Lu Ren had long devised his own training plan. His current physical condition was far inferior to the people of the Xuanhuang Continent.

As for talent, it was even worse—he had a Trash-Grade Bloodline.

To become stronger, he could only rely on relentless effort, first improving his physical condition before attempting to open his Spirit Aperture.

Dripping water wears through stone, metal and stone can be engraved, grinding an iron rod into a needle!

So what if his talent was poor?

He had unlimited time to train.

Next, Lu Ren began his training, dedicating twelve hours a day to it: a thousand push-ups, a thousand sit-ups, and running ten kilometers around his hut.

His three daily meals consisted solely of spirit rice!

The first few days were sheer torture for Lu Ren, and he could barely keep up, his entire body aching unbearably.

***

A month later, Lu Ren's body had fully adapted to this level of training.

By then, Lu Ren could clearly feel the changes in himself; his body was robust, and his muscles were well-defined.

Lu Ren then increased his workout intensity to two thousand push-ups, two thousand sit-ups, and running twenty kilometers around the hut.

And so, Lu Ren persisted for three full years!

***

After three years, Lu Ren had trained his body to the point where he appeared slim in clothes but muscular without them, and his strength had increased several times over.

After these three years of hard training, Lu Ren felt that his body was finally comparable to those of the entry-level disciples.

"With my talent, taking the Aperture-Opening Pill probably won't have any effect. I might as well try to open the aperture myself. No matter how poor my talent is, it shouldn't take more than sixty years to open an aperture!"

Lu Ren thought to himself.

In the days that followed, Lu Ren continued his high-intensity training, replenishing his energy with spirit rice every day.

He dedicated six hours a day to training, three hours to attempting to open an aperture, focusing all his strength on his lower abdomen, trying to open the aperture. He had read basic training books, and the first Spirit Aperture was located in the lower abdomen.

The remaining three hours were naturally for sleep and rest.

***

Day after day, year after year.

Fifty years passed in the blink of an eye!

Apart from his liver being somewhat overworked, Lu Ren's appearance hadn't changed at all, but he was growing impatient.

Fifty years!

A full fifty years of monotonous training, enough to drive an ordinary person insane.

However, during these fifty years, Lu Ren held onto a single obsession in his heart.

That was to open the aperture, to open it no matter what.

Without opening the aperture, he would remain an ordinary person in this world!

Since he had come to this world, he refused to be mediocre.

But he never expected that in fifty years, he still wouldn't be able to open the aperture.

This Trash-Grade Bloodline was truly terrifying!

Fortunately, this was within the Pagoda Space, where only a second had passed. If it had been outside, fifty years would have meant having one foot in the grave.

"Fifty years, even an iron rod should have been ground into a needle by now!"

Lu Ren shook his head, his face filled with bitterness.

Over the years, with the nourishment of spirit rice, he felt that his body had reached its limit and could not improve any further.

Yet he still couldn't open the aperture.

The spirit rice would last for another three years.

If he couldn't open the aperture in these three years, he would have to try using the Aperture-Opening Pill.

***

One year!

Two years!

Three years!

Lu Ren spent another three years in the Pagoda Space, but there was still no change in his lower abdomen.

"Fifty-five years of hard training, and I still haven't opened the aperture. Am I really that much of a failure?"

Lu Ren couldn't help but complain.

However, just as he was about to leave the Pagoda Space, a sudden burning sensation surged in his lower abdomen, as if it were on fire.

That scorching force drew all the energy and blood in his body towards his lower abdomen.

Suddenly!

Lu Ren felt a powerful force stirring violently in his lower abdomen, causing him unbearable pain.

And the pain grew more intense.

Lu Ren curled up on the ground in pain, rolling around continuously.

This process lasted for ten breaths, and suddenly there was a "crack" sound from his lower abdomen, as if an egg had been broken.

Soon, the pain vanished, and he felt a strange force gathering in his lower abdomen.

Lu Ren's face lit up with excitement, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice echoing throughout the Pagoda Space.

After fifty-five years, he had finally opened the aperture, activating the first Spirit Aperture in his lower abdomen.

At this moment, Lu Ren clearly felt some subtle changes in himself. He seemed to be able to channel the strange power within the Spirit Aperture to his limbs, greatly enhancing his strength.

With one punch, he could probably exert a force of a thousand pounds.

Now, with a single punch, he could definitely kill a bull.

This was what it meant to be a Martial Artist, possessing strength far beyond that of ordinary people!

"I have successfully opened the Spirit Aperture and officially become a Martial Artist!"

Lu Ren clenched his fists, feeling the power transmitted from the Spirit Aperture, his heart filled with excitement.

Fifty-five years, costing two hundred thousand copper coins, he had transformed from a frail individual into a Martial Artist who had opened the Spirit Aperture.

Moreover, in the outside world, only a second had passed during these fifty-five years.

Those disciples who entered with him, even those with Fourth or Fifth-Grade Bloodlines, still needed to use the Aperture-Opening Pill to open their apertures.

But he had already opened his!

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"Money, I need a lot of money. As long as I have enough money, no matter how poor my talent is, my training speed will far surpass any genius!"

With this in mind, Lu Ren planned to auction off the Aperture-Opening Pill he was to receive the next day.

He had already opened his aperture and no longer needed the pill.

Xiao Huohuo wanted to buy his Aperture-Opening Pill, and surely others would too, so it would definitely fetch a good price at auction.

Lu Ren emerged from the Pagoda Space, reviewed the "Disciple Rules," and went to bed early.

***

The next morning!

On a mountain peak, several elders gathered, their eyes fixed on a grand hall in the distance.

At the entrance of the hall hung a large plaque engraved with the words "Martial Hall."

Today, the new disciples would go to the Martial Hall to receive their Aperture-Opening Pills and participate in the aperture-opening ceremony. Naturally, these elders were very interested.

At that moment, Yun Qingyao, dressed in a white gown, flew over from a distance and landed not far from the elders, surprising them all.

A green-robed elder looked at Yun Qingyao and suddenly spoke, "Elder Yun, why are you here? I heard you accepted a disciple with a Trash-Grade Bloodline yesterday. Are you here to see if your disciple can open the aperture?"

"How could a Trash-Grade Bloodline possibly open an aperture? No matter how many Aperture-Opening Pills they take, it's impossible."

Another elder chimed in.

Yun Qingyao replied coldly, "What's wrong with a Trash-Grade Bloodline? In the path of cultivation, I firmly believe there are no trash bloodlines, only trash people!"

Yesterday, after thinking it over, she decided that someone who knew they couldn't cultivate but still wanted to become her disciple deserved a chance based on determination alone.

So, for the first time, she came to see Lu Ren open the aperture. Success or failure wasn't important; what mattered was Lu Ren's attitude towards cultivation.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan