C4 Nine Trials

After listening to the old man's explanation, Jun Lindao forced a smile more pained than tears. "I never imagined it would be such a unique case."

The elder, noticing Jun had regained some composure, went on, "I've consulted the historical records. The Great Academy of Sciences documented this type of constitution tens of thousands of years ago. They even conducted research on it. Those eminent scientists named it the 'Nine Difficulties Body'."

Difficult, difficult, difficult to ascend to the heavens!

Difficult, difficult, difficult to peer into the netherworlds!

Difficult, difficult, difficult to descend to the underworld!

"The Nine Difficulties Body... quite an apt description," Jun Lindao said with a wry smile, his mind a whirlwind of chaos, thoughts scattering in all directions, unsure of his next move.

"Cultivating with such a physique is exceedingly challenging. You can't even begin to compare it with natural geniuses—it's a hundred times harder than it is for the average person. Even against those with eighth-level talent, the difficulty is tenfold. From here on out, you must look after yourself and never lose hope in life," the old man advised, his tone akin to a doctor delivering a terminal diagnosis, offering only a few words of solace.

A week later, Jun Lindao underwent another round of testing at a different genetic facility, only to receive confirmation of the old man's words. He then tried a standard-grade awakening potion, but it was as if he had cast a stone into the sea—no ripples, no effect, whether good or bad. His body remained utterly unchanged.

It was then that Jun Lindao truly let go, accepting that the elder had not deceived him.

"But what path lies ahead for me now?"

Emerging from his reverie, Jun Lindao sighed deeply, his gaze falling as he posed the question to himself once more, "What path lies ahead for me?"

In the current age, ordinary people were all Awakened. Typically, they would undergo testing at eighteen and consume an Awakening Potion. Depending on their individual constitutions, the vast majority would awaken within a year. Those who failed to awaken by twenty were labeled as 'outcasts', 'freaks', 'waste', or 'resource squanderers'.

In every aspect, the Awakened surpassed their unawakened counterparts, achieving greatly enhanced qualities.

The Unawakened suffered from frail vitality and brief lifespans, averaging less than a century; yet even those at the initial stage of Awakening could live up to a hundred and fifty years!

Their strength, recovery, and speed were all inferior; however, the physical condition of someone at the beginning stages of Awakening was more than double that of an Unawakened individual!

The Unawakened were lacking in mental capacity and computational skills. In contrast, the Awakened experienced a significant boost in brain power, possessing a near photographic memory.

The gap between the Unawakened and Awakened was vast and seemingly insurmountable.

In some ways, Jun Lindao's plight was even more tragic than that of ordinary disabled individuals. Today, with the aid of biomedical technology, disabled people can regain their health and abilities, becoming either normal or even Awakened. But Jun Lindao was far weaker than the average person, a definitive underdog.

"It's no surprise that the 'child prodigy' eventually succumbed to suicide, having lost all hope in life."

Jun Lindao proved to be somewhat more resilient than the 'child prodigy.' Over the course of two years, he had come to terms with his reality and was preparing to confront the rest of his life in the best state possible.

His intellectual abilities were nearly at a genius level among the Unawakened, but still fell short when compared to the average Awakened person, though he was somewhat stronger than those Awakened who had previously been intellectually disabled. His physical condition could only be described as 'feeble.'

With such capabilities, thriving in this world was an incredibly challenging endeavor.

Most occupations required specific Awakening skills, and basic service jobs were often handled by a multitude of intelligent robots, eliminating the need for lower-level human labor.

Groups like Jun Lindao existed on the fringes of society, subsisting on just enough government assistance to survive.

In the cosmic era, humanity had risen to become one of the dominant forces in the universe, with access to abundant resources. Thus, unconditionally supporting a segment of the 'Unawakened' posed no strain, although the policies of various planets differed.

Jun Lindao resided on the Freisean, also known as the Fiery Planet, with a population of around one billion—a medium-sized world whose resources paled in comparison to larger planets. Consequently, the treatment of the Unawakened there left much to be desired. In Jun Lindao's experience, not a single Unawakened had managed to make a significant impact.

In the ruins of a collapsed slum, one could claim a paltry relief check each month and lose themselves in the virtual world, playing out their lives online. This was the existence of the majority of the unawakened. For those unawakened who had abandoned hope for the future, this lifestyle became a trap from which escape was nearly impossible, leading them to drift aimlessly through their brief existence.

Following the universal examination, Jun Lindao's rank had placed him in the top one million. With an aptitude at the level of an ordinary fifth-level person, he was eligible to enter the Truth Hall, a prestigious institution directly affiliated with the Academy of Science. In contrast, the average person could only gain entry to the Knowledge Hall, a tier below the Truth Hall. Graduating from the Truth Hall opened up a wealth of opportunities and elevated one's status significantly. It was akin to a transformative leap, propelling one's prospects to dazzling heights.

However, Jun Lindao's aptitude was far below the Truth Hall's minimum threshold of the fifth level.

Ineligible for the Truth Hall and with most of the Knowledge Hall's curriculum tailored for the awakened—requiring at least a seventh-level aptitude—his options were limited. The Knowledge Hall's acceptance of seventh-level individuals was already a concession, initially intended for those above the sixth level, broadened to the seventh level merely to placate public sentiment.

Thus, he found himself at an impasse, unable to further his education. The knowledge he possessed was foundational, the kind mandated by universal education for all humanity. His sole edge was having excelled during this foundational phase, but that was a meager advantage. Once others awakened, a little effort would allow them to quickly catch up to or even surpass him.

Over the past two years, Jun Lindao had meticulously mapped out the future for those like him, resigned to a bleak life, yet clinging to hope.

During this time, he had worked as a sparring partner in gaming, enduring relentless defeats; he had served as a temporary tutor for children under twelve, imparting knowledge just a notch above what an AI tutor could offer; and he had dabbled in crafting basic handicrafts, handling only the simplest tasks...

Within the Yellow Flame Star, he had dabbled in a wide array of professions, never lingering long in any one role. Yet, his experiences were sufficient to grasp the essentials of each industry and to assess how far an unawakened individual might progress within it. He could pinpoint where the invisible barriers to advancement lay and what the ultimate limits might be.

"Despite the immense challenges—truly, they are daunting—I cling to hope unwaveringly! My future shall not be devoid of achievement!"