Breaking New Ground in the Martial Dao, Nourishing the Organs and Opening the Orifices

In the Southeast Commandery, there is a riverside teahouse.

It was the height of the afternoon sun, and the riverside seats and the open tables downstairs were all packed.

The storyteller slammed his gavel on the table with a loud "thud," and the once noisy teahouse fell silent instantly. Even the tea drinkers who were eating melon seeds stopped and pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word.

The folding fan opened with a "whoosh," and the man's booming voice proclaimed, "Yesterday we were talking about how that Incense-Smelling Demoness actually entered the Water Palace right in front of several External Scenery, as if it were her own territory, and tore off Ao Qingxiao's dragon tendons—"

"Etc!"

Suddenly, a burly man called for a halt, standing up and saying with dissatisfaction, "No matter how strong that Incense-Smelling Demoness is, she's only at the peak of the Form Refinement Perfection. How could she tear off Ao Qingxiao's dragon tendons right under the noses of you External Scenery? Are you trying to fool us with some fake news?"

"That's right! I wanted to ask you that yesterday, why do you always run away at the crucial moment!"

One of the tea drinkers started swearing, and the whole room erupted in uproar again.

The storyteller, however, remained completely unperturbed, and instead smiled mysteriously, asking, "Have any of you seen the Dragon and Tiger Ranking?"

"Nonsense! Everyone who makes a living off this lake has seen it all."

"Exactly! That notice has been posted outside the teahouse for almost half a month now, do they think we're blind?"

The storyteller laughed heartily, "Then why do you all still have doubts? Isn't it clearly stated on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking?"

Everyone was stunned, and some turned to look at the latest Dragon and Tiger Ranking List posted to the side.

A corner of the teahouse.

Yu Tunzhou sat opposite the Dharma Master Jiese.

"Lairu," Dharma Master Jiese said solemnly. "That demoness must have mastered the Divine Ability of the Void Mother, and most Divine Ability it's at the peak of the Peak External Scenery level, with the remaining 20% at the Dharma Aspect level."

"The Void Mother?" Yu Tunzhou put down his teacup. "I've heard that the Incense-Smelling Cult has Twelve Mothers."

"Indeed, the Twelve Mothers Wuji, Incense-Smelling Cult has already received the inheritance of some of their deities," Dharma Master Jiese said solemnly. "Currently, the major sects have confirmed that the Azure Clouds Eternal Mother, Void Mother, and Golden Body Mother."

"Not long ago, the Divine Ability that demoness used was none other than the Azure Clouds Mountain-Subduing Seal of the Azure Clouds Eternal Mother!"

Azure Clouds Eternal Mother?

It must be Azure Clouds Primordial Sovereign, right?

Yu Tunzhou recalled that in the legends of his previous life, Azure Clouds Primordial Sovereign was also known as the Holy Mother of Mount Tai.

In many mythologies, her divine position is not considered high, but her origins are extraordinary.

According to legend, she was the daughter of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, who was the chief deity of Mount Tai. This was no ordinary position, and many gods were vying for it.

Some say Mount Tai was one of the duties of the Azure Emperor Taihao, while others claim Mount Tai was the grandson of the Heavenly Emperor.

Consequently, Azure Clouds Primordial Sovereign's status also rose accordingly.

"Who are the Golden Body Mother and the Void Mother?" Yu Tunzhou asked.

Upon hearing this, the Dharma Master Jiese moved his lips, but ultimately lowered his eyes, clasped his hands in prayer, and remained silent.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly wondered if this Golden Body Mother could be a Bodhisattva in Buddhist School.

If that's the case, it would explain why the Dharma Master Jiese was unable to speak for a while.

Upon realizing this, Yu Tunzhou immediately changed the subject, asking, "Master, what is the difference between Divine Ability at the Dharma Aspect level and those at the External Scenery Divine Ability?"

"The difference lies in the application of legal principles."

"External Scenery Divine Ability borrow the laws of heaven and earth for one's own use, just like using someone else's knife to kill."

"But those at the Dharma Aspect level understand the root of Dharma principles and can establish their own rules within their own small world. They forge their own swords and sharpen their own blades. The difference between the two is immeasurable."

The Dharma Master Jiese explained, "If that demoness truly possessed the Void Divine Ability of the Dharma Aspect level, then it wouldn't be surprising that she stripped the dragon's tendons in front of those people. If she had wanted to leave that day, even Ao Lie might not have been able to catch her."

He suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, "That's it! Among the inheritances of that Void Mother is a Divine Ability called [Mysterious Realm Concealment], which is at the Dharma Aspect level. It is a supreme technique that combines Movement Method and energy concealment, capable of concealing all energy and form, hiding in the Mysterious Void of Void, and avoiding all attacks!"

Yu Tunzhou seemed to be deep in thought. It sounded like this Divine Ability not only had amazing defensive effects, but also allowed him to conceal his movements, making him more flexible than his Taiji Domain.

During this period of time.

Yu Tunzhou and Dharma Master Jiese traveled down the river together. Along the way, the two had several brief but effective exchanges, both of which were beneficial to each other.

The path that the Dharma Master Jiese focused on, specializing in only one thing, broadened his horizons.

This is a path to perfecting ordinary martial arts into Divine Ability; one could say that a martial art is a "major Cultivation Method."

This reminded him of the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic (Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic), whose essence lies in the saying, "All methods are equal, without any distinction of high or low."

Therefore, he felt that there was nothing wrong with the path taken by the Dharma Master Jiese.

As the steam from the teacup gradually dissipated, Yu Tunzhou solemnly said, "Master, our parting is imminent. I would like to ask you to protect me one last time."

The Dharma Master Jiese, widened his eyes in shock and exclaimed, "Benefactor Yu, are you really going to try that? That method is far too risky!"

Yu Tunzhou said with a determined look, "The step-by-step Form Refinement is too slow. I want to try to explore a new path."

The Dharma Master Jiese, clasped his hands together and sighed, "Benefactor Yu's spirit and character are beyond my reach."

On the way to Southeast Commandery, Yu Tunzhou had several discussions with Dharma Master Jiese about the cultivation of the Form Refinement Realm.

The Form Refinement realm, externally refining muscles, bones, and skin, internally refining the five internal organs, and then opening the seven orifices—for a thousand years, all sects in the world have followed this path without ever changing it.

Those Shaolin Jiese, inheriting the Shaolin tradition, believe that the five internal organs correspond to the five elements, which are the foundation of the microcosm of the human body and the main source of Qi and Blood. For the physical body, Qi and Blood are the original root.

Therefore, the nourishment of each organ must be done in a way that is "full without overflowing, and substantial without stagnation."

Once the five internal organs have been nourished, the circulation of the five elements between them needs to be refined, so as to achieve the internal generation of Qi and Blood, the return of the five elements to their origin, and the continuous cycle of life.

It is at this stage that the Blood Qi Furnace is spontaneously generated, and the microcosm within the human body is initially formed.

Once the human body is formed into a microcosm, the separation between the inside and outside must be broken, and the key to this is to open the seven orifices.

Once the seven orifices are opened, it signifies the initial convergence of the inner and outer worlds, allowing one to enter the Divine Ability and Tongtian.

This is also the key reason why some genius martial artists, upon Form Refinement Perfection, can grasp the principles of the law and comprehend the mysteries of Divine Ability in advance through various methods.

The key to enlightenment lies not in Qi and Blood, but primarily in the Primordial Spirit.

First, one must use Primordial Spirit to locate and initially open the seven major acupoints, and then use one's Qi and Blood to cleanse them.

This is because the seven major orifices involve the eyes, nose, and mouth, which are different from the meridians. If Blood Qi and Inner Qi rush around and collide, it is very likely to cause permanent damage that is difficult to recover from. Therefore, it is necessary to use the subtle power of the primordial Primordial Spirit to open them up initially.

After listening to the explanation from the Dharma Master Jiese, Yu Tunzhou had a question.

Since the key to opening the orifices lies not in Qi and Blood, but in the Primordial Spirit, could we open the orifices first, and then nourish the five internal organs?

Or perhaps the warming and nourishing of the five internal organs and the opening of the orifices should be done simultaneously?

In the traditional system he encountered in his previous life, the seven orifices were also closely related to the five internal organs, complementing each other.

There is a saying that "the liver opens into the eyes, the kidneys open into the ears, the heart opens into the tongue, the lungs open into the nose, and the spleen opens into the [unclear]".

In response to his question, Dharma Master Jiese Se paused for a moment before finally saying, "This is how Martial Dao are established. For thousands of years, all schools have cultivated in this way. After all, compared to refining one's Qi and Blood, cultivating one's Nature Cultivation is much more difficult. Cultivating the Primordial Spirit is truly challenging."

"Many Form Refinement martial artists stagnate after Form Refinement Greater Accomplishment, because their Primordial Spirit cultivation lags far behind. Some are forced to attempt to break through using their Blood Qi. If nothing goes wrong, all is well; but if an accident occurs, their Martial Dao cultivation ends there."

The Yu Tunzhou is obvious, so the difficulty lies in the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit?

That path isn't the only option, but rather the only path most people have to take.

The constraint lies in the difficulty of cultivating the Primordial Spirit and the difficulty of entering the Nature Cultivation.

He continued to inquire, "In the past thousand years, have there been any martial artists with exceptional talent in cultivating the Primordial Spirit who have found a unique path in this realm?"

Dharma Master Jiese paused, then hesitated, saying, "I am not clear on this matter. Perhaps it exists, but this path cannot be replicated, hence it has not been spread. After Form Refinement Greater Accomplishment, I also spent a year refining it before my primordial Primordial Spirit was formed and I found the location of the seven orifices."

"How far can the mage's Primordial Spirit perception now reach?"

"Currently, it's a little over nine meters; before entering the [Pure Land], around ten meters will be the limit."

Yu Tunzhou with certainty.

In terms of cultivating Nature Cultivation, he has entered the "Pure Land" several times, which means he has one foot in this realm, but this is not his true reliance.

The true reliance lies in [Refining the True]!

When the Qi flows through the Great Spirit Courtyard and the Shendao Acupoint acupoint is opened, one is in the process of refining Spirit Transformation!

To this day, circulating Qi through the Great Spirit Courtyard has become an unconscious habit. Even if he doesn't consciously practice it, the Inner Qi will follow the route of the Great Spirit Courtyard, flowing day and night to nourish his Primordial Spirit.

Therefore, the range of his Primordial Spirit's perception had already reached a range of ten meters within the cave heaven, and could not be increased further. This was indeed the limit of Wisdom Born of Concentration.

In his view, there was probably no simpler or easier method of cultivating the Primordial Spirit than [Refining the True].

From this perspective, Martial Dao are not wrong, because most martial artists cannot have Primordial Spirit strong enough to open the seven orifices before they have nurtured their five internal organs.

"Master, I wish to begin opening the seven orifices while simultaneously nourishing the five internal organs."

That day, when Yu Tunzhou said those words, his eyes sparkled with a color that he has never forgotten since Jiese.

That wasn't recklessness, nor was it arrogance.

It's a kind of expectation that's hard to define.

It's like a child who sees a road no one has ever walked on and insists on stepping on it to see how far he can go.

But this is not a mountain path, but Martial Dao Tongtian!

Jiese thought that if nourishing the five internal organs could open the corresponding acupoints, it would greatly reduce the time required for the Form Refinement, thus providing a shortcut for martial artists with talent in Nature Cultivation cultivation in the future.

What Yu Tunzhou was thinking was----

If this path is passable, it's not a shortcut, but rather a way forward.

Because the talent for cultivating Nature Cultivation cannot be replicated, but [Refining the True] can!

At this very moment.

The Dharma Master Jiese clasped his hands together and solemnly asked, "Benefactor Yu, when shall we begin?"

"Now!"

Yu Tunzhou gets up.

After more than ten days of water transport along the river, coupled with the medicinal pills given by the Zhang Household, his liver is about to be fully nourished.

"By the way, Master, please wait a moment."

Yu Tunzhou suddenly remembered something, flicked his finger, and a heavy Yin Ding flew out, landing precisely on the storyteller's table, spinning three times before stopping.

Then, a whispered message reached the latter's ears.

The storyteller was taken aback at first. Which young master was so extravagant?

The next moment, a voice transmission entered his ears, and his eyes widened instantly, then his face lit up with wild joy. He slammed his gavel, his voice three times louder than before. "Gentlemen, I have another earth-shattering secret to tell you!"

"Do you all know the origin of that Young Hero Yu Tunzhou?"

Someone laughed loudly, "I know, I know! I was just a country bumpkin who mistakenly entered the Luofu Grotto-Heaven everyone considers forbidden territory!"

The storyteller chuckled, "Do you all remember that three and a half years ago, when Young Hero Yu first entered Luofu Grotto-Heaven, various families placed bets on how many days he could live?"

There was a moment of silence, then a roar of voices exclaimed, "Really? Is that even possible?"

"I've never heard of this before. Where did you get this information?"

"Tell us quickly, who placed the bets!"

"If that's true, wouldn't the house win everything?"

The storyteller fanned himself and slowly said, "Not so, not so. Back in the day, that Hero Lu from the Northern Dark Continent once wagered a fortune, betting that Young Hero Yu would not only survive and leave the cave, but would also become Immortal Seed!"

"Now, that betting voucher is in Young Hero Yu's hands! He's already on his way to Danyang Commandery to exchange it for chips at the Danyang Qian Household!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Tunzhou and the Dharma Master Jiese had already reached the entrance of the teahouse.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Jiese couldn't help but look curiously at the person beside him.

Yu Tunzhou chuckled and explained, "The Qian Household is a large and powerful family. I'm afraid that something like what happened not long ago might happen again, so I'm taking precautions and spreading the news now to prevent the Qian Household from resorting to any more underhanded tactics."

People in the martial arts world love to watch a good show and are particularly interested in shady, clandestine affairs.

The Dharma Master Jiese, "Benefactor Yu is indeed extremely meticulous, and the Danyang Qian Household does not have a very good reputation. This move is perfectly safe."

The two left the county town and found a secluded and deserted spot by the river outside the city.

The sun was setting in the west, and a river breeze was beginning to rise.

Yu Tunzhou sat cross-legged on the riverbank, leaning against an old willow tree, his shadow stretching extremely long in the setting sun.

He closed his eyes, his breathing long and even, like the gentle flow of a river, without the slightest ripple.

The Dharma Master Jiese stood three zhang away, his robes fluttering in the wind, but his gaze never left that figure, his heart surging like a river.

Throughout the journey, he had been pondering what the fish benefactor had said: were the five internal organs and the seven orifices sequential or simultaneous?

In fact, according to the principles of Martial Dao, these two should be one.

At this moment, Yu Tunzhou had no time to pay attention to the outside world.

His mind was completely absorbed in his body. Under the illumination of his Primordial Spirit, the flow of every wisp of Qi and Blood throughout his body was clearly reflected in his Primordial Spirit.

He did not rush to stimulate the flow of Qi and Blood to nourish the liver.

Instead, they search for the location of the "eye aperture".

Humans have seven orifices: eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, which are open to the world from birth. But these are merely the external gateways to the "orifices"; the true orifices themselves are hidden very deep.

Unlike acupoints like the Shendao Acupoint, which can only be "seen" within the body when the Primordial Spirit has been cultivated to a certain level.

Yu Tunzhou calmed his mind, and the power of his Primordial Spirit overflowed like spring water, seeping into the depths of his body bit by bit.

He originally thought that the eye orifice should be located near the eyes.

But when his Primordial Spirit looked into it, he realized that this was not the case.

Those seven acupoints seemed to have no fixed location.

Or rather, they exist in an "invisible" place—not in flesh and bones, not in meridians and acupoints, but in a place between the tangible and the intangible.

You can search for it with your Blood Qi, energy, and spirit, but you'll never find it in your entire life.

Only when illuminated by the Primordial Spirit do they slowly reveal themselves.

After confirming the location of an eye orifice, Yu Tunzhou activated the Qi and Blood in his Dantian, like the flowing water of a river in spring, slowly injecting it into his liver.

The liver has been properly nourished and warmed; it's reached its final stage, just one last step away!

The liver belongs to the element of wood.

Wood is said to be straight and curved, preferring to grow freely and disliking stagnation.

Therefore, at this moment, the Qi and Blood in the liver surge, but it is not irritable. Instead, it has the vitality of a new bud breaking through the soil in spring, gentle yet resilient, spreading out bit by bit.

In that instant, Yu Tunzhou felt a warm sensation rising in his liver, flowing throughout his body, and his Qi and Blood becoming stronger.

Liver, nourished to perfection!

Without stopping, Yu Tunzhou guided the already nourished liver Qi and Blood to his eyes.

Guided by the Primordial Spirit, this flow of Qi and Blood, like a stream flowing into a channel, naturally flows over and slowly moistens the barrier of the eye orifices.

Yu Tunzhou harnessed the power of its Primordial Spirit, carrying the Taiji, flowing force of Tai Chi, like an extremely fine and soft silk thread, probing into the acupoint of the left eye, gently flicking it with a "creak".

There seemed to be a very faint sound the Unseen.

Immediately afterwards, Qi and Blood rushed in.

Following the door opened by the power of the Primordial Spirit, it gradually permeates, soaks, and fills the space.

In that instant, Yu Tunzhou felt a sudden brightness in his left eye and instinctively opened it.

The feeling was indescribable; it was as if the colors, outlines, and shades of the world had all become clear.

He could no longer just see the river flowing eastward, but could see with his naked eye the Profound Qi and the flow of qi within the river channel.

The world became much clearer in his eyes, and also became...

Slowed down a bit?

He felt his body; as his eyes opened, his liver qi became increasingly vigorous, flowing throughout his entire body.

The previously invisible left eye orifice seems to have become fixed, connected to the liver. The two complement each other, strengthening the Inner Qi, and nourishing the eye orifice.

As he suspected, the five internal organs and the seven orifices are like two sides of the same coin; nourishing the organs is the same as opening the orifices, and opening the orifices is the same as nourishing the organs. The two should not be separated.

Yu Tunzhou remained calm, yet a faint sense of joy began to grow within him.

We did not take the wrong path.

Seeing Yu Tunzhou open his eyes, his expression thoughtful, showing no signs of failure, Jiese was slightly taken aback. He then clasped his hands together, his voice trembling, "Benefactor Yu, you—you succeeded?"

Yu Tunzhou stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his robes, and said with a smile, "Thank you for protecting me, Master. I have been fortunate enough to achieve a breakthrough and have opened the acupoint for my left eye. The acupoint for my right eye will be opened in the next few days."

Jiese whispered Buddhist chants, sincerely saying, "This time, this humble monk's descent from the mountain seems to have brought yet another unforgettable experience."

Yu Tunzhou cupped his hands and said, "Master, the mountains are high and the rivers are far, and the journey through the martial world is long. We shall part here. I only hope that we will meet again in the martial world someday, and that we can have a full-fledged sparring match!"

Jiese laughed loudly, "This humble monk also eagerly anticipates the day I will meet Benefactor Yu again!"

The sun is setting.

The river flows eastward leisurely.

Yu Tunzhou left the Coming Dragon River and headed north along the mountain road.

The river breeze, carrying the evening glow, lifted the hem of his clothes.

A sense of anticipation suddenly rose in his heart.

One day, when he reaches the point where he can openly reveal the methods of Refining the True essence without being suppressed or assassinated by the powerful Aristocratic Clan and sects of the world, the Martial Dao will be transformed as a result.