Qi Yi handed the student card back to him and said, "You may enter." Afterward, he reclined back into his chaise longue, half-closing his eyes and began dozing off.
After Yang Qingxuan entered, Qi Yi opened his eyes once more, his gaze sharp. He muttered to himself, "This kid has vibrant eyebrows and is brimming with energy. Clearly, his soul power is incredibly strong. He was supposed to have a broken soul from birth—how did it get repaired and perfected? Strange! It seems either Prince Jin put in some effort, or his mysterious grandfather must have gotten his hands on some kind of secret treasure."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Qi Yi seemed to decide it wasn't his concern and closed his eyes again to rest.
The library of Tiancong Academy was even more precious than the imperial library of the Cangnan Kingdom.
As Yang Qingxuan stepped inside, the distinct scent of books greeted him, and he saw rows upon rows of towering bookshelves, each filled with a variety of books. Many students were hunched over, focused on their reading.
Among the vast collection, most books were related to martial cultivation, with hundreds of martial techniques and mental methods, highlighting the flourishing state of martial arts.
Yang Qingxuan scanned through the books, occasionally pulling one out to read, but each time, he would shake his head and put it back, clearly dissatisfied.
These martial techniques and mental methods were all basic moves—practically street vendors' fare—such as "Demon-Slaying Sword," "Qi Mei Staff Technique," "Give Me Back My Pretty Fist," and "Dynamic Light Wave Ball"…
Having immersed himself in martial arts for many years, Yang Qingxuan's comprehension of mental methods and techniques far exceeded these common offerings.
Especially after studying the "Six Yang Palm," he had developed a certain understanding of the martial arts of this world and could no longer look up to these inferior skills.
Suddenly, his gaze flickered, and he spotted a jade tablet inscribed with the words "Body Refining." The characters were powerful and vigorous, seemingly carved with a finger.
Yang Qingxuan's heart stirred. He placed his finger into the grooves of the inscription, and to his surprise, it fit perfectly. He couldn't help but exclaim, "This jade is exceptionally tough. Even I can't budge it a bit. What exquisite fingerwork and internal force! The academy truly is a place of great masters."
In the Body Refining section, he found several books: "Cang Bear Armor Technique," "Ice and Fire Body Cultivation," "Great Strength Art," "Lion's Arm Technique"...
After flipping through a few, although they had some unique aspects, most were shallow and unremarkable.
He was deeply engrossed in reading when a soft and clear voice suddenly reached his ears. It was so pleasant to hear that it almost felt like a gentle caress. "If I were you, I'd put that 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art' back and take this 'Qi Transformation Art' instead."
Without turning around, Yang Qingxuan already knew who the voice belonged to.
As expected, a graceful figure appeared with a waft of fragrance. Yang Qingxuan's eyes lit up.
Wu Qiyue, dressed in a light pink long dress, had snow-white skin. Even without makeup, her beauty was undeniable.
She smiled demurely and handed him a book, its black leather cover worn and frayed, with the words "Qi Transformation Art" written on it.
"Oh? Is there something wrong with this 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art'?" Yang Qingxuan closed the book, his eyes fixed on Wu Qiyue. This woman was not only stunning but also mysterious and overly concerned about him—there had to be something off about it.
He was no naive fifteen-year-old, or else he would have been utterly entranced by her otherworldly beauty by now.
Wu Qiyue, in turn, was slightly surprised. Girls tended to be more perceptive and mature, and she immediately sensed that Yang Qingxuan was different from other men.
Every other man she encountered was fiery and eager, their eyes filled with desire, but Yang Qingxuan, despite his focus on her, kept a subtle distance. His clear, pure gaze was completely devoid of any improper thoughts.
After a few moments under his gaze, Wu Qiyue's cheeks turned pink. She harrumphed and said, "This book isn't problematic, but it's a body refinement technique, not suitable for you. This 'Qi Transformation Art' is one of the best methods for breaking through from the Qi Martial Realm to the Spiritual Martial Realm."
Yang Qingxuan chuckled, "My muscles have been a little stiff lately, so refining my body wouldn't hurt."
Wu Qiyue was taken aback. "You're not really planning to do body refinement, are you?"
Yang Qingxuan replied, "Why not? Strengthening the body isn't a bad thing, is it?"
Wu Qiyue smiled slightly. "So you're aiming to practice both 'Qi' and 'Body' at the same time? Many have tried, but it usually backfires. A person's energy is limited, and focusing on even one path is difficult enough to reach the peak. Body refining is even more difficult than refining Qi."
Yang Qingxuan furrowed his brow. "I just browsed through the 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art,' and aside from a bit of physical pain, there doesn't seem to be any real difficulty."
Wu Qiyue smiled, "That's because the 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art' is only useful for strengthening the body. Once you reach the Yellow Turban Warrior level, you'll need a new technique. Truly good body refinement techniques are as rare as phoenix feathers on the continent. If you're just looking to strengthen your body, it's better to take some 'Body Strengthening Pills' every day."
Yang Qingxuan thought for a moment. He wasn't really interested in refining his body, but once he reached the Yellow Turban Warrior level, he could refine his martial soul, and the chance of being backlashed by the martial soul's mark would be significantly reduced. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your advice, Qiyue, but I've made up my mind. I'll still practice this 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art.'"
"Stubborn!" Wu Qiyue was somewhat frustrated. She stomped her foot and turned to leave.
Yang Qingxuan chuckled bitterly when suddenly, a flash of silver light shot toward him. Wu Qiyue's voice rang out again, "If you really want to do body refining, what's the use of that rubbish 'Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art'? Try this 'Qingyang Martial Scriptures' instead. This is a book I personally cherish, and you can take it."
Yang Qingxuan reached out and caught the silver light. By the time he looked up, Wu Qiyue's figure had already disappeared into the library. He opened his hand to find a thin sheet of silver, as delicate as a cicada's wing, covered in writing that resembled tadpoles swimming—at a glance, it seemed to move!
At the top of the sheet were four large characters glowing with silver light, almost blinding him: Qingyang Martial Scriptures!