Chapter 957 - 681: Empty Aperture

Above the sacred hall, the incense smoke curls, and the Buddhist chants linger softly.

Miao Shan Arhat sits cross-legged on the lotus platform, his golden body glowing, his sacred presence dignified:

"Wuchen."

"I, as your mentor, observe you have traversed the bewilderment of reincarnation, with shattered memories and sealed spiritual apertures remaining unopened till now."

"Today, I shall impart to you the technique of opening your apertures, clearing your cultivation path, returning you to the righteous path of the Great Dao."

Miao Shan Arhat slightly parted his lips, an ethereal and timeless Buddhist melody wrapped around the beams of the hall, not as mundane chants but akin to the primal sound of the universe.

In an instant, sacred golden radiance burst forth from the patterns on his kasaya, illuminating the ten directions like the morning sun dispelling fog.

Petals of celestial flowers emerged from nowhere, some pink, some white, some golden, some clear, carrying a faint fragrance as they fluttered down, swirling within the hall.

Segments of ancient and profound scriptures transformed into golden runes, flowing out from the void, directly entering the red snake’s brow, reaching his sea of consciousness.

Lying dormant on the ground, Chen Sheng’s body suddenly trembled, a barely noticeable spirit light sparked in his serpent pupil.

In his previous life, he had reasoned in his mind:

"Since there exist secret reincarnation techniques for cultivators, there must surely be an aperture opening technique, and now it’s been validated!"

"In this way, I need not ponder a personal method for aperture opening, but I wonder which attribute spirit aperture will be opened?"

...

Very soon.

The scriptures entered his mind like spring rain nourishing a barren field.

The spirit light in Chen Sheng’s eyes grew ever brighter, transforming from a subtle glimmer into twin star fires, bright and transparent, causing him to repeatedly exclaim in admiration:

"Marvelous! Indescribably marvelous!"

What Miao Shan Arhat imparted was not a mundane aperture opening technique, but a supreme subtle technique tailored for reincarnated Purple Mansion cultivators.

This method does not open ordinary spirit apertures but rather — the void aperture.

"A void aperture takes the shape of an aperture but lacks a core kernel... it avoids attributes, does not adhere to Yin and Yang, does not lock into the Five Elements, does not bind to techniques."

At this thought, Chen Sheng suddenly awoke, the scenes from his previous life, where he painstakingly created an aperture opening technique, flashed by, and his heart spirit trembled intensely:

"I was utterly stuck in a dead end previously!"

Common cultivators begin from scratch, the spirit aperture is like a vessel needing years of accumulation to precipitate Dao Rhyme.

But for reincarnated Purple Mansion cultivators, their previous life’s cultivation and insights are all intact, eliminating the need to use spirit apertures to gather Dao Rhyme.

"For reincarnated Purple Mansion cultivators, what’s needed is merely a new, clean, unrestrained energy introduction medium."

"The void aperture is precisely the best solution in this world. It doesn’t fall into the Five Elements, doesn’t adhere to Yin and Yang, is impartial, unbound and unhindered..."

"In the future, whatever technique to cultivate, path to walk, Golden Position to ascend, all will be unimpeded, all methods suited, with unlimited prospects..."

In just a moment.

The celestial flowers fell entirely, and the mystical sounds within the hall gradually ceased.

All scriptures had completely etched into the deep recesses of Chen Sheng’s sea of consciousness, taking root and sprouting, becoming indelible.

Miao Shan Arhat slowly withdrew his surrounding Buddhist light, the lotus platform’s radiance fading, returning to tranquility, his gaze descending, he softly spoke:

"Wuchen, do you understand?"

Chen Sheng’s thoughts were clear, his mind was serene and bright, at once nodding slightly with his serpent body, his movements steady.

Miao Shan Arhat witnessed this and sighed inwardly, truly, as a reincarnated Purple Mansion, his foundation is extraordinary, grasping immediately, with insight surpassing peers.

"Good, since you’ve comprehended, next, I shall aid you in opening the aperture..."

He spoke no more, gently raised his right hand, his fingers slightly curved as if plucking a flower, the concentrated light at his fingertip, all Buddhist light gathered there.

With a light flick of his fingertip.

That thread of divine power meandered through the terrestrial energy mechanism, gradually entered the red snake’s vulnerable spot.

Buzz—

A crisp sound like a jade chime of Dao echoed from the deepest part of the serpent’s body.

His meridians trembled, his flesh resounded, even the scales on his body glimmered with a faint glazed light.

At this moment——

Within Chen Sheng’s body, from nowhere, an ethereal, void, unstained place opened up — a void aperture.

Exterior has aperture shape, interior lacks kernel rhyme.

Aperture formed but remains unlocked, possesses position but lacks owner.

Simultaneously, divine power spread, Chen Sheng felt his throat loosened, granting him articulate speech and the foundation to establish and discuss the Dao.

He raised his head and focused his gaze, the serpent head slightly lifted, the red snake body slightly coiled, performing a grand bow as a serpent, his demeanor extremely respectful:

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing the technique and refining my body, for reopening my spiritual road, allowing speech and breaking barriers."

The clear, upright, steady voice slowly reverberated throughout the vast hall.

Miao Shan Arhat nodded slightly, his gaze growing ever warmer, he gently opened his mouth and asked:

"Having illuminated the void aperture, you shall now absorb true energy, do you have a preferred spiritual Dao vein?"

Chen Sheng pondered briefly, shook his head lightly:

"This disciple, newly breaking through the reincarnation fog, remains ignorant of the Dao lineage, foolish and uninformed, asks for Master’s guidance."

Miao Shan saw his humility and composure, and was increasingly satisfied, gently spoke:

"Our Great Snow Temple is the orthodox root of the spirit vein, within the temple lies the inheritance of five Arhat paths..."

"Firstly, Sun Residence lineage —"The Golden Wheel Sutra of Dispelling Illusions and Subduing Demons"."

"Secondly, Void Sun lineage —"Void Salvation Heart Sutra"."

"Thirdly, Fangri lineage —"The Supreme Ming King’s Glazed Body"."

"Fourth and Fifth, both are Sun Star lineage —"Universal Circulation Formless Sutra" and "Great Sun Dharma Body Seal"."

He explained each inheritance distinctly, their paths, focuses, divine technique essence, future achievements, clearly and thoroughly, without reservation.

Chen Sheng listened with a calm heart, his mind instantly became clear.

These five inheritances, are essentially Buddhist Sect Purple Mansion level cultivation techniques, mastering each one allows condensation of an orthodox Arhat’s divine technique.

He silently murmured to himself:

"Five inheritances, all stem from the Sun Residence Golden Position—Fangri, Sun Residence, Void Sun, Sun Star, comprehensively covered."

"Miao Shan Arhat himself cultivates the Sun Star lineage, currently practicing the second divine technique, hence there are two Sun Star inheritances here."

He paused in deep thought, swiftly weighing the pros and cons in his mind, quietly deciding his future path.

Miao Shan saw his prolonged silence, assuming he was concerned about his previous life Dao Foundation and essence, reluctant to switch sect easily, immediately spoke again, offering utmost sincerity:

"If you are willing to diligently study our Great Snow Temple’s inheritance, I, as your mentor, can personally visit Spirit Mountain, acquire a supreme true energy for you, aiding in establishing an unparalleled foundation."

This is the largest bargaining chip he can offer.

Should the disciple insist on relearning his previous life’s technique, though regretful, he can only fulfill it.

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng remained unmoved, promptly bowed again, his voice steady and firm:

"This disciple desires to cultivate the Void Sun Golden Position lineage, studying the "Void Salvation Heart Sutra"."

He remembered clearly.

Above dimensions, Golden Positions stand.

Among the four major Sun Residence Golden Positions, only the Void Sun Golden Position remains unowned and unruled.

Golden Position without owner.

Is the best choice for Chen Sheng!

He does not wish to repeat the mistakes of his previous life in this one.

Miao Shan Arhat was momentarily stunned upon hearing, then his face finally showed sincere joy, he repeatedly exclaimed:

"Good! Very good!"

"Supreme true energy, cultivation resources, technique manuals, you need not worry about any of these. From now on, focus on your cultivation alone."

"I, as your mentor, will arrange everything for you one by one appropriately."