The morning mist had yet to fully disperse when Loa set out along the flagstone road to the Hall of Wisdom. An autumn chill hung over Fenlai City, and the leaves of the plane trees lining the streets had begun to yellow, but a fire burned in his heart-a hunger for knowledge of higher-level battle-qi.
The familiar white marble pillars of the Hall of Wisdom looked solemn and majestic in the morning light. Loa headed straight for the battle-qi theory section on the second floor, which housed all manner of Battle Qi Manuals, from basic to Saint-level. His gaze swept across the price tags, and his heart gave a painful twitch at every number.
"Storm, a wind-attribute Saint Battle-qi manual. Creator: the Saint expert Silvio Lane, the 'Hurricane Sword Saint,' active three hundred years ago. He once quelled a storm on the North Sea with a single stroke of his sword... Price: 4,500 gold coins."
"Ten Thousand Jun, a lightning-attribute Saint Battle-qi manual. Creator: the Saint expert Carl Raymond, 'Thunderclap Fury.' Two hundred years ago, she attained enlightenment in the Thunder God Mountain Range and split a mountain peak with a bolt of lightning... Price: 3,800 gold coins."
Loa took a deep breath and felt the bulging money pouch against his chest-it contained the ten thousand gold coins he had saved through frugal living and completing missions over this period. He recalled his repeated calculations beneath the oil lamp the night before. In the end, he gritted his teeth and took the two hefty manuals off the shelf.
At checkout, the old man behind the counter raised his eyes to look at him. "Young man, Saint-level manuals may be good, but you must know your limits. These two manuals demand exceptional physique and comprehension from their practitioners. Of those who