From Death To Dominion

Ye Xian wasn't interested in the common manuals; he wanted something more. Moving toward the far end of the pavilion, he reached a seemingly ordinary section of the floor. With precise movement, he pressed down on a specific tile with his right foot—a soft click echoed, followed by the low groan of shifting stone.

Creak!

A hidden passage was revealed beneath him. Without hesitation, he descended into the dimly lit chamber below.

This underground vault held a collection of middle-grade techniques, techniques that only a select few had the privilege of accessing.

Ye Xian scanned the manuals stored in the vault, flipping through their contents. Most of them were element-based techniques, which required reaching the Element Disciple Realm before they could be utilized. Unfortunately, Ye Xian had yet to attain that level.

Only two techniques in the vault were applicable to his current realm:

1. Space Crater Palm – A powerful technique that could only be used after stepping into the Ki Warrior Realm.

2. Ki Disrupting Palm – A technique that interfered with an opponent's ki flow, throwing them off balance and weakening their attacks.

Since Space Crater Palm required a higher cultivation level, Ye Xian chose the Ki Disrupting Palm a dust-covered manual tucked away in a forgotten corner of the pavilion.

Compared to the neatly maintained scrolls on the shelves, this one was in poor condition—its cover stained, its pages slightly frayed, showing clear signs of neglect.

"Ki Disrupting Palm," the title read in faded ink.

Curious, Ye Xian picked it up and flipped through the pages. The technique detailed a precise method of striking an opponent's meridians to disrupt their ki flow, causing internal instability, weakness, and even temporary immobilization. However, the complexity of its execution made it difficult to master.

I see... That's why no one bothers to practice it.

A smirk formed on his lips. For others, this technique was abandoned as useless. But for him? It was a hidden gem.

He moved to a quiet corner of the pavilion, sitting cross-legged on the stone floor. Placing the manual before him, Ye Xian took a deep breath and summoned his Reverse Taiji Projection.

Instantly, a mystical circular diagram materialized beneath him—a vast Taiji symbol split into two distinct forces:

One half shone like gentle moonlight, radiating a calm yet profound energy. The other half was dark as polished obsidian, exuding an enigmatic, almost abyssal force.

At the heart of the projection, two opposing fish-like figures flicked their tails, gracefully swimming along the edges of the symbol with a deliberate slow speed. This was the power of Reverse Taiji, a phenomenon unique to Ye Xian, allowing him to comprehend techniques at an extraordinary speed.

Opening the Ki Disrupting Palm manual, Ye Xian carefully studied its contents.

The intricate flow of ki circulation required for the technique. The precise acupuncture points needed to disrupt an opponent's meridians. The subtle striking variations that determined the strength of the disruption.

The instructions were exhaustive, filled with dense theories and complex ki pathways, auctpunture points, making it difficult for most cultivators to grasp.

"No wonder no one practices this… But for me, this is no problem."

Closing the manual, Ye Xian felt the Taiji Reverse Projection activate fully. A mysterious force pulled his consciousness into an illusory space—a boundless void where golden characters floated in the air.

Before him, the manual expanded like a vast world, and streams of knowledge flooded directly into his mind. He could vividly feel the ki flow through his palm, the gentle yet deadly force hidden within each strike.

He was learning. Not through effort—but through direct comprehension. A confident smirk formed on his lips.

"This will be useful."

As Ye Xian fully grasped the technique, a sudden thought struck him.

The manual described acupuncture points in great detail—how striking them could hinder ki flow and immobilize an opponent. But what if, instead of a palm strike, he used his fingers for pinpoint precision?

"Ki Disrupting Finger..." he murmured.

Instead of a broad palm strike, he could tap multiple meridian points in quick succession, instantly rendering an opponent powerless. A skilled practitioner could disable an enemy without them even realizing what had happened.

This could be even more dangerous than the original technique...

A glint of excitement flashed in Ye Xian's eyes. A technique forgotten by others had now evolved into something even deadlier in his hands.

Satisfied, he rose to his feet, dusted off his robe, and carefully placed the manual back on the shelf. Then, with a swift motion of his foot, he nudged a loose floor tile back into place, sealing the hidden passage beneath the pavilion.

His mood was exceptionally good.

He had defeated an arrogant cultivator stronger than himself. He had advanced to the peak of 2nd stage of the Ki Refining Realm.

And now, he had mastered a middle-grade battle technique—one that would soon prove its worth.

As Ye Xian exited the pavilion, the night had already descended. The sky stretched vast and boundless above him, shimmering with countless stars that dotted the darkness like bright pearls.

Back in his room, he flung himself onto the bed, sinking into its comfort.

"Tomorrow will be interesting."

With that final thought, he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to take him.

As dawn broke, Ye Xian awoke feeling refreshed. He stretched lazily before getting up, washing his face, and heading toward the dining area for breakfast. The meal was simple yet nourishing, a perfect way to prepare for the day ahead.

After finishing, he left his residence and made his way toward the Ye clan martial arts ground and look the disciples practicing the cultivation techniques and swordsmanship. As he walked past the martial arts ground, he overheard a group of disciples engaged in a lively discussion.

"Did you hear? Ye Xian defeated Yang Mu with ease!" one disciple exclaimed.

"Not only that," another chimed in, "but his sword strikes were unbelievably fast. I heard Yang Mu barely had time to react!"

Hearing his name being discussed so openly, Ye Xian smirked slightly but didn't linger. Instead, he continued on his path, left the Ye estate. Arriving at academy. He eventually arriving at the Academy's Resource Hall, where missions were posted.

Now it's time to select a Mission!

The mission board was divided into categories based on cultivation levels:

Element Master Realm Missions – High-risk, high-reward missions suited for the elite.

Element Disciple Realm Missions – Suitable for intermediate cultivators.

Ki Warrior Realm Missions – Moderate difficulty with decent rewards.

Ki Refining Realm Missions – The lowest-ranked missions, but still valuable for gaining experience and resources.

As Ye Xian skimmed through the board, he noted the varying rewards under the Ki Refining Realm category:

Collect Multicolor Lizards (2x) – 20 points

Gather MoonGrass (5x) – 100 points

Find a Lost Pet – 50 points

The missions ranged from 20 points to 500 points, with higher rewards requiring more effort or greater risk. However, academy rules only permitted cultivators to take missions equal to or below their own realm—ensuring fairness and safety.

Then, something caught his attention—a merchant escort mission.

Merchant Escort to Nearby City

Participants: 10 Cultivators

1 Element Disciple Realm

3 Ki Warrior Realm

6 Ki Refining Realm

Rewards:

Ki Refining Realm Cultivators: 500 Points

Ki Warrior Realm Cultivators: 800 Points

Element Disciple Cultivator: 1000 Points

Additional Benefits: Free meals during the journey, additional ki stone rewards upon safe arrival.

Ye Xian's eyes gleamed with interest. Escorting merchants between cities was a regular and well-structured mission. Due to the Azure Sky City Elite squad Patrol, the likelihood of an ambush was low. Mission members mainly served as insurance—their presence deterred troublemakers, and in rare emergencies, they were expected to stall for time until reinforcements arrived.

"It's a safe yet rewarding mission," Ye Xian thought. "Good for gaining experience without unnecessary danger."

Scanning the participant list, he saw that 9 out of 10 slots were already filled—only one Ki Refining Realm position remained.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the mission flyer and proceeded to the registration desk.

At the registration desk, an elderly receptionist was busy with paperwork. As Ye Xian approached, the old man glanced up, his sharp eyes assessing him briefly.

"What do you need, young man?" the elder asked in a calm tone.

Ye Xian handed over the flyer. "I'd like to register for this mission."

The receptionist took the flyer, examined Ye Xian's name and cultivation level, then reached for the academy's official stamp.

Thud!

As the seal pressed onto the paper, the elder's eyes flashed strangely for a brief moment—but Ye Xian, focused on his mission, failed to notice.

Returning the stamped flyer, the old man spoke in an indifferent tone, "The mission will start in three days. Report to the city gate at the designated time with your academy identification."

Ye Xian nodded, accepting the flyer and tucking it away safely before heading toward his next destination—the classroom.

By the time he arrived at class, most of the students were already seated. He spotted Riener, who waved at him from his usual seat.