Yun Qingyao rode the Cloud Sparrow and delivered Lu Ren outside the courtyard residence, just as she was about to leave.
Lu Ren suddenly spoke up. "Master, I have now opened seven Spiritual Apertures, but there are still many things I do not understand. I hope Master can clear them up for me!"
Yun Qingyao fell silent for a moment, then walked alone into the main hall and sat down. She said seriously, "Disciple, do you truly still wish to continue cultivating?"
Although Lu Ren had opened seven Spiritual Apertures, it was already impossible for him to enter the Spirit Stream Realm. Even if he cultivated the lowest-grade cultivation technique, he would be unable to break through to the Spirit Stream Realm.
Lu Ren nodded. "Master, I definitely want to keep cultivating. Though I am still a Scrap Bloodline, I believe a Scrap Bloodline can still become strong!"
"Go pour me a cup of tea."
Yun Qingyao said.
"Yes!"
Lu Ren poured a cup of cold tea and handed it to Yun Qingyao.
"Kneel."
Yun Qingyao said.
Lu Ren did as she said and knelt.
"Disciple, to tell you the truth, when I took you as my disciple back then, I was merely completing a sect mission. I did not truly wish to accept you as my disciple. Today, I shall formally accept you as my disciple!"
Yun Qingyao said.
Warmth welled up in Lu Ren's heart. He offered up the tea and said solemnly, "Master, please have some tea!"
Yun Qingyao took the cup and symbolically sipped it. With a faint smile, she said, "Good. From today onward, you are Yun Qingyao's true disciple, and also my only disciple. Rise. What questions do you wish to ask me?"
At that moment, Lu Ren knew that Yun Qingyao had truly regarded him as her disciple.
Lu Ren stood and asked, "Master, can comprehension be improved?"
Yun Qingyao looked at Lu Ren strangely. "Disciple, you are already a Person of Divine Enlightenment in the martial path. Why ask such a question?"
"Hehe, I was merely curious!"
Lu Ren said with a smile.
"Of course comprehension can be improved. Martial arts, alchemy, and talisman crafting can all improve one's comprehension through unceasing hard cultivation. Practice makes perfect—that is the principle. But without bloodline talent, no amount of comprehension is of any use!"
"For example, you are a Scrap Bloodline. You can cultivate a Human Tier Low-grade Martial Skill in an extremely short time, yet it is impossible for you to cultivate a higher-grade martial skill!"
Yun Qingyao gently shook her head.
Just as I thought!
Lu Ren nodded inwardly.
"Do you have any other questions?"
Yun Qingyao asked.
"Since my bloodline is scrap and I cannot cultivate higher-grade martial skills, why was I able to cultivate the sword technique Master taught me?"
Lu Ren asked.
Yun Qingyao sank into thought, then shook her head. "I do not understand that either. Still, it is a good thing that you can cultivate my sword technique. Once I create the sixth sword, I will continue teaching it to you. With the Celestial Phenomenon Sword Skill, perhaps you will be able to gain a foothold in Qingyun Sect's outer sect!"
Lu Ren stood at the side, lost in thought, before a startled look appeared on his face.
Could Master also be an Ancient Martial Artist?
Coming back to himself, Lu Ren continued, "Master, what exactly must I do to break through my limit and open the eighth Spiritual Aperture?"
Yun Qingyao replied, "You must slowly sense the existence of your eighth Spiritual Aperture's location. Then, by consuming Hundred Aperture Grass and relying on its medicinal power, along with the spiritual energy stored within your seven Spiritual Apertures, you must slowly excavate it. It sounds easy, but it is extremely difficult in practice!"
"What about the ninth Spiritual Aperture?"
Lu Ren continued asking.
"Every Spiritual Aperture after that must be sensed by yourself. The difficulty will only grow greater and greater. Moreover, do not waste your time in the Aperture Opening Realm. Generally speaking, anyone who can open the eighth Spiritual Aperture at sixteen or seventeen years old and then enter the Spirit Stream Realm is already considered a genius!"
Yun Qingyao said blandly.
Many martial artists who could not enter the Spirit Stream Realm might spend thirty or forty years cultivating and perhaps open the ninth or tenth Spiritual Aperture, but it was meaningless.
"Master, how many Spiritual Apertures have you opened in total?"
Lu Ren asked curiously.
"Eleven!"
Yun Qingyao said, "All right, ponder it slowly on your own. Oh, and do not leave the sect for the time being. You killed Tang Hao, so Ghost Sword Gate may very well target you!"
"Yes!"
Lu Ren nodded.
"Disciple, in cultivation, do what your strength allows. Do not fear being mediocre. With Master here, you can remain mediocre forever."
After Yun Qingyao finished speaking, she secretly sighed in her heart and turned to leave.
Lu Ren's bloodline had not changed, and as his master, she felt somewhat disappointed as well. However, she could only accept that reality.
Lu Ren stood rooted to the spot and said, "I have the Nameless Treasure Pagoda. As long as I can find enough Hundred Aperture Grass, I can open eighteen Spiritual Apertures. Then I can cultivate the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and charge into the Spirit Stream Realm!"
After watching Yun Qingyao leave, Lu Ren came to the courtyard, sat cross-legged, and began sensing. He wanted to sense the location of his eighth Spiritual Aperture, but after sensing for a long while, he felt nothing.
"I have one million copper coins on me, along with quite a few Human Tier Mid-grade and high-grade martial skills, even a Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill, plus a spiritual herb. I can sell them all in exchange for some Low-grade Spirit Stones!"
Having made up his mind, Lu Ren headed toward the Contribution Hall.
The outer sect's Contribution Hall could trade in ordinary cultivation resources, though its prices were somewhat lower than those on the market.
That way, it could earn the difference, while sect disciples also valued the convenience and would sell their goods to the Contribution Hall.
The Contribution Hall in the outer sect area was immensely imposing, standing three or four zhang high!
Lu Ren arrived at the Contribution Hall. The main hall was quite deserted, but he did not head deeper inside. Instead, he went to one side of the hall.
There was a side hall there where resources could be bought and sold, though they were all ordinary resources.
To truly purchase rare resources, one still needed to exchange contribution points for them.
"Elder, how many Spirit Stones can these things of mine be exchanged for?"
Lu Ren took out every resource on him that he did not need.
"You want to sell a Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill?"
Hearing Lu Ren's words, the elder could not help but be greatly shocked.
Even in the outer sect, Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skills could only be borrowed for study using contribution points. Yet this disciple before him actually wanted to sell him a Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill.
"That's right. I want to sell it!"
Lu Ren nodded. He was a Scrap Bloodline. Let alone a Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill, he could barely cultivate even Human Tier Mid-grade Martial Skills.
Even if he spent vast amounts of time cultivating them bitterly, the gains would not make up for the losses. He might as well sell them and exchange them for Spirit Stones to cultivate with.
"Disciple, I advise you to think thrice before acting. A Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill is not particularly rare, but if you can cultivate it, it can still raise your strength!"
The elder tried to persuade him, then asked, "Could it be that you have already cultivated that martial skill?"
Lu Ren shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Elder, with my talent, I cannot cultivate a Yellow Tier Low-grade Martial Skill!"
The elder looked puzzled. Those who could become outer sect disciples were almost all Fourth-grade Bloodlines. Cultivating a Yellow Tier martial skill was no difficult matter for them.
"You are Lu Ren?"
The elder blurted out.
Lu Ren nodded.
"I heard that you obtained the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Legacy, yet you are still a Scrap Bloodline. Your future cultivation will likely be incomparably difficult. Trying to break through to the Spirit Stream Realm will be as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"
The elder could not help letting out a long sigh, then began helping Lu Ren calculate the value of his goods.
All the martial skills combined could be exchanged for twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones.
Afterward, Lu Ren spent one million copper coins to exchange for another five Low-grade Spirit Stones, making a total of twenty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones.
By now, Spirit Rice could no longer do much to replenish his spiritual energy. Spirit Stones were the best option.
"You are planning to sell this Hundred Aperture Grass too?"
The elder held up a spiritual herb shaped like a lantern and asked in surprise.
"This is also Hundred Aperture Grass?"
Lu Ren stared at the herb, utterly shocked.
Why did this Hundred Aperture Grass look different from the one Senior Sister Qin Yu had picked last time? What he lacked to break through his limit and open the eighth Spiritual Aperture was precisely Hundred Aperture Grass.
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