Chapter 102: Great Strength Cultivation Method (2)
"Be patient." Liu Wenyan continued cooking as he said, "Like I said, that is a method meant for the masses. These people aren't too talented and lack resources. For these people, even the possibility of advancement is worthy of celebration. They don't care about the strength of the method.
"With this method, if you're fast, you can reach the Skysoar Realm in about 20 years. For them, this is better than those geniuses who practiced a better method only to end up stuck in the Great Strength Realm for 20 years."
Even the weakest Skysoar cultivator was not someone a Great Strength cultivator could contend against. Thus, the choice of cultivation speed or strength was an issue that bothered many cultivators.
Liu Wenyan smiled, "Is faster advancement better or is greater strength at the same realm better? The answer for this question is different for everyone. You can't expect someone less talented to practice a powerful method. That will only cause him to be stuck at the Great Strength Realm for life.
"But you also can't expect a genius to practice a weak cultivation method. Sure, the advancement speed is fast, but the genius will no longer be considered a genius anymore due to their weak combat strength.
"Also, the higher the cultivation level, the more obvious the effect of a better cultivation method is. With this Great Strength Art, even if you reach the Mountainsea Realm, a Skysoar cultivator with a stronger cultivation method might still be able to defeat you. In that case, you would be a useless Mountainsea cultivator. The upper limit of your strength would be too low."
Liu Wenyan looked at Su Yu and said, "Do you want to grow faster or do you want to have a higher upper limit?"
Su Yu did not hesitate, "A higher upper limit."
He was a genius. If he practiced a weak cultivation method, he could quickly reach the Skysoar or even the Mountainsea Realm. But what next? Nothing! There was no future for him if he chose that path.
He would be constrained by his upper limit. He would only enjoy some glory during his early stages of cultivation before turning into a piece of garbage during the latter stages. That was not what he wanted for himself.
"Of course, a stronger cultivation method might not necessarily be better. For example, a heaven-grade cultivation method will not always be better than an earth-grade cultivation method. You also need to take growth into consideration. For example, the Skypierce Art, a Great Strength cultivation method with 144 acupoints. It is among the best heaven-grade cultivation methods in existence.
"By opening 144 acupoints during the ninth-stage Great Strength Realm, you will have powerful and plentiful source qi. Even ninth-stage Infinite Strength cultivators who had cultivated the Great Strength Art might not be your match. This is a method that will truly allow you to fight above your class. As a Great Strength cultivator, you will be able to slay a powerful Infinite Strength cultivator.
"But there is no follow-up for that cultivation method as the Infinite Strength version of it does not exist. You might be stuck at the Great Strength Realm for life. In that case, is this cultivation method good or bad?"
Su Yu shook his head, "Without a follow-up, one can only rely on luck and create a path forward. But that is not something a mere Great Strength cultivator can do. But...why didn't the Invincible experts create a follow-up for that method?"
"What stupid question is that? They have their own cultivation methods, inheritances, and techniques they are familiar with. Why waste their time and energy on something unrelated to them? It's not like they don't have other heaven-grade cultivation methods. Why insist on practicing this method?
"There are a lot of such incomplete methods in the myriad realms. In the early stages, they are incredible. In the latter stages, they will be worthless. You won't be able to keep creating a new method whenever you advance. Nobody has enough time to do that.
"There are several inheritances that can allow you to continue until even the Invincible Realm in the capital. Let me list them out for you."
"Firstly, Great Xia King's Sky Sundering Countless Saber..."
Su Yu blanked out. Was his instructor being serious here?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Liu Wenyan glared at Su Yu. "It's not like I'm the one who had come up with that name. The Great Xia King was the one! When he was at the Mountainsea Realm, he named it Sky Sundering Twenty Sabers. When he broke through, he changed its name to Sky Sundering Twenty-Eight Sabers. After a while, he added more sabers and continued changing the name."
Liu Wenyan spoke with a helpless tone, "When he reached the Invincible Realm, he continued the same habit. At first, the academy would change their official records each time he changed the name. But that fellow would change the name once every few years. The academy eventually decided to keep things simple and leave it at Sky Sundering Countless Saber."
Su Yu was completely dumbstruck. What the hell?
"Don't be too shocked. The Great Xia King is not the only one who would behave in such an erratic manner. It's actually very common for experts to behave like that.
"During the early years of the Anping Calendar, those experts had very few cultivation methods at their disposal. Many of their methods were actually plundered from the myriad races. As they improved these methods, the names kept changing as well.In fact, the Great Xia King isn't even the worst offender of bad names. At least he keeps his names consistent. Some people have completely different names, such as renaming a Dragon Slaying Art to a Dog Slaughtering Art the next day after killing a dog."
With a wry face, Liu Wenyan said, "If you find some inconsistencies when you're reading around, don't think that it's a mistake. For example, according to the Anping History, the Great Zhou King had slayed a divine with his Blackwind Ravager cultivation method. But in Great Zhou History, it is said that the Great Zhou King had killed a divine with his Celestial Return Art. That's not an error on the part of the historians..."
Liu Wenyan sighed, "That's because the name of the cultivation method had actually been changed. Additionally, two divines had been killed, not one.? Don't get confused when you're reading. The records are very messy, to the point even the individuals described in the history books are confused themselves, wondering if they had actually given their cultivation methods those names back then."
Su Yu was dumbstruck. What? So the Great Zhou King would actually look at a history book in confusion, wondering why did he give his cultivation method such an embarrassing name back then? That...was an interesting thought.
Su Yu felt like laughing, and even Liu Wenyan was holding back his laughter. He continued his explanation, "Let's go back to the topic. The capital has the Sky Sundering Countless Saber."
"Secondly, the War God Art, published by the War Shrine. This is the main cultivation method of the war academies."
"Thirdly, the Myriad Text Sutra, published by the Knowledge Seeking Realm. That is the main cultivation method of the cultural research academies."
"Of course, just because these cultivation methods can be cultivated all the way to the Invincible Realm does not mean that you will definitely reach that realm with these methods. Invincible experts wouldn't have been so rare otherwise and we would have subjugated the myriad races long ago."
"In cultivation, you have to rely on yourself, your luck, your talent, your fortitude, and your effort."
Liu Wenyan's face turned solemn as he said, "For now, those are the three publicly available cultivation methods that can be cultivated all the way to the Invincible Realm. Of course, I'm talking about the capital when I say publicly available.
"Naturally, there are definitely some unknown cultivation methods around as well. For example, private inheritances. Some families might have their own top experts creating private cultivation methods for them. But nobody knows if these cultivation methods are reliable unless they are created by someone in the Invincible Realm."
"Instructor, should I be cultivating the Myriad Text Sutra then?"
Liu Wenyan shook his head, "You need to reach the Skysoar Realm to practice that method. It does not have the Great Strength and Infinite Strength versions. After all, cultural researchers will only start physical cultivation at the Skysoar Realm. I suggest you practice the War God Art instead. It can open 72 acupoints during the Great Strength Realm."
Su Yu was somewhat disappointed. He actually wanted to practice a stronger cultivation method, such as an earth-grade method that can open 108 acupoints. Of course, he still believed that his mentor meant well.
While he was thinking, Liu Wenyan smiled and said, "There are two versions to the War God Art, the normal version and the genius version. The normal version is mostly provided to the normal students. As for the geniuses in the war academies, they will mostly be provided with the other version that can open 108 acupoints. In fact, that also applies to those in the cultural research academies.
"As educators, each student should be taught in accordance with their ability. If we standardize everything, we will be the same as the military. What's the point of opening all these academies, then?"
Su Yu's eyes lit up as he said, "Instructor..."
Liu Wenyan interrupted him, "It's good that you're confident in yourself. You're already a ninth-stage Source Opening cultivator. Your growth has been rapid. I also think that you should cultivate something harder. Even with your Divine Character helping you, a harder method will slow you down and let you strengthen your understanding of the lower realms.
"However...I don't have access to the advanced version."
At this point, the dish Liu Wenyan was cooking was basically ruined. He casually scooped the charred dish into a plate. That was clearly going to be Su Yu's lunch.
"I can still get the ordinary version for you. But I have no way of getting the advanced version. If you want it, get it with your merit points. Also, you will only be able to get a mundane copy. A willpower text copy will be much more expensive."
Su Yu asked, "Where can I get it? Can we do it here?"
"No. You can only do it in an academy. Don't worry, it's available in the cultural research academy as well. No matter how arrogant the war academies are, they still need the cultural research academies to provide them with willpower texts of the War God Art. And only cultural researchers who have cultivated the War God Art can do so.
"Thus, there are a decent number of experts who have cultivated the War God Art in the cultural research academies. In fact, the cultural research academies have the largest scope of education. You can find the cultivators of all sorts of cultivation methods in these academies. That is the only way we can keep producing so many different willpower texts. Some cultural researchers are even willing to practice about a dozen cultivation methods just so they can write more willpower texts and earn more money."
"That works?" Su Yu was astonished. "Won't the cultivation methods conflict with each other?"
"Definitely. But if you make your choices correctly, they might not conflict with each other. However, only cultural researchers with no future will do that.
"For the War God Art, the ordinary and advanced versions are quite similar. The first 72 acupoints are basically the same. For the advanced version, you will have to open 36 more acupoints on top of the original 72. Therefore, you can first practice the ordinary version for now and get an advanced version when you have the chance.
"With the ordinary version, you only need to open 8 acupoints to step into the Great Strength Realm. With the advanced version, you need 12 acupoints. Therefore, open 8 acupoints first. When you reach the academy, get an advanced version and open the remaining 4 acupoints before breaking through. You won't be able to change your choice after breaking through.
"This is why a lot of little fellows are stubbornly staying at the ninth-stage Source Opening Realm. Be aware that a lot of them are actually waiting to enter the academy and get a better cultivation method before breaking through."
Su Yu nodded. He had been wondering about that. Why did so many students from the capital stop at the ninth-stage Source Opening Realm? He had thought that they couldn't break through, but it seemed like they were simply waiting for something better.
"Some of those who have actually broken through have either chosen the ordinary version or been taught the advanced version by someone in their family..."
Su Yu asked in astonishment, "Are there no restrictions when it comes to teaching these cultivation methods to others?"
"There are, but that's not an issue some merit points can't solve," said Liu Wenyan. "If you have someone in your family with a high enough merit tier, you won't have any issue teaching some cultivation methods to your descendents."
Su Yu asked, "Instructor, will the advanced version be expensive to get?"
"It's fine. You can get the Great Strength version for about 100 merit points."
Su Yu was stunned.
Liu Wenyan continued, "That's right. That's what you will be using your rewarded merit points for. Do you think the academy will be rewarding you with merit points for nothing?
"You will understand after joining. You will return everything they give you in no time. You can only set your roots down and slowly grow in the academy.
"After all, no high-tier student would be willing to practice an ordinary cultivation method. An advanced cultivation method requires merit points, and would you look at that! You have been rewarded 100 merit points for joining the academy. How convenient! You can give them the points back for an advanced cultivation method."
Su Yu was dumbfounded. These academies were...really shrewd! He wouldn't even think of that possibility without Liu Wenyan's reminder. No wonder everyone claimed that you would never have enough merit points in an academy.
"Don't worry, the ordinary version is free. You can always choose to stay with an ordinary version..." Liu Wenyan teased, "Why don't you keep the points and just practice the ordinary version?"
Su Yu had a sullen face. He wanted to be a genius as well. He wanted to stand above his peers. Therefore, he had no choice. Otherwise, he would be weaker than those ninth-stage Great Strength cultivators from the war academies even after reaching the same cultivation level himself.
"Instructor, what if I buy through a private channel? Will that be cheaper?"
"That's illegal." Liu Wenyan erased that thought from his mind. "Like I said, only someone with a high merit tier can teach the method to their descendents. The number of people they can teach is also fixed. It is illegal to go above the limit. Do you think such an easy loophole will remain?"
Su Yu finally gave up. He hadn’t even received the promised 100 merit points yet and all of them were already gone.
Liu Wenyan comforted him, "Don't worry. Don't you still have a lot of merit points from the examination rewards? They will last you a long time! I'll get a copy of the ordinary War God Art for you later. Come see me after two days. As for a willpower text version, don't even think of it. I have never practiced that method. I can't write it."
Su Yu nodded. He had never planned to ask for a willpower text version anyway. By now, he was already aware of how tiring it was for someone to write one.