Nine Heavens Sea Wave Fist

The next morning.

Su Mo rose early. After washing up, he headed toward the Lineage's Scripture Pavilion.

The Scripture Pavilion was a four-story tower where the Su family stored its Martial Arts Manuals.

The former Su Mo had not awakened a Martial Soul and could only study the most basic martial arts on the First Layer of the Scripture Pavilion. Now that he had awakened his Martial Soul and stepped into the Qi Refining Realm First Level, he naturally needed to select Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills suited for the Qi Refining Realm stage.

In this world, Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills were divided into nine grades.

Each grade was further divided into three tiers: low, middle, and high.

The higher the grade of a warrior's Cultivation Method, the greater his strength would naturally be.

"Elder, I wish to select manuals on the Second Layer."

Upon entering the Scripture Pavilion, Su Mo bowed to the Pavilion Guard Elder and spoke.

"The Second Layer?"

The Pavilion Guard Elder was a plump old man. Hearing Su Mo's words, he said indifferently, "Su Mo, only those whose cultivation has reached the Qi Refining Realm may enter the Second Layer of the Scripture Pavilion. There are no exceptions."

"I know, Elder. My cultivation has already reached the Qi Refining Realm First Level." Su Mo nodded.

"You have already reached the Qi Refining Realm First Level?" The Pavilion Guard Elder was startled, then his face darkened as he shouted, "Su Mo, you only awakened your Martial Soul yesterday, and it was a worthless Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul. How could you have stepped into the Qi Refining Realm so quickly? Even someone with a Human Grade Third Tier Martial Soul might not be that fast. Are you trying to deceive this elder?"

"Hmph! Whether I am deceiving you or not, one look will tell!"

Su Mo's expression sank. As he circulated his cultivation, the aura of the Qi Refining Realm First Level immediately burst forth.

Then, Su Mo ignored the Pavilion Guard Elder entirely and turned to walk toward the Second Layer of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Th-this... he really broke through!"

The Pavilion Guard Elder was stunned. Then he gave a disdainful smile and muttered to himself, "The family head must have given you some precious pill. But with a worthless Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul like yours, even if you break through to the Qi Refining Realm, it will be difficult for you to make another inch of progress in the future."

Su Mo ascended to the Second Layer. Before him stood rows upon rows of antique bookshelves, each filled with manuals.

The Su family was one of Linyang City's two great families, and it possessed no small number of Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills. There were nearly a hundred manuals on the entire Second Layer of the Scripture Pavilion.

There was also a tall youth on the Second Layer, selecting manuals.

"Su Mo!"

The youth was greatly surprised to see Su Mo. Then his eyes filled with contempt.

"Su Heng!" Su Mo swept a glance over him.

Su Heng had also awakened his Martial Soul yesterday. Although the Martial Soul he awakened was not as high-grade as Su Yu's, it was still a Human Grade Fourth Tier Martial Soul, an exceptionally high grade.

Since Su Heng could come to the Second Layer, it seemed that his cultivation had also broken through to the Qi Refining Realm.

"Su Mo, I didn't expect you to advance to the Qi Refining Realm First Level as well. I heard that yesterday, the family head bought a Qi Condensing Pill from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. I suppose you relied on that Qi Condensing Pill to break through your cultivation!"

Su Heng looked at Su Mo and said disdainfully, "Otherwise, with trash like you and your mere Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul, even a month would not have been enough for you to break through."

"How I broke through has nothing to do with you." Su Mo replied coldly, then ignored him and began selecting manuals.

Su Mo was quite familiar with Su Heng.

Back when Su Mo was still known as the Su family's foremost genius, Su Heng had fawned over him at every turn. Su Mo had also treated Su Heng well, and the two had enjoyed an excellent relationship.

But now that Su Mo had awakened a worthless Martial Soul, Su Heng had completely turned against him.

"Hmph! He is nothing but trash, yet he still thinks he is some genius?"

Su Heng snorted coldly and continued selecting manuals.

Su Mo walked to the section containing Cultivation Methods, casually picked up a book, and began reading.

"Blazing Fire Art, a middle-tier Grade One Cultivation Method. The true qi cultivated through this method carries powerful fire energy, granting relatively high Attack Power..."

After reading for a while, Su Mo set down the Blazing Fire Art manual and continued browsing.

When choosing a Cultivation Method, he naturally had to read several books and choose the one most suitable for himself.

The Second Layer of the Scripture Pavilion contained only middle-tier Grade One manuals. Only the Third Layer held high-tier Grade One manuals.

However, only Su family disciples whose cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Realm Seventh Level could enter the Third Layer of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Bedrock Art, a middle-tier Grade One Cultivation Method. The true qi cultivated through this method is relatively robust, granting strong defense..."

"Cloud Qi Art, a middle-tier Grade One Cultivation Method. The true qi cultivated through this method is relatively pure, with balanced offense and defense..."

After flipping through seven or eight Cultivation Methods in succession, Su Mo ultimately chose the Cloud Qi Art.

The true qi cultivated through the Cloud Qi Art was exceptionally pure, and both its Attack Power and defensive power were strong.

After choosing a Cultivation Method, it was time to select a martial skill.

"Adamantine Fist. This fist technique is fierce and domineering. Once mastered, splitting steles and shattering rocks will be as easy as turning one's hand..."

"Flying Sky Swordplay. This swordplay is rather elusive, light, and elegant..."

"Clear Wind Palm..."

"Limitless Loose Hand..."

Su Mo flipped through more than a dozen martial skills in succession, but none of them satisfied him.

"Hmm? Nine Heavens Sea Wave Fist?"

Su Mo picked up another manual, and his eyes immediately lit up. Just from the name alone, he could sense that this martial skill was extraordinary.

Su Mo was instantly interested and opened the manual to read: "Nine Heavens Sea Wave Fist, a middle-tier Grade One martial skill. The body is like the sea, the fists like rolling waves; fist force surges layer upon layer, each wave stronger than the last."

"Not bad. This is the one!" After reading for a while, Su Mo nodded in satisfaction.

Holding the two manuals, Su Mo turned and was about to leave when Su Heng suddenly blocked his path.

"Su Mo, put down the Nine Heavens Sea Wave Fist manual." Su Heng shouted arrogantly.

Su Mo glanced at him and asked, "Su Heng, why should I put down this manual?"

"I had already taken a liking to this manual earlier, but I hadn't made up my mind to choose it. Now, I have decided to choose this fist technique. Hurry up and return it to me!" Su Heng held his head high as he ordered.

"Return it to you? You make it sound as though it belongs to you!"

Su Mo sneered. "Once I have chosen it, it is mine. I will not give it to you."

"You refuse to return it?" Su Heng's gaze turned cold. "Su Mo, do you know the consequences of angering me?"

"Consequences?" Su Mo smiled faintly. "I truly do not know what consequences there might be. Why don't you tell me?"

"You really have some nerve, Su Mo. A piece of trash like you dares to act arrogantly before me." Rage surged within Su Heng as he shouted, "Trash, I will say it one last time. Return the manual to me and kneel to apologize, or I will break both your legs."

"Kneel and apologize? Break both my legs?"

A cold gleam flashed through Su Mo's eyes as he said impassively, "I would like to see just how you intend to break my legs!"

"You are courting death!"

Su Heng shouted coldly. As soon as the words left his mouth, the aura of the Qi Refining Realm First Level erupted wildly from his body. Yellow light flashed behind him as he activated his Martial Soul, ready to strike.

"Stop!"

At that moment, the Pavilion Guard Elder's icy voice suddenly rang out. "Fighting is strictly forbidden within the Scripture Pavilion. Anyone who violates the rules will be barred from entering the Scripture Pavilion for life!"

The Pavilion Guard Elder's words made Su Heng's heart tremble, and his body immediately froze.

"Elder, I am sorry. I will not violate the Scripture Pavilion's rules." Su Heng suppressed the fury in his heart and hurriedly spoke to the elder.

Although he desperately wanted to teach Su Mo a lesson, he did not dare break the rules.

Otherwise, if he were barred from entering the Scripture Pavilion for life, the loss would be far too great!

"Trash, consider yourself lucky today. If there is a next time, I will definitely not spare you." Su Heng turned to Su Mo and said viciously.

"Idiot!" Su Mo glanced at Su Heng, too lazy to pay him any heed, then turned and left.

"What did you say?"

Su Heng flew into a rage again. Staring at Su Mo's departing back, he gritted his teeth.

Ever since Su Heng had awakened a Human Grade Fourth Tier Martial Soul, his status in the Su family had soared. Who would not treat him with courtesy when they saw him?

Yet today, he had been provoked by a piece of trash with a worthless Martial Soul, leaving him so stifled that he nearly burst.

"Trash, I will make you pay the price!"