17: Chapter 17 Three Planetary Limits of Aptitude!

Stones that improve aptitude?

But it seems they are just ordinary items; how much use could they be?

"System, can you give me an example of an aptitude at the planetary limit?" Lin Wan asked.

[Don't you read a lot of novels? You don't even know this?]

"No, how is that the same?"

[It's exactly as you think. In traditional immortal cultivation, it's the Deity Transformation stage, and the planetary-level combat limit is the Heavenly Spirit Root. Of course, this is just a comparison with a mid-tier cultivation system.]

[Most of the novels you read are of this mid-tier cultivation system. In some extremely high-tier cultivation systems, the Golden Core or Foundation Establishment stages can already reach the limit.]

[If it's martial arts, it's comparable to a Martial God who is the ceiling of mid-tier martial arts, or a Stellar-level powerhouse in high-tier martial arts. In short, it's the kind of aptitude that can destroy a planet with a single palm.]

"Isn't that a bit inaccurate? There are differences between planets. For example, how do you account for neutron stars?"

The density of a neutron star is hundreds of trillions of times that of Earth. Never mind Deity Transformation experts, even Immortals couldn't break its defense.

[The host is truly a 'genius' for comparing it to a neutron star. My point is, any gravity not exceeding a hundred times that of Earth counts as the planetary limit. Do you understand now?]

"I understand that!"

Lin Wan was also very eager to know what his own aptitude reached.

He had an Immortal Cultivation Awakening Stone and a Martial Arts Awakening Stone as rewards, which were perfect for checking his own aptitude.

After successfully manifesting the two stones, he took out the forbidden stone as well, and began to decipher the three stones one by one.

Lin Wan placed his hand on the Immortal Cultivation Awakening Stone to test it.

The Awakening Stone immediately burst into a four-colored light, dazzling to behold.

[Four-attribute pseudo-spirit root: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire. I have to say, Host, you are quite the talented waste in terms of the immortal cultivation system~]

Lin Wan: ...

"I have a question. Since I have four attributes, couldn't all four be at the Heavenly grade? This Awakening Stone doesn't actually have that kind of classification."

[That situation only occurs in a prosperous age with abundant spiritual energy. Only then could the four-colored or even five-colored Heavenly Spirit Roots you mentioned appear. But spirit roots rely on spiritual energy to be nourished. In the Age of Dharma Decline, in some worlds, Deity Transformation is the limit, and there is simply no excess spiritual energy to nourish spirit roots. In such times, the fewer spirit roots one has, the faster one cultivates, so naturally, this classification doesn't exist.]

[According to the Age of Dharma Decline, it goes: five-colored mixed spirit root, four-colored pseudo-spirit root, three-colored true spirit root, two-colored earth spirit root, and single-colored heavenly spirit root.]

[This classification is the standard for mid-tier cultivation systems.]

"You have quite a lot of settings... Forget it, let's see what the forbidden stone does first!"

Lin Wan looked at the forbidden stone, which was the size of a cherry, and chose to swallow it in one gulp.

To his surprise, the forbidden stone was like a pill, melting the moment it entered his mouth. Lin Wan used his consciousness to guide this energy toward his awakened spirit roots.

In an instant, he felt a force that ignored the rules, constantly battering his spirit roots, forcing them to break their limits and improve.

"An unheard-of power. This kind of potential stimulation is even more fascinating than enhancement potions..."

In less than half a minute, the enhancement stopped.

Lin Wan silently felt the changes in his improved spirit roots.

They were still four-colored spirit roots, but it seemed all four had been enhanced to the True grade.

Lin Wan's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he copied two more and swallowed them.

A minute later...

All four of his spirit roots had been enhanced to the Heavenly grade level.

In other words, he was now a four-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root.

When he consumed another forbidden stone, although his spirit roots improved, it was very slight, remaining at the limit of the Heavenly Spirit Root.

Lin Wan felt his body become lighter, and his aura even became more lively.

His appearance and temperament had undergone an earth-shattering change.

If someone gave him a cultivation manual now, he could immediately enter the Qi Condensation stage.

However, he did not do so. His foundation was not yet perfect, and besides... this cultivation system was too weak; he didn't want to take this path yet.

He continued to touch the next one, the Martial Arts Awakening Stone. This time, it didn't emit multi-colored light, but a dazzling, radiant purple.

[Martial Arts Aptitude: Grade A]

[No limit below Martial Saint]

"This Martial Arts Awakening Stone, like the immortal cultivation system, is a product benchmarked to a mid-tier world."

"It seems my martial arts aptitude is quite good."

Martial arts gave Lin Wan a little comfort; at least he wasn't a waste.

Then, he immediately copied the forbidden stone and fed it into his mouth like a snack.

Grade A → Earth Grade → Heavenly Grade → Saint Grade

[Grandmaster → Martial Saint → Martial God Limit → Void Shattering]

[Obtained Special Aptitude: Martial Bones]

[Description: Possesses a unique advantage in practicing martial arts]

[Effect: Significantly boosts the speed of martial arts improvement; can independently comprehend Martial Bone secret techniques as strength increases]

"Improved three levels all at once!"

"Hehehe, I'm not lacking anything anymore!"

The moment the special aptitude appeared, Lin Wan's self-confidence exploded like never before.

He felt that given his current situation, practicing martial arts had more potential than practicing the immortal path.

However, he couldn't be arrogant yet; it wasn't the time for arrogance.

He pinched his little Lin Wan, forcing himself to calm down.

After calming down,

Lin Wan glanced at Fang Xiu's corpse again.

Previously, when he hadn't awakened his aptitude, his panel didn't offer a deciphering option.

Now that he had awakened, could he...?

Thinking of this, he touched Fang Xiu's corpse again with his hand.

[Decipherable target: Grade A aptitude]

"Decipher!"

...

"Deciphering complete!"

[Gu Cultivation system Grade A aptitude]

[Can cultivate up to the peak of the Fifth Rank]

"I can already kill a Third Rank cultivator now. The Fifth Rank cannot be the planetary-level limit. Looking at it this way, this black-robed man's aptitude is truly trash."

"But fortunately, I have the forbidden stone."

As a forbidden stone entered his stomach, the familiar feeling returned.

"It's coming, it's coming..."

[Obtained Special Physique: Great Strength True Martial Body]

[Description: The ultimate in physical strength and formidable defense, capable of granting the ability to fight across ranks]

[Passive Effect: Base strength and physique * 2 times, can grow with the increase of strength]

A special physique?

It shouldn't have reached the limit yet, right?

Lin Wan swallowed another forbidden stone.

But... it was ineffective!

"How could it only improve once? This shouldn't be the limit of the Gu Cultivation system."

On the side, the system couldn't watch any longer and said in a gentle, slightly affected voice:

[Host, you are obsessed. In the Gu Cultivation system, theoretically, the further you go, the less important aptitude becomes. After the Sixth Rank, it's all about the accumulation of one's own Dao Marks. Everything comes down to persistence and effort!]

[Your Great Strength True Martial Body is known as the Ten Extremity Body in the Gu Cultivation system, and it is already considered one of the strongest aptitudes.]

[There might be stronger aptitudes above this, but those are no longer aptitudes in the traditional sense, so even the forbidden stone cannot help you with that.]

[You must understand that all cultivation does not rely solely on aptitude. You must internalize it and let it become your own power.]

"Persistence and effort..."

Lin Wan muttered.

What a respectable system!

The civilization that practices this system must have had a very difficult time, right?

At this moment...

Lin Wan felt the Great Strength True Martial Body within his body accelerating his understanding of the Gu Cultivation system.

A massive amount of realization flooded his body.

A new philosophy welled up in his heart.

He understood.

It is faith!

Only faith is the driving force for persistence and effort.

"Sorry..."

"Black-robed bro, I blamed you wrongly!"

"I didn't expect your aptitude to be so good..."

He couldn't muster any hatred for this 'cheat-delivery boy'.

"Although I don't know your name."

"But let me walk the path ahead for you!"

"Sleep well, and worry not!"

He erected a tombstone for Comrade Fang Xiu.

Lin Wan set off on his journey alone.