Choosing a Martial Art! Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art!

The Scripture Repository of Prajna Temple, located in the deepest part of the monastery, is an ancient, rustic wooden pagoda reaching nine stories high.

The pagoda's body, weathered by a thousand years of wind and rain, displayed a deep, dark brown hue, with upturned eaves and bracket arches exuding an air of antiquity.

This place was of utmost importance to Prajna Temple. Though the guards seemed lax, with only an old monk sweeping fallen leaves at the entrance, Su Haoran's keen senses detected several powerful yet hidden presences lurking in the pagoda's shadows and the surrounding woods.

Outwardly relaxed, inwardly vigilant.

Su Haoran's heart couldn't help but burn with excitement.

Cultivation techniques!

This was the true foundation of a martial artist!

As he walked, his mind raced with calculations.

Which technique should he choose?

"Although Arhat Fist is powerful and fierce, it's ultimately just a basic fist technique. It's fine for dealing with ordinary Martial Monks, but against truly skilled experts, its power might be insufficient. Should I switch to a stronger offensive martial art?"

"Iron Cloth Shirt has already reached Major Accomplishment, its defensive power is astonishing. Choosing another body-hardening technique might conflict with my own Blood Essence circulation, making it not cost-effective. I can temporarily set it aside."

"Meditation Scripture is an excellent method for consolidating one's foundation and tempering the mind. It would greatly aid me in controlling myself and improving my Comprehension. I don't need to change it for now."

One thought after another flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed.

Until the scene on the plum blossom stakes from yesterday surfaced in his mind.

"Movement technique!"

Su Haoran's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"During the assessment, I passed the plum blossom stakes thanks to the super-strong body control and on-the-spot calculation ability brought by my fifteen points of Comprehension. I took the most stable and precise route, and in reality, there wasn't any movement technique involved."

His mind was clear: "The Martial Monks present at the time might not have seen through it, only thinking I was fast and steady. But if it were a master like Elder Hui Jue, he would surely see through my true capabilities at a glance."

Movement techniques were a martial artist's weakness in combat, and even more so, a life-saving trump card!

No matter how hard one's fists were, they were useless if they couldn't hit the opponent. No matter how strong one's defense was, facing an opponent they couldn't defeat, being unable to escape meant only death.

"I'll choose a movement technique!" Su Haoran made up his mind. "In combat, I can use it to maneuver and entangle, gaining the upper hand. If I truly reach a dead end, I can rely on it to escape!"

With a clear goal, he no longer hesitated and stepped onto the stairs of the Scripture Repository.

The old monk sweeping the entrance didn't even lift his eyelids, merely saying indifferently, "Token."

Su Haoran respectfully handed it over.

The old monk took it, glanced at it, and casually tossed it back to him. "The first floor, choose for yourself. Come out within an hour. Do not damage, do not make rubbings."

"Yes."

Su Haoran pushed open the heavy wooden door, and a unique fragrance, a mixture of scrolls and old wood, wafted towards him.

The first floor of the Scripture Repository was vast. Rows of bookshelves, several dozen feet high, stood like silent giants.

They were filled with various cultivation technique manuals, a dazzling array.

He didn't linger in the sections for fierce fist techniques or domineering saber techniques, but headed straight for the movement technique area in the furthest corner.

The manuals on the bookshelves were diverse.

"Golden Goose Skill," embodying the spirit of a golden goose soaring through the sky, light and swift.

"Swallow Three Drops of Water," focusing on short-distance explosive sprints, moving like a startled rabbit.

"Cloud Nine Skill," rumored to be created by Patriarch Bodhidharma, emphasizing borrowing and unloading force, making one as light as a swallow.

Each manual represented a different path. Su Haoran was momentarily dazzled, finding it difficult to make a decision.

He picked up each manual one by one, flipped through the general principles, and felt the martial intent within.

Some were too ethereal, not fitting his fierce style. Others focused too much on explosive power, lacking endurance.

As he hesitated, his gaze was drawn to a thin, dusty booklet on the bottom shelf.

Su Haoran's heart stirred. He reached out and took down this "Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art."

The booklet felt extremely light in his hand. The ink on the cover had faded somewhat, clearly indicating it hadn't been opened in a long time.

He opened the general principles and, after reading just a few lines, his eyes lit up.

This technique didn't pursue extreme speed, nor did it emphasize esoteric movements. Instead, it focused on "momentum."

Like a dragon soaring in the abyss, its movements could shake the heavens; like a swan flying high, its stillness left no trace.

It pursued a perfect control over one's own strength and speed, a state of being able to move and stop at will, to retract and extend freely.

This was a perfect match for the super-strong body control brought by his fifteen points of Comprehension!

"This is it."

Su Haoran no longer hesitated. He took the thin booklet, registered it with the old sweeping monk, and returned to his woodshed.

He didn't rush to cultivate immediately. Instead, he circulated the Meditation Scripture for several cycles, adjusting his mind to the optimal state of being as still as a placid ancient well, before opening the main text of the Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art.

The next day, the main hall of Prajna Temple's mess hall was bustling with activity.

Unlike the mess hall in the Labor Courtyard, which always smelled of coarse grains and husks, the air in the Martial Monk Courtyard's mess hall was filled with the rich aroma of meat and the sweetness of white rice.

Su Haoran held a wooden tray, on which sat a bowl of glistening rice, a plate of oily braised pork, and a bowl of medicinal soup to nourish Blood Essence.

This was the treatment for the Martial Monks.

Martial arts training consumed a vast amount of energy. Without sufficient fat, protein, and nutritional supplements, the body simply couldn't keep up.

He found a corner and sat down to eat quietly.

The braised pork was rich but not greasy, melting in his mouth. A warm current flowed down his esophagus into his stomach, quickly transforming into pure Blood Essence energy, nourishing his entire body.

This feeling was a world apart from the days when he had to make do with hard, dry grain biscuits for sustenance.

Just then, a figure timidly approached his table.

The newcomer was a Sweeping Monk, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a faded gray robe—exactly as Su Haoran had looked not long ago.

"Ha... Haoran-shixiong," the Sweeping Monk said, clasping his hands together. He bowed so deeply his waist formed almost a ninety-degree angle, his voice filled with reverence.

Su Haoran put down his chopsticks and looked at him calmly. "What is it?"

"It's... it's a shixiong from the Martial Monk Courtyard who sent me with a message," the Sweeping Monk said, not daring to look up. "The hall has arranged a new duty for you, shixiong. Please report to the Scripture Repository after your meal."

"The Scripture Repository?" Su Haoran was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, they said Elder Hui Jue personally gave the order for you to guard the Scripture Repository."

"Understood," Su Haoran nodded.

The Sweeping Monk looked as if he had been granted a great pardon. He bowed again before carefully and cautiously withdrawing.

Su Haoran continued eating, his mind racing.

Guarding the Scripture Repository?

This was no ordinary duty.

The Scripture Repository was a vital location within the temple. Those assigned there were invariably trusted masters of the temple.

Elder Hui Jue's action was not only a sign of regard but likely also a form of supervision.

However, for him, this was indeed incredibly good news.

"The Scripture Repository is quiet and undisturbed. Plus, it's a permanent post, so there's no need to rush around. It's perfect for me to focus on my cultivation and practice the newly acquired Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art to Major Accomplishment!"

He finished his meal in a few bites, returned his bowl and chopsticks, and headed straight for the Scripture Repository.

It was the same old Sweeping Monk. Upon seeing Su Haoran, he didn't even lift his eyelids. He merely took a black wooden token from his sleeve and tossed it over.

"Your token. From today onwards, you are a Guardian Martial Monk of the Scripture Repository. During the day, you will guard the building's exterior and prevent unauthorized entry. At night, you may cultivate as you wish; no need to be here."

Su Haoran took the token. It was cool to the touch, with the character for "Guard" written on it in cinnabar.

"Yes, this disciple obeys."

And so, Su Haoran began his tenure guarding the Scripture Repository.

As he had expected, the days were as calm as stagnant water.

Apart from the occasional elder or specially permitted disciple coming to consult texts, no one approached the place on ordinary days.

Su Haoran reveled in the leisure. During the day, he stood like a statue before the repository's entrance, seemingly fulfilling his duty diligently, but in reality, his mind was already immersed within his body, silently circulating the Meditation Scripture and comprehending the methods of the Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art.

His body began to undergo wondrous changes at a speed visible to the naked eye.