“Martial arts have only two realms: Body Tempering and True Qi. Either you train to the Body Tempering limit of three thousand jin, or you reach the True Qi realm with strength above five thousand jin. How could anyone possibly be in between?”

“In my whole life, I’ve never seen or even heard of anyone whose strength falls between three thousand and five thousand jin...!”

……

Strength between three thousand and five thousand jin is almost impossible. Among all the Divine Sea cultivators and True Qi realm martial experts in Pingyang County, none have ever heard of such a thing.

After a burst of shocked discussion, someone shouted, “It seems he’s been training nonstop, and his physical body has broken through its limits, which is why his strength increased. But if he can break through the body’s limits yet can’t step into the True Qi realm, doesn’t that mean entering the True Qi realm is even harder for him than ascending to the heavens?”

“That’s right. I’m afraid he’ll never be able to break through to the True Qi realm in this lifetime. Even if his body surpasses its limits, pure physical strength is extremely hard to improve, unlike the True Qi realm, where strength soars rapidly.”

“Exactly. Although there are elixirs that increase physical strength, taking them repeatedly causes their effects to halve each time. His strength will never compare to that of a True Qi realm martial expert.”

“I used to have a sliver of hope for him, thinking he might overcome this hurdle and soar to new heights after entering the True Qi realm. But now, it seems he absolutely has no such possibility.”

“It’s a pity—his physique and comprehension are both exceptional. With such monstrous talent, he can’t even step into the True Qi realm. What a shame...!”

……

One discouraging voice after another rang out.

If before, there were still a few people who held a glimmer of hope for John Reed, now, that hope was completely extinguished.

So what if his body broke through its limits? He still can’t compare to a True Qi realm martial artist.

It’s extremely difficult to increase physical strength by even a thousand jin in a year, while for a True Qi realm martial artist, increasing strength by ten thousand jin in a year isn’t even that hard.

Among the younger generation of the The Reed Family, Hugh Reed wore an extremely smug smile at the corner of his mouth.

Although John Reed had been down and out for three years, Hugh Reed had always secretly mocked him, but there was always a trace of worry in his heart, afraid that John Reed might one day make a comeback.

With John Reed’s monstrous talent, as long as he entered the True Qi realm, surpassing Hugh Reed wouldn’t be difficult.

But now, all of Hugh Reed’s worries had vanished.

No matter how monstrous John Reed’s talent was, he could never hope to catch up to someone already in the True Qi realm by relying solely on physical training. The gap between them would only grow wider.

At the main seat of the The Reed Family, many important figures’ expressions dimmed as well. The last shred of hope they held for John Reed was shattered.

Only Nathaniel Reed remained calm and unruffled.

John Reed had long since grown used to others’ reactions. Whether they had hope for him or not, he didn’t care at all, and walked back to his seat with a composed demeanor.

“Father said that forming a Dao Embryo through pure physical cultivation is far stronger than forming one through True Qi. Upon first entering the Dao Embryo realm, you’re already stronger than many who have reached minor achievement in that realm, and can even contend with those who have fully mastered it.”

“Father has left Pingyang County and ventured out into the world. His vision is far broader than these frogs at the bottom of a well who’ve never left. How could they possibly know the power of pure physical cultivation...!”

A trace of a cold smile flashed through John Reed’s heart. Although training the body is indeed difficult, the rewards in the future will be even greater.

Chapter 008: Duel with Felix Reed

The test concluded, and the guests took their leave one after another.

The younger generation also returned to their respective residences.

On a shady path, John Reed in a blue robe walked side by side with Jane Taylor in a long black dress.

“Brother John Reed, I knew it—you couldn’t possibly stay stuck at three thousand jin forever. Now that your strength can keep increasing, it won’t be long before you stand at the peak again.”

Jane Taylor shook John Reed’s arm, speaking cheerfully, her voice full of excitement and joy.

At this point, those who still believed in John Reed could be counted on one hand: father Nathaniel Reed was one, and younger sister Jane Taylor was another.

Jane Taylor’s attitude toward John Reed made most of the younger generation incredibly envious. At this moment, quite a few of them looked at the backs of the two, their gazes both envious and jealous.

A brilliant smile appeared on John Reed’s face—a smile that only showed in front of his father Nathaniel Reed and sister Jane Taylor.

John Reed said confidently, “That day will come.”

“Such boastful words!”

No sooner had John Reed finished speaking than a voice sounded from the side, full of disdain.

From a side path, a group of people approached. The leader wore an expression of utter arrogance. It was none other than Hugh Reed, currently the strongest among the The Reed Family’s underage younger generation.

At fifteen years old, he possessed a terrifying strength of fourteen thousand three hundred fifty-five jin. Everyone asserted that he had a ninety-nine percent chance of forming a Dao Embryo and stepping onto the path of immortality—he certainly had reason to be proud.

But to show it so blatantly only proved that, being so young, his temperament was still immature.

Beside Hugh Reed were two other outstanding individuals, both martial experts in the True Qi realm: Eugene Reed and Felix Reed, who had both entered the True Qi realm this year.