Scripture Library

Gu Han was on alert. He did not dare delay for even a moment, heading straight for the Scripture Library of Treasure Pearl Temple.

His Arhat Fist had already reached Great Accomplishment. No matter how hard he trained, he could not break through Skin Tempering and enter a higher level of martial arts. To make a breakthrough, he had to switch to an advanced martial art.

Over the past two years, aside from practicing martial arts every day, Gu Han had also learned some basic knowledge of this world's martial path. He had finally learned that after Skin Tempering, there were three further realms: Muscle Tendon Strengthening, Blood Tempering, and the highest realm, Inner Qi. They corresponded respectively to Bone Forging, Organ Refining, and internal force in the real world.

However, unlike the real world, everything before internal force in the real world was actually considered a stage of laying foundations. Thus, once a martial artist learned a fist art, it would contain the complete methods for Flesh Refining, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining, allowing one to proceed from the hundred-day foundation-building stage straight to Great Accomplishment of Organ Refining. This world was different.

In this world, Skin Tempering, Muscle Tendon Strengthening, and Blood Tempering seemed to be divided apart. Every time one reached Great Accomplishment in a realm, one had to cultivate an advanced martial art, or else one could not break through to a higher level.

That was why, when Gu Han had used Insight on Benguan, the chief of Arhat Hall, he had discovered that the martial arts Benguan practiced were numerous and varied. It was not because Benguan's mind was scattered and he did not wish to focus on one discipline; he simply had no choice.

As Gu Han pondered this, his feet did not stop. He soon arrived before the Scripture Library of Treasure Pearl Temple, where he halted and addressed an old monk with white beard and hair, who was lying in a reclining chair in the sun with his eyes closed in a false nap.

"Martial Granduncle, this disciple Jingming was fortunate enough to break through to Skin Refining Mastery today. By custom, I have the right to choose three martial arts from the Scripture Library, so I have come to retrieve the books. Might Martial Granduncle offer some guidance?"

Standing before the old monk, Gu Han asked respectfully.

This was not because he had read too many novels and assumed every old monk guarding a scripture library was an unparalleled master.

In fact, in this world, a martial artist's combat strength basically depended on a powerful body. Even the Inner Qi of Inner Qi masters was refined from vital blood.

Generally speaking, the older one became, the more one's strength declined due to the weakening of one's vitality and blood.

Fists feared the young and strong—that was the principle.

Take the old monk before him. He was an eminent monk of Shaolin's Jue Generation, already more than eighty years old. In terms of seniority, he stood a full generation above the current Abbot and the chiefs of every hall.

Yet because of his advanced age, although his realm could still barely be considered Blood Tempering, his combat strength might not even match that of an ordinary martial artist at Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening.

The reason he had come to guard the Scripture Library was merely to retire here and guide the juniors in choosing martial arts. As for protecting the Scripture Library, there was no need for him.

The Scripture Library was an important site of Treasure Pearl Temple. All year round, great Inner Qi Realm masters such as the chiefs of the various halls took turns guarding it, while many Blood Tempering martial monks from the Dharma Institute and Prajna Hall patrolled it. Why would they need old monks like these to protect it?

Though they were not strong, they had lived for so long, and they had guarded the Scripture Library for many years. Their eyes were exceptionally discerning. At the very least, guiding Gu Han in selecting a few martial arts of the Muscle Tendon Strengthening level was more than within their abilities.

"Oh, it's Jingming! You've broken through to Skin Refining Mastery?"

Hearing Gu Han's voice, the old monk opened his cloudy eyes. Looking at the bright-eyed junior before him, he seemed to see Treasure Pearl Temple's future. A smile bloomed across his aged face like a chrysanthemum as he praised him.

"Not bad! Not bad! Jingming, if I remember correctly, your generation has only practiced martial arts for two years, yes? In two years, you've achieved this much—you're far better than I was in my day. Your Arhat Hall has not produced a talent like you in a long while. It seems that little monk Benguan will be delighted. By the way, have you come to ask me to guide you in choosing a martial art?"

"Amitabha. Thank you for your praise, Martial Granduncle. Jingming does not deserve it. Indeed, Jingming has come to Martial Granduncle this time because I am troubled over which divine art of Treasure Pearl Temple I should choose as my Muscle Tendon Strengthening martial art. Thus, I came to seek Martial Granduncle's guidance."

Gu Han pressed his palms together, recited a Buddhist invocation, then asked the old monk.

"Mm, Jingming, it was not a bad move for you to come to me today. Choosing an advanced martial art is the foremost matter for a martial artist. It concerns one's future prospects, so naturally it cannot be handled carelessly."

The old monk nodded at this, then spoke.

"Jingming, I recall that the entry disciples of your Arhat Hall cultivate the Arhat Fist as their Skin Tempering martial art, correct?"

"Martial Granduncle is correct. It is precisely this fist art."

Gu Han nodded.

"Very good. Though this fist art is simple and basic, its foundation is broad and profound. It was specially created for your Arhat Hall by the third chief of Arhat Hall, and it can connect perfectly with the many martial arts of Treasure Pearl Temple.

"Jingming, let me ask you this: what requirements do you have for a Muscle Tendon Strengthening martial art? Do you wish to proceed steadily and surely, consolidating your foundation to increase your hopes of breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm in the future, or do you wish to increase the speed of your Muscle Tendon Strengthening cultivation and reach Blood Tempering sooner?"

After speaking, the old monk fell silent and looked at Gu Han, waiting for his choice.

"In reply to Martial Granduncle, I wish to choose one with a faster cultivation speed."

Gu Han barely gave it any thought before answering decisively.

So-called consolidating one's foundation was nothing more than seeking an extra sliver of hope for breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm in the future.

But he was different. He possessed the top-tier foundation-building method of the Martial Arts Holy Land of Great Yue Kingdom, Dragon Elephant Vajra Temple—the Vajra Body Refining Fist.

This fist art had been created by an invincible Innate Realm eminent monk of Dragon Elephant Vajra Temple in Great Yue Kingdom. It had then been perfected over hundreds and thousands of years by countless first-rate and Innate-level eminent monks. Even in Great Yue Kingdom's martial arts world, it was renowned far and wide, an ultimate physical cultivation method.

Moreover, now that he had cultivated the martial arts of this world, the strength of his body, vitality, and blood surpassed those of this world's martial artists by who knew how many times. Breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm in the future was as sure as a nail driven into a plank. There was no need for him to imitate others, learn those slow-as-a-snail martial arts, and fight for that sliver of hope of breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm.

He might as well speed up his cultivation, reach Muscle Tendon Strengthening and Blood Tempering sooner, and increase his strength to deal with the crises ahead.

"Alas! Very well. This old monk guessed you would choose this."

The old monk sighed, lay back down in his reclining chair, and closed his eyes. His tone was filled with disappointment, as though even his spirit had drained away.

In truth, as an old monk of Treasure Pearl Temple, he believed that only proceeding steadily and surely, consolidating one's foundation, and seeking a future breakthrough into the Inner Qi Realm was the grand and righteous path. Cultivating martial arts that blindly pursued speed, on the other hand, was an inferior path, incompatible with the principles of Zen.

If this had been before, upon encountering a promising seedling like Jingming, who had hope of breaking through to Inner Qi, he likely would not even have mentioned those "inferior" martial arts with fast cultivation speeds. But now, troubled times were upon them, and chaos under heaven was imminent.

Though Treasure Pearl Temple of Great Yan was a thousand-year-old ancient temple that had weathered the storms of many dynasties, it might not be able to remain untouched in such a great calamity. At a time like this, a higher martial realm and greater strength might offer an extra measure of hope of surviving in the future.

"Alas!"

The old monk sighed once more, then spoke.

"On the second floor of the Scripture Library, the third book from the left on the fifth bookshelf contains the martial art you want. Also, if you wish to increase your strength further, I recommend that you look at the eighth book on the seventh bookshelf of the second floor, as well as the twelfth martial art on the ninth bookshelf. That will be all for today. I am tired as well. Go retrieve the books yourself."

"Yes! Jingming thanks Martial Granduncle."

Gu Han did not say more. He saluted, then headed into the Scripture Library.