Perfection

"Junior Brother Jiang, focus on practicing the breathing method first. Once you've perfected it, I'll go to the Ghost Market and ask around about the Aperture Breaking Pill."

After explaining the steps for practicing the White Ape Breathing Method, Sun Wu spoke again.

The Aperture Breaking Pill.

Its name alone made it clear: this was a pill specifically meant to break through the Seven Apertures.

Even at the Ghost Market, a high-grade pill of this caliber was something you could only find by chance.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Sun!"

Jiang Chen thanked him sincerely.

He had reached perfection in the Second Qi and Blood Gate in just over twenty days, and pills had played a crucial role.

Otherwise, even with the Myriad Dao Chart's help, he could never have cultivated this quickly.

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

After watching Jiang Chen leave, Sun Wu's smile grew wider.

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

After all, Jiang Chen's bone aptitude was truly poor.

Who could have guessed?

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

This terrifying rate of cultivation far surpassed that of an ordinary person with Medium Bone Aptitude.

Even Jiang Xuan, who had long since entered the Inner Courtyard, was nowhere near as capable as Jiang Chen.

"Once Junior Brother Jiang reaches the Three Qi and Blood Gates, I'll introduce him to Master."

Sun Wu made up his mind.

With Master's discerning eye, he would never let a hidden gem go unnoticed.

After leaving the Inner Courtyard, Jiang Chen didn't go to the Practice Field. Instead, he returned to the communal sleeping quarters.

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

Jiang Chen unrolled the scroll and studied the details of the White Ape Breathing Method closely.

The more he examined it, the more familiar it seemed.

Although his previous life had been an era without cultivation, when spiritual energy had nearly dried up, there were still places where mountains and rivers held hidden vitality and Earth Veins concealed traces of spiritual energy.

The Breath Regulation Technique was a foundational method for guiding spiritual energy into the body.

Unfortunately, only half of the Breath Regulation Technique had survived from his previous life.

That was why he had risked entering the ruins on Kunlun Mountain.

This White Ape Breathing Method was remarkably similar to the Breath Regulation Technique he had painstakingly practiced in his previous life.

Naturally, that was good news for him.

As the saying went, all methods shared the same source.

With the experience from his previous life, practicing the White Ape Breathing Method would be twice as effective for him.

And with the Myriad Dao Chart enhancing his comprehension, he figured it wouldn't take long to perfect the White Ape Breathing Method.

[Myriad Dao Chart]

[Dao Master: Jiang Chen]

[Technique: White Ape Breathing Method · Not Started 0%]

[Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Perfection]

[Martial Arts: Stone Moving Method · Perfection]

[Talent: Soul Seal · First Tier (7/10)]

[Origin Source: 0 points]

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

Thump!

A phantom figure appeared, seated with its palms and soles facing upward.

Insights into the White Ape Breathing Method surged forth without end.

"Although they're similar, there are still fundamental differences."

After absorbing the insights from the chart, Jiang Chen noticed 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.

The White Ape Breathing Method, on the other hand, used a special breathing rhythm to create a resonance with the body's martial Blood Qi.

Once this resonance formed, it became possible to locate the Seven Apertures within the body.

Without that resonance, even someone capable of looking inward would be unable to sense the Seven Apertures.

After all, the human body was too mysterious.

He could clearly sense things near the surface, like secret medicines he had swallowed.

But when it came to the Seven Apertures and other acupoints hidden deep within the body, knowing their general range wasn't enough to pinpoint their exact locations.

[White Ape Breathing Method, experience +1]

After roughly fifteen breaths, a line of intangible experience drifted across the Myriad Dao Chart.

"This pace..."

Jiang Chen couldn't hide his delight.

After awakening the wisdom of his previous life, he had practiced the White Ape Stance at a frenzied pace, gaining insights every ten breaths or less.

In just three hours, he had perfected the White Ape Stance.

Now, the White Ape Breathing Method was giving him such astonishing insights too?!

How could he not be delighted?

At this rate, he could perfect the White Ape Stance tonight and take the Aperture Breaking Pill tomorrow.

And the more outstanding his talent appeared, the more the martial arts school would value him.

[White Ape Breathing Method, experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, experience +1]

[White Ape Breathing Method, experience +1]

As he sat motionless in this lonely practice, time slipped by.

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the White Ape Breathing Method's progress climbed at an astonishing rate.

Thump!

After about an hour and a half, when darkness had fully fallen, a deep, resonant, mysterious Dao voice sounded in his mind.

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

The White Ape Breathing Method had successfully reached the beginner stage on the Myriad Dao Chart.

All kinds of insights into the breathing method were branded deeply into his Soul Sea.

Now, each breath followed a special rhythm.

"Just as I thought. I can perfect it tonight!"

Seeing the White Ape Breathing Method's progress, Jiang Chen felt buoyant.

The experience he had gained from the Breath Regulation Technique in his previous life, combined with the Myriad Dao Chart's boost to his comprehension, was enough to send his cultivation forward a thousand miles a day.

As he looked inward, he could already faintly sense the Seven Apertures.

"Time to eat."

Jiang Chen got out of bed and headed to the dining hall.

By then, the dining hall was completely empty.

The martial arts students who were resting had gathered at the Practice Field, discussing the Martial Exam at the end of the year.

Although several days had passed since the Upper Sect Envoy entered the city, the excitement had yet to die down. If anything, it was growing more intense.

After dinner, Jiang Chen didn't join the lively discussion.

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

Unlike the White Ape Fist, which wore down the body, the White Ape Breathing Method was far easier: all he had to do was sit and breathe.

Of course, "easy" only applied to him.

For anyone else, the situation would have been entirely different.

After all, the White Ape Fist at least had clear movements that could be copied and learned.

But the White Ape Breathing Method?

The diagrams only marked out the changing breathing rhythms.

Someone with even slightly poor comprehension might not grasp the basics, let alone perfect it 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 steadily progressed.

Before long, it was deep into the night, around Zi Hour.

Thump!

The familiar, ethereal Dao voice rang through his Soul Sea once more.

[Technique: White Ape Breathing Method · Perfection]

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

If his breathing had merely been rhythmic when he first reached the beginner stage, now it instinctively harmonized with the rhythm of heaven and earth. Every breath carried the Dao's resonance.

"So these are the Seven Apertures."

Jiang Chen remained seated cross-legged, looking inward at the Seven Apertures.

The Seven Apertures referred to the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

This was why cultivating the Three Qi and Blood Gates was so dangerous.

If anything went wrong while opening an aperture, the result could range from crippling injury to death.

"They really do contain a special energy fluctuation!"

With the combined perception of the Myriad Dao Chart and his Soul Seal, Jiang Chen detected faint energy fluctuations within the Seven Apertures.

That energy was even purer than the spiritual energy of his previous life: a supreme, pure qi untouched by anything acquired.

Clearly, that energy was Primordial Pure Qi.

Once he successfully opened an aperture and merged that Primordial Pure Qi with his martial Blood Qi, he would officially enter the Three Qi and Blood Gates!

"Keep going!"

Jiang Chen didn't stop. He activated the breathing method, and the pure martial Blood Qi within his body flowed with its rhythm toward the First Aperture.

The Seven Apertures had to be opened in order: mouth, nose, ears, then eyes.

The order was determined by the level of danger.

Hoo...

As he looked inward, Jiang Chen could clearly see his martial Blood Qi continuously honing the First Aperture.

It moved so slowly that it might as well have been a tortoise crawling.

"At this rate, it'll probably take a month to open it."

Jiang Chen calculated silently.

Far too slow.

He needed outside help.

Tomorrow, he would ask Senior Brother Sun to look for high-grade Aperture Breaking Pills at the Ghost Market.

"The weather's dry. Take care with your lamps and candles..."

Time slipped by, and the latter half of the night arrived.

Only when the night watchman's call rang out at Chou Hour did Jiang Chen end his meditation. He stood and stretched a little before heading to the communal sleeping quarters to sleep.