Perfection

"Junior Brother Jiang, you should practice the breathing method first. Once it reaches perfection, I will head to the Ghost Market to scout for information on the Aperture Breaking Pill."

After explaining the cultivation steps of the White Ape Breathing Method, Sun Wu spoke again.

Aperture Breaking Pill.

The name alone made it clear that this was a medicinal pill specifically designed to break through the seven apertures.

For a high-quality pill of this caliber, even in the Ghost Market, one had to rely on luck.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Sun!"

Jiang Chen expressed his gratitude solemnly.

The fact that he could reach the perfection of the Second Qi and Blood Gate in just over twenty days was due in no small part to the vital role played by medicinal pills.

Otherwise, even with the assistance of the Myriad Dao Chart, he would never have achieved such a speed of cultivation.

"Junior Brother Jiang's potential is even greater than I anticipated."

Watching Jiang Chen depart, the smile on Sun Wu's face widened.

He had originally assumed that even with high-grade Five Elements Pills, it would take Jiang Chen two to three months to reach the perfection of the Second Qi and Blood Gate.

After all, Jiang Chen's innate aptitude was truly subpar.

Who would have thought?

Jiang Chen had actually crossed the Second Qi and Blood Gate in just over twenty days.

Such terrifying cultivation speed was far superior to that of those with ordinary, mid-tier aptitude.

Even Jiang Xuan, who had long since been admitted to the inner courtyard, was far inferior to Jiang Chen.

"Once Junior Brother Jiang steps into the Three Qi and Blood Gates, I will introduce him to our master."

Sun Wu made his decision.

With his master's discerning eye, he would certainly not let such a pearl remain covered in dust.

After leaving the inner courtyard, Jiang Chen did not go to the training grounds but returned to the communal dormitory.

"This breathing method is somewhat similar to the Breath Regulation Technique."

Jiang Chen opened the scroll and carefully studied the details of the White Ape Breathing Method.

The more he observed, the more familiar it felt.

Although his previous life was in an age of declining dharma where spiritual energy was nearly exhausted, there were still faint traces of it in places where mountains and rivers held beauty and earth veins remained hidden.

The Breath Regulation Technique was the Foundation Establishment method for guiding spiritual energy into the body.

Unfortunately, he only possessed half a scroll of the Breath Regulation Technique in his past life.

That was also the reason he had risked his life to break into the ruins of Kunlun Mountain.

Now, this White Ape Breathing Method resembled the very technique he had painstakingly practiced in his previous life.

This was naturally a good thing for him.

As the saying goes, all paths share the same origin.

With the experience from his past life, his practice of the White Ape Breathing Method would yield twice the result with half the effort.

Coupled with the enlightenment bonus from the Myriad Dao Chart, he estimated it wouldn't take long to bring the White Ape Breathing Method to perfection.

[Myriad Dao Chart]
[Dao Master: Jiang Chen]
[Cultivation Method: White Ape Breathing Method · Not Yet Initiated 0%]
[Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Perfection]
[Martial Arts: Stone Moving Method · Perfection]
[Talent: Soul Seal · Tier 1 (7/10)]
[Origin: 0 points]

Soon, the Myriad Dao Chart bloomed with brilliant light, and the White Ape Breathing Method was successfully recorded.

Thump!

Immediately, a void figure emerged, sitting cross-legged in a posture with five hearts facing the sky.

Insights regarding the White Ape Breathing Method surged forth continuously.

"Although similar, they are fundamentally different."

After integrating the insights from the Dao Chart, Jiang Chen perceived the differences between the breathing method and the Breath Regulation Technique.

The Breath Regulation Technique used a specific rhythm of inhalation and exhalation to guide spiritual energy into the body.

In contrast, this White Ape Breathing Method utilized a special respiratory rhythm to create a resonance with his martial arts qi and blood.

Once this resonance was established, he would be able to locate the seven apertures within his body.

Without achieving resonance, even if one could perform internal observation, it would be impossible to sense the Seven Apertures.

After all, the human body is far too profound.

He could clearly sense things that floated on the surface, such as the secret medicines he had consumed.

However, for deep-seated points like the Seven Apertures, even if he knew their general range, he could not pinpoint their exact locations.

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

After about fifteen breaths, a line of ethereal experience drifted across the Myriad Dao Chart.

This speed...

Seeing this, Jiang Chen could not hide his joy.

When he awakened the spiritual wisdom of his past life, he had soared all the way up while practicing the White Ape Stance, taking less than ten breaths per increment.

In a mere three hours, he had cultivated the White Ape Stance to perfection.

Now, this White Ape Breathing Method actually yielded such astonishing insights as well?!

How could this not make him happy!

At this rate, he would be able to cultivate the White Ape Stance to perfection tonight, and tomorrow, he could consume the Aperture Breaking Pill.

The more outstanding the talent he displayed, the more the Martial Arts Hall would value him.

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

Amidst this desolate, seated meditation, time slipped away quietly.

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the progress of the White Ape Breathing Method climbed at an astonishing speed.

Dong!

After about an hour and a half, as the sky turned completely dark, a long, grand, and mysterious Dao sound echoed in his mind.

[Technique: White Ape Breathing Method · Entry 0%]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the White Ape Breathing Method had successfully reached the entry level.

Various insights regarding the breathing method were branded deep into his soul sea as if carved there.

Now, each inhalation and exhalation possessed a special sense of rhythm.

As expected, I can cultivate it to perfection tonight!

Seeing the progress of the White Ape Breathing Method, Jiang Chen was in high spirits.

The experience from his past life's Breath Regulation Technique, combined with the comprehension bonus of the Myriad Dao Chart, was enough to make his cultivation speed advance by leaps and bounds.

Now, under the internal observation of his mind, he could faintly perceive the locations of the Seven Apertures.

"Time to eat."

Jiang Chen rose from the bed and headed to the cafeteria.

At this hour, the cafeteria was already empty.

The resting Martial Arts Hall disciples were gathered in the training grounds, discussing the year-end Martial Exam.

Although several days had passed since the Upper Sect envoy entered the city, the fervor had not faded; if anything, it was trending toward becoming even more intense.

After finishing dinner, Jiang Chen did not get drawn into the heated discussion.

He left the training grounds, found a secluded corner, sat down quietly, and focused on practicing the White Ape Breathing Method.

Compared to the White Ape Fist, which drained physical stamina, the White Ape Breathing Method was much easier; one only needed to sit and breathe.

Of course, this "ease" was only relative to him.

If it were anyone else, the situation would be completely different.

After all, the White Ape Fist at least had clear moves and actions to imitate and learn.

But the White Ape Breathing Method?

It only marked the different breathing rhythms on the chart.

For this, those with slightly poorer comprehension might not even be able to touch the threshold, let alone cultivate it to perfection in a short time.

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, Experience +1]

As time passed, the White Ape Breathing Method climbed in an orderly fashion.

In a flash, it was late at night, around the Hour of the Rat.

Dong!

The familiar, ethereal Dao sound resonated through his soul sea once again.

[Technique: White Ape Breathing Method · Perfection]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the White Ape Breathing Method, which had only been recorded that evening, was now completely perfected.

If breathing was merely rhythmic when first starting out, it was now instinctively in sync with the rhythms of heaven and earth, with every inhalation and exhalation containing the rhyme of the Dao.

"So this is the Seven Apertures."

Jiang Chen remained sitting cross-legged, his mind turning inward to observe the Seven Apertures.

The so-called Seven Apertures refer to the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

This is also the reason why the cultivation of the Three Qi and Blood Gates is extremely dangerous.

During the process of breaking the apertures, any mistake could lead to disability at best, or death at worst.

"It really does contain a unique energy fluctuation!"

Under the dual sensing of the Myriad Dao Chart and the Soul Seal, Jiang Chen captured faint energy fluctuations from within the Seven Apertures.

Such fluctuations were even purer than the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in his past life; it was the purest energy, untainted by the acquired world.

Clearly, those energies were the Primordial Pure Qi.

As long as he successfully broke the apertures and integrated that Primordial Pure Qi into his martial Qi and blood, he would officially step into the Three Qi and Blood Gates!

"Continue!"

Jiang Chen did not stop. As he urged the breathing method, the pure martial Qi and blood within his body flowed along with the rhythm of his breath, surging toward the first aperture.

The order for breaking the Seven Apertures is mouth, nose, ears, and then eyes.

This is determined based on the level of danger.

Hoo...

In his introspective state, Jiang Chen could clearly see his martial Qi and blood continuously polishing the first aperture.

The speed was so slow that it would be no exaggeration to call it a crawl.

"At this rate, I'm afraid it will take a month to break through."

Jiang Chen calculated to himself.

It was too slow.

He had to rely on external help.

Tomorrow, he would ask Senior Brother Sun for help to inquire about high-quality Aperture Breaking Pill at the Ghost Market.

"The weather is dry, watch out for fire..."

Time slipped by until the second half of the night.

When the watchman's gong for the Hour of the Ox sounded, Jiang Chen finally ended his meditation, stood up to stretch his body, and headed to the communal sleeping quarters.