Frost and martial arts
[You are about to enter the library. You need to pay 100 contribution points. Do you wish to enter?]
A prompt appeared as the first player stepped forward. Without hesitation, he confirmed the payment. The moment he did, a faint ripple spread through the air, and the entrance shimmered with light. He stepped through and vanished.
He Yiming followed right after, stepping into what should have been a simple library. Instead, the space expanded endlessly before him.
The wooden floors stretched for thousands of square meters, their surface polished to a perfect shine. No walls, no pillars, just an open, boundless hall. Runes flickered along the edges, shifting subtly, as if watching. The outside of the building had only hinted at its true scale. This was the work of high-tier spatial manipulation, far beyond mortal craftsmanship.
His eyes fell on two massive stone tablets standing in the center of the room. One pulsed with an icy, silvery-blue aura, while the other radiated a subtle force, as if it could shake the earth with a single tremor. Carved into the stone, ancient characters gleamed faintly.
Frost.Martial arts
He Yiming stepped forward, studying the craftsmanship. Unlike traditional jade slips, which could only be read by one person at a time, these monoliths operated differently. The moment a player touched one, a thin thread of light connected them to the stone. Their bodies stiffened slightly, then relaxed, their minds transported elsewhere.
The system had gone beyond mere technique storage. The library created an Illusionary Realm where players could visualize the skill firsthand. Spectral figures demonstrated each movement over and over again, while an ethereal voice guided them, correcting mistakes, refining their forms.
This was no ordinary training. This was personalized instruction.
He Yiming nodded in approval before placing his hand on the Martial Arts tablet.
A rush of energy flowed through him. His cultivation stirred. The next moment, he raised his palm, focusing. A thin layer of frost materialized above his hand, swirling before condensing into a palm-sized chunk of ice. It hovered for a moment before shattering into mist.
He turned to the second technique. The moment his spiritual power surged, his body responded. A thin, translucent armor wrapped around him, decorated with subtle, belligerent patterns. It flickered, the energy weaving seamlessly into his skin.
Not bad. These techniques were simple, but they had potential.
The Frost technique gathered and released freezing energy, while Martial Arts reinforced the body's defenses. They lacked complexity, its strength,layed in its adaptability. Ancient techniques were like raw, untamed forces; how far one could take them depended entirely on comprehension and refinement.
For He Yiming, these techniques wouldn't bring much improvement. But for the players? They were perfect.
As he left the stone tablets behind, the system notification rang in his mind.
The library had already earned 8,000 contribution points.
That's 80 Luck Points.
A good harvest. But his gaze darkened as he checked his progression. The jump from mid-stage to late-stage Spiritual Vein Realm required 500 points. Even with today's gains, he was still over 200 points short.
Not enough.
He glanced at the players. Dozens were scattered around the tablets, sitting cross-legged, their minds immersed in the Illusionary Realm. They were learning, absorbing knowledge at their own pace.
Knowing the players needed time to learn and master these techniques,He Yiming returned to the solitude of the main hall to stabilize his cultivation
Along the riverbank,the War Hunchback Beast no longer fell for the same tricks.They moved in cluster,wary of ambushs.Players who once farmed in ease now were helpless,except for Indomitable who's sheer strength and skill overwhelmed them.
For now, he would focus on stabilizing his cultivation.
Hours passed.
One by one, the players stirred from their trance. Some clenched their fists, feeling the new energy surging through them. Others stood up immediately, eager to test their skills outside.
Only two players remained unmoving.
Three hours passed.
Finally, one of them rose, stretching his arms. A grin spread across his face. "My frost technique is perfected!" he declared. His ID gleamed above his head,First Ice Man. With a confident stride, he left the library.
The other, Wang Lufei, remained still. His breathing slowed, his aura deepened. He was still learning.
Meanwhile, outside, the first test had already begun.
Beef Noodle stood before a War Hunchback Beast, his expression full of confidence. He raised a hand, summoning his newly learned skill.
"Frost!"
A gentle cold breeze acommpaided by a few icicles emerged, wafting toward the beast.
The War Hunchback Beast shivered slightly. Then, with an unimpressed snort, it stomped the ground twice.
Beef Noodle's face twitched.
"Alright… Plan B!"
His energy surged, activating his second technique. A faint, translucent armor wrapped around his body, its surface decorated with swirling patterns.
"Martial Arts!"
The beast grunted.
Then, it reared up and slammed its hooves down.
CRACK!
The thin armor shattered instantly. The impact sent Beef Noodle flying, his vision blurring before—
Darkness.
He blinked.
A familiar hall surrounded him.
He was back in the Resurrection Hall.
"???"
Beef Noodle stared at his hands. His skills had failed. Completely. Utterly.
"Did I learn two fake techniques…?" he muttered in disbelief.
As he stumbled out, a loud commotion drew his attention.
A crowd had gathered near the training grounds. Excited voices filled the air.
"Oh my god! That's Frost?!"
"Are we even learning the same technique?!"
"Fuck, that's insane! How did you do that?!"
Beef Noodle shoved through the crowd, his eyes widening.
Before him, another player unleashed the Frost technique. But unlike his pitiful breeze, this one erupted with jagged ice spikes, freezing a War Hunchback Beast in place.
The player smirked. "Easy."
Beef Noodle's jaw dropped.
"...WHAT?!"