"The trial is something that is of great importance, not only to me and the village but to you as well," Chief Igris said, his voice calm and heavy, carrying the weight of authority. "But you are simply not ready for it yet."

Max frowned, his brows knitting together. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Chief Igris studied him for a moment, his ember-like eyes glowing faintly. Then he asked a question that struck Max like a hammer. "Do you know what is the ultimate stage of body cultivation?"

"The ultimate stage?" Max repeated in thought, his mind spinning. He had never once considered such a question. He knew the basics, that there were three paths of cultivation: the path of the body, the path of energy, and the path of the soul. He himself walked all three, though imperfectly. But the idea of an ultimate stage, of the pinnacle that lay at the end of each path, had never once crossed his mind. Perhaps it was because he was still too weak to even see that far ahead. Or perhaps those truths were hidden because they were too distant from the reach of most cultivators.

Chief Igris could see his hesitation clearly and spoke again, his deep voice steady. "There is an ultimate stage for everything in this world. The body, the energy within, and the soul itself each have their own peak, their own perfection. Today, I will tell you of the body, of physique cultivation."

He paused briefly, his gaze turning distant, as though recalling eras long past. "In the ancient times, when the path of body cultivation was at its peak, there were experts whose very flesh defied the heavens. Their bones were harder than divine steel, their blood coursed like rivers of molten fire, and their muscles carried strength beyond comprehension. With nothing but their physical form, they could shatter clusters of stars. With a mere flick of their fingers, they could extinguish thousands of planets. They were living calamities, beings whose bodies alone rivaled armies and legacies."

His expression hardened as he went on. "But that era is gone. Long, long ago, the path of body cultivation fell into decline. Perhaps it was jealousy from those who walked the paths of energy and soul, or perhaps it was the natural balance of the cosmos correcting itself. Whatever the reason, body cultivators became rarer, their techniques forgotten, their legacies buried. Now, in all of the Divine Realm, among the countless nine billion worlds, one would scarcely find a single expert who can compare to those titans of the ancient era."

Max listened in silence, the weight of the words sinking deep into him. He had heard tales of power before, of gods and devils who could split mountains or boil oceans, but this was something far beyond. The idea of a single body collapsing stars was almost unimaginable, yet the way Chief Igris spoke left no room for doubt.

The giant's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him again. "This is why I said you are not ready. To even begin the trial, you must first understand the path you are walking. The trial you face is not simply a test of survival. It is tied to the legacy of body cultivation itself. Only those who can endure the weight of that legacy may continue forward."

Max felt his pulse quicken. For the first time, he sensed that what lay ahead was not just a challenge but a gateway to knowledge buried since the dawn of eras.

"There are two main stages of body cultivation," Chief Igris continued, his deep voice echoing across the courtyard where the giant dwarves had fallen silent to listen. His eyes remained fixed on Max as he spoke. "The first has been lost since the ancient eras, the true final stage of body cultivation. It has never been rediscovered and remains beyond reach even now. The second, which still lingers faintly in the records of time, is the penultimate stage. It is known as the Seven Divine Veins. This stage is not the end, but it is the threshold that prepares one for the final stage."

His tone grew heavier as he elaborated. "The Seven Divine Veins mark a transformation of the body where a cultivator forges seven channels within themselves, not of energy but of flesh and marrow. Once opened, these veins circulate raw essence in a way that defies the natural order. They are said to grant a body that can rival stars in durability and mountains in strength. But such a stage is not something the humans of this era can easily achieve. It requires not just strength but a foundation that few possess in this age."

Chief Igris's gaze shifted slightly, as though addressing not only Max but all the giants gathered. "In the cosmos, humans are seen as the most average of all races. They are praised for nothing in particular. Demons are known for their raw and terrifying strength. Elves are revered for their purity and their mastery over energy. My people, the dwarves, are blessed with deep knowledge and unmatched skill in craft. Across the worlds, countless other races hold their own unique gifts, their own blessings, their own foundations. But the human race has none."

He leaned forward slightly, his great white beard swaying with the motion. "Humans specialize in nothing. That is the consensus shared across the Divine Realm and beyond. They are average in body, in energy, and in soul. That is why the other races mock them and why they are often treated as beneath notice."

Then his tone shifted, carrying a note of reverence. "But therein lies their true potential. Unlike other races, humans are not bound to one path. Their destiny is not predetermined. A demon cannot abandon its strength, an elf cannot sever its bond with purity and energy, a dwarf cannot cast aside knowledge. Yet a human can walk whichever path they choose. They can cultivate the body, pursue energy, or master the soul. They can even walk all three together if their will and foundation are strong enough. That is what makes the human race special."

The old chief's eyes glowed faintly as his words sank deep into Max. "It is not because you are gifted in one thing that you are unique. It is because you are free to be anything."

Max's mind churned at Chief Igris's words. He fixed his gaze on the old dwarf and asked in a low voice, "Are you saying it was humans who reached the ultimate stage of body cultivation in the ancient times?"

Chief Igris shook his head slowly, his white beard swaying with the movement. "No. That honor belongs to the Primordial Race, the strongest race of the Divine Realm in the ancient era, and even now they remain unmatched in their foundation."

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