Ye Xian looked at the spatial ring on the table. It shimmered faintly, practically humming with energy.
Everyone's eyes were on him—Ye Tian, Ye Feng, Meng Pan... even Ye Shen and Sheng Qinhua, who sat stiffly at the end of the table.
He slowly extended his hand and picked it up.
"Thank you, Patriarch Meng," Ye Xian said evenly, slipping the ring into his sleeve.
"I will treasure it."
The smile on Meng Pan's face widened. "Good. Very good!"
Then, with a booming laugh, Meng Pan added, "And Ye Xian—don't be so formal! No need to call me Patriarch anymore. Just call me father-in-law, haha!"
Everyone at the table laughed along stiffly, especially Ye Feng, who forced a high-pitched chuckle through clenched teeth.
Ye Xian, however, didn't laugh. He simply gave a polite nod, his expression unreadable. He didn't say a word.
Meng Pan paused for a second, his smile faltering just a little—but he quickly masked it and raised his wine cup again.
The rest of the meal passed in tense silence, with Ye Tian and Ye Feng tried their best to keep the conversation alive, showering Meng Pan with compliments and assurances.
Ye Tian leaned forward, smiling stiffly. "Patriarch Meng, once this marriage is official, the Ye and Meng clans will be like one family. We'll make sure the wedding is grand enough to shake the entire city!"
Ye Feng chimed in eagerly, "Yes, yes! And after that, maybe our younger generations can train together—we'll open all of our cultivation grounds for Meng clan "
Meng Pan nodded at their words, replying occasionally with short, half-hearted responses. His mood was already turning from cheerful to contemplative.
His eyes often drifted to Ye Xian, studying him silently, as though weighing something.
"Hmm," he said vaguely. "That's good. The younger generation needs unity and discipline. That'll help."
But he didn't elaborate.
Even though Ye Tian and Ye Feng tried to flatter him, they could sense Meng Pan's attention was slipping. It was clear that, while he had gotten what he wanted—the engagement—he didn't care much for the Ye Clan's pleasantries.
After a while, Meng Pan stood, brushing down his robe.
"This has been a good evening. I'll take my leave now."
Ye Tian and Ye Feng quickly stood with him, bowing and escorting him out with forced smiles. "Of course, Patriarch Meng Hahaha, we'll see you out!"
Meng Pan waved a hand dismissively and left with his guards.
The moment the Meng Clan was gone, Ye Tian's posture stiffened. He turned back toward the table with a sharp breath, his gaze landing on Ye Xian.
He stood abruptly.
"Don't do anything stupid, Ye Xian," he said in a low, clipped voice. "We've secured the future of the Ye Clan tonight. You will not mess this up."
Ye Feng nodded stiffly behind him, wiping sweat from his brow. "Just do what you're told. Be obedient for once."
Ye Xian didn't reply. He simply turned and walked away, his steps calm and even, leaving the echo of his silence behind him.
.
Moving back toward his residence, the sun spilled its golden rays across the stone path, casting long shadows behind him.
In the small courtyard before his residence, Ye Xian paused.
A plum tree stood there—its gnarled branches heavy with pale blossoms. He reached into his sleeve and took out the ring again, rolling it between his fingers.
"Congratulations, Brother Xian."
Ye Xian didn't turn around. He recognized that voice immediately.
Ye Shen.
Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate.
"You've made quite the leap," Ye Shen continued, stopping just a few feet away. "A crippled beauty, a powerful clan, and a fat pile of ki stones. Not bad for someone who used to be called trash."
Ye Xian turned his head slightly, he wasn't angery because he knew how much frustrated and anxious is ye Shen because of this marriage,his face calm as spoke.
"Is that envy I hear in your voice?"
Ye Shen smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Envy?" he said smoothly. "No, no. I just find it… inspiring. To see someone like you climb so high, so fast. Who knows? Maybe you'll be patriarch one day."
Inside, Ye Shen was seething.
'Damn bastard. I should've sent three men instead of two. How is he still alive?!'
But on the surface, his smile remained perfect.
Ye Xian stared at him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "If that day ever comes, I'll be sure to remember who congratulated me first."
He turned his back on Ye Shen and walked into his residence without another word. He had more important things to do than waste time with a snake like him.
Ye Xian had something on his mind—an idea he wanted to try.
Ye Xian entered his room, quietly closed the door behind him, and sat on the bed comfortably. He closed his eyes and focused until he entered his inner world.
In front of him stood a misty figure with glowing golden eyes watching him. Recognizing her, Ye Xian stepped forward slightly and said, "I'm sorry. Our conversation earlier was cut short, and I didn't even get your name. What should I call you?"
A soft, echoing voice came from the mist, calm and graceful.
".....You may call me Aureliana," she replied.
' it's a unique and interesting name'. Ye Xian thought.
"Alright, Aureliana," he said, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead," she replied.
Ye Xian asked, "During dual cultivation, I absorb the yin energy from female partner to increase my cultivation with the help of Reverse Taiji treasure. But I was wondering—is it possible to absorb ki from ki stones or from the air using the Reverse Taiji treasure?"
Ye Xian had thought this because reverse taiji formation absorb the yin essence or yin energy and transferred it to his dantian directly in the form of ki. So it could also be possible to absorb ki from ki stones with help of Reverse Taiji treasure to increase his cultivation.
Aureliana replied, "Yes, you can absorb ki not only from ki stones but the atmosphere itself. Using Taiji Reverse Formation, the process can be automatic. It will draw ki from the stones—or, if needed, from the air—and send it directly to your dantian."
Ye Xian was surprised and happy to hear that. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"You didn't ask," Aureliana replied.
He couldn't argue with that, especially since this discovery could help him greatly. Still curious, he asked, "Is there anything I should be careful about when absorbing from the air?"
"Yes," she warned. "The ambient ki here is thin. If you absorb directly from the air, nearby cultivators might sense the sudden change and investigate it. If powerful cultivators think you're using a secret technique or artifact to absorb ki, they may try to steal it—or even kill you for it."
Ye Xian nodded as he wasn't an idiot. "So, it's safer to stick with ki stones unless I'm in a remote place."
"Exactly," Aureliana confirmed.
Ye Xian then asked, "Is there anything else I should know? Anything useful?"
"When Adler's soul fragment merged with yours, his somewhat experiences and some of his techniques also became part of you. That's why your soul has become stronger, and your spiritual senses have improved."