After leaving Nuoding Academy, Lin Yan returned to his Hundred Herbs Shop with his simple luggage on his back.
Lin Yan greeted the shop's employees upon his return, then went straight into the back courtyard.
Sitting beneath the old tree in the courtyard, Lin Yan quietly began sorting through his current circumstances and future plans.
First, my foundation.
Lin Yan examined himself internally. Through relentless training to his limits and the enhancement provided by whale rubber, his physical fitness far surpassed that of his peers and might even rival a Soul Grandmaster's.
But that was nowhere near enough. The whale rubber is still effective. I must keep using it until its effects on me become negligible. Physical strength is the foundation that supports everything. I cannot slack off.
Second, my skills.
Tai Chi Fist held endless subtleties. It overcame hardness with softness and deflected a thousand pounds with four ounces-a powerful internal martial art that he needed to keep practicing.
But fighting barehanded would ultimately put him at a disadvantage in certain situations, especially since his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, which offered no advantage in combat early on.
I need a weapon.
Lin Yan naturally thought of a sword: light and graceful, yet also in keeping with the way yin and yang transformed.
Tai Chi Sword... Its principles are connected to those of Tai Chi Fist. Both emphasize smooth, effortless circles, with the sword following one's intent. If I can master it, offense and defense will become one, and its power should surpass fighting barehanded. He planned to visit the best smithy in Nuoding City and commission a longsword suited to him. He did not need a divine weapon or peerless blade, only something that felt right in his hand and would let him hone his swordsmanship.
Last, and most importantly, my first Soul Ring. Lin Yan extended his right hand, and pale blue Blue Silver Grass quietly emerged, swaying gently.
From the books on the first floor of Nuoding Academy's library, he had learned about quite a few Plant-type Soul Beasts, such as the resilient Iron Thorn, the thorny Mandala Snake Vine, and even Sleeping Mushroom vines with a mild numbing effect.
But Lin Yan found all of these less than satisfactory. These Plant-type Soul Beasts each had their own advantages, but none fully matched his expectations for Blue Silver Grass's first Soul Ring. What he wanted was a Plant-type Soul Beast that could provide Blue Silver Grass with powerful vitality.
The source of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was vitality. Only a Soul Beast with the same source-and a Plant-type Soul Beast of great age and powerful vitality at that-might be able to bring about its evolution.
I certainly won't find what I want on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest. I may need to venture deeper... But that requires information and strength. Information... He thought of Spirit Hall. As the continent's largest organization of Soul Masters, its book collection would surely far surpass Nuoding Academy's.
As his thoughts gradually became clear, a sharp gleam flashed through Lin Yan's eyes.
Afterward, he returned to his room and took out paper and a pen. Drawing on his memories and ideas, he carefully sketched a design for the longsword, marking its dimensions, weight, and center of gravity in detail. By the time he finished the last stroke, it was already dark. Lin Yan wasted no time. He sat cross-legged and practiced the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique, guiding the undigested whale rubber energy within him to continue strengthening his body.
Early the next morning, Lin Yan went to the best smithy in Nuoding City and presented his design, specifically requesting the best materials and asking that the sword be made as heavy as possible without compromising its structural integrity.
The blacksmith looked at the unusual sword design, then at the earnest boy before him. Though a little curious, he asked no further questions, accepted the deposit, and readily agreed.
After making arrangements for the longsword, Lin Yan set off for Spirit Hall in Nuoding City.
When he saw Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo again, the old man looked well, even more spirited than before.
"How have you been lately, young Lin Yan?"
"I've been very well, Grandmaster. You look like you're doing quite well yourself."
"Quite well indeed, and it's all thanks to you! Our joint business has been earning good money. After we handed over their share, the rewards from above increased too, and these old bones of mine have been enjoying the benefits." Ma Xiunuo stroked his beard with a smile, in excellent spirits. "What brings you here today?"
Lin Yan stated his purpose directly. "Grandmaster, I've withdrawn from Nuoding Academy. I plan to focus on running the herb shop and researching medicines from now on. Lately, I've wanted to try developing new medicines, but I feel I don't know enough yet. So I came to ask whether you could let me read Spirit Hall's books to find some inspiration for new medicinal herbs."
Ma Xiunuo was a little surprised. "You withdrew? Why?"
Lin Yan could only bring out the same explanation he had used with the headmaster and repeat it.
After hearing him out, Ma Xiunuo could only nod helplessly. After a moment's consideration, he nodded his agreement. "Our Spirit Hall library is normally open only to internal personnel. But you have business dealings with Spirit Hall, so you count as half a member. I can give you special permission to read on the first floor. Remember, you must not damage the books or take them outside, nor may you enter the higher floors."
Lin Yan felt delighted, but kept his expression calm and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for granting my request, Grandmaster. I will certainly follow the rules."
Over the following days, Lin Yan went to read in Spirit Hall's library whenever he had time.
A few days later, the smithy sent word that the sword was ready.
Lin Yan immediately headed to the smithy. When he arrived, he saw a longsword lying on a table.
The blade was roughly three feet seven inches long and forged from hundred-refined steel. The entire sword gave off a subdued, dark sheen. It weighed fifteen jin, considerably heavier than an ordinary sword, and had a thicker spine, clearly intended to increase the power and stability of its chopping strikes.
Although it lacked elaborate ornamentation, its lines were smooth and its structure well proportioned, with a faint chill emanating from it.
Lin Yan gripped it and tried it out. Its weight was just right, and it felt natural and powerful when he swung it. Thoroughly satisfied, he paid the balance on the spot and took the sword home.
Back in the courtyard, Lin Yan could hardly wait to test the longsword.
Lin Yan guided his sword moves with the essence of Tai Chi Fist. At first, his movements were somewhat stiff, but he soon became immersed in them. Thrusts, point strikes, upward cuts, sweeping cuts, draws, chops... Sword light swirled, sometimes like a murmuring stream, sometimes like soft, rolling clouds, yet at other times harboring the force of something about to shatter.
Rather than pursuing fixed sword moves, Lin Yan focused more on experiencing the feeling of "the sword as an extension of the arm," seeking the essence of Tai Chi's circular flow and the mutual support of yin and yang.
From then on, Lin Yan had another daily task: practicing Tai Chi Sword. In turn, practicing Tai Chi Sword deepened his understanding of Tai Chi Fist. The two reinforced one another, bringing his combat strength to another level.
From that point onward, Lin Yan's life became highly regular. Every morning, he tempered his body through exercise and digested the whale rubber energy through the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique. During the rest of the morning, he handled shop affairs or practiced Tai Chi Fist and Tai Chi Sword. Every afternoon, without fail, he went to Spirit Hall's library and immersed himself in its vast sea of books.
Nuoding Academy's collection could not compare to Spirit Hall's. Books on Soul Beasts, Martial Souls, Soul Skills, the continent's geography, and historical secrets filled the shelves in dazzling abundance. Its illustrated guides to various Soul Beasts and descriptions of their traits were especially detailed and thorough.
Lin Yan focused on examining every record concerning Plant-type Soul Beasts, particularly vine- and grass-type Soul Beasts, letting no potentially useful scrap of information escape him. At the same time, he also read widely about other Soul Beasts, as well as basic Soul Master theories and techniques for using Soul Power, continually expanding his store of knowledge.