What was that? Wei Yixian quickly lowered his head again. He’d felt a strange, piercing gaze, but he dismissed it. The masters of the Taiyue Sect weren’t here to flaunt their power, after all. Still, their energy was a palpable presence. The transcendent aura of Mount Taiyue, the very heart of Taoism, was nothing like the crude martial spirit of the Wei family. The depth of their internal cultivation was so profound it manifested as a cool, cleansing sensation against the skin, a mystery in itself. “Raise your heads. We did not come here to boast of our strength.” Yue Yixin’s voice was still laced with a hint of amusement. The gathered family members quickly stood and straightened their postures. The family head, Wei Daming, wiped a sheen of cold sweat from his forehead before speaking. “My apologies for the discourtesy. It is a failing on our part to keep the esteemed masters of Taiyue standing. Please, allow me to guide you inside.” Following the family head, the masters of the Taiyue Sect began to walk. As Yue Yixin passed the line of family members, she cast another peculiar glance at Wei Yixian. “It seems she noticed me.” “Not you, she was looking at me.” The whispered bickering that started behind him was an irritation. What did it matter which of them the esteemed elder of the Taiyue Sect looked at? It wasn’t as if she was going to take anyone as a disciple. Wei Yixian turned away, lost in thought, and headed for the training ground. There was nothing more he could learn from the Wei family’s martial arts. So, what should he train in next? To stand before the imposing aura of the Taiyue Sect masters just after mastering one of his family's techniques had completely shifted his perspective. The taste of achievement was beginning to overwhelm his old reluctance. The sword… Should I train in the sword next? What would it feel like to reach the pinnacle of achievement with a proper sword technique? Recalling the formulas of the Wei Clan Divine Sword, Yixian meticulously deconstructed them in his mind as he walked. His steps felt light. The rest of the household was bustling, but the training ground where the boy now stood was perfectly still. He assumed a middle stance, raising his sword to his chest. His breathing was calm. The deepened breath cultivated by his Wei Family Body-Forging Art filled his lungs like a gathering cloud with each inhale. With each exhale, it washed away his distractions like rain cleansing the earth. Yixian entered a state of pure focus. With every breath, he became one with the sword. Wei Clan Divine Sword, Form of Blossoming Energy and Elegance. The sword moved. The Wei Clan Divine Sword, with its three principles and twenty-one forms, was certainly grand. It even carried the distinctive feel of Taoist mysticism, though it was only a partial integration of the Taiyue Sect’s techniques. Had it been a true technique from the main sect, it would have been both grand and mysterious. The Wei Clan Divine Sword was merely grand. It felt unnatural, like a worldly swordsman putting on the airs of a Taoist. Before the thought could even fully form, Yixian felt its truth instinctively. What does a worldly swordsman seek from a Taoist lineage? Wealth and fame. If an obstacle appears in his path, he need only cut it down. And what does a swordsman without depth require? Speed. The sword must be fast. Shiiik! The movement of his sword changed. The blade, which he had wielded with a deliberate weight, now felt impossibly light. Energy coursed through his entire body, following this new intention. The qi from his Wei Family Body-Forging Art surged, coiling in his muscles with a new, volatile purpose. A sword technique born of pure speed cleaved a new path through the air. Sssst! A sharp hiss tore through the night, startling birds from their roosts. It was a strike found nowhere in the Wei Clan Divine Sword. It was a completely new sword principle. “Haa.” He exhaled slowly, a deep sense of accomplishment settling over him. Wei Yixian looked down at the hand holding the sword. When he began, he had gripped it tightly with all five fingers, just as the Wei Clan Divine Sword’s method dictated. But now, his thumb and index finger had naturally loosened their hold. This was it. “This is speed.” The boy was thrilled. To realize the principle of the speed sword and create a new technique in a single moment… It was nothing like the meticulous, patient work of completing the Wei Family Body-Forging Art, which had felt like stitching a garment thread by thread. A single glimpse of the Taiyue Sect masters had given him inspiration, and from it, he’d forged a new plaything for himself. “This is fun. Truly.” After practicing the newly acquired speed sword technique a few more times, Yixian suddenly looked up. The sky was a sheet of black silk, the clouds having swallowed the moon and stars entirely. If I want to train my dynamic techniques at dawn, I should sleep now. With a satisfied smile, he headed for his room. His body, honed by the Wei Family Body-Forging Art, hadn’t produced a single drop of sweat. The boy felt no need to wash and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. After waking early and completing his dawn training, Yixian went straight to the breakfast hall. Normally, he would have a servant bring a meal to his room, but this time was different. The family head would surely be dining with the Taiyue Sect masters, whose length of stay was still uncertain. A little shamelessness is a small price to pay. Just seeing their profound energy had already sparked an epiphany. The boy, having tasted true achievement, boldly joined the family breakfast. He paid no mind to the surprised looks from his relatives. Yixian fixed his gaze on the Taiyue Sect members seated at the head of the table. “Ahem. Since you are here, take a seat,” Wei Daming grumbled, clearing his throat. It would be unseemly to reprimand his son in front of such distinguished guests. This was exactly what Yixian had counted on. The meal began. The boy, trying not to be obvious, studied Yue Yixin and the other Taiyue Sect members. What kind of training, he wondered, was needed to cultivate the serene energy they exuded? It was a clear, bright aura, as if carried down directly from the peaks of Mount Taiyue. Just then, his eyes met Elder Yue Yixin’s. She offered him a warm smile. “The family head’s third son has remarkably clear eyes. He seems quite bright.” “Ah…! My deepest apologies. My third son is… undisciplined.” The startled Daming drew back slightly, shooting a glare at Yixian. The boy simply lowered his head a little and continued picking at his vegetables. Strangely, Yixin’s gentle smile was more intimidating than Daming’s open scowl. There was something more to it. It’s not just clear. It’s deep. Is this what they call supreme power? It was the first time he had ever seen someone whose accumulated inner energy radiated so naturally from their body. It wasn’t visible, but it was distinctly felt. His entire understanding of how powerful inner energy could become had just been shattered. Wei Family Body-Forging Art isn’t the end. It can be developed further. The vegetables on his chopsticks stopped midway to his mouth. He had just glimpsed the genesis of a new martial art. Thinking back, all he had ever refined with the Wei Family Body-Forging Art was his physical body. How foolish not to realize there was a realm beyond that. But with his family’s indifference and subtle hostility, there had never been anyone to teach him. The body is a vessel. To have an aura like theirs, I must refine my qi. What he had done wasn’t wrong. In fact, it had allowed him to build a solid foundation, a perfect vessel for his qi to circulate within. Clean the vessel first, then fill it with energy. Now, it was time to pour the energy in. Yixian had grasped a principle that was at once the most fundamental and the most profound. His Wei Family Body-Forging Art could ascend to a higher level. It would evolve once more and transform into a new martial art. This time, it’s true internal training. He hummed to himself, a silent, internal song of joy. Countless bolts of inspiration struck his mind. Numerous methods for receiving the energy of heaven and earth began to intertwine, forming a new structure. What should I call the technique that follows the Wei Family Body-Forging Art? For a fleeting moment, the boy’s eyes gleamed with a sky-blue light. Of all the people in the room, only Yue Yixin of Taiyue noticed. A flicker of doubt crossed her otherworldly, beautiful face. “This place has a better energy field than I expected.” “Indeed. It’s understandable why the Myriad Blade Pavilion would covet such a land.” The two Taiyue Sect disciples who had accompanied the elders were speaking. Yue Yixin and the three other martial artists were having tea in a guest room provided by the Wei family head. The room was meticulously arranged, and a subtle fragrance hung in the air, a clear acknowledgment of their status as members of the Nine Great Sects. “It is certain they will come. The plan to counter them is sound, but… I still worry about the sacrifices this family might have to make,” said Yue Yixin. “We will keep our senses open at all times.” “We should be able to intercept and defeat them before they even cross the walls.” Confidence radiated from the faces of the two disciples, both men over thirty. Yixin, sensing the power they emitted, said no more. They were the elite of the Taiyue Sect, after all. Theirs was not a confidence born of recklessness. She changed the subject. “Did you approve of the child you are meant to tutor?” “I’m not sure.” “I feel the same.” Having lived for more than two centuries, Yixin could often discern a person’s character from a single meeting. The second son of the Wei family had not struck her as exceptional. “On the contrary, the third son’s eyes were quite focused.” “I saw the same.” “He is not of an ordinary mold. He may one day be known as this family’s representative sword. But if he were to become a disciple of our main sect, he could not inherit the family business. That is likely why the family head is sending the second son instead.” Though Yixin’s words were speculative, her tone was one of near certainty. The two disciples were surprised. “Is he that remarkable?” “Then perhaps we should consider taking the third son to the main sect…” “That would violate the rules. The main sect has already designated its disciple. Even if we were to change our minds now, the family head would not accept it. The grand affairs of the Great Taiyue are not to be taken lightly.” The elder’s low, admonishing tone made the disciples lower their heads, ashamed of their careless words. Meanwhile, Yixin tapped the table with her long, elegant fingers. That boy is indeed peculiar. There was a persistent aura of strangeness around him. It wasn't the kind of talent the noble families described as being ‘favored by great nature.’ If that were the case, she would have seen the telltale phenomena enveloping him. This was something else entirely. It was as if he stood apart from the world, a solitary figure sharply defined against a blurred backdrop. As one who communed with the heavens, a practitioner of extreme internal energy like Yue Yixin could sometimes experience profound abilities through the Tianmen Acupoint at the crown of her head. On occasion, her upper Dantian granted her glimpses that were akin to foresight. For her to feel such an unusual sensation from the boy meant he was undoubtedly extraordinary. But this was not the time to concern herself with him. “The Myriad Blade Pavilion is a formidable enemy. Do not let your guard down. Continue to sharpen your sword techniques.” After breakfast, Wei Yixian received a visit from the chief steward. The purpose was just as he’d expected. The chief steward’s dignified face was etched with worry as he faced Wei Yixian. “Chief Steward.” “Third Young Master.” “Have I done something wrong? I so often find myself asking that question.” “Third Young Master.” “Is it because my birth exhausted my mother's vital energy? Is that why I'm forbidden from even showing my face to our honored guests?” “…It is the will of the family head,” the chief steward replied. Seeing the pained look on the man’s face, Wei Yixian fell silent. The chief steward was a good man. Regardless of his own feelings, he had to carry out the family’s affairs as an extension of Wei Daming, the family head. At times like this, he missed the maternal family he had never met. Yet the Wei family never sent him to them. Yixian’s mother’s family was connected to a powerful faction. And though they had never once sought out their grandson after his mother’s death, the Wei family members who scorned him still treated the connection with a guarded, awkward respect. “I’m sorry,” the boy said. A look of pity briefly crossed the chief steward’s face. “I understand the equipment in the training hall is lacking. I will ensure it is replenished.” “Thank you. I’ll be waiting.” As Yixian turned to leave, he felt a pang of regret. The enlightenment he’d gained from observing the Taiyue masters had made him impatient, almost childish. It wasn’t like him. I need to focus on refining my internal training. He regulated his breathing, falling back on the principles of the Wei Family Body-Forging Art to calm his racing mind.

Chapter 3: Their Palpable Presence