Volume Two: Capital City Storms — Demon Subduing Vajra Art

I carefully examined Yuwen Rou's condition, but her body was simply too frail. She could not practice martial arts with a body like this. Having an expert treat her with True Qi was impossible too, because neither her body nor her slender meridians could withstand it. As for consuming heavenly treasures, her body could barely absorb them at all. It could be said that she was beyond the help of medicine; all that could be done was to care for her properly and prevent anything from affecting her too severely.

My heart ached—ached terribly. The first girl I had ever liked was in such a dreadful state, yet as a cultivator, I had no way to help her. Unless I reached the Soul Departure Stage, when I could use Tianxin Sect's secret art to remake her body from the marrow up. But I was only at the early Golden Core Stage. Who knew how long it would take to reach the Soul Departure Stage? Could she hold on until then?

A faint smile rested on Li Tianxiang's face as he walked over to Yuwen Rou's side. Looking at her, he said, "Miss Yuwen, once school begins, all of us will have one opportunity to choose an internal cultivation manual. I know you will not be going, so I have decided not to go either. I'll accompany you for a walk instead. How does that sound?"

Yuwen Rou naturally knew that when the National Martial Academy opened, everyone would have one chance to select an internal cultivation manual—just one chance each. Most people came to the National Martial Academy precisely for this opportunity. Among those manuals were peerless ones as well as ordinary ones, but everyone only had a single chance. That was why peerless internal cultivation manuals were no longer so rare now.

Yuwen Rou naturally knew that her body could not cultivate martial arts. Although Li Tianxiang's actions gave her a somewhat favorable impression of him, in her heart, she hoped that someone else would accompany her.

When I saw the glance Yuwen Rou gave me as she turned her head, I knew what she was thinking. But the reason I had come to the National Martial Academy was to see just what the martial arts of the Azure Dragon Continent were like. Besides, missing one chance to be with her was nothing.

So I smiled and said to Yuwen Rou, "Miss Yuwen, I'm truly sorry. I came here specifically to look at the martial arts manuals here. I'm really sorry."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Yuwen Rou's eyes, but she still smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing. People come to the National Martial Academy for this opportunity. Young Master Li's family has many peerless manuals, so you needn't feel so embarrassed."

Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, my heart trembled, and I nearly agreed with her at once. But I could not. I could not alter my resolve because of a woman—otherwise, how could I ever accomplish great things in the future? I held myself back. Even though my Spiritual Sense could feel Li Tianxiang's pride and contempt, in his eyes, I was probably nothing more than a pathetic wretch driven from his home, someone who had to come to the National Martial Academy even to learn martial arts.

"Everyone, I know you are all eager to choose your manuals as soon as possible. Fine, I won't say any more. You may go now. I wish you all the luck in finding manuals you like." That prince had finally finished speaking. Probably only that last sentence was something everyone wanted to hear.

The moment he finished, nearly a thousand of us headed outside, making straight for the underground passage.

Brother Lang Feng ran over to my side, looking extremely delighted. He had wanted to enter ever since we first came a few days ago, but it had not been permitted. Today, he could finally go in.

"Second Brother, what do you think we should choose? I reckon those martial arts manuals definitely aren't as good as yours. Hehe."

Looking at Brother Lang Feng's scheming grin, I knew he was up to no good. He must have something he wanted from me. I shot him a sidelong glance.

"Tell me. What is it? Don't tell me it's nothing. Just looking at that grin of yours, I already know."

Brother Lang Feng did not blush in the slightest. Not good—this fellow was showing signs of developing in Li's direction. But what could I do?

"Well, it's nothing much. I just want to borrow ten thousand taels of silver from you, Second Brother." After saying that, he looked at me with a fawning expression.

I could not help feeling puzzled. Ten thousand taels of silver was no small sum. Though I did not lack such money, what did Brother Lang Feng need so much silver for?

"Big Brother, what do you need all that silver for?"

"It's really nothing. I just noticed that nearly everyone has a weapon, while we have none. More importantly, everyone has to have their own weapon for classes at the National Martial Academy in the future. What am I supposed to do then? I'm not like you, Second Brother—I don't want to skip class. Your martial arts are so strong that you could teach those instructors yourself, but I have hardly any combat experience at all. I still need to learn." Brother Lang Feng carefully explained everything to me.

My face burned with embarrassment. How humiliating—I had not even known weapons were needed in class. At first, I knew that attending school here was entirely up to the students. You could sit in on any class you wished, stay home and not come at all, or study on your own in the rooms that stored martial arts techniques. But how could reading manuals by yourself compare to having experts explain things in person? Many people came during the first few years for the manuals, then spent the following years listening to those experts explain martial arts.

Internal cultivation was the foundation of martial arts, which was why the academy controlled it so strictly. There was only one chance a year to select an internal cultivation manual, but they were far more relaxed about technique manuals.

Seeing the way Brother Lang Feng looked at me, I could not refuse him. Besides, it had been my oversight.

"Big Brother, once we return to the estate, I'll give you the silver so you can choose one for yourself. For now, let's take a look around first. This is, after all, the martial arts holy land of the entire Azure Dragon Continent. Don't waste such a good opportunity." I immediately diverted Brother Lang Feng's attention elsewhere. I did not want him endlessly pestering me about this matter.

"Alright, everyone, choose carefully here. Remember, each person may only select one book. I'll be leaving first. May you all find the peerless martial arts manual of your dreams." That prince finally left, and we began selecting manuals as well.

A huge crowd rushed toward the very front. It seemed the best manuals were all placed over there.

"Master, why are you choosing here? The manuals here are divided into three grades. The ones at the very front are first-grade manuals. The ones here are all third-grade, with only a small number of second-grade manuals. The entire middle section is second-grade." Chiyou walked up to me and asked somewhat doubtfully.

"What does a brat like you know? The three of you have acknowledged my Second Brother as your master. Do you still need to study these inferior manuals? Just pick one at random. In the future, you should learn my Second Brother's peerless martial arts instead!" Since Brother Lang Feng had just learned that I would give him silver to buy a weapon, he was in an excellent mood. He was even flattering me in front of my three disciples. But honestly, Brother Lang Feng was right. Hehe.

I looked at the three of them and smiled. "Just take any one. In a few days, I'll teach you martial arts."

When Chiyou and the other two heard me actually admit that my martial arts were even stronger than the ones here, their minds could not quite process it. It took them a long while to react. Only one thought remained in their hearts: We struck gold!

The few of us split up casually to see whether there were any good manuals.

As I walked, I flipped through the manuals. After reading just a little of one, I could guess what came next. Compared with cultivation arts, they were far too low-grade, and I could not help feeling bored. After making a full circuit, I returned to the entrance. Just as I was about to grab any book and leave, I suddenly saw a book closest to the door: "Demon Subduing Vajra Art."

My entire body shook. "Demon Subduing Vajra Art"—wasn't that the Buddhist Sect's most precious cultivation art? Wasn't it the most formidable manual in the entire Cultivation World?

I could hardly believe it. It might simply have been another manual with the same name, but I still carefully read the description beside it.

Demon Subduing Vajra Art was an ordinary Shaolin manual, yet it had its precious aspects. This manual described a total of eighteen realms. However, from ancient times to the present, not a single person had ever reached the sixth level. Yet the power of the fifth level was already equivalent to that of a first-grade master. This manual was extremely difficult to cultivate; some people spent more than ten years merely on the first level, and progress was exceedingly slow. Only those blessed by heaven with extraordinary talent might possibly attain a certain height. Please consider carefully before choosing.

The moment I read it, I froze. What was there to consider? From the description alone, I knew it was the Demon Subduing Vajra Art. These eighteen realms—the first through fifth levels were used for Foundation Establishment. The sixth level marked entry into the Golden Core Stage, while the sixth through twelfth levels corresponded to the seven realms of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Departure, Avatar, Body Integration, Tribulation Transcendence, and Great Accomplishment. The thirteenth through eighteenth levels were equivalent to the six immortal realms of the Immortal World: Spirit Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, Luo Tian Heavenly Immortal, Immortal Lord, and Immortal Emperor.

Most importantly, to cultivate the sixth level of this Demon Subduing Vajra Art, one needed another cultivator to transform the body and fill it with True Primordial Energy. Since Buddha Primordial Energy was on the same level as immortal power, it was impossible to leap directly from Innate True Qi at the fifth level to Buddha Primordial Energy. True Primordial Energy had to serve as a transition.

And I had already reached the Golden Core Stage, so my entire body was naturally filled with True Primordial Energy. Hahaha! Heaven, you have truly treated me too well! Coming here not only allowed me to obtain the Demon Subduing Arhat Fist, but also another one of the Buddhist Sect's most formidable arts, the Demon Subduing Vajra Art. And today, you let me meet her as well. Hahaha! When luck comes, nothing can stop it!

My heart brimmed with excitement. What I wanted most now was to return home immediately and cultivate this Demon Subduing Vajra Art in my basement. If I wanted to do it, then I would do it.

I shouted to Brother Lang Feng, who was still choosing manuals not far away, "Big Brother, keep choosing. I'm going back to the estate first. I have something to do, so don't come looking for me. I'm leaving."

I hurried to the underground passage, where those fellows at the entrance insisted on inspecting me, claiming they were worried I might be taking several books. I could only endure it. When they discovered that I had chosen the Demon Subduing Vajra Art, they all looked at me as if I were an idiot. They had been here for a long time, so they knew perfectly well which manuals were good and which were bad.

I could not even be bothered with those fools who could not recognize treasure. How could such ignorant people know what a true treasure was?

Ignoring all the astonished gazes around me, I used my lightness skill and shot toward my estate like the wind. I could hardly wait to cultivate the most formidable cultivation art in the Cultivation World.