"I've actually opened two more Spirit Apertures, making it three in total. My strength now should be able to reach three thousand jin!"

Lu Ren clenched his hands tightly, feeling the surge of power, and nodded in satisfaction.

The feeling of increasing strength was truly wonderful.

Next, Lu Ren began to diligently practice the Eight Trigrams Palm.

The Eight Trigrams Palm was a defensive palm technique. With both hands forming the shape of the Eight Trigrams, it could defend against enemy attacks as long as the enemy's strength wasn't overwhelmingly superior.

The difficulty of cultivating the Eight Trigrams Palm was significantly higher than the Fierce Tiger Fist. It took Lu Ren a full thirty-five years to cultivate it to perfection.

In the remaining fifteen years, Lu Ren cultivated the Spirit Cat Steps to mastery.

After fifty years of hard cultivation, he opened three more Spirit Apertures.

Lu Ren was quite satisfied with these cultivation results, having perfected two martial techniques and brought one movement martial technique to mastery.

Even with exceptional talent, it would be difficult to reach this level without spending a year or two.

But in reality, he only spent one second!

"I've cultivated three body-refining martial techniques and practiced diligently for eighty-two years, yet I've only opened five Spirit Apertures?"

Thinking of this, Lu Ren felt a bit frustrated.

He had opened Spirit Apertures in the palms of his hands, his heart, and the soles of his feet, each capable of storing a trace of Spiritual Qi.

Including the Spirit Aperture in his lower abdomen, he now had six Spirit Apertures in his body, just one short of breaking through to the Spirit Stream Realm.

Lu Ren felt that his strength had increased at least fivefold.

Previously, with one Spirit Aperture opened, he could punch with a force of one thousand jin. Now, he could exert at least six thousand jin of immense power.

This was something that would have been impossible in his previous life.

"It's a pity that the Spirit Cat Steps haven't been perfected yet!"

Lu Ren thought of this and realized that a month had passed. Xiao Huohuo should be returning the eighty-eight thousand copper coins to him.

These eighty-eight thousand copper coins, exchanged for spirit rice, would be enough for him to cultivate for twenty-five years. He should be able to perfect the Spirit Cat Steps and perhaps even open the seventh Spirit Aperture.

Once the seventh Spirit Aperture was opened, he could break through to the Spirit Stream Realm.

***

Lu Ren emerged from the Pagoda Space, took a deep breath, and immediately felt refreshed.

The outside world was still better. If it weren't for cultivation, he wouldn't want to stay in the Pagoda Space for even a moment longer.

Lu Ren arrived outside Xiao Huohuo's dormitory and knocked on the door.

At this moment, Xiao Huohuo was sitting on the bed, feeling extremely depressed.

Although the Saintess had returned the money to him, he had borrowed a copy of the Blazing Fire Sword Art, but before he could practice it, the Fire Spirit Sword was taken back by the Saintess.

Now, unable to practice the sword art, he had to wait a month to exchange for other martial techniques at the Martial Arts Pavilion, which meant wasting a month of cultivation time.

Thinking of this, Xiao Huohuo's resentment towards Lu Ren resurfaced.

He felt that ever since he met Lu Ren, he had been unlucky.

Could it be that a martial artist with a Trash-Grade Bloodline also carried bad luck?

"This Lu Ren, causing me to take a hit from the Saintess for nothing, and now my chest is burning. When he comes to ask for the money, let's see how I deal with him!"

Xiao Huohuo thought of this and actually looked forward to Lu Ren coming to ask for the money.

"Brother Xiao!"

At this moment, Lu Ren pushed the door open and walked in, interrupting Xiao Huohuo's thoughts.

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

He's here, he's finally here.

Xiao Huohuo was overjoyed inside!

Finally, it was his turn to vent his anger.

"Junior Brother Lu, is there something you need?"

Xiao Huohuo suppressed his inner emotions.

"The month is up, it's time to return the eighty-eight thousand!"

Lu Ren squinted and smiled.

"If I don't return it, what can you do to me?"

Xiao Huohuo sneered.

"What did you say?"

Lu Ren's expression changed, thinking he had heard wrong.

Xiao Huohuo wore a smirk and said, "I owe the money fair and square, why should I return it?"

"Brother Xiao, if you really don't return it, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Lu Ren's voice turned cold. He didn't expect to encounter someone who wouldn't repay their debt in this world as well.

However, this world was different from the last; it was a world where the strong were respected.

Now that he had opened six Spirit Apertures, if Xiao Huohuo truly didn't return the money, he would beat him until he did.

"Pfft!"

Xiao Huohuo couldn't help but laugh, crossing his arms and saying, "Junior Brother Lu, with your Trash-Grade Bloodline, you can't even get started with the Fierce Tiger Fist. How can you be impolite to me? I'm standing right here. If you can touch me, I'll acknowledge you as my father!"

Xiao Huohuo wasn't looking down on Lu Ren; it was just that Lu Ren's talent was truly poor. After a month of practice, he hadn't even gotten started with the Fierce Tiger Fist.

And he had already mastered the Fierce Tiger Fist. Plus, both of them had only opened one Spirit Aperture, so Lu Ren couldn't possibly be his opponent.

"I'll definitely take you as my son!"

Lu Ren smiled, stepped forward, and suddenly struck at Xiao Huohuo with a palm.

On his palm, Spiritual Qi shimmered like mist, and the powerful force even created a sonic boom in the air.

"What?"

Xiao Huohuo's face changed dramatically, completely unprepared for the power of Lu Ren's palm.

At this moment, he had no time to dodge and punched towards Lu Ren, the force as fierce as a tiger pouncing on its prey.

This was the mastered Fierce Tiger Fist, a punch that even an adult tiger couldn't withstand.

Bang!

The moment fist and palm met, Xiao Huohuo felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his whole body flying backward, crashing into the wall, and then sliding to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"How can you have such power?"

Lying on the ground, Xiao Huohuo felt intense pain all over his body, his arm slightly dislocated, and was even more shocked by Lu Ren's strength.

This was definitely not the power that a martial artist with only one Spirit Aperture could possess.

Even martial artists with three or four Spirit Apertures might not be as strong as Lu Ren.

"Brother Xiao, to be honest, this time I received a blessing from an immortal, not just opening one Spirit Aperture, but six!"

Lu Ren saw Xiao Huohuo's astonished expression and felt secretly pleased.

Moreover, he hadn't even used his full strength with that palm earlier, only half of it. If he had used his full strength, Xiao Huohuo would have been severely injured.

"What? Six Spirit Apertures!"

Xiao Huohuo was utterly shocked.

Lu Ren receiving an immortal's blessing and opening one Spirit Aperture had already shocked everyone, but it turned out Lu Ren had opened six.

This wasn't just an immortal's blessing; it was like an immortal was personally feeding him.

Lu Ren extended his hand and said calmly, "Brother Xiao, return the money. If this matter gets out of hand, it'll be your face on the line!"

Xiao Huohuo felt like crying but had no tears, saying, "Junior Brother Lu, it's not that I don't want to give it back. The Fire Spirit Sword was taken back by the Saintess. She gave me two hundred thousand copper coins and told me not to repay you. If you came to ask for it, I was to teach you a lesson!"

"Taken back?"

Lu Ren was slightly surprised.

"That Fire Spirit Sword was her gift to you. Naturally, she wasn't happy when you sold it to me!"

Xiao Huohuo said with a bitter face.

Lu Ren walked over, helped Xiao Huohuo up, and said guiltily, "Brother Xiao, the Fire Spirit Sword was taken back by my master. You should have said so earlier. Why didn't you say so earlier? Why didn't you say so?"

Listening to Lu Ren's words, Xiao Huohuo was so angry he almost spat blood, gritting his teeth and saying, "Junior Brother Lu, it's my fault for not saying it earlier!"

"Are you okay?"

Lu Ren asked with concern.

Xiao Huohuo shook his head and said, "I'm fine, just need a few days to recover!"

"That's good. I won't disturb you then!"

Lu Ren said, quickly leaving the room and closing the door.

Xiao Huohuo sat on the bed, feeling more and more aggrieved, and finally cried out, "I've had the worst luck for eight lifetimes, how did I get involved with those two master and disciple!"

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan