The heavy oak door of his room clicked shut, sealing Kaelen in a sanctuary of silence. He walked to his desk, his movements calm and measured, but his heart was beating a triumphant rhythm against his ribs. He placed the thin, worn booklet on the polished wood, its simple title, "Stonefall Breathing Method," seeming both pathetic and priceless at the same time.
In his previous life, this Grade 2 technique had been his bible and his curse. He had followed its instructions to the letter, spending years circulating his qi through the prescribed meridians, only to hit a wall, his progress grinding to a halt at the level of a mediocre warrior. He had always blamed himself, his own lack of talent. Now, he knew better.
"System," he whispered, his voice barely a breath. "Analyze this technique."
A faint blue light emanated from his eyes, scanning the booklet on the desk. A progress bar appeared in his mind's eye, filling rapidly. A moment later, a new screen of text materialized before him.
> [Analysis Complete: 'Stonefall Breathing Method']
> Type: Qi Cultivation Technique
> Grade: Grade 2 - Common (Low-Tier)
> Description: A basic technique designed to cultivate a steady, defensive form of qi by drawing ambient energy through primary meridians. Focuses on physical resilience over spiritual refinement.
> Detected Flaws:
> * Inefficient Qi Absorption: The breathing pattern is simplistic, resulting in a 70% loss of absorbed worldly qi.
> * Meridian Pathing Incomplete: Circulates qi through only 12 of the 36 primary meridians, creating bottlenecks and limiting potential.
> * Spiritual Neglect: Actively suppresses spiritual (mental) cultivation to prioritize early-stage physical tempering. This is a critical flaw that permanently stunts a cultivator's growth potential past Rank 3.
> * Mana Hostility: The qi circulation path actively conflicts with natural mana flow, creating internal friction for individuals with any level of magical affinity.
>
Kaelen stared at the list, a cold, vindicating fury rising within him. It wasn't just a bad technique; it was a crippling one. The final flaw, "Mana Hostility," was the dagger in the heart of his past life. This technique had been actively fighting his latent magic, causing the internal conflict that had left him weak and exhausted. His uncle, a skilled cultivator himself, must have known. Marius hadn't just watched him fail; he had given him the very tool that guaranteed it.
But the System wasn't finished. A new prompt blinked at the bottom of the screen.
> [Optimal Solution Identified]
> Suggestion: Utilize the 'Stonefall Breathing Method' as a camouflage. The flawed meridian paths are an excellent disguise for your true cultivation. You can outwardly practice this technique while secretly running a corrected, more advanced circulation path in your deeper meridians. The external qi signature will appear weak and flawed, hiding your true progress.
>
A slow, predatory smile spread across Kaelen's face. The System had given him the perfect weapon. He could use his family's flawed legacy as a shield. He would appear to be the same struggling, untalented boy, practicing a weak technique, while in the shadows, the true Aurus would be forged, day by day.
He sat on his bed, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He began the familiar, inefficient breathing pattern of the Stonefall method, letting a trickle of qi flow through the 12 prescribed meridians—a performance for any prying eyes. But deep within, in the core of his being, a second, far more powerful cycle was beginning. Guided by the System's flawless calculations, his qi began to trace a new, perfect path, absorbing the world's energy with stunning efficiency, nourishing his body and spirit in secret harmony with the crackling mana that lay dormant in his soul.
The foundation of his power was being laid anew, not upon the flawed stone of his ancestors, but upon the unbreakable bedrock of his own will.
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