Volume II: The Emergence of the Nine Provinces Map, Entering the Spirit Void Sect Chapter 126: Opening the Gates of Fate

To the evaluation offered by Mu Chen, Chen Yu responded with nothing more than a calm, modest smile.

"If you are interested, you are welcome to join my ranks. I guarantee that the resources you receive will be no less than what you enjoy within the Spirit Ruins," Mu Chen said with a generous invitation. "Furthermore, it will not affect your status within the Spirit Ruins."

Lu Jie, Wen Ye, and the others looked at Chen Yu with unconcealed envy. After all, such arrangements were not uncommon; in fact, they were quite frequent. This was true not only for the Spirit Ruins but also for the Wuyah Sword Temple and the Cui Clan.

However, Chen Yu declined without a second thought. He understood clearly that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. To receive benefits, one must inevitably sacrifice some degree of freedom. Clearly, that was not what Chen Yu sought.

Mu Chen was not angered by the refusal; instead, he nodded silently and gave Chen Yu a promise: should he ever change his mind in the future, he could come seek him out.

From this, one could perceive the breadth of Mu Chen’s character. Whether or not it was a performance, it earned Chen Yu’s respect.

For the remainder of the journey, under Mu Chen’s protection, the group arrived safely at the capital of the Great Qing Kingdom.

The capital was a majestic city, several times larger than the Spirit Ruins. Even from a distance, one could feel a heavy sense of oppression. It was as if a true dragon were gazing down from above upon its domain.

"So magnificent, so formidable..." Chen Yu could not help but marvel in his heart.

"Princess Muyang, since you have returned to the capital, our mission is complete. I shall take my leave now," Chen Yu said first.

"Won't you come to the Qingmu Prince’s Mansion for a visit?" Princess Muyang asked. "The entire journey was thanks to Brother Chen Yu! It would allow me to fulfill the duties of a host."

"Yes, Brother Chen, let us go to the Qingmu Prince’s Mansion," Wu Yi added, trying to persuade him.

Although Wen Ye and the others remained silent, their expressions showed they also hoped Chen Yu would accompany them. Nevertheless, Chen Yu politely declined, saying, "I am afraid not. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall not impose upon the Princess any further. We shall meet again at the sect."

Chen Yu bowed slightly to them all and departed.

"This Chen Yu is a man of great principle. Since he is unwilling, there is no need to force him," Mu Chen said, watching Chen Yu’s retreating figure with deep, heartfelt admiration. "I never expected the Spirit Ruins to produce yet another disciple like this."

"Brother, you seem to think very highly of Brother Chen Yu," Princess Muyang asked, puzzled.

Mu Chen smiled slightly and said solemnly, "Anyone who can comprehend the Taizhu Sword Manual while still at the First Origin, Second Aperture stage is absolutely no simple matter. Moreover, he has mastered multiple techniques from the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, which further proves his extraordinary nature. Chen Yu’s potential may well rival that of the direct disciples."

"Impossible! Brother, how could that be?" It was not just Princess Muyang who was shocked; even Wu Yue, Lu Jie, and the others found it hard to believe.

Mu Chen merely smiled and said no more. After all, these were merely his conjectures based on limited information.

"Let’s go. You should return to see Father. I am sure he will be very happy to know you have returned. Of course, you are also likely to receive a scolding. Haha..."

"Brother..." Princess Muyang complained, annoyed.

...

After parting ways with Princess Muyang and the others, Chen Yu naturally could not leave the Great Qing capital immediately. Having finally come this far, he wanted to fully experience the local customs and traditions, and see how this nation of the Nine Provinces differed from his own home.

Of course, Chen Yu understood that his own Chen Kingdom might not even compare to a single county of the Great Qing Empire.

The capital was prosperous and flourishing. Everywhere one looked, people of all kinds gathered together—some were mortals, others were cultivators. Yet, in the Great Qing Empire, there was no great distinction between them.

Due to the breadth of their horizons, even the mortals here did not look upon cultivators with fear or trembling; there was only a sense of mutual respect.

In the imperial capital, one could trade with gold and silver, or with spirit stones. One could say the Great Qing Empire was a "microcosm" of the entire Nine Provinces.

Fortunately, over the past few years, Chen Yu had managed to save a little, allowing him to deeply experience life in the Great Qing Empire.

Like a young man from a small mountain village unfamiliar with the ways of the world, he wandered through the streets and alleys, tasting exotic delicacies and feeling quite satisfied and content.

After several days, Chen Yu felt his cultivation realm beginning to loosen. He understood this was the result of his recent accumulation, as well as the elevation of his state of mind.

Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the Great Qing capital was not as dense as that of the Spirit Ruins, it posed no problem for Chen Yu. After all, he was only at the stage of opening his apertures.

Chen Yu rented a quiet inn to go into seclusion.

He calmed his mind and began to circulate the Hunyuan Scripture and the Nine-Breath Internal Breathing Technique. His internal energy flowed into his extraordinary meridians, and after a full cycle of circulation, his aura began to grow bit by bit. By the end of a full day, Chen Yu’s essence, energy, and spirit had reached their peak. This was the moment for him to open his aperture.

Chen Yu pressed his little finger against the Shenque point at his navel, taking a deep abdominal breath to drive the energy into his Dantian. With every inhalation and exhalation, he continuously struck at the Mingmen point.

Each time his internal energy struck, his body trembled as if layers of paper were being gently pierced. After forty-nine such attempts, Chen Yu felt a heavy sensation at his Mingmen point. A vast amount of energy surged in like a river flowing into the sea, then flowed from the Mingmen through his extraordinary meridians and into his limbs and bones.

*Puff...* At that very moment, a burst of energy erupted from the surface of Chen Yu’s body, radiating outward. The sturdy wooden bed beneath him even emitted creaking and cracking sounds.

This signified that Chen Yu’s Mingmen aperture had been opened.

He let out a long breath, feeling the surging power of his blood and energy, and was filled with heartfelt excitement. Having now opened the Qi Sea, the Weilu, and the Mingmen, he could clearly feel that while absorbing the spiritual energy of the world, a thread of power was simultaneously nourishing his body, making his blood and energy even more potent.

"Is this the mystery of opening the apertures? Not only can it strengthen one’s own aura and internal energy, but it also enhances one’s blood and vitality. The connection between essence, energy, spirit, heaven, and humanity is truly profound."

Chen Yu did not dwell on it further; while the night was still young, it was best to consolidate his cultivation.

With three apertures opened, the circulation of the Hunyuan Scripture and the Nine-Breath Internal Breathing Technique became even smoother and more rapid. Before long, his internal energy had reached its peak once more.

At this moment, Chen Yu’s consciousness extended outward, sensing the mysteries of the world and the changes in his surroundings. Of course, he was not prying into anyone’s privacy; he was merely perceiving the surrounding aura.

It was precisely because of this unintentional act that Chen Yu’s expression suddenly darkened. He thought to himself: Who is spying on me?