Ashen God
Chapter 58 Adaptation and Transformation

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Adaptation and Transformation

"Some might argue that setting upper and lower limits still isn’t enough to be considered extreme, but when the time allowed for cultivation beyond one’s Talent was restricted to just one-tenth of the original, which is to say, compared to the two hours within one’s Talent, there was a hundredfold disparity in cultivation efficiency."

"It was precisely because of this limitation that this Cultivation Technique could be deemed extremely adaptive, as it ensured that every person could cultivate for a maximum of two hours each day."

"Without this restriction, ordinary people could have achieved the original cultivation efficiency even outside their Talent-allowed time. Surely, some would have cultivated day and night, neglecting work. If someone cultivated for twenty-two hours a day, it would be as if they had cultivated for two days in the time others took for one—a powerful temptation for those who are exceptionally dedicated."

"However, if the rate was reduced to one-one hundredth, no one would bother cultivating beyond the time their Talent allows, as the efficiency is just too poor and the cost-performance ratio too low, regardless of how diligent one may be."

"Therefore, for all ordinary people who are not Awakeners, the greatest difference in cultivation efficiency is merely twofold. Some ordinary individuals with decent cultivation Talent can manage to cultivate for the full two hours each day, while those with extremely poor Talent can still manage an hour daily."

"As for the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique, Zhang Yanhang’s assessment of it was only two words: fair! Fair! And damn fair!"

"And the views of the vast majority of Imperial citizens regarding this Cultivation Method were basically the same as Zhang Yanhang’s—highly praised by all. They felt that this method was the one that a socialist country with Imperial characteristics should cultivate."

"According to the Empire’s published estimates, under normal circumstances, an average Imperial citizen of appropriate age needs only five years and nine months to smoothly elevate their Rank to the Second Tier, at which point, they not only gain grain avoidance ability but their Life Span will also increase directly by twenty years."

"Spending less than six years to earn an additional twenty years of Life Span, a return on investment of 348%, has led most Imperial citizens with normal Intelligence to develop good cultivation habits, being able to consistently cultivate within the time allowed by their Talent every day."

"However, when the Empire announced this data, it also released another piece of news that saddened the working population: the Empire would once again raise the retirement age. The just recently adjusted retirement age of 65 was now recalibrated to 75, and furthermore, there might be future adjustments."

"The reason being that promoting from the Second Tier to the Third Tier also increases Life Span. Although the Empire has not yet published data on this aspect, the fact that it adds to Life Span is certainly true."

"Also, at present, the Empire has only released the First Tier Cultivation Method of the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique. The Second Tier method has been completed, but as Spiritual Qi Recovery has only begun half a year ago and most people’s Cultivation remains fixed at the First Tier Second Layer, the Empire has not yet disclosed the Second Tier method."

"In the future, the Cultivation Technique is likely to require personal registration and application at the relevant department; only those who have reached the peak of First Tier Tenth Layer are qualified to receive the Second Tier technique."

"And why must Awakeners convert their Cultivation Technique to the Limitless Universe Skill? Because if Awakeners cultivate the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique, their Talent would overflow significantly."

"According to data provided by the Empire, even the best Talented among ordinary people could at most reach two and a half hours of cultivation time. Still, they would be fixed to within two hours, while an Awakener’s Talent would be sufficient for at least six hours of cultivation."

"For example, before Zhang Yanhang awoke his power, he could cultivate for less than an hour and a half daily, but after awakening, his Talent allowed him to cultivate for eight hours a day. Therefore, if he continued to cultivate the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique, he would waste six hours daily with his Talent."

"It was for this reason that Zhang Yanhang had always felt that his superpower was not so much an ability but rather a unique kind of Spirit Root exclusive to the Spiritual Qi Recovery Era, one that came with special abilities. Every Awakener who awakened a superpower was like a cultivation genius with an innate Spirit Root from a cultivation novel."

"With the Limitless Universe Skill, Zhang Yanhang’s Cultivation Talent could easily achieve five times the efficiency of the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique. If an ordinary person needed three months to reach the First Tier Third Layer, Zhang Yanhang could achieve this Realm in at most twenty days. Therefore, Zhang Yanhang was roughly just one week away from breaking through to the First Tier Third Layer."

"By the way, the optimal age for cultivating the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique is between 18 and 59. As for those over 60, the Empire has also developed a specialized Cultivation Technique for them, named the Eternal Youth Skill. This Cultivation Technique is, like the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique and the Limitless Universe Skill Zhang Yanhang cultivated, one of the secret methods stored in the Imperial Royal Family’s grand library."

"The Eternal Youth Skill further intensified its adaptability for older people compared to the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique, which is suitable for young and middle-aged individuals."

"To ensure successful cultivation in seniors whose thinking may be rigid and whose meridians and vessels might be blocked, this method had certain parts concerning bodily Strength enhancement forcibly removed, instead significantly bolstering the user’s Constitution, that is, their Health and anti-aging, to ensure a retirement life free from the agony of illness."

"Moreover, nourishing the brain with Spiritual Power daily can effectively prevent the onset of dementia, also known as Alzheimer’s disease."

"However, despite sacrificing some aspects of physical capabilities such as Strength and speed, the necessary Spiritual Energy would definitely not be reduced, and the added Life Span upon reaching Second Tier was also twenty years, without any Weakening."

"Indeed, the Empire developed two exclusive Cultivation Techniques for the young, middle-aged, and elderly, yet conspicuously overlooked those under eighteen years of age. Given that the bodies and minds of adolescents under eighteen are not fully developed and are more easily influenced by external factors, the Empire did not develop new methods specifically for minors for various reasons."

"It must be said that Zhang Yanhang was quite relieved that he was already twenty at the time of the Spiritual Qi Recovery, otherwise, if he was unable to cultivate the Heaven and Earth Creation Technique, who knows when his Multiple Choice Talent would have awakened—or if it would ever awaken at all, a significant possibility."

"At that point, he would truly have only been able to live as an ordinary person for his entire life, and might even become one of those at the very bottom of society as mentioned in the options, then continue living a bleak, solitary life in such status."