The small, intricately carved wooden training dummy sat innocuously by Kenji's dwelling door, a seemingly harmless gift, perhaps even a token of encouragement from a well-wisher. But Kenji's True Aetherial Roots Qi, honed by recent cultivation, thrummed with a subtle warning, and the System's blaring red alert, "WARNING! Suspicious Object Detected," confirmed his chilling suspicion. Lord Valerius was truly playing dirty.
Kenji closed his dwelling door, plunging the room into a quiet, contained space. He approached the dummy cautiously, his senses on high alert. He activated his Qi Sensing (Chapter 3) and his Rune Analysis Skill (Chapter 14), focusing his entire perception on the small wooden figure. To the untrained eye, it was just a piece of carved wood, painted with standard cultivation runes. But to Kenji's System-enhanced vision, the dummy pulsed with a complex web of intricate, hidden spiritual pathways.
The System immediately overlaid his vision with a dazzling array of glowing lines and intersecting spiritual currents, revealing the dummy's true, sinister nature.
Anomaly: Arcane Construct Detected.Type: High-Grade Qi Drain & Spiritual Interference.Threat: Severe (Designed for pre-duel incapacitation).Origin: House of Valerius Arcane Arts.
Kenji's jaw clenched. This was far more sophisticated than the simple perimeter rune Kaito and Jax had tried to lay (Chapter 14). This was a specialized, targeted construct, intricately woven with the dummy's very essence. Lord Valerius hadn't just placed a trap; he had placed an insidious, spiritual poison that would slowly, subtly, drain Kenji's Qi, interfere with his meridians, and induce a profound spiritual fatigue, making him an easy target in the arena. Valerius wasn't leaving anything to chance. His confidence was built on this unseen sabotage.
Kenji's initial surge of anger gave way to a cold, analytical resolve. He had detected it. Now, he needed to dismantle it. And better yet, to turn it. The System promptly displayed the options, its blue text precise and clear.
Recommendation: Initiate Counter-Sabotage Protocol.Method 1: Passive Disabling (Requires sustained Qi infusion, subtle manipulation).Method 2: Active Reversal (Requires precise Rune Analysis + Qi Condensation Level 3 or higher, high risk).Method 3: System Auto-Dismantle (Cost: 5 System Points).
Kenji frowned. He currently had 10.5 System Points (from Master Thorne's rescue, Chapter 16). 5 SP was a significant cost, one he wanted to avoid unless absolutely necessary, especially with his upcoming duel. Passive Disabling was an option, but too slow, too risky if Valerius's faction had a detection rune. Active Reversal, however, intrigued him. It was high risk, but promised a decisive outcome, and he was now Qi Condensation Level 4. It required a higher cultivation level than he'd publicly revealed, but he had it.
He chose Method 2: Active Reversal. The System confirmed, then overlaid his vision with a dizzyingly complex diagram of the arcane construct. It highlighted specific nodes within the dummy, precise pathways to channel his Qi, and the exact timing required to not just disable the construct, but to reverse its effect, making it capable of draining the Qi of its creator if activated. It was a masterpiece of counter-engineering, a digital blueprint for turning the tables.
Kenji spent the next few hours meticulously practicing the Qi flow, the precise mental commands, the intricate manipulations. He worked in complete silence, his body rigid with focus. His True Aetherial Roots Qi flowed with unparalleled purity, allowing him to subtly perceive the construct's internal mechanisms. He poured his entire concentration into the task, every ounce of his analytical mind dissecting the System's complex instructions, every fiber of his spiritual essence obeying his will.
It was a delicate, high-stakes operation. A single misstep could either alert Valerius's faction, cause the dummy to explode, or even backlash onto Kenji himself. He felt the cold sweat bead on his forehead as he carefully channeled threads of his Qi, nudging the construct's internal energy flow, subtly twisting its intended purpose. He worked until his spiritual Qi was almost depleted, and his mind throbbed with the intensity of the effort. But finally, with a soft, almost imperceptible click that resonated only in his enhanced senses, the construct's internal Qi flow settled into a new, inverted pattern.
The System glowed green. Arcane Construct: Reversed. Status: Dormant (Ready for Activation).
Kenji let out a long, slow breath, a profound sense of satisfaction washing over him. Lord Valerius's trap was no longer a threat. It was a weapon waiting to be wielded against its owner.
The next morning, Kenji continued his duel preparations in the training grounds, feigning a slight fatigue, allowing a subtle grimace to cross his face during particularly strenuous exercises. He wanted Valerius to remain confident, to believe his plan was working. He felt the smug, observing stares from Valerius's faction, their barely concealed triumphant grins. Kenji simply endured, focusing on his breathing, conserving his true strength.
Later that day, as Kenji was leaving the Great Spiritbeast Hall, Master Thorne intercepted him. The Elder looked grim, his usual stoicism replaced by a deep concern. He led Kenji to a secluded meditation garden, its spiritual Qi rich and calming.
"Kenji," Master Thorne began, his voice low, his eyes piercing. "I sensed a disruption of arcane energies near your dwelling last night. A subtle tremor. It was gone quickly, but it was there. Have you… been approached by anything unusual?" His gaze was probing, cautious.
Kenji feigned a slight hesitation, then shook his head. "I slept deeply, Master. Perhaps it was a rogue Qi fluctuation. My dwelling's wards are strong." He offered a small, reassuring smile, subtly diverting the suspicion. He couldn't tell Master Thorne about Valerius's trap, not without revealing his own counter-sabotage, and the extent of his hidden abilities.
Master Thorne studied him for a long moment, then sighed, seemingly accepting Kenji's explanation, though his eyes still held a flicker of doubt. He then produced a small, ancient scroll. "Perhaps. But a wise cultivator is always prepared. The duel with Lord Valerius approaches. He is cunning. His family uses subtle, insidious arts. His Qi Condensation Level 3 is strong, but his true strength lies in his ancient techniques, passed down through his noble house. They are secrets."
Master Thorne unrolled the scroll. "This is an old technique, Kenji. 'Formless Flow.' It's a Qi manipulation method. Not for combat, but for defense. It allows a cultivator to subtly redirect ambient Qi, to make their own spiritual presence less 'solid,' more ephemeral. It is incredibly difficult to master, requiring immense Qi control, but it can protect against Qi-draining effects and certain types of arcane binding. It requires a profound understanding of Qi, far beyond what your current cultivation normally permits." He looked at Kenji. "But your 'Inheritance'… your true spiritual roots… perhaps you can grasp its essence, even at your level."
Kenji stared at the scroll. His mind, already refined by the System's analysis of the arcane dummy, immediately recognized the fundamental principles Master Thorne was describing. This 'Formless Flow' technique was exactly what he needed. It wasn't a combat skill, but a powerful defensive art that could counter Lord Valerius's hidden tactics. More importantly, it synergized perfectly with his True Aetherial Roots and his refined Qi Sensing. The System, in his mind's eye, immediately began to process the scroll's contents, mapping its intricate pathways onto his own spiritual network.
System Notification: Cultivation Technique Discovered: Formless Flow.Compatibility: High (True Aetherial Roots).Recommendation: Integrate with existing cultivation path.Reward: Rival's Weakness Exploit Skill.
Kenji felt a surge of exhilaration. This was it. Master Thorne, unknowingly, had given him the final piece of the puzzle. The "Rival's Weakness Exploit Skill" was now within reach. He simply had to integrate this technique.
"Thank you, Master Thorne," Kenji said, his voice sincere. "I will study this diligently. I will prepare."
Master Thorne nodded, a faint, weary smile on his face. "Good. Do not underestimate him, Kenji. Lord Valerius has a powerful network. Win this duel, and your position in the Emberlight Sanctum will be undeniable. But if you fall… the consequences will be severe." He walked away, leaving Kenji with the ancient scroll and a profound sense of gratitude.
Kenji returned to his dwelling, his mind buzzing. He immediately began to study and integrate the 'Formless Flow' technique. The System's precise guidance allowed him to bypass the usual decades of trial and error required for such a subtle art. His True Aetherial Roots, uniquely pure and capable of flexible Qi manipulation, seemed to instinctively grasp the technique, far beyond what any normal Qi Condensation Level 4 cultivator could manage. He practiced making his spiritual presence subtly shift, flicker, become elusive. He felt his Qi flow like mist, intangible, untouchable. This would render any Qi-draining or binding runes useless against him.
By the eve of the duel, Kenji stood before the polished mirror in his dwelling. His form was still that of a young man, but his eyes held a profound depth, a quiet power that spoke of countless trials and hidden triumphs. He channeled his Qi, and his spiritual presence shimmered, becoming almost imperceptible, a ghost-like echo in the room. He was ready.
He looked at his reflection, the faint glow around his eyes hinting at the incredible power of his True Aetherial Roots. He remembered Lord Valerius's smug confidence, his arrogant sneers, his underestimation. A cold, determined smile touched Kenji's lips.
"You thought you had me trapped, Lord Valerius," Kenji whispered to his reflection, his voice low, filled with a quiet certainty. "You thought you could sabotage me with your hidden arcane constructs, your subtle poisons. But this time… the hunter becomes the hunted."