Sage of Humanity

"Where's the Golden Cicada Carefree Method?" Veteran Thang broke the silence.

Lu Ye quickly took out the Golden Cicada Carefree Method from his storage sack and handed it over to Veteran Thang.

Veteran Thang took it, flipping through it once and slightly nodded, "A very common Yellow Rank technique. When cultivated to perfection, it can open twenty-seven orifices."

Lu Ye understood the twenty-seven orifices mentioned by Veteran Thang, as he had discovered this aspect when he had studied the Golden Cicada Carefree Method before. If this technique was fully cultivated, it could indeed open up to twenty-seven orifices.

But he was somewhat puzzled about the 'Yellow Rank' mentioned by Veteran Thang and immediately voiced his confusion.

Veteran Thang explained, "The human body has three hundred and sixty orifices, aligning with the concept of the Major Circumambulation. In the Nine Provinces cultivation world, cultivation techniques are as numerous as hairs on an ox. Different techniques can open different numbers of spiritual orifices. Depending on the number of orifices each can open, techniques are graded into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. Only Heaven Rank techniques can open all three hundred and sixty orifices, Earth Rank techniques open one hundred and eighty orifices, and below that are Black rank techniques that open eighty-one orifices..." he tapped the Golden Cicada Carefree Method in his hand, "The lowest are these Yellow Rank techniques, which only open twenty-seven orifices, and are also the most common."

Hearing Veteran Thang's explanation, Lu Ye suddenly understood.

The Golden Cicada Carefree Method was just the worst technique in the Nine Provinces, no wonder Manager Yang could carry it with him.

He was also fortunate not to regard it as any treasure, otherwise he would have made himself a laughing stock.

"Not only does the grade of a cultivation technique determine how many spiritual orifices a cultivator can ultimately open, but it also results in significant differences in strength among cultivators at the same cultivation level, as well as their future prospects," Veteran Thang said.

"The higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the stronger the cultivator, and the broader the future prospects?" Lu Ye asked.

"Exactly," Veteran Thang nodded, "Do you know why that is?"

"Please enlighten me, sect master," Lu Ye humbly requested.

Veteran Thang paused slightly to organize his thoughts, seemingly considering how to explain more clearly to Lu Ye. It had been many years since he had discussed these matters with anyone. After a moment, he asked, "Do you know how the cultivation realms are classified?"

"Spirit Stream, Cloud River, True Lake, Divine Sea, the four major realms," Lu Ye answered, something Yu Xiaodie had told him before.

"Then what is the Spirit Stream?"

Recalling what Yu Xiaodie had previously told him, Lu Ye answered, "By opening a sufficient number of spiritual orifices, allowing one's spirit force to circulate and flow through these orifices, forming a Circumambulation cycle, flowing like a stream, that is the Spirit Stream Realm."

"Precisely!" Veteran Thang stroked his beard, "But how many spiritual orifices are considered sufficient?"

"That..." Lu Ye was somewhat at a loss for words.

Veteran Thang smiled slightly, tapping the Golden Cicada Carefree Method in his hand, "If you cultivate this technique, opening nine orifices would bring you to Spirit Stream Level 1, eighteen orifices to Level 2, and twenty-seven to Level 3."

Lu Ye immediately sensed something was amiss, "Isn't there supposed to be nine levels in the Spirit Stream?"

"Yellow Rank techniques can only cultivate up to the third level of Spirit Stream, which is why they are the lowest grade. If you cultivate a Black rank technique, you can reach up to Level 6; as for Earth Rank, it can reach up to Level 9. If you cultivate a Heaven Rank technique..."

"Twelve levels?" Lu Ye looked puzzled, as he had never heard of a twelfth level in the Spirit Stream.

Veteran Thang smiled and shook his head, "Still nine levels."

Lu Ye asked, puzzled, "Why is that?"

Veteran Thang explained, "Because different cultivation techniques require different numbers of spiritual orifices to reach the same realm. This 'Golden Cicada Carefree Method' only needs to open nine orifices to achieve the Spirit Stream Level 1, but if you cultivate a Heaven Rank technique, it takes opening eighteen orifices to reach that realm. A cultivator of an Earth Rank technique who opens 180 orifices reaches Spirit Stream Level 9, but a cultivator of a Heaven Rank technique who opens 180 orifices only reaches Spirit Stream Level 6."

Lu Ye vaguely understood, "Does Veteran Thang mean that the higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the more spiritual orifices are required to reach the same realm?"

"Exactly."

"So, the cultivation level of cultivators cannot be used as a basis to evaluate the strength of their abilities?"

A cultivator at Spirit Stream Level 9 with an Earth Rank technique who has opened only 180 orifices would certainly be no match for a cultivator at Spirit Stream Level 7 with a Heaven Rank technique, because the latter has opened more than 180 orifices.

Lu Ye suddenly understood the meaning behind Veteran Thang's earlier words. If that was the case, then the grade of the cultivation technique could lead to significant power discrepancies under the same realm and even affect one's future prospects.

"Sect Master, if the Heaven Rank techniques are so superior, why doesn't everyone cultivate them? What is the point of having Earth Rank, Black Rank, and Yellow Rank techniques? Could it be that Heaven Rank techniques are difficult to obtain?"

Veteran Thang said with a smile, "Although Heaven Rank techniques are not easy to come by, anyone with enough determination, even an independent cultivator, can acquire them. The reason why not everyone cultivates Heaven Rank techniques is that every cultivator has their own limit in opening spiritual orifices!"

"A limit in opening spiritual orifices?"

"In the beginning of cultivation, opening orifices is difficult, but as the number of one's spiritual orifices increases and one's cultivation improves, opening them becomes relatively easier, until a limit is reached. Once that limit is reached, it becomes extremely difficult for a cultivator to open more orifices. Even if they have the best techniques available, what use are they? A cultivator whose limit is 180 orifices finds cultivating a Heaven Rank technique meaningless, so one must cultivate within their means."

"I see," Lu Ye acknowledged.

"Moreover, starting with a Yellow Rank technique is actually better initially."

"Because it's simpler?"

"Exactly. A Yellow Rank technique only requires opening nine orifices to reach Spirit Stream Level 1, but a Heaven Rank technique requires opening eighteen orifices. Allowing spirit force to flow through the orifices early by achieving the Spirit Stream realm can also enhance the efficiency of one's cultivation. Therefore, in the cultivation world, whether they are independent cultivators without support or disciples from prestigious sects, everyone generally starts their initial cultivation with a Yellow Rank technique. Once they have perfected their cultivation of the Yellow Rank technique, they switch to other techniques."

However, Veteran Thang hadn't completely told the truth about changing cultivation techniques.

Only those cultivators without solid foundations, such as independent cultivators or disciples of insignificant families, start with Yellow Rank techniques when they begin their cultivation.

Changing cultivation techniques, although not greatly problematic, is somewhat bothersome, so those with even slight connections prefer to choose Black Rank or Earth Rank techniques, because no matter whether it's Yellow Rank, Black Rank, or Earth Rank, the requirement for reaching Spirit Stream Level 1 is always to open nine orifices.

Only when cultivators reach the limit of opening their orifices, and there is a need, do they switch to cultivating Heaven Rank techniques, and those without the ability just attempt to break through.

Considering that Lu Ye was only a disciple in name with mediocre natural talent, Veteran Thang thought he would probably never be able to open many orifices in his lifetime; a Yellow Rank technique would suffice for him.

Naturally, Veteran Thang didn't reveal this and didn't look down upon Lu Ye for it. As a sect master, he took great care in instructing Lu Ye, who was merely a disciple in name, without showing any impatience.

"Regarding your earlier concern that this technique might be an evil technique..." Veteran Thang lifted his eyelids and looked solemnly at Lu Ye, "Remember, the law does not differentiate between good and evil; it is people who are divided into the good and the wicked. No matter what technique it is, it is merely a means of cultivation. What truly determines good and evil is the cultivator's nature. Not everyone in the Haotian Alliance is of evil nature, and many in Ten Thousand Demons Ridge are of high moral character."

"Disciple will remember it well," Lu Ye said respectfully.