Progress

"Why don't you relax a little and play with those that are around your age?" the librarian asked.

"I don't want to. They do kid stuff and trash talk about other people. Some of them have very ugly attitudes. You can almost predict how they're going to grow up."

"I see. A genius like you is probably more comfortable with old people like me."

"Please don't say it like that. It makes it sound weird." Librarian Li laughed out loud. "Anyways. I want to get some new manuals. I'm done with these." He handed the books over.

"Alright." He sighed. "Since I can't stop you, I won't try to get in your way. Make sure you are getting enough rest though. I don't want you to grow up short and unhealthy."

"I promise."

"Good enough. With the power bestowed upon me as the librarian, I allow you to take four manuals to your liking on the first floor with the condition that one of them must be a martial technique."

Li Wei chuckled. "Why do you have to be so dramatic Old Li?"

"You gotta have some spice in your life kid. Otherwise, life becomes boring. Why do you think I went around provoking young masters when I was young?" He had a sly smile on his face.

"Heh. Only you would do that to add 'spice' in your life. Tell me something. How was it like to get hunted?"

Librarian Li became nostalgic. "Fun, stressful, terrifying. and exciting. I did pick up a lover on my adventures. We had two kids together before she passed. You might have heard of them. One of them is called the Frost Monarch of the Jia Empire and the other is the Saint Lord of the Cloud Empire. Every once in awhile, they come and visit. I should introduce you to them."

"Seriously? What did you feed your kids to make them that strong?"

"Nothing. I swear. They just asked me about cultivation one day and I helped them. After they grew up, they became independent and went on their own paths. Both of them made a name for themselves. I didn't do a single thing."

"You have a very powerful family. If people out there knew your relationship to those two, they would probably kneel in front of you all day."

"Then why aren't you?"

"Because no matter what identity you have, you are still Old Li to me." The librarian ruffled his head. "What was that for?"

"No reason. Say, want to marry into my family? I would love to boast about my grandson-in-law when you become someone great."

"And be with people as crazy and weird as you? No thanks." He turned around and went to find manuals that he liked.

"Hey! That's rude," he replied. "Annoying brat. Who asked you to be in my family anyway? Hmph."

Looking around, Li Wei found everything he was looking for. He got one body training technique, two cultivation techniques, and one martial technique. The body training technique was called the Black Panther Mimic Art which allows the user to mimic the movements of a Black Panther and train the body to copy their agility. It was a mid-primary technique. Observing how one moved helps this skill progress much faster and the user might even surpass the art; It all depended on comprehension. This was very doable since Black Panthers are one of the only peaceful beasts that remain neutral towards humans unless they get threatened or aggravated.

The first cultivation technique Li Wei picked up was of the low-primal ranking called the Spirit Refinement Method. It essentially creates a weaker version of the Divine Sense that cultivators gain at the Yellow Realm and it also enhances the five major senses of the body. While it's very useful in the White Realm and in the Red Realm, it becomes quite useless in realms beyond them. It was also one of the more time-consuming techniques because he or she has to discover the sixth sense and use it as second nature. By having this sixth sense, a cultivator will be able to gather Qi up to three to five times the usual amount with other cultivation techniques on top.

As for the other one, it was a peak-normal cultivation technique called the Sword Gate Visualization Art. This technique utilizes the relationship between humans and weapons. When the visualization art is active and the cultivator created a sword gate, the sword responds to its master by gathering Qi for him or her. Essentially, it is two people cultivating for one person. At a high mastery, the cultivator will be able to generate their own Sword Qi from the sword gate and use it to fight in real life. The more clear and accurate the sword gate is the more its Qi collection rate increases. This technique is the first part of the Sword Structure Visualization Series and there are four other parts available. The whole package is currently possessed by the Sword Saintess of the Jia Empire. Coincidentally, she is the wife of the Frost Monarch.

Last but not least, his martial technique. It was called the Bear Strike. It had two claw moves and one palm move. Once the cultivator has mastered this, the hands of him or her will become tougher and sharper. The nails would temporarily grow and reach a power level where anyone below the 7th stage of the White Realm will be minced by one attack. Since Li Wei has mastered the Strong Fist, the Bear Strike technique will nearly equal an ordinary 4th stage Red Realm cultivator.

"You're breaking quite a few rules you know by letting me borrow this much." Li Wei said as he used a chair to put the books on the counter.

"So? What will the headmaster and his wife do to me? Fire me? I am in the 9th stage of the Deep-Blue realm while Miss Lu is in the middle stages of the Blue realm and the Headmaster is in the late Green realm. I am stronger than both of them combined."

Li Wei's expression changed. "I'm a little bit confused. Can you explain the realms to me? The library only provided information up to the Green Realm. Anything above that is new to me."

"Sure. I'll start from the beginning. There are eight realms that we know of so far. From lowest to highest, it's White, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Dark-Blue, and Violet. Each has nine stages in between each one. Every realm you reach, you gain more power physically, mentally, and spiritually. Using our Mark typing, we practice cultivation techniques that support it because it has been proven to increase the output of power and effectiveness. For example, a person with a fire-type Mark that practices medicine will never be as good a person with a plant-type or nature-type Mark who doesn't practice medicine. It's just how it works. That's why there are many different cultivation methods available. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, it does. Thank you."

"No problem. It's just...you don't seem bothered by the fact that I am in the Deep-Blue Realm," he stated.

"Why should I? I knew you were strong, but your information just made it clear as to how strong. Is there a reason that I should be afraid of you?" Librarian Li blinked.

"You sure are fearless."

Li Wei shrugged. "I've always been like this. It's not my problem. I do have a question though." The Librarian sipped his drink. "Is there any time-type cultivation method?" Right after he finished his words, the elderly man choked on his water and coughed roughly.

"You...have a time-type Mark?" Li Wei nodded. "Oh boy. I've never heard of such a type before. I could've helped you if it was a phoenix or even death, but time? You're the first case. What's your innate skill?"

"It gives me access to a dimension where time flows twice as fast so I can train twice as much as anyone else," Li Wei explained.

"Oh, Creator. Why give him all these benefits! Why not me!?" He rubbed his head. "Since you're only in the White Realm, that skill will definitely upgrade and most likely increase the time flow," Librarian Li muttered to himself. "Do you age faster or something? Surely an incredible skill like that gives consequences."

Li Wei thought about it. "Well...it only depends on my stamina. As long as I am not fatigued, I can use it indefinitely. Due to my completion of the Basic Qi Cultivation Techniques 1 and 2, I have more than enough stamina to even spend the night there. With my natural stamina recovery rate, I can easily use up to 35 hours of my day. Too bad the other 13 hours are wasted on me restoring my stamina."

Librarian Li felt his mouth going dry. Shocked was too low-level of a word to describe his mental state. Along with it were small bits of jealousy and happiness. During his time in the sect, he has grown quite fond of the child who easily beats him in chess. If anything, he was very grateful that Li Wei had such a godly skill. This way, he can protect himself even better and Librarian Li could worry less. Naturally, jealousy came too due to the fact that he might've been able to accomplish more in his life if he himself had it. He wondered how much positive karma Li Wei accumulated in his past life to have all this. So unfair.