C2 Cultivation

With his unparalleled wisdom, it was inconceivable for him to utter mere slogans for motivation. Every gesture of the Supreme One was laden with profound significance, and his teachings have been meticulously interpreted by generations. New masters would emerge, offering deep, multifaceted analyses of his words, yet centuries later, fresh insights would surface, continually enriching and refining his legacy. This was true for the ancient texts as well.

"All beings can cultivate!" These six words have inspired countless individuals. In the twilight of the Earth Era and the dawn of the Cosmic Era, ancient humans lacked the ability to cultivate, relying solely on rudimentary physical strength and primitive technology. For them, cultivation was an unattainable dream.

Despite the Supreme One's mortal origins and his extraordinary achievements that eclipsed those of deities, earning him the highest echelon in cultivation, the majority remained skeptical that they too could follow in his footsteps. They revered the Supreme One as a miracle, a deity, an unparalleled exception.

"All beings can cultivate," declared the Supreme One.

To the ancients of that time, this seemed no more than a comforting slogan akin to "all beings are equal."

It wasn't until the Supreme One unlocked the secrets of the human genetic code with his transcendent abilities and led a select few on the path of cultivation that the ancient humans were jolted awake.

"This... is not a falsehood!" they realized.

Regrettably, following the zenith of the cultivation era, the Supreme One vanished, fading into the annals of history. Rumors swirled that he had incurred the envy of the heavens, suffered divine retribution, and was lost to the world.

In those days, only a handful of prodigiously gifted individuals could engage in cultivation. The vast majority of ordinary people remained disconnected from such practices, lacking the so-called "wisdom root," "spiritual root," or "power seed." They had nothing.

As tens of thousands of years passed and the Cosmic Era truly unfolded, generation after generation of sages, after exhaustive research and dedicating their lives' work, finally crafted the original Awakening Elixir. This groundbreaking invention enabled those with even a modicum of potential to awaken the dormant powers within their genes, setting them on the path of cultivation. Indeed, it was the Awakening Elixir that heralded the true beginning of the cultivation era! Yet, even with this advancement, a vast number of individuals remained unable to awaken.

Moreover, the Awakening Elixir brought with it an unintended consequence—it gave rise to two distinct classes: the Awakened and the Unawakened. The Awakened stood above, blessed with longevity and the potential for limitless evolution, while the Unawakened lived fleeting lives, succumbing to age and illness, unable to make their mark on history.

The notion that everyone could cultivate was merely a hollow slogan of the time.

Countless millennia later, several supreme beings emerged, hailed as gods and saints. They had unraveled the human body's deepest secrets and, after a lengthy collaboration, gradually refined the cultivation system, delineating nine levels of human aptitude.

This time, it seemed they had come closest to fulfilling the true spirit of "everyone can cultivate."

Within these nine aptitude levels, even those at the lowest, the ninth level, could theoretically embark on the path of cultivation.

Thus, it appeared there was finally a definitive answer to the Supreme's renowned adage.

Jun Lindao closed the ancient tome and exhaled deeply. "Yet, with my aptitude, I fear I'm not cut out for cultivation."

His mind drifted back to that pivotal moment two years prior.

At eighteen, in the prime of his youth, he was brimming with boundless hope for his life ahead.

But his dreams were shattered at the Genetic Assessment Center.

"The alpha node is undetectable, the beta node is undetectable, the gamma node is undetectable..." The screen displayed a jumble of text.

The gene tester's face shifted from puzzlement to shock, then skepticism. "Could there be a malfunction? But this is the state-of-the-art Genetic Assessment Instrument from the Grand Academy of Sciences! The theoretical failure rate is less than one in a hundred billion!"

After swiftly confirming the normalcy of several others' genes, the tester reexamined Jun Lindao, only to witness the same anomaly.

"None of the nodes can be detected. It's theorized that the awakening point is exceedingly concealed, beyond the reach of standard detection methods. His aptitude level is estimated to be around the ninth level." The conclusion flashed across the screen, accompanied by the blare of alarms.

An elder with an air of astonishment approached the testing apparatus, his gaze fixed on Jun Lindao, who lay dormant in the Genetic Chamber.

Seeing the elder, the previous tester stepped aside respectfully. "Researcher Song, you've arrived. This young man's test results are quite peculiar. Normally, even a ninth-level aptitude wouldn't prevent the detection of all awakening points. He is, after all, a living being, not a mere rock."

"You're correct. Humans, or any living entity for that matter, will invariably possess one or several awakening points. It's only inanimate matter that lacks the capacity to exhibit such points. Let me see his gene test report," the elder stated with a grave tone, his eyes alight with a fervent glint as though he had glimpsed something of intense passion, his excitement palpable.

The tester passed a screen to the elder.

The elder scrutinized the information intently, his brow furrowed, his face growing increasingly grim. In a tone laced with disbelief, he muttered, "Could it be... No, it's impossible... Absolutely impossible."

Observing the elder's fluctuating demeanor, the tester remained silent.

"Take this young man to my laboratory for a thorough examination," commanded the elder.

"A thorough examination? We need his consent for that, and it must be reported to the Grand Academy, as per the regulations," the tester hesitated, wary of outright refusal, he instead cited protocol. His position as a lowly tester was leagues apart from the elder's status as a prominent researcher.

"I'll handle the formalities later. I'll just have a word with Liu about it; you don't need to concern yourself," the elder assured, seemingly aware of the tester's apprehension, yet undeterred.

For a scientist like him, the pursuit of truth transcended mundane regulations. To the elder, such rules were nothing more than trivial constraints that impeded scientific advancement and the progress of human civilization.

With no choice but to acquiesce, the tester nodded. After all, the "Liu" the elder referred to was the head of the Genetic Institute. Within the Grand Academy's hierarchy, technical expertise and administrative authority were distinctly separate, with the former typically holding greater sway than the latter. Administrative staff often played a supportive role.

The full title of the elder before him was "Great Researcher," a prestigious figure just one step shy of becoming an Academician. Even Director Liu was deferential in his presence, akin to a butler before his master. The true mastermind behind the Genetic Institute was none other than this Great Researcher.

Within the Academy of Science's ranking system, positions ranged from Assistant Researcher to Researcher, Advanced Researcher, Senior Researcher, and finally, Great Researcher. At the pinnacle stood the Academicians, a title of honor, though the gap in actual scientific prowess between Great Researchers and Academicians was minimal.

The tester held the most junior position as an assistant researcher, which is why he was assigned the most basic testing tasks. Director Liu, on the other hand, was merely an advanced researcher, ranking two tiers below the venerable Mr. Song. Rumor had it that Director Liu was on the cusp of ascending to the rank of senior researcher, but he had hit a snag at the recommendation phase. At this critical juncture, Mr. Song's endorsement was crucial for the promotion to materialize.