Under the bright blue sky, the sun blazed fiercely.
It had been nearly two hours since Ye Tian left the orphanage when he finally arrived at Bi Bi Dong's residence. Guiding him was an old acquaintance he had met just yesterday—the Red Cardinal Sigma, who oversaw Martial Soul awakening affairs.
"Holy Maiden, your subordinate Sigma has brought your disciple Ye Tian for an audience."
While Sigma called out respectfully,
Ye Tian was surveying the courtyard before him, complete with pavilions and towers.
He couldn't help but curse inwardly: Damn rich people!
According to Sigma, besides the Elder Hall, the Papal Hall also contained the Saintess Hall. However, a few years ago, Bi Bi Dong had suddenly moved to this Wisteria Residence and became a recluse.
The reason for this was unknown to others, but Ye Tian knew—
Though it was better left unsaid.
As Sigma's words faded,
The two carved sandalwood doors embedded in the modest fence wall slowly opened.
Without a sound, as if gently lifted by the warm breeze.
Peering inside, the bluestone path beneath delicate feet shimmered with warm light under the sun. With a few light steps, Bi Bi Dong, dressed in casual pink-and-white attire, stood at the entrance.
"You may leave."
"Yes, your subordinate takes his leave."
Sigma said no more, bowing as he slowly retreated and departed. Over the years, everyone had grown accustomed to this version of the Holy Maiden.
"Good morning, Holy Maiden."
Ye Tian met Bi Bi Dong's gaze and greeted her calmly. His eyes held a trace of confusion—compared to yesterday, Bi Bi Dong's complexion seemed paler, her brows slightly furrowed as if enduring something.
Bi Bi Dong glanced at Ye Tian, paying no mind to his form of address, then turned and walked into the Wisteria Residence, tossing out a cold command.
"Follow me."
"..."
Ye Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his unease, and strode forward.
There was nothing to fear.
No matter how Bi Bi Dong was now, she wouldn't harm a young sprout like him.
As Ye Tian stepped inside,
Bi Bi Dong continued walking without pause, casually flicking her sleeve. The sandalwood doors slowly closed.
Ye Tian observed the several flame trees planted on either side, their trunks as thick as bowls, laden with red blossoms drooping from the branches. The petals, curled slightly from the sun's heat, lay scattered in crimson fragments across the ground. Beneath the fence wall, wisteria vines climbed in circles over flower trellises, their dense leaves blocking the sun completely. Under the trellis stood a white jade table that looked refreshingly cool.
Neatly arranged orchids lined the walls, spotlessly clean. Even the moss growing between the stone slabs was orderly.
Not long after stepping inside,
Ye Tian felt that even the sunlight here seemed softer than at the orphanage.
Following Bi Bi Dong across the stone arch bridge,
He saw clear running water below, so transparent he could see the bottom. Fish darted among the lotus leaves, slipping into the crevices of the artificial mountain rocks along the current.
On the other side of the bridge stood the main pavilion, its upturned eaves adorned with bronze bells. Though the wind didn't ring them, they accentuated the glazed tiles on the eaves—a rare peacock blue, shimmering with fragmented light under the sun.
Passing through the slightly winding corridor,
Several towers lay hidden behind banana leaves.
Vermilion window lattices half-opened, faintly revealing ice-crack patterned gauze curtains hanging inside.
This classically luxurious residence truly broadened Ye Tian's horizons. He never imagined he would one day live in such a top-tier, retro-style mansion!
So damn impressive!
Every day, he envied the rich.
"Come in."
Arriving at the central pavilion, Bi Bidong's voice was noticeably colder than before.
The spreading murderous intent instantly extinguished Ye Tian's interest in garden strolls. He now understood why Bi Bidong seemed unsettled.
Focusing his mind, he followed her inside.
Glancing at the half-open master bedroom door, Ye Tian hesitated briefly before stepping through.
The air was suffused with elegant, crisp agarwood fragrance.
Ye Tian's gradually tensing nerves began to relax again. His calm gaze swept across the tea tables, sofas, dressing tables, and soft couches - simple layouts with extravagant materials, maintaining their ostentatious style!
"Come here. Take this and study it."
Hearing Bi Bidong's voice, Ye Tian remained silent as usual. Approaching the bedside as instructed, he observed the woman seated before him.
Curiously, he reached out to accept the small booklet she handed him.
"Mimetic Meditation?"
Seeing the words on the cover, Ye Tian's interest was immediately piqued. Without waiting for further explanation from Bi Bidong, he quickly began flipping through the pages.
His dark eyes sparkled with intensity.
Meditation was no stranger to Ye Tian. As someone who had practiced Taoism in his previous life, he had maintained the habit of meditating for half an hour before bed every night - a practice that continued to this day.
He had also encountered meditation techniques that could cultivate Soul Power before,
and had mastered them thoroughly.
After all, Spirit Hall City was the sacred land for all Soul Masters.
The orphanage school didn't just teach reading and writing - they also instructed in the most basic meditation methods.
The meditation technique Bi Bidong provided was clearly top-tier.
In less than fifteen minutes,
Ye Tian closed the booklet under Bi Bidong's astonished gaze and handed it back to her.
"Hmm?"
Bi Bidong frowned.
"Can't understand it?"
"No, I've already learned it."
Ye Tian shook his head, confidence overflowing in his smiling expression.
"..."
Bi Bidong stared at Ye Tian, her brow furrowed.
Had Ye Tian said he remembered it, she might have believed him. But claiming to have learned it? Was that even possible?
This meditation technique wasn't something that could be mastered overnight!
Even she had taken several days just to grasp the basics, requiring three months to achieve mastery - constructing a spiderweb-filled demonic abyss in her mental world.
"Are you certain?"
Bi Bidong fixed her gaze on Ye Tian, questioning him again.
"Of course."
Ye Tian responded with conviction.
This meditation technique seemed tailor-made for him and his Martial Soul!
"Heh."
Bi Bidong let out a contemptuous sneer, snatching the booklet back. Glancing toward the foot of the bed, she commanded:
"Then sit down and begin practicing."
"Alright."
Ye Tian had been eager to try it out.
Without concern for whose bed it was, he removed his shoes and climbed up to sit in the lotus position.
His movements were exceptionally fluid.
Ye Tian slowly closed his eyes, relaxing his arms to let them hang naturally, his small hands overlapping at his dantian.
Embracing the Core to Meet the Divine.
Witnessing Ye Tian's practiced demeanor, Bi Bidong felt slightly surprised but remained unimpressed.
Merely going through the motions.
The essence of Mimetic Meditation didn't lie in these superficial postures.
Ye Tian gradually emptied his thoughts.
Activating his Martial Soul, he slowly immersed himself in this first practice session.
A translucent, flawless Pill materialized between his overlapping palms. White, Auspicious Cloud-like mist drifted out, swirling around Ye Tian and filling the entire room with a faint medicinal fragrance.
Tranquility reaching far, calming the mind and reducing agitation, focusing spirit and dispelling inner heat...
Inhaling the Pill's fragrance, Bi Bidong suddenly felt the accumulated gloom in her chest slowly dissipating, her breathing becoming smooth, her body feeling lighter.
This was precisely the key reason she had begun considering taking him as a disciple.
It was also the role Ye Tian could fulfill right now.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.
Within just a few breaths.
Ye Tian had already found the most comfortable breathing rhythm—his breaths were long, steady, yet light and swift.
Meanwhile, Bi Bi Dong, who had been carefully savoring the medicinal fragrance, frowned slightly before suddenly widening her eyes in disbelief, staring at Ye Tian as the scent grew increasingly potent.
How could this be?!
Had this little brat already grasped the basics?!