Cultivation Nerd (xianxia)

Chapter 5 – I Like Turtles

Chapter 5 - I Like Turtles

"So you're still around here looking for some new techniques?" asked the librarian, a friendly smile gracing his face.

A week had passed since I learned the Rushing Bull Step. Despite that, I made it a habit to visit the library daily, pouring over texts and absorbing knowledge before my training sessions. While mastering many Mortal Grade techniques was a waste of time, reading about them didn't waste too much time and was my way of giving myself a break.

Who knows, maybe this knowledge about Mortal Grades techniques would be useful when fighting against someone who used them.

Progress with the Rushing Bull Step remained reasonable, as expected. Yet, the challenge of mastering it and devising countermeasures against its straightforwardness was exhilarating. However, I struggled with its backlash; I couldn't use it more than three times a day, and even that was pushing it as I no longer would be able to walk for a couple of hours.

Nonetheless, it was good training for my legs, and I wasn't complaining. Yet, unless I miraculously achieved an eight-star or nine-star Body Tempering, that limit wouldn't budge.

"I'm

Shrugging off my needless curiosity, I exited the library, excited to unravel the secrets of the new technique.

*******

Xin Ma removed his glasses, observing the young boy's departure. He polished the lenses, his gaze shifting toward the goat-bearded old "janitor" Shan Sha, a frown etching his features.

He felt tempted to confront Shan Sha immediately, yet he restrained his emotions. Several disciples still lingered in the library.

Hours slipped by, the sun dipping toward the horizon. The library emptied, with Shan Sha only ascending upstairs for tea refills.

"How did a book from the second floor end up here?" Xin Ma inquired calmly.

"What are you talking about?" Shan Sha feigned innocence, his fingers grazing his goat-like beard.

"I saw the book the kid had. That's not something from the first floor. Do you take me for a fool, old friend?" Xin Ma pressed. "What you've done violates the library's codes I oversee. Why jeopardize our friendship like this?"

Shan Sha met his gaze, embodying the stubbornness often associated with his moniker, Goat Geezer. "I'm just an old man who sometimes misplaces things."

"You misplaced something an entire floor down?" Xin Ma raised a skeptical brow. "You're only permitted to fetch tea from the second floor. You weren't authorized to handle the books."

No ordinary servant would have access to items on the second floor without explicit consent. While Shan Sha's demeanor was cantankerous, he had always been trustworthy and had never acted out in this manner before.

Yet, Shan Sha's actions endangered his life.

There was little they could do about the youngster, as instances of disciples discovering martial manuals not belonging on the first floor weren't uncommon. Disciples were permitted to learn techniques from these books before they were returned to the second floor. Such rules governed the discovery of materials by disciples.

However, Shan Sha would face severe consequences if his transgression came to light.

"If the Judgment Hall decrees death as my punishment, so be it. I have only a few years left at best," Shan Sha declared, effectively acknowledging his wrongdoing.

Xin Ma replaced his glasses. "I won't disclose this in light of our longstanding friendship. But understand that it strains our relationship. Should you repeat this offense, I'll personally advocate for the maximum penalty from the Judgment Hall."

"Thank the ancestors! This turned out better than I feared. I don’t want to die just yet," the old man breathed a sigh of relief, sinking back into his chair.

It appeared his bravery earlier had been more facade than substance.

"Also, just to clarify, I left the book for the kid to stumble upon. I never explicitly handed it to him. If he hadn't noticed it, I wouldn't have pointed it out. The book would've remained there for someone else to find," the old man explained.

"Ah, yes. Concealing the book in the section where we house most of the Mortal Grade defensive techniques. But you're assuming the youngster, who we know meticulously covers all his bases and isn't swayed by flashy names, would miss it," Xin Ma sighed. "Let's be honest, you practically served that martial technique book to him on a silver platter. You knew he'd find it."

The old man shrugged, showing little inclination to dispute the accusation. "It'll give him a headstart against those born into more favorable circumstances. He's a good kid, and it'd be a shame to see him fall behind just because he lacks the Blazing Sun Sect's lineage."

"He has his own clan, don't forget that. He's not some resource-poor mortal," Xin Ma reminded.

"Yes, but I chose to assist him regardless," the old man sipped his tea. "Just think of this as a lucky encounter for the kid."

"Except there was no luck involved," the librarian interjected.

Shan Sha shrugged once more, taking another sip of tea. Xin Ma couldn't help but sigh.

It seemed the kid had won over his old friend simply by bringing him tea, despite there being free tea refills on the second floor.

No wonder someone like Shan Sha hadn't progressed far in cultivation. He was too driven by emotion in Xin Ma's estimation. Yet, that was also why he enjoyed the old Shan Sha's company and would forgive him for this lapse. Few cultivators were as genuine as Shan Sha.

********

I stood atop a boulder in the forest, engrossed in the intricacies of my newfound defensive technique.

How had such a remarkable technique ended up on the first floor? It felt like a stroke of luck, the first time I could genuinely call myself fortunate in both of my lives.

It was akin to hitting the jackpot!

Despite being a mortal-grade technique, Turtle Shell Body far surpassed those typically found on the first floor. It was a passive martial technique designed to gradually enhance the body's defensive capabilities, addressing a significant issue I faced. I struggled with using three techniques simultaneously, a feat made difficult by the Rushing Bull Steps and Piercing Fang Fist combination. However, Turtle Shell Body was a passive technique that would permanently increase my body's durability, promising to mitigate the strain and damage to my legs after each use of Rushing Bull Steps and Piercing Fang Fist once mastered.

Yet, there was one peculiar requirement for practicing this technique.

"I need to get a turtle."

However, turtles were not commonly sold in the Sect's Market. There might be Monstrous Beast parts, pills, and other things I didn't need. For the first time since maybe ever, it was inconvenient the Sect's market only sold cultivation-related things.

Moreover, finding a turtle within the Sect's grounds presented its own challenges, as most animals had been purged out of fear they might evolve into Monstrous Beasts.

With this realization, the next step in my plans became clear.

I had to travel to a nearby mortal town and buy a turtle.