Chapter 5 Library

Words : 2732 Updated : Oct 8th, 2023

"Ha, you've got guts, Stanley, daring to fight back. I, Harry Lu, will show you just how big the gap is between a fifth-level and a fourth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter!" Harry sneered as he launched his attack. Harry, like Hui Wang, was another intermediate student who followed Hugh, hoping to benefit from the Zhang family's influence. Many students like them knew they weren't martial prodigies. Reaching the intermediate class was the best they could do. When the time came to leave the martial hall, having a fifth or sixth-level Lian Ti Realm cultivation would still earn them a decent position within the Zhang family. This was why they worked so hard to block Stanley, trying every means possible to curry favor with the Zhang family. The commotion between them had already attracted a few students passing by the library. Most of them watched with concern for Stanley, knowing that Harry, being a fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter, was far stronger. "Boom!" When Stanley's fist collided with Harry's hand, a dull sound echoed, and suddenly, Harry's body froze in place. His lips quivered, and his face turned deathly pale. "Ahhh!" A sharp, agonizing scream erupted from Harry as he staggered backward, his right arm limp and hanging at his side. His right hand, in particular, was completely shattered. "Harry!" Hui Wang's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected his fellow fifth-level companion to be injured by Stanley in a single blow. Harry was in agony, his face twisted in pain as he trembled uncontrollably, the pain of his broken bones overwhelming him. Stanley's face remained cold and emotionless. "You broke the rules of the martial hall and tried to stop me from entering the library. This is your own doing!" He then shifted his icy gaze toward Hui Wang. "Are you still going to stop me?" Despite both Harry and Hui Wang being at a higher level than him, Stanley had no fear. The power of his Life and Death energy, combined with his ability to directly damage his opponents' life maps, gave him confidence. Under Stanley's intense stare, Hui Wang couldn't help but shiver. Stanley seemed like a completely different person, unfamiliar and intimidating. But then, remembering that Hugh was behind him, Hui Wang quickly composed himself, anger flaring. "Stanley, you've got some nerve! Not only are you trying to force your way into the library, but you've also injured a guard! I'll cripple you right here!" Hui Wang shouted, channeling his inner energy with righteous indignation. "I've seen shameless people before, but you're a whole new level of disgrace. Everyone here can bear witness—you were the ones breaking the rules, yet you're accusing me of wrongdoing?" Stanley shot back with a sneer. "You!" Hui Wang was at a loss for words, his chest tight with frustration. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed several martial hall students watching them. "He's right. Stanley is already at the fourth level of Lian Ti Realm. By the rules, he's allowed to enter the library, but they're stopping him." "Stanley's pretty tough. He took out a fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter with one punch." The whispers from the onlookers only deepened Hui Wang's embarrassment. He knew he didn't have the moral high ground. But if he crippled Stanley here, the martial hall likely wouldn't punish him too severely for taking out someone they considered a problem. Plus, with Hugh backing him, Hui Wang wasn't worried. With renewed malice, he declared, "Stanley, stop lying! I'll cripple you right now!" He lunged at Stanley with a powerful punch, this time using his full strength and his best martial technique. "Second-level martial technique? This could be trouble for Stanley." "Harry must've underestimated Stanley earlier, but Hui Wang won't make the same mistake." "Fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighters have incredible strength. If Hui Wang's punch connects, Stanley could be seriously injured, maybe even crippled." "Get out of my way!" Stanley roared. He wasn't backing down and charged forward again, using his Raging Fist technique, meeting Hui Wang's attack head-on. To everyone watching, Stanley's punch seemed far weaker than Hui Wang's, with much less force behind it. "Boom!" But the moment their fists collided, Hui Wang let out a piercing scream. "Ah, my hand!" He stumbled backward, his bones cracking audibly, and the excruciating pain left him gasping for breath. "What's going on?" The onlookers were stunned. Harry and Hui Wang, both fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighters, had been soundly beaten by Stanley, a mere fourth-level fighter, with just one punch each. "Is Stanley's fist made of iron? There's something strange going on here." "Raging Fist is only a first-level martial technique. How could it be this powerful?" The martial hall students were in disbelief. With their level of skill, they couldn't see the hidden mechanism behind Stanley's punches—the life-damaging technique he wielded. "I'm going into the library now. Do any of you still want to stop me?" Stanley asked coldly as he stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. Both Harry and Hui Wang, still clutching their injured hands, were filled with fear and quickly retreated. "Stanley, don't think you're invincible. You've crossed Mr. Zhang, and you'll pay the price for it!" Hui Wang gritted his teeth, still trying to sound tough. "Invincible? You were the ones acting arrogant all along." Stanley gave them a look of utter disdain. "Get lost, or I won't hesitate to break your other arm." "You… Stanley, don't push your luck!" "Enough noise!" Stanley snapped, his face darkening as he delivered a swift kick toward them. Hui Wang and Harry, too afraid to take the hit, scrambled out of the way, allowing Stanley to continue toward the library entrance. At the door of the library, Stanley noticed an elderly man with white hair and beard sitting cross-legged. Throughout the entire confrontation, the old man had kept his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to everything that had happened. It was a well-known fact that the martial hall didn't interfere in students' conflicts unless it involved death. In most cases, such battles were seen as part of the natural order, where only the strong survived. This old man was the elder responsible for guarding the library. Through his life map, Stanley could tell the elder radiated a strong, deep green glow—a clear sign of a Xian Tian Realm master. "A Xian Tian Realm martial master!" Stanley's heart tightened as he realized the immense power that lay within the elder. It far exceeded the strength of Ms. Lu, a Qi Hai Realm martial artist. "Student Stanley from the beginner class greets the elder," Stanley said respectfully, bowing. "I've reached the fourth level of Lian Ti Realm and seek entry to select a second-level martial technique." The elder slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Stanley. He nodded slightly and said, "Go in." "Thank you, Elder," Stanley replied, stepping inside the library. The elder had observed the entire conflict between Stanley and Harry and Hui Wang. While it was rare for a fourth-level fighter to beat two fifth-levels, it didn't surprise him. As a Xian Tian Realm master, such matters were beneath his notice. The martial hall's library was a treasure trove of martial knowledge. It was said that the highest-level martial techniques there reached the fourth grade, reserved only for the most exceptional students. The value of fourth-level martial techniques was beyond measure. While third-level techniques could still be bought at the martial hall, fourth-level techniques couldn't be obtained with mere silver or gold. For Stanley, fourth-level techniques were still far out of reach. In the past, even second-level techniques seemed like a distant dream. The martial hall's library had three floors. The first floor housed first and second-level techniques, the second floor held third-level techniques, and the top floor contained fourth-level techniques. With his current cultivation at the fourth level of the Lian Ti Realm, Stanley was allowed to choose techniques from the first floor. He could select one technique each for internal energy, martial skills, and movement techniques. As Stanley walked through the first floor, he noticed several other students also browsing the library, searching for their own martial arts techniques. "Whirlwind Palm, Tiger Fist, Spectral Glide, Asteroid Rush…" The sheer variety of techniques left Stanley overwhelmed. The techniques were divided into sections: internal energy, martial skills, and movement techniques. Stanley started with the internal energy section. Most were first-level techniques, with only a few second-level ones. He picked Invert Bone Material, a popular second-level internal energy technique. It was ideal for those in the bone-refining stage and could be cultivated up to the sixth level of the Lian Ti Realm. The technique had more flexibility and potential than the basic first-level technique Stanley had been practicing, offering significant room for improvement. Next, Stanley moved to the martial skills section. Most first and second-level techniques focused on fist, palm, and leg techniques. Weapons-based skills typically started at the third level and above. Martial cultivation required steady progression, and since Stanley had a foundation in the Raging Fist, he chose another second-level fist technique called Dragon and Tiger Boxing. This technique emphasized raw power and explosive force, making it one of the top-tier second-level martial skills. Many students practiced it, but few could master it at higher levels. In martial arts, two things mattered: cultivation level and martial intent. Cultivation levels ranged from the Lian Ti Realm to the Qi Hai Realm and beyond, while martial intent referred to an ethereal level of mastery. Martial intent was a rare and profound understanding that only the most talented could achieve. For movement techniques, Stanley selected One-inch Kick, a technique focused on quick movements in tight spaces. It was easy to learn at first but challenging to master at higher levels. After choosing these three second-level techniques, Stanley felt satisfied. "Stanley?" A soft, delicate voice called out, and Stanley turned to see a young woman in a blue dress looking at him. "Yedda." Stanley smiled and nodded in greeting. This girl, Yedda, had once been the object of Stanley's unspoken affection. Back then, Stanley was an unremarkable second-level Lian Ti Realm student in the beginner class, while she was a sixth-level Lian Ti Realm student in the intermediate class. It was because of Yedda that Stanley had gotten into trouble with Troy, sparking a series of conflicts. In the past, Stanley would have felt nervous and insecure around her. But since merging with the Life and Death Bead, his confidence had grown. Now, his attitude toward Yedda was entirely different. Yedda, too, seemed surprised as she looked at him. "I didn't expect you to reach the fourth level of the Lian Ti Realm. Just a few days ago, you were only at the second level." "Heh, I just got lucky," Stanley replied with a smile. "But the assessment is in three months. If you can't reach the fifth level of the Lian Ti Realm by then, what's your plan?" Yedda asked, smiling slightly. "If you have nowhere to go, you could come to the Liu family. I could arrange for you to be a guard." "A guard for the Liu family?" Stanley's expression became slightly amused as he looked at Yedda. He understood her intentions now. She must have felt bad about the situation with Troy and figured that Stanley might fail the upcoming assessment. She was offering him a backup plan. In the past, Stanley might have seriously considered her offer. But now, with his newfound confidence, the upcoming assessment didn't seem like a significant obstacle at all. "Thank you for your offer, but I'll pass the assessment," Stanley said with a smile. There was an unmistakable confidence in his voice, something that caught Yedda off guard. "You're overestimating yourself. You think you can reach the fifth level in just three months?" A cold, disdainful voice suddenly interrupted them. A young man in white robes walked over, standing beside Yedda.

Chapter 5 Library

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