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"I think so too."
Xu Taiping expressed his agreement.
Setting aside other things, he felt that there was still potential to be tapped in the Green Bull Fist and the Seven Kills Blade, not to mention he also had the Ice Breath Technique, so he wasn't in a rush to learn other arts.
However, what he didn't know was that at this moment, Fairy Lingyue had already begun searching her memory for suitable arts for him.
"It seems to be even worse than the other side."
Arriving in front of the western shelves, Xu Taiping selected several arts in succession, but this time, not only was Fairy Lingyue dissatisfied, but he himself was also not very pleased.
"Logically speaking, a sect like Qingxuan Sect should have at least two impressive arts for each Quality Grade. Given the current situation, I'm guessing it's just as the other Peak Masters said the other day: the Seventh Peak really doesn't have anything noteworthy."
Fairy Lingyue sighed.
Of course, she wasn't particularly surprised, as in her eyes, the entire Qingxuan Sect didn't have much to offer.
"Shadow Division Technique, could this be some kind of illusion art?"
Just then, Xu Taiping came across a Jade Scroll of Transmitting Techniques named "Shadow Division Technique."
Out of curiosity, he picked up a small booklet that introduced the technique and began to read carefully.
"It does seem to be some kind of illusion art."
Xu Taiping glanced at the description of the technique and felt slightly disappointed.
According to the description, at the highest level of this art, one could use True Qi to condense two identical figures to confuse the opponent.
But the problem was that these two illusory figures were insubstantial; they could fool ordinary people, but a more advanced cultivator could easily see through them.
All flash and no substance.
However, in certain special circumstances, it might be useful. If I really couldn't find anything better later on, I would choose this one since it wasn't too complex to practice.
Xu Taiping thought to himself.
"Taiping, flip to the next page of that technique booklet."
While Xu Taiping was thinking this, Fairy Lingyue's voice suddenly rang in his mind, her tone unusually solemn.
"Alright."
Although Xu Taiping was somewhat puzzled, he flipped to the next page of the booklet.
This page had no text, just a hand-drawn diagram of the True Qi circulation for the Shadow Division Technique, briefly explaining the method to condense the illusory figures.
"What's the matter, Fairy Lingyue?"
Since other arts were also explained in this way, Xu Taiping didn't find it strange.
"Something is odd."
Fairy Lingyue's spirit form flew out of the gourd.
At this moment, only Xu Taiping could see her, so there was no need to worry about being discovered.
"The handwriting of this technique's secret manual is different from the other techniques we've seen. The strokes of this manual are full of spirit; without hundreds of years of hard work, one couldn't achieve such calligraphy."
Fairy Lingyue voiced her doubts.
"And this meridian diagram too, if you look closely at each line, they seem ordinary, but the thickness of the ink varies. More importantly, the thickness corresponds exactly to the strength of True Qi circulation. Just from this point, the cultivator who wrote this manual might even be above your Peak Masters."
Fairy Lingyue stood side by side with Xu Taiping, her gaze fixed on the secret manual in his hands, occasionally reaching out to point here and there.
"Does that mean this Shadow Division Technique comes from a master's hand?"
Xu Taiping felt somewhat excited.
"But the problem lies here."
Fairy Lingyue shook her head, then pointed at the meridian diagram and continued:
"The True Qi circulation paths and tricks on this diagram are all quite ordinary, not matching the quality of the calligraphy and the drawing."
This was one of the reasons why the technique had caught Fairy Lingyue's attention.
The second reason was that she had once seen a technique with only a one-word difference, but with vastly different power.
"Could there be a hidden secret in this manual?"
Xu Taiping felt that Fairy Lingyue's judgment made sense.
He immediately picked up the manual and tapped it carefully, trying to see if he could find anything special.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Xu Taiping noticed something discordant about the palm of the hand in the meridian diagram.
"What is it?"
Fairy Lingyue asked curiously.
"The palm of the hand on this meridian diagram seems to be drawn in reverse."
Xu Taiping pointed at the hand on the meridian and spoke to Fairy Lingyue in his mind.
Fairy Lingyue looked down and indeed saw that, as Xu Taiping had said, the hand on the meridian diagram was drawn with the back of the hand facing out and the palm facing in.
This was different from most diagrams in secret manuals.
"Wait."
Fairy Lingyue suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Taiping, turn this meridian diagram to the back and then hold the paper up to the window."
She spoke to Xu Taiping with a hint of excitement in her tone.
"Okay."
Xu Taiping silently complied.
He then turned the page with the meridian diagram in the manual so that the front faced the window and the back faced him.
With the light from the window, the meridian diagram was projected in front of Xu Taiping through the paper.
He then discovered, to his surprise, that when looking at the meridian diagram in this reversed manner, some of the text on the front page of the book matched up perfectly with some of the meridian nodes.
It was as if this was the correct way to view the meridian diagram.
"Fairy Lingyue, could it be that someone deliberately drew this meridian diagram in reverse?"
He asked Fairy Lingyue in shock.
And what he didn't know was that Fairy Lingyue's shock was no less than Xu Taiping's at this moment.
"Little Taiping, you've stumbled upon a treasure."
Fairy Lingyue's voice was filled with excitement.
"What?"
Xu Taiping was still very puzzled.
"Although I have not practiced this art, I was fortunate enough to have seen the meridian diagram of this technique in an old friend's study. One of them was the reverse of the diagram you have in your hands."
Fairy Lingyue finally looked away as she spoke.
"What technique is it?"
The excitement in Fairy Lingyue's voice made Xu Taiping sense that this technique must be extraordinary.
"Clone Technique, also known as the Taiqing Xuan Yuan Clone Technique."
Fairy Lingyue answered.
"Taiqing Xuan Yuan Clone Technique?"
Xu Taiping had never heard of this technique.
"Clone and Shadow Division may differ by only one word, but the power of the techniques is worlds apart. Just to mention one aspect, the Shadow Division Technique can only create deceptive shadows to confuse the enemy, while the clones created by the Clone Technique can be controlled to attack the opponent."
Fairy Lingyue explained to Xu Taiping.
Upon hearing this, Xu Taiping suddenly understood.
"Doesn't that mean, if I can produce even one more clone, my strength could double?"
Xu Taiping said, somewhat moved.
"Doubling might be a bit difficult, but if used well, that clone could at least exert half of your strength."
Fairy Lingyue corrected him.
"Half is still very good. If I could produce two or even three clones, even if I encounter a cultivator with higher cultivation than mine, I would have a great chance of victory."
Xu Taiping communicated to Fairy Lingyue in his mind.
"The uses of the Clone Technique are actually far beyond this, but the one you have in your hands probably only includes the first three levels of the technique, because the meridian diagram I saw that day had three parts, and this is just one of them."
Fairy Lingyue seemed to feel a bit regretful.