Supreme Taming Authority

Chapter 87: Relearning the Shadow Breath Technique

# Chapter: Concealment and Discovery (Revised)

The journey back toward the sect began under the cover of darkness. Xian Tiandi moved through the rocky highlands with careful steps, his senses extended to monitor the surrounding terrain. The moon provided enough light to navigate by, casting long shadows across the uneven ground.

He had what he needed from this initial investigation. Five formation locations mapped. Two Four Spirits Sect operatives identified. Clear evidence of spirit beast manipulation. The mission report would be straightforward, though he’d need to edit carefully what information to include.

But the night journey also presented an opportunity.

Xian Tiandi had been relying on concealment pills during his observation work. The pills were effective but temporary, and their medicinal scent could be detected by cultivators with sharp senses. Against weaker opponents, pills were sufficient. Against truly skilled enemies, they were a liability.

He needed a proper concealment technique.

In his past life, he’d developed dozens of methods to hide his presence. Some relied on formations. Others used environmental manipulation. But the most reliable had always been breath concealment techniques that operated purely through spiritual energy control.

Among those, one stood out in his memory. Shadow Breath Technique.

It wasn’t a famous method or a powerful sect secret. Xian Tiandi had created it himself during his early years of struggling to survive in a world full of stronger cultivators. The technique merged principles from several different concealment arts he’d encountered, refined through trial and error until it became something uniquely effective.

Shadow Breath worked by synchronizing the user’s spiritual energy with the natural spiritual energy of their surroundings. Instead of suppressing the energy signature completely, which created an obvious void that skilled opponents could detect, the technique made the user’s energy blend seamlessly with the background. Like a shadow that moved with the light rather than against it.

At full mastery, a cultivator using Shadow Breath could stand in plain sight and be overlooked, their presence registering as nothing more than a natural part of the environment.

But mastery took time. And even the basic application required precise control that Xian Tiandi’s current body hadn’t developed yet.

He found a suitable spot to practice. A small hollow between two large boulders, sheltered from casual observation. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began.

The first step was sensing the ambient spiritual energy. Not just detecting its presence, but understanding its rhythm. Spiritual energy in nature moved in cycles, flowing with the wind, settling with the earth, rising with heat, falling with cold. Each environment had its own pattern.

Xian Tiandi activated Spirit Sage Eye briefly to observe the spiritual energy around him. The technique had reached the first stage of mastery earlier, making this kind of observation much clearer.

The rocky highlands carried earth element energy as their primary component, heavy and slow-moving. Wind element energy flowed in irregular gusts, thin but sharp. Trace amounts of metal element energy emanated from ore deposits deep underground.

He released the eye technique and focused on his own spiritual energy circulation.

Shadow Breath required him to match his internal circulation to the external pattern. His spiritual energy needed to pulse at the same rhythm as the earth energy beneath him, flow at the same speed as the wind energy above him.

Xian Tiandi adjusted his breathing first. Slow and deep, matching the heavy quality of earth element energy. Then he began circulating his spiritual energy through his meridians in a specific pattern, one that mimicked the natural flow he’d observed.

The technique activated.

His spiritual energy signature began to shift, changing from the distinct presence of a cultivator to something more diffuse and natural. The edges of his aura blurred, bleeding into the surrounding environment.

It was working, but the control was shaky. His current body’s meridians weren’t accustomed to this kind of circulation. The pattern kept wanting to slip back into more familiar paths.

Xian Tiandi pushed harder, forcing the circulation to maintain the correct rhythm.

For thirty seconds, it held. His presence faded significantly, becoming difficult to distinguish from the natural spiritual energy of the area.

Then his concentration wavered for just a fraction of a second.

The circulation pattern broke. His spiritual energy snapped back to its normal state abruptly, creating a brief surge of power that leaked outward before he could contain it.

The spike lasted less than a second, but it was enough.

In the darkness fifty meters away, another presence stirred.

Xian Tiandi immediately reactivated Shadow Breath, this time more carefully. The technique settled into place with less strain than before. His spiritual signature dimmed, merging with the background energy.

He remained perfectly still, breathing controlled, waiting.

Footsteps approached. Light and careful, the movement of someone trained in stealth. The spiritual energy signature was familiar. Foundation Establishment realm, mid-stage, with a refined quality that spoke of excellent technique and solid foundation.

Senior Sister Mei stepped into view between the boulders, her hand resting on the hilt of a sword at her waist. Her eyes scanned the hollow carefully, searching for the source of the energy spike she’d detected.

She looked directly at where Xian Tiandi sat concealed and saw nothing.

The aura felt familiar so she called out.

Her eyes narrowed. "I know someone is here. That energy fluctuation wasn’t natural. Show yourself."

Xian Tiandi considered his options for a moment, then released Shadow Breath and allowed his presence to become visible again.

Mei’s hand moved to her sword immediately, then stopped when she recognized him. Her expression shifted from combat readiness to genuine surprise.

"Xian Tiandi?" She stared at him. "You were sitting right there the entire time?"

"Yes," he confirmed, standing and brushing dust from his robes.

"I was looking directly at you and perceive nothing. I thought you were behind the rocks instead." Mei released her sword hilt slowly. "What kind of concealment technique was that? I’ve never encountered anything that effective before."

"A breath concealment method my clan elders made me practice," Xian Tiandi replied. "They believed survival skills were more important than combat techniques for disciples without exceptional combat talent."

It was a plausible explanation. Many smaller clans did emphasize survival over combat for certain disciples. And it explained his proficiency without revealing the truth.

Mei studied him for a long moment. "Your elders were wise. The cultivation world is far more dangerous than most young disciples realize. A good concealment technique can save your life more often than a powerful attack."

She glanced around the hollow, then back at him with a slight smile. "Though I’m curious what you’re doing practicing concealment techniques in the middle of the night. Out here in the northern mountains of all places."

"Making sure I can use it reliably when it matters," Xian Tiandi said simply.

"Fair enough." Mei crossed her arms. "So you found something on that spirit beast mission? I that why you’re being so careful?"

It wasn’t really a question. She believed that to be the case.