The sun had already risen when Yi Feng arrived at the Martial Pavilion.
Unlike the Mission Hall, the pavilion was relatively quiet.
Rows of shelves filled the enormous room, with cultivation manuals, martial techniques, body-tempering arts, and sword techniques neatly arranged on them.
Yi Feng looked around.
"If I want to become stronger, I need to understand cultivation first."
During his time as a slave, he had only known that cultivating essence could make him stronger.
He had never understood the system behind it.
He walked toward a shelf marked:
Cultivation Techniques — Outer Disciple
Yi Feng picked up a thin manual.
Basic Qi Refinement Technique
He opened it.
After reading for a while, his expression gradually became serious.
"So that's how it works."
Cultivation techniques weren't all the same.
They were divided into grades according to the quality of essence they could produce.
At the lowest level were Barely Low-Grade techniques.
Above them were:
Low Grade
Middle Grade
High Grade
Earth Grade
Heaven Grade
And beyond Heaven Grade were realms that the manual didn't explain.
Yi Feng continued reading.
A higher-grade cultivation technique didn't necessarily allow someone to advance faster.
Its greatest advantage was the quality of the essence it produced.
The purer the essence, the stronger and more stable it would be.
Two cultivators at the same cultivation stage could therefore possess completely different combat strength.
Yi Feng suddenly remembered his battle in the Blackwind Forest.
The three robbers had been at higher stages than him.
Yet their attacks hadn't been as powerful as he expected.
"Their cultivation techniques..."
He understood.
They were using Barely Low-Grade techniques.
Their cultivation stages were higher, but the essence they produced was crude and inefficient.
Compared with the essence produced by the Life and Death Art, the difference was enormous.
Yi Feng's expression became thoughtful.
"So that's why I could fight people at the same stage so easily."
It wasn't because his cultivation realm was meaningless.
It was because the Life and Death Art gave him an advantage in essence quality.
But that advantage had limits.
If his opponent's cultivation was one stage higher, he might still be able to fight.
Two stages?
That would be extremely difficult.
And if the opponent possessed a cultivation technique far superior to his own...
He might lose even against someone at the same stage.
Yi Feng closed the manual.
"I can't underestimate anyone simply because their cultivation is lower than mine."
He looked at the Life and Death Art.
There was no grade written anywhere on it.
Not even the lowest classification.
"Unknown Grade..."
Until he learned more about cultivation techniques, he wouldn't assume how powerful it really was.
He placed the Life and Death Art back inside his storage bag.
For now, there was no reason to investigate it.
He had more immediate problems.
"I need to strengthen my body."
His essence was already powerful.
But his physical body couldn't keep up with it.
If he encountered someone capable of breaking through his defenses, all that powerful essence wouldn't matter.
Yi Feng began searching through the body cultivation manuals.
After some time, he found one.
Iron Body Art
Grade: Low Grade
Type: Body Cultivation
The technique used essence to repeatedly temper the muscles, bones and skin.
Yi Feng read through the manual carefully.
It wasn't particularly profound, but it was exactly what he needed.
He took it to the counter.
"How much?"
The pavilion attendant looked at the manual.
"Fifty contribution points."
Yi Feng handed over his contribution token.
80 → 30
He didn't hesitate.
"Worth it."
He then walked toward the sword technique section.
There were dozens of manuals.
Yi Feng carefully examined them.
He didn't want a technique that looked powerful but consumed too much essence.
After some consideration, he selected two.
Wind Chasing Sword
A sword technique that focused on speed and continuous attacks.
Mountain Breaking Sword
A sword technique that concentrated power into a single destructive strike.
Both were Low Grade.
Each cost ten contribution points.
Yi Feng now had only ten points remaining.
He stared at the remaining contribution points.
"Poor already."
The attendant laughed.
"That's the life of a new disciple."
Yi Feng smiled.
"Then I'll just earn more."
He put the manuals away and left.
Back at his residence, Yi Feng placed the three manuals on the table.
Iron Body Art.
Wind Chasing Sword.
Mountain Breaking Sword.
He looked at them.
These techniques weren't particularly powerful.
But they were his first real foundation.
The Life and Death Art could strengthen his essence.
The Iron Body Art could strengthen his physical defense.
The sword techniques could improve his combat ability.
For the first time, Yi Feng felt that his cultivation path was becoming clearer.
He walked into the courtyard.
Then he sat down.
He began practicing the Iron Body Art.
Essence flowed through his body.
A sharp pain immediately spread through his muscles.
"Ah!"
Yi Feng gritted his teeth.
The technique wasn't simply about circulating essence.
It repeatedly pushed the body beyond its limits, forcing the muscles and bones to adapt.
Sweat covered his forehead.
His breathing became heavier.
But he didn't stop.
"Again."
Another circulation.
The pain became stronger.
"Again."
Another.
Several hours passed.
Eventually, Yi Feng opened his eyes.
He clenched his fist.
His body felt slightly heavier.
Stronger.
The improvement wasn't huge.
But he could feel the difference.
A smile appeared on his face.
"So this is body cultivation."
He stood up.
Then he drew his sword.
SHING!
The ancient blade reflected the sunlight.
Nothing strange happened.
No mysterious aura.
No strange voice.
Just a sword.
Yi Feng took a deep breath.
He began practicing the Wind Chasing Sword.
Whoosh!
His sword moved forward.
He repeated the first movement.
Again.
And again.
His first attempts were clumsy.
His footwork didn't match the sword.
His movements were too stiff.
Yi Feng stopped.
He frowned.
"Again."
He started over.
This time, he focused on his feet.
The sword followed.
Whoosh!
Better.
He continued.
The afternoon gradually turned into evening.
By the time the sun disappeared behind the mountains, Yi Feng was drenched in sweat.
He lowered his sword.
His arms were trembling.
But there was excitement in his eyes.
He had finally realized something.
Cultivation wasn't simply about finding treasures and breaking through.
It was about building strength little by little.
No miraculous fruit.
No sudden inheritance.
No lucky encounter.
Just effort.
Yi Feng looked toward the distant mountains.
"I'll become stronger."
Elsewhere in the outer disciple area, another young man was also cultivating.
Zhao Ming sat cross-legged inside his residence.
A sword lay across his knees.
He slowly opened his eyes.
His cultivation had reached the third stage of Qi Gathering.
He looked at his hand.
Then at the sword beside him.
"Still not enough."
Zhao Ming stood.
He wasn't satisfied.
He had heard about Yi Feng's performance during the sect selection.
He had also seen his battle in the Blackwind Forest.
Yi Feng was clearly talented.
That made Zhao Ming excited rather than afraid.
He smiled.
"Good."
"At least I won't be bored here."
He picked up his sword.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But somewhere within the Firmament Sword Sect, two young cultivators were slowly beginning their journey.
One was searching for strength because he had once been powerless.
The other was searching for strength because he refused to be ordinary.
Their paths had only just begun.
To be continued...