life!

The first reason is this: the Longevity Pills refined by Chang Jiao'e—or, for that matter, any artificially refined Longevity Pills—are far inferior to those produced by the roulette in terms of the years of lifespan they grant. Furthermore, there are much stricter limitations on their consumption.

In the Doomsday Game, it is impossible for players to treat Longevity Pills like candy, gorging on them to trigger an explosive surge in lifespan. Generally speaking, when taking artificially refined Longevity Pills, it is best to leave an interval of at least four hours between doses; otherwise, their efficacy is significantly diminished. In contrast, Longevity Pills produced by the roulette only require a one-hour interval to maintain their full potency.

To put it simply: in a 24-hour day, a player can take at most six of the inferior, artificially refined pills (one every four hours), whereas they could consume up to 24 pills from the roulette (one every hour). Of course, in the early stages of the Doomsday Game, the number of players capable of consuming their full daily quota of Longevity Pills is negligible. Because of this, even though Chang Jiao'e possesses the ability to refine these pills, she does not lead others by much in terms of total lifespan. She mostly uses the pills she refines to trade with a large number of players in exchange for various benefits.

Another factor limiting her ranking on the Longevity Leaderboard is the leveling mechanism of the Doomsday Game. Shortly ago, Jiang Yi had just reached Level 1. However, on his data panel, only the level field had changed from 0 to 1; none of his other stats had shifted at all. It seemed as though this upgrade merely granted him an exclusive destiny plate and activated player functions.

In reality, however, the significance of leveling is not so simple. The upgrade mechanism in this Doomsday Game does not function like typical games, where one accumulates "experience points" to level up and gain corresponding increases in power. Instead, leveling here is more akin to "certifications" in the real world. Much like getting a driver's license: simply holding the license does not suddenly grant you expert driving skills. Rather, you must first master the techniques of driving before you can earn the license. The license acts as proof that you know how to drive.

In this game, the levels function similarly—as a form of verification. The process of obtaining this verification requires the player to first meet specific upgrade criteria. When Jiang Yi leveled up to 1, the condition was that all stats on his data panel had to be at least 1, and his lifespan had to be at least 100. Because he met these requirements, he was able to use the upgrade token to reach Level 1 so smoothly. This applies to every subsequent level increase as well; one must satisfy the requirements for each level before advancing.

This leads to a new question: if leveling provides no direct stat boost and is merely a proof of capability, then what is its purpose? Is it just for the Level Leaderboard? While the leaderboard is indeed one benefit of leveling, the true significance lies in the enhancement of one's "life essence." This concept is not brought up by top-tier players until a year into the apocalypse, so current players remain unaware of such profound theories. To them, the meaning of leveling is simple: it is about true lifespan.

In this game, everyone’s data panel lists "Lifespan," but in truth, the real meaning of that term is far more complex than a mere number. Does the lifespan gained from consuming pills truly belong to the player? Is increasing one's lifespan really as simple as eating a pill? In xianxia novels, cultivators must train desperately and improve their cultivation realm to extend their lives. Could it really be that simple here? If someone could stack thousands of years of lifespan through pills, then hide away and emerge millennia later to eat more and hide again, wouldn't they be effectively immortal?

As players learn more about the Doomsday Game, more top-tier players will discover that increasing one's lifespan is not as simple as taking medicine. A player's lifespan is actually divided into two levels: "True Lifespan," which truly belongs to the individual, and "Surface Lifespan," which is what appears on the data panel. Only True Lifespan is truly one's own; once Surface Lifespan is depleted, it cannot be restored.

A clear example of this is when a player suffers a fatal injury. Their lifespan will plummet instantly—perhaps to just a few days, hours, or even minutes. If the player then uses a potent healing medicine to restore themselves to their peak, their lifespan will recover, but only to the extent of their True Lifespan. The lost Surface Lifespan is gone forever.

This distinction between True Lifespan and Surface Lifespan is the very reason why levels exist. Consuming Longevity Pills only increases one's Surface Lifespan. Only by leveling up can a player convert that Surface Lifespan into True Lifespan. For instance, when Jiang Yi reached Level 1, the reason he felt a sense of total rejuvenation was because he had secured 100 years of True Lifespan.

Because of this implicit rule, many powerful players do not blindly pursue high Surface Lifespan. No matter how much lifespan you accumulate, if you suffer a severe injury, all that "excessive" lifespan that doesn't belong to your level will be lost in vain. The same logic applies to why Chang Jiao'e only ranks 27th on the Longevity Leaderboard; her level is what restricts her lifespan.

Moving forward, Jiang Yi must also prioritize increasing his level to convert more of his lifespan into True Lifespan. Ideally, he hopes to reach Level 10 as soon as possible. Level 10 is a watershed moment. He is impatient to know if his ability to designate options on the roulette will also take effect during the class selection draw. If it does, he will be able to choose his class according to his own will, rather than being forced to rely on luck and anxiety like other players.

But for now, are there any other players who have already completed their class change?