Chapter 2: Martial Arts Cultivation Manual
Zhang Ying was excited to get the manual from the system but was surprised when it responded, "The host must choose a cultivation manual from the store, buy one from the Fire Country, or get one from family members who are both trainees." Hearing this, Zhang Ying puffed her cheeks, a slight blush appearing, and said, "Then open the store." When the store opened, she saw martial arts manuals ranked as bronze, silver, and gold.
These ranks determined the power of the manuals. The minimum price for bronze was 100 system points, silver ranged from 1,000 to 10,000, and gold ranged from 50,000 to 100,000. When Zhang Ying saw this, her eyes widened in shock, and she angrily said to the system, "This is daylight robbery! Where am I supposed to get all this money?" The system responded in a robotic voice, almost mocking her, "Steal it or complete tasks." Her jaw dropped from shock, feeling as if the system was doing this on purpose. She calmed down and asked, "How can I earn the minimum of 50,000 system points?" The system responded in a cold tone, "Impossible." After that, it didn't respond further, no matter how much she called it. With no other choice, she decided to try her parents' martial arts and hoped they were of a high level.
When she returned home, she saw her mother sitting in the yard, drinking tea, and reading a book. She approached her and said, "Mom, I'm back." Her mother looked at her with a warm smile and gestured for her to sit next to her. Zhang Ying sat down and said, "Mom, I want to learn martial arts." Hearing this unusual request, Su Ran smiled faintly and thought to herself, "Why does she want to start now? Did someone provoke her? She needs to know that her father and I always said she would start at eight years old, maybe her body is ready." Zhang Ying was oblivious to her mother's thoughts. Finally, Su Ran asked, "Are you being bullied by other children or something?" Zhang Ying laughed proudly, "They wouldn't dare." Su Ran then said, "Go to your room. I will discuss this with your father." After Zhang Ying left, Su Ran called someone, and a shadowy figure appeared. She said, "Uncle Qing, can you investigate what is happening with my little Ying?"
Uncle Qing replied, "Yes."
After a brief investigation of thirty minutes, he returned with a short report:
"Zhang Ying has beaten all the naughty children and even threatens them. They fear her and call her 'the queen.'"
With this report, Su Ran waited for Zhang Liang to return to discuss martial arts with him. When he came back, she confronted him about everything. He simply replied, "Teach her from my spiritual energy cultivation manual or yours, it doesn't matter. Here is my manual," and handed it over. As he left, he said loudly, "Children's instincts are always right. Trust her."
Comparing her martial arts to Zhang Liang's, Su Ran was shocked because he also had a gold-rank martial art. Throughout their marriage, neither had discussed their martial arts. Seeing both manuals, she was unsure which to give to her daughter. In the end, she decided to let the child choose since both were good. She then went to Zhang Ying's room, knocked on the door, and entered. She immediately said, "These are gold-rank martial arts manuals, mine and your father's. Both are good. Which one do you want to learn?" Zhang Ying was puzzled and asked, "Mom, both manuals are great, but everything has weaknesses. What are the weaknesses of these two?" Her mother explained briefly, "My martial art focuses on speed and quick attacks. Your father's martial art focuses on power; the stronger he is, the more destructive his attacks. What is your choice?" Zhang Ying decided to take her mother's manual, called "White Panther Steps."
She began practicing but couldn't understand anything until the system spoke again, "Host, you will receive 1,000 points upon completing the task." Hearing this, Zhang Ying wondered what the task was. The system spoke again, "In one of Zhang Liang's desk drawers, there is a document you must take and keep hidden for three days."
Reward: 1,000+ system points, a golden lottery ticket,
(Chance to choose a free item from the store based on the host's completion grade),
(Task duration: three days)
Zhang Ying was overjoyed and started planning how to get the document. She went to her father's office and heard he was meeting someone in the guest room. She quickly went to his office and quietly searched for the document. Eventually, she found a paper she suspected was the one. Without reading it, she immediately took it to her room and hid it in a secret drawer. She waited three days. During this time, Zhang Liang discovered the document was missing and searched everywhere for it.
When he couldn't find it, he asked Su Ran, "Do you know where Zhang Ying's registration form for the Imperial Academy went?" She shook her head and said, "I don't know. Don't you remember where you put it?" He nodded, "I remember putting it in my desk drawer." He felt sad, thinking, "I've lost her chance to enter the Imperial Academy." Su Ran reassured him, "No problem, we can teach her at home. The academy opens registration every three years, and the registrant must be under 13 years old. She still has two more chances. We can teach her at home." Zhang Liang collected himself and nodded to Su Ran.
Three days later, Zhang Ying completed the task and heard the system say, "Congratulations, host, on completing your first task.
Reward: 1,000+ system points, a golden lottery ticket,
Chance to get something from the store."
Zhang Ying was happy and checked her rewards. The system asked, "Does the host want to understand the White Panther Steps martial arts manual? Cost: 250 system points, Yes/No." Zhang Ying wondered, "What do you mean?" The system explained patiently, "The system will inject the martial arts manual's knowledge into the host's mind." Zhang Ying immediately pressed yes and felt a slight headache before understanding the martial arts manual. She began cultivating and decided to use the lottery at night when everyone was asleep. She had two tickets and wanted to see what she would get. Excited, she cultivated until nightfall, then left her room and went to the basement. She closed the door behind her and ensured no one followed her. She felt like someone was watching her at times, but she couldn't identify the intent.
She told the system, "I want to use the golden lottery ticket."
The ticket appeared before her. She grabbed it and tore it in half, revealing a wheel of fortune with many names. The wheel spun and slowly stopped at Hero Summoning Stone. The stone was added to the system's inventory. She spun the wheel again, and it landed on Celestial Martial Art. Seeing this, Zhang Ying felt her chances of survival increased and wondered what to do next.