Translator: Anubis Translations
"Why am I being mocked? Is it because my physique is stuck at the first level of Body Refinement and can't break through?" Fortunately, Gu Feng had already prepared himself mentally, so he wasn't overly disheartened by Elder Liu's words.
However, Elder Liu's expression surprised him. The elder shook his head with a smile, denying this claim.
"You are like everyone else, progressing through the stages of Body Refinement, Qi Refinement, and the Postnatal Realm. The only difference is that you don't have the divisions of the Nine Heavens within these stages."
"Since the mythical era when Nüwa created humans, our species has appeared in the world, drilling wood for fire, eating raw meat and drinking blood. Through endless ages of change, humans learned to cultivate.
The cultivation system naturally emerged, and the existence of minor realms is a gift from the Heavenly Dao, giving cultivators clear goals and positive feedback at regular intervals during their cultivation journey...
However, while the Great Dao has fifty aspects, the heavens derive forty-nine, and humanity takes the remaining one. Every so often, the world produces one or two anomalies.
For example, in ancient times, there were occasional Body Refinement cultivators who, no matter how they cultivated, could only advance within the Body Refinement Realm without ever reaching an end.
Another example..."
Elder Liu's extensive and erudite explanation felt like listening to a divine scripture, leaving Gu Feng dizzy and finally prompting him to speak up: "Elder Liu, could you please not go on at such length?
I roughly understand what you're trying to say: I can break through, just like other ordinary cultivators, but without the divisions of the Nine Heavens?"
"Exactly!" Elder Liu gave him a sidelong glance, thinking the boy was rather ungrateful. Couldn't he see the elder was just getting into the flow of his explanation?
"Then what does it have to do with being looked down upon? I think my physique is very strong. At least for now, I haven't found any Body Refinement cultivator stronger than me!" Gu Feng felt a great weight lift from his heart, not taking it too seriously.
What he feared most was being stuck forever at the first level of Body Refinement, which would mean missing out on many joys, like not being able to fly or project spiritual power externally...
As long as he could break through the major realms, everything else was manageable.
Elder Liu chuckled, clearly anticipating this reaction from the boy.
Clearing his throat, he continued, "Barring any accidents, you can only cultivate up to the Postnatal Realm, and even then, you can't go too far!"
"What do you mean?" Gu Feng was puzzled.
"If you cultivate in the Postnatal Realm for too long, I'm afraid you'll die!" Elder Liu said mysteriously.
Gu Feng was stunned and hurriedly asked, "Is it because my physique doesn't have a corresponding cultivation method?"
"Not at all." Elder Liu shook his head.
"Then what is it? Please stop beating around the bush." Gu Feng's curiosity was thoroughly piqued by Elder Liu, but the elder's incomplete answers kept him on edge, eager to know more.
"Because when your physique breaks through from the Postnatal Realm to the Innate Realm, you'll face a tribulation.
Not just that, every breakthrough after the Innate Realm will also bring a tribulation!" Elder Liu said with a grave expression.
Without waiting for Gu Feng to ask, he continued, "This isn't an ordinary tribulation; it's a comprehensive assault on your body, spiritual power, and soul, utterly terrifying. Moreover, this tribulation ignores any treasures. At least in the ancient records, no treasure has ever been found to help with such tribulations.
Even the ancient Ascension Tribulation had treasures that could block it, but your physique is an exception, a mystery since time immemorial."
"Can't one rely on their own abilities to overcome the tribulation?" Gu Feng found it hard to believe.
"Yes, according to estimates, a cultivator with this physique could succeed in the tribulation only if they cultivate their body, spiritual power, and soul to the absolute peak in every realm."
"Cough, false alarm then. I'll just cultivate all three at the same time, even if it takes more time." Gu Feng said lightly, seeing this as no major hurdle.
"If there were enough time, this wouldn't be a problem. But the tribulations for this physique don't give you time to perfect all three.
As soon as any one of the three reaches perfection, the tribulation will be triggered." Elder Liu shook his head with a smile.
"Huh? Can't I control my cultivation progress? Cultivate all three to just shy of perfection and then synchronize their perfection at the last moment to face the tribulation." Gu Feng furrowed his brows.
This method, while difficult, wasn't entirely impossible.
"How far do you think you are from the peak of Body Refinement?" Elder Liu didn't answer directly but instead asked a question in return.
"Uh—" Gu Feng was momentarily speechless, then quickly realized and exclaimed, "With this physique, even I can't perceive my own cultivation progress?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Gu Feng stood there dumbfounded. Based on the current situation, the highest realm he could cultivate to was indeed the Postnatal Realm, and even then, he couldn't go too deep.
Having finally crossed over and obtained a cheat ability, only to be unable to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, left him deeply unsatisfied.
"Kid, don't overthink it. Just settle down as an Outer Sect Disciple. When you reach the Postnatal Realm, I'll make you an Outer Sect Deacon. Living peacefully for a hundred years is better than being struck down by a tribulation." Seeing Gu Feng's discontent, Elder Liu tried to console him.
"The reason your physique is so strong is because it cultivates all Nine Heavens simultaneously. The difficulty lies in cultivating body, spiritual energy, and soul together, requiring resources thousands of times greater than peers at the same level. Without the tribulations, it would undoubtedly be the greatest physique of all ages, coveted by the most powerful sects.
"But now, no sect is willing to nurture you.
"Since ancient times, countless sects have proven that this is an impossible feat.
"The most famous attempt was several thousand years ago in an ancient imperial dynasty of the Central Plains. As the dynasty was declining and expected to last only a few more centuries, they decided to gamble, pooling the resources of an entire dynasty to nurture a cultivator with this physique..."
"Did they succeed?" Gu Feng pressed.
"They did," Elder Liu said quietly, "succeeding in hastening the end of the dynasty that could have lasted a few more centuries."
Gu Feng nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Here he was, feeling so downcast, and the old man still had the heart to joke around.
It truly confirmed the saying that happiness is built on the suffering of others; smiles don't disappear, they just get transferred.
Hearing this, Gu Feng understood why this physique was so scorned.
For a cultivator whose end could only be either the Postnatal Realm or death, and who was invincible within the same realm, the world had ample reason to mock.
"What's the use of being invincible in the same realm if you can only cultivate to the Postnatal Realm?" Similar taunts would likely be heard often in the future, and even if he miraculously broke through to the Innate Realm, the mockery wouldn't cease, merely changing from 'Postnatal' to 'Innate'.
"Does this physique have a name?"
"Yes, the Myriad Tribulations Physique!"
"A fine name. I, Gu Feng, will be the first to reach the pinnacle of the world with the Myriad Tribulations Physique!"
After this bold declaration, Gu Feng took his leave.
Left behind, Elder Liu could only shake his head helplessly. There was one thing he hadn't told Gu Feng: all bearers of the Myriad Tribulations Physique met the same end—falling to the tribulation.
He hoped Gu Feng would hit the brakes in time and not rush headlong into the flames.
(End of the Chapter)
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