Boom!
The explosions continued getting louder and louder each time as debris flew across the mountain.
Shi Yao bit into his fish on a stick, eyes narrowed at the distant flashes of light bursting across a neighboring peak. The wind kicked up again, ruffling his hair and robes.
"Master, what's going on? Where are these explosions coming from?" he asked.
Rui Feng sat nearby on a log, calmly chewing his own fish.
"Looks like those old farts are sparring again," he replied as he rotated his fish over the flames.
Shi Yao nodded, glancing back toward the mountain.
He took another bite of his fish—
Crunch.
He blinked and looked down. Nothing but stick.
> "Where did my fish go...?"
He turned toward his master, suspicion already rising.
Rui Feng was still munching like nothing happened.
Shi Yao faced him.
"You're the one who took my fish just now, right?"
"Of course not. I haven't even finished mine. How could I eat yours?"
Shi Yao narrowed his eyes.
"Stop lying. I know you took it."
Rui Feng smirked. "Prove it then."
[Shi Yao muttering under his breath, turning away slightly]
> "Unbelievable… Steals my fish right in front of me and acts like he's innocent. What kind of master does that?"
He glanced back subtly. Rui Feng was still munching like nothing happened.
Shi Yao let out a sigh, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves.
Rui Feng quickly finished his fish and stood up. With a snap of his fingers, his clothes shimmered and transformed into a flowing silver and blue robe adorned with celestial trim. His hair tied into a ponytail, and side bangs neatly framed his face.
"By the way, when you won the sect competition, you were told to go to the first floor of the library to select a martial art, right?"
Shi Yao looked up at him.
"Yeah, I forgot there was something like that... wait a minute, you're trying to change the subject."
Before he could react, the world twisted.
WHOOSH!
Shi Yao found himself standing in front of the towering first floor of the library.
[Library Entrance]
Rui Feng tossed Shi Yao's jade token to the guard outside. "He's here to choose a martial art for himself."
He grabbed Shi Yao by the collar, still confused, and prepared to drag him inside.
A voice rang out.
"Stop. Only Shi Yao can enter. Don't try to break the rules."
Rui Feng frowned.
"Elder Li, you are so boring. Can't you just let me go in with him?"
"No. Rules are rules."
"Tch. Fine."
Rui Feng picked up Shi Yao, who was still confused, and threw him inside the library. The massive doors shut behind him.
Shi Yao stood up, brushing himself off.
> "I can't believe that guy is even a master. He is so troublesome."
He walked through the quiet, towering shelves of the library. The air was still, filled with the scent of ink and old parchment. He picked up a book out of curiosity.
"Ball Crushing Technique."
> "What the hell kind of sect stores this stuff?!"
He continued browsing.
"Screaming Thunder Palm of Celibacy."
> "…Thunder and celibacy? What kind of combo attack is that supposed to be?"
"Grandmother's Nine-Finger Death Hug."
> "No way that's even real martial arts. That sounds like something someone wrote out of spite."
He sighed and kept walking.
> "Is this really the sect's treasure trove or some old pervert's punishment collection?"
Eventually, something pulsed from the shadows — a scroll hovering quietly, with no flair.
"Void Grasp Art."
> "Hmm, sounds cool. What can it do?"
He opened the scroll and browsed through its content.
> "So it's basically telekinesis. Well, it's better than a sword technique."
A mischievous grin tugged at his lips.
> "If those Discord mods on Earth had skills like this, the world would have been in a bad condition."
[Library Exit]
Shi Yao left the library with the book and walked up to Elder Li, dropping the scroll on the table.
"I'll choose this skill."
Elder Li looked at him reluctantly.
"Are you sure you want to take this skill? Many people in the past tried learning it but failed. Even the best with talents and riches failed to master it."
Shi Yao looked him in the eye.
"Yeah, I'll still take it."
Elder Li paused before signing and looked up again.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I just want to confirm, are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure—"
Annoyance flashed on Shi Yao's face.
> "Can you just sign the book, old man?!"
Elder Li sighed and signed the scroll.
As Shi Yao turned to leave, Elder Li tossed his jade token back at him.
"Kid, don't forget your token. Without this, you won't survive in the sect."
Shi Yao caught it and nodded.
The moment everything was finished, Rui Feng appeared beside him, grabbed his collar, and jumped upward.
"Well, time to go back then."
> "Not again!"