As Ximen Wei finally emerged from the labyrinthine maze, his gaze was met with a stunning sight that left him breathless. The hall was vast and grand, with rows of statues lining both sides of the room. Each statue was a tribute to a former Patriarch of the Song Family, individuals who had performed remarkable deeds and served Western Wen with distinction. These figures were no ordinary mortals, for each one of them had transcended mortality and achieved Qi Ascension, earning a place among the most feared and revered figures in the land.
The hall was filled with a palpable, oppressive aura that weighed heavily on Ximen Wei's chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. Despite this, what truly took Ximen Wei by surprise was the sight of thirty soldiers standing guard at the entrance. The sight of these armed guards was unsettling enough, but what truly sent a shiver down Ximen Wei's spine was the tyrannical presence of three Qi Cultivators, one of whom was a Level 2 Qi Trainee whose aura was nothing short of terrifying.
Ximen Wei had an ominous feeling that if he did not leave this place soon, he would be trapped in this damp and dreary dungeon forever, never to see the light of day again. The thought of being trapped in such a place was a daunting prospect, and Ximen Wei knew that he must find a way to escape before it was too late.
At that moment, Ximen Wei realized the full extent of the mistake he had made. His lack of experience in this new world had led him to underestimate the dangers posed by Qi Cultivators, and the severity with which noble families treated any perceived threats. To them, the presence of a formidable expert invading their ancestral dungeon was an affront to their dignity, a humiliation that could only be washed away with blood.
If not for the ongoing chaos in the Criminal District, the Song Family would have deployed even more experts and soldiers, possibly even a Rank 1 Qi Expert. This realization left Ximen Wei feeling overwhelmed, as he was suddenly aware of just how much danger he was in
For the Song Family, prestige and face were everything, and they would not tolerate anyone crossing that red line. With a sense of urgency, Ximen Wei didn't waste time in contemplation. His top priority was to escape, and his earlier plan was to fake his death and draw the enemy's attention away from him.
With haste, Ximen Wei retrieved the Elementary Qi Condensation Manual and swiftly memorized the mnemonic for stealth, knowing that he desperately needed a Qi Technique that would allow him to conceal himself from the enemy. With deft movements, he gestured the incantation, channeling all the power he could muster into the technique.
"Qi Technique - Cloaking!"
The Qi Particles of the Dark element converged around Ximen Wei's body, enveloping him in a cloak of darkness. As Ximen Wei observed the flow of Qi Particles, he gained newfound insight into the inner workings of Qi Techniques, shedding light on many previously shrouded mysteries.
"So this technique harnesses the surrounding Qi Particles of the Dark element to cover my body and absorb all the Qi Particles of the Light element, effectively blending me into the shadows and suppressing my aura, sound, and scent," Ximen Wei realized with sudden clarity.
With each passing moment, Ximen Wei's nerves grew increasingly tense. The aura of crisis seemed to be closing in on him, suffocating him with its weight. His energy reserves were rapidly depleting, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the Qi Technique that kept him hidden from the two remaining Qi Cultivators and the armed guards. The thought of his Qi Cloaking Technique dissipating and revealing him to the enemy was a harrowing one. He knew that the senses of Qi Cultivators were beyond what an ordinary person could comprehend. Should his technique fail, he would have no hope of escaping undetected. As the minutes ticked by, Ximen Wei held his breath, waiting for the opportune moment to make his move. He had to time his escape just right, or all would be lost. The fate of his survival hung in the balance, and he could feel the pressure mounting with each passing second.
As Ximen Wei observed the situation, he saw Dongfang and the red-haired cultivator approach Old Mao, who was stationed at the entrance of the dungeon. They appeared to be deep in discussion, and Ximen Wei could tell from their expressions that the news they brought was not good. As the time elapsed, the red-haired cultivator decided to leave the dungeon, accompanied by Dongfang, leaving behind only Old Mao and four guards, each adorned in gleaming silver armor that stood out among the others. Ximen Wei saw this as an opportunity to make his move, but he knew he had to act fast and with caution.
He tightly gripped the hilt of his dagger, focusing all of his energy and determination into his next move. With a fierce determination, he unleashed his Qi Technique - Strengthen, causing a barrage of life force-rich Qi Particles to converge around him. These particles eagerly entered his body through every possible opening, including his nostrils, mouth, ears, eyes, and pores, elevating his physical strength to unparalleled heights. Despite his youthful appearance, he was now capable of wielding a crushing power that would put even the strongest adults to shame.
With a sense of growing confidence, Ximen Wei moved on to his next technique, Qi Technique - Sharpen. This time, instead of being absorbed into his body, the swirling Qi Particles converged around his weapon, transforming it into a gleaming and deadly weapon. As he gazed upon the sharpened edge of his dagger, Ximen Wei felt a twinge of unease, as if the weapon was a sentient being that threatened his very existence. He carefully handled the dagger, acutely aware of its deadly potential.
Despite his earlier efforts, Ximen Wei felt a sense of unease settle in his chest. He knew that he needed to do more if he wanted to leave this place. Without hesitation, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and performed a complex incantation gesture, signaling the activation of his final Qi Technique - Bedevilment.
This technique was unlike any other in the Elementary Qi Condensation Manual that Ximen Wei had obtained in his prison cell. Out of the six Qi Techniques outlined in the manual, only two were not focused on combat. The first, Cloaking, increased one's stealth and masked their aura, while the second, Qi Bedevilment, was shrouded in mystery and lacked any real description in the manual. All that remained were the incantation gestures and mnemonics needed to perform it.
Despite the lack of information, Ximen Wei was insisted to use this technique to its fullest potential. He knew that it would take a tremendous amount of energy and Qi reserves, as well as his own blood, to fuel its effects.