Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint-Chapter 113 - 92: Armory
Chen Qing walked straight toward the Cyan Wood Institute’s section.
The bookshelves here were a rich, dark green, neatly lined with the core legacies of the Cyan Wood Institute: the follow-up Heart Methods for the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique*, the *Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Herbs Pill Scripture*, the *Thousand Poison Secret Record*, the *Essentials of the Floating Light and Shadow Hand*, the *Grass and Wood Spirit Cultivation Method*, and the *Longevity Qi Cultivation Technique*.
The collection also included notes and summaries from the Sect’s senior members.
He quickly found his objective for this trip: the first-level Heart Method of the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique*.
A sign stood beside it, stating: "Disciples may register with their institute’s Identity Card to receive an Imprint. Cost: one thousand taels of silver."
The price stunned Chen Qing.
His gaze swept over the sections for the other four institutes, where their Core Heart Methods were prominently displayed: the Geng Metal Institute’s *Nine Revolutions Gilded Gold Technique*, the Gui Water Institute’s *Profound Nether True Water Technique*, the Li Fire Institute’s *Crimson Sun Heart-Burning Technique*, and the Kun Earth Institute’s *Eight Desolates Mountain-Suppressing Technique*.
They also required registration and a sky-high fee to be imprinted for study.
In addition, there were also the core Martial Arts from the other institutes.
The *Thousand Layered Wave Sword Technique*, the *Tribulation Flame Sky-Splitting Saber*, the *Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear*, and the *Vajra Armor-Breaking Fist* were all Superior Martial Arts.
’So, as long as I have enough silver, I can learn Martial Arts from the other institutes, too?’
A thought struck Chen Qing at this realization.
Ordinary disciples, limited by their foundational Heart Method and lack of guidance, would not normally attempt to learn Martial Arts from another institute. The effort would be immense, but the results meager.
But Chen Qing was different! He possessed the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] Fate Plate and had no bottlenecks.
More importantly, the Martial Arts of the Cyan Wood Institute focused on Hidden Weapon Techniques. He urgently needed a powerful and aggressive martial art he could use openly, one that would overtly complement the covert nature of his *Floating Light and Shadow Hand*.
Of all the Upper-Grade Martial Arts, Chen Qing was most interested in a Spear Technique.
His gaze fell upon the Kun Earth Institute’s *Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear*. The price to imprint the complete Spear Technique, including the Fundamental Diagram, was written in bold—five thousand taels of silver!
A nearby bookshelf held the journals and insights of several Kun Earth Institute experts.
’Five thousand taels of silver really isn’t that expensive for a complete Upper-Grade Martial Art.’
Chen Qing casually flipped through a few of them. The contents mostly documented the mistakes made while practicing this Spear Technique, the frustrations of bottleneck periods, the epiphanies after a breakthrough, and no shortage of laments from those who grew despondent after getting stuck at a particular Realm.
The consensus was that this Spear Technique was subtle and profound. It was easy to learn but difficult to master, and those without great perseverance and insight were advised to choose with caution.
But Chen Qing had the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] Fate Plate. He wasn’t afraid of it being difficult to master!
’As long as I can learn it, I can train it to its peak!’
’I’ll worry about that once I have the silver,’ Chen Qing thought, putting down the journal and raising his eyes to the section for miscellaneous records and secret histories.
He searched for a moment and quickly found an entry on the Infinite Demon Sect.
After reading it, Chen Qing couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.
The Infinite Demon Sect’s Core Technique could devour another person’s True Qi. It defied all logic!
’Could it be the Star Absorption Technique!?’
After consulting some other materials, Chen Qing discovered that this absorption was not without its costs and limitations.
True Qi was the very foundation of a Martial Artist’s life and Cultivation, and each type had different attributes. If a practitioner had True Qi from two different Heart Methods in their body, it would become difficult to control. For this reason, very few Martial Artists ever cultivated two different Heart Methods at the same time.
First, it was difficult to cultivate and required a tremendous amount of time.
Cultivating two Heart Methods took three to four times the effort of one, and the energy required to cultivate three was almost unimaginably vast.
Second, the True Qi generated by different Heart Methods would repel each other, creating violent internal conflicts.
Even if the Infinite Demon Skill could overcome this rejection, it would be difficult to perfectly convert all of the absorbed energy. A large amount of impurities would inevitably remain in the body.
With long-term practice, the user’s mind would inevitably be eroded, and their foundation would become unstable.
Despite these many drawbacks, this Cultivation Technique could indeed allow a person’s strength to soar in a short period. This single advantage was enough to overshadow its countless flaws.
This was the fatal allure of the Evil Path.
One could spend decades cultivating the Righteous Path and still not necessarily succeed.
But the Evil Path could turn someone into a master in an extremely short amount of time.
Chen Qing secretly mused, ’The *Infinite Demonic Scripture* allows True Qi of different attributes to merge... that’s actually quite remarkable...’
Finally, he pushed aside these distracting thoughts, took the Parchment Scroll for the first level of the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique*, and prepared to leave.
Just then, Chen Qing saw a familiar figure.
Zheng Xiuhong.
She wasn’t in her usual Martial Attire today. Instead, she wore a simple, elegant, pale lilac blouse and skirt. Her hair was gathered loosely in a bun, adorned with a slanted Jade Hairpin.
She was on her tiptoes, arranging books on a shelf, a pose that outlined her mature, full curves. The firm, round line of her bottom was especially eye-catching in the dim light.
Her slender brows were slightly furrowed, and a few stray wisps of hair fell beside her temples, adding a touch of languid charm to her appearance.
Chen Qing paused.
He hadn’t intended to disturb her, but Zheng Xiuhong happened to turn her head, and their eyes met.
"Junior Brother Chen?" Zheng Xiuhong’s eyes flashed with surprise. "What a coincidence. Are you here in the Armory to look for a book?"
"Senior Sister Zheng."
Chen Qing clasped his fist in salute, his tone calm. "I came to get the next Heart Method for the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique*. And you, Senior Sister... are you organizing the archives?"
"I am."
Zheng Xiuhong lightly dusted off her hands, her smile tinged with a faint, indiscernible resignation. "The scrolls in the Armory need to be constantly organized and treated to prevent decay. That’s my assignment."
In the Wutai Sect, even Inner Courtyard Disciples had to take on certain Sect "chores" if they hadn’t yet reached the Embracing Pill Force realm.
Her attention returned to him, and she studied Chen Qing closely, asking in surprise, "Junior Brother, you... don’t tell me you’ve already ignited your Fire Seed?"
She had often seen Chen Qing cultivating with the single-minded focus of an ascetic monk recently. Her impression of this mild-mannered junior brother—who abstained from wine and women, and was focused with an almost severe intensity—had greatly improved.
Chen Qing nodded. "I have."
Upon hearing this, a complicated look entered Zheng Xiuhong’s eyes. She spoke slowly, "When Brother Bai first joined the Sect, he was just as diligent and hardworking as you are. It’s just... this path is too bitter, too difficult..."
She let out a faint sigh, her tone unable to conceal a hint of disappointment and resentment.
Who among those who managed to enter the Wutai Sect hadn’t once been the pride of their hometown?
After Bai Ming failed his fourth attempt to break through to the Embracing Pill Force realm, he had exhausted his family’s savings, and his ambition had evaporated along with them. Now, he just wasted his days with a crowd of unsavory friends.
She and he had argued about it many times, but nothing ever changed.
Chen Qing clasped his fist. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go register now."
Zheng Xiuhong collected herself and stepped aside to let him pass, offering a gentle smile. "I’ve said too much. Go on, Junior Brother Chen. Don’t let me delay you."
"Goodbye, Senior Sister."
Chen Qing clasped his fist again and walked straight to the Steward’s Platform in the corner of the third floor, where registrations were handled.
After his Wooden Token was verified and he paid the one thousand taels in silver notes, the Steward took out a blank, specially-made Parchment Scroll. Using some kind of mechanism and a chemical solution, he quickly created a clear Imprint of the scroll’s contents and handed it to Chen Qing.
"This Imprint is for your personal study only. It must not be shared. Violators will have their Martial Arts crippled and be expelled from the Sect. In severe cases, the punishment is death," the Steward warned, his expression impassive.
"I understand."
Chen Qing accepted the Parchment Scroll, stored it carefully, and turned to leave the Tingchao Armory.
...
