"I actually opened two more spiritual apertures, making a total of three spiritual apertures. With my current strength, I should be able to reach three thousand kilograms!"
Luren clenched his hands tightly, feeling the surging power, nodding in satisfaction.
The feeling of improving one's strength was truly wonderful.
Next, Luren began to diligently practice Bagua Palm.
Bagua Palm was a defensive palm technique, with hands forming the shape of Bagua, capable of defending against enemy attacks as long as the enemy's strength wasn't significantly greater.
The difficulty of practicing Bagua Palm was much higher than that of Tiger Fist, and it took Luren thirty-five years to perfect it.
In the remaining fifteen years, Luren practiced Spirit Cat Steps to a high level of achievement.
In fifty years of diligent practice, he opened three more spiritual apertures.
Luren was quite satisfied with his progress, mastering two combat techniques and achieving proficiency in one movement technique. Even with exceptional talent, it would be difficult to reach this level without spending a year or more in training.
But in reality, he only spent a second!
"After practicing three body strengthening techniques and enduring eighty-two years of hardship, I've only opened five spiritual apertures?"
Thinking of this, Luren felt somewhat frustrated.
He had opened one spiritual aperture each in the palms of his hands, heart, and the soles of his feet, storing a trace of spiritual energy in each. With the addition of the spiritual aperture in his lower abdomen, he now had six spiritual apertures, only one away from breaking through to the Spiritual Stream Realm.
Luren felt that his strength had increased at least five times. Previously, when he opened one spiritual aperture, he could exert a force of one thousand kilograms with a punch. Now, he could exert a colossal force of at least six thousand kilograms.
This was something that would have been impossible for him in his past life.
"Unfortunately, Spirit Cat Steps are still not perfected!"
Luren thought to himself, remembering that it seemed like a month had passed already, and Xiaohuohuo should still owe him eighty-eight copper coins.
With those eighty-eight copper coins, he could exchange them for Spiritual Rice, enough to practice for twenty-five years. This should enable him to perfect the Spirit Cat Steps and perhaps even open up the seventh spiritual aperture.
Once he opened the seventh spiritual aperture, he could break through to the Spiritual Stream Realm.
Coming out of the Pagoda Space, Luren took a deep breath and felt refreshed.
The outside world was still better. If it weren't for cultivation purposes, he wouldn't want to spend any extra time in the Pagoda Space.
Luren arrived outside Xiaohuohuo's dormitory and knocked on the door.
Inside, Xiaohuohuo was sitting on the bed, feeling extremely frustrated.
Although the Saintess had returned the money to him, he had borrowed a book on the Fiery Sword Technique, but before he could practice the technique, the Fire Spirit Sword was taken back by the Saintess.
Now, unable to practice the sword technique, if he wanted to exchange it for another martial skill, he would have to wait for a month to swap manuals at the Martial Skill Pavilion. This equated to wasting a month of his cultivation time.
Thinking about this, Xiaohuohuo harbored resentments towards Luren. He felt that ever since he had met Luren, he had been having a streak of bad luck.
Could it be that martial practitioners with inferior bloodlines also have bad luck?
"This Luren, causing me to take a hit from the Saintess for no reason. My chest is still burning from it. When he comes to ask me for money, I will show him who's boss!"
Thinking this, Xiaohuohuo surprisingly found himself looking forward to when Luren would come to ask him for money.
"Senior Xiao!"
At that moment, Luren walked in and interrupted Xiaohuohuo's thoughts.
He is here, he finally came.
Xiaohuohuo felt a rush of joy in his heart!
It was finally his turn to let out some frustration.
"Junior Luren, what can I help you with?"
Xiaohuohuo suppressed his inner emotions.
"The one-month deadline has arrived, you owe me eighty-eight, don't you?"
Luren smiled, squinting his eyes.
"If I don't pay, what can you do to me?"
Xiaohuohuo sneered.
"What did you say?"
Luren's face changed, thinking he must have misheard.
Xiao Huohuo showed a disdainful smile and said, "I owe money based on my skills, why should I pay you back?"
"Xiao Senior, if you really don't repay, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Luren's voice turned cold, not expecting to encounter someone in this world who wouldn't repay their debts.
However, this world was different from the previous one, where strength was respected.
Now that he had opened six spiritual apertures, if Xiao Huohuo really refused to pay, he would fight until he did.
"Splut!"
Xiao Huohuo couldn't help but laugh, crossing his arms and said, "Luren Junior Brother, with your trash bloodline, unable to even practice the Fierce Tiger Fist, how dare you be impolite to me? I'm standing right here, if you can touch me, I, Xiao Huohuo, will acknowledge you as my dad!"
Xiao Huohuo wasn't looking down on Luren, but Luren's talent was simply too poor, unable to even grasp the basics of the Fierce Tiger Fist after a month of practice.
While he had already mastered the Fierce Tiger Fist, and with both of them having only opened one spiritual aperture, Luren was no match for him at all.
"I've accepted you as my son!"
Luren smiled, took a step forward, and suddenly slapped towards Xiao Huohuo.
On his palm, a mist-like aura shimmered, with immense power that even caused the air to burst with a sound.
"What?"
Xiao Huohuo's face changed drastically, completely caught off guard by the powerful strike from Luren.
At this moment, he had no time to dodge and retaliated with a fierce punch towards Luren, the force of the punch was extremely strong, as if a fierce tiger pouncing for food.
This was the perfected Fierce Tiger Fist, a punch that even a full-grown tiger would struggle to withstand.
Bang!
At the moment of impact between their fists, Xiao Huohuo felt like he was struck by lightning, he was sent flying and crashed into the wall, then slid to the ground before spitting out blood.
"How could you have this kind of power?"
Lying on the ground, Xiao Huohuo felt intense pain all over his body, his arm was almost dislocated, but what surprised him more was Luren's strength.
This was definitely not the power that a warrior who had only opened one spiritual aperture could possess.
Even warriors who had opened three or four spiritual apertures might not be as strong as Luren.
"Xiao Senior, to be honest, this time I received a blessing from the gods, not only did I open one spiritual aperture, but I opened six spiritual apertures!"
Seeing Xiao Huohuo's shocked expression, Luren felt pleased.
Moreover, he hadn't exerted his full force in that slap just now, only using half of his strength, if he had used full force, Xiao Huohuo would have been severely injured.
"What? Six spiritual apertures!"
Xiao Huohuo's face was full of shock.
Luren, receiving the blessing of the gods and opening six spiritual apertures, had already shocked everyone. This was no longer just a blessing; it seemed like the gods were practically force-feeding him.
Extending his hand, Luren calmly said, "Xiao Senior, please return the money to me. If this matter escalates, it will be you losing face, not me."
Xiao Huohuo felt helpless and said, "Luren Junior, it's not that I don't want to repay you. The Holy Maiden is taking back the Fire Spirit Sword. She gave me twenty thousand copper coins and instructed me not to return your money. If you come to ask me for it, then let me teach you a lesson!"
"Taking it back?" Luren was slightly surprised.
"But the Fire Spirit Sword was a gift from her to you. It's understandable that she would be upset if you sold it to me," Xiao Huohuo said with a mournful expression.
Luren walked over, helped Xiao Huohuo up, and with a guilty heart said, "Xiao Senior, my Master wants the Fire Spirit Sword back. You should have told me earlier. Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Hearing Luren's words, Xiao Huohuo was so angry he almost spat blood. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Luren Junior, it's my fault for not saying it earlier!"
"Are you okay?" Luren asked with concern.
Shaking his head, Xiao Huohuo replied, "I'll be fine, just need a few days to rest."
"It's good that you're okay. I won't bother you anymore," Luren said, quickly leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Sitting on the bed, Xiao Huohuo felt more and more aggrieved. Eventually, he couldn't hold back his tears and said, "I must have the worst luck in eight lifetimes! How did I manage to provoke those two master and disciple!"