Seven Orifices

"With these three wisps of blood-qi, I can surely open up to the sixth aperture of the Martial Pass today."

Zhou Yun stood in the center of the Martial Arts Arena and exhaled a long, turbid breath.

His top priority was to improve his strength as quickly as possible so he could secure a post as a guard, providing him with a steady source of silver.

"The Black Ape Fist digests blood-qi too slowly; I should use the Black Ape Movement Technique directly."

Zhou Yun found a secluded spot, planted his feet firmly in a horse stance, and began to move his body like a prowling black ape.

Wherever he went, sand and stones flew and dust swirled, as if a black ape were traversing the jungle.

Streams of blood-qi coursed through the meridians in Zhou Yun's body, continuously clearing every tiny obstruction and activating his acupoints, eventually converging on a single gate.

The fifth aperture, opened!

Zhou Yun let out a long sigh of relief. He had only consumed one wisp of blood-qi, with two more still unused.

He set his stance again, simultaneously executing both the movement technique and the fist technique to accelerate the circulation of blood-qi within his body.

If it weren't for the fact that the Black Ape Movement Technique emphasized flexibility and using motion to control stillness, Zhou Yun wouldn't have considered skipping his basic stance training.

In a small corner of the Martial Arts Arena, a figure moved, drenched in sweat, entering a state of self-forgetful martial practice.

Time flew by, and soon it was an afternoon with the scorching sun hanging high.

When Zhou Yun snapped out of his immersion in the movement and fist techniques, the three wisps of blood-qi settled for the day were nearly exhausted, and his own cultivation had reached the sixth aperture of the Martial Pass.

He was just one step away from qualifying to knock on the door of Bright Force, placing one foot into the true martial path.

"I will do my best."

Zhou Yun did not force it; instead, he relaxed his mind, intending to consume the final wisp of blood-qi.

However, just as he threw a punch while utilizing the Black Ape Movement Technique, a flash of inspiration struck him. He completely integrated the movement and fist techniques, grasping the essence of these two Black Ape Martial Arts.

Zhou Yun became even more fluid; his two arms seemed to truly resemble those of a black ape—becoming incredibly long and lean, yet concealing the raw power of an ape.

"The Black Ape Movement Technique and Fist have reached the Minor Accomplishment stage!"

Zhou Yun was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that entering a flow state would allow him to master these two martial arts to the Minor Accomplishment level, and the blood-qi within his body suddenly became much denser.

He decided to strike while the iron was hot, executing the Minor Accomplishment-level Black Ape techniques. While familiarizing himself with these new insights, he also began to attempt the seventh aperture of the Martial Pass.

Using these martial arts this time, the blood-qi no longer felt congested in his body as it had before; it flowed much more smoothly, reaching every part of his body that required it.

Fists and footwork are never separate; Zhou Yun's understanding deepened, and his circulation became increasingly unobstructed.

At the very last moment before the blood-qi was exhausted, that surge of energy reached the Heaven Gate and then returned to his dantian.

The final aperture of the Martial Pass was, at last, opened.

Zhou Yun slowly opened his eyes. His gaze had become much sharper, and his overall spirit and demeanor had undergone a dramatic change.

He felt that the blood-qi in his dantian could move at his will, coursing wantonly through his body to increase the strength of his limbs or any other part of his physique.

With all seven apertures open, he now possessed the preliminary ability to circulate blood-qi, allowing him to significantly increase his physical strength and briefly enhance the durability of specific areas of his body.

In other words, he was using blood-qi to temper himself.

Of course, Zhou Yun knew better.

These methods of utilizing blood-qi were still at the level of a mundane martial artist.

"If I break through to Bright Force, the blood-qi in my body will completely transform into internal force. Only then will I truly be able to withstand clubs, blades, and spears."

Zhou Yun did not let pride or complacency take root.

However, opening seven apertures of the Martial Pass in just a few days was a remarkably prominent talent; no one would believe it if they heard it.

It was only because he had enough blood-qi to simultaneously execute the Black Ape Movement Technique and Fist that he had luckily entered a flow state.

Zhou Yun felt incredibly refreshed. What he thought would take several more days of struggle had been completely accomplished today.

"I will settle for two more days, and then I can prepare to break through to Bright Force!"

Zhou Yun was not in a hurry. The most important thing on the martial path was to build a solid foundation; otherwise, one would leave behind hidden injuries that were difficult to heal.

At best, it would lead to blood-qi congestion; at worst, it would disrupt the meridians, cause apertures to seal shut, and lead to a regression in cultivation—all of which were common occurrences.

Many martial artists outside who lacked proper masters were often eager for quick success, rushing to break through their cultivation levels, which resulted in lifelong, incurable hidden ailments.

"I should go home and take a look, and by the way, pay off the debt to the Whale Sea Gang."

Zhou Yun thought to himself that now that the seven apertures were complete, although he couldn't yet secure a post to earn a stable income, it was time to settle those debts.

"Finally, the seven apertures!"

In the inner courtyard, the Disciple Courtyard.

Lu Meng opened his eyes abruptly, his face filled with joy.

"After sprinting for over a month and consuming a Blood Coagulation Pill, I have finally touched the threshold of Bright Force!"

He looked proud and quite smug: "Even among those senior brothers and sisters in the inner courtyard with Fourth Form Bone, very few break through to the seven apertures within two months. It seems I am a natural-born genius!"

"And that Zhou Yun, so what if he grasped the Black Ape Movement Technique? Out here in the world, raw strength is the only hard truth!"

Lu Meng gritted his teeth; the scene of being humiliated by a First Form Bone talent seemed to surge back into his mind.

"If I face him again, even if he can use the Black Ape Movement Technique, as long as I drain his blood-qi, it will be enough to turn him into fish on my chopping block!"

Thinking of this, the frustration in Lu Meng's heart eased by half, though he still felt somewhat displeased.

"Why not take this opportunity to go and settle the score from that day?"

"No, today is the day of my meeting with Miss Shen; it is not wise to waste any time."

Lu Meng took the brocade garment from the nearby clothes rack, put it on, and adjusted it before the bronze mirror.

"That Zhou Yun is at least a man of his word; he actually delivered this garment to me yesterday... fine, I'll let him off the hook."

Having said that, Lu Meng lifted his chin slightly and headed out.

If he could establish a connection with Shen Qingxue, he would be able to walk sideways in Black Stone County.

She was not only the only daughter of the chief escort of the Sky Sea Escort Agency but also a natural Fourth Form Bone talent who had already touched the threshold of Dark Force; stepping into Transformation Force was merely a matter of time.

Furthermore, the Shen Family had the backing of more than one Transformation Force power.

There were three martial arts halls in total in Black Stone County; besides the most prestigious Black Stone Cultural Hall, there was another called the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall, which shared its name with the Sky Sea Escort Agency.

The master of that Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall was also surnamed Shen, likewise hailing from the Shen Family lineage of the Sky Sea Escort Agency.

A single family with two Transformation Force grandmasters holding down the fort could be considered the second-largest power in Black Stone County, second only to the Black Stone Martial Hall.

Powers like this usually had operations in the main city as well, though that was something far beyond the reach of the current Lu Meng.

Walking down the street, Lu Meng felt many junior and senior sisters casting glances his way, and the pride in his heart grew even more intense.

He walked all the way to the gate of Shen Qingxue's courtyard and deliberately cleared his throat before knocking.

"Miss Shen, are you in the courtyard?"

Before long, a cold, clear voice drifted from inside.

"Is that Senior Brother Lu Meng? The door isn't locked, come in."

Lu Meng pushed the door open and entered, seeing three men and one woman sitting in the courtyard. Wang Lan stood up and introduced him to the other two:

"This is the younger brother of the Sea Whale Gang leader whom I wished to introduce, Junior Brother Lu Meng. He grasped the Black Ape Movement Technique before even reaching Bright Force; his comprehension is quite good. He can take on some entry-level guard or concurrent positions, and you all are welcome to verify this for yourselves."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Chengshi stood up excitedly, rubbing his fists: "I heard Junior Brother Lu grasped the Black Ape Movement Technique before reaching Bright Force—what great comprehension! Why not have a spar with me?"

The words had barely landed.

A figure resembling a black ape, familiar yet too fast for him to track, instantly appeared before him, a fist the size of a sandbag striking toward his face.

Lu Meng:?