The Scripture Library

Gu Han snapped to attention and wasted no time, heading straight for the Treasure Pearl Temple's Scripture Library.

His "Arhat Fist" had already reached Great Accomplishment. No matter how hard he trained, he couldn't break through Skin Refining and reach a higher martial realm. To advance, he had to switch to a more advanced martial art.

Over the past two years, besides practicing martial arts daily, Gu Han had also learned some basic knowledge of this world's martial path. He finally understood that after Skin Refining, there were three more realms: Muscle Tendon Strengthening, Blood Tempering, and the highest level, Internal Qi. These corresponded to Bone Forging, Organ Refining, and Internal Strength in the real world.

But unlike the real world, where everything before Internal Strength was just foundation-building—a single fist technique would contain all the methods for Flesh Refining, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining, taking a martial artist from the Hundred-Day Foundation to Organ Refining Mastery—this world was different.

In this world, Skin Refining, Muscle Tendon Strengthening, and Blood Tempering seemed to be separate stages. Reaching Great Accomplishment in one realm required cultivating a more advanced martial art; otherwise, one couldn't break through to the next level.

That was why Gu Han had realized earlier, when he saw through Arhat Hall's Chief Ben Guan, that the man's martial arts were numerous and varied. It wasn't that he had a scattered mind and couldn't focus on one art—he simply had no choice.

Gu Han pondered this as he walked without pause. Soon, he arrived at the entrance of the Treasure Pearl Temple's Scripture Library. He stopped and addressed an old monk with white hair and beard, who was lying on a recliner, dozing in the sun:

"Grandmaster, your disciple Jingming has fortunately broken through to Skin Refining Mastery today. According to custom, I am entitled to choose three martial arts from the Scripture Library. I have come to collect the texts. Might Grandmaster have any guidance?"

Before the old monk, Gu Han asked respectfully.

This wasn't because he'd read too many novels and assumed every old monk guarding a library was a peerless master.

In fact, in this world, a martial artist's combat power relied almost entirely on a strong physique. Even an Internal Qi expert's qi was refined from their blood and essence.

Generally, the older one got, the weaker they became due to declining qi and blood.

Youth beats age—that was the principle!

Take the old monk before him. He was a senior monk of the Jue Generation of Shaolin, over eighty years old. In terms of seniority, he was a full generation above the current Abbot and the various hall chiefs.

But due to his advanced age, though his realm barely counted as Blood Tempering, his combat power might not even match an ordinary Muscle Tendon Strengthening Mastery martial artist.

He guarded the Scripture Library only to retire in peace and guide the younger generation in choosing martial arts. As for protecting the library, that wasn't his job.

The Scripture Library was a vital place of Treasure Pearl Temple. It was constantly guarded by Internal Qi Realm experts like the hall chiefs, with patrols of Blood Tempering monks from the Dharma Institute and Prajna Hall. What need was there for old monks like him?

Still, though they weren't strong, they had lived long and spent years watching over the library. Their insight was sharp. At the very least, they could guide Gu Han in picking a few Muscle Tendon Strengthening martial arts.

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

Hearing Gu Han's voice, the old monk opened his cloudy eyes and looked at the bright-eyed junior before him. As if seeing the future of Treasure Pearl Temple, his aged face creased into a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum. He praised:

"Good! Good! Jingming, I recall your generation has only been training for two years, right? Two years, and you've achieved this—far better than I did back then. The Arhat Hall hasn't seen talent like yours in a long time. That little monk Ben Guan must be pleased. Ah, you came to ask me to guide you in choosing martial arts?"

"Amitabha. Thank you for your praise, Grandmaster. I am unworthy of it. Yes, I came to you today because I am troubled. I don't know which divine art of Treasure Pearl Temple to choose as my Muscle Tendon Strengthening technique. Thus, I seek your guidance."

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

"Hmm, Jingming, coming to me today was a wise move. Choosing an advanced martial art is a martial artist's foremost concern, tied to their future path. It must not be taken lightly."

The old monk nodded and then said:

"Jingming, I recall that the entry-level disciples of your Arhat Hall practice the 'Arhat Fist' as their Skin Refining art, correct?"

"Grandmaster is right. It is that fist."

Gu Han nodded.

"Good. Though this fist technique is simple and basic, its foundation is profound and vast. It was created by the third chief of your Arhat Hall specifically for the hall, and it seamlessly connects with many of Treasure Pearl Temple's martial arts.

Jingming, I ask you now: do you have any requirements for your Muscle Tendon Strengthening art? Do you want to build a solid foundation, strengthening your roots to increase your chances of breaking through to Internal Qi in the future? Or do you want to speed up your Muscle Tendon Strengthening, reaching Blood Tempering sooner?"

The old monk finished speaking and fell silent, watching Gu Han, waiting for his choice.

"Grandmaster, I want to choose a faster cultivation method."

Gu Han answered almost without hesitation, his tone decisive.

Building a solid foundation was nothing more than gaining a sliver more hope of breaking through to the Internal Qi Realm.

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

This fist technique was created by an Invincible Innate Realm monk of the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Temple. Over hundreds or even thousands of years, it had been perfected by countless first-rate and Innate Realm monks. Even in the martial world of the Yue Kingdom, it was renowned as a supreme body-refining method.

Coupled with his cultivation of this world's martial arts, his physical strength and qi and blood were far beyond those of ordinary martial artists here. Breaking through to Internal Qi was practically guaranteed. There was no need to imitate others and learn slow, plodding techniques for the sake of a faint hope.

Better to speed up, reach Muscle Tendon Strengthening and Blood Tempering sooner, increase his strength, and prepare for future crises.

"Alas! I expected you to choose that."

The old monk sighed. His body sank back into the recliner, and he closed his eyes. His tone was full of disappointment, as if he had lost all spirit.

In truth, as an old monk of Treasure Pearl Temple, he believed that building a solid foundation and seeking to break through to Internal Qi was the proper path. Pursuing speed in cultivation was inferior and clashed with Zen principles.

In the past, when faced with a promising seedling like Jingming, who had a chance at Internal Qi, he wouldn't even have mentioned those "inferior" speed-focused arts. But now, troubled times were upon them. Chaos was imminent.

Though Great Yan's Treasure Pearl Temple was a thousand-year-old monastery that had weathered many dynasties, it might not escape unscathed from such a great calamity. In times like these, a higher martial realm and greater strength might grant one a better chance of survival.

"Alas!"

The old monk sighed again and then said:

"On the second floor of the Scripture Library, the fifth bookshelf, the third book on the left—that has the martial art you want. Also, if you want to increase your strength, I recommend looking at the second floor, seventh bookshelf, eighth book, and the ninth bookshelf, twelfth martial art. That's all for today. I'm tired. Go and fetch your books."

"Yes! Jingming thanks Grandmaster."

Gu Han said no more. He bowed and headed into the Scripture Library.