Chapter 161: Opening Spiritual Apertures (Congratulations to Alliance Master Twitching Night! )
Chapter 161: Opening Spiritual Apertures (Congratulations to Alliance Master Twitching Night! )
Fang Xi paid no mind to the Foundation Establishment battle outside the city, nor to the final whereabouts of the "Mysterious Water Liquid."
He remained focused on his secluded cultivation. Each day consisted of routine meditation and cultivating the 'Green Wood Longevity Art'. Most of his time, however, was spent communicating with the Shard World and learning its language and script.
One day.
After circulating his cultivation method as usual, Fang Xi inwardly examined his Qi Sea Dantian, gazing at the emerald pool of liquid spiritual energy. He couldn't help but feel immense satisfaction.
"At this rate, by the time I'm eighty, I should be able to condense around forty drops of liquid spiritual energy, giving me a chance to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. . ."
However, forty drops of liquid spiritual energy was merely the minimum standard, making the chances of a mid-stage breakthrough rather slim.
Should the breakthrough fail, injuries and a loss of vital essence would be unavoidable.
To be cautious, Fang Xi still planned to further refine his spiritual energy at that time, waiting until the liquid spiritual energy reached the Dantian's limit, around fifty drops, and then, ideally with the aid of pills, attempt the breakthrough.
After completing his cultivation each day, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness would enter the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' to communicate with the Shard World.
...
Shard World.
By now, Fang Xi had mostly learned the language used by the humans of this tribe.
After listening in for a while longer, he learned that these people called themselves "Wu people" and their tribe was named "Black Mountain"!
The young boy who found him was called Ba Ji, and he had an older brother named Basong, who was the one previously murdered for his treasures.
Ba Ji and his brother had relied on each other and shared a deep bond. After his elder brother's death, Ba Ji already had a suspect in mind.
Furthermore, he knew there were two "Aperture Opening Stones" that his brother had discovered, and he had been secretly searching for them ever since.
Speaking of these "Aperture Opening Stones," one must also mention the power system of these Wu people!
On the training ground, a triangular skull, nearly the size of a house, sat emanating a savage, ancient aura.
A burly man with a scarred face was training the youths in martial arts:
"So-called cultivation is 'Opening Spiritual Apertures'. . . The human body holds infinite treasures, but it requires a key to unlock them, and this key is the 'Spiritual Aperture'!"
"The more 'Spiritual Apertures' one opens, the more treasures one can unlock. The maximum number of Spiritual Apertures is nine, but at least one must be opened to step through the gate of cultivation and become a revered 'Wu'!"
"Today is the 'Great Wu's' spiritual awakening ceremony! All of you who possess 'Aperture Opening Stones', step forward!"
Ba Ji quickly raised his hand: "I have one!"
He and several other youths stepped out, taking out their respective "Aperture Opening Stones."
The burly man examined each one, nodding: "Very good. . . You all go prepare. The Great Wu is currently preparing the sacrificial materials. The ceremony will begin after one day's worth of sunlight!"
"Alright!"
Ba Ji happily returned home, secretly clenching his fists: "Brother. . . I'm finally going to open my spiritual aperture and become a Wu. . . Just you wait, I'll avenge you. . ."
The next moment, a tall figure walked toward him.
Fang Xi recognized him; it was the young man who had previously murdered and robbed someone.
His expression was cold, and many dark Battle Glyphs had appeared all over his body, his aura significantly stronger than before.
"If he was merely a mortal martial artist before, now, he should be considered a cultivator with spiritual energy fluctuations, perhaps?"
As Fang Xi quietly assessed him, he saw the Battle Glyphs on the young man's body flash.
Then, a powerful force surged forth, sending Ba Ji flying back, spitting blood.
"Qing Lang, what are you doing?"
Ba Ji clutched his chest, blood trickling from his lips, and immediately shouted.
"Boy, don't you know that in the tribe, you must bow your head and make way when you see a 'Wu'? I'm teaching you the rules of respecting the strong!"
Qing Lang stroked the Battle Glyphs on his body, revealing a sinister smile, and seeing others watching, he strode away.
Within the tribe, he couldn't openly kill someone on the street.
However, severely injuring the boy before the spiritual awakening ceremony to affect its outcome was well within acceptable limits.
"He's a clever one. . ."
Fang Xi observed all of this, with no intention of intervening.
Not to mention he couldn't act in the first place, even if he could, he wouldn't, especially after Ba Ji's previous act of trying to chop him with a knife and roast him over a fire.
In fact, he was hoping the boy would die and be replaced by a new "Mirror Wielder"!
After all, this boy seemed so foolish and naive, he might not successfully survive and ascend to a higher realm.
That's right, he was just such a wicked mirror!
...
"Spiritual Awakening!"
"Spiritual Awakening!"
Within the Black Mountain tribe, the spiritual awakening ceremony was the most important event.
A group of burly people dressed in animal skins gathered at the edge of a triangular, black stone platform, shouting continuously.
And upon the altar platform, there stood a bronze cauldron with three legs and two ears!
Within the massive cauldron, a fierce beast seemed to be boiling, emitting a strong, bloody aroma.
Beside it, a hunched old man with white hair, wearing a black robe and a blue Battle Glyph on his face, continuously stoked the fire beneath the cauldron.
"This person. . ."
As Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness swept over, the white-haired old man seemed to sense something and looked down at the platform.
Fang Xi immediately retracted his Divine Consciousness, shrinking back into the fragment, not daring to show himself again.
"This person. . . actually managed to faintly perceive my Divine Consciousness. . . comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"Such a powerful expert in just a small tribe. This world is quite promising, after all. . ."
...
"Aspirants, step onto the platform!"
The elderly Great Wu looked at the cauldron and spoke in a hoarse voice.
A group of youths, including Ba Ji, who was clutching his chest with a pained expression, approached the large cauldron.
The Great Wu glanced at them, unconcerned by Ba Ji's condition, and simply said in a deep voice: "Only those who open a spiritual aperture can become a Wu, inscribing Law Glyphs upon their bodies, summoning wind and rain, seizing lightning. . . You have been preparing for this for many years and already know the process. Now, the first one, step forward!"
A short, stout youth in a tiger skin stepped forward, raising the massive cauldron with both hands. With a roar, he lifted the entire cauldron and gulped down the broth within.
The next moment, streaks of light appeared on his body, flowing like meridians, impacting and opening the spiritual apertures within him!
Buzz!
Before long, a point of light emerged on his chest.
Then, a second, and a third. . .
The large cauldron seemed quite heavy. Towards the end, the youth could no longer support it and quickly lowered it.
"Ah Li, three spiritual apertures opened. You may step down!"
The Great Wu waved his hand, dismissing the beaming youth.
Next was a young girl.
Her cheeks still carried a hint of baby fat, and her eyes held a wildness. She also let out a roar, grabbed the cauldron, and eagerly drank the fierce beast broth.
However, only one point of light appeared on her chest.
As time passed, her arms began to tremble, and she could no longer hold the cauldron.
Seeing the cauldron about to fall and spill, the Great Wu casually waved his hand, and the cauldron floated in mid-air: "Sang Ge. . . one spiritual aperture opened. You may step down!"
Disappointment flickered in the girl's eyes, but she still bowed and retreated.
One by one, the youths stepped forward. Most opened one or two spiritual apertures, while some couldn't even open one, and were led away by their parents, their faces full of dejection.
Finally. . .
Ba Ji took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in his chest, and spread his arms, grabbing the cauldron handles: "Lift!"
The enormous bronze cauldron was lifted by him, and he poured the scalding broth into his mouth.
The next moment, he felt an excruciating pain in his breastbone and could no longer bear it. The beast cauldron dropped, only to be steadily caught by the Great Wu.
The Great Wu looked at Ba Ji's chest and shook his head.
On Ba Ji's chest, a single spiritual aperture flickered indistinctly, its light dim.
"Ba Ji, half an aperture opened. . . what a pity."
The Great Wu sighed. If this youth hadn't been injured, he would have had at least one spiritual aperture.
Among the crowd, Qing Lang watched this scene, a trace of pleasure flashing across his face.
...
Before long, all the youths who had opened spiritual apertures were brought before the Great Wu.
"A Wu is a sacrifice to heaven and earth; a Battle Glyph is an offering to the Great Dao!"
The Great Wu's murky eyes swept over them. Seeing Ba Ji present, he didn't dismiss him and continued his lecture.
After all, half a spiritual aperture. . . that still counted as a spiritual aperture.
"You have now opened your spiritual apertures. Next, you will cultivate 'Battle Glyphs', imprinting them upon yourselves, and become true 'Wu'!"
"As junior Wu, you can only learn Law Glyphs!"
"In the cave behind my residence, there are beast-skin scrolls. Each Law Glyph on them is precious. After you truly draw spiritual energy into your bodies, they will be open to you for three days. You must focus intently, and then choose the 'Law Glyph' that suits you best. . ."
"Now, I will first instruct you on how to perceive heaven and earth and begin the cultivation of a 'Wu'. . ."
...
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness remained curled up within the fragment, yet he listened with rapt attention: "This world. . . must also have some connection to the legendary Immortal World. . . Although they are called 'Wu', their cultivation method is still to absorb and refine the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth. . . Do the Three Thousand Great Daos all lead to the same destination?"
He was now even more certain that the Shard World might also be one of the myriad sand-like worlds subordinate to the Immortal World.
Even the cultivation methods seemed to share some similarities!
...
Night.
Inside the shanty.
Ba Ji was diligently circulating the cultivation method taught by the Great Wu, using his spiritual aperture to absorb the primordial qi of heaven and earth.
But the spiritual aperture in the center of his chest flickered indistinctly; it was a "half-aperture," far inferior to a normal spiritual aperture.
He struggled for a long time, unable to even complete the first step of drawing spiritual energy into his body.
"What should I do? No. . . I can't give up, I must become a formal 'Wu' and take revenge on Qing Lang!"
Ba Ji clutched his chest, a fierce glint in his eyes.
Suddenly, he noticed. . . a light seemed to be emanating from the animal-skin pouch on his chest.
"This is. . . the treasure I found back then?"
Ba Ji pulled out the bronze mirror and saw lines of ant-like script appearing on its surface – Wu script that he recognized!
"The changes of the Zhou Tian, the way of application, infinitely wondrous. . ."
"The. . . Spiritual Aperture Opening Scripture? !"
Ba Ji deciphered it word by word, rubbing his eyes.
What appeared on the mirror's surface was unmistakably a cultivation method, one that could even increase the speed of absorbing the primordial qi of heaven and earth!
He didn't think much further; after all, he had nothing left to lose.
Once he fully understood, Ba Ji immediately sat cross-legged and began to attempt circulating the technique. . .
Gradually, Ba Ji seemed to perceive the state of "forgetting self and objects" described in the scripture. Wisps of heaven and earth primordial qi flowed into his body through his pores, circulating throughout his entire being. . .
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