Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

After receiving the inner disciple's token, Li Chuan made his way to the Scripture Pavilion.

The library is not ornate, nor does it have upturned eaves.

The building's overall appearance is that of a four-story old building made of bluestone.

However, the plaque hanging directly above the ironwood door instantly made this old building extraordinary.

The plaque reads "Scripture Repository" in large characters.

It is neither flamboyant nor deeply insightful.

Instead, it has sharp edges and corners, as if it were carved with a knife, and it exudes a fierce killing intent!

"Liu Peiran told me that this was personally carved by the patriarch, Master Tiandao."

Even though Li Chuan's swordsmanship wasn't particularly refined, one could still sense the profound power within his blade with the naked eye.

Truly extraordinary!

Upon entering the Sutra Repository, Li Chuan discovered a hidden world within.

The lights on the first floor were ordinary oil lamps, which were rather dim.

On both sides are rows of wooden shelves, displaying low-level martial arts like Tongbei Quan, which reach its peak when cultivated to the level of Huajin.

Many disciples dressed in outer sect attire were either standing or sitting, engrossed in studying ancient books.

"According to Senior Sister Yu, the first level is for outer disciples to practice, while the second level is suitable for inner disciples."

Li Chuan walked straight through the long corridor, ignoring the envious looks from many outer disciples, and headed upwards.

"Only inner disciples are allowed to enter the second level. Do you have an inner disciple's pass?"

An elderly man with gray hair sat by the entrance to the second floor and asked.

"Please take a look, Steward." Li Chuan glanced at the old man a few more times as he handed him the warrant.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, and his whole body looked old, as if he didn't have much time left.

I reckon he was sent here because he's old and his health is failing.

"I thought that the stewards of these scripture pavilions were all like the 'sweeping monks'!" Li Chuan thought to himself with a sneer.

In reality, where are there so many powerful figures with high martial arts skills who would be willing to come to a place like the Sutra Repository?

There was no profit to be made, and the work was repetitive and tedious, making it utterly boring.

The old deacon took the token, glanced at it, and then returned it to Li Chuan:

"Go in. The four great martial arts are placed at the front, followed by various fighting and training methods."

Each cultivation manual has a clearly marked price; to practice it, one must pay sufficient silver to have it copied.

Li Chuan nodded and walked to the bookshelf at the front.

Many newly initiated disciples gathered in this area, looking troubled as they selected the true skills.

After all, once you've mastered a true skill, the only way to change it is to dissipate the skill.

Years of arduous cultivation can turn to ashes in an instant; anyone must be extremely careful.

A simply dressed man suddenly walked up, and without even glancing at anyone, took a copy of "Gengjin Jue" and went to make a copy.

Many disciples recognized his identity and whispered among themselves:

"I know him, he's Yifeng's!"

"The people at Yifeng all entered through rigorous examinations; they are all exceptionally talented. No wonder they are so confident!"

Li Chuan observed the crowd and found that most people did indeed choose Jia wood and Ren water, just as Yu Jing had said.

Few choose Bing Fire, and even fewer choose Geng Metal.

Li Chuan glanced at the prices and found that they were all the same: one hundred taels of silver.

He then stepped forward and took a copy of the Gengjin Manual.

Someone asked in surprise:

"Is this also from Yifeng?"

"His clothes were simple and unpretentious, his appearance was stern and handsome, and he possessed the qualities of a top scholar!"

The way people judged whether it was one peak or one of the other three peaks was actually quite simple.

All of them were selected through a process, and most of them did not have any powerful backgrounds; many came from poor families.

The other three peaks, on the other hand, come from much better family backgrounds.

Li Chuan listened to the whispers of the crowd and felt somewhat helpless.

I never expected that I would be mistaken for someone from Yifeng just because I was poor?

He ignored the stares of the people and walked to the back rows of bookshelves.

"Whirling Wind Sword Technique, Rock-Splitting Spear Technique, Mountain-Crushing Fist, Swimming Dragon Body..."

Li Chuan walked past the rows of bookshelves, hoping to find some methods that he could use.

Suddenly, he stopped in front of a cultivation manual.

"Hidden Yuan Gong".

"Internal strength is hidden and not revealed, dispersed and not superficial, so others cannot detect the depth of your cultivation."

Li Chuan's eyes lit up.

This Hidden Yuan Technique is perfect for someone like him who likes to conceal his strength.

They usually conceal their strength, allowing the enemy to lower their guard.

When it truly erupts, we'll catch them completely off guard!

"Two hundred taels...that's a bit expensive, but this is a top-tier martial art that will last a long time. I'll buy it!"

Li Chuan took the rubbings of the Gengjin Formula and the Cangyuan Technique and went to the old steward's office to pay the silver.

"I can only give you the first level of the Gengjin Technique. You can come back for the copy of the second level after you have finished cultivating it."

"The martial arts techniques of this sect are all secret and must never be revealed. The lightest punishment is expulsion from the sect, the heaviest is the abolition of one's cultivation. Do you understand?"

The old deacon was dozing off and said lazily.

Li Chuan clasped his hands and said:

"Please rest assured, sir, I have noted it down."

After paying three hundred taels of silver, Li Chuan took the two rubbings and went back.

As the old deacon watched Li Chuan's retreating figure, his sleepiness vanished instantly.

"The new disciple from the Four Peaks even chose the Gengjin Technique. Didn't Yu Jing explain this clearly to him?"

He chuckled softly, then drifted off to sleep again.

……

Li Chuan returned to the central courtyard, where the inner disciples lived.

Unlike the core disciples of the upper academy, they do not have grand courtyards.

But it's still much better than the cramped little houses where the disciples of the lower temple are all crammed together.

It is a detached house.

Li Chuan pushed open the door and went in, roughly estimating that it was about twenty square meters in size.

The sparrow is small, but it has all five internal organs.

It has all kinds of commonly used furniture; it's not luxurious, but it's just enough.

"Thank goodness I wasn't assigned to a dormitory-style room..."

Li Chuan has always believed that living with someone else is one of the most painful things in the world!

"However, the Heavenly Blade Sect is indeed not as humane as the Pine Breeze Martial Arts School."

At Songfeng Martial Arts School, he only formally taught Shu Xiu; all other martial arts techniques were taught for free.

Furthermore, disciples who perform well may even receive some rewards from Liang Xingzhou.

But in the Heavenly Blade Sect, don't even think about it.

Everything costs money!

The thought of money gave Li Chuan a headache.

"I originally thought that the six hundred taels of silver I had on me would be enough to last me a long time..."

I never imagined that I'd already spent three hundred taels of silver in just one day!

He didn't know how long the rest could last.

Li Chuan shook his head, deciding not to think about these things for the time being.

Learn the True Skill and Hidden Origin Skill first.

After briefly reviewing the Gengjin formula...

【Technique: Geng Metal Technique (Beginner)】

[Proficiency: 1/500]

Instantly, Li Chuan felt a strange sensation within his body.

It felt as if all the blood and energy in my body wanted to rush to my dantian.

"Senior Sister Yu said that in order to break through to the Core Formation stage, one needs to first condense a 'Fire Seed' within the body."

"Once the fire seed is condensed, one will have achieved the Great Perfection of Internal Energy."

"Breaking through this spark will allow the internal energy to transform into 'true qi,' breaking through the 'Baodan Jin' (Embracing the Core Formation)!"

The difference between "Baodan" (抱丹) and "Huajin" (化劲) is like heaven and earth, one using physical strength and the other using true qi, and their statuses are also vastly different.

In the Heavenly Blade Sect, a master of the Transformation Realm is only considered decent, a good one.

Those who can cultivate the inner core are the true backbone of the Heavenly Blade Sect!

Not only can they enter the upper courtyard and enjoy an independent courtyard.

Every month, you can also receive three bowls of "Golden Marrow Soup," each bowl worth two hundred taels of silver, which is an essential item for strengthening your true energy!

Inner disciples, on the other hand, received much worse treatment, receiving only one bowl of Silver Marrow Soup per month, worth only thirty taels of silver!

The difference is more than several times.

Li Chuan picked up the jade jar in his hand.

Through the opening, one can see the silvery-colored broth inside.

Just one whiff of it makes you feel your blood and energy start to boil throughout your body!

"I want to try this silver marrow soup, which costs thirty taels a bowl, and see what it's like!"