12. Testing The Technique

As the sun rose from the horizon, its warm light slowly spread across the Ye estate, bathing the surroundings in a soft, golden glow. The rays filtered through the window, casting gentle beams across Ye Xian room. Sitting in the lotus position, he was preparing to use the Heavenly Treasure reverse taiji.

His thoughts wandered back to the day when he was eating with the Xuan family.

.....

At the dining table, while eating, Xuan Hong mentioned, "There was a change in the ki of the environment before sunrise today."

Ye Feng nodded in agreement. "Yes, the fluctuation of ki was strange. It felt as if the energy was being drawn toward a single point."

Ye Xian, startled by their remarks, quickly steadied his emotions. So, this was the effect of Reverse Taiji... he realized. It must have absorbed the surrounding ki to aid my breakthrough, integrating it into my cultivation. It lasted nearly from midnight until sunrise...

A sense of caution settled over him. He had been too careless. If others had noticed the disturbance, it meant that using Reverse Taiji in public was far too dangerous. Clenching his fists beneath the table, he silently vowed, Next time, I must be more discreet. I cannot afford to be reckless again...

This time, however, he remained cautious, ensuring that his actions wouldn't attract unnecessary attention.

Ye Xian raises his right palm, summoning a small, half-black and half-white jade disk that projects a glowing yin-yang symbol. The two fish-like shapes at its edges remain still like stone.

In his left hand, Ye Xian retrieved an old manual from his storage pouch and unfurled it before him. This was the very manual that had once caused his cultivation deviation, forcing his realm to regress by a whole step and turning his hair gray.

It also had been a keepsake, something precious that carried the weight of a promise. Ye Feng had carefully handed it to Ye Xian that day, his expression solemn.

Ye Xian had accepted it with both hands, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. It wasn't just any object—it had once belonged to his mother. His fingers had traced its surface, lingering over the worn texture that bore silent witness to time. Then, he had noticed the sealed compartment, marked of a sign, Never Open.

Ye Feng had never broken that seal. Bound by a vow made to his wife before her passing, he had safeguarded it, waiting for the right moment to pass it on.

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Title: The Shrouded Aura and Triad Illusion Manual

Description: An ancient technique revered by elite cultivators, divided into two stages:

Stage One: The Shrouded Aura

A profound method that allows the cultivator to suppress and conceal their ki, rendering their cultivation undetectable. This technique requires only a minimal amount of ki, making it accessible even to those in the early stages of cultivation.

Stage Two: The Triad Illusion

A far more advanced technique that enables the creation of up to three illusionary copies. These copies mimic the user's movements and emanate a faint aura, becoming more refined as one's cultivation and mastery deepen. However, mastering this stage demands immense control over ki circulation.

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The manual detailed the intricate method of guiding ki through 108 inner ki entrances, each serving as a conduit for channeling power. To successfully perform the technique, ki must be circulated along specific pathways in a continuous or simultaneous flow, following a precise rhythm that required absolute focus and mastery.

Ye Xian closed his eyes, immersing his consciousness into the yin-yang projection within his mind.

The moment he wanted it to move, the jade disk trembled and appeared beneath him, the fishes slowly flicking their tails and beginning to swim in a deliberate, measured pace along the projection edge.

The movement is graceful and slow, as though time itself has no influence on them. With each flip of their tails, the surrounding energy begins to stir, responding to the ancient forces within the symbol and a surge of deep understanding flooded his mind—not in fragmented pieces, but in its entirety.

It was as if the manual, once an enigmatic puzzle, had transformed into something instinctual, something etched into the very essence of his being. What had once been complex instructions and cryptic chants now unfolded before him with absolute clarity, every intricate ki pathway unfolding before his inner sight.

His mind seemed to transcend the boundaries of time, stepping into an illusory realm where every concept within the manual was displayed before him. He saw lines of ki forming luminous trails, flowing smoothly like rivers in the night, guiding him toward absolute mastery.

A realization struck him as a bolt of divine inspiration—he had already mastered it.

No, not just mastered. He understood it on a level far beyond what ordinary cultivators could achieve.

Slowly, he began channeling his profound ki, guiding it through the designated inner ki entrances, following the technique's intricate pattern. The Reverse Taiji Treasure beneath him pulsed faintly, resonating with his ki flow, amplifying his comprehension.

The moment he willed it into action, a subtle transformation occurred.

His aura, once tangible and perceivable, began to fade, slowly dissolving into the environment. At first, the change was faint, barely perceptible. Then, in an instant—his presence vanished completely.

A profound silence filled the room.

The air around him remained undisturbed, as if he had never existed. Even the faint fluctuations of ki he naturally emitted had been completely suppressed. If someone were to scan the area with spiritual perception, they would find… nothing.

He succeeded.

Ye Xian opened his eyes. A flicker of amazement crossed his face.

This was his first time attempting the technique properly. The last time he had tried, his control had been flawed, leading to a violent backlash and the collapse of his cultivation realm. Yet now, not only had he performed it perfectly, but he had done so in a single attempt.

Even more astonishing—he had achieved this while only at the second stage of the Ki Refining Realm.

The first stage of the technique, The Shrouded Aura, required very little ki. Even in his current weakened state, he could execute it flawlessly. Normally, cultivators took years to comprehend such techniques, even with diligent study. Geniuses might take months, prodigies weeks—but for Ye Xian, it had taken mere moments.

A deep understanding of the technique settled firmly within his core, its principles now ingrained in his very being.

Perhaps… this technique had always been meant for him.

"I mastered it in a single attempt," Ye Xian murmured to himself, a sense of awe in his voice. "The technique feels as familiar as the back of my hand. I can execute it effortlessly, without a single hesitation. Does this mean that all techniques—whether simple or complex—will now be within my grasp? A mere matter of time?"

Ye Xian mind buzzed with excitement. The Shrouded Aura and Triad illusion had worked perfectly in isolation—but true mastery required real-world application. If he could use it undetected by trained cultivators, then its potential would be limitless.

Deciding to test his new learned technique, he swiftly tossed the manual back into his storage pouch and stood up. The jade projection of the Yin-Yang symbol disappeared.

Ye Xian leaped off the bed and swiftly exited his quarters. The warm sunlight bathed the academy grounds, casting long shadows across the courtyards. The sky was clear, with a light breeze carrying the faint scent of blooming spirit herbs from the medicinal gardens.

As he moved, his gaze swept across the training grounds, where numerous disciples—ranging from young novices to seasoned seniors—were engaged in martial practice. Their fists struck the air in disciplined rhythms, their bodies moving in harmony with the ki flowing through their meridians.

He paid them little mind. Instead, his focus was set on the Ye estate outer gate, where two guards stood watch.

Ye Xian slowed his steps, allowing himself to fully activate first stage of The Shrouded Aura and Triad Illusion Manual. His presence faded—his aura, his breath, even the faint disturbances in the air he would normally create.

Before proceeding, he took a moment to carefully observe his surroundings, ensuring that no one else was nearby. He had no intention of letting anyone else witness this technique just yet. The fewer people who knew of his ability, the better.

After confirming that only the two guards were present, he moved forward.

The two men were cultivators, not ordinary mortals. Even while idly conversing, their senses remained sharp, trained to detect the slightest anomalies in their surroundings.

Yet, at this moment, they sensed nothing.

One of the guards sighed, shifting his spear lazily. "Why are so many people gathering today?" he muttered.

The other guard chuckled, adjusting his stance. "Who knows? Maybe someone's about to be publicly punished again. Hah! It's always entertaining."

Ye Xian smirked. They had no idea he was already behind them.

Silently, he extended both hands, placing them on their shoulders.

"Oh, shit—who's there?!"

The two guards flinched violently, spinning around with alarm, their hands already moving toward their weapons—only to stop mid-motion when they recognized the intruder.

"Y-Young Master Ye?" one of them stammered, eyes wide in disbelief.

Ye Xian simply smiled. "Just checking things," he said lightly before turning away, casually walking back toward his quarters.

The guards exchanged bewildered glances, their earlier tension melting into dumbfounded confusion.

One scratched his head. "What the hell was that about?"

The other let out a dry chuckle. "Who knows? Maybe the Young Master is just messing with us."

Shrugging off their confusion, they resumed their usual patrol, occasionally chatting about the gathering inside the hall.

Meanwhile, Ye Xian returned to his room, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

Just as he basked in his success, he extended his spiritual perception, allowing his senses to reach outward, stretching for several dozen meters. Which is impossible and incredible feat for his cultivation level.

Suddenly, he detected movement—A servant approaching his quarters with quick steps. He retracted his spiritual perception, just as the servant arrived.

Knock.

Before the second knock could land, Ye Xian opened the door. The servant, startled by his sudden presence, hesitated before bowing respectfully.

"Oh, Young Master, the Clan Master has summoned you to the hall."

Ye Xian gaze remained calm. "Do you know why?"

"How could I?" The servant's voice was polite, but a glint of cunning flickered in his eyes.

Without a word, Ye Xian followed him toward the main hall.

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Upon arrival, Ye Xian gaze swept across the grand hall, his eyes instantly locking onto the imposing figure seated at the head of the room—Ye Tian, the patriarch of the Ye Clan.