From Death To Dominion

As they wandered through the market, the twins antics brought many amused smiles from onlookers. One accidentally spit out a mouthful of food while talking, while the other dropped a sugar cane stick, only for Ye Xian to buy her another. Their carefree laughter filled the air as the sun dipped lower, casting golden hues over the bustling streets.

By evening, both twins were visibly tired, their energy spent from exploring and feasting. Seeing their drooping eyelids, Ye Xian smiled and took their hands.

"Time to head back," he said softly.

The twins yawned in response but nodded, content with the days adventure.

As Ye Xian and the twins returned to the Ye estate, the grand entrance gates loomed before them, their intricate carvings bathed in the soft glow of the evening lanterns. As they stepped inside, a gentle yet commanding presence caught Ye Xian's eye.

Walking gracefully along the stone pathway was a woman of quiet elegance—his stepmother, Zu Qein. Though simply dressed, her beauty carried an ethereal quality, her composed demeanor making her seem almost untouched by the worlds turmoil. Beside her walked the clan patriarchs wife, a dignified woman with an air of authority befitting her status.

The moment the twins spotted their mother, an electrifying surge of energy overtook them. With gleeful squeals, they broke free from Ye Xian's grasp, their exhaustion instantly forgotten as they sprinted toward her.

"Mother!"

They cried in unison, launching themselves into her waiting arms. Zu Qein serene expression softened as she knelt slightly, enveloping her daughters in a warmth only a mother could offer.

Ye Xian approached with measured steps, offering a respectful nod. "Stepmother. Mistress Ye."

Mistress Ye returned his greeting with a slight nod of acknowledgment, her expression cool and distant. Zu Qein, however, regarded him with an unreadable gaze.

After a moment, she spoke, her voice carrying a rare warmth. "Ye Xian, thank you for looking after my daughters today. It must have been troublesome for you."

Ye Xian met her gaze steadily, sensing no malice in her words. Their relationship had always been distant, marked by an unspoken tension, yet in this fleeting moment, he recognized the sincerity in her gratitude. He inclined his head slightly. "It was no trouble at all. They were lively company."

Zu Qein's lips curved into a faint smile, her usual aloofness giving way to a brief moment of appreciation. Though the distance between them remained, this subtle acknowledgment was enough for now. Without another word, Ye Xian quietly excused himself, heading toward the resources pavilion.

At the pavilion, he received his share of cultivation resources for this month—500 ki stones, far fewer than expected, thanks to his stepmothers cunning influence. Along with the stones came exhaustion-clearing elixirs and healing pills, each chosen with care to aid his cultivation.

The ki stones were classified into five grades: Normal grade, Earth grade, Heaven grade, Immortal grade, and Divine grade.

Most cultivators relied on normal-grade resources, while the higher clans and nobles typically used earth-grade ki stones.

Heaven-grade stones were reserved for emperors and the highest echelons of power, while immortal and divine-grade treasures remained little more than legend. Should anyone ever come into possession of such items, they would hide them at all costs to avoid the greed-driven wrath of others.

Ye Xian made his way back to his quarters. He closed the door behind him, feeling a rare sense of tranquility as the weight of the day lifted. It was time to cultivate.

Seated in the lotus position, Ye Xian arranged hundreds of ki stones, each the size of a babys fist, into a perfect circle around him.

With a deep, focused breath, he summoned the reverse yin-yang projection. Two fish, one dark and the other white, floated in stillness beneath him. The projection expanded outward, covering a one-meter radius. As Ye Xian gave the command, the fish twitched their tails, beginning their slow, deliberate movements around the perimeter of the projection.

Soon, hundreds of strands of ki emerge from the stones, flowing into Ye Xian body like a torrential current. The energy poured into his dantian, saturating his being with an intensity that sent a deep hum through his meridians.

In mere minutes, the ki stones crumbled into ash, their essence fully absorbed. He could feel his cultivation surging—his progress in the second stage of the Ki Refining Realm advancing at an astonishing rate. Within moments, he had jumped halfway through the stage, a leap so rapid that it defied common sense.

A rush of exhilaration filled him. The benefits of Reverse Yin-Yang were unimaginable. Unlike ordinary cultivators, who had to slowly absorb and refine their ki before advancing, his unique technique allowed him to integrate the energy directly into his cultivation.

This bypassed the painstaking refinement process that others were forced to endure. Normally, any unrefined ki would dissipate from the dantian before it could be properly utilized, but for Ye Xian, that restriction did not exist.

It should be noted that refining ki and seamlessly integrating it into one's cultivation is a fundamental process across all realms, not just the Ki Refining Realm. Regardless of a cultivator's level.

The efficiency of ki absorption and refinement depended heavily on a cultivator's innate talent. Talent was ranked in four grades: D, C, B, and A.

D-Tier Talent: The weakest, with cultivators struggling to progress beyond the Ki Refining Realm.

C-Tier Talent: A cultivator with this rank could reach the Qi Warrior Realm, and with the aid of elixirs, cultivation pills, and medicinal herbs, they might barely break through to the Element Disciple Realm.

B-Tier Talent: Those of this grade could reach the Sentinel Realm, a level far beyond the average cultivator's reach.

A-Tier Talent: The pinnacle of natural ability, granting the potential to ascend to the Ascendant Realm.

However, a transcendent barrier separated the Ascendant Realm from all realms below it. Beyond this point, every minor breakthrough became exponentially more difficult. It could take years, even decades, to advance a single step. Progress was no longer determined by talent alone—it demanded relentless effort, immense resources, and extraordinary perseverance.

Most prestigious clans focused their resources on nurturing children with higher-grade talents, ensuring their investments yielded powerful future elites. Those born with lower-tier talent were often neglected, only granted minimal resources unless they possessed special identities or connections.

For Ye Xian, who was originally classified as a C-Tier talent, breaking through would have taken months of effort, even if he had used twice the amount of ki stones.

In contrast, an A-Tier talent cultivator would still require several days to fully refine the energy. Yet, he had accomplished it in mere minutes—a disparity so vast it defied comprehension.

This was the heaven-defying privilege of Reverse Yin-Yang.

He was no longer bound by the limitations that plagued ordinary cultivators—no struggle with talent deficiency, no bottlenecks in refinement. His power would only continue to grow at an unfathomable pace.

Yet, despite his breakthrough, a bitter realization tempered his elation—his resources were already depleted. The ki stones he had just consumed were worth more than a common family's yearly income. Even as a member of one of the Four Great Clans of Azure Sky City, he had only been allotted a fraction of what he should have received.

It was his stepmother's doing.

Through her schemes, she had ensured he received far less than what was rightfully his. The Ye Clan was wealthy, its prosperity built upon silk trade, weapon sales, and the strategic use of formation masters to enhance their merchandise. Yet, his access to the clan's vast resources was being deliberately restricted.

But this was only the beginning.

He needed more resources. However, he could not afford to expose the full extent of his cultivation speed. Doing so would draw dangerous attention. Higher-tier cultivators—those with the ability to sense ki fluctuations—would easily detect his unnatural growth if he were careless.

Thankfully, he possessed a means to shroud his aura, suppressing the true level of his cultivation. Unless the cultivator investigating him was significantly stronger, they would only perceive a much lower realm than his actual strength. However, this ability was not absolute—against those vastly more powerful than him, his deception would be uncovered.

Sitting in deep contemplation, Ye Xian withdrew the Yin-Yang Projection and closed his eyes. As the weight of his circumstances settled heavily on his shoulders. Strength alone was not enough to carve a path forward—true power required more than raw cultivation. Influence, strategy, and unwavering determination would be the keys to his rise.

Yet, the harsh reality remained—cultivation demanded resources, and resources required wealth.

Money was the foundation of power. With enough wealth, one could acquire rare elixirs, powerful techniques, and even hire formidable experts as protection or allies.

However, relying on the Ye Clan was out of the question. His stepmother's influence ran deep, and as long as she controlled the allocation of clan resources, he would never receive his fair share. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to carve his own path—one that was free from his family's political entanglements.

Fortunately, he still had options.