My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 356: Chapter 175: Choosing a Method

”You’ve only just entered the True Essence Realm, so the highest you can go in the Scripture Pavilion for now is the second floor... Once your Cultivation increases, you’ll naturally be able to access the higher floors.”

As Zhou Xuanmo explained, the two arrived on the second floor.

The second floor was more or less the same as the first, though there were far fewer bookshelves, and even fewer people.

The people here all had calm and steady auras. When Qin Fang looked at them, he immediately sensed...

...these were the disciples who had reached the True Essence Realm.

They were also in front of the bookshelves, browsing the books and looking for something.

Just then, Qin Fang saw one of the True Essence Disciples hesitate for a moment before selecting a Secret Manual. He then tapped it with his Token.

Then, from a higher shelf, a Jade Scroll enveloped in flowing light suddenly drifted up and floated down into the disciple’s grasp.

Qin Fang was watching with curiosity when Zhou Xuanmo’s voice sounded beside him. ”The bookshelves here hold the many Root Skills and Leaf Skills collected by the Sect. The lower shelves contain brief introductions to these Root and Leaf Skills, while the Inheritance Jade Scrolls themselves are up top... After you’ve chosen a Cultivation Technique based on the introduction below, you can retrieve the corresponding Inheritance Jade Scroll...”

Realization dawned on Qin Fang.

”Of course, this isn’t free... You need Sect Contribution Points to exchange for them.”

”You received the Sect’s Divine Thought transmission... so you should know what Contribution Points are, right?”

Hearing this, Qin Fang nodded.

Of course he knew.

Sect Contribution Points, to put it bluntly... were the currency used within the Sect.

And they were far more important than ordinary money.

They represented an individual’s contribution to the Sect.

The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect was enormous. Although its resources were plentiful, so were its members. The resources required to train so many people were immense.

It was impossible to give everyone an equal share.

That wouldn’t be realistic.

It would also cause the Sect to lose its Vitality.

That was why Contribution Points were created.

There were three reasons for this.

First, to screen people. Techniques are not taught lightly, and contributions are a way to observe one’s willpower and ability.

Second, to sustain the Sect. The Sect’s operational costs are mountainous, and it can only achieve Endless Life through the disciples’ contributions.

Third, to temper oneself. It makes disciples understand that the higher you climb, the greater the cost. There is no such thing as free power in this world...

It could be said that the Contribution Point system deserved most of the credit for the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect’s ability to stand for so many years without falling.

”Good that you understand. I won’t waste any more words, then.”

Zhou Xuanmo smiled and nodded. ”However, you’re a new disciple, and the top one at that. As is tradition, you may choose one Root Skill and three Leaf Skills... These four are free. But for any advanced Cultivation Techniques or other Leaf Skills after that... you’ll have to spend your own Contribution Points.”

’One Root Skill and three Leaf Skills?’

Qin Fang’s eyes lit up.

”Yes, the Profound Water Phase Root and Leaf Skills are mostly in this area. Go find them yourself. Once you do, lightly touch the introduction with your Token to summon the Inheritance Jade Scroll... But be careful. Once you make your choice, your free picks will be used up, so don’t make a mistake. There’s one more thing to remember.”

Zhou Xuanmo’s expression turned serious. ”The Sect’s Root and Leaf Skills are strictly forbidden from being taught privately. Otherwise... the Sect will pursue the matter to the very end. For a light offense, your Martial Arts Cultivation will be crippled and you will be expelled from the Sect. For a heavy offense, you will be executed directly, and even your family may be implicated... This is an ironclad rule of the Sect. Do not take it lightly.”

Qin Fang’s expression tightened. He said respectfully, ”Yes, this disciple understands.”

This was already stated very clearly in the sect’s rules.

”Good. In that case... go take a look for yourself.”

Seeing Qin Fang’s solemn expression, Zhou Xuanmo relaxed, his smile returning. He waved his hand, gesturing for Qin Fang to go find a Cultivation Technique Manual himself, then turned and left.

Qin Fang watched Master Zhou walk away before letting out a soft breath. He then looked up at the area displaying the Water Phase Root and Leaf skills and walked over.

’I wonder... if they have the Profound Nether True Water Scripture?’

he thought to himself.

...He still couldn’t stop thinking about the Profound Nether True Water Scripture...

It was mainly because it was such a perfect fit for him, and for the Cold Cave on Old Ox Back.

He walked up to the bookshelf and began to search.

One by one, Profound Water Root Methods appeared before his eyes.

’Soft Water Qi Cultivation Technique... a Profound Water Root Technique emphasizing ”moisturizing and nourishing.” It produces a long-lasting and peaceful True Essence, with excellent future compatibility...’

’Cold Wave Bone-Eroding Strength... draws upon the Extreme Cold of water. Its True Essence is bone-chillingly frigid, specializing in slowing and corroding, with an emphasis on control and Yin Softness killing methods...’

’Thousand Mechanism Rain Transformation Technique... focuses on ”endless transformation.” The True Essence can change shape at will, becoming a gentle rain to permeate defenses or a sudden downpour to strike, making it Spiritual and versatile...’

’Flowing Cloud Water Mirror Illusion Chapter... emphasizes illusion and sensing. The True Essence is as formless as a flowing cloud, capable of disrupting others’ Perception. It can also act like a water mirror, reflecting the surrounding Qi Mechanisms. It excels at insight and confusion...’

...

He had only intended to take a quick look, but the more he read, the more engrossed he became. Just the introductions alone were an eye-opening experience for him...

’...The Profound Water Aspect has this many variations?’

He marveled internally as he continued reading, one after another...

Time trickled by.

Qin Fang became so absorbed in reading the technique introductions that he lost all track of time.

Finally, after who knows how long, a Cultivation Technique appeared before his eyes...

’Profound Nether True Water Scripture - True Essence Chapter Fragment’...

Qin Fang’s eyes instantly lit up...

’I actually found it?!’

He immediately began to read it.

”This scripture is not an ancient inheritance of our Sect. It was created over three hundred years ago by ’True Master Cold Abyss,’ a Supreme Elder of the Celestial Martial Lineage. He stumbled into the ancient ’Profound Nether Cold Abyss’ ruins within the Northern Netherworld Forbidden Land, where he sat in Contemplation for a hundred years before creating it in a single moment of Epiphany...”

The very first sentence made Qin Fang blink.

’...Celestial Martial Lineage, a Supreme Elder?’