After the human race was cursed by the demon race, countless sages and forebears drew on their experience and adapted their methods to local conditions, creating the cultivation system used today. The first three minor realms—Qi Refining, Acupoint Opening, and Foundation Establishment—might seem ordinary, but they had evolved from countless generations of wisdom.
First, Qi Refining. There was a particular reason a martial artist's first step was to open the Ren Meridian. The Ren Meridian was the sea of yin meridians, connecting the six major yin channels in the hands and feet. It originated in the womb, governed the connection between the five viscera, and circulated throughout the body.
Only after opening the Ren Meridian could one circulate power through the five phases and subtly store it in the viscera.
Next came Acupoint Opening. Once a cultivator had mastered Qi Refining and opened the Ren Meridian, true qi would reach the five sensory organs and the perineum. This refined the body's nine apertures externally and brought the five phases into harmony internally. Their relationships were closely intertwined, making this the most important stage before Foundation Establishment.
Without a harmonious balance of the five phases, one could not establish a foundation. One would be stuck at that point, with no further progress and no hope of attaining the immortal path.
The relationship between the five viscera—the internal five phases—and the nine apertures was extremely complicated. Generally speaking, the heart opened into the tongue, the liver into the eyes, the spleen into the mouth, the lungs into the nose, and the kidneys into the two lower apertures. In truth, however, there was also a belief that the kidneys opened into the ears.
In other words, certain apertures corresponded to certain organs, but the connection was not exclusive. Each sensory aperture was directly or indirectly linked to multiple organs. This corresponded to the mutual generation of the five phases, so one could not consider only a single connection.
Take the mouth aperture. It was the spleen's aperture, but opening it also affected the tongue, lips, teeth, throat, and other parts associated with the mouth. There were further distinctions within those connections: the tongue was closely tied to the heart, the kidneys governed the teeth, and the throat was the lungs' gateway.
So the mouth aperture was not just the spleen's aperture; it was also closely connected to the heart, kidneys, and lungs.
There was no strict order for opening the apertures. The first consideration was one's own fate and circumstances; the second was one's sect's traditions and teachings. For example, the Six Doors prioritized opening the eyes and nose. They had corresponding cultivation methods that granted hawk eyes and a hound's nose, making their agents exceptionally skilled at catching criminals and uncovering evidence. That was why they were known as the imperial court's hounds.
Then there were the notorious flower thieves of the martial world, who prioritized opening the front and rear lower apertures, which belonged to the domain of the kidneys. As for the exact reason... those who understood, understood, while those who didn't were just pretending to be clueless.
Xiang Yuan's first choice was the mouth aperture. Since it was connected to four of the viscera, opening it first brought many benefits. He could set aside its wonders for the internal five phases; just the description of what opening it would do had already left him drooling with anticipation.
As the saying went, illness entered through the mouth. Opening the mouth aperture would let him taste and identify poisons, protecting him from the poisonous creatures of the Southern Border. It would also spare him from accidentally eating mushrooms and wandering off into a daze. It could stimulate saliva and strengthen the spleen, benefit the kidneys and strengthen the teeth, clear the lungs and ease the throat, and calm the heart and dispel internal heat. It would strengthen his teeth, aid digestion, and ensure his body got the nutrients it needed—perfect for someone still growing.
Eating really was important!
The Formless Seal Method Xiang Yuan cultivated was already profound. Even without an Acupoint Opening Pill, he could have opened the mouth aperture smoothly. With a top-grade Acupoint Opening Pill, it was like adding wings to a tiger. After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, he was already seeing results. His mouth aperture had made some progress, stabilizing him in the Acupoint Opening realm.
Everything had gone smoothly, and he'd succeeded in one go without encountering the slightest bottleneck.
He still had to keep working at opening the mouth aperture. It brought many benefits, and opening it first would strengthen the five phases internally, laying a solid foundation for the other eight apertures. It was also the hardest to complete and took the longest.
With the Formless Seal Method, his ability to divide his focus three ways, and his senior uncle's guidance, Xiang Yuan reckoned he could perfect it within a month.
He'd already decided which aperture to open next: the eyes. Sharp eyes and keen ears were essential when traveling the martial world. If he'd opened his eye aperture earlier, he would surely have spotted the flaws in Xiao He's performance.
He couldn't stop thinking about it, and the more he thought, the angrier he got!
The night passed without incident. Xiang Yuan pressed his advantage, using his three primordial spirits in succession to build on his initial progress with the mouth aperture.
He figured that, by percentage, one night's work was equivalent to ten days for an ordinary person. He'd already filled a third of the progress bar.
As expected of a top-grade Acupoint Opening Pill. When it came time to open his eye aperture, he'd have to make another trip to White Cloud Manor.
Xiang Yuan had already benefited from their generosity, and he wanted to do it a few more times. Being the sensible one, he couldn't bring himself to say so, so he decided to let Doubi come over and mooch off the friendship next time—and the time after that.
Looked at that way, Doubi did have his uses!
Knock, knock, knock!
Half an hour later, Xiang Yuan was resting with his eyes closed when he heard a measured knock at the door. Guessing that it was Yue Huanjiang, he got up, opened the door, and welcomed him inside.
Yue Huanjiang had played a crucial part in helping him open his aperture so smoothly—and in making one night count for ten—so when Xiang Yuan saw him arrive to offer congratulations, he clasped his hands in respect.
"Brother, did you succeed?"
"It's all thanks to your help. I've made a little progress."
"Excellent. I've prepared a few gifts to celebrate your success. They're just small tokens of my regard; I hope you won't mind them." Yue Huanjiang smiled.
It was clear he was still trying to win him over. He hadn't given up so easily.
"Ah, well..."
Xiang Yuan felt deeply ashamed. He was staying and eating at Xiao Residence, yet mooching off the food and drink at White Cloud Manor. To put it nicely, it was like the saying, "The peach and plum trees speak not, yet a path forms beneath them." To put it less nicely, he'd lured Yue Huanjiang in with an aloof demeanor, then kept him hanging with heartfelt sincerity. The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming.
Absolutely not. A gentleman shouldn't take advantage of someone's good nature.
Xiang Yuan wasn't willing to do that, so he let Doubi take over. That primordial spirit had no shame and loved taking advantage of gentlemen—like Yue Huanjiang right now, and Wang Wenxu, who was already in his bowl.
"Brother, I've long understood your feelings. It's just... in the end, you came too late. Please, let's not speak of gifts. I'd feel undeserving, truly undeserving." Xiang Yuan waved his hands repeatedly, his voice full of regret and his heart full of shame. He admired and yearned for Yue Huanjiang, yet felt helpless and lonely in the face of ill fortune.
Doubi was too good at this.
Yue Huanjiang was deeply moved. He stepped forward and said, "Brother, why would you say that? Even if we can't sit together and talk freely, we can still travel by boat and drink beneath the moon's reflection on the river."
Doubi's feelings continued to surge within Xiang Yuan. He too looked deeply moved and grabbed Yue Huanjiang by the wrist. "Life is like a dream. Let me pour one out for the moon on the river."
"Let me pour one out for the moon on the river..."
Yue Huanjiang was dazed by the words, and a trace of melancholy crossed his face. "I never knew you had such talent, Brother. Where did that verse come from? Is there more to it?"
There was, but forcing it would only make it vanish to ashes. The allusion didn't fit.
Xiang Yuan shook his head. "The words just came to me in the moment. Once you pressed me for an explanation, I lost the mood and couldn't continue."
"That's my fault!"
Yue Huanjiang was rather regretful. He admired the ways of a gentleman and loved poetry and song. Seeing Xiang Yuan casually weave his name into a verse, then use it to express his feelings, had struck a chord deep within him. He felt all the more that he'd found a kindred spirit.
His heart itched with longing. He wished he could tie Xiang Yuan to his side and compose poetry with him every night.
Under the gaze of that handsome face, Xiang Yuan blinked innocently. "Brother, you're losing your composure again."
Yue Huanjiang blushed, then hurriedly said, "I've prepared a few gifts for you. They're all useful for Acupoint Opening, and every one comes from the heart. Don't refuse—just accept them."
"One shouldn't accept rewards without earning them. Your kindness is enough..."
Xiang Yuan prepared to refuse once more, figuring he could reluctantly accept on the third try. But halfway through his sentence, he heard a noisy commotion outside.
"My name is Xiao He, son of King Zhao and the Grand Secretariat of Guanshan Circuit! Who dares stop me?"
"Brother Yuan, where are you?"
Xiang Yuan's eyelid twitched, and he instinctively let go of Yue Huanjiang's wrist.
A flash of light glinted in Yue Huanjiang's eyes. He grabbed Xiang Yuan's wrist in return, his face showing a trace of displeasure as he looked coldly toward the doorway.
Footsteps drew closer, accompanied by the shopkeeper's pleading.
The door flew open with a bang, and Xiao He strode inside. Taking in the scene, he immediately sucked in a sharp breath. "What demoness is this? Let go of Brother Yuan at once! Whatever grievance you have, take it out on me!"
"Demoness..."
Yue Huanjiang was speechless. He and Xiao He belonged to two entirely different worlds; they'd never see eye to eye. At those words, he instinctively glanced at Xiang Yuan.
"Brother, is it him?"
Was this the man who'd outdone him?
Xiang Yuan sighed faintly. "I won't hide it from you, Brother. It's this scoundrel."
"Don't be afraid, Brother. Just tell me what happened. If you've been wronged, I'll see that justice is done..."
At the end of his sentence, Yue Huanjiang's voice grew more emphatic. "Even the Grand Secretariat of Guanshan Circuit holds no fear for my White Cloud Manor!"
Who was this flashy, all-in-white demon man? He was so effeminate, yet he had the nerve to talk so big!
Xiao He's expression changed. Only then did he realize the person opposite him was an extraordinary-looking man. His delicate features had led Xiao He to mistake him for a woman.
But that wasn't the point.
"Demon man, let go already!"
Xiao He stepped forward and grabbed Xiang Yuan's other wrist. "Brother Yuan, I heard you were gone all night. I was worried White Cloud Manor had detained you, so I came to rescue you. This place isn't safe. Who knows when they'll get involved in a rebellion? Come home with me."
Come on, let's go home.
As Xiao He spoke, his anger twisted his nose crooked. They'd been apart for just one night, and already the one destined for him had found someone else.
They were calling each other brother and younger brother, exchanging meaningful glances, even holding hands.
Unbelievable! He'd been there first, yet Xiang Yuan had never once called him Brother Xiao.
If he kept up the pretense and let Xiang Yuan fool around outside, who knew whether he'd run off with that demon man? Who knew how many more people would line up for him?!
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