Apart from extraordinary martial arts, Ling Xiao could peruse the other texts in the collection, including those on astronomy, geography, anecdotes, and various observations.
In the outside world, quasi-extraordinary martial arts were coveted by all martial artists at the Martial Master realm, including those at the ninth level of the Martial Vein.
Yet here, Ling Xiao could freely consult quasi-extraordinary martial arts texts. This was likely the greatest advantage of being an apprentice to an extraordinary martial artist.
However, while consulting and studying these martial arts was permitted, taking them out was strictly forbidden.
Of course, this restriction held little significance for Ling Xiao. Each time he picked up a quasi-extraordinary martial arts text, he could effortlessly memorise it.
After skimming the introduction, he would linger on the ones that piqued his interest and toss back those that didn’t, as he had already memorised them.
In the pursuit of martial arts, one must not be greedy.
Thus, Ling Xiao’s goals were clear.
His defensive martial art was the extraordinary martial art Heavenly Dragon Golden Body.
His internal cultivation method was the quasi-extraordinary martial art Snow Lotus True Solution.
His fist technique was the quasi-extraordinary martial art Divine Prison King Fist.
His cultivation secret method was the quasi-extraordinary martial art Shadow Cultivation Secret Method.
His soul cultivation method was the quasi-extraordinary martial art Soul Burning Technique.
Therefore, he had no need to select martial arts in these areas.
The Heavy Shadow Sword Technique was slightly inferior, being a top-tier advanced martial art. Although its power, enhanced by a killing move, was comparable to quasi-extraordinary martial arts, it remained merely a top-tier martial art and needed improvement.
Additionally, Soaring Cloud Step required evolution, Sword Control Technique needed enhancement, and Bull Demon Technique also required evolution.
With this, his objectives were crystal clear.
After careful selection, Ling Xiao couldn’t help but sigh, “An extraordinary martial artist is truly remarkable. The comprehensive collection of quasi-extraordinary martial arts in Master Baiyun’s Hall of Transmission is simply astounding, even surpassing the advanced martial arts in the Ling Clan’s library!”
The complete version of the Heavy Shadow Sword Technique, known as Thirteen Shadow Transformation Swords, was a quasi-extraordinary martial art. The first six levels were identical to the Heavy Shadow Sword Technique, essentially the same, but the Thirteen Shadow Transformation Swords included three additional levels.
At the seventh level, the shadow clone could increase to six.
At the eighth level, the shadow clone could increase to nine.
At the ninth level, the perfected state, the shadow clone could increase to thirteen, unleashing thirteen sword shadows in an instant—a terrifying feat.
The Sword Control Technique: Bronze Scroll, a quasi-extraordinary martial art also known as Five Elements Sword Control Technique, allowed the practitioner to infuse flying swords with the power of the five elements, producing varied effects. It was more powerful, faster, and more wondrous than the Black Iron Scroll.
It comprised five forms—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—in no particular order.
As for the cultivation of Soaring Cloud Step and Bull Demon Technique, these relied on a foundation of numerous quasi-extraordinary martial arts. This wasn’t an issue. Even without the Shadow Cultivation Secret Method in the past, Ling Xiao had managed. Now, with the Shadow Cultivation Secret Method, his cultivation speed was even faster.
Cultivating several quasi-extraordinary martial arts as materials to enhance these two unique techniques was sufficient.
Others, after selecting their martial arts, would rush to cultivate them, as they had only three hours each day.
But Ling Xiao had no such need. He could cultivate slowly after returning.
For now, he began flipping through the notes and texts left by Master Baiyun, hoping to learn more about this world.
Back when he was a beggar, Ling Xiao loved listening to his grandfather tell stories about the outside world.
But his grandfather, Hong Qi, was just a beggar and knew little. He mostly spoke of Baiyun Province, barely covering the Northern Han Kingdom, let alone the Human Race Holy Dynasty, overseas nations, or the entire world.
“No way! Isn’t the Human Race Holy Dynasty the centre of the world? How is it merely one country on the Heavenly Dragon Continent?”
Reading a particular passage, Ling Xiao was dumbfounded.
This world was called the “Mysterious Realm.”
The Mysterious Realm had thirteen continents, of which the Heavenly Dragon Continent was just one. The Human Race Holy Dynasty was on this continent, and though it was a relatively large nation, it ranked only third!
This fact was hard for Ling Xiao to accept at first.
In traditional beliefs, the Human Race Holy Dynasty was the world’s centre, the greatest nation, and the only one belonging to the human race.
But now, it seemed the reality was quite different.
The Heavenly Dragon Continent hosted hundreds of nations, large and small, but only three were truly powerful—the Human Race Holy Dynasty, the Blue-Eyed Empire, and the Barbarian Golden Tribe.
The Ninja Nation, home to the ninja clan, was somewhat notable but remained a small country.
However, the ninja clan’s martial arts development now surpassed that of the Human Race Holy Dynasty, and their reputation on the Heavenly Dragon Continent was gradually overtaking the Holy Dynasty’s.
The Human Race Holy Dynasty was now a target for all, having once been composed of thirteen vassal states, making it the mightiest nation on the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
But with the disappearance of martial souls and internal corruption, this colossal entity was on the verge of collapse.
Ling Xiao couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Back then, he thought Tianfeng City was the most prosperous city, and Yunkong City was an unreachable dream.
Now, he suddenly realised that not only Yunkong City but even the entire Baiyun Province was insignificant.
After all, Baiyun Province was merely a province under the Northern Han Kingdom, one of the thirteen vassal states of the Human Race Holy Dynasty.
Unfortunately, when he wanted to read more, he found the information too scarce.
Apart from relatively detailed records about the Human Race Holy Dynasty on the Heavenly Dragon Continent, other details were glossed over.
The other twelve continents of the Mysterious Realm weren’t even named, suggesting Master Baiyun didn’t know either.
It seemed that to learn more, he would need to grow stronger, reach the Extraordinary Realm, and venture out to explore.
Just how vast was the Mysterious Realm?
What wonders lay on the thirteen continents?
These thoughts set his blood ablaze.
Suddenly, Ling Xiao felt he had another reason to grow stronger—to uncover the secrets of this world.
The world was vast, and he had to see it for himself.
Leaving the Hall of Transmission, Ling Xiao entered a state of cultivation once more.
This time, he had one goal: to evolve Soaring Cloud Step.
Mobility had always been crucial for him. Although the ghost ship remnant soul paired with Soaring Cloud Step was close to a quasi-extraordinary movement technique, it still fell short.
This made his mobility noticeably inferior to others’.
After all, Bull Demon Technique was merely supplementary, while Soaring Cloud Step was a vital means of survival, not to be neglected.
Evolving Soaring Cloud Step was relatively simple, requiring only two quasi-extraordinary movement techniques as a foundation.
Some might ask, if he already had quasi-extraordinary movement techniques, why bother evolving Soaring Cloud Step?
The answer was straightforward: even if the evolved Soaring Cloud Step wasn’t an extraordinary movement technique, it would undoubtedly be the strongest among quasi-extraordinary movement techniques.
This would make it far superior to ordinary quasi-extraordinary movement techniques.
Seven days later, Ling Xiao emerged from seclusion.
At the same time, Dai Yuling and others also came out of seclusion, with Master Baiyun’s True Man still overseeing the assessment.
All twelve of Master Baiyun’s disciples under sixteen gathered in the Baiyun Temple’s Martial Performance Hall.
“Won’t our master be coming?” Feiyu asked True Man Still, somewhat disappointed.
He had been diligently training during this time. Though his cultivation hadn’t advanced to the eighth level of the Martial Vein, he had mastered a quasi-extraordinary martial art to perfection and was eager to show off in front of Master Baiyun.
Naturally, he was disappointed to see that Master Baiyun wasn’t present.
