Talent Limit

A human is a whole; nothing exists in isolation, and everything is interconnected.

Within the five-dimensional attributes, Zhao Cheng's vitality is not particularly prominent, as at this current stage, vitality is more closely linked to the constitution attribute.

According to official vitality data, a Swordsman has a minimum vitality of 3, a Sword Master a minimum of 7, and a Sword Saint a minimum of 10.

Of course, vitality does not represent combat power; it is merely a rough estimate of life intensity.

To measure vitality, specialized instruments are required.

As far as Zhao Cheng knows, the principle behind vitality-measuring instruments is said to be the detection of a person's life magnetic field intensity. The more precise the equipment, the higher its technical complexity and the larger its physical size.

The best life detector in all of Xiangnan City is at the Kendo Association, which can estimate vitality up to 8; beyond that, it becomes inaccurate.

Apart from this, some high-tech companies produce wristbands that supposedly allow for real-time vitality monitoring.

However, these items are more akin to toys, with significant margins of error.

In the Imperial Capital, there exists an experimental machine built regardless of cost. According to online reports, this instrument's detection limit reaches three digits, and it occupies an area the size of half a stadium.

In the eyes of the general public, this machine has little practical use; a three-digit vitality is too absurd—it would likely allow one to traverse the universe with a physical body.

After all, an ordinary person's vitality is only 1, and each subsequent point is 1.5 times the previous one.

Thus, some joke that this device is meant to detect the "vitality" of the Earth itself, as humans have life magnetic fields, and the Earth has a geomagnetic field.

Others suggest the instrument is designed to receive mysterious fluctuations from the universe.

In short, opinions vary.

The last time Zhao Cheng went to the Kendo Association to test his vitality was three months ago, when his value was 1.2. In three months, he had increased it by 0.3, which is a significant growth rate.

Zhao Cheng knows that as his swordsmanship breaks through to the proficient stage, he will see a substantial improvement in his vitality in the short term.

The same applies to his realm.

Of course, he is still incredibly far from the level of Settlement.

In cultivation, the further one goes, the higher the difficulty.

Moreover, proficient-level swordsmanship is insufficient to support the elevation of Zhao Cheng's life level to that of a Swordsman.

In fact, let alone level 4 swordsmanship, even if Zhao Cheng were to cultivate his swordsmanship to his talent cap of level 8—reaching the mastery level—it would at most support him in quickly maxing out his progress in Quietude.

After that, it becomes a matter of grinding—spending years, or even decades, accumulating foundation bit by bit to push his swordsmanship level beyond the limits of his talent and reach a new height, thereby driving a leap in his life level.

Alternatively, through a stroke of luck or sudden enlightenment, there is a possibility of breaking through the cage.

The so-called swordsmanship cap determined by talent does not refer to a true limit, but rather the ceiling at which one can progress at a relatively fast speed by relying on that talent.

For instance, in Zhao Cheng's Panel, 17th Basic Swordsmanship 6th Revised Edition lv4 (lv8) (6/300), the lv8 in parentheses is his talent limit.

This means that before his swordsmanship reaches level 8, the proficiency required will remain at a relatively low level.

Once it reaches level 8, the subsequent proficiency required will increase tenfold; the limit is not impossible to surpass, but it is incredibly difficult.

At the same time, barring any accidents, it will be extremely difficult for this set of swordsmanship to reach the master stage. Through normal cultivation, he might reach level 8 within these two years, but to continue progressing to level 10 would likely take decades.

This "decades" assumes he continues his hard training without fail; if he were to slack off, he would likely never have a chance in his lifetime.

Because swordsmanship is something that will regress if not practiced for a long time.

However, such things are the norm in this world.

Everyone has kendo talent; to surpass others, you must either exceed them in talent—having a higher innate cap—or possess great will and perseverance, training without ceasing.

If this 17th Basic Swordsmanship 6th Revised Edition could be practiced to level 10, reaching the Swordsman level would be a natural progression.

A so-called genius is someone whose talent cap is innately level 10 or higher, naturally allowing them to advance through cultivation like a hot knife through butter.

True geniuses not only have high level caps but also require less proficiency to level up.

Zhao Cheng guesses that the reason his previous world lacked such a cultivation system is likely because the life forms there lacked this specific trait.

Take Zhao Cheng himself: without the support of the Sword Seed, his swordsmanship level cap would only be level 5; the proficient stage would be his talent limit.

Beyond that, the proficiency required to level up would increase significantly, and even with dedicated practice and profound techniques, he would likely never reach level 10 in his lifetime.

Of course, if one truly practiced hard, they would certainly achieve some results, and some gifted individuals might reach the peak of Quietude or even Settlement.

But that would likely be the limit!

Therefore, in his previous life, there were those who could fight, but the top-tier among them were not as exaggerated as the people in this world.

The shop in the Panel is essentially based on equivalent exchange. Does this mean that as long as I have enough currency, I can exchange for anything—be it talent, proficiency, or attributes?

The reason these aren't visible now is perhaps because my Source Point is 0. Once I have Source Points, changes will surely occur.

Thoughts turned over one after another in Zhao Cheng's mind.

He had already clicked into the shop page, which contained two major sections: the Source Point Shop and the Simulation Point Shop. Both shops were currently empty.

But where do Source Points actually come from?!

Killing?!

As Zhao Cheng pondered, a sense arose within him that this was not the case.

This intuition was a response from his traits to his own self; they were, after all, one and the same.

"From some kind of object?!"

"Not that either."

At this moment, Zhao Cheng was like someone asking and answering his own questions.

"Interfering with history?!"

"Leading an era?!"

"Faith?!"

"Emotion?!"

"Striving?!"

"Lying flat?!"

One thought after another surged through Zhao Cheng's mind, yet each was dismissed by his intuition.

The Panel was, after all, just a Panel; it was the manifestation of a certain power within himself, not some artificial intelligence, nor did it contain any artifact spirit that would pop out as a mature woman or a little girl.

If one truly had to say there was an artifact spirit, that spirit would likely be himself.

In areas where Zhao Cheng could perceive it, this Panel was undoubtedly very intelligent, but in areas beyond his cognition, it appeared somewhat "clumsy."