Jiang Yuan was somewhat perplexed. From his perspective, it seemed that such minor muscle atrophy could be quickly resolved with some slow jogging exercises.
"Indeed, it seems your academic scores could use some more improvement."
The venerable sage shook his head, pointing to a book nearby: "Haven't you read that book yet?"
"No, what about it? That's for the final exams, not this time." Jiang Yuan was somewhat confused, not understanding what the sage meant.
"You could take a look in there; it's written inside."
As Jiang Yuan was about to get up to fetch the book, the sage waved his hand: "Never mind, I'll just tell you."
"When you break through to the Sixth Realm, there is a process of bodily reconstruction, right?"
"Yes."
Jiang Yuan nodded. Anyone who practiced cultivation certainly knew about bodily reconstruction in the Sixth Realm.
"But do you know that the strength of the body before reconstruction is related to the strength after reconstruction?"
The sage looked at Jiang Yuan, slightly shaking his head: "Just like your currently frail body, even after undergoing reconstruction, it will only reach a stage slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person."
"And if you don't exercise, relying solely on your current state for bodily reconstruction, the result will be somewhat weaker than that of an ordinary person in the Sixth Realm."
If calculated numerically, a normal adult is rated as one.
Jiang Yuan, right now, is 0.8.
If a normal person breaks through to the Sixth Realm, their physical strength will be 20, but Jiang Yuan's will only be 16.
That's the difference.
"So the sage means that before I break through to the Sixth Realm, I should enhance my physical quality as much as possible?"
"Yes, exactly."
The sage nodded, "According to my estimate, and also stated in that book, although not explicitly mentioned, the physical quality is likely to increase exponentially based on the quality before reconstruction."
"The stronger the foundation, the greater the multiplier effect."
"If handled properly, you might even surpass... Shi Ji's physical quality."
Jiang Yuan fell into deep thought.
After all, both the sage's judgment and the records in the book generally indicated that the bodily reconstruction would exponentially enhance physical quality.
And with this uniform enhancement, the higher the base, the greater the increase.
Currently, Jiang Yuan's physical quality isn't much different from a normal person.
But the proportionate boost after reconstruction can clearly amplify this difference.
Just like the current Jiang Yuan and Mu Qianshan.
One at 0.8 and one at 1.0.
Their bare-handed combat power is quite similar.
But with the proportional increase, one at 16 and one at 20.
Under such circumstances, beating Jiang Yuan would undoubtedly be easier without even needing to fight twice.
This was the crux of the issue.
"So, where can I find Thunder Light Radish?"
"It's written there, didn't you see?"
The sage looked at Jiang Yuan in surprise, yet Jiang Yuan also caught a glimpse of amusement in his eyes.
"Sage, please, just tell me."
Seeing Jiang Yuan's somewhat helpless look, the sage stroked his beard and chuckled.
"Don't worry, it won't disrupt our original plan."
"This is actually the most suitable Purple Quality heavenly treasure I have selected according to our plan."
"What do you mean?"
"Yes, the Thunder Light Radish is naturally within the Grotto Heaven of the Elemental Spirit Clan where we plan to go."
"That's great, then."
Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, feeling a sense of relief.
Although the problem of muscle weakness had been resolved, he was still very much looking forward to advancing to the Sixth Realm.
This was already delayed quite a bit because of what his mentor had said.
If it was delayed further, Jiang Yuan felt he might really become impatient.
"Alright, enough talk. The materials have arrived; you start card making, and after you're done, we can discuss when to set off."
Watching a mechanical bird fly past the window, the sage gestured to Jiang Yuan in his usual manner, then returned to sit cross-legged in front of his Furnace of Eight Trigrams.
"By the way, remember to ask Zhao Gongming for some luck while making the card; your luck is very poor today."
"Alright."
Jiang Yuan nodded, walked to the window, and received a backpack card from the mechanical bird.
The sage's presence saved him from trying his luck with random card pack draws.
According to the sage, this was a capability known as "vision."
Hmm, Jiang Yuan had no talent for learning this.
Jiang Yuan had asked the sage about it the first time he demonstrated the "vision."
And then he was informed about it.
And Master Lao also said, one cannot see their own Qi, so even if I learned it, it would be of no use.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan's heart felt much better.
What Master Lao said must be right!
It's not that I lack the ability to learn this; it's just that learning it would be useless!
After the mechanical bird left, Jiang Yuan also opened up the backpack card that the mechanical bird had delivered.
Inside were the five Material Cards sent by Huang Huanqing.
All of them were S-grade Purple Quality Material Cards.
After looking through them once, Jiang Yuan began preparing for card making.
First, he called Zhao Gongming, who used "Autumn Plague·Five Ghosts Transport Fortune" to give all the luck he had accumulated in the past few days to Jiang Yuan, then he moved aside to watch Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan turned his head to look at Master Lao and, seeing him nod, felt reassured.
Then, he began making the card.
The first step of card making: drawing!
Just like the last time, there was no difference in Jiang Yuan's drawing.
The background featured a desert, a Gobi, and nine suns in the sky.
Then came the main subject.
The main subject was a black crow, but it had three feet.
Below the black crow was a shimmering great tree.
The tree was grown in water that was black on one side and green on the other.
This was the mythical tree, Ruo Mu.
After completing the drawing of the card, the next step was signing.
Jiang Yuan's heart was calm, directly signing the name of this card.
After all, he had gone through this process once before, and neither the drawing nor the signing had failed.
It was simply a matter of following the procedure this time.
As the signing concluded, the card suddenly shone with light.
Then, Jiang Yuan opened his eyes, and a blank card appeared in front of him.
Looking at the Three-legged Golden Crow in the card, Jiang Yuan also smiled.
Then he began the last step!
Material Card fusion!
The first four Material Cards were ones he had used before.
S-grade Purple Quality Summon Card: [Flame Crow Spirit]!
S-grade Purple Quality Material Card: [Sun Meteorite Rock]!
S-grade Purple Quality Summon Card: [Three-toed Bird]!
A-grade Purple Quality Material Card: [Sunrise Smoke]!
The four material cards represented the crow, the sun, the three-footed bird, and the smoke respectively.
The last material card was also an S-grade Purple Quality Material Card.
[Black Solar Fire]!
A card that matched both flames and the sun perfectly.
The fusion of the four previous cards into the blank card went without any issues.
Jiang Yuan's gaze then turned to the final card.
S-grade Purple Quality Material Card: [Black Solar Fire]!
Black flames, matching the black crow!
Jiang Yuan felt somewhat unsure.
Master Lao and Zhao Gongming also watched the scene.
Without hesitating for even a second, Jiang Yuan reached out.
He fused the final material card into the blank card as well.
The blank card already displayed the shimmering sun, Ruo Mu, and the background.
As the final material card was integrated, the only dim aspect, the three-footed black crow on the Ruo Mu, also began to shine with light.
At first, it was just white light.
But as the white light spread across the entire card, a purple light also began to shine!
The card was made!
Holding back the excitement in his heart, Jiang Yuan watched the Purple Quality Card floating and spinning in front of him.
"Quick, check the card information and see how it is?"
At this moment, Master Lao also spoke, addressing Jiang Yuan.
"Alright."
Jiang Yuan reached out to hold the card, and the card's information appeared in front of his eyes.