Star Art

After getting out of bed, Ye Lin looked at the five Low-Tier Spirit Stones on the bed and pondered for a while.

"If I use these five Low-Tier Spirit Stones to exchange for a technique, I'll only have four left. But with a technique, Qi Refining Level 5 will be enough."

Ye Lin muttered, then put away the five Low-Tier Spirit Stones before heading out the door.

The moment Ye Lin stepped outside, he saw Zhang Liang standing in the distance, surrounded by several Chore Disciples.

The veteran Chore Disciples were all shrewd old hands. Even if the Chore Captains wanted to fleece them, they would have to put in some effort.

The newly arrived Chore Disciples, however, were the best source of free labor for these Chore Captains, so they would always come and order them around.

After a glance, Ye Lin ignored them. Zhang Liang had clearly come to call people over as free labor again.

"I wonder who would win if I faced Zhang Liang now."

Ye Lin muttered. Zhang Liang was at Qi Refining Level 3, and so was he. Though he had been killed by Zhang Liang's sneak attack, that had been a sneak attack after all. Still, Ye Lin was more likely to lose. Zhang Liang had already been a Qi Refining Level 3 expert for a long time.

But in the next instant, a transparent panel suddenly appeared before Ye Lin's eyes.

Name: Zhang Liang

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 3

Fate Rank: White (Incomplete)

Fate Traits: [Average Luck] [Heaven-Shocking Blade Technique]

Destiny: Half a year later, he followed an Outer Sect disciple down the mountain to eliminate demons, only to have all the blood essence in his body drained by an Evil Demon at Qi Refining Level 5, dying as a result.

Recent Opportunity: Tonight, after gathering enough points, he will go to the Scripture Depository to choose a technique. By chance, he will discover the Mystic-Grade Low-Tier Technique, Star Art, beneath the third cabinet. From then on, his strength will soar, and he will break through to Qi Refining Level 4 in one stroke, a realm that had plagued him for ten years.

[Heaven-Shocking Blade Technique]: He possesses a unique understanding of the blade and progresses rapidly along the path of the blade.

[Average Luck]: His luck is ordinary, only slightly better than that of an average person.

Looking at Zhang Liang's opportunity, Ye Lin sighed inwardly. Opportunity after opportunity came his way—but what about himself? He did not have a single hair.

A Fate Rank really was a good thing.

But when he saw the Fate Traits, Ye Lin's expression changed.

Small Fortune had turned into Average Luck. Perhaps this was Zhang Liang's only remaining opportunity.

"So stealing another person's opportunity is the same as stealing their fortune."

Ye Lin muttered.

Fortune sounded like something illusory and ethereal, yet it truly existed. A person's life and death, the rise and fall of dynasties and sects—all were inseparably tied to it.

"Very good. Your opportunity is mine now."

Ye Lin thought to himself, then headed straight for the Scripture Depository.

A Mystic-Grade Low-Tier Technique.

Azure Cloud Sect was the dominant sect within a radius of ten thousand miles, yet it possessed only a single Mystic-Grade Mid-Tier Technique.

Arriving at the Scripture Depository, Ye Lin raised his head and looked at the antique pavilion before him, more than ten meters tall, admiration stirring in his heart.

He then strode forward.

"What do you want?"

At that moment, someone emerged from within the Scripture Depository. He wore lavish clothing and carried himself with immense arrogance.

"Senior Brother, I've come to choose a technique."

Zhao Hu was taken aback. A person dressed in a Chore Disciple's robes had come to choose a technique? Was this some kind of joke?

"Take out your Identity Token. Let me see your points."

Zhao Hu held out his hand toward Ye Lin. The points Chore Disciples earned from work were generally stored in their Identity Tokens.

"Senior Brother, I heard Spirit Stones can also be exchanged for points, right?"

At that moment, Ye Lin took out five Low-Tier Spirit Stones and handed them to Zhao Hu. Seeing the Spirit Stones in Ye Lin's hand, Zhao Hu frowned. How could a mere Chore Disciple possess Spirit Stones?

Still, he did not dwell on it. Though newly initiated Chore Disciples were all mortals, there might be a few among them who had backing behind them.

"Alright. What's your name?"

Zhao Hu put away the Spirit Stones, took out a booklet, and looked at Ye Lin as he asked.

"Ye Lin."

"Alright, go in. Remember, you only have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Once you've chosen, come out quickly."

After registering him, Zhao Hu urged him.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ye Lin nodded, then stepped into the Scripture Depository.

Upon entering, he saw rows upon rows of wooden cabinets, each holding technique manuals. These were all Yellow Grade Low Tier Techniques.

The higher-grade techniques were kept in the Inner Sect's Scripture Depository. He was not qualified to access them yet.

Ye Lin went directly to the third cabinet, crouched down, and reached inside to feel around. In the next instant, his eyes lit up.

Looking at the slightly yellowed book in his hand, Ye Lin's gaze sharpened as he slowly opened it.

"Why is it the Fierce Tiger Art? Something's wrong."

Ye Lin muttered. In the next moment, he stood the manual upright on the ground and gave it a light smack. Sure enough, with a crisp sound, a hidden layer fell out from within the book.

"Success."

Ye Lin rejoiced inwardly. He then put the hidden layer back in place and walked toward the door with the book in hand.

"Senior Brother, I'm done choosing."

Ye Lin spoke to Zhao Hu, who was meditating by the entrance.

"Mm. According to sect rules, you have only one month to study the technique. After one month, return it in its original condition. You are also forbidden from passing it on to anyone else. Otherwise, not only will you die, but even the people from the place where you once lived will die. Understand?"

After Zhao Hu finished speaking, Ye Lin nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he walked out of the Scripture Depository.

Name: Zhao Hu

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 5

Fate Rank: White (ordinary)

Fate Traits: None (ordinary, without any highlights)

Destiny: By chance, he discovers an Inner Sect elder's secret and is ultimately slain by that Inner Sect elder.

Recent Opportunity: Four days later, after remaining at Qi Refining Level 5 for a year, he feels deeply frustrated and goes to Azure Wave Lake to relax. When preparing to swim in the lake, he discovers a Yellow-Grade High-Tier Longsword at the bottom of the lake. From then on, his combat strength greatly increases, allowing him to battle Qi Refining Level 6 cultivators.

As Ye Lin walked toward his residence, he looked at the panel before him. That was right—this panel belonged to Zhao Hu.

"A Yellow-Grade High-Tier Longsword? If I obtain it, my combat strength will increase greatly."

"At the Outer Sect Grand Competition half a month from now, I'll definitely be able to crush Zhang Liang."

Ye Lin muttered. After returning to his residence and securing the doors and windows, he took out the Star Art and began studying it bit by bit.

In the blink of an eye, half a day passed. Ye Lin closed the manual in his hands. After half a day of study, he had finally understood it, thanks to his Transcendental Comprehension Fate Trait.

He then took out his remaining four Spirit Stones and began cultivating.

Cultivation time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, two days went by.

"Phew, not bad."

Looking at the Spirit Stone that had been fully absorbed, Ye Lin exhaled a breath of turbid air. With a technique to aid him, he truly achieved twice the result with half the effort. All ten portions of spiritual energy had been properly absorbed, without wasting even the slightest bit.

During his cultivation, Zhang Liang did not come to bother him again. There might not have been ten thousand Chore Disciples who had entered Azure Cloud Sect, but there were certainly eight thousand. These Chore Captains would surely take turns.

If they seized one group and worked them to death, it might provoke unrest. Then they would not gain the slightest benefit and would instead stir up a whole heap of trouble.

Besides, they were all preparing to deal with the Grand Competition half a month from now and had no time to spare extra attention on others.

Only by securing their own positions could they enjoy all the time in the world afterward.