Body Cultivation

There's an array surrounding the library, only allowing access through the entrance.

How am I supposed to get in?

...

I shake my head to throw the thought away, I decide not to rely on my system and save my points.

I look around, there's an elevated rocky terrain around the library, blocking the sight of guards. On the roof is a tile loose from mould, I pull the tile out.

Although the guards cannot detect me, I am still visible.

I jump down and sneak near the library. Stairs lead up to the platform with the library, I hide behind the stairs.

At an angle where they can't see my hand, I throw the roof tile at the rocky terrain.

*Pinng!!*

!?

The instance all of them turn their head to look at the tile, I dash inside the library.

???

"What the... Who threw this, an intruder? I will go patrol the premises, be on high alert." Says the guard who picked the tile up.

"Sure."

I breathe once inside. Rows after rows of bookshelves are neatly arranged in the library tower, at the end of the room are stairs leading up.

The conditions of the books here are tattered, I walk up the stairs.

Each level has the same layout with the only difference being how the books are placed. On some levels, I can see books being stacked on the floor. On others, the bookshelves barely have any books remaining.

The books are in better condition the higher I go, the covers also frequently change colour, from blue, purple, to yellow.

Once I deem myself to be at the last level of the tower, I realise it is small and has one table and 3 books. All 3 books are black.

Flipping through the books, each page emits different fluctuations of qi...

The names of the techniques go as follows: Ning Jing Arts, Xi Mo Li, and Long Zhi Li.

I pocket the three books as well as all the martial arts in the library before preparing to escape, the glow of the symbols drawn on the talisman is diminishing, I need to hurry.

-----------------------------

"*Yawns* I wish I can get into the Nascent Soul Realm, I wouldn't need to sleep and suffer from these dark eyebags." one of the guards outside the library groaned.

"Good luck, you should be glad that we are even in the Core Formation realm." His fellow guard replied.

While they are busy chatting, I tighten the cloth on my face and run out of the library.

!!!

"Wait, what was that?"

"What?"

"I think I saw something moved out of the library??"

...

"Are you starting to have hallucinations from sleep deprivation? I can't detect any intruders nearby."

"M-Maybe..."

I heave a sigh of relief, these talismans must be incredibly expensive; that old Patriarch is very desperate to adopt Li Ruo into their family... 

The training area has cracked at every corner with most of their equipment poorly damaged, the walls have dark patches at the corner and it smells terrible here. They are losing influence and wealth in addition to talents with the eldest son of the Xi family crippled.

I smile.

Now, with every one of their martial arts stolen, there is no way they can make a comeback and survive while I get to make money selling it. At the same time, I wouldn't need to worry about them attempting to take revenge, killing two birds with one stone.

I make my escape before the effects of the talisman disappear.

-------------------------------

The talisman breaks into two when I step out of Jiangxi, I can sense Li Ruo nearby.

I jump onto a tree to scout the area before noticing Li Ruo behind a rock. 

"There she is..."

I leap to the rock.

"EEK!"

She jounced back, startled by my sudden entrance. "Ah, it's master," she says.

"Let's go, our next destination will be Nielong."

I pass the pouch to Li Ruo but it dips violently to the ground, crashing into the dirt that splattered on our feet. Li Ruo attempts to pick the small, light-looking pouch but can't do so.

Ah, I see. Although this pouch is small and can conveniently hold large volumes of items, the weight of valuables contributes to the weight of the pouch, Cultivators like me do not have a problem carrying it nonetheless but Li Ruo is a mortal.

I pick up the pouch myself and gave Li Ruo a bag filled with food before setting off to NieLong.

I managed to stop a passing carriage travelling from Jiangxi to NieLong. However, the driver glares at Li Ruo. "I don't mind giving you a ride but..." He says.

I place 3 silver coins beside him.

!

He smiles. "I will make an exception, be thankful to your master, dirty beast." He scoffed at Li Ruo as we both gets on his carriage. Boxes are stacked after boxes in the back, he seems to be a merchant.

"Hyah!" The carriage starts to move along the Rocky Road. Li Ruo attempts to squeeze between two boxes opposite my seat.

Strange enough, I feel lethargic but not fatigued. The guards back at Xi's residence mentioned that high cultivators do not sleep and according to Choi Inyoung, it is due to them having difficulties falling asleep. Sleeping is a great way to heal mentally thus many cultivators lose their sanity eventually.

I flip through the three 'best' books I stole. Long Zhi Li is a ferocious martial technique that strikes like a dragon, however, compared to Sword of Reign, it is nothing but trash.

From the pictures and words describing each movement, it seems to be the technique Bai Ming used to destroy the falling tower a few hours ago. But she comprehended merely one-third of the technique.

Ning Jing Arts is a Cultivation technique that soothes the mind and sends it into a tranquil state. Every distraction will be cut and the ability to absorb Qi increases. Useless to me.

The last one, Xi Mo Li, emits the strongest qi. It is the body cultivation technique.

I turn the pages.

Absorbing Qi and directly using it to enhance and refine the muscles. That is the gist of the first part.

Oh! There is a step by step illustration!

I attempt to absorb Qi, an excruciating pain that immediately jolts and stops the entire process.

Huff huff...

Even the most ordinary mortal has meridians and meridians are the bridge to using Qi. Instinctively, when one absorbs Qi, the Qi will go through the meridians.

But as for me... I need to directly assimilate Qi into my flesh.

I take a deep breath before attempting again.

...

It's starting to work, I need to focus on my entire body and simultaneously assimilate the Qi. Several times, there are splashes of pain here and there but it was endurable.

I stabilise my breathing and close my eyes after familiarising myself. My efficiency in absorbing Qi increases and focus peaks.

...

When I open my eyes, the sun is rising.

A large hologram pops up.

---------------------

Due to the presence of "Li Ruo", your comprehension of Xi Mo Li increased and its effects are doubled.

The current stage of Body Cultivation:

Muscle Refinement Stage 2

---------------------

My body feels much lighter and my lethargy disappeared.

Something irritating is trying to escape from my body, it has congregated in my fingers and is about to leak out.

!??

I place my hand outside of the carriage when black goo starts to drip out from my nails. After a while, it stops and I feel much better. My hand stinks.

Are those impurities in my body? To think cultivating the body will force those out.

Li Ruo is sleeping peacefully with her head rested on the box.

We are already in the mountainous region, Mount Hua Xi, where Nielong and XianFei reside.

I walk and sat on a box behind the driver. "Brother, why are you going to Nielong?" I say.

"Are you new around here? Cities in Mount Hua Xi are celebrating the spring festival 3 days later to welcome the spring. I am delivering ingredients for feasts."

"I see, seeing that brother has so many crates of ingredients. Is it the best time for profit right now?"

He smiles. "Oh yes, everyone is selling different delicacies and they will expect a lot of visitors."

"Do you mind telling me what everyone does during the spring festival?" I ask.

He gave me a confused look. "The spring festival here is the same as every other spring festival held across the country. Do you come from a place not celebrating the spring festival?"

"I came from the mountains, avoiding civilisation and only set out to explore the world at this age," I reply.

"That makes sense. Uhh, let's see... People dance, eat, sing, and do some other stuff. I don't know, I make money during the festival, not attend it." The driver says.

Haha...

What amazing timing. With this festival, I won't even need 20 days to hit 300k infections. I might even go beyond that.