Ling Xiao and the other two soon arrived at the Outer Moon Tower.
Though the name differed, it was similar to the Ling family’s library, except it housed far more texts. There were no incomplete martial arts from the secular world; the lowest grade here was Quasi-Mortal martial arts, alongside a considerable number of Mortal martial arts.
These were freely available for study, with no time limits or stringent status restrictions—as long as you were an outer sect disciple of the Moonlight Sect.
In the secular world, Quasi-Mortal martial arts were already coveted treasures for many martial artists, while Mortal martial arts were like stars in the sky, nearly unattainable.
Unless one was exceptionally talented and had a Mortal Realm master, frequent exposure to Mortal martial arts was unlikely.
Here, Mortal martial arts were referred to as “Gold-Grade martial arts,” but their nature was the same.
Gold-Grade, Jade-Grade, Immortal-Grade, Divine-Grade!
This was the classification of martial arts beyond the secular world.
“By the way, beyond the four grades of Gold, Jade, Immortal, and Divine, each grade is further divided into Entry, Rare, Superior, and Pinnacle levels. You’re aware of this, right?” Wu Xiang said thoughtfully, explaining even such basic matters.
“Our master mentioned it,” Ling Xiao and Leng Mei both nodded.
By now, Ling Xiao had a rough understanding that his martial arts likely fell into the Gold-Grade Superior category.
This confirmed his earlier thoughts—his strength was not without reason.
The Gold-Grade martial arts of opponents he’d faced before were all Entry-level, nowhere near his own level, so how could they possibly defeat him?
After parting with Wu Xiang, Ling Xiao went alone to browse the Gold-Grade martial arts in the Moon Tower.
Upon entering the sect, he learned why the secular world lacked Gold-Grade martial arts manuals, only having their mysteries. There was a reason for this.
Most secular martial artists couldn’t compile these mysteries into martial arts manuals. Even if someone did, they’d never easily share them.
But it was different in a sect.
With countless experts in the sect, Gold-Grade martial arts mysteries were trivial. Compiling them into manuals after comprehension was a simple task.
Thus, the Gold-Grade martial arts he saw now were in the form of manuals, not mystery steles.
The Gold-Grade martial arts in the Outer Moon Tower were all Entry-level, which Ling Xiao looked down upon, as old man Bai Yun had said that inner sect disciples could access better Gold-Grade martial arts.
Still, he copied all these Entry-level Gold-Grade martial arts.
Not to use them as techniques, but to enhance the level of his [Martial Art Name].
Currently, his [Martial Art Name] was a Gold-Grade Entry-level movement technique.
His [Other Martial Art Name] was still at the Pinnacle Martial Art level and needed to be fed some Gold-Grade martial arts to advance into the Gold-Grade category.
After copying them, Ling Xiao lost interest in these martial arts manuals and moved to the other side to read miscellaneous books.
These so-called miscellaneous books were texts beyond martial arts, covering astronomy, geography, and all knowledge about this mysterious realm.
Ling Xiao believed that while improving his strength, he should also broaden his horizons. Otherwise, staying narrow-minded would make him no better than a frog in a well.
He didn’t notice that Leng Mei had quietly left the Moon Tower.
Leng Mei returned to her quarters, packed her belongings, and left a note for Ling Xiao.
She lacked the courage to say goodbye in person, fearing she couldn’t bear to leave.
Since female disciples were few, she lived alone in a stone house, so she wasn’t worried about someone taking the note.
Leaving the stone house, she headed straight for the valley they had passed earlier, where the killing intent felt strangely familiar to her.
She believed that the killing intent would only benefit her, not harm her.
Glancing back towards the Outer Moon Tower, she murmured, “Young Master, wait for me!”
Then she leapt into the valley.
Suddenly, a massive black shadow rose from the valley, completely engulfing her.
…
Ling Xiao was unaware of what had happened to Leng Mei. He was still engrossed in reading.
One book, which recorded the ancient cultivation system, was like a treasure to him.
Until now, he had only known of the Ninth Layer Martial Vein and the Mortal Realm.
Later, from Master Bai Yun, he learned of the Martial Vein Realm, Mortal Realm, and Heavenly Human Realm.
But from this book, he realised how ignorant he had been.
The path of cultivation was far more extensive than he knew.
It was divided into eight realms: Martial Vein Realm, Mortal Realm, Heavenly Human Realm, Cave Heaven Realm, Yin-Yang Realm, Reincarnation Realm, Human Immortal Realm, and True Immortal Realm.
He had thought Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable’s Heavenly Human Realm was outrageously powerful, but now he felt he’d been a frog in a well.
Without this book, he wouldn’t have known any of this.
According to the book, the strongest on the Heavenly Dragon Continent were Heavenly Human Realm experts. Beyond that, unless they were reclusive masters, no stronger figures had been seen.
Thus, what lay beyond the Heavenly Human Realm was a blank in the Moonlight Sect’s records.
As one of the twelve sects on the Heavenly Dragon Continent, a supremely powerful sect, if the Moonlight Sect had no such records, other sects likely didn’t either.
It seemed that to learn about realms beyond the Heavenly Human Realm, one would need to leave the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
However, the book also mentioned that in ancient times, realms above the Heavenly Human Realm certainly existed, with some experts even reaching the True Immortal Realm.
Yet True Immortal Realm experts were extremely rare, even in ancient times. Even the Moonlight Sect’s founder, the Moonlight Heavenly Lady, was only a Human Immortal Realm expert.
Closing the book, Ling Xiao took a deep breath, set the matter aside, and began reading about the customs and cultures of the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
This kept him occupied for several hours.
…
“Junior Brother Ling, Leng Mei is missing!”
While Ling Xiao was immersed in a sea of knowledge, Wu Xiang hurriedly came to find him, saying that Leng Mei had disappeared.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao frowned, quickly put down his book, and rushed to Leng Mei’s quarters.
The door wasn’t locked, and on the table was a note held down by an inkstone.
“Young Master, Leng Mei originally wanted to protect you but has become a burden. Thus, I’m leaving to improve my strength. Rest assured, I’ve found a suitable cultivation site. Please don’t worry—Leng Mei!”
The note was brief but clear.
“Sigh!”
Ling Xiao had long been worried about this, but he didn’t know how to dissuade Leng Mei. This girl was incredibly stubborn.
As long as she wasn’t in trouble, that was enough.
To test Leng Mei’s potential in the past, Ling Xiao had dripped a drop of his blood into the Seven Star Flower in his Mountain and River World.
This created a special connection between him and Leng Mei.
Though he couldn’t pinpoint her location, if something happened to her, he would sense it immediately.
Since the drop of blood showed no anomalies, it meant Leng Mei was safe for now.
