Mists lingered and clouds piled upon the mountain ridges.
The higher they climbed towards the peak of Yuan Peak Mountain, the fewer companions remained.
Though Hong Yuan's pace could not match those of the renowned figures, he excelled in steady persistence, incredibly stable.
As stable as an old dog!
Gradually, Hong Yuan entered the D-rank aptitude region and, under the bewildered gazes of his fellow travelers, he proceeded into the C-rank aptitude region.
A C-rank aptitude Aperture, given sufficient resources, could allow one to break through to a second-tier Martial Artist within five years.
Even if Hong Yuan were to stop here, he could remain in the Phoenix Creek Sect as an outer sect officer without issue!
"How is this possible…" A sect-born disciple widened his eyes in disbelief as he watched Hong Yuan cross the Essence Qi barrier separating the C-rank and B-rank aptitude zones.
In his view, Hong Yuan carried no imposing aura, possessed an unremarkable appearance, and maintained a stern, unapproachable demeanor, never cracking a smile.
No matter how he looked at him, this sect-born disciple couldn't place Hong Yuan among any known geniuses; he couldn't discern even a trace of a genius's bearing in him.
It was not just him; other disciples also found Hong Yuan's steady progression surprising.
While they became increasingly weary the higher they climbed, Hong Yuan maintained a stable advance that truly unsettled them.
Could it be… that this slender fellow is a genius with a Class A Aperture?!
"Hmm, not bad. Another genius has emerged; our Sect shall prosper," Elder San nodded with satisfaction, his gaze lingering on Hong Yuan for a moment.
While the sect-born disciples had been somewhat disappointing in recent years, the externally recruited disciples remained outstanding, much to his delight.
After observing Hong Yuan for a while, Elder San continued to survey the overall situation.
Elder San was a powerful figure with real authority and could afford to overlook a genius disciple like Hong Yuan, but the elders of other sect institutions could not. They still relied on their disciples to act on their behalf and compete for benefits.
In that instant, elders from various sect divisions, such as the Enforcement Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, and Spirit Beast Hall, cast their gazes toward Hong Yuan. Among them was even the First Elder of the Enforcement Hall.
A disciple recognized by Elder San as a genius was undoubtedly someone capable of opening a Class A Aperture.
A Class A Aperture, with sufficient resources for cultivation and careful guidance, meant one could break through to a fourth-tier Martial Artist within ten years!
Most of these elders from the sect divisions were only fourth-tier Martial Artists themselves, with only a few being fifth-tier Martial Artists.
"What a stroke of luck! Yiru has successfully opened her Aperture! And look at the pure color of her Bronze True Essence—it's almost as good as her father's!" an elder from the Medicine Hall shouted, extremely excited.
Following his gaze, one could see a gentle, water-like girl on the white jade steps of Yuan Peak's water-attribute section, joyfully waving a pink ribbon.
"A Class A Aperture, truly remarkable," an elder from the Bounty Platform acknowledged.
While the other elders remained silent, their eyes still held a measure of satisfaction.
Compared to the service disciples who had been promoted to formal disciples, they felt more affinity towards second-generation sect disciples like Lin Yiru.
A LOW BUZZ~ Cheers reached Hong Yuan's ears. He looked up and saw a girl standing alone on a higher level, beaming with joy.
A Class A Aperture, huh? Hong Yuan's lips curled into a slight smile.
With just a bit of effort, I could easily reach where that girl stands.
Hong Yuan glanced back at the gasping "geniuses" forced to remain in the B-rank aptitude region—beings he wouldn't have dared to look at directly in the past. He shook his head, a light chuckle escaping him inwardly.
The me now is no longer the me I was before.
[Aptitude: 18]
[Cultivation Technique: Five Tiger Breaking Gate Sword (Lesser Accomplishment 72/4,000)]
Empowered by his Innate Ability and through sheer hard work, his aptitude and physical condition had comprehensively surpassed those so-called geniuses of the past.
Hong Yuan strode forward, easily overtaking others as he headed towards the Class A Aperture region.
Just as Hong Yuan was about to enter the Class A Aperture region, several formal disciples already very close to it were astonished, Liu Xiang'er especially so.
Hong Yuan? Hong Yuan! How could it be him!?
During practice of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Sword Cultivation Technique, he was always the first to complain of hardship and fatigue, and the first to leave, showing no outstanding qualities whatsoever. His Martial Arts aptitude couldn't possibly be this good! Absolutely impossible!
Liu Xiang'er blinked furiously, fearing she was hallucinating.
She was one of only three service disciples directly promoted to practicing disciple! How could she be inferior to a lazy fellow who couldn't endure hardship and had poor physical constitution?
Yet the fact was before her, leaving her no choice but to believe. Hong Yuan had truly ascended to a height she had yet to reach.
The True Essence here is so much more active… Hong Yuan extended his hand, passing it through a mist of condensed Essence Qi, inwardly astounded.
What lavish spenders, this Phoenix Creek Sect! Truly worthy of being the hegemon of Yong State. Other powers skimp and save, arranging mere streams of Essence Qi for their Aperture Opening Ceremonies, but you cover an entire mountain. Tsk tsk tsk… I like this kind of extravagance.
"Huh?" Lin Yiru looked at Hong Yuan curiously, surprised that this slender, small fellow could actually make it to this area.
Hearing the soft exclamation, Hong Yuan immediately withdrew his hand and moved forward, his expression impassive.
Soon, he had passed Lin Yiru and continued climbing the peak.
Before long, Hong Yuan saw the summit.
Just as he was about to step forward, he felt a piercing pain, as if pricked by a needle.
If I reach the top, there will be great danger!!!
Hong Yuan immediately stopped, alarmed and uncertain.
I can't reach the summit? Why?
Reaching the summit signifies absolute completion, meaning the Aperture is entirely filled with True Essence. Could it be that a perfectly complete Aperture is taboo in this world?
After a moment of contemplation, Hong Yuan abandoned the pursuit of grand completion.
He stood right there and began to open his body's Aperture.
"He can't move forward anymore?!" Elder San watched Hong Yuan stop just before the summit, feeling a profound sense of regret.
Apart from Elder San, the other elders from the Sect's institutions had fallen silent upon seeing Hong Yuan on the verge of reaching the summit, not daring to make a sound. When they saw Hong Yuan halt a few stone steps from the top, they all let out a collective sigh of relief.
Some realms are not meant for mortals to touch.
By choosing to open his body's Aperture at this spot, whether intentionally or not, Hong Yuan had earned a higher estimation of his decision-making abilities from the elders.
Ten, nine… three, two, one, Hong Yuan counted down inwardly, a sense of anticipation building.
BOOM!
Hong Yuan felt as if an explosion had occurred in his abdomen, between his kidneys.
An extra Aperture!
The concentrated True Essence floating around him rushed towards the new Aperture, rapidly filling it.
With his eyes tightly shut, Hong Yuan silently tracked the True Essence filling the space: Thirty-three percent, forty-six percent, fifty-eight percent, seventy-three percent, ninety-five percent.
In the end, the Sea of True Essence filled only ninety-five percent of the Aperture.
Class A Aperture.
Hong Yuan had successfully opened a Class A Aperture, and a water-attribute one at that. His Bronze True Essence naturally possessed thirty percent more water-attribute power. Once he employed water-attribute Cultivation Techniques, the power of his moves would automatically be enhanced by thirty percent.
With his water-attribute Class A Aperture, as long as Hong Yuan could acquire sufficient resources and guidance from a master, he could break through to become a fourth-tier Martial Artist within ten years!
Hong Yuan slowly opened his eyes and extended his right hand. A stream of pure, mist-laden Bronze True Essence emerged from his palm.
The path of the Martial Artist, thus begins!