Jun Qiangwu frowned. Confused by the system’s announcement, he directly voiced his question. “What do you mean by the First Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm?”

[The Qi Gathering Realm is the first step to cultivating immortality. It is divided into thirteen stages. Stages one to twelve correlate to the number of meridians you open, while stage thirteen is reached upon linking all the meridians.]

“Twelve meridians?”

[Yes. The twelve meridians in the human body are the: Greater Yin Lung Meridian, Lesser Yin Heart Meridian, Yin Shield Heart Meridian, Lesser Yang Cavity Meridian, Lesser Yang Small Intestine Meridian, Greater Yang Large Intestine Meridian, Greater Yin Spleen Meridian, Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian, Yin Liver Meridian, Lesser Yang Gallbladder Meridian, Greater Yang Bladder Meridian, and the Yang Stomach Meridian.]

“Are you saying the emperor-class is only equal to the First Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm?” Jun Qiangwu asked.

[No, the classification you think of only has a minor correlation to the stages of the Qi Gathering Realm. If you want, you can correlate the soldier, captain, major, colonel, general, king, and emperor-classes to the first seven stages of the Qi Gathering Realm.]

“So we were this weak. The mighty emperor-class we venerated wasn’t even at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm,” Jun Qiangwu said. Suddenly he laughed. It was an uproarious laughter that lasted for a good minute.

Just as suddenly as it arrived, it stopped. “Good!”

“Because I was a king-class superhuman, once I reached the first-stage, I automatically entered the emperor-class. Can I think of it that way, System?”

[You can think of it that way, but I must warn the host that continuing to upgrade your ability using your previous method is a road with no future. You are using brute force to upgrade your power and body. Even if you reach the equivalent of the Thirteenth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, it will probably result in a shortened lifespan because you forcibly increased the ability by overdrawing vitality.]

“Good! Good!” Jun Qiangwu said. “The more wrong this road is, the better it is for me. While my enemies follow the wrong path, I’ll quietly strengthen myself.”

“System, I’ve completed the mission. Can I finally get the cultivation method?”

[Ding! Main Mission 1 Completed.]

[Reward: Qi Gathering Realm Cultivation Manual.]

[Choose one of the following cultivation methods.]

[Fire Book Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Water Book Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Metal Book Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Wood Book Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Earth Book Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Nine-Five Scripture Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Frozen Heaven Mantra Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Blackwater Meditation Qi Gathering Chapter]

[True Water Canon Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Eastflow Water Scripture Qi Gathering Chapter]

[Except for the first five options, it is not recommended that you choose a different cultivation method for the Foundation Establishment Realm.]

“Foundation Establishment Realm? Is that the next level after the Qi Gathering Realm?”

[Yes.]

“Are the first five options part of a set?” Jun Qiangwu asked.

[Yes. They are the five components that make up the Five Element Method. Cultivating the Five Element Method to the highest point will allow you to become a divinity.]

“What about the other five options?”

[Except for the Nine-Five Scriptures, the rest are all cultivation methods created by divinities from the primordial era. The Nine-Five Scripture was created by the Great Creator, the Nine Heavens Emperor.]

Originally, Jun Qiangwu thought the first five options were the worst, but reality turned out differently than what he imagined. He wasn’t stupid. Judging from the five options that were related to water, he was suited for cultivation methods related to water. Not a surprise considering his Frost Flow Physique.

If his guess wasn’t wrong, the Five Element Book was all-encompassing. He had heard of the five phases concept, so that wasn’t a surprise. But counting those out, the one that stuck out like a sore thumb was the Nine-Five Scripture. Did the system include just because the Nine Heavens Emperor created it?

“Is the Nine-Five Scripture suitable for me, too?” Jun Qiangwu asked again.

[Yes. The Nine-Five Scripture is suitable for all cultivators. However, it is the hardest to cultivate out of the ten methods. Even the Fire Book is easier for you to cultivate despite your contrary element.]

Suitable only for geniuses? Incredibly hard?

Jun Qiangwu’s eyes gleamed. “I choose the Nine-Five Scripture!”

[Are you sure? Once you choose this, you won’t be able to change the method until you receive the foundation establishment chapters.]

“Yes,” Jun Qiangwu said without an ounce of hesitation.

[Ding! Transmitting the Nine-Five Scripture Qi Gathering Chapter.]

“Grk!” Jun Qiangwu clenched his teeth as his mind exploded in pain. It was as if some had fashioned an ax out of thousands of books, and then took that ax and smashed it into his head. It took all his willpower not to faint.

When Jun Qiangwu regained his ability to think, he discovered that sweat had drenched his entire body. His head still buzzed from the massive amount of information. Regardless of his current state, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. He was too mentally fatigued to review the newly obtained information right now.

After waking up the next day, Jun Qiangwu left the cave he lived in for two months. He found a river and cleaned his body and clothes before returning. Only then did he sort out the information he got.

He sighed. “The Nine-Five Scripture is amazing. Of the seven grades, the highest I can hope to reach is the second grade.”

Unlike regular cultivation methods, the Nine-Five Scripture cultivated all three paths at the same time. The Qi Gathering Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm were the preparatory realms. Only after entering the Nascent Soul Realm would the cultivator cross the watershed.

Ninety-nine point nine percent of ordinary geniuses can only reach the first grade, in which they would form one spiritual core and one nascent soul. For geniuses like Jun Qiangwu, who was blessed with a physique, he could reach the second grade, forming two spiritual cores and one nascent soul.

“I can’t even imagine how powerful the third-grade would be, much less the fourth grades and higher. The Nine Heavens Emperor must have reached the seventh grade, right?” Jun Qiangwu asked.

[Correct. However, even if another cultivator reaches the seventh grade, they would not be able to reach the same height as the Nine Heavens Emperor.]

Jun Qiangwu didn’t understand, and he didn’t bother to find out. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to fathom it anyway, so why bother?

For now, he wanted to get rid of his own weakness. Just learning the qi gathering chapter of the Nine-Five Scripture revealed how low the well he was in truly was. Not just him, but everyone in this world was just a mere frog in a well. Jun Qiangwu was unwilling to be a frog, so he must cultivate and transform.

From that day onward, Jun Qiangwu focused wholeheartedly on cultivation. Those that cultivated the Nine-Five Scripture had to cultivate the martial path simultaneously. So while he was opening his meridians, Jun Qiangwu also transformed his body.

The first realm of the martial path was the Body Transformation Realm. It encompassed the Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment Realm of the spiritual path. Six stages made up the Body Transformation Realm. They were the Skin Toughening Stage, Muscle Strengthening Stage, Tendon Reinforcement Stage, Bone Refinement Stage, Marrow Enhancement Stage, and the Organ Fortification Stage.

Jun Qiangwu cultivated in the cave for five years. Five whole years. He reached the Fourth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm during the fourth year. Unlike the first time he opened a meridian, Jun Qiangwu no longer injured himself during the process. Opening a meridian should be a controlled and careful process. The only reason he spat out blood before was because he used brute force to open it.

As for his martial cultivation. He just entered the Muscle Strengthening Stage.

“I’ve reached my limit,” Jun Qiangwu said.

He stood up and revealed his full height of one point nine meters. His armor and clothes had almost turned to rags and even his spear was riddled with nicks and dents. It simply couldn’t withstand the strain of his power. “Dog emperor, wait for me!”

Jun Qiangwu stepped out of the cave and froze.

[Ding! Main Mission Issued.]

[Main Mission 2: Kill the Qian Emperor.]

The edge of Jun Qiangwu’s lips curled upward. “It seems that even the heavens want you dead, Your Majesty.”

In the five years since the system bound itself to him, Jun Qiangwu hadn’t left a kilometer away from the cave. He lived like a hermit, feasting and living in the wild. However, he would never forget the capital of the Qian Dynasty. With confident steps, Jun Qiangwu stepped on the path of vengeance.

In a teahouse near a busy street in the capital, a man sat on the second floor. He wore a bamboo hat that obscured his eyes, which observed the bustling street below.

“Hey, have you heard? Princess Jiafeng is engaged to the crown prince of the Mu Dynasty,” a hawker said, making small talk with one of the customers.

“How could I not?” the customer asked. “Before, I used to worry that with the fall of General Jun, the Qian Dynasty would be destroyed. I never expected that the princess would overcome her grief and rise to become the dynasty’s new protector. Her brilliance has even surpassed General Jun.”

“You’re right. That princess is a good woman. Unfortunately, General Jun didn’t have the fate to marry her,” the hawker said.

A third person interjected into the two’s conversation. “Actually, it might not be a bad thing. I heard that the crown prince of the Mu Dynasty has surpassed the emperor-class and reached the saint-class. If General Jun had survived, he would at most be equal to Princess Jiafeng. But now, the Qian Dynasty has extra insurance.”

The hawker and his customer deliberated over the person’s words. They found themselves agreeing to his logic. After a few more words, the person slipped away into an alley. However, he suddenly slumped over with a stick poking out of his forehead.

Back in the teahouse, Jun Qianfeng unclenched his fist, revealing the blood-tipped nails. He picked up a rag and wiped the blood from his palm. On his table, only a stick of chopstick lay. “Damn imperial family. Even after five years, you’re still tarnishing my name.”

Jun Qiangwu slapped some coins on the table and left. Before, he had servants carry his money for him, but all that had changed. As for where his current money and clothes came from? No matter the era, there are no lack of criminals.

After he left, he found an inn and locked himself in his room. Although he reached the Fourth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm and the Muscle Strengthening Stage, he still hadn’t broken the shackles of mortality. Charging into the imperial palace would only result in his death. Since that’s the case, he could only sneak in.

Besides, aside from the imperial family, he was the person most familiar with the layout.

When night descended, Jun Qiangwu snuck out of the inn using the windows. His figure crossed the rooftops like a phantom, unnoticed by all. When he snuck into the imperial palace, the first person he searched wasn’t the emperor, but Qian Jiafeng.

In Jun Qiangwu’s eyes, the biggest threat wasn’t the emperor. The emperor’s authority stemmed from his connection to Qian Jiafeng. Without her, he was just a rootless duckweed. Once Qian Jiafeng died, he would have no protection. By then, how many people would really obey him?

To Jun Qiangwu’s disappointment, Qian Jiafeng’s room was empty. “Not here? Did she leave, or…”

He recalled the conversation earlier in the day. “It seems that I’ll have to kill that dog emperor first.”