Zhu Zhuqing listened intently to Jiang Wanwan's recounting of the Ruthless Empress's legend, her heart stirred, and she couldn't help but ask:
"Sister Wanwan, which of these things you've said—devouring kings, transforming into Chaos Body, fighting your way onto the Immortal Road, forging yourself into a weapon—are actually true?"
Zhu Zhuqing's question was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. Jiang Wanwan gently shook her head, with a sense of helplessness and sighing at the vicissitudes of life.
" Zhu Zhuqing, the question you asked... is itself an unsolvable riddle."
Jiang Wanwan's voice became ethereal and otherworldly, "Those stories that have been passed down through countless realms, recorded in numerous books, and passed down by word of mouth among all living beings."
"The rise of the Ruthless Empress, her past, and the person she waited for..."
"Which are cold, undeniable facts, which are the embellishments added by later generations based on awe and imagination, and which were intentional or unintentional actions she took after attaining Magic Power..."
"I'm afraid even the ancient beings who miraculously survived from the era of Shrouding the Heavens World wouldn't be able to fully understand it."
"The river of time has washed away too many details; the truth has been buried by dust and covered by legend."
What future generations can see is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Zhu Zhuqing listened intently, her clear, cold cat-like eyes unblinking.
Zhu Zhuyun, sitting next to her, unconsciously adjusted her posture, straightening her back and breathing more gently, as if afraid of missing a single word.
However, Jiang Wanwan suddenly changed the subject.
"But--"
"Amidst these complex and often contradictory legends, there is one point that has been verified by countless people across the myriad realms, and is now a consensus that is beyond dispute."
Jiang Wanwan's gaze swept over the two sisters, and she said, word by word:
" The Ruthless Empress is definitely not some born saint who inherits the destiny of heaven and earth, nor does she possess some kind of powerful innate bloodline or unparalleled physique."
"On the contrary, at the very beginning, at the starting point of her destiny, she was merely... a Mortal Physique."
" Mortal Physique?!"
Zhu Zhuyun finally couldn't help but utter a low murmur, her usually cool face filled with disbelief.
Not only Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun, but everyone in the Douluo Continent was astonished.
After all, in the Douluo Continent, the quality of Martial Soul and the level of Innate Soul Power almost determine the upper limit and possibilities of one's life.
The gap between nobles and commoners, and the distinction between geniuses and mediocrities, largely stems from this.
The Shrouding the Heavens World" seems to be the same.
A person's aptitude determines their potential.
But what does a true " Mortal Physique " mean?
This means that there is no powerful Martial Soul inheritance, that the Innate Soul Power is extremely low or even non-existent, and that from the moment of birth, one is almost judged to be incompatible with powerful strength, destined to stand at the bottom of the dust, looking up at those chosen ones.
This concept had a particularly strong impact on Zhu Zhuyun, who was born into the Star Luo Imperial Family and received the most rigorous competitive education from a young age.
Mortal Physique?
That was practically a synonym for "useless," something that didn't even qualify to be included in the competitive chessboard.
Pope's Palace.
The tapping sound of Bibi Dong's fingertips abruptly stopped.
She suddenly stood up, her wide Pope robe sleeves fluttering without wind, and an uncontrollable, tangible pressure spread out, making Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, who were standing in the hall, feel suffocated.
" Mortal Physique... becomes an emperor?"
Bibi Dong's voice trembled with a rare, almost imperceptible vibration.
For the first time, a sense of bewildered shock appeared in her phoenix eyes that had been surveying the mainland.
She thought of her Twin Martial Souls, the Rakshasa God Trial, and all the price she had paid to get to where she was today...
Those climbs are all based on exceptional talent and endless resources.
A Mortal Physique? How is that possible?
"Without divine inheritance, without a top-tier Martial Soul, without Innate Full Soul Power... what makes her so special?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's shrill voice was filled with disbelief, "This... this completely violates the ironclad rules of the Soul Master World!"
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, Di Tian slowly opened his golden dragon eyes, the gaze that had been refined over millennia now surging with turbulent waves.
He understood the meaning of " Mortal Physique " better than any human Soul Master.
That means absolute mediocrity at the level of the origin of life; among Soul Beast, it means being at the very bottom, where even awakening intelligence is extremely difficult.
"Defying fate..."
A deep, authoritative voice echoed in the core area, "Not seizing opportunities, not accepting gifts, but... forging an imperial path from the mortal realm?"
He could hardly imagine what kind of road that was.
In the cultivation of Soul Beast, bloodline reigns supreme.
How could a Soft Bone Rabbit possibly defy a true dragon? This was completely beyond his comprehension.
Shrek Academy was already in an uproar.
" Mortal Physique?!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open enough to fit an egg. "Isn't that... like those ordinary people in my village who couldn't even awaken their Martial Soul, or who awakened Trash Martial Soul?"
Can they... also become 'gods'?
He subconsciously touched his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, and for the first time felt that this once proud top-tier Beast Martial Soul seemed...
It's not that absolute anymore.
"This is impossible..."
Yu Xiaogang instinctively retorted, "Without a powerful Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power, one can't even condense Soul Power, so how can one cultivate?"
How do you acquire Soul Ring? This is a complete contradiction!
On the other hand, looking at the Shrouding the Heavens World, I don't believe that everyone can cultivate. It's clearly impossible for a Mortal Physique to become an emperor.
It must be fake, I don't believe it!
Tang San remained silent; the shock he felt was far greater than it appeared on the surface.
He thought of the Tang Sect from his previous life, of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and of those outer disciples who, despite lacking innate advantages, climbed to the top through perseverance and skill.
Even so, no one has ever been known to rise from the absolute "mortal" to the supreme "Emperor".
This cannot be explained simply by hard work.
In the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Qian Renxue stood for a long time.
The night wind tousled her blonde hair, but it couldn't dispel the intense emotions surging in her eyes.
" Mortal Physique..."
She murmured those two words, "Refusing to accept fate, refusing to give up, she used her mortal hands to tear open that seemingly indestructible chasm... Well done, what a Ruthless Empress!"
At that moment, a flame, unnoticed even by herself, ignited deep within her heart, which Ice Seal by her mission and duty.
On Sea God Island, Bo Saixi's scepter paused slightly, and even the Sea God's Light seemed to sway for a moment.
She recalled the legacy of the Lord Sea God, and the divine trial that required top-tier talent and an affinity for the ocean to pass.
"Without relying on any innate divine favor, without depending on any bloodline inheritance, relying solely on Mortal Physique... to reach a position comparable to, or even higher than, that of a god?"
She gazed at the endless sea, her azure eyes filled with unprecedented confusion and a hint of awe.
" Lord Sea God, is this... another ultimate 'Tao'?"
Taverns, academies, families, sects...
Throughout the entire Douluo Continent, from the high-ranking Titled Douluo to children who have just awakened their Martial Soul, everyone was stunned by the words " Mortal Physique Becomes Emperor".
It turns out that one doesn't need to be born holy, doesn't need a top-tier Martial Soul, and doesn't need the favor of gods.
One person, just one person, an ordinary person who started from the humblest place, was able to reach such heights.