There were four people present, representing four different sides.
Xue Qinghe stood slightly behind Ning Fengzhi.
He presented himself as the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, but in reality, he was the Young Lord of the Spirit Hall.
Zhao Liuyun stood quietly to the side; as the disciple of the imperial guest official Dugu Bo, he could claim a loose connection to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong led the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, making them the figures present with the closest ties to the Heaven Dou Empire.
In the vast Crown Prince's Manor, not a single true member of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was actually present—
It was truly a humorous situation.
Zhao Liuyun found it amusing in his heart, but he did not let it show on his face.
Ning Fengzhi had come on official business and had important matters to discuss with Xue Qinghe. Zhao Liuyun was brought directly to the study, granted permission to browse the collection of books at will.
There were many books on the shelves. However, several yellowed, old volumes placed in prominent positions instantly seized his attention.
"They've got some years on them," Zhao Liuyun muttered to himself, his gaze falling upon the cover of the topmost book.
The Art of Combat: Slaughter Frenzy.
The author of this book was unknown, and there was no preface or postscript. It looked more like a private journal compiled and named by later generations. Annotations from others were written on the cover.
"The author was a Title Douluo; his life's realizations peaked at Rank 95."
"Entered the Slaughter City in Year 1709 of the Douluo Calendar, seeking the Deathgod Domain but failing. He returned the way he came, integrating soul power and spirit through a slaughterous will to create the mental combat technique: Slaughter Frenzy."
"This book contains his insights and realizations. It can only be consulted by those at the Soul Saint level or above. If one's spirit is tenacious and will is like iron, early study may be considered at one's discretion."
An ancient book nearly a thousand years old—
Its origins had long been swallowed by time, allowing Xue Qinghe to bring it out openly. Since it was placed here so casually, it was likely not the original but a transcript. Even so, it demonstrated great sincerity.
"Qian Renxue... is truly generous."
Zhao Liuyun immediately focused his mind on reading.
There was no idle chatter in the book; it was entirely composed of practical cultivation insights. From the soul-shaking tremor when first stepping into the Slaughter City, to how the slaughterous intent was condensed and guided thread by thread, and finally how soul power and mental energy intertwined and resonated toward fusion—every word was a firsthand experience, every page a testament to truth.
After browsing only a few pages, a bright light seemed to flash in his mind, and his General Experience began to accumulate rapidly.
Zhao Liuyun froze for a moment as a thought flashed through his mind like lightning—Dammit, just how much filler was in those other books?
Or rather, perhaps most books lacked the "secrets" of cultivation and were merely "chicken soup for the soul," unable to provide much General Experience. In the academy library, he had indeed seen very few actual cultivation essentials. Even when they existed, they were often vague and poorly explained.
In a supernatural world, one truly had to be closely connected to supernatural power to absorb the richest experience and nourishment.
Following that logic—
If various secret cultivation techniques provided the most General Experience, what about research data? Regardless of whether the research was successful, they likely revealed part of the essence of a Soul Master's power from different perspectives.
Zhao Liuyun suppressed the thoughts in his heart, set the book down, and turned to look at the other volumes.
Observing Mountains and Seas, a classic detailing the metamorphosis of mental energy. The book mentioned that such an opportunity was rare and could not be sought out. However, the author had experienced this miracle twice and meticulously recorded how to firmly grasp those fleeting moments of realization.
The Hidden Power within the Human Body, a manuscript on blood-qi research, roughly describing the process of discovering blood-qi and its potential uses. It included a body-tempering map, claiming to train every part of the body uniformly. However, after careful comparison and relying on his own understanding of human anatomy, Zhao Liuyun judged it inferior to his own secret body-tempering techniques.
Mental energy transmits signals to govern muscle activities that the nerves cannot normally control; outsiders relying solely on physical movements were far from reaching that level. Theoretically, the signals governing the body's muscles were universal. Since they could act upon oneself, they could naturally be applied to others.
Zhao Liuyun was already attempting to develop this. For instance, while triggering a dream of terror through his instantaneous third soul skill, he could use mental energy to force the opponent's muscles to over-contract. The body has its own protection mechanisms, but external mental power ignores the limits set by the brain. A dual pincer attack on the spirit and the flesh would be enough to make someone completely lose their combat capability in an instant.
Unfortunately, it was currently still just a hypothesis.
Back to the matter at hand.
Among the remaining books, some discussed soul power cultivation, including soul power circulation routes. Sadly, they were not as exquisite as the Mysterious Heaven Skill and could only serve as slight references to exchange for a bit of experience.
There were thirteen books in total, and these four were the essence. It was clear they had been carefully selected and were not merely there to make up the numbers. As the holy land of Soul Masters, the Spirit Hall truly possessed deep foundations.
What exactly had Yu Xiaogang learned during his time at the Spirit Hall? Or were these actually treasures of the Seraphim line that even the Saintess had no right to view?
Though curious, Zhao Liuyun felt a genuine sense of approval toward Qian Renxue. He hadn't called her "Big Brother Xue" for nothing; she really did give him the good stuff.
Zhao Liuyun immersed himself in reading, first picking up Observing Mountains and Seas, which described the metamorphosis of mental energy. The future God-King Tang's mental energy had broken through to the fourth stage of the Purple Demon Eye, "Boundless," rivaling the Rank 99 Peerless Douluo Bo Saixi, precisely through realizations gained from observing the sea.
Once Zhao Liuyun had accumulated enough, he would seek a similar realization. His strength would undoubtedly undergo a qualitative leap.
[You are seriously studying a secret mental transmission. The gains are significant. General Experience +1.]
In just half an hour, he had gained more experience than a whole morning of reading before. He was overjoyed; compared to the content, the experience was actually secondary.
"Haha, what a coincidence today—"
From outside the study came Ning Fengzhi's hearty laugh, sounding like a wealthy landlord. They seemed to be having an excellent and harmonious conversation. In reality, Qian Renxue felt quite speechless; this "coincidence" was a bit too forced.
Finally, they had arrived.
Zhao Liuyun's ears twitched. He looked to the side and set down the classic in his hand.
"Little brother, my apologies. My teacher happened to arrive today, and I have neglected you." Xue Qinghe put on no airs as the Crown Prince, apologizing sincerely the moment he entered the room.
Zhao Liuyun had received his benefits. Thinking that he would eventually fleece even more treasures of the Spirit Hall from him, he quickly stood up and took his hand, saying sincerely, "Big Brother Xue is the Crown Prince, burdened with a myriad of daily affairs. It is only natural to prioritize the great matters of the state."
He did not linger, nor did he intentionally stroke the other's hand. It would be too weird to stroke a man's hand in front of everyone. He simply gripped it firmly and gave it a shake.
This hand was also a disguise; he couldn't feel anything definitive. That disguised soul bone skill was quite impressive. But why would the Seraphim God Garment have such a skill?
"Did you find these classics to your liking?" Xue Qinghe asked with a smile, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"They are all top-tier treasures. Big Brother Xue has truly been thoughtful," Zhao Liuyun remarked from the bottom of his heart. This period of reading had indeed brought him a great deal of insight.
"Nephew Liuyun truly loves reading~" Ning Fengzhi also stepped forward, exchanging pleasantries in a gentle tone. The information was correct; the gift he brought could now be presented.
Zhao Liuyun smiled slightly and replied composedly, "The wisdom of predecessors reveals all truths. The path ahead for a Soul Master is hidden between the lines; how could I not love it?"
"Every time I flip through a classic, I always gain something. Don't you agree, Sect Master Ning?"
General Experience—the divine power of the system panel. Others could only increase their knowledge, but he could use it to increase his cultivation.
A flicker of surprise crossed Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He praised, "To draw connections across different fields... you are truly an extraordinary young talent."
Reading—wasn't that what Soul Masters with poor talent did to study the path of theory? Yet the youth before him possessed peerless talent; he looked nothing like Yu Xiaogang. While knowledge was related to a Soul Master's growth, it didn't have much direct connection to cultivation itself.
Ning Fengzhi thought no more of it. He had come here to show goodwill. "Nephew, I also happened to bring a few classics with me this time."
The Secret of Ring Fusion.
The moment his gaze landed on the cover, Zhao Liuyun's face lit up with joy.
He thought to himself: I apologize for my previous arrogant words.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was not a meddler; rather, they were genuine "good people" just like Qian Renxue.
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