C11 Two Happy Events Had Arrived!

Ye Xuan made his way steadily forward and soon reached the entrance of the herbal garden.

"Hey, you just took off without waiting for me," came Bai Lan'er's slightly irritated voice from behind.

Ye Xuan turned to see the girl trailing him and apologized, "Sorry, I got a bit carried away."

"You're headed back now, aren't you?" Ye Xuan inquired further.

"With the herbal garden closing soon, I certainly have to head back," Bai Lan'er replied, her beautiful eyes twinkling as she spoke to Ye Xuan.

"But the Inner Sect Assessment is coming up in a few days. You're planning to take part, right?" Bai Lan'er's gaze fixed on Ye Xuan. She believed that Ye Xuan was capable of passing the Inner Sect Assessment, especially since he had single-handedly defeated a mutated corpse flower at the fifth level of the Whispering Souls Realm.

The level of strength required for the Inner Sect Assessment was around the fourth level of the Whispering Souls. For Ye Xuan, it should be a breeze.

"Yes, I'll be participating in the Inner Sect Assessment," Ye Xuan confirmed, looking towards the Inner Sect before turning back to Bai Lan'er. He couldn't afford to miss this opportunity to rapidly enhance his abilities. The training conditions and resources available in the Inner Sect were incomparable to those of the Outer Sect.

"Hehe, then I'll be waiting for you in the Inner Sect. Don't take it lightly, though. Every year, there are those who miss out on becoming Inner Sect disciples for that very reason," Bai Lan'er warned Ye Xuan with a serious expression.

"I'll keep that in mind. I need to head back now, so goodbye!" Ye Xuan waved to Bai Lan'er and set off toward his dwelling. It was time to refine the elixirs he had gathered from the herbal garden and elevate his strength to prepare for the upcoming Inner Sect Assessment.

Watching Ye Xuan's retreating figure, Bai Lan'er clenched her fists and huffed, "Hmph, everyone else can't wait to spend more time with me, but you act as if I'm some kind of monster, doing everything possible to avoid my company."

With that thought, Bai Lan'er puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and swayed her two lively ponytails as she made her way toward the Inner Sect.

Her silhouette elongated under the setting sun, and in the soft glow of dusk, she appeared tranquil and ethereal.

Upon returning to his residence, Ye Xuan didn't rush to refine the elixir. Instead, he settled into a cross-legged position and methodically brought himself to peak condition. He knew that cultivating in optimal state could yield double the results with half the effort. Moreover, his practice would proceed much more smoothly, free from the risk of mental disarray.

After roughly the duration of two to three incense sticks, the neighboring house erupted into noise, likely from disciples returning from the herbal garden. Ye Xuan was relieved he hadn't started refining the elixir yet; the clamor would have surely been a distraction. While it wouldn't have a significant impact on him, it could still hinder the refinement and absorption process, potentially resulting in a regrettable loss.

Once the commotion next door had died down, and after an additional period of silence lasting the burning time of one incense stick, Ye Xuan finally commenced the absorption of the elixir.

Extracting a stalk of elixir from his cloth bag, the dim room was faintly illuminated by its soft red glow, which chased away some of the shadows. This top grade Mana Herb was rich in spiritual energy, which he needed to assimilate through his cultivation technique, transforming it into his own vital force. This process was essential for enhancing his vital force foundation, and through consistent accumulation, he would eventually reach a breakthrough.

With his eyes closed, Ye Xuan began to channel the Prismatic Mantra. Instantly, a stream of spiritual energy flowed from the elixir into his body. As he felt the energy coursing through him, he continued to guide it with the Prismatic Mantra into his Qi Sea. The influx of spiritual energy caused a noticeable increase in his vital force.

Bolstered by the growth of his vital force, Ye Xuan's determination intensified. He could distinctly sense the barrier impeding his advancement. Breaking through this barrier would allow him to ascend to the fourth level of the Whispering Souls. Achieving this breakthrough, however, would require an exceptional amount of energy or spiritual energy.

Ye Xuan currently had no reason to worry. He had harvested a plentiful supply of elixirs from the herbal garden, enough to ensure that even if he exhausted them all without breaking through, he still had the precious Spirit Bead in reserve. This resource was even more valuable than the elixirs, containing several times the amount of spiritual energy.

Now, Ye Xuan could simply focus on absorbing as much as he pleased!

After some time, the top-grade Mana Herb in his hand turned to powder and drifted away, yet Ye Xuan had not achieved a breakthrough. The barrier he felt became even more tangible.

"Continue," Ye Xuan murmured as he took out several more Mana Herbs and began to absorb them. Time passed, and he continued the process with a few more herbs, but still no breakthrough occurred. When he absorbed the last top-grade Mana Herb from his bag, the barrier seemed to slightly give way.

Ye Xuan quickly engaged the Prismatic Mantra, directing the immense spiritual energy he had absorbed at the weakening barrier.

Boom!

The spiritual energy struck the barrier, producing a thunderous noise, and the barrier loosened further. When Ye Xuan unleashed another surge of spiritual energy, the barrier could no longer hold. It shattered, collapsing with a resounding crash!

In that instant, the vital force within Ye Xuan's Qi Sea surged, its foundation becoming more robust.

Ye Xuan had finally reached the fourth level of the Whispering Souls!

A faint smile emerged on his lips, but it quickly turned to astonishment. As he had broken through to the fourth level, the Prismatic Mantra had exhibited an unusual activity. Ye Xuan recognized this as a sign that the Prismatic Mantra was on the verge of advancing to the second level.

It was indeed a case of double joy!

It seemed that the breakthrough in the vital force realm had inadvertently triggered the advancement of his cultivation technique. Though such an occurrence was rare, it was not impossible, especially since the technique Ye Xuan practiced differed from the conventional methods of other cultivators.

Ye Xuan's grasp of the "Prismatic Mantra" was proving to be more enigmatic and extraordinary than other cultivation techniques, offering a broader scope for development.

For most cultivators, advancing to a more profound technique meant abandoning their current practice in favor of a higher-level method. However, the scarcity of advanced techniques grew exponentially with their level. In some sects and clans, only direct descendants were privileged enough to learn these coveted methods, highlighting the rarity and significance of advanced cultivation techniques.

Ye Xuan quickly centered himself, focusing on the flow of the "Prismatic Mantra." As the vital force within him moved through the prescribed pathways, it suddenly surged, racing through his body like an arrow shot from a bow or an untamed horse breaking free from its restraints.

The swift circulation of vital force within Ye Xuan generated a whistling sound, like wind tearing through a narrow pass. Eventually, the pace of the vital force slowed, settling into a tranquil state within the Qi Sea.

Though the vital force had quieted, it had become denser and more robust than before, its potential for explosive combat power significantly enhanced. Such were the transformative effects of advancing in the "Prismatic Mantra."

Currently, the "Prismatic Mantra" was at the second level, equivalent to a second-level technique. Yet, in terms of intricacy, it was on par with third-level techniques.

Now, if Ye Xuan were to confront the mutated corpse flower in the herbal garden, the battle would be far less arduous. Previously, only a surprise attack with the sword's tip had secured his victory. With his improved cultivation and the advancements in the "Prismatic Mantra," he could vanquish the creature within a dozen exchanges, and that was a cautious estimate.

The progression of the "Prismatic Mantra" also unlocked the second level shadow arts associated with it, significantly boosting his combat capabilities.

The onefold art: Prismatic Hands.

The twofold art: Prismatic Force.

To master the Prismatic Force, one must first perfect the Prismatic Hands. Only with the successful cultivation of Prismatic Hands could one's body endure the immense power of the Prismatic Force. Otherwise, attempting the Prismatic Force prematurely could result in self-injury, such as an explosive backlash to one's own palms.

Ye Xuan had become adept with the Prismatic Hands after several days of diligent practice. He had intended to showcase his skills against the mutated corpse flower, but to his surprise, the sword's tip was so incredibly sharp that it easily dispatched the creature.

He didn't even get the chance to test his abilities in a real fight!

Immersing himself in the cultivation details of the twofold art, Prismatic Force, Ye Xuan meticulously reviewed the information in his mind. After some time, he emerged from his meditative state, eyes opening to the world once more.

He now fully grasped the cultivation technique of the Prismatic Force. All that remained was for him to follow the unique method of condensing vital force as outlined by the Prismatic Force, and he would be on his way to successful cultivation.

The sky darkened progressively, like ink spreading across a canvas, devouring the last vestiges of daylight. As the final sliver of sunlight was consumed, darkness enveloped everything, casting the world into night.