“The problem with the Soul Condensation Technique is that it’s not very useful in practice. For us human martial artists, true energy is the main focus, and soul power doesn’t need deliberate cultivation. However, there’s a Soul Clan that specialises in cultivating soul power, and all their martial techniques are unleashed using soul power,” Second Master Ling explained.
“I see. But if I were to encounter something like the soul-stealing technique Ling Yu used before, I’d be at a disadvantage if my soul power isn’t strong. I’ll stick with these three top-tier martial arts techniques,” Ling Xiao said, casually brushing it off with an excuse.
Second Master Ling didn’t say anything more.
Geniuses always had their own personalities, often quite stubborn. They preferred to forge their own paths, and what worked for others might not suit them.
“Let’s go. Register them, and then you can leave.”
The martial arts manuals in the Library Pavilion were generally copies, with the originals hidden in a more secure location, so taking them out wasn’t an issue.
However, they had to be returned within a set time.
For instance, with top-tier martial arts, one had to come back to register them every seven days. This was to prevent someone from taking the manuals out to cultivate and having them stolen, which would be a huge loss.
Even if it was just an entry-level top-tier martial art, it was still a top-tier martial art. Losing one would be an earth-shaking event for the Ling family.
After all, the Ling family only possessed around twenty top-tier martial arts in total.
Ling Xiao followed Second Master Ling down to the first floor. As they arrived, they saw Ling Xiaotian and Supreme Elder Ling Yin standing there.
Behind them were two young men.
One was Ling Feifan, dressed in a purple robe.
The other was a young man in a white scholar’s robe, likely Ling Chen.
Ling Yin, of course, was Ling Feifan’s grandfather.
“Ling Wuhen, how do you guard the Library Pavilion? The first floor has been empty for so long?” Ling Yin demanded aggressively the moment he saw them. Ling Wuhen was Second Master Ling’s name, and it was clear Ling Yin had no fondness for him.
“Supreme Elder, don’t blame him. I asked him to help Ling Xiao select his top-tier martial arts,” Ling Xiaotian interjected, stepping in to defend Ling Wuhen before he could respond.
“Hmph!”
Ling Yin’s expression soured at this, but he had no retort. Ling Xiaotian’s position was secure, and even as Supreme Elder, he couldn’t suppress the clan leader.
“Clan Leader!” Ling Xiao cupped his hands in greeting to Ling Xiaotian.
“Hehe, have you picked everything?” Ling Xiaotian asked with a smile.
“Reporting to the Clan Leader, this disciple has selected three top-tier martial arts and was just about to register and leave,” Ling Xiao replied, not sparing a glance at Supreme Elder Ling Yin. He was someone who held grudges, and this Supreme Elder had shamelessly attacked him during the grand competition. It was despicable.
If his strength weren’t inferior to the old man’s, he’d have taught him a lesson.
“Good timing. You still have a mortal-grade treasure reward you haven’t claimed. Do you know what you want?” Ling Xiaotian asked again.
“A sword,” Ling Xiao answered.
“A fine choice. The sword, an ancient holy weapon, is noble and revered by both men and gods. It’s the ancestor of short weapons, a tool for close combat. With profound skill and artistry, it has entered the realm of mystical legends. The sword and its techniques have long dominated battlefields, reigned over the martial world, established individuals and nations, and upheld righteousness. That’s why it remains beloved to this day, its glorious history deeply rooted in people’s hearts, ensuring its legacy endures,” Ling Xiaotian said, stroking his beard with a smile. “A sword has a double-edged blade, a straight body, and a pointed tip. It can wound horizontally or vertically, pierce through armour with a thrust. It’s exceptionally dangerous, born to kill! Choosing the sword as your weapon means you’ve opted for an offensive approach. It seems you’re someone who likes to take the initiative.”
At this point, Ling Xiaotian waved his hand, and a long sword appeared in it.
“This sword is called the Ice Glass Sword, a mortal-grade treasure. I grant it to you today, hoping you’ll continue to refine your skills and bring glory to the Ling family!”
“Thank you, Clan Leader!” Ling Xiao took the Ice Glass Sword, feeling a chill as he held it.
The sword was likely forged from cold iron, making it well-suited to pair with his Snow Lotus Qi Technique.
“A sword this fine would be better suited for my brother,” Ling Chen suddenly spoke up.
As he spoke, he reached out, attempting to snatch the Ice Glass Sword from Ling Xiao’s hand.
Ling Xiao could sense that Ling Chen’s cultivation was likely above the sixth level of the Martial Vein, and with the mysteries of a mortal martial arts fragment, he wasn’t a match for him.
But if he let the sword be taken so easily, he’d lose too much face.
With a step, Ling Xiao swiftly retreated, employing Soaring Cloud Steps: Dragon Transformation, moving as fast as lightning.
Yet Ling Chen was indeed formidable. His movement technique was no slower than Ling Xiao’s—however much Ling Xiao retreated, Ling Chen advanced just as far.
“Enough!” Ling Wuhen shouted, stepping forward to block Ling Chen.
Though Ling Chen was a peerless genius, his current strength was still no match for Ling Wuhen.
“I’m guarding the Library Pavilion today, and I won’t tolerate your nonsense!”
“Hehe, I was just joking. No need to get upset, Second Uncle,” Ling Chen said, withdrawing his hand and looking at Ling Xiao with a smirk. “What, are you going to hide behind my Second Uncle forever?”
Ling Xiao chuckled lightly. “You started cultivating at six, and by thirteen you were only at the third level of the Martial Vein, taking a full seven years. I went from the first level to the late fifth level of the Martial Vein in just half a month. I may not be your match now, but who knows what’ll happen in a few days?”
“You’ve got guts!” Ling Chen’s face flashed with a cold smile before he stepped up to the second floor, tossing out a parting remark. “Today, I’ll enter the fourth floor to comprehend more mysteries from mortal martial arts fragments and study rare, even superior top-tier martial arts. What do you have to compete with me? Haha!”
Ling Xiao knew Ling Chen’s words were meant to provoke him.
And for a moment, he did feel a surge of frustration.
But he quickly calmed down.
A person shouldn’t be too greedy. He already possessed the Mountain and River Martial Soul, so why get upset?
Facing Ling Chen’s taunts, he simply walked over to Second Master Ling, registered his three top-tier martial arts, and left the Library Pavilion.
Back then, Ling Chong, Ling Feng, Ling Yun, and Ling Feifan all looked down on me, yet I defeated them one by one.
You, Ling Chen, may be stronger than them, but you’re just another stepping stone on my path to strength. We’ll see.
Leaving the Library Pavilion, Ling Xiao returned home and entered his training room to cultivate.
He started with the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll.
He chose this first because he already had the Bull Demon Technique: Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique.
The two were related, just at different levels.
Cultivating the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll based on the Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique naturally yielded twice the results with half the effort.
Because of this, in just an hour, he successfully entered the first level of the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll.
Compared to the Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique, it was more powerful and could split one sword into two shadows.
With the flying sword itself, that made one strike into three shadows.
These three sword beams could either attack a group or stack to strike a single target, though it required strong soul power to control.
Paired with the Bull Demon Technique: Condensed Evil, this entry-level top-tier martial art, the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll, could reach the power of a rare top-tier martial art.
Of course, to combine it with the Bull Demon Technique, he’d first need to cultivate the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll to the mastery level, then let the Bull Demon Technique: Condensed Evil absorb it.
So, over the next few days, he didn’t touch the Phantom Shadow Swordsmanship, instead focusing entirely on the Sword Mastery Technique: Black Iron Scroll and the Soul Condensation Technique.
