Seris Velan entered the Dean's Office, finding the old Dean seated by a tea table, savoring his tea.
"Seris Velan greets the Dean." After a few days' absence, the old Dean appeared more lively, with noticeably fewer white hairs and a more vibrant demeanor.
"Haha! Seris is here! No need for such formality in front of me. Make yourself at home. Come, sit down, and taste my tea. What do you think?" The Dean's warm tone made it seem as though they were close family.
Seris took a seat nearby, and the Dean handed him a cup of tea. Seris, having grown up in poverty, had barely been able to afford food, let alone tea. This tea, which started off bitter before turning sweet with a lingering fragrance, left a lasting impression on his palate.
Praising the tea, Seris' genuine enthusiasm encouraged the Dean to share his vast knowledge about the drink. Seris listened attentively, occasionally asking questions, and the conversation flowed smoothly.
After a while, the Dean transitioned to the real reason he had called Seris. "I noticed your strong and confident strides when you entered the academy, full of energy. Have you already taken the celestial pill?"
"Yes, I have. I used it to break through to the Acquired Stage," Seris answered honestly.
"Good, very good. I called you here precisely because of that. There have been some rumors spreading outside the academy. You may have heard a few of them. I advise you not to venture out too much for the time being. Though you carry the identity of an Immortal Brother, and no one would dare harm you openly, there are always those with malicious intentions who may try to strike from the shadows."
Seris Velan nodded in understanding. He had publicly taken the elixir, signaling that he no longer possessed the celestial pill.
"Additionally, there's an empty small courtyard on the west side of the academy. You should move in. Here's the key," the old Dean said, handing him a small metal key.
Seris accepted the key gratefully and thanked the Dean. As he turned to leave, the old Dean handed him a pound of fine tea leaves as a parting gift.
Unlocking the gate of the small courtyard, Seris was greeted by a modest lawn overgrown with unfamiliar weeds and dotted with wildflowers. Inside the person-high walls, he found six rooms furnished with simple tables, chairs, benches, and a small kitchen with all the necessary facilities.
That evening, Seris broke from his usual cultivation routine. Instead, he set out a lounge chair on the lawn and lay down to gaze up at the starry sky. In his hand, he held a small handful of raspberries—his younger brother, Torin Velan' favorite—and slowly savored them.
"I wonder how Torin is doing now? Is he being treated well, or is someone bullying him?"
The elder brother is often compared to a father, and Seris reflected deeply. "As his older brother, I haven't truly taken care of Torin. Instead, I've gained so much from his efforts. A real man stands tall between heaven and earth, guided by principles and setting an example for others. How can I, Seris Velan, merely rely on the title of Immortal Older Brother?"
Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, Seris stood up and summoned an iron spear from the spatial pocket he often used. He took a starting stance and began practicing the movements of "Astral Guidance" and "Azure Dragon Rises from the Deep." The spear moved with a combination of real and illusory strikes, each move precise and dangerous. His attacks were sharp, his retreats swift, and the techniques he displayed radiated a lethal yet calculated energy. He advanced with the force of a storm, retreated like a sudden gale, steady as a mountain but fierce as thunder. He practiced the "Thunderous Spear Technique" over ten times, pushing himself until the moon was high, sweat soaking his clothes.
After a cooling wash, Seris entered the spatial realm to sleep. Several hours passed there, though only a quarter of an hour passed in the real world. Emerging from the spatial realm, Seris felt refreshed mentally, though his body was still physically tired. As he stretched, soreness set in, urging him to sit down and meditate, cultivating his internal energy to recover.
Seris Velan had successfully opened the Governor Vessel Meridian, entering the Acquired Stage. The next challenge was to open the remaining six meridians of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians: the "Thrusting Meridian," "Girdle Meridian," "Yin Linking Meridian," "Yang Linking Meridian," "Yin Heel Meridian," and "Yang Heel Meridian." Only after opening all Eight Extraordinary Meridians could one be considered to have fully completed the Acquired Stage of cultivation.
Opening the Governor Vessel Meridian was already a monumental task. For most, it took years of dedicated practice, with some requiring decades to reach this stage. Opening the remaining six meridians was even more daunting, and many martial practitioners stagnated at the Acquired Stage for life. Only a select few would manage to unlock all Eight Extraordinary Meridians and progress to the Innate Stage. Those who reached the Innate Stage then faced the challenge of opening the twelve meridians of the hands and feet.
Seris continued his cultivation until dawn, working to stabilize the newly opened Governor Vessel Meridian. While he had made significant progress, he realized that reaching the Innate Stage could take a long time.
His plan was to cultivate at least to the Innate Stage before embarking on the dangerous journey to Cloudy Mountain in search of Cloudy Immortal City. The road would be fraught with peril, and Seris had no intention of becoming prey to wild beasts or other dangers along the way.
"I need to figure out how to speed this up. The medicinal herbs in Spatial should help, but I need to learn how to use them properly," Seris mused.
After participating in the morning's Battle Formation Drill, Seris skipped breakfast and went directly to the academy's library, borrowing a stack of medical books. As he carried the books back to his small courtyard, he muttered to himself, "It's true what they say—one always regrets not reading enough when the need arises. I should spend more time studying."
Back in the courtyard, Seris took out a portion of the Spatial-grown rice grains he had long been eager to taste. These rice grains were unusually thick, each one the size of a finger, glowing with a golden hue and giving off a fragrant aroma.
Seris Velan grabbed a handful of the rice grains, rubbed off the husk with a twist of his hands, and blew away the chaff. What remained were grains the size of fingertips, sparkling and pure white.
Seris processed over a pound of rice before tossing it into the pot. He brought the water to a boil, then simmered it over a very low flame. The fragrant scent of rice filled the air, making Seris's mouth water in anticipation.
He was skilled in the art of cooking, having learned out of necessity during his earlier years of poverty. Using an iron pot to cook rice required care: a high flame would burn the rice, and opening the lid mid-cooking risked leaving it undercooked. It needed to simmer slowly over low heat, allowing the rice to cook evenly with a crispy layer forming at the bottom.
After nearly half an hour, the rice was ready. It was translucent, fluffy, and each grain seemed to sparkle. Seris wasted no time in preparing any side dishes. Instead, he devoured six large bowls of rice straight from the pot, still not feeling entirely satisfied. He scraped off the crispy rice at the bottom and held it as a post-meal snack.
After his meal, Seris felt a gentle warmth in his abdomen. Though not as intense as when he had taken the Immortal Pill, it was still noticeable. He crossed his legs and meditated for two hours, feeling the warmth spread throughout his body. By the time it dissipated, his newly opened Governor Vessel Meridian had stabilized significantly. He estimated that with five or six more meals like this, it would be completely secure.
Seris was elated. The energy he gained from just one meal was equivalent to four or five days of regular cultivation.
"Haha! As long as I eat two meals a day, my cultivation speed will be nearly ten times faster than others. I might even pass as a genius in the future."
Feeling satisfied, Seris made a few pancakes using the Spatial-grown star wheat. He ate them, noting that the effects were similar to those of the Astral rice.