"The breathing technique itself is a method that helps a person maintain the optimal state for cultivation and can further stimulate one's potential for growth. You can think of it as enhancing your natural talent, but in reality, the breathing technique merely activates hidden talents that you already possess but haven't used," the Qian Emperor briefly explained.

"There's such a method? It can awaken hidden talents? It can multiply comprehension by several times?" Jiang Xuan was shocked.

"People are different. How much it can improve varies from person to person. Some may only improve their comprehension by a small amount, while others may increase it several times over," the Qian Emperor replied.

In fact, these were the results of her own calculations. In her predictions, there were even cases where the improvement could be dozens of times, though the likelihood of such an outcome was very low. She didn't expect it to happen with Jiang Xuan, so she didn’t mention it.

"Even if it’s just an improvement by a small amount, it’s still incredible," Jiang Xuan exclaimed.

He widened his eyes, "Sometimes, the breakthrough in understanding martial skills could be just that little bit. If comprehension were slightly higher, one could have grasped it. An improvement in comprehension by just a small amount could already bridge the gap between mediocrity and genius, and it might even increase by several times? How is that possible? I’ve never heard of such a breathing technique before. Senior, you’ve never told me about this method before…"

In the past eight years, the Qian Emperor had taught Jiang Xuan many cultivation principles.

Thus, even though Jiang Xuan was a young man from a tribe, he was quite knowledgeable.

"Do you really need to pry into everything?" The ethereal voice of the Qian Emperor showed a hint of displeasure.

"Not really…"

"Will you learn it or not?"

"I will! I will learn! Please, Senior, teach me!"

"I can teach you, but as usual, we must set three rules first."

"Please, Senior, tell me."

"First, you must never speak of the breathing technique to anyone; it must not be spread. Second, you must practice it diligently. Third, if you encounter any issues while practicing the technique, you must report them to me immediately…"

An hour later.

The Qian Emperor had fully imparted the Ruyi Breathing Technique to Jiang Xuan.

The two ended their conversation.

"Rong’er, I know you’re confused. Ask whatever you want," the Qian Emperor glanced at the Purple-Robed Maid, and then walked gracefully towards the long table on the north side. She had been high up for too long, and no one dared to chat with her, even the closest maid, unless she started the conversation.

"Your Majesty," the maid Rong’er followed her steps. "Since you hold this little one in such high regard, why not bring him to the imperial capital?"

"Bring him here? To do what? To add another person who will look at me once, then never dare to lift their head and speak to me again?" The Qian Emperor spoke, "Besides, with his talent, he’s completely unqualified to be my disciple. The gap is too wide. Even a fifteen-year-old half-step congenital would barely qualify to be my registered disciple."

Rong’er, of course, understood how poor Jiang Xuan’s talent was.

In a small tribe, Jiang Xuan might be considered talented, but in the vast territory of the Great Qian Empire, he was utterly mediocre.

"Then why did Your Majesty pass down the breathing technique that you personally created to him?" Rong’er asked.

"There must be a first person to practice the breathing technique. Why can’t it be him?" The Qian Emperor sat down at the long table. "The breathing technique must be passed down to the people one day, but it must be done carefully. Although my calculations show no issues with it, nothing is absolute. We need a group of people to start practicing first to uncover any potential flaws."

"This little one and I have a connection... I may not be able to guide him directly, but as long as he reports his cultivation progress truthfully, I can correct any potential problems with the technique in time."

The Qian Emperor paused, then continued.

"Is it that Your Majesty is worried that even after practicing the breathing technique, he will not become a deity or demon?" Rong’er interjected.

"Yes," the Qian Emperor nodded. "For a mortal to become a deity or demon is like crossing a chasm. It’s an elevation of life’s level. If he can’t become a deity or demon, then we won’t be able to observe how they practice the breathing technique…"

"Why not find a group of people with higher talent?" Rong’er suggested.

"The higher the talent, the less effective the breathing technique is," the Qian Emperor explained. "In this world, everyone’s cultivation talent has an upper limit. I am that limit! No one’s talent can surpass mine! Those whose talent is close to mine will have only minuscule hidden talents. Even with hidden talent, they still won’t surpass me. The worse the talent, the more hidden talents they have."

"Jiang Xuan’s talent is mediocre, and that’s why he might have more hidden talent. He may have already displayed a few aspects of his talent, or even several times more... But even if his talent increases several times, it’s hard for him to become a deity or demon."

In truth, the Qian Emperor wasn’t expecting much.

She passed on the breathing technique to Jiang Xuan more because of his current situation. It was a casual gesture on her part. Regarding the testing of the breathing technique, she had already devised a plan, and Jiang Xuan was just an addition to the plan. The Qian Emperor didn’t care much about the life and death of mortals. To her, the world was something she looked down upon from above.

However, Jiang Xuan was still somewhat different.

They had known each other for eight years.

Jiang Xuan was her only "friend."

"Indeed, even if his talent increases several times, it will be hard for him to become a deity or demon," Rong’er thought aloud. "But if his talent increases dozens or even a hundred times, then even without too many cultivation resources, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to become a deity or demon."

"If he truly increases to that extent, it would mean he’s an extraordinary talent that only comes once in a millennium. It would be because the overall cultivation methods of this world are flawed, preventing him from fully utilizing his talent."

The Qian Emperor shook her head as she spoke, "The Great Qian has billions of people, and the fact that he can communicate with me through the ancient soundstone is already a strange event. Is he really the once-in-a-millennium genius who can help me perfect the breathing technique? Is such a coincidence possible?"

"Indeed... it’s highly unlikely," Rong’er agreed.

"It’s absolutely impossible," the Qian Emperor affirmed.

Jiang Xuan’s Journey Begins

At noon, on the back mountain of the Jiang Tribe’s earthen city, Wei Baiyun placed the food box down, then took the empty box back. She glanced at her son, who was sitting cross-legged on a stone, cultivating silently to heal his wounds, and didn’t disturb him. She turned and left.

Two hours later.

"This breathing technique not only clears my mind and sharpens my thinking, but even my meridian injuries are healing faster. My injuries have already recovered more than half. It’s not just improving my comprehension," Jiang Xuan opened his eyes and sighed with relief, "It’ll take just half a day more, and I should be able to master the breathing technique."

"I’m so hungry."

He patted his stomach, stood up, and walked over to the food box he had just replaced. Sitting back down, he opened the box and looked at the plentiful, exquisite dishes inside. Jiang Xuan smiled.

He knew these dishes were all made by his mother.

Jiang Xuan had been in seclusion to heal for three days.

Two mornings ago, Wei Baiyun had first brought Jiang Xuan food. The mother and son had a conversation, and Jiang Xuan made up a story about meeting a mysterious old man at the age of seven, who taught him martial arts. He glossed over his hidden half-step congenital cultivation and continued his practice of the Ruyi Breathing Technique under the pretense of healing his injuries.

Wei Baiyun didn’t press him, as his healing was the priority.

Jiang Xuan took a piece of cake from the box, then pulled out a note: My son, your mother and Yao’er are going to the city to visit your grandfather…

After reading the note carefully, Jiang Xuan frowned slightly.

"Going to ask Grandpa for help?" Jiang Xuan pondered.

The Wei family of Feixue City had long disowned Wei Baiyun. Jiang Xuan knew that this time, his mother’s visit would likely yield no results. Not to mention asking the Wei family to intervene in the tribal life-or-death battle, even requesting cultivation resources would be difficult.

"The Wei family arranged a marriage for my mother long ago, to a nobleman’s son. But my mother chose my father, and before they married, she was already pregnant with me…" Jiang Xuan had heard the story of his parents’ love from his uncles and aunts in the tribe.

He understood clearly that the Wei family considered this a tremendous disgrace.

To the great families of the big cities, tribes were just a group of barbarians. Even the strongest warriors of the tribes were nothing in their eyes.

"Well," Jiang Xuan thought, his frown easing, "Even if my mother is rejected, at least she’s taking my sister away. If I don’t survive the battle in a month, my mother and sister won’t face misfortune."

He understood that his mother took his sister along with her to ensure that, no matter the outcome, Jiang Yao would be safe.

As for Jiang Xuan himself...

He had already chosen not to leave. He had discussed it with his mother two days ago, and frankly, even if he wanted to leave now, it was impossible. He had already taken action and killed the younger brother of the Shentu tribe’s leader. Both the Inspector and the Shentu tribe would send people to monitor him, not allowing him to suddenly disappear.

After eating, Jiang Xuan returned to his cultivation state.

The night passed.

"It’s done!" Jiang Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in his gaze.

He had initially mastered the Ruyi Breathing Technique, but there were no visible signs or distinct aura fluctuations. The only change was in Jiang Xuan’s breathing rhythm, which had permanently altered, and this change was imperceptible to others.

Everyone’s breathing rhythm was different.

With the unique rhythm, the innate spiritual energy inside his body circulated in a strange way, complementing each other. Even after several days without sleep, Jiang Xuan felt his mind clearer than ever before. His perception ability had also greatly increased.

"Senior Qishi said that when the breathing technique is first mastered, comprehension will increase immediately. Over time, more hidden talents will be unlocked. I wonder how much my comprehension has improved after the initial boost."

Eagerly, Jiang Xuan pulled out a leather-bound book from his robe.

It was Chasing Wind Blade, one of the top three martial techniques in Heitan Mountain! If judged purely by its power, it would be the best sword technique in Heitan Mountain! But its cultivation difficulty was enormous. Even Jiang Hanfeng, with his talent, had only mastered the first eight styles; the ninth style remained beyond his grasp.

"My father became invincible in the Heitan Mountain area just by mastering the first eight styles of Chasing Wind Blade. I wonder how long it will take me to master one style now."

Jiang Xuan opened the book and focused on studying the fourth style, Ring Blade Style.

He was about to begin practicing!