Ten Apertures Opened in One Night

Ten Apertures Opened in One Night

Behind Sunrise Peak lay a dense forest. Ye Yun passed through a familiar path and arrived at a broad, level cliff that jutted outward, roughly the size of a plaza.

Although the sect had dedicated places for practicing martial arts, Ye Yun usually preferred to cultivate here. The environment was pleasant, and he could immerse himself more fully in his training.

By then, night had fallen. Pale moonlight spilled across the earth, making the entire cliffside seem exceptionally tranquil.

Ye Yun sat cross-legged atop a large boulder and took out the booklet containing Layered Waves Fist from his robes, reading it carefully by moonlight.

Layered Waves Fist was a martial art capable of cultivating all one hundred and eight apertures throughout the body. It contained twelve forms in total, and the most important aspect of practicing it was the word "layered." Each strike of force followed the next, each layer stronger than the last, unceasing like waves crashing ashore. When facing an enemy, one punch followed another, giving the opponent no chance to catch their breath. If both sides were evenly matched and the opponent could not break free of the entangling fist force in time, then defeat was inevitable.

However, before practicing Layered Waves Fist, he first had to disperse the internal energy cultivated through Fierce Tiger Fist. Fierce Tiger Fist emphasized unmatched ferocity, its energy imposing and overwhelming, while Layered Waves Fist emphasized a needle hidden within cotton, continuous and unending. One kind of internal energy was fierce and hard, the other soft and yielding; they conflicted with one another. Cultivating both at once risked qi deviation.

Ye Yun sat cross-legged and adjusted his breathing before circulating the internal energy of Fierce Tiger Fist through the apertures he had already opened. After it completed two or three Lesser Celestial Circuits, a low shout burst from his mouth. He then controlled the internal energy within his body and dispersed it into his flesh and blood. As it seeped away, waves of tearing pain spread through every inch of his body.

More than ten minutes later, the process of dispersing his energy was nearing its end. When the last trace of internal energy vanished, Ye Yun's aura weakened by more than half. His cultivation, originally at the Body Tempering Intermediate Stage, fell to the Body Tempering Initial Stage, and twenty of his thirty-seven opened apertures closed once more.

After resting for half an hour, Ye Yun had mostly recovered. He rose easily from the ground, took a deep breath, and adjusted his body to its best condition.

The forms of Layered Waves Fist and its accompanying breathing method flowed through his mind. Ye Yun moved as his thoughts commanded, stepped forward, and threw a punch with his left hand.

First Form: Water Drop Pierces Stone

Second Form: Push the Boat with the Current

Third Form: Endless Torrent

...Twelfth Form: Sea Embracing All Rivers

Ye Yun stood with his eyes closed, carefully savoring the feeling from moments before. Unlike the awkward sensation he had felt when practicing Fierce Tiger Fist in the past, practicing Layered Waves Fist now felt as though divine aid had descended upon him. Naturally and effortlessly, he completed an entire set of punches.

He continued throwing punches, gradually becoming more skilled as his speed increased. Ye Yun adjusted his breathing, practicing the fist art while using the breathing method.

One breath, then two. Ye Yun slowly felt himself enter a wondrous rhythm. With every breath, all one hundred and eight apertures throughout his body trembled faintly, producing a numb, itchy sensation that felt extremely comfortable.

At the beginning of the martial path, one continuously opened apertures. With every aperture opened, the body's strength increased without end. Once all one hundred and eight apertures were opened, one would possess the tremendous strength of ten thousand jin.

In less than half an hour, Ye Yun felt the first strand of Layered Waves Fist internal energy emerge within his body. Back then, it had taken him a full three days to cultivate the first strand of Fierce Tiger Fist internal energy. This showed just how terrifying the eleven-point compatibility of Layered Waves Fist was.

With the birth of the first strand of internal energy, the second and third soon appeared. The speed grew faster and faster. In the blink of an eye, countless strands of internal energy gathered in his meridians into a chopstick-thick stream. Then, following the movements of Ye Yun's fist art, it circulated through his body. Upon reaching its limit, it launched an assault on a tightly closed aperture. Once, twice, three times—the impurities blocking the aperture gradually cracked open. Before long, a soft pop sounded, and the aperture was opened with such ease.

Half an hour later, Ye Yun lay weakly atop the boulder, recovering his strength. Yet the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, because he knew he had made the right gamble. After cultivating for only a little over half an hour, he had not only cultivated Layered Waves Fist internal energy, but had also opened two apertures in succession.

Normally, opening a single aperture required at least ten days, and it only became harder the further one progressed. Although the apertures he had just opened had once been opened before, that did not diminish the power of this martial art's eleven-point compatibility.

Recalling the scene of that day's match, when he had been defeated by Iron Mountain within only a few moves, Ye Yun unconsciously clenched his fists.

"Even with such powerful ability, I cannot slack off. I will defeat Iron Mountain with my own hands. I will enter the inner sect as soon as possible." Ye Yun silently made this wish in his heart. Just thinking of it made him feel filled with strength.

With a carp flipping upright, Ye Yun sprang up from the ground and began practicing Layered Waves Fist again.

The sun rose and the moon set. Just as the sun climbed over the horizon and sunlight lit up the sky, an astonishing long howl rang out from the forest behind Sunrise Peak.

It frightened the birds in the forest into fleeing in panic.

At the cliffside, Ye Yun quietly watched the sun rise at the edge of the sky. Beads of sweat ran from his hair down his neck, and his clothes were soaked through.

He slowly exhaled, joy shining from between his brows. After cultivating through the entire night, he had not only brought Layered Waves Fist to the beginner level, but had also opened ten apertures in one go. Even now, he felt as though he had yet to wake from a dream.

Feeling the surging internal energy flowing through his body and the power he could sense with a light clench of his fist, Ye Yun could not help but be shocked by Layered Waves Fist's terrifying cultivation efficiency, even though he was not yet stronger than before he had rebuilt his cultivation.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

His stomach growled. Ye Yun smiled helplessly, packed up his things, and headed toward the sect.

At the Body Tempering level, the energy needed for cultivation had to be obtained from food. Therefore, as more and more apertures were opened, one's appetite would grow larger and larger. Of course, if circumstances allowed, heavenly treasures, earthly treasures, or medicinal pills could be used in their place.

After Ye Yun returned to the sect and ate breakfast, he went back to his room. He collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep in less than a minute, without even the strength to wash up.

(End of Chapter)