That night, behind Cyan Peak Mountain, on a small island named "Welcome Island," a new guest arrived.
Welcome Island is the island where Cyan Peak Daoist School receives ordinary guests. The island is lush with trees, serene and peaceful, with exquisite courtyards scattered here and there, creating a unique atmosphere.
At this moment, Gu Yuan was resting in one of the Bamboo Courtyards.
For the next half-month, this would be his residence.
The Bamboo Courtyard is tidied by servants year-round, so it’s quite clean, ready for occupancy.
After a brief survey, Gu Yuan stepped into the Quiet Chamber at the back of the Bamboo Courtyard.
Sitting cross-legged, focusing his mind, Gu Yuan exhaled a long breath, then closed his eyes.
With regulated breathing, bluish light dots appeared on his skin, and then he slowly opened his eyes with a slight smile on his face:
"As expected of a prominent sect, even a small ordinary island like this surpasses the Spiritual Qi of the Inner Sect Cave Mansion of the Cyan Wood Sect."
In this world of cultivation, Spirit Meridians are of utmost importance.
Generally speaking, a Tier One Low-grade Spiritual Vein suffices for the daily cultivation of a Qi Refining Cultivator, while a Tier One High-grade can enhance their cultivation.
As for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they typically require Tier Two Spiritual Veins, and so on.
The Cyan Wood Sect, where he previously resided, had only one Tier Two Low-grade Spiritual Vein in the Main Peak Sect Leader Hall, while the rest of the place had just Tier One Middle-grade Spiritual Veins.
Even though Welcome Island is merely an ordinary island of the Cyan Peak Daoist School, far inferior to Cyan Peak’s Spirit Veins, it is still a treasured place for Gu Yuan because its Spiritual Qi has already reached the level of a Tier Two Spirit Vein.
It’s akin to cultivating in the Sect Leader Hall of the Cyan Wood Sect.
"Indeed, even a restroom in the northern metropolitan areas is more valuable than houses in countryside towns..."
Feeling the vast disparity, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh deeply in his heart.
No wonder the token in the Demon Star Cave contained a hint of golden opportunity.
The benefits of being a disciple alone surpass the myriad of cultivators.
Not to mention, Cyan Peak Daoist School harbors profound foundations like a towering tree, providing ample protection.
Thinking of this, a sudden thought crossed Gu Yuan’s mind.
"Wait a minute, simply joining the Cyan Peak Daoist School grants such benefits and resources. What would it be like to live off a Golden Core Ascendant?"
As soon as this thought appeared, it grew wildly in his mind like rampant weeds.
Because this idea wasn’t baseless.
He possessed Stone Liquid, which could reveal "opportunities" and "solutions" to pressing matters in his heart.
If he were to cover his eyes with Stone Liquid, perhaps there might indeed be a chance?
Some thoughts, once entertained, begin to spread uncontrollably.
"No, no, this is too absurd a notion, mustn’t dwell on it, mustn’t dwell on it!"
But Gu Yuan knew well, this undertaking was certainly no easy matter, and overthinking it would only lead to unnecessary mental exhaustion.
"No rush, no rush, the urgent issue at hand is to first shift my cultivation technique and thoroughly integrate into the Cyan Peak Daoist School."
He exhaled a long breath again, silently reciting the Heart Clarity Spell he had learned from the Cyan Wood Sect several dozen times, finally suppressing his distracting thoughts.
During the day, under Qiu Mingshan’s guidance, he had already registered in the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute and chosen the most suitable Visualization Diagram among the three True Maps.
"The Toad Moon Divine Light True Diagram, visualizes the Golden Toad worshipping the moon, absorbing the Sun and Moon Essence, follows the Dao of Yin and Yang."
"The Five Elements True Wheel Diagram, assimilates the Five Elements, refines the Five Viscera, follows the Path of the Five Elements."
"Although these two True Maps are both immensely profound, my previous cultivation was in the Cyan Wood Sect’s Ten Thousand Wood Technique, all my mana attributed to wood; transitioning to these two True Maps would be laborious and yield little reward."
"Now that I am already twenty years old, I cannot afford further delays. Only by cultivating the Planting Heaven and Earth Evergreen Map, quickly shifting my cultivation technique, and then breaking through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer is the optimal choice."
Gu Yuan looked at the thin as cicada’s wings blue Jade Paper in his bosom, pondering in his heart.
In this world, cultivation is unique.
There’s no such notion as Five Elements Spirit Root, only the concept of Nine Apertures and Dao Body.
The Human Race is of one kind, so everyone can cultivate.
Yet the difference lies in the disparity in aptitude.
Some people are born with Nine Apertures, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Qi like nine mouths open at once, managing to absorb ninety percent of Spiritual Qi, considered top-notch geniuses.
In ancient times, it was due to these geniuses, born with Nine Apertures, interconnected meridians, who could set foot on the path of cultivation merely by taking a few breaths, and thus uncover the mystery of Spiritual Qi.
The fewer the apertures, the lower the cultivation talent.
The Eight-Aperture Body can absorb eight-tenths of Spiritual Qi, and so on by analogy.
To embark on cultivation, at least a Three-Aperture Body is required; only with three apertures can one barely set foot on the cultivation path, anything less would be exceedingly difficult.
While most of the world’s populace has not even one aperture, known as the Hundred Leaks Body, accounting for ninety-nine percent of the world’s population, they are what is referred to as ordinary folk.
Gu Yuan, being endowed with Five Apertures, thus became an Inner Sect Disciple of the Cyan Wood Sect, enjoying substantial resources.
Meanwhile, the Cyan Peak Daoist School classifies its disciples into three categories: Outer Courtyard disciples, generally having less than five apertures and receiving ordinary treatment.
In addition, there are Inner Courtyard disciples, like Gu Yuan, usually possessing five apertures or more.