Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
The morning mist drifting around Dragon Yuan Mountain was thinner than usual today. Sunlight filtered through the towering ancient pines, illuminating the stone pathways that wound around the Lin Family residence.
Inside a quiet courtyard residence near the outer district of the Chang Branch, Lin Sheng slowly opened his eyes.
A faint gleam flashed across his pupils.
The world around him instantly became sharper.
The movement of leaves outside the window.
The tiny cracks in the wooden walls.
Even the drifting dust particles floating in the sunlight were now visible to him.
Lin Sheng exhaled slowly.
Then the translucent interface of the quantum chip appeared before him.
[Starry Sky Visualization Method — Meditation Progress]
•[Left Eye Aperture: 100%
Right Eye Aperture: 100%
Nose Aperture: 100%
Left Ear Aperture: 58%
Right Ear Aperture: 0%
Mouth Aperture: 0%
Brow Aperture: 0%
Center Aperture: 0%]•
Estimated Mental Energy Increase: 41%
Lin Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So the opening speed really increases after the first few apertures…"
In his previous life, opening even one sensory aperture had required nearly an entire month of meditation and mental refinement.
But here?
With the existence of spiritual qi filling heaven and earth—
the process became terrifyingly fast.
Even though he did not possess a spiritual root, spiritual qi still naturally nourished the body and mind.
That was the difference between the Age of Dharma Decline and this cultivation world.
This world truly possessed the missing component.
Qi.
Lin Sheng slowly stood from the meditation mat and stretched his slightly sore shoulders.
His body still lacked proper conditioning.
The Vajra Fist Technique had improved his physique somewhat, but compared to true martial artists, he was still weak.
His gaze drifted toward the jade slip resting quietly on the wooden table nearby.
It was left behind by his sister.
Lin Yun
Or rather—
the last thing she had sent him before leaving the clan with her master.
The jade slip was pale green in color, smooth like flowing water, with faint spiritual patterns flickering across its surface.
It could only be activated using spiritual sense.
And spiritual sense…
was normally something only Qi Refining cultivators possessed.
Lin Sheng picked it up carefully.
The cool sensation spread through his palm.
"If Opening Apertures truly releases trapped mental energy…"
"Then perhaps after all apertures are opened…"
"…I can forcefully imitate spiritual sense."
That thought lingered in his mind.
According to ancient records from his previous life, the purpose of the Opening Aperture Realm was to release the sealed potential of Shen.
The brain housed consciousness.
Mind.
Spirit.
Will.
Soul.
Once all sensory gates were opened—
mental energy would undergo transformation.
Telepathy.
Telekinesis.
Enhanced perception.
These were merely the beginning.
In his previous life, those abilities were extremely difficult to achieve because there was no qi to nourish Shen.
But here—
things were different.
Very different.
Lin Sheng placed the jade slip back onto the table.
Then he grabbed the Eight Step Cicada booklet from nearby.
Today—
he needed to return it.
And more importantly— he needed answers.
The Wu Pavilion stood quietly within the mortal city beneath Dragon Yuan Mountain.
Compared to the lofty immortal residences above the mountain, this place felt grounded and ancient.
The streets outside were lively.
Mortals moved back and forth carrying baskets and goods.
Martial trainees sparred openly near training grounds.
Horse-drawn carts rolled through the streets.
The Lin Family ruled this region like an empire.
Immortal cultivators stood above.
Martial artists maintained order below.
Lin Sheng walked calmly through the streets.
His enhanced senses allowed him to hear distant conversations more clearly now.
Even footsteps several meters away sounded distinct.
Opening the apertures truly strengthened perception.
Soon—
the familiar wooden building of the Wu Pavilion entered his sight.
The old signboard swayed slightly in the wind.
Wu Pavilion.
Inside, everything remained unchanged.
Bookshelves lined the walls.
Dust floated lazily through rays of sunlight.
And behind the counter—
Old Liang sat half-reclined in his chair.
Sleeping.
Or at least—
appearing asleep.
His grey hair hung loosely around his shoulders, yet his face looked strangely young.
Not handsome.
Not ugly.
Just ordinary.
Too ordinary.
But Lin Sheng knew better.
The first time the quantum chip attempted to scan him—
it nearly triggered an emergency evacuation warning.
[Unknown Target Detected]
Threat Assessment: DANGEROUS
Recommendation: Immediately distance yourself from target.
Further scanning impossible.
The chip had never reacted like that before.
Even the outer stewards only triggered "High Threat." and most of them are in the Qi Refining Stage.
But Old Liang?
That alone was enough to reveal that the seemingly lazy pavilion keeper was anything but ordinary.
Lin Sheng stepped forward respectfully.
"This junior greets Elder Liang."
Old Liang grunted lazily.
"Mnn."
Lin Sheng placed the Eight Step Cicada booklet onto the counter.
"I've come to return the technique."
Old Liang slowly opened one eye.
"Oh?"
"You're returning it already?"
There was faint amusement in his tone.
Clearly—
he did not believe Lin Sheng had achieved much progress.
Movement techniques were notoriously difficult.
Especially for beginners.
Most people required months just to reach Beginner Stage.
Yet Lin Sheng calmly stepped backward.
Then—
his body moved.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His footsteps became strangely light.
Like a cicada skimming across water.
His figure shifted rapidly within the pavilion.
Each movement precise.
Each step controlled perfectly.
No wasted motion.
No imbalance.
The technique flowed naturally.
A few breaths later—
Lin Sheng stopped.
Silence filled the pavilion.
Old Liang's half-closed eyes finally opened fully.
For the first time—
his expression changed slightly.
"…Proficient."
Lin Sheng bowed lightly.
"This junior was fortunate."
Old Liang stared at him for several moments.
Then suddenly chuckled softly.
"Hah…"
"Interesting."
Most geniuses were arrogant.
But this boy—
was calm.
Too calm.
Old Liang tapped his fingers lightly against the counter.
"You came for something else."
It was not a question.
Lin Sheng nodded honestly.
"Yes."
"This junior wishes to ask Elder Liang about martial arts."
A faint glimmer flashed through Old Liang's eyes.
Not greed.
Not annoyance.
But surprise.
Most youths in Lin Sheng's position would ask for powerful techniques.
Powerful methods.
Shortcuts.
Yet this boy asked for understanding first.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Old Liang slowly stood up.
"Follow me."
Behind the pavilion was a small inner courtyard.
Simple.
Quiet.
A stone table rested beneath a large tree.
Fallen leaves drifted slowly through the air.
Old Liang sat down casually.
Lin Sheng followed respectfully.
Old Liang glanced at him.
"What do you think martial arts is?"
Lin Sheng thought briefly.
Then answered honestly.
"Martial arts is practiced to become powerful."
Old Liang shook his head slowly.
"No."
"Martial arts…"
"…was created for killing."
His voice remained calm.
But the atmosphere changed instantly.
A faint pressure filled the courtyard.
"The Martial Dao exists so the weak can reason with the unreasonable."
"Immortal cultivation pursues longevity and transcendence."
"But martial arts…"
"…pursues combat."
"…Protection."
"…And killing."
Lin Sheng remained silent.
Old Liang continued.
"The Martial Dao is divided into four major realms."
"Acquired Realm Martial Artist."
"Innate Realm Martial Master."
"Xuan Gang Realm Martial Grandmaster."
"And Astral Gang Martial Venerable."
"These correspond roughly to the immortal cultivation realms of Fetal Breath, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Purple Palace."
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Stronger than expected.
From what he observed in the clan—
martial artists were often looked down upon.
But if they truly corresponded to immortal cultivation realms…
then martial arts were far from weak.
Still—
he could not help thinking:
Martial arts could not grant immortality.
Compared to immortal cultivators—
their lifespan remained shorter.
As if reading his thoughts—
Old Liang suddenly smiled faintly.
"You think martial arts are inferior?"
Lin Sheng paused slightly.
Old Liang chuckled.
"Though martial artists cannot compare in lifespan…"
"…their killing power often surpasses immortal cultivators of the same level."
Lin Sheng intentionally revealed slight surprise.
But inwardly—
he remained rational.
From years of quietly gathering information—
he knew immortal cultivators possessed tremendous advantages.
Talismans.
Artifacts.
Formations.
Flying swords.
Spirit beasts.
All kinds of mystical methods.
Martial artists relied primarily on themselves.
Still—
that did not mean martial arts were weak.
Old Liang leaned back slightly.
"Now…"
"…what is qi?"
Lin Sheng remained attentive.
Old Liang pointed toward his own chest.
"Qi is vitality."
"Energy."
"It exists throughout the human body."
"It flows through channels."
"Meridians."
"When qi circulates correctly…"
"…it nourishes flesh, muscles, organs, bones, and blood."
"It strengthens the body."
"It clears blockages."
"And once enough qi accumulates…"
"…one can begin opening the body's meridians."
His tone grew more serious.
"The human body possesses twelve primary meridians and eight extraordinary meridians."
"These connect the internal body to heaven and earth."
Lin Sheng's thoughts immediately accelerated.
A realization surfaced instantly.
Spiritual roots…
were not physical organs.
They were frequencies.
The human body itself was an energy field.
Heaven and earth were another energy field.
Spiritual roots allowed resonance between the two.
Like a bridge.
Like a tuning mechanism.
That explained everything.
Old Liang continued calmly.
"The Acquired Realm begins with three stages."
"Sensing Qi."
"Generating Qi."
"And Guiding Qi."
"Once enough internal qi accumulates…"
"…one can attempt to open the body's meridians."
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"But rashly forcing open meridians…"
"…can cripple or kill you."
Lin Sheng nodded immediately.
"This junior understands."
"I will not act recklessly."
Old Liang smiled faintly.
Good answer.
Most youths, after hearing this much, would immediately rush to experiment.
But caution?
That was rare.
Old Liang slowly stood.
"That's enough for today."
"The remaining realms…"
"…I'll explain tomorrow."
Lin Sheng immediately bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Elder Liang."
Old Liang waved his hand dismissively.
"Go."
Lin Sheng turned and left the courtyard quietly.
But inwardly—
his thoughts were rapidly moving.
If opening apertures carried low risk…
but opening meridians was dangerous—
then he needed more information first.
Detailed anatomical records.
Meridian maps.
Medical theory.
Without preparation—
he would never gamble recklessly.
As he walked back through the streets of the mortal city—
his eyes slowly narrowed.
Tomorrow—
he would visit the library section again.
This time for knowledge regarding meridians and the human body. Sometimes ignorance could kill faster than blades.