Upon hearing the Little Doctor's words, Liu Ling was utterly stunned. His face was a picture of disbelief.
Just moments ago, he had been smugly confident, on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Master realm, convinced that he was a peerless genius. Yet, in an instant, he was humbled, his pride shattered.
At that moment, he wished he could vanish into the ground.
After the initial wave of shame subsided, Liu Ling's mind was flooded with shock. He recalled that when the Little Fairy Doctor first joined the sect, her cultivation level was only at the one-star Dou Practitioner.
How much time had passed since then? A mere month? And yet, she had already broken through to the Dou Master realm, leaping an entire major realm!
This was beyond outrageous. Liu Ling couldn't comprehend it.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. He glanced at Gu He.
'Could it be that the teacher had secretly given her special pills to boost her cultivation?' The idea left a bitter taste in Liu Ling's heart. 'Teacher, you can't play favorites.'
Gu He, sensing Liu Ling's resentful gaze, immediately understood what was going through his mind.
"You don't actually think your junior sister's breakthrough to the Dou Master realm is solely due to me, do you?" Gu He asked, his tone stern.
Faced with Gu He's piercing gaze, Liu Ling felt a pang of fear and lowered his head without a word. His silence spoke volumes.
Seeing this, Gu He's expression darkened. "It seems you truly believe that. Let me make this clear: since your junior sister joined the Misty Cloud Sect, she has never received anything special. The progress she's made this month is entirely the result of her own efforts."
Liu Ling's head snapped up in astonishment. "That's impossible!" he blurted out, unable to believe that someone could advance an entire realm in just one month without external help.
"If you don't believe me, ask her yourself. Have I imparted any special techniques, pills or empowerment to her in the past month?" Gu He said dismissively.
Liu Ling turned to the Little Fairy Doctor, his eyes filled with doubt.
Little Fairy Doctor, having overheard the conversation, met his gaze and said plainly, "Senior Brother, the teacher is right. He hasn't given me any special training or empowerment this month."
Hearing this, Liu Ling was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, he suddenly stepped forward and knelt before Gu He with a loud thud. "Teacher, I was wrong," he said sincerely.
Gu He's eyes softened slightly, a hint of relief flashing within them. The boy hadn't disappointed him entirely. "What exactly do you think you did wrong?" Gu He asked, his tone still firm.
Liu Ling, his face flushed with shame, replied, "Teacher, I shouldn't have doubted you, and I shouldn't have been jealous of my junior sister."
Gu He nodded in approval. "Get up," he said.
Liu Ling slowly rose to his feet, though his expression remained tinged with guilt.
Gu He looked at him and asked, "Do you want to know why your junior sister's cultivation speed is so remarkable?"
Liu Ling's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Why?" he asked eagerly.
"Do you know that on this continent, there are individuals born with extraordinary physiques? Their cultivation speed far surpasses that of ordinary people," Gu He explained calmly.
"Born with extraordinary physiques?" Liu Ling's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time he had heard of such a thing.
"Could it be that Junior Sister…" Liu Ling's gaze shifted to the Little Fairy Doctor, his expression one of awe.
"That's correct. Your junior sister possesses an extraordinary physique," Gu He confirmed, validating Liu Ling's suspicion.
"In this world, there are many types of extraordinary physiques. For instance, some are born with the Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart, making them natural alchemists with unparalleled insights into the alchemy. Without exception, they are destined to become alchemy God.
"Others are born with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, granting them the ability to control serpentine magical beasts with a single glance.
"Then there are those with the Woeful Poison Body, who can rapidly increase their strength by consuming the deadliest poisons."
As he spoke, Gu He glanced at the Little Fairy Doctor and smiled faintly.
Little Fairy Doctor, too, was visibly surprised. She hadn't realized that there were others on the continent with similarly extraordinary physiques.
Gu He then turned back to Liu Ling, who was still processing this information, and continued, "Moreover, there are those born with the bloodline of a Dou God.
Gu He stood up, looking down at Liu Ling with a solemn expression. "The Dou Qi Continent is vast and boundless, filled with countless talents. What you've seen so far, Ling'er, is merely the tip of the iceberg. Do not let a few achievements inflate your ego."
Liu Ling was deeply shaken.
The Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, the Woeful Poison Body, the Dou Emperor's bloodline—though these terms were unfamiliar to him, they left him in awe.
He realized now just how many extraordinary individuals existed on the Dou Qi Continent.
At that moment, any trace of arrogance in Liu Ling's heart vanished. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with determination.
"Teacher, I understand!" he said with newfound respect.
"Good. Remember, I say these things not to belittle you, but to guide you," Gu He said gently.
"While those born with extraordinary physiques may have a higher starting point, the path of cultivation ultimately depends on one's own efforts. As long as you work diligently, you too can achieve greatness."
Gu He paused, then added with a smile, "Besides, with my guidance and empowerment, as long as you put in the effort, you may even surpass those with extraordinary physiques."
Liu Ling's heart stirred.
'That's right! What does it matter if they have extraordinary physiques? As long as I persevere and continue to receive the teacher's guidance, why can't I surpass them?' With this thought, his confidence returned, and his resolve grew stronger.
Gu He, observing this change, nodded inwardly. He hoped this lesson would lead to genuine growth in Liu Ling.
"Teacher," Liu Ling asked hesitantly, "what kind of extraordinary physique does junior sister possess?"
Gu He's expression turned serious. "The nature of an extraordinary physique is a matter of great importance and should not be disclosed lightly," he said firmly.
The Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body was a significant secret. If it were revealed, it could bring about unforeseen dangers.
Given his current strength, Gu He wasn't prepared to deal with such troubles. Thus, he couldn't divulge this information to Liu Ling yet.
Seeing Gu He's stern demeanor, Liu Ling seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. "I understand," he said earnestly. "I will never speak a word of this to anyone."
…
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