Selecting a Martial Skill

Only the second floor and above contained books on martial arts. The Library Pavilion had five floors in total. The first floor held miscellaneous reading; the second contained beginner cultivation methods; the third held intermediate cultivation methods; the fourth contained advanced cultivation methods; and the fifth housed the few Xiantian-level cultivation methods of the Yi Yuan Sect.

Over the years, Ye Xiwen had never learned the old man's name. Everyone simply called him Old Mo. Though he did not know Old Mo's identity, he assumed he was a senior figure in the Yi Yuan Sect, so Ye Xiwen was always deeply respectful whenever he saw him.

"Boy Ye, you're here? What books are you looking at this time? Classics and histories, or geographical records?" Old Mo set down his book and spoke with a kindly smile. He had always thought well of Ye Xiwen. Not only was he modest and polite, but more importantly, few people these days were willing to settle down and read a few books. The younger generation was all far too restless.

"Old Mo, I came today to borrow books on Martial Skills!" Ye Xiwen said.

"Martial Skills?" A strange gleam flashed through Old Mo's eyes. "You've reached the Fourth Stage?"

"Not bad, not bad! Hahaha!" Old Mo laughed heartily. He truly treated Ye Xiwen like one of his own juniors.

"Since you've come to choose a cultivation method, remember that in martial arts, greed is a great taboo. It is best to choose something suited to yourself!" Old Mo said. Though he gave the same advice to every disciple who came here to select manuals, he was exceptionally earnest with Ye Xiwen.

Many young people wanted to learn this and learn that at the start, unable to make up their minds. Some even thought their talent was extraordinary enough to learn everything. In the end, they only failed to paint a tiger and came out looking like a dog, learning nothing but the surface. In that case, they were worse off than those who specialized in a single Martial Skill.

"Thank you for the reminder, Old Mo. I will certainly keep it firmly in mind!" Ye Xiwen deeply agreed with Old Mo's words and bowed deeply in thanks.

Practicing martial arts was like reading. There was no possibility of reaching the heavens in a single step. When Ye Xiwen used to study, he followed the principle of finishing and thoroughly understanding one book before beginning another. Given the same amount of time, he might read as many books as others, but he understood them far more deeply than those who studied several at once.

"Alright, this old man won't say any more. Go in and take a look for yourself!" Old Mo waved his hand, reclined in his rocking chair, and resumed reading.

Ye Xiwen entered the Library Pavilion. He had long felt that Old Mo was unfathomable—at least in terms of identity. What sort of important place was the Yi Yuan Sect's Library Pavilion? How could they simply send some old man to guard it, without even a single guard present? In the past, Ye Xiwen had been eager to learn about this world, and every visit had been hurried, so he had never checked whether Old Mo possessed any martial ability. But now that he looked, Old Mo still appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary old man. Yet how could an ordinary old man be assigned to guard the Library Pavilion without any other protection? That meant the higher-ups trusted Old Mo completely. There was only one possibility: Old Mo's strength was utterly unfathomable, so high that Ye Xiwen could not see through it at all.

His status must also have been extremely high. Ye Xiwen simply did not know why someone of such status would willingly guard the Library Pavilion. Though the Library Pavilion was an important place within the Yi Yuan Sect, it ultimately held little real authority.

However, Ye Xiwen did not dwell on it. Old Mo was not an enemy. On the contrary, he seemed to think very highly of Ye Xiwen.

The Yi Yuan Sect's Library Pavilion contained quite a few books, all carefully sorted into categories. The smallest categories were basic and Xiantian methods. Xiantian-level Martial Skills were difficult to collect, while there was no need for too many basic Martial Skills. A few kinds each of fist techniques, palm techniques, and leg techniques were enough. They were only for laying foundations, after all. In real combat, there was little chance of using basic Martial Skills, and tempering one's body did not require so many either.

Mastering several basic Martial Skills was enough, nothing more than basic sword techniques or basic fist techniques.

Therefore, Ye Xiwen turned his attention to beginner Martial Skills. The one that had left the deepest impression on him was undoubtedly the Thunderclap Hand. He had previously seen his elder brother Ye Feng practice the Thunderclap Hand, and it had left a profound impression on him. The Thunderclap Hand's greatest feature was its speed—astonishing speed—and its power was formidable as well. Though it was only a beginner skill, once cultivated to great mastery, its power was far from weak. When practiced to the utmost limit, every strike could trigger nine peals of thunder. That was the Nine Thunderclap Strikes.

Ye Xiwen did not linger on the first floor and went straight up to the second. On the staircase between the first and second floors was a visible membrane. As Ye Xiwen passed through it, he felt a force of resistance obstructing his ascent, but he still made it up without difficulty.

Ye Xiwen knew that this membrane existed to prevent disciples lacking sufficient strength from forcing their way upstairs. Though he had not found it difficult to pass through, he knew the membrane had been designed ingeniously. Anyone at the Houtian Fourth Stage or above could pass without obstruction, while anyone below the Houtian Fourth Stage could not get through.

Ye Xiwen was very interested in the Thunderclap Hand, so he quickly found its manual and began reading. The greatest characteristic of the Thunderclap Hand was that nothing could withstand its speed.

Ye Xiwen had already made his choice. He opened the Thunderclap Hand manual and memorized its entire contents. The manuals here could not be taken outside, though they could be copied down. Ye Xiwen had not brought paper or ink, but memorizing them was allowed. In any case, even if one copied a manual and brought it back, one still had to memorize it, so many people simply memorized it here before leaving.

After another half hour or so, Ye Xiwen had committed the manual to memory. He put down the Thunderclap Hand manual without reading further and headed directly downstairs, leaving the Library Pavilion.

Old Mo was still leisurely reading that ancient book. Seeing Ye Xiwen emerge, he smiled and asked, "Have you made your choice?"

Ye Xiwen nodded. "Yes, I chose the Thunderclap Hand!"

"The Thunderclap Hand? That manual is not bad," Old Mo said. "Its power is quite decent, but it is a palm technique. When you have the chance, you should also choose a weapon manual. Otherwise, when fighting others, you'll be at a disadvantage to some extent!"

"Yes!" Ye Xiwen nodded.

"If you want to specialize in other palm techniques or fist techniques, you should at least cultivate the Thunderclap Hand to the Sixth Strike or above first. Knowing many martial arts is no match for mastering one. I trust you understand the principle that greedily biting off too much leaves one unable to chew it!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Old Mo," Ye Xiwen said. "Then this junior will take his leave first!"

"Go on!" Old Mo glanced at Ye Xiwen, then continued reading the yellowed ancient book. Reclining in his rocking chair, he remained as leisurely as ever.

Ye Xiwen knew that this was how Old Mo had always been, so he did not mind. He turned and returned to his own courtyard.

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