The Gate of Opening

Cao Jing clutched Guo Qingshui tightly, his breathing rapid, his heart filled with extreme anger and agitation. Ever since their repeated intimate encounters, Cao Jing had come to regard Guo Qingshui as his exclusive property.

Guo Qingshui's hips and waist swayed gently, her body like a water snake, provocatively teasing Cao Jing's vital spots with subtle movements. Cao Jing's breathing grew even more rapid and heavy, his hands instinctively reaching inside Guo Qingshui's clothes to caress her everywhere.

Guo Qingshui let out a charming laugh, "A man and a woman, alone in a room, a long night, dry wood and fierce fire, what else can they do? Of course, it's to seek pleasure and roll in bed..." As she spoke softly, she twisted her body and, in just a few moves, broke free from Cao Jing's embrace. With light steps, seemingly slow but actually swift, she vanished in the blink of an eye.

All that remained in the wind was Guo Qingshui's charming laughter and waves of her lingering fragrance.

Cao Jing's eyes seemed to spew fire, his face full of ferocity. He let out a roar and chased after her swiftly, growling, "You are my woman, even in death..."

Guo Qingshui sneered, "Say that again when you've mastered the Cao Gongyang Sword Scripture! Can you compare to a Dragon Seed?"

Cao Jing watched Guo Qingshui's graceful figure recede into the distance, roaring, "You wait for me!" He was completely unaware that he had lost his mind and was entirely under Guo Qingshui's control. Such a woman was far beyond what a mere Cao Jing could satisfy.

The Cao Gongyang Sword Scripture was divided into two volumes. The upper volume detailed sword techniques and martial arts, while the lower volume focused on the Mind Method for cultivating inner energy. Once both volumes were mastered, they could unleash sword energy, making them incredibly powerful. The martial arts techniques and Mind Method of the Cao Gongyang Sword Scripture were integrated, and although it was merely a lower-tier Essence Cultivation, the perfect synergy between the Mind Method and techniques allowed the sword techniques, powered by the scripture, to rival upper-tier Essence Cultivation. Cao Jing had only learned the upper volume; the lower volume's Mind Method was preserved in the ancestral shrine and could only be learned by a recognized hero of the Cao family.

Among the younger generation of the Cao family, Cao Jing had a good chance of learning the sword scripture's Mind Method. With another three to five years of experience, he would inevitably have the opportunity to study the lower volume. At this moment, provoked by Guo Qingshui's words, Cao Jing, as if possessed, couldn't wait another second and immediately felt the urge to return home, intending to retrieve the lower volume of the sword scripture from the ancestral shrine to practice.

In the northern part of the city, near the city walls, stood a secluded mansion. Compared to most residences in Yongan Prefecture, it appeared too small and unremarkable. Some things, though small and simple, are exceptionally eye-catching, but this mansion, with its dilapidated plaque bearing the words "Lin Manor," was both small and unremarkable, almost a forgotten existence in a corner.

Before the Lin Manor lay only a cold, mottled alley. The walls on either side of the alley were covered in moss, with even patches of lush green grass growing along the tops. This alley was formed between the backyard walls of two large mansions. It was a place almost no one visited, being extremely secluded. The Lin Manor was situated between the residences of a former Grand Minister of State and a military official, its back pressed tightly against the city wall, making it a tiny presence hidden behind two behemoths.

Ning Chang'an looked around and immediately felt the wonder of this place, sighing, "This is truly a wonderful place!"

Lin Ying stopped beside the two small stone lions at the entrance of the Lin Manor and turned to ask, "What's so wonderful about it?"

Ning Chang'an pointed to the courtyard walls on either side of the alley in front of the Lin Manor and chuckled, "Everyone says you can't touch a tiger's backside, but this Lin Manor, it's touched the backside of two tigers and is still unharmed. Can this place not be called wonderful? Could it be that there's a little tiger hidden inside the Lin Manor?" Ning Chang'an looked at Lin Ying with a half-smile, hoping to discern something from her clear and beautiful face. Someone who dares to touch a tiger's backside, what else could they be but a little tiger?! The geographical location of the Lin Manor was too conducive to wild speculation. One could imagine that those who occupied large tracts of land to build mansions in Yongan Prefecture must have wielded immense power during their tenure. Who would be willing to leave their backyard to others and allow such a thorn in their side?!

Lin Ying blinked her eyes, looking at the words "Lin Manor" on the plaque, and said faintly, "There is no little tiger in the Lin Manor, only a sword!"

Ning Chang'an was taken aback, surprised and curious, "A sword?" The information about the Lin Manor in the Master's Tower's archives was almost non-existent, with only four simple words: "Keep your distance."

Lin Ying didn't want to say more and waved her hand, "Let's go in. You're dressed like an assassin, standing between the backside of two tigers; be careful of misfortune!"

Ning Chang'an was stunned.

The vermilion lacquered gate of the Lin Manor creaked open. An old woman, bent over, opened it and peeked her head out from the gap. Her eyes first landed on Lin Ying, and a kind smile appeared on her wrinkled face, "Miss is back!" Then, the old woman's gaze swept past Lin Ying and settled on Ning Chang'an, her face filled with vigilance.

Being stared at by the old woman's eyes, Ning Chang'an felt uncomfortable all over, as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake. The skin on his face began to twitch involuntarily.

Lin Ying said calmly, "Granny Hua, this is a laborer I've hired to do odd jobs. Please don't stare at him. If you stare any longer, no one can stand it!"

With Lin Ying's words, the old woman slowly withdrew her gaze and nodded slightly.

Ning Chang'an and Lin Ying entered the Lin Manor together. The old woman closed the door and vanished in the blink of an eye. In that brief moment, Ning Chang'an couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He secretly marveled at the old woman's formidable presence; her gaze alone carried a malevolent aura that ordinary people could not withstand!

Lin Ying glanced back at Ning Chang'an and asked calmly, "Are you alright?!"

Ning Chang'an shook his head.

Lin Ying said, "My family doesn't really welcome strangers."

Ning Chang'an gave a wry smile, "I can feel it."

The Lin Manor was not large. Lin Ying led Ning Chang'an directly to the west wing to settle down. As they walked, Ning Chang'an didn't see a single servant, as if the entire Lin Manor was inhabited only by Granny Hua and Lin Ying. It was already late at night, not far from dawn. Lin Ying mysteriously asked Ning Chang'an to take off his night-traveling clothes, wanting to give him a makeover.

After giving instructions, Lin Ying went to fetch some necessary items, leaving Ning Chang'an's room. Ning Chang'an walked to the window and gently pushed it open. A cool night breeze rushed towards him. The night was quiet, but Ning Chang'an's ears twitched slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Boom, boom, boom!

Carried by the wind, faint, low sounds reached Ning Chang'an's ears. Ordinary people would barely notice them, but Ning Chang'an heard them clearly. Ning Chang'an looked into the distance and saw, in the dim night, ripples of air-like waves spreading outwards, causing the entire night sky to tremble like a calm lake into which stones were continuously being thrown.

"Who is practicing? Such powerful inner energy. I wonder if they are cultivating Qi Gong or Essence Cultivation. Their movements are shaking the void; their fists and feet already possess an aura. A Grandmaster-level figure!"

Ning Chang'an exclaimed in surprise.

Suddenly, the first light of dawn appeared, a streak of purple energy rising in the east as the sun was about to rise.

Ning Chang'an saw the ripples in the night sky suddenly subside. In a deep, imperceptible sense, it felt as if an unfathomably vast entity had begun to breathe. With each inhale and exhale, the faint purple energy of the east seemed to flow, transforming into a faint stream of light, which was actually being swallowed.

"Amazing, Consume Mist and Eat Qi?!"

Ning Chang'an's eyes widened. He saw streams of purple energy swirling over, casting a purple haze over the night sky, making it hazy and dreamlike.

Ning Chang'an took a deep breath and felt an immense comfort in his lungs. This purple energy was countless times more concentrated than usual. As the purple energy entered his body with a deep breath, Ning Chang'an immediately felt its wondrous effects. He felt a faint stream of warmth circulating throughout his body, and his joints began to subtly writhe. Ning Chang'an suddenly raised his hands and spread his palms, only to see the faint, illusory Lotus Patterns on his palms become exceptionally clear. The gray lotus petals shimmered with a faint silver luster, as if they were about to unfurl and bloom completely.

These gray lotus patterns had only three petals and were very dim. The three petals were tightly closed, very simple, not even resembling a flower bud. However, at this moment, the faint silver-gray luster flowing from his palms was drawing streams of purple energy, which were being absorbed into the three petals.

As the purple energy entered the petals, Ning Chang'an felt the warmth throughout his body intensify, and his entire body began to feel hot.

Ning Chang'an rejoiced, "Consume Mist and Eat Qi! So this Lotus Pattern has such a marvelous use. It seems my understanding of the Three Pure Nine Nether Marvelous Dharma Lotus Heart Sutra is still insufficient; I never discovered this. If someone else hadn't been practicing and drawing in the incredibly dense purple energy of the east today, I wouldn't have made this discovery. Heh heh, this is my destiny..."

Ning Chang'an's mind became clear, and he immediately understood the reason. He decided to take advantage of the situation to cultivate properly. This was the time when the eastern purple energy was most concentrated, and the distant practitioner's constant inhalation and exhalation made the purple energy in this area more than a hundred times denser than usual, thus triggering the change in the Lotus Pattern. Ning Chang'an immediately focused his mind, activated the Marvelous Dharma Heart Sutra, and extended his hands forward, pressing them into the void. As the Heart Sutra moved, the silver luster in his palms suddenly lit up, drawing streams of purple energy like myriad rivers flowing into the sea, pouring directly into the center of his palms and the Lotus Pattern, then being circulated throughout his body by the Heart Sutra.

Ning Chang'an first felt a stream of cool energy pour into his body, and a faint purple glow rose all over him, making Ning Chang'an appear as if he were standing in a hazy ball of light, profoundly mysterious. Immediately, a fiery dragon seemed to erupt from his body, moving restlessly within him. He felt as if his entire body were engulfed in flames, like a phoenix undergoing rebirth, causing his body to burn intensely. In the unseen realm, his strength was growing bit by bit, steadily increasing, no less than if he had absorbed the lifelong True Qi of a Qi Gong master.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

A rooster crowed, and a streak of rosy dawn appeared in the east as the sun climbed above the horizon.