’Why am I overthinking this? It’s better that no one’s here. It means I can take my time and choose.’
Lin Yan smiled faintly. He stopped overanalyzing and began to look through the bamboo slips on the bookshelf.
Compared to the first floor, the second floor had far fewer Cultivation Techniques, but the description of each technique on the bamboo slips was much more detailed.
Heaven-Burning Palm
Grade: Top Grade
Description: Uses Qi Blood as a catalyst to activate the yang energy within the body. When the palm strikes, it is like a scorching sun in the sky, capable of incinerating all things. This Palm Technique is fierce and domineering, demanding an extremely high level of abundant Qi Blood from the Cultivator. It is easy to begin but difficult to achieve Great Success.
Exchange Cost: Two hundred Contribution Points.
Lin Yan glanced at it and shook his head slightly.
A Palm Technique wasn’t his first choice. He returned the bamboo slip to its original spot and moved on to the next cubbyhole.
Wandering Dragon Step, Mountain-Shattering Fist...
Every Cultivation Technique had a detailed description. Lin Yan would pick one up, read it, and put it back down.
All of these Top-grade Cultivation Methods had the same cost: two hundred Contribution Points.
Moving past the fist and palm techniques, Lin Yan arrived at the third row of shelves, which held weapon-based Cultivation Techniques.
Burning Spear, Star-Breaking Hammer, Double Dragon Tyrant Mace, Chasing Moon Nine Slashes...
One weapon technique after another, each one incredibly powerful.
Finally, Lin Yan stopped at a cubbyhole for Swordsmanship. There were six bamboo slips on it.
Sky Splitting Swordsmanship
Grade: Top Grade
Description: Tears through the air at extreme speed, creating a sound of rending space with each slash. Each sword strike is faster than the last, leaving the opponent unable to keep up.
This Swordsmanship emphasizes the principle of "speed." Drawing the sword, sheathing it, and changing techniques all happen in the blink of an eye. Upon reaching Great Success, one can thrust nine times simultaneously, the overlapping sword-images making it impossible to tell real from fake.
Exchange Cost: Two hundred Contribution Points.
Shadowless Sword
Grade: Top Grade
Description: Formless and shadowless, the sword strikes without a trace, targeting an opponent’s blind spots and vitals. This Swordsmanship does not pursue the extremes of power and speed, but rather emphasizes stealth and cunning. The blade moves without disturbing the air or reflecting light, making it impossible to defend against.
Upon reaching Great Success, one can execute seven consecutive strikes before the opponent even notices, with each strike aimed at a fatal point. This technique places an extremely high demand on the Cultivator’s Perception.
Exchange Cost: Two hundred Contribution Points.
Heavy Mountain Swordsmanship
Spirit Snake Swordsmanship
After looking through five of the six Swordsmanship manuals, Lin Yan was left with only one in his hand: Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques.
Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques
Grade: Top Grade
Description: A Swordsmanship comprised of thirteen techniques. The Sword Momentum is continuous, like Flowing Clouds and Flowing Water. Each strike links to the next, forcing an opponent to tire themselves out blocking, eventually revealing a weakness.
The first through ninth techniques focus on linkage, while the tenth through thirteenth techniques contain Sword Intent and are endlessly powerful.
This Swordsmanship is not difficult to start, but reaching Great Success requires an extremely high affinity for the sword. Choose with caution.
Exchange Cost: Two hundred Contribution Points.
’Choose with caution? To me, that means it’s a prime pick!’
Without much hesitation, Lin Yan decided to choose the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques. This was the Swordsmanship most suited for him.
’I have that one-time selection reward from the first floor, so I only need to pay half the Contribution Points. I’ll still have 280 points left. I won’t choose any other Cultivation Techniques for now. I need to save these Contribution Points to buy Elixirs.’
Originally, Lin Yan had wanted to choose a Main Technique as well, but to his surprise, there were none on the entire second floor. He had no choice but to give up on that for the time being.
Returning to the first floor with the bamboo slip, Lin Qinghe’s eyes showed a trace of surprise when he saw the slip Lin Yan handed him.
"The Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques... its potential power is immense, but among all Top-grade Cultivation Methods, its difficulty ranks in the top three. If you can’t master it past the Ninth Technique, its power is inferior to the other five Swordsmanship manuals. In fact, it would be considered bottom-tier among all the techniques here. Are you sure about this?"
Normally, he wouldn’t interfere when a clan member chose a Cultivation Technique. But he recalled that Lin Yan had recently learned the Thunder Sound Technique and had already achieved some success with his Cultivation. Now, he had even entered the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. That meant he had considerable potential. More importantly, the Third Branch had few members; if a talent like him was held back, it would be a loss for the entire branch. That was the only reason he offered a word of caution.
"I have considered it. I choose this one."
Hearing Lin Yan’s unwavering, decisive words, Lin Qinghe said no more. He registered Lin Yan’s name and the Cultivation Technique as per the rules, then pulled a Sword Manual from a cabinet behind him.
"The rules are the same as before. I won’t repeat them."
The former soared to the heavens.
The latter were hopelessly foolish.
In the courtyard, Lin Yan spent about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea memorizing the Sword Technique and technique diagrams of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques. Then, he picked up his longsword and walked into the center of the yard.
He began, thrusting his sword forward.
The blade cut through the air, its trajectory smooth and completely unhindered.
He was slightly stunned. He immediately thrust out a second time, then a third. Each strike was faster and more natural than the last, as if he had already practiced this Swordsmanship a thousand times over.
’Did I master the basics in a single run-through?’
’It seems this is the benefit of having mastered a Swordsmanship to the Perfection Level.’
’I wouldn’t say mastering one technique means you’ve mastered them all, but at the very least, the fundamentals of Swordsmanship are universal.’
Drawing, swinging, thrusting...
Lin Yan sheathed his sword and turned his focus inward, using Introspection to gaze into his mind.
On the Martial Arts Tree, a new bud had already sprouted.
’It actually grew on the same branch.’
Seeing the new bud of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques sprouting on the same branch as the green leaves of the Jinghong Sword Technique, a thoughtful look appeared in Lin Yan’s eyes.
From what he knew of Brother Yuan’s Martial Arts Tree, Lin Yan understood that as his own Realm increased in the future, his Martial Arts Tree would grow taller and thicker. Now, with a new bud appearing on an existing branch, it was perfectly following the growth pattern of a real tree.

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