Tyler, somewhat anticipating this, immediately assumed a fighting stance in preparation for the spar.

However, before they engaged in combat, Master Tanaka provided some additional instructions. “Feel free to utilize your full cultivation. It will help me assess who can and cannot spar with you and don't worry, I will limit myself to the power of a 6th level cultivator, give or take a few levels.”

This statement alone showcased Master Tanaka's exceptional proficiency. Adjusting one's power to match an opponent significantly weaker than oneself was no simple feat.

For instance, consider Lo Shen, who had managed to incapacitate Tyler by simply infusing his voice with True Essence, even though he had attempted to tone it down. This had nearly injured his own brothers, who were in the Qi Transformation stage at the time.

Smirking knowingly, Tyler replied, fully aware that his current power surpassed mere Qi concentration or cultivation levels. “If you'd like me to use my full power, you may need to raise your level to the Qi Transformation stage.”

Raising an intrigued eyebrow, Ryuji nodded and said, “We’ll see about that in time. Begin.”

Given the opportunity to make the first move, Tyler wasted no time and extended his divine sense around Master Tanaka. His ability to sustain it for an hour at a time provided him with a significant advantage in combat. The benefits it conferred were beyond the imagination of most cultivators.

Mimicking the movements of the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method, Tyler seamlessly integrated the dense Qi from 49 acupoints into the Whispering Palm technique.

With swift and fluid movements, which took less time than a single breath, he stepped forward and unleashed his palm strike that left wisps of clouds and unleashed a subtle gust of wind toward Master Tanaka, who had already begun to take countermeasures.

Unfortunately for the Master, Tyler's divine sense completely enveloped him and almost made things seem as if they were being played in slow-motion, capturing every micro-movement he made.

As if he could predict the future, Tyler adjusted the direction of his palm strike ever so slightly to target the gaps of the technique that Master Tanaka was about to unleash.

In a dramatic clash of Palm and Fist, Master Tanaka found himself forcibly pushed back as his technique instantly shattered.

He retreated much faster than a typical level 6 cultivator could manage. Seeing that the power within Tyler's palm strike was still hurtling toward him, Master Tanaka punched forward once more, infusing it with additional power and incorporating some of his own laws of water.

The Iron Fist technique evolved into an advanced version, akin to how Tyler's various techniques had evolved due to his cultivation method and insights into the wind laws.

The newly incorporated laws formed the Wandering Waves Fist. The technique surged forth, colliding with what Master Tanaka assumed was the Passing Breeze Palm.

Both powers came to a sudden halt, crashing and exploding just a few feet between the two combatants.

However, Tyler's attack wasn’t finished yet. Using his entire cultivation meant that every one of his strikes carried traces of the trinity's energies.

While Master Tanaka's counter had effectively annihilated the Essence and Primal energies, Tyler's soul power remained, and Master Tanaka was completely unaware of this impending threat.

Tyler's unseen soul power surged forward like an invisible breeze, striking Master Tanaka's unguarded chest. The impact caused the master to gasp for breath, his pupils shrinking to needle points.

Instinctively, Master Tanaka mobilized his entire cultivation base for a fraction of a second to counter the excruciating soul-piercing pain that threatened to invade his psyche.

He had not expected a cultivator at the 6th level or lower to possess a soul attack component in their techniques, and he had not prepared even the most rudimentary countermeasures for such an unexpected assault.

Had he anticipated it or even been slightly prepared like he would've been while clashing with anyone in the Qi Transformation and Sea Formation stages, countering the attack would have been as simple as waving his hands.

However, as Tyler had suggested, he would need to employ techniques typically used by Qi Transformation Cultivators who understood the link between Qi and Essence to defend against such soul attacks.

Releasing his full cultivation had caused quite the ruckus as all the surrounding disciples had backed away in fright and the building itself shook from the impact.

Now fully prepared for Tyler’s attacks and finally appreciating why the young man had warned him, he offered his apologies to everyone.

“My apologies everyone, I had an instinctual response and released my cultivation for a second there.” Master Tanaka paused and looked at Tyler. “Soul attacks. I see, I should have taken your advice more seriously. I’ll be using at least 15th level power from now on. Continue.”

Their sparring continued for a short time, with Tyler employing the various punches, palm strikes, and kicks that Master Tanaka had taught him.

To everyone's astonishment, both Master Tanaka and Tyler were not using basic techniques but their own advanced versions.

Master Tanaka had the system to classify and categorize each technique, but Tyler didn’t. To him, it was a natural progression to take the basic techniques and build upon them with everything he had.

The absence of the system's strict measures and guidelines allowed him to make the smallest incremental changes, adjusting his power as he saw fit.

To be fair to everyone else, even if the system were to disappear tomorrow, most of them wouldn't be able to improve as rapidly as Tyler did.

Tyler's extraordinary progress was primarily attributed to his divine sense and inner world. None of them could perceive the minute changes in Qi occurring within their bodies as clearly as he could. It was a unique advantage that set him apart, not in any shape or form a slight on their individual talents.

In contrast to everyone else, who had to understand and use techniques in two distinct steps, Tyler did not.

Others needed to first grasp the essence of a technique and advance from the basic techniques to the Precise realm before the system even allowed them to channel their Qi in the manner described in the more advanced techniques for fear of severe backlash. Of course, there were geniuses to which this did not apply at all, but those were so rare that Veridian Peaks barely had two.

Everyone present knew that Tyler had only been taught the basics, yet he somehow employed superior versions that forced their sensei to use techniques almost 10 levels above what they believed Tyler was capable of.

It was a display of martial prowess that left everyone in awe.

As the exchanges between them continued, Tyler found himself increasingly on the backfoot.

Despite his divine sense, Master Tanaka skillfully escalated the power and speed of his attacks ever so slightly, pinpointing the precise threshold that challenged Tyler to use his full capabilities to keep up.

It became evident why Lin Jian had mentioned in one of their conversations that no one in Edge City likely understood the real value of training under Tanaka Ryuji. Not a single person in Veridian Peaks, not even Lin Jian himself, possessed such precise control over their cultivation.

Eventually, after a solid 5 minutes of constantly exchanging techniques and Tyler burning through his Qi reserves, Master Tanaka took a couple steps back and unleashed a variant of the Flowing Rivers Sweep called the Cascade Restriction Sweep.

Ethereal apparitions of waves surged across the dojo’s floors a few meters in front of Tyler, headed straight for his own legs. Tyler's divine sense had fully grasped that a technique was coming but Master Tanaka was too fast and he couldn’t keep up or evade in time.

He was also fully aware of his exhaustion and dwindling Qi reserves. In a desperate last-ditch effort to avoid being overwhelmed, he resorted to a technique he hadn't been taught in this dojo and with which he was the most familiar.

Focusing all of his remaining Qi into his index and middle fingers, he slashed forward to intercept the approaching waves as that technique was much quicker to use than any of the sets of moves from the Radiant Waves Stance.

The last vestiges of Tyler's Qi coursed through his body, moving seamlessly from his foot, up his leg, and into his arm. It followed the meridian pathways, which were now nearly depleted of energy.

Along the way, the Qi was amplified each time it passed through his acupoints, capturing traces of the power of winds and clouds.

The Qi, which had initially condensed into a dense blue light, now naturally shimmered with a vibrant yellow glow, taking on the appearance of an ethereal sword, approximately two feet in length, that enveloped Tyler's extended finger.

With a single, fatigue-laden slash that mirrored the movements of the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method, Tyler expended the last of his Qi reserves and pushed the technique forward before kneeling down, utterly exhausted.

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He could only hope to block the incoming technique; anything beyond that was beyond his capability in his current state.

However, as he released the technique, the ethereal sword surrounding his finger underwent a startling transformation, shifting in colors once more. The edge of the sword took on a deep, dark green hue, and multiple visible wisps of multi-colored clouds propelled it forward.

It appeared as though nature itself was responding to this earth-shattering technique, causing the Cascade Restriction Sweep to split apart before it could even reach its target. The effect was akin to Moses parting the Red Sea, with the elements themselves yielding to the will of a divine being.

Master Tanaka, on the other hand, had anticipated that this would be Tyler's last-ditch effort and would likely be much more potent than usual.

So, he increased his power level to the 17th level and unleashed another variant of the Iron Fist the moment he saw the strike coming. He knew that his sweeping technique would become undone immediately.

He infused his understanding of the five elements into the technique, forming the Eight Trigrams Protector's Fist that was entirely aimed at shattering techniques and to protect its user, not to attack.

With a resounding clash, sword-qi met fist, and a dazzling cascade of colors erupted. The illusory sword shattered into a million pieces, dissolving into the air.

Master Tanaka's fist gleamed with a multicolored hue, evoking the essence of the five elements. Before his punch, an ethereal bulwark materialized, adorned with eight trigrams, forming a protective barrier in front of his fist.

Completely drained of energy, Tyler kneeled there, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. "Well, I tried," he managed to say between deep, labored breaths.

"This was more than an attempt, Tyler," Master Tanaka said with a sigh. He pointed towards the young students all around them. "I'm afraid none of these youngsters could withstand your techniques unless you were holding back your cultivation."

He then gestured to Tyler. "Your power, at its peak, rivals that of true Qi Transformation cultivators at the 16th level slightly below the 17th. Repelling any of your attacks would require specific soul protection techniques that one doesn't develop until they fully transform their body and establish a connection between Qi and Essence making them extremely dangerous even for a level 17 cultivator."

Tyler was well aware of this as even before his recent breakthroughs he could have seriously injured the level 11 Lo Xin according to Shen. He didn’t doubt that all of his recent cultivation had a profound impact on his power levels.

"This is merely a dojo in Edge City, built to teach the youth the basics of martial arts so they can attend the academy with their heads held high and eventually attempt to join the Sword Sect or any of their subsidiaries," continued Master Tanaka.

He regarded Tyler with a thoughtful expression. "Out of all the youngsters I've taught over the last century, you are by far one of the most astonishing. Perhaps you should seriously consider joining the Sword Sect."

Tyler was somewhat taken aback by this level of praise, feeling a bit awkward. "It's all thanks to your teachings, Sensei," Tyler replied, a hint of humility in his voice. "Due to certain circumstances, I've only recently started training in martial arts. I couldn't learn anything beyond the most basic techniques, probably because of my lack of talent..”

Hearing Tyler's humble response, the other young practitioners in the dojo exchanged awkward glances. Master Tanaka chuckled heartily at Tyler's comment. "Young man, if you, of all people, lack talent, then the rest of us must be utter bumbling buffoons," he remarked with a good-natured tone.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Learning martial arts is as much about understanding as it is about compatibility. Perhaps everything you tried and learned simply didn't suit you. It's only through your relentless hard work and natural talent, that you made such remarkable progress, advancing from the Discerning stage straight into the Forming stages."

Master Tanaka's words were filled with admiration for Tyler's unwavering dedication and resolute determination and decided to use this as an opportunity for teaching as he turned to the youths.

"This is precisely why I insist that everyone trains without relying on their cultivation until they meet my standards," he explained. "Without this foundation, the system won't recognize your techniques, and you're likely to face backlash, leading to failure in acquiring them. True potential can only be unlocked when you build a solid base from scratch. Keep this in mind."

With a sweeping gesture, Master Tanaka concluded the sparring session and encouraged the young practitioners to resume their individual training. He offered much-needed words of motivation to the aspiring martial artists.

"Now you all understand why I maintain such high expectations. Remember, you're all still in your youth with your entire lives ahead of you. Tyler, on the other hand, is already a mature adult and has only achieved this much despite living almost two to three times longer than your entire lifespans."

As he finished his speech, Master Tanaka turned to Tyler and shared a friendly wink, conveying his intention to use this as a teaching moment for the children and to alleviate any potential frustration on their part.

Within was the hidden message emphasizing that his comment was not meant to be disrespectful but rather to highlight the extraordinary nature of Tyler's shocking growth in such a short period of time and to make the youths see this as a challenge to be stronger than Tyler before they reached their thirties.

Then, Master Tanaka approached the exhausted Tyler and helped him up. “I’m afraid no one in this humble dojo will be able to spar with you apart from myself. If you wish, I am willing to keep teaching you as your learning abilities impress even an old geezer like me and I quite enjoy delving into the past glories of the recorded history of my homeland.”

Tyler smiled as he got up on wobbly legs, “That would be an honor to keep receiving your teachings, Sensei. You can join me at home some time if you wish. But right now I think I need a nap or something.”

Master Tanaka produced a single pill and offered it to Tyler. "Take this; it should aid in your recovery. It's a straightforward restorative pill with no adverse effects that costs a single silver at the nearby markets. It will grant you the strength to stand upright at the very least and open up your pores slightly, nothing more. If you wish, you can rest in my garden for a while."

Acknowledging the transformation of their relationship, Tyler readily accepted the recovery pill offered by Master Tanaka.

Upon ingesting it, he experienced a sensation similar to what some might describe as the satisfaction of their morning cigarette. It provided a rapid and invigorating boost, akin to the effects of consuming a few shots of espresso. The impact was nearly immediate, revitalizing Tyler's energy and physical state.

He walked towards the back garden and sat down in meditation to restore some of his Qi.

A few hours went by and eventually, Tyler was back to his usual self and walked back into the dojo. Lunch time had long passed and his new servant, Annie, had dropped by instead of Lo Wang.

As Tyler sat on the steps of the dojo, savoring his meal and taking in the lively atmosphere of the bustling streets, he remained unaware of the various gazes on him as he didn’t spread his divine sense into the city.

Doing so was still too much input for his brain. Too many things happening all at once. If he did he would have noticed that over the past few weeks, several individuals had started shadowing him, recognizing him as a fatty sheep.

Without anything else to do, he returned inside and kept practicing the basic movements of Master Tanaka's techniques as he had seen a few more forms of the advanced techniques during their spars and wanted to explore those as well for a bit. The enforcers all left, leaving only one man behind for scouting.

The students of the Radiant Fist Dojo typically came from well-off backgrounds, and various organizations in Edge City maintained enforcers who constantly patrolled the area.

Usually, the comings and goings of the dojo's students didn't raise suspicion, as they were predominantly from affluent families of Sword King Mountain that these organizations preferred to avoid entangling with.

However, Tyler seemed to be an exception, drawing the attention of those who saw an opportunity for profit.

One day a few weeks back, someone had followed him out of the city and had found himself unable to go further than the cliff leading up to Tyler’s residence. This had caused quite the stir as everyone knew nothing was supposed to be up there. Someone had recently carved themselves an estate!

For the last two weeks, a few of the spies kept an eye on the comings and goings of the cliffside only to see no one but a single female servant in the early Qi Transformation stages come and go besides Tyler. Not a single time did they see anyone of note fly over or even appear within a kilometer of the newly built residence besides those two.

With a few weeks worth of observation, the organization who had taken note of Tyler, the Azure Viper Gang, had come to a conclusion that everyday when Tyler exited the city would be the best time to capture him before he got too close to his estate and tonight would be the perfect time to strike.

Before long, Tyler had finished at the dojo and after exchanging a cup of tea with Master Tanaka, he left.

Walking through the city he took in the tranquil bustle of the city and for the first time in a while, took the time to look at every single building he came across. Lively restaurants, crowded shops, loud brothels, other martial arts facilities, inns and various homes were all on his path home but he hadn't paid them much attention before.

However, once he ventured beyond the city's walls and onto the path leading to Permanence City, he entered the familiar forest path leading to his home and reverted to his preferred practice. He enjoyed the sensation of connecting with nature as he walked and he fully deployed his divine sense.

Surprisingly, he hadn’t detected any of the spies that had followed him from afar for a few weeks now as they kept a respectable distance from him and remained under the radar.

This time however, as he slowly spread his divine sense he stopped right in his tracks after taking a single step outside the main path. There were a total of 10 people perched atop the trees ahead and a single man hiding behind one of the larger trees a hundred meters in, near his current range limit!

An uneasy feeling washed over Tyler as he couldn't fathom why or how they were here. His recent interactions had been limited to a handful of individuals, leaving him puzzled by the presence of these potential threats.

Other than Wang, Annie, Sakura, Master Tanaka and the Sword King, Tyler hadn’t even bothered to interact with anyone else lately!

Deciding to be cautious, Tyler took a large detour and planned to take a different route home. To his surprise, everyone moved with ease jumping from tree to tree as if they were one with nature itself, some appearing in and out of the shadows as if they were literal ninjas.

With a measured and cautious approach, Tyler decided to rely on his divine sense, moving forward while maintaining heightened awareness. He was confident in his ability to detect any impending attacks and respond preemptively.

He assessed the Qi levels of those around him. The group of individuals ahead appeared to be at most level 9, while the tall man concealed behind the distant tree appeared to be around level 12.

Despite the numbers, Tyler's confidence in his abilities, as reinforced by Master Tanaka's training and words after sparring, kept him from feeling overly vulnerable.

He continued to advance slowly, observing the reactions of his potential adversaries. Each step he took seemed to make the others in the group tense up, their anticipation palpable.

As he drew closer to the large man positioned just 25 meters ahead, Tyler decided to take a more assertive approach. He cleared his throat and spoke, attempting to engage the hidden figure in conversation.

“AHEM! If we stand here all night, we won’t get to know one another.”

Tyler was certain that Lin Jian already knew what was happening in one way or another and that should he really face mortal danger, someone would make an appearance.

Suddenly, Tyler sensed a single throwing dagger hurtling toward him from behind.

His reflexes were swift, and without even turning around, he sidestepped the projectile. The dagger thudded into the ground where he had been standing moments before. It was clear that one of the henchmen was trigger happy.

With a hearty laugh, the large man stepped out from behind the tree. “Ahaha! You sure have guts, coming here knowing we were here all along! Let’s see how long you’ll last!” With swift movements, the large burly man pulled out a scimitar from his waistband. “Capture him!”