After a short meditation in the cave, Fang Hao stood up and straightened his robes. He checked himself in a mirror to make sure he looked presentable before leaving the cave.
Today was his first day as an official disciple, and he wanted to make a good impression. As he walked down the path, he saw the same three cultivators he had met before still sitting there after hours. They nodded at him as he passed by, and he nodded back, greeting them silently.
He continued on his way to the plaza, where there were still a lot of people, even though it was getting dark. He stopped by the side of the plaza and leaned against a wall to observe how people were interacting and talking. He wanted to understand the mood before he went to the big library.
Even though it was getting darker, the plaza was still busy with people. Fang Hao watched from the side to see how people were acting and talking, trying to figure out the general atmosphere before heading to the library.
The sight of two massive lion statues outside filled him with fear, their auras making him shiver. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage and entered the building, greeting the guard who simply looked at him.
Feeling a bit awkward, he stepped into the massive doorway. The metal doors were huge and covered in symbols and runes. Inside, the ground floor of the library was filled with shelves of books, and disciples sat at desks, reading carefully so as not to damage anything. The air was filled with the musky scent of paper and incense, which calmed him and put him in the mood to dive into books.
"New here, I assume?" an elder sitting behind a desk with a bored expression looked up as Fang Hao entered.
"Yes, Elder. I am a new disciple," Fang Hao replied quickly, and the elder nodded before asking for his token.
Nodding, Fang Hao handed over the token, and the elder inspected it. "Fang Hao, you're welcome to stay on the ground floor as long as you like. If you damage any books, your contribution points will be deducted. If you can't cover the cost, you'll be sent to the mines."
"Understood," the elder said, passing back the token and giving Fang Hao a stern look.
Explaining the rules and consequences briefly, Fang Hao agreed, understanding the terms. "I'll follow the rules. Elder, what about the first floor?" he inquired respectfully.
"You have enough contribute points for a manual on the first floor. It will cover the muscle realm. I suggest you first read the free information about the first realm and decide what you want to focus on before going upstairs," the elder advised, noticing that Fang Hao didn't carry the arrogance often seen in those from higher backgrounds.
"Thank you... Elder?" Fang Hao expressed his gratitude.
"Outer Elder, Su Rinu," the elder replied before closing his eyes.
Taking the hint, Fang Hao bowed slightly and began to explore. He aimed to gather more information about the muscle realm than his father had told him.
Before heading up to examine the manuals, he walked past rows upon rows of shelves stacked with books. A few people wearing green robes were waiting nearby, and he realized they were servants.
"No wonder the Sect Leader mentioned the perks of the job. These servants can still pursue cultivation with the information they gather," Fang Hao thought, observing how advantageous the role was compared to being sent to a mortal kingdom.
"Excuse me, could you guide me to the Muscle realm information?" Fang Hao inquired, approaching one of the servants. The servant hurriedly explained and pointed in the right direction.
Thanking him, Fang Hao found a collection of books on the topic. He picked one randomly and settled down at a nearby desk to read.
The book covered similar ground to what his father had shared but with added details. Fang Hao absorbed the information, turning pages one after another before getting lost in thought.
The muscle realm, as the name suggested, was all about enhancing physical power, endurance, speed, and other related aspects.
Different manuals offered various advantages and disadvantages depending on what one cultivated.
Contemplating his own combat style, Fang Hao realized he wasn't entirely sure about it. It certainly didn't seem to align with power-focused techniques like sword dao.
"Endurance?" Fang Hao muttered, shaking his head. He also wasn't particularly inclined towards that aspect.
"Speed, on the other hand, would help me escape quickly and set up formations more efficiently," Fang Hao pondered. He was fully aware that during the encounter with the prisoner, his speed had fallen short, leaving him unable to create enough distance.
"I've decided to concentrate on developing my body for speed, agility, and maneuvering," Fang Hao declared, firmly believing that these attributes aligned best with his strengths.
As he rose from his seat, he carefully returned the book to its place and then selected a few more volumes containing information on formations and other aspects of the realm.
These texts explained the fundamentals of symbols and methods for establishing simple formations. However, they didn't cover any advanced techniques like the ones Yu Rui had shared with him. Fang Hao assumed that those might require merit points to access.
For now, he set aside the idea of delving into complex formations and returned the books to their designated spots on the shelves.
He then approached the elder to signal his readiness. "Elder, I'm prepared to receive a cultivation manual," he informed the elder, who opened his eyes with a faint frown.
"You will only have the time it takes to boil a cup of tea. Are you certain about your choice?" the elder asked Fang Hao once again.
"I've gathered enough information. I know which cultivation manual I want to focus on," Fang Hao replied.
Su Rinu gave him one more assessing look before deducting his contribute points from 10 to 0 and signaled to a nearby guard.
The guard, well-versed in this procedure, escorted Fang Hao to the first floor before following him closely. "Your time starts now," the guard announced, taking his position.
There was no fear of the disciple attempting to steal anything; the valuable knowledge was safeguarded behind formations. Only the names of the manuals and brief descriptions were accessible.
Fang Hao hurried to the building, passing through aisles that contained manuals for swords, spears, and various weapons.
Eventually, he found what he was seeking - the section for body cultivation manuals. Rows of manuals were neatly arranged on wooden shelves, making it easy for him to read their titles.
One of the manuals caught his eye: "Fleet Steps - Increased Physical Agility, Traveling Speed, and Maneuvering." He read the description carefully before moving on to another manual, "Eight Circle Kick Volume 1 - Enhanced Kicking Attacks, Speed, and Upper Body."
However, none of these options satisfied him. He continued to browse through book after book, some of which intrigued him, but none offered the hand dexterity he was looking for.
Then he came across a manual named "Watery Phantom Volume 1" - promising increased physical agility, maneuvering, and hand mobility.
Pausing, Fang Hao scrutinized this manual, reading its detailed description before contemplating his decision. If he couldn't find anything better before his time ran out, he decided that he would choose this one.
As time was running out, it appeared that Fang Hao was leaning towards choosing the 'Watery Phantom Volume 1' manual. However, just when he thought his decision was made, he stumbled upon another manual that captured his attention.
'Slippery Shadow Snake Volume 1,' its detailed description described an enhancement in agility, the ability to bend like a snake, fast dexterity, silent steps, and a predator-like nature.
This manual could be cultivated up to the late stages of the muscle realm, making it a tempting choice.
Eager to obtain it, Fang Hao reached out to grab the manual, only to be met with a barrier that prevented him from reaching it.
A voice broke the silence from behind him, "You are not allowed to touch them. Once you have made your decision, inform me, and the outer elder will provide it to you." The guard had silently arrived and explained the rules to Fang Hao.
Realizing his error, Fang Hao nodded in understanding. He pointed at the 'Slippery Shadow Snake 1' manual to indicate his choice, and the guard acknowledged it with a nod before guiding him down the stairs.
During their journey, they encountered another disciple on the lookout for a manual. However, they adhered to the rules and refrained from interrupting him.
Once the guard had departed and Fang Hao was returned to the elder, he received a freshly made copy of the chosen cultivation manual. Opening the book, he was puzzled to find it brand new.
The elder clarified, "It's a copy. The original manuals can't be moved unless you accumulate enough contribution." With that, the elder closed his eyes, focusing on his own cultivation and leaving Fang Hao to contemplate the manual in his hands.
Confused about the volumes, Fang Hao questioned, "Elder, all the books said they were Volume 1. What does this mean?" He glanced down at the cultivation manual, seeking clarification.
The elder explained, "These volumes can guide you up to the early Vein realm. Volume 2 will be the next step, but it will require a considerably larger amount of contribution. Every book in the library presents a complete path to the Marrow Infusion realm."
Seeing Fang Hao's thoughtful expression, he added, "However, it's a long journey. Don't bite off more than you can chew."
"Thank you," Fang Hao said again, showing his gratitude, and then he left, placing the book in his spatial ring.
The elder opened his eyes and frowned, muttering, "Another rich background," shaking his head in disappointment as he returned to his cultivation.
Fang Hao didn't know that spatial rings were usually only used by Vital Core Cultivators, and the excessive greed they often brought could turn friends into enemies.