Chapter 22: Law Has No Right or Wrong

“What about the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual?” Elder Tang broke the silence.

Lu Ye quickly retrieved the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual from his storage bag and handed it to Elder Tang.

Elder Tang took it, flipped through the pages, and nodded slightly. “It’s a very common Yellow-tier cultivation technique. When cultivated to completion, it can open twenty-seven spirit apertures.”

Lu Ye understood what Elder Tang meant by twenty-seven spirit apertures; he had noticed this when he previously studied the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual – the technique could indeed open a total of twenty-seven apertures if fully cultivated. However, he was confused by the term "Yellow-tier" and immediately voiced his question.

Elder Tang explained, “The human body has three hundred and sixty spirit apertures, signifying the Great Heavenly Cycle. In the cultivation world of the Nine Provinces, there are countless cultivation techniques. Different techniques can open varying numbers of spirit apertures. Based on the number of apertures they can open, techniques are categorized into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Only Heaven-tier techniques can open three hundred and sixty apertures. Earth-tier techniques open one hundred and eighty apertures. Below that are Profound-tier techniques, which open eighty-one apertures…” He tapped the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual in his hand. “The lowest tier is this Yellow-tier technique, which only opens twenty-seven apertures. These techniques are also the most common.”

Upon hearing Elder Tang’s explanation, Lu Ye suddenly understood. So, the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual was essentially the most basic technique in the Nine Provinces; no wonder Steward Yang carried it with him. He was fortunate not to have mistaken it for something valuable, or he would have been thoroughly embarrassed.

“The tier of a cultivation technique not only determines the final number of spirit apertures a cultivator can open but also creates significant differences in strength among cultivators at the same realm. Furthermore, a cultivator’s future prospects also vary.”

“So, cultivators who practice higher-tier techniques are stronger and have broader future prospects?” Lu Ye asked.

“Precisely,” Elder Tang nodded. “Do you know why?”

“Please enlighten me, Sect Master,” Lu Ye humbly requested.

Elder Tang paused, seeming to organize his thoughts, as if considering how to explain it more clearly to Lu Ye. He hadn’t discussed these matters with anyone for many years. After a moment, he asked, “Do you know the cultivation realm divisions?”

“Spirit Creek, Cloud River, True Lake, and Divine Sea—the four major realms,” Lu Ye replied. Yu Xiaodie had told him this.

“Then, what is Spirit Creek?”

Recalling what Yu Xiaodie had previously told him, Lu Ye answered, “It means opening enough spirit apertures to allow one’s spiritual power to flow through them, forming a complete circulation like a flowing stream. That is the Spirit Creek realm.”

“Indeed!” Elder Tang stroked his beard. “Then, how many spirit apertures are considered ‘enough’?”

“This…” Lu Ye found himself unable to answer.

Elder Tang smiled slightly and tapped the Golden Cicada Escapism Manual in his hand. “If you cultivate this technique, opening nine apertures will establish you in the first layer of the Spirit Creek realm, eighteen apertures for the second layer, and twenty-seven for the third layer.”

Lu Ye immediately noticed something amiss. “Isn’t the Spirit Creek realm supposed to have nine layers?”

“Yellow-tier techniques can only be cultivated up to the third layer of the Spirit Creek realm, which is why their grade is the lowest. If you cultivate a Profound-tier technique, you can reach the sixth layer of Spirit Creek. For Earth-tier, you can reach the ninth layer. As for Heaven-tier techniques…”

“Twelve layers?” Lu Ye asked, looking surprised. He had never heard of a twelve-layer Spirit Creek realm.

Elder Tang smiled and shook his head. “It’s still nine layers.”

Lu Ye asked, puzzled, “Why is that?”

Elder Tang explained, “Because when cultivating different techniques, the number of spirit apertures required for the same realm varies. This Golden Cicada Escapism Manual only requires nine apertures to reach the first layer of Spirit Creek, but if you cultivate a Heaven-tier technique, you’d need to open eighteen apertures to reach that same realm. A cultivator practicing an Earth-tier technique who opens one hundred and eighty apertures would be at the ninth layer of Spirit Creek, but a cultivator practicing a Heaven-tier technique who opens one hundred and eighty apertures would only be at the sixth layer of Spirit Creek.”

Lu Ye seemed to grasp it. “Elder Tang, do you mean that the higher the tier of the cultivation technique, the more spirit apertures one needs to open to reach the same realm?”

“Precisely.”

“So, the level of cultivation among cultivators cannot be used as the sole basis for judging their strength?”

A cultivator at the ninth layer of Spirit Creek using an Earth-tier technique would have only opened one hundred and eighty apertures. If they encountered a cultivator at the seventh layer of Spirit Creek using a Heaven-tier technique, they would certainly not be a match, because the latter would have opened more than one hundred and eighty apertures. Lu Ye immediately understood the meaning of Elder Tang’s earlier words. If this was the case, then cultivating techniques of different tiers would indeed lead to significant disparities in strength at the same realm, and even affect future prospects.

“Sect Master, since Heaven-tier techniques are so superior, why doesn’t everyone cultivate them? What’s the point of Earth, Profound, and Yellow-tier techniques? Is it because Heaven-tier techniques are difficult to obtain?”

Elder Tang smiled. “While Heaven-tier techniques are not easy to come by, with enough perseverance, even rogue cultivators have a chance to obtain them. The reason not everyone cultivates Heaven-tier techniques is because every cultivator has their own limit—a limit to opening spirit apertures!”

“A limit to opening spirit apertures?”

“In the beginning of cultivation, opening apertures is difficult. However, as the number of one’s spirit apertures increases and cultivation progresses, opening new apertures becomes relatively easier, eventually reaching a limit. Once this limit is reached, it becomes extremely difficult for a cultivator to open any more spirit apertures. What good is even the best technique if one cannot open more apertures? For a cultivator whose personal limit is one hundred and eighty apertures, cultivating a Heaven-tier technique is meaningless. Therefore, cultivation should always be pursued within one’s capabilities.”

“I see,” Lu Ye responded, understanding.

“Furthermore, it’s actually better to begin cultivation with a Yellow-tier technique.”

“Because it’s simpler?”

“Precisely. A Yellow-tier technique only requires nine apertures to reach the first layer of Spirit Creek, but a Heaven-tier technique would require eighteen apertures for the same. Achieving the Spirit Creek realm and circulating spiritual power through apertures earlier also improves cultivation efficiency sooner. This is why, in the cultivation world, whether it’s unattached rogue cultivators or disciples from prestigious sects, they usually start with Yellow-tier techniques. Once a Yellow-tier technique is cultivated to completion, switching to another technique is a common practice.”

Elder Tang, however, didn’t elaborate fully on the matter of switching cultivation techniques. Only rogue cultivators with little background or disciples from minor, unremarkable families would typically begin with Yellow-tier techniques. While switching techniques doesn't pose significant hidden dangers, it can be somewhat troublesome. Those with a bit of background would usually opt for Profound-tier or Earth-tier techniques from the start, as the requirement for the first layer of Spirit Creek is still nine apertures, regardless of whether it’s Yellow, Profound, or Earth-tier. Cultivators would only consider switching to a Heaven-tier technique when they had opened their spirit apertures to their absolute limit and felt the need. Those lacking the capacity for it would simply have to attempt breakthroughs within their current techniques. Of course, Elder Tang kept this information to himself, considering Lu Ye’s limited talent—he likely wouldn’t be able to open many spirit apertures in his lifetime, making a Yellow-tier technique sufficient for him. Despite this, Elder Tang didn't look down on Lu Ye. As the Sect Master, he patiently and carefully instructed his registered disciple.

“Regarding your earlier concern that this technique might be an evil one…” Elder Tang raised his eyelids and looked at Lu Ye sternly. “Remember this: techniques have no good or evil; people have good and evil. Any technique is merely a tool for cultivation. What truly determines good or evil is a person’s character. There are many individuals with evil hearts even within the Clear Sky Alliance, and likewise, many of high moral character among the Myriad Demon Ridge.”

“I will remember that, Master,” Lu Ye replied respectfully.