Translator: CinderTL
After breakfast, Jiang Ye, wearing his Elite Class uniform, took his little sister out to school.
For some reason, the usually aggressive drivers he encountered on his way to school today were unusually courteous and yielding. They stopped well before intersections, giving him the right of way.
Jiang Ye found this sudden change unsettling.
When they arrived at Jiang Ting's school, parents dropping off their children greeted him with friendly smiles, quickly pulling their kids aside to make way.
"Brother, why does today feel so different?" Jiang Ting asked, equally bewildered.
Jiang Ye patted her head and chuckled. "Nothing's different. Go to school now."
"Okay, Brother. Bye!" Jiang Ting waved her small hand and dashed into the school.
Jiang Ye turned and headed toward Ancheng Third High School.
He suspected this sudden shift in behavior was due to his Elite Class uniform.
In the eyes of most people, the Elite Class represented prestigious family backgrounds. Every student in the Elite Class was expected to gain admission to a martial dao university and become one of the elite.
This status alone placed them above the average citizen.
Upon arriving at school, Jiang Ye immediately informed his martial dao teacher, Cao Feng, that he had reached Perfection.
"Finally reached Perfection?" Cao Feng asked, nodding. In his view, Jiang Ye's progress was slower than expected.
But considering Jiang Ye's Primitive innate talent, reaching Perfection in his cultivation method at this stage was still remarkably impressive.
"Teacher, what about the subsequent cultivation techniques?" Jiang Ye asked.
Having been in the Elite Class for several days, he already knew there were advanced techniques. He had come specifically to inquire about them.
Cao Feng was prepared. He held up three fingers.
"After achieving Perfection in your cultivation method, you must practice refinement methods to prepare for cosmic tempering."
"You currently have three refinement methods to choose from:"
"Star Martial Body Tempering Method, Star Martial Foundation Building Method, and Star Martial Advancement Method," Cao Feng said with a faint smile.
Jiang Ye's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What are the differences between these three techniques?"
He had heard about these methods in recent days, but he was unsure which one to choose.
"The first two refinement methods are mid-grade yellow tier," Cao Feng explained. "The last one is high-grade yellow tier."
"The Star Martial Body Tempering Method gradually improves your physique by tempering your bones and meridians. The process is relatively slow."
"The Star Martial Foundation Building Method helps you solidify your foundation, allowing for faster foundation establishment than the former method, but it's also more challenging."
"As for the Star Martial Advancement Method," Cao Feng said gravely, "this technique is particularly rigorous. While it allows for faster progress than the other two methods, it is also the most challenging and best suited for those with exceptional innate talent."
Jiang Ye's understanding clicked into place. He hadn't realized the differences between these three cultivation techniques were so significant.
"All three of these techniques," Cao Feng continued, looking at him, "can break through life's shackles and help you achieve your first breakthrough."
"They can even assist with your second breakthrough."
"The difference lies in the number of cosmic tempering sessions required. The Body Tempering Method and Foundation Establishment Method require more sessions, while the Advancement Method requires fewer."
Cao Feng paused, then said slowly, "However, I strongly recommend you choose the Star Martial Body Tempering Method."
"Star Martial Body Tempering Method?" Jiang Ye mused.
Based on his teacher's explanation, the Body Tempering Method was the least challenging of the three techniques, but also the slowest in terms of progress.
"As someone with Primitive innate talent, your physical constitution is inferior to those with Nascent Aptitude," Cao Feng said, shaking his head. "If you choose a more difficult method, it could take you over half a year just to reach the Entry stage."
"The Star Martial Advancement Method, though a high-grade yellow tier technique, requires the fewest cosmic tempering sessions."
"However, each session demands the absorption of vast amounts of stellar energy to meet its requirements."
"Given your Primitive Aptitude's efficiency in absorbing stellar energy, achieving that would be nearly impossible," Cao Feng patiently explained. "In contrast, the Star Martial Body Tempering Method, while requiring more tempering sessions, only needs small amounts of stellar energy each time, making it the perfect fit for you."
Jiang Ye nodded slightly.
"After cultivating these three techniques to Perfection, are there any differences?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Absolutely," Cao Feng replied frankly. "The Star Martial Advancement Method is a high-grade yellow tier technique, offering a 50% chance of achieving a second breakthrough. The other two have success rates of 10% and 30% respectively."
"That's so low?" Jiang Ye exclaimed, surprised.
A mere 10% chance with the Star Martial Body Tempering Method was practically negligible.
Jiang Ye pressed further, "What about the first breakthrough?"
Cao Feng answered calmly, "All three techniques virtually guarantee a first breakthrough. The Advancement Method and Foundation Building Method boast success rates exceeding 90%. The Body Tempering Method is slightly lower but still above 70%."
"70%?" Jiang Ye frowned slightly.
So, even if he cultivated the Star Martial Body Tempering Method to Perfection, there remained a nearly 30% chance of failing to achieve even the first breakthrough?
"Breaking through life's shackles is no easy feat," Cao Feng concluded.
Cao Feng shook his head slightly and continued, "Using the Body Tempering Method as a transition, and only advancing to the Advancement Method after achieving Perfection, would be the safest path for you."
Jiang Ye nodded without arguing.
These words were indeed sincere.
However, he harbored his own thoughts.
"Thank you for the reminder, Teacher," Jiang Ye said, looking at Cao Feng. "But I want to try the Star Martial Advancement Method."
"Oh?" Cao Feng raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Jiang Ye's response. After all, he had made his point very clear: given Jiang Ye's aptitude, the Body Tempering Method, with its lower difficulty, was the optimal choice.
After a moment's contemplation, Cao Feng slowly said, "I recall you have a free cosmic tempering opportunity scheduled for the end of this month. But if you haven't even reached Entry in your cultivation technique by then, the cosmic tempering will be largely ineffective."
The implication was clear: choosing the Advancement Method would essentially waste this cosmic tempering opportunity. The Advancement Method was notoriously difficult, making it impossible to achieve Entry in such a short time, rendering the cosmic tempering useless.
"I understand," Jiang Ye replied. "Now that you've made your point, Teacher, I'll consider it carefully."
"Hmm," Cao Feng replied, nodding. "I'll send you the Star Martial Advancement Method shortly."
Having made his point, he saw no need to continue dissuading Jiang Ye.
Ultimately, the student's choice was his own.
But Jiang Ye, with his Primitive innate talent, choosing the Star Martial Advancement Method?
Cao Feng shook his head inwardly. Even among the top ten students in the Elite Class, few would select this refinement method.
Most possessed a healthy dose of self-awareness.
But he had warned Jiang Ye thoroughly, and the boy seemed determined to crash into this brick wall.
If he regretted it later, that would be his own affair.
Class One classroom, third-year high school.
Shortly after Jiang Ye returned to the classroom, his wristband buzzed.
This was the wristband he had obtained during the trial, capable of receiving cultivation techniques.
Buzz~
Jiang Ye opened the wristband's projection. In addition to the Eight Trigrams Thunderclap Fist, another cultivation technique had appeared:
"Star Martial Advancement Method." Jiang Ye tapped the book icon.
After skimming through it, he quickly grasped the gist of the text.
"This is indeed quite challenging," Jiang Ye murmured, raising an eyebrow, though he wasn't surprised.
Even the Eight Trigrams Thunderclap Fist, a mid-grade yellow tier technique, had proven remarkably difficult.
Let alone a high-grade yellow tier technique.
Why would he knowingly choose such a difficult path?
Jiang Ye had never been one to act rashly.
His decision must stem from a certain level of confidence.
"Begin cultivation."
Jiang Ye assumed the proper stance and began practicing according to the instructions in the manual.
Nearby, E-Rank girl Zhao Qingli's expression shifted as her gaze fell upon Jiang Ye.
TL/N: E-person is an internet slang for someone energetic and extroverted.
"He actually chose the Advancement Method?"
Zhao Qingli, with her cold and aloof demeanor, shook her head slightly, thinking to herself, "Just like that show-off Wang Zi'ang. Jiang Ye may seem honest on the surface, but he's clearly more complex than he lets on."
As the top student in their year, even she had only chosen the Foundation Establishment Method upon reaching Perfection in her cultivation method.
The Foundation Establishment Method served as a transitional step before advancing to the Advancement Method.
Directly cultivating the Advancement Method?
In Class 1, only a handful of students like Wang Zi'ang had attempted such a feat.
She knew Wang Zi'ang had done it purely for show.
But Jiang Ye?
With his Primitive innate talent, how could he dare to attempt such a thing?
He was even more audacious than Wang Zi'ang!
"Where does his confidence come from?"
Zhao Qingli watched the handsome young man with growing curiosity.
(End of the Chapter)
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