Merit Exchange and Martial Arts Pavilion

The storm caused by the Gravity Tower incident far exceeded everyone's imagination.

In just one day, the name "Lin Xiao" transformed from a dark horse freshman with a touch of legend into a monstrous talent comparable to all the veteran powerhouses in the Outer Court!

Nine Times Gravity!

This number weighed heavily on the hearts of every outer courtyard student like a massive mountain. It not only represented an unattainable record but also a gap called "despair."

From this day on, Yellow Class Nine was no longer synonymous with a "garbage dump." Instead, it became the most eye-catching place in the entire academy. Countless people came to catch a glimpse of the young man who had shattered the myth. Lin Xiao's previously secluded dormitory was even jokingly nicknamed "Dragon's Abyss" by busybodies.

Lin Xiao paid no attention to the outside clamor.

He confined himself to his dormitory, spending a full day adapting to and consolidating his explosively increased strength.

Body Refinement Sixth Level! Half a step into the Physical Body Extreme Realm!

This was an unprecedented feeling of power. He could clearly feel explosive strength contained within every inch of his flesh and every bone. He didn't even need to deliberately circulate spiritual energy; a single punch or kick from his physical body alone was enough to easily defeat an ordinary Body Refinement Fifth Level cultivator!

"This is still only half a step..." Lin Xiao clenched his fist, feeling the vigorous Blood Essence within him like a roaring furnace. His eyes were filled with a longing for higher realms. "If I could truly enter the Physical Body Extreme Realm, I wonder what that would be like?"

The next morning, when he opened his door, Shi Lei and Su Yue were already waiting outside.

"Lin Xiao, you finally came out!" Shi Lei excitedly rushed forward upon seeing him, but just as he was about to give him a bear hug, he seemed to remember something and froze abruptly, a look of reverence appearing on his face. "You... are you even human anymore?"

Su Yue's beautiful eyes also flickered as she curiously observed Lin Xiao. Although his aura was contained now, making him appear no different from an ordinary person, there was a unique charm in his every movement, a harmonious blend with heaven and earth, that made even her feel a sense of pressure.

"Stop joking around." Lin Xiao smiled and patted Shi Lei's shoulder. "Let's go. We're going to do something big today."

"Do something big?" Shi Lei and Su Yue were both taken aback.

"Go spend some Merit Points at the Merit Hall!" Lin Xiao's eyes gleamed with the extravagance of the wealthy.

Merit Hall exchange area.

This was the most expensive place in the entire outer courtyard. All sorts of rare pills, powerful weapons, profound cultivation techniques, life-saving talismans... As long as you had enough Merit Points, you could buy almost anything you desired here.

When Lin Xiao and the other two walked in side-by-side, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"It's Lin Xiao! He's here at the Merit Hall!" "Heavens, he's not going to spend all fifteen thousand Merit Points, is he?" "Let's go, let's go, quickly go see! It's not often we get to witness a spending spree by a tycoon like this!"

The entire exchange area erupted in a commotion. Countless students put down what they were doing and followed the trio, wanting to see what was happening.

Lin Xiao ignored these followers and directly led the two of them to the area for exchanging cultivation techniques and Martial Skills.

The texts here were different from those in the Library Pavilion. The books in the Library Pavilion could only be read, not taken away, while the cultivation techniques and Martial Skills here could be directly exchanged for imprinted copies using Merit Points to be taken back and cultivated slowly. Of course, the prices were also terrifyingly high.

"Shi Lei, you possess Innate Divine Strength and naturally walk a path of fierce and domineering power. This Earth-Tier Low-Grade Body Refinement technique, Immovable Wisdom King Art, is most suitable for you. It can maximize your physical body's potential. Cultivated to great success, your body can withstand swords and blades, possessing immense strength." Lin Xiao pointed to a cultivation technique on the light screen.

"Earth... Earth-Tier technique?!" Shi Lei's eyes widened, but when he saw the "five thousand Merit Points" price tag below, he recoiled in fear, waving his hands. "No, no, it's too expensive! This is too wasteful!"

"Take it." Lin Xiao, however, unequivocally used his own jade token to pay the Merit Points and stuffed the imprinted jade slip of that cultivation technique into Shi Lei's hand. "We are a team. Your strength is our strength. This investment is necessary."

He then turned to Su Yue. "Su Yue, your advantage lies in your agile movement techniques, but this Human-Tier High-Grade soft sword can no longer keep up with your strength. This 'Firefly Soft Sword,' Earth-Tier Low-Grade, is crafted from meteorite mixed with star sand. It's as light as nothing yet incredibly sharp, making it perfect for you. Additionally, this movement Martial Skill, Phantom Tracing Steps, will allow you to maximize your speed advantage."

"Firefly Soft Sword, six thousand Merit Points. Phantom Tracing Steps, four thousand Merit Points."

Lin Xiao again waved his hand generously, spending a full ten thousand Merit Points!

The surrounding onlookers were already dumbfounded, gasps of cold air rising one after another.

Spending a fortune!

This was no longer just a tycoon; this was a god-like figure!

Shi Lei and Su Yue, holding the jade slips and the precious sword radiating powerful auras, were so moved that their eyes turned red. They knew the value of these items could no longer be measured by Merit Points. This was Lin Xiao's unreserved trust and cultivation of them!

"Lin Xiao..."

"Don't say it." Lin Xiao interrupted them with a smile. "We're partners, aren't we?"

After equipping his partners, Lin Xiao began to choose for himself.

He did not opt for powerful offensive Martial Skills. Instead, he turned his gaze to auxiliary or even somewhat obscure texts.

"Detailed Explanation of Basic Formations, one thousand Merit Points."

"Compendium of Hundred Herbs: Addendum, eight hundred Merit Points."

"Introduction to Artifact Refining: Materials, one thousand two hundred Merit Points."

"Introduction to Ancient Runes, one thousand five hundred Merit Points."

He consecutively exchanged for four texts unrelated to direct combat but encompassing a wide range of knowledge, leaving those around him bewildered.

"What is Lin Xiao doing? He has so many Merit Points, yet instead of exchanging for an Earth-Tier Martial Skill, he's looking at these miscellaneous studies?" "I really don't understand. Does he want to be a life-skill player?"

Only Lin Xiao himself knew the deeper meaning behind his actions.

His System allowed him to instantly learn any cultivation technique or Martial Skill. But learning did not equate to creation. If he wanted to truly integrate those thousands of cultivation techniques and Martial Skills and forge his own path, he had to master these foundational knowledge.

Formations, elixirs, artifact refining, runes... these were the cornerstones that constituted the power system of a world!

After completing all this, his fifteen thousand Merit Points were reduced to a mere few hundred.

Just as he was preparing to leave, a special exchange option caught his attention.

Martial Arts Pavilion.

"Senior, may I ask what the Martial Arts Pavilion is?" Lin Xiao asked the instructor in charge of exchanges.

The instructor glanced at Lin Xiao, a hint of admiration in his eyes, and explained, "The Martial Arts Pavilion is the true core of our academy. It doesn't store cultivation methods or martial skills, but rather the 'Martial Dao Imprints' left behind by the top powerhouses who graduated from Cloud Creek Academy throughout the generations."

"Martial Dao Imprints?"

"That's right. When those senior powerhouses broke through to higher realms or had earth-shattering insights into the Martial Dao, they would seal their mental imprint from that moment into special crystals. Junior disciples can enter the Martial Arts Pavilion by spending Merit Points to personally experience these imprints. If they are fortunate enough to resonate with a senior's imprint, they might directly obtain a portion of that senior's inheritance, or even a sliver of the True Meaning of Martial Dao! This is ten thousand times more precious than any cultivation method or martial skill!"

Lin Xiao's heart instantly ignited with passion.

The True Meaning of Martial Dao! This was the ultimate treasure that pointed directly to the source!

"What are the requirements to enter the Martial Arts Pavilion?"

"Two conditions. First, your cultivation must be Body Refinement Seventh Level or above. Second, each entry requires the payment of ten thousand Merit Points!"

The stringent conditions caused the fire that had just ignited in Lin Xiao's heart to cool by half.

He currently had neither Body Refinement Seventh Level nor ten thousand Merit Points.

"However..." the instructor's tone shifted, and he said with a smile, "There are always exceptions. You broke the history record of the Gravity Tower and brought honor to the academy. According to the rules, the Dean has specially approved for you to ignore the cultivation restriction and enter the Martial Arts Pavilion once for free. This reward was originally planned to be announced in a few days, but since you asked today, I'll tell you now."

One free entry!

Happiness truly arrived so suddenly!

Lin Xiao's heart couldn't help but pound wildly.

"Thank you for your guidance, instructor!"

He bowed deeply to the instructor and, under the envious, jealous, and hateful gazes of everyone present, resolutely walked towards the depths of the Merit Hall, towards that place filled with mystery and legend – the Martial Arts Pavilion!