Copying Cultivation Arts

The second floor of the Library.

Compared with the vast collection of miscellaneous books on the first floor, there were far fewer books here, so they were arranged quite differently.

The first floor's shelves were packed with books, one after another. But here, there were no shelves at all—only rows of antique-looking reading tables.

Each table held just one Daoist Book. Every cover gave off its own distinctive bookish scent: the oily aroma of insect-proofing and preservation.

Beneath each Daoist Book lay a wooden placard briefly describing its contents and essence.

Daoist Book: Ninefold Tides

Synopsis: Cultivators use their sea-beast Spirit Companions to raise waves and guide the power of the surging waters, forming a series of devastating attacks.

After reading the synopsis, there was no need even to open the book.

Li Shuidao's toad Spirit Companion could never raise waves in the ocean. This was a Daoist art for cultivators whose Spirit Companions were giant sea beasts.

Daoist Book: Rain and Dew Heart Manual

Synopsis: By absorbing the essence of rain and dew, cultivators can strengthen their Mana and improve their cultivation and combat ability.

Li Shuidao took the Daoist Book down and leafed through it briefly.

For him, this book was nowhere near as useful as Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art.

Li Shuidao's Spirit Companion was a Jade Toad, so cultivating Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art would bring twice the results with half the effort. With Rain and Dew Heart Manual, it would be the other way around.

The path of cultivation prized depth, not breadth.

After skimming Rain and Dew Heart Manual, Li Shuidao returned it to its place and walked toward the third reading table.

Ice Water Heart Sutra, Blue Water True Art, Frost Soul-Sealing Method, Water Moon Flowing Pearl, Toad Hard Qi Technique...

He passed several reading tables in succession. For some, he read only the synopsis; for others, he read the synopsis and then opened the book to study it in detail. Only Water Moon Flowing Pearl and Toad Hard Qi Technique seemed useful.

Practicing Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art and Golden Toad Qi Locking Method every day already took up a great deal of Li Shuidao's time. After all, without accumulating inches, one could hardly travel a thousand miles.

He also wanted to try refining some pills to improve his cultivation. He simply had no time to practice unrelated Daoist arts.

He needed to find arts that could quickly bolster his combat strength and complement the techniques he was already cultivating.

Water Moon Flowing Pearl: Cultivators can manipulate the power of the water moon to perform healing arts.

The descriptions of the water-moon power seemed to complement the move "Jade Toad Gazing at Moon."

Toad Hard Qi Technique: A commonplace technique for toad Spirit Companions in the Five Poisons Sect.

It was a defensive Daoist art, exactly what Li Shuidao lacked.

After considering it for a long while, Li Shuidao decided to copy Water Moon Flowing Pearl and pass on Toad Hard Qi Technique.

Water Moon Flowing Pearl seemed to complement "Jade Toad Gazing at Moon," allowing him to master both as one.

That would be like growing an extra fruit on the tree of Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art.

Growing one more fruit was easier than planting a new tree.

Although Toad Hard Qi Technique was a defensive technique, it had too many drawbacks. Not only would the body inevitably have a vulnerable spot, but it also could not withstand spells. Fire and lightning arts, for instance, would pass through its defenses unimpeded. Aside from being excellent against physical attacks, it had no other strengths.

Every reading table held several sheets of blank rice paper, along with brushes and ink, so anyone interested in a Daoist Book could copy it for themselves.

Li Shuidao picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing quickly on the rice paper.

He copied with care and focus, understanding and pondering the contents as he went...

Unaware, he did not notice the white-haired Ninth Uncle approach him several times.

Night fell...

Ninth Uncle came quietly. He gently lit the candle on the table, illuminating Li Shuidao's intent gaze. Then he took out a steamed bun and set it on the table.

Its fragrance wafted through the air. Li Shuidao stopped writing and looked up.

Ninth Uncle smiled warmly. "Your mother made this herself. Your father brought it over especially for you."

Li Shuidao paused, then accepted the bun Ninth Uncle handed him. The aroma warmed his heart.

The Lineage was not so bad after all, and his own parents treated him especially well.

Some rules might have been coldhearted, but in the end, they were there so everyone could survive and make a better place for themselves in this world.

"Thank you..." Li Shuidao said, chewing on the bun as he continued copying.

His brush whispered over the paper. Every page was the fruit of his hard work; every character reflected his pursuit of the Dao.

At last, after a long night, Li Shuidao finished his manuscript. He carefully bound the copied secret manual into a booklet. The disordered stack of loose pages he had started with had become a complete volume, bearing witness to his effort and perseverance.

"Books on the second floor of the Library normally cannot be taken away, not even handwritten copies. But your Daoist Book is recorded in secret script, so you can take it with you. Will you come back tomorrow?" Ninth Uncle asked.

"I will!" Li Shuidao replied firmly.

The next day.

Li Shuidao discovered two more suitable techniques: Ice Heart Jade Water Sword and Clear Pool Sword Dao.

Ice Heart Jade Water Sword: By combining a sword with the power of ice, cultivators can turn the sword into ice, giving it a cold, razor-sharp edge.

Clear Pool Sword Dao: By cultivating the Clear Pool Sword Dao, cultivators can grasp the essence of swordsmanship in water, making their swordplay more fierce. They can also rise up from the water and strike their enemies by surprise.

After weighing it for a long time, Li Shuidao still decided to cultivate Ice Heart Jade Water Sword.

The reason was simple: there were few pools in Black Mountain, and even fewer deep ones. He could not make much use of the terrain.

On the third day.

Li Shuidao was drawn to a spell: Water Surge Stealth Technique.

Water Surge Stealth Technique: By harnessing the power of water, cultivators can hide themselves within it and move unseen.

That meant Li Shuidao did not need to find a deep pool. Even a shallow stream would do; with Water Surge Stealth Technique and Clear Pool Sword Dao, he could conceal himself and launch a surprise attack.

Deep pools were indeed scarce in Black Mountain, but streams were everywhere.

Li Shuidao raised White Feather Cranes, and the cranes needed to catch small fish by the streams.

He knew every place with water on Poison Dragon Ridge like the back of his hand.

So why not become a dedicated sneak-attacker? Wasn't that the perfect fit for him?

Li Shuidao spent two days copying Water Surge Stealth Technique and Clear Pool Sword Dao.

That was all!

In total, Li Shuidao copied four Daoist arts from the second floor of the family Library: Water Moon Flowing Pearl, Ice Heart Jade Water Sword, Clear Pool Sword Dao, and Water Surge Stealth Technique.

Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art was the foundation of his cultivation.

Golden Toad Qi Locking Method concealed his cultivation level.

Water Moon Flowing Pearl was for healing.

Also, Golden Toad Qi Locking Method and Water Moon Flowing Pearl were both inner-breath techniques that complemented Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art and could be cultivated together.

Clear Pool Sword Dao and Water Surge Stealth Technique were for killing enemies and escaping.

Ice Heart Jade Water Sword could wait. He would save it for later.

Li Shuidao still had major weaknesses. He lacked Daoist arts for mobility and defense.

But there was no need to rush. The road of cultivation was long, after all. When he returned to the sect in half a year, his master would teach him Daoist arts. It would be a waste not to practice whatever he was taught.

Currently studying: Water Moon Flowing Pearl, Clear Pool Sword Dao, Water Surge Stealth Technique.

Even half a year was already a tight schedule.

After returning from the Five Poisons Sect to the family, Li Shuidao spent four days copying cultivation arts. During those four days, four newlywed couples had already paid respects to their ancestors and gone off to their wedding beds...