At this moment, many new disciples were arriving one after another at the Martial Hall, their faces filled with excitement.

Lu Ren followed a group of disciples to the outside of the Martial Hall.

Elder Zhu Tie was already standing at the entrance of the hall, looking at the neatly arranged disciples, and said, "Starting today, every month you will receive an Aperture-Opening Pill from the Martial Hall for a year, until you successfully open your spirit aperture.

After receiving the Aperture-Opening Pill, you will take it here to initiate the aperture-opening ceremony. Those who succeed today can borrow a High-Grade Mortal Rank martial technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion and practice it for six months."

Upon hearing this, many of the new disciples' eyes burned with eagerness.

Martial techniques are ranked from low to high as Mortal Rank, Yellow Rank, Profound Rank, Earth Rank, and Heaven Rank, each divided into lower, middle, and high grades.

Most of them were from family backgrounds and rarely had access to High-Grade Mortal Rank martial techniques.

As long as they succeeded in opening their apertures today, they could borrow a High-Grade Mortal Rank martial technique. Once mastered, their combat power would naturally soar.

"Today, no matter what, I must succeed in opening my aperture!"

"I have a Fifth-Grade Bloodline, I will definitely succeed!"

***

Many new disciples were eager to try.

Elder Zhu Tie immediately brought out a large wooden box from the Martial Hall. Even before it was opened, the fragrant scent of medicine wafted from the box.

As Elder Zhu Tie opened the box, inside lay pearl-like pills emitting a rich aroma. They were indeed the Aperture-Opening Pills.

"As the saying goes, 'A demon without an opened aperture cannot transform, a human without an opened aperture cannot cultivate.' Only by opening your spirit aperture can you qualify for cultivation!

Now, line up to receive an Aperture-Opening Pill, sit cross-legged in the square, and use the pill to gain insight into yourself!"

As Zhu Tie's voice fell, all the new disciples lined up to receive their Aperture-Opening Pills and then sat cross-legged in the square, ready to open their apertures.

Lu Ren received an Aperture-Opening Pill and followed the crowd to the square.

From a distance, Yun Qingyao saw Lu Ren receive the pill, a slight smile on her lips, with a hint of expectation in her heart.

If even a Trash-Grade Bloodline could successfully open an aperture, it would shock the entire Jiangyun Kingdom.

However, just as this thought crossed her mind, a loud voice came from afar.

"Fellow disciples, I'm putting my Aperture-Opening Pill up for auction. Starting bid is ten thousand copper coins, with each increase no less than ten thousand!"

Lu Ren's voice fell.

For a moment, the entire place was stunned.

The new disciples were stunned!

Elder Zhu Tie was stunned!

And Yun Qingyao was even more stunned!

This guy was actually auctioning off the Aperture-Opening Pill he just received? And starting at ten thousand copper coins?

"Truly mud that can't be sculpted, a Trash-Grade Bloodline is one thing, but to not strive for progress and auction off the Aperture-Opening Pill!"

Yun Qingyao was really angry and turned to leave.

The last bit of good impression she had of Lu Ren vanished completely.

This useless disciple might as well not exist!

The elders watching in the shadows were equally dumbfounded.

On the first day of entering the sect, in broad daylight, auctioning off the Aperture-Opening Pill received—this had never happened before.

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If you were a Sixth-Grade Bloodline genius, it would be understandable. Even without the Aperture-Opening Pill, you could open your aperture in a short time.

But you are a waste, not even a First-Grade Bloodline, a legendary Trash-Grade Bloodline.

Elder Zhu Tie stood at the Martial Hall entrance, seeing Lu Ren holding up the Aperture-Opening Pill for auction, and angrily said, "Lu Ren, you, a Trash-Grade Bloodline, openly auctioning your Aperture-Opening Pill, not striving for progress, is this not disrespectful to the sect, to your master?"

Lu Ren shook his head repeatedly, explaining, "Disciple dares not, disciple has no disrespect for the sect and master!"

Elder Zhu Tie angrily said, "No disrespect? What does the 'Disciple Rules' say? Once you become a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, you must strive to cultivate. No matter how weak your talent, as long as you are willing to work hard, you can become a powerful martial artist. Even though you are a Trash-Grade Bloodline, with slim chances of opening your aperture, you cannot give up!"

Lu Ren said, "Elder Zhu Tie, you misunderstand, it's because the disciple has already opened his aperture!"

Immediately, Elder Zhu Tie was even more furious, trembling all over, "Nonsense, you, a Trash-Grade Bloodline, haven't even taken the Aperture-Opening Pill, how could you open your aperture? Your master Yun Qingyao, a Seventh-Grade Bloodline prodigy, even without taking the Aperture-Opening Pill, took a month to succeed in opening her aperture, and you claim you've already opened yours?"

At this moment, not only Elder Zhu Tie, but other disciples also thought Lu Ren was crazy, saying such nonsense.

Lu Ren smiled, "Elder Zhu Tie, the disciple truly opened his aperture, if you don't believe it, you can test it!"

Elder Zhu Tie saw Lu Ren's confident face and walked up to him, placing his palm on Lu Ren's abdomen, and immediately felt a faint wave of power emanating.

"Spiritual Qi gathering, you really opened your spirit aperture?"

Elder Zhu Tie was shocked, his cloudy eyes staring intently at Lu Ren's face.

This was too unbelievable.

A Trash-Grade Bloodline actually opened his aperture!

"What? Lu Ren opened his aperture?"

"Impossible, how can a Trash-Grade Bloodline open an aperture?"

All the disciples were incredulous, finding it hard to accept this fact.

They were still waiting to take the Aperture-Opening Pill to open their apertures, and this Trash-Grade Bloodline had already done it.

Elder Zhu Tie once wondered if Lu Ren had opened his aperture before entering the Azure Cloud Sect.

But he quickly dismissed the thought, as the testing stone tablet could detect both bloodline talent and whether an aperture had been opened.

In other words, Lu Ren had opened his aperture after entering the sect.

"Lu Ren, how did you do it?" Elder Zhu Tie asked.

Lu Ren had already prepared an explanation, "Last night I had a dream, where an old man with an immortal aura told me I had the potential of a great emperor. When I woke up, I found my abdomen burning, and I had opened my aperture!"

"Guided by an immortal?" Elder Zhu Tie was shocked.

"Guided by an immortal?" Lu Ren murmured.

Elder Zhu Tie's face remained shocked, "This must be the legendary 'Guided by an Immortal.' Though rare, it has happened before. Our sect once had a disciple with weak talent who suddenly opened his aperture. Although his talent was average, he still opened seven spirit apertures and cultivated to the Spirit Stream Realm!"

Then, Elder Zhu Tie said sternly, "Lu Ren, this is your fortune, a blessing from the heavens, an immortal's gift to make you a true martial artist. You must work hard to cultivate and strive to surpass that disciple's achievements!"

If a Trash-Grade Bloodline could cultivate to the Spirit Stream Realm, it would be a miracle.

"I will heed the elder's teachings!" Lu Ren cupped his hands and then asked, "Elder, now that I have successfully opened my aperture, what about this Aperture-Opening Pill..."

"Sell it to whoever you want!" Elder Zhu Tie turned away, no longer interfering in Lu Ren's affairs.

Lu Ren smiled and then turned his gaze to the disciples, loudly saying, "Who wants this Aperture-Opening Pill? Highest bidder wins!"

All the disciples were taken aback, quickly coming to their senses and eagerly starting to bid.

Many of them were from prominent families in Jiangyun Kingdom and were not short on money. As long as they could get the Aperture-Opening Pill and open their apertures first, becoming martial artists, their status in the family would also rise.

Moreover, succeeding in opening their apertures today would allow them to borrow a High-Grade Mortal Rank martial technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion.

No matter what, they had to get that Aperture-Opening Pill.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan