Profound Grade Peak

The Scripture Depository stood atop Azure Cloud Sect's Main Peak.

Built entirely from Ink Ironwood, it rose three stories high.

Bronze Wind Chimes hung from its upturned eaves. Whenever the wind passed through, their clear peals cleansed the mind.

The moment Bai Ye reached the pavilion, he saw an old man in a Gray-White Robe seated upon an ancient stone platform, fingers absently rubbing a string of Dark Prayer Beads.

The old man's Silver Hair Like Frost covered his head, and deep furrows lined his face, yet he did not seem feeble with age. His eyes remained half-open and half-closed; whenever he occasionally looked up, his gaze flashed like lightning.

A faint aura carrying the pressure of the Primordial Core Realm permeated the air.

He was Elder Zhou, the keeper of the Scripture Depository.

"Bai Family boy, you're here again?" Elder Zhou looked up at him, and a hint of a smile squeezed onto his normally stern face. His voice carried Bark-Like Roughness. "That Sky Burning Fist you chose last time—have you trained it to Lesser Mastery?"

He set down the prayer beads, rose to his feet, and patted Bai Ye on the shoulder. "I must remind you, when it comes to cultivation, greedily cramming too much in only leaves you unable to digest it. Thoroughly master one Martial Skill before thinking about anything else."

Bai Ye bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Elder Zhou. This disciple has already brought Sky Burning Fist to Lesser Mastery."

—Of course, that was only what he told others.

In truth, not just Sky Burning Fist, but every Martial Skill in his possession had long reached "Peak Mastery."

"Oh? Truly?" Elder Zhou raised a brow, surprise flashing through his eyes before giving way to keen interest. "Perfect, then. Show this old man a move. If you've truly made it, I've got a little gift for you."

"This disciple would be honored to comply."

Bai Ye stepped back two paces and stood in the open space before the Scripture Depository.

He drew a deep breath and slowly raised his right arm, curling his five fingers into a fist.

In an instant, scorching Spiritual Energy surged from his Dantian into his right arm, as if magma were rushing through his meridians.

"Ha!"

With a low shout, he fiercely blasted his right fist into the empty air before him!

Boom—!

Before his fist even arrived, a crimson Fist Aura, red as magma, erupted first, sweeping outward with a searing heatwave.

The air warped under the blistering temperature. Several stalks of spiritual grass in the distance instantly curled their leaves, while even the Blue Stone ground was scorched black!

It was precisely the Profound Grade High Martial Skill, Sky Burning Fist!

As the Fist Aura dissipated, Elder Zhou clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Good! Good lad! Your fist force is condensed without dispersing, and the heat is drawn inward—it's indeed Lesser Mastery!"

He walked forward and patted Bai Ye's arm, his eyes filled with gratification. "You've been downright uncanny this past year. Your cultivation has been advancing like a rocket, and you've trained your Martial Skills so quickly too... Could it be that you were muddleheaded in your sleep the last few years, and have suddenly been enlightened now?"

Bai Ye merely smiled and said nothing.

He knew that Elder Zhou shared a Life-and-Death Bond with his uncle, Bai Mingyuan. Back then, they had faced life and death together in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, and Elder Zhou had long treated him as his own nephew.

Over the past year, Elder Zhou had given him no small amount of support, both openly and in secret.

"Here, take it." Elder Zhou untied a Gray Storage Bag from his waist, took out a White Jade Porcelain Bottle, and stuffed it into Bai Ye's hand. "This old man keeps his word. This is your reward."

Pointing at the bottle, he explained, "There are three Azure Spirit Pills inside. Third-Grade Pills. Take them while cultivating, and they will help you better Refine Spiritual Energy, as well as aid you in breaking through Realm Barriers."

Pills were ranked from first to ninth grade, from low to high.

In Azure State, Third-Grade Pills were already treasures. A single Azure Spirit Pill could save a Vein Condensation Realm cultivator a month of bitter cultivation; even for an Early Primordial Core cultivator, it could shorten cultivation time by half a month.

Bai Ye was already at Core Formation Sixth Level, so the Azure Spirit Pills' effects were indeed limited for him.

But the sentiment behind them weighed heavier than a thousand pounds.

Holding the porcelain bottle in both hands, he solemnly bowed. "This disciple thanks Elder Zhou for his generous favor!"

"Enough, go on in." Elder Zhou waved a hand with a smile. "You know the rules. You may only choose one."

"This disciple understands."

Bai Ye pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Scripture Depository, and a scent blending ink and Sandalwood Incense washed over him.

The interior was somewhat dim. Only the Luminous Pearls embedded in the walls cast soft halos of light, illuminating row upon row of towering bookshelves.

The shelves were neatly arranged with all sorts of Jade Slips and Beast Skin Scrolls, each bearing a label listing the Martial Skill's name and grade.

As one of the Top Ten Sects of Azure State, Azure Cloud Sect's Inner Sect Scripture Depository truly possessed remarkable reserves.

The lowest-grade Martial Skills here were all Yellow Grade Peak. There were even more Profound Grade Low and Mid ones, while several Gold Lacquered Bookshelves in the corners held Profound Grade High and Peak techniques.

Bai Ye remembered clearly that there were twenty-one Profound Grade High Martial Skills here, and three Profound Grade Peak ones.

During his previous visits, he had chosen two Profound Grade Mid techniques and one Profound Grade High technique.

This time, he intended to directly take a Profound Grade Peak one.

With his previous "Gradual Progress," choosing a Profound Grade Peak technique now would not be overly conspicuous.

He walked before the Gold Lacquered Bookshelves, his gaze sweeping across three Jade Slips glowing with a faint sheen.

"Heaven Flipping Seal, Profound Grade Peak, offensive type. Condense a Dharma seal with Spiritual Energy, its weight equal to ten thousand jun."

"Flowing Cloud Thirteen Swords, Profound Grade Peak, offensive type. Its sword momentum shifts like drifting clouds, strange and unpredictable."

"[Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping], Profound Grade Peak, movement technique category. Walk upon the wind, shadows follow each step; excels at evasion and pursuit."

Bai Ye's fingers passed over the three Jade Slips in turn before finally stopping on [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping].

Offensive Martial Skills were certainly important, but to him, a Movement Technique was the foremost priority.

Ten Thousand Times Comprehension could let him improve rapidly, but it also meant his potential was unfathomable. Once exposed, it would inevitably draw covetous eyes.

At a time like this, a top-tier Movement Technique was far more important than a powerful means of attack.

As long as the green hills remained, there would be no fear of running out of firewood.

He picked up the Jade Slip engraved with "Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping," its warm, smooth texture brushing against his fingertips.

"This is the one." Bai Ye's lips curled slightly as he turned and walked out of the pavilion.