Nine Astra Skies

Ye Chen digested the situation before him and then proceeded to whip out Palms Puncturing the Cosmos. The mantras in the manual were not of much help to him, but on the other hand, the martial techniques were quite good. They all boasted a martial technique of Tier Si at the very least, which was what Ye Chen desperately needed.

Cultivation systems were only useful for cultivating one's Celestial Chi. In order to refine said Chi into combat ability, one would have to learn martial techniques.

After one has mastered the Nina Astra Skies, they can master virtually any other martial technique.

Ye Chen flipped open the pages of Palms Puncturing the Cosmos and skimmed through it.

The first form of Palms Puncturing the Cosmos – Crimson Clouds Searing Skies!

A lower Sixth Tier martial technique!

Even the martial techniques back at Ye Castle were upper Tier Three at most. Save for those smart alecs from the elite families, Ye Chen could practically obliterate anyone on his level if he mastered a Sixth Tier martial technique.

According to his findings, the martial techniques inscribed within the manual should be combinations of fire and metal elemental martial techniques, which was evident by the fiery characteristic for the current form of Crimson Clouds Searing Skies.

Sixth Tier martial techniques were obviously much more intricate compared to their Tier Three counterparts, Ye Chen thought as he read on.

The cultivation of a high-tier martial technique was divided into six stages – Minor Advance, Minor Adroitness, Minor Arete, True Advance, True Adroitness and, True Arete. Additionally, the Palms Puncturing the Cosmos consisted of six forms – Crimson Cloud Searing Skies, Fury of Shattering Earth, Kunlun Sundering the Mountains, Heavenly King Rupturing the Sun, Rage Against the Horizon, and Usurper of the Welkin. Each form surpassed its predecessor in its might and of course, difficulty. Only by mastering the preceding martial technique to the state of True Advance would one be allowed to progress onward. Once all six forms were successfully mastered, they combined to form an unrivaled martial technique!

To Ye Chen, getting the hang of the martial technique was not a huge deal. The true challenge lied within cultivating it to the state of True Advance, as that would take a considerable amount of trial-and-error.

For now, Ye Chen memorized the incantations to Crimson Cloud Searing Skies and pondered in silence, when he suddenly had an epiphany.

Channeling the Blazing Discourse from Nine Astra Skies, a blazing aura enveloped Ye Chen. He howled, Crimson Cloud Searing Skies!

Ye Chen's blazing right fist mirrored the dance of a flare. Flexing his hand, the grass surrounding him was engulfed in flames and disintegrated into nothingness.

His first time casting a Sixth Tier martial technique and he had already achieved the Minor Advance stage. The other elite combatants would surely be astounded if they had witnessed this.

The effort required to cast a Sixth Tier martial technique in comparison to a Tier Three martial technique was significantly higher. In fact, some practitioners could spend years upon years honing it to no avail, yet all Ye Chen did was take one look at the manual and he was already able to replicate it seamlessly.

"That was a little too weak. Compared to the intensity levels described by the manual, it can't compete." Ye Chen frowned and went back to casting Crimson Cloud Searing Skies repeatedly until he was out of Chi. He then took a break to recuperate, before returning to fine-tune things.

Ye Chen was completely immersed in his training as Little Tanuki watched indifferently. As a result of all the intense heat Ye Chen released, it was forced to retreat into its space.

As time went on, Ye Chen would smile to himself every time he had an epiphany. A faint light lingered in the skies, nightfall was beginning to settle in. Ye Chen was so engrossed with his training that he had completely forgotten about dinner.

Ding, ding, ding, a few knocks came from the door.

Ye Chen finally paused his training, turned to open the door, and saw a tiny silhouette as he raised his head to look. It was Ye Xuan.

"Sister Ye Xuan, why are you here?"

"Dad and the elders noticed you weren't present at the dining room for dinner, so they had me send some food to you." Ye Xuan kept her head down as she replied meekly.

"Let me take that." Ye Chen felt rather touched upon noticing the trays of food in Ye Xuan's hands.

"No, let me," Ye Xuan responded, "I'll place it on the table for you."

"Sure thing. I had a little epiphany while I was training, I'm going to get back to it." Ye Chen smiled. Even though he and Ye Xuan had not spoken much, he was very fond of her kind and soft-spoken demeanor. Also, since they were family, there was no need for him to be formal about things.

Ye Xuan was momentarily taken aback when she set foot into the courtyard. The center of the court was ashen black as if it had been scorched.

"Sorry, it's a little messy here." Ye Chen smiled, his face was red. Those scorched marks were the byproduct of Crimson Cloud Searing Skies.

Ye Xuan only managed a sheepish smile and proceeded to enter Ye Chen's room to place the food down.

Ye Chen kept on refining Crimson Cloud Searing Skies. The more epiphanies he received, the more the might of the martial technique increased too. Soon enough, it would reach the Minor Adroitness stage. At the rate that things were going, he would be able to achieve Minor Arete before his trip to Yun Castle. As for the remaining forms, there was not enough time left to pick them up, unfortunately. They were much more challenging than Crimson Cloud Searing Skies and he would also need to cultivate Crimson Cloud Searing Skies to True Advance before he could progress onward.

Ye Xuan emerged from the room after a little while and stood by the side to observe Ye Chen's training.

Ye Chen only noticed Ye Xuan's presence after another half-hour had passed when he finally wrapped up his training.

"Dig in, brother Ye Chen. Food's getting cold."

"Mm." Ye Chen reciprocated with a smile.

"I better get going then, I'll be back for the plates later," said Ye Xuan.

"All right." nodded Ye Chen. He called out to Ye Xuan once again when he caught a glimpse of her meek physique. "Ye Xuan."

"What is it, brother Ye Chen?" Ye Xuan turned back to look at him.

"Don't you worry, I won't let the Yun Castle take you. If anyone's got a beef with you, you come to me, I'll show them who's boss." Ye Chen smiled nonchalantly. Given her meekness, Ye Xuan was the kind of person who would keep things to herself. To the rest of the family, she was someone worth doting on and protecting. Yun Yifei would stop aiming for the moon if it was her hand in marriage that he sought.

Ye Xuan's footsteps paused, she teared up a little and nodded stiffly.

Once Ye Xuan was out of his sight, Ye Chen returned to his room to find the food on the table covered, still rather warm. Meanwhile, the books scattered across the table had all been neatly arranged, making everything seem tidy once more.

Ye Chen couldn't keep himself from smiling. Ye Xuan was never much of a chatterbox and despite being the pride of the family, she never once displayed a sense of entitlement. She was kind and down-to-earth, forever caring about her loved ones to a fault. He sometimes feared that people would take advantage of her.

Ye Chen hurriedly resumed his training after he chowed down his food. Half an hour later, Ye Xuan returned for the plates.

For the entirety of the following day, Ye Chen remained in his abode to perfect the art of Crimson Cloud Searing Skies. One cast after the other, followed by rounds and rounds of food delivered either by Xuan or Rou.

Things were a little more complicated between Ye Chen and Rou. Even though he thought of her as a little sister, he knew deep down that their feelings for one another ran deeper than that. With Xuan, it was a clear matter of blood is thicker than water, no questions asked.

As the evening drew closer, Ye Chen successfully perfected the martial technique to the Minor Arete stage. He was now able to wield two-thirds of Crimson Cloud Searing Skies full power, and while that his limit, the raw power of a Sixth Tier martial technique was still something to behold.

Just like always, feet on the ground, Blazing Discourse channeled. Soon, Ye Chen descended into a state of inexplicable trance, his feet now slightly arched, a fist outward and a howl, Crimson Cloud Searing Skies!

Columns of flame roared proudly while heatwaves poured out continuously. Crimson-colored skies enveloped the grounds within a few feet away, torching everything to the ground.

From afar, the heat waves surrounding Ye Chen seemed like skies ablaze.

Each thrust of a palm was as forceful as the previous and in every thrust, a large amount of concentrated fire-elemental Chi guaranteed to surpass Shadow Storm Talon in raw power.

It may only be Minor Arete, but not even a mid Eighth Level combatant could withstand a blow of Crimson Cloud Searing Skies from Ye Chen.

...