41: Chapter 41 Revisiting the Library

The day Lin Qing's cultivation would Breakthrough to the Second-Order Martial Dao was drawing near. It was time to collect new Cultivation Techniques.

When the Wang family case was solved, a very considerable amount of merit was issued, and merit is also received for daily duties. Because his consumption was huge, it was not suitable to exchange resources at the Zhenwu Division, so his merit had never been used. Over time, his merit reserves had become very abundant.

After finishing his morning duty, Lin Qing walked alone toward the Library Pavilion deep within the Zhenwu Division.

Guarding the door of the Library Pavilion was still that white-haired, lazy-looking Old Zhang.

The old man leaned back on an old recliner with his eyes half-closed, a thick cotton cushion beneath him and a pot of hot tea beside him. He let the wind blow and leaves fall, undisturbed by the world's troubles, his leisurely ease unshakeable.

Usually, countless Martial Artists of the Zhenwu Division came to the Library Pavilion to borrow books, most in a hurry. Only Old Zhang stayed here day after day, living a plain life.

Lin Qing stepped forward slowly with a respectful expression, bowed slightly, then took out a black iron identification plate engraved with his ID and rank. He handed it to Old Zhang, his voice steady and humble: "Old Zhang, Junior Xie Chen is here today to select a Second-Order Cultivation Technique."

He had also visited the Library Pavilion once a few months ago. At that time, he had recorded the Cultivation Technique directly in the building and taken away a martial art, the "Wind-Slaying Saber Technique".

Because of this, his free Cultivation Technique count had still not been used.

Old Zhang slowly opened his cloudy eyes, casually took the identification plate, rubbed the patterns on the surface with his fingertips, and briefly checked the information.

The Commandery City Zhenwu Division was a Commandant-scale station, with nearly a thousand personnel under its jurisdiction. Martial Artists coming and going from the Library Pavilion were constant. Old Zhang had guarded this place for decades and seen as many young Martial Artists as carp crossing a river; how could he remember Lin Qing, who had only been here once months ago?

In his eyes, the person before him was just another ordinary Little Flag who had accumulated enough seniority and was preparing to advance to the Second-Order and pick a Cultivation Technique.

After verifying the information, Old Zhang handed back the identification plate without any change in expression. He spoke flatly, his voice carrying a bit of elderly hoarseness: "Rules are the same. Second-Order Cultivation Techniques and Yellow Rank Elementary martial arts are all on the second floor. You have a three-hour limit. Go on."

"Thank you, Old Zhang."

Lin Qing took the identification plate and tucked it into his robe. Instead of turning to enter immediately, he hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands again, his tone sincere: "Old Zhang, I wonder if you would allow this Junior to go to the third floor to browse? I know the third floor contains Third-Order Cultivation Techniques and Yellow Rank Advanced martial arts, and the required merit is not small. I have enough merit to cover it and will certainly not break any rules."

At these words, Old Zhang's relaxed brows furrowed slightly. He sized Lin Qing up with a hint of confusion and surprise: "You only have First-Order cultivation now. It's enough to pick a Second-Order Cultivation Technique on the second floor. Why go to the third floor? The techniques there are Third-Order; even if I gave them to you, you couldn't practice them. Don't aim too high!"

Lin Qing had expected this question and had already prepared his excuse. He replied calmly: "Old Zhang, please understand. I am not aiming too high, nor will I force myself to practice a Third-Order Cultivation Technique. I simply intend to screen them in advance to find a Second-Order Cultivation Technique whose path is highly compatible with a Third-Order one."

"By selecting a Second-Order Cultivation Technique to practice now, when my cultivation Breakthroughs in the future, I can directly practice the Third-Order technique I've already chosen. This saves the trouble of re-adjusting to a new path and avoids many detours on the path of cultivation."

This reason was fair and reasonable, with sound logic.

Hearing this, Old Zhang remained silent for a moment, stroking his sparse white beard as he mentally weighed the request.

He had guarded the Library Pavilion for many years. Although the rules were strict, he was not inflexible.

First, anyone going to the third floor to read would be personally searched and verified by him upon entry and exit, making it impossible to smuggle out Third-Order or high-rank martial arts. Second, in just three hours, it was impossible for anyone to memorize a complete Third-Order Cultivation Technique or Yellow Rank Advanced martial art, so there was no worry about leakage. Third, the Zhenwu Division had rules for exchanging merit for reading privileges; many First-Order Little Flags who had performed meritorious service would occasionally spend merit to go to the third floor to pick Yellow Rank Advanced martial arts.

Since Lin Qing was willing to spend merit and had a legitimate reason instead of just messing around, there was naturally no need to stop him.

After a moment, Old Zhang nodded slowly and gave his consent: "Very well. Since you know what you're doing and are willing to spend merit, I'll allow you to go up. Remember, you can only read, not copy or transcribe. The time limit is still three hours. When the time is up, come down immediately without delay."

"I will keep the rules in mind. Thank you for your help, Old Zhang!" Lin Qing was delighted and thanked him solemnly once more.

Taking back the identification plate, which Old Zhang had marked for third-floor access, Lin Qing didn't delay any further. He turned and stepped through the ancient and heavy doors of the Library Pavilion.

The light inside was soft, with rows of wooden bookshelves neatly arranged. Layers of books were placed in an orderly fashion and clearly categorized. He walked with light steps up the stairs, heading straight for the third floor.

The number of books on the third floor was significantly smaller. Lin Qing didn't hesitate, picking up a Third-Order Cultivation Technique and reading it word for word with great care.

Time slowly passed. The sun outside gradually shifted, and the building was silent except for the soft sound of pages turning.

The three-hour limit arrived in a flash.

Lin Qing casually picked a standard, steady Second-Order Cultivation Technique from the second floor's section to serve as the book he had chosen on the surface, used to mislead others.

After everything was in order, he walked slowly down the Library Pavilion and came to the door for Old Zhang's routine inspection.

After carefully confirming he had no book fragments or papers on him, Old Zhang waved his hand and let him go.

Lin Qing cupped his hands in farewell and returned to his small courtyard at a steady pace.

Closing the courtyard gate to block out external disturbances, Lin Qing's mind moved, and he opened his status panel.

[Host: Lin Qing]

Realm: Skin and Flesh Realm (Breakthrough time: 10 days)

Fused Cultivation Techniques: Origin-Returning Body-Refining Stake, Bone-Nourishing Tendon-Adjusting Stake (Expand)

Recorded Cultivation Techniques: Lunar Visualization Method (257/9000), Solar Visualization Method (98/9000), Ningqi Guyuan Stake (0/400), Breath-Settling Foundation-Stabilizing Stake (0/400), Body-Leveling Qi-Steadying Stake (0/400), Thick Earth Root-Bearing Stake (0/400), Still-Standing Origin-Nourishing Stake (0/400)

Body Control Rating: Yellow Rank Elementary

Recorded Martial Arts: Mountain-Sinking Bone-Crushing Punch (0/80), Flowing Cloud Wind-Folding Step (0/80), Falling Wood Wind-Breaking Blade (0/80), Plain Shadow Heart-Clearing Sword (0/80), Silken Cloud Soft Palm Style (0/80)

A pale blue light screen floated before his eyes. Most eye-catching were several brand-new Cultivation Techniques and martial arts. Notably, as he fused more and more techniques, his Aptitude grew stronger; the total proficiency requirements for these newly recorded techniques were now lower.

As for the several Yellow Rank Elementary martial arts recorded previously, after this period of practice, they had already been Cultivated to the Perfection Realm.

Along with the Perfection of multiple Yellow Rank Elementary martial arts, his Body Control Rating had also broken through the Mortal Rank, reaching the Yellow Rank Elementary level.

Ordinary Martial Artists practicing martial arts are often limited to fixed Moves. A martial art usually has only a few forms, and each form is composed of basic martial art movements.

When practicing, Martial Artists can only rigidly follow routines, relying on tedious connections of basic movements, combined with specific power-delivery techniques and breath transitions, to briefly explode with Yellow Rank combat power that surpasses the mundane.

However, while this kind of martial art's power exceeds the ordinary, it also has some drawbacks.

First, the Moves are fixed; only the Moves recorded in the martial art can trigger Yellow Rank power, while other Moves remain mundane. Second, the wind-up is too long; the connection of multiple basic movements is easily predicted and interrupted by opponents in battle, leading to a passive position. Third, the Moves are rigid and lack flexibility; against an experienced opponent, they are easily countered.

But with the mastery of various martial arts, the current Lin Qing had broken out of these shackles.

Yellow Rank attacks that ordinary people need to build up power and connect several Moves to execute could be triggered by him at will, in every gesture, without any wind-up.

In other words, at this time, every punch, every kick, every slash and block by Lin Qing—within these simple basic movements—contained the explosive power and lethality of Yellow Rank Elementary martial arts. He was a Fusion of offense and defense, agile and varied, without any rigid weaknesses.

Putting away the panel, Lin Qing slowly stood up and began to practice one of the Third-Order Cultivation Techniques he had just recorded in the small courtyard.

A Third-Order Cultivation Technique that ordinary First-Order Martial Artists wouldn't dare touch, he could perform a complete practice session of.

However, after the practice, his bones and muscles were sore and aching, his blood and Qi consumption was enormous, and his internal organs felt waves of heavy pressure. This was clearly the burden of forcibly driving a Third-Order Cultivation Technique with insufficient cultivation.

He understood that with his current body and blood and Qi at the First-Order Peak, he could not yet support long-term, continuous cultivation of Third-Order techniques.

Thus, he wouldn't use earth core milk for Cultivation yet. Instead, he could practice once every so often to slowly advance the cultivation progress.

Once he officially Breakthroughs to the Second-Order and his total blood and Qi and Physical Body strength improve in all aspects, he would then take earth core milk to quickly push these Third-Order Cultivation Techniques to the Perfection Realm.

Then, he took out a Yellow Rank Advanced martial art to practice.

Compared to the extremely high threshold and heavy burden of Third-Order Cultivation Techniques, Yellow Rank Advanced martial arts put very little pressure on him. They operated smoothly and felt natural to execute, making them perfectly suitable as his main focus for the coming period.

He thought such days of steady cultivation would last for a long time, but things never go as planned; peace, after all, was just a brief illusion.

After only two peaceful days, a sudden order broke the tranquility of the small courtyard.

Within the Zhenwu Division, Centurion Zhao Feng had received a mission and needed to select some personnel to follow him. Lin Qing's name was clearly on the list of those mobilized.

The short period of secluded cultivation came to an abrupt end. What lay ahead was a field mission of unknown danger.