I preferred a weapon like a glaive over a classic sword. It had a longer reach and was also much more versatile in an aggressive style of combat which I preferred. But, considering that I didn’t have all that much experience with either of them, I should probably get a manual or something to learn a few moves.

The library in the Inner Sect was a building of wood and stone, and if I’m not mistaken, the structure was a pagoda. It certainly looked like it with those multiple roofs, one for each floor. However, unlike those massive structures I have seen back on Earth, this one had only two upper floors. Most likely only stuff for Inner and Outer Disciples.

It was my first time going there, so I was curious to see how stuff there worked.

After I came closer to the library, the elegance of the Sect revealed itself. The paved path was nice and even, the gray rock flat and polished, and at its edges, on the other side of rainwater channels, massive blocks of white limestone, half buried in the ground had decorative carvings and reliefs on them, breaking the monotony of stone.

At the front desk of the library pagoda sat a Disciple. Inner Disciple judging by his bluish-gray clothes. He was busy writing something in a book with a quill as I entered.

He lifted his head at the sound of my steps, appearing mildly surprised. It’s probably because it was still early and most other Disciples were still at work.

“Hello, Junior Brother. How can I be of service?” He offered his help.

What was I even looking for? I wasn’t even sure myself. I had to think… [Good morning, Senior Brother! I’d like to find some manuals about glaive techniques.] Elegance and cupped fists, as per protocol.

“Glaive techniques, huh? You are going to find those at the fifth row in the back.” He pointed at a room adjacent to the front hall where he sat.

Apparently, there was nothing else to do. Nothing to pay? Alright then.

[Thank you, Senior Brother.] I cupped my fists again and entered the room full of… wooden tablets? Wtf? Where were the books? Or paper scrolls?

I took one of the tablets the size of my spread-out palm.

It had the words Martial Art written on top of it. Below was the name Fiery Fist, and even further down was a short description.

[The Fiery Fist channels the Essence of Fire, transferring its destructive force into the opponent all at once with one powerful strike.]

That was it. A very vague description that didn’t mean much to me without extra context. What the hell was the Essence or Fire? No fucking clue. Onto the next one.

[Martial Art, Cold Snap. Channels Essence of Ice, applying debilitating freeze burns upon contact. Requires Jade Skin to use and resist the cold.] Another odd one. Basically, freezing the enemy when you punch them? Okay then…

I moved away from the hand-to-hand combat section and went to check out the other shelves.

[Martial Art, Imitation of Stone. Channels the Essence of the Earth to harden the body, going beyond the resistance of mere flesh, becoming like granite. Minor movement penalty.]

Oh, so this was something like my Stone Body? Interesting…

Beside it was another tablet, this one with the name Imitation of Metal written on it. I could guess this one was similar to my Iron Body which was the foundation for the Elemental Avatar. These things were all among the basic techniques it seemed. They were called Combat Arts in Neloron, but I guess the name Martial Arts suited them as well.

Let me see now… Martial Arts for weapons…

Ah, here we go, glaive techniques!

[Immolation Blade, Glaive Martial Art. A technique focusing on aggression and power to overwhelm opponents with superior strength and speed. Requires the inclination towards swift and aggressive combat. Can be further enhanced with Essence of Fire.]

Raw power.

[Gale Strikes, Glaive Martial Art. Untouchable like the air, and agile as the wind, the glaive strikes with elegance and speed while avoiding retaliation. Suitable for those with an inclination towards the Essence of Wind.]

Speed and agility.

[Moon Veil, Glaive Martial Art. Focused on misdirection and illusions, these techniques are designed to deceive the opponent, leaving him open for a fatal strike. Can be further enhanced by the Essence of Light.]

Illusions...

Well, these were all well and good, but I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted.

After dying so pathetically, getting my heart and brain obliterated, I came to realize that strength meant nothing if you couldn’t keep it. What did it matter if you had wealth and power if a single blade could take your life in an instant?

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Defense. The ability to survive should be my top priority. Since I have gained a chance at a second life, I should cherish it. As long as I could live long enough, everything else could be obtained.

Some might call it cowardly and boring, saying that I’m afraid of death. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I do not fear death, for, after death, there is nothing. No pain, no suffering, but also, no fun.

I love life, that’s why I decided to live it to the fullest and for as long as possible! I picked up a wooden tablet that caught my eye from the very beginning.

[Living Fortress, Glaive Martial Art. Focused completely on defense, the glaive can turn from a sword to a shield. With its long reach and ease of manipulation, it can block and deflect even the strongest of blows. Pulling upon the Essence of Earth, it can make the warrior into an unmovable fortress of flesh, made to endure and survive.]

This is exactly what I needed, a Martial Art to resist all others.

As I made my way back out of the room, I noticed another shelf with interesting tablets. They weren’t Martial Arts, but instead breathing techniques.

I checked a few of them, and as far as I could understand, they helped in enhancing an Element and changing the Essence of the body, making it more pronounced and in tune with nature.

But, one of them was different.

[Turtle Breathing Technique. Manipulation of Qi is the essence of Cultivation. Countless different paths lead to countless different outcomes. The Turtle Breathing Technique focuses on permanently strengthening the body, skin, flesh, and bone. Requires Spirit Accumulation Realm to begin.]

Well, well, well… A way to passively enhance my defense? Yes, please!

I took the tablet and went to the front desk where the Senior Disciple was doing his thing.

[Hello, Senior Brother.] I was polite as always.

“Ah, it’s you again, Junior Brother. Did you get what you wanted?”

[I have. I chose these two… But, what do I do with them?] I couldn’t learn much from that piece of wood, so there had to be something else.

Senior Disciple took my two tablets and looked at them.

“Hmm, I see… Two at once, huh? I suggest you just learn one at once, it’s going to be hard enough.”

[Thank you, senior Brother, but I would like to try them both.] I insisted.

“Well, suit yourself… The price remains the same though, 1 SSS per hour for each manual.” He then opened a drawer beside him and took out two keys. “Here, take them. And have fun reading.”

I was just about to ask what the hell was I supposed to do with two keys when the wall beside the front desk split open and revealed a hallway leading underground.

As I entered, the wall automagically closed back behind me, and small braziers on the walls sprang to life, giving out a gentle blue light that came from piles of crystals inside.

I went along the hallway, going underground in a gradual spiral until I came to an opening. There I was met with a grand hall. Walls full of small metal doors like those personal deposit boxes in a bank. Each of them was numbered, and corresponded to a key.

They were most likely under layers of magic formations, so I didn’t even try to peer into the contents inside. I have learned my lesson.

I glanced at the numbers on my keys and went to find the proper lock. It didn’t take long, five minutes at most as I needed a few moments to orient myself.

After opening, the only thing inside was a sealed bamboo tube containing a long scroll. I took both of them and went to sit at one of the long rows of tables that were in the hall. A few Disciples were already there, intensely reading and trying to commit the scrolls to memory.

The hall was absolutely quiet, and after soaking in the sights, I also lowered my head and began reading.

I did not expect what was to come. The technique inside was so stuffed full of fluff that I felt the urge to vomit. The explanations were vague, sometimes had double meanings, and overall a pain in the ass to understand. As I looked at the other Disciples again, I noticed some of them struggling as sweat poured down their brows as they were trying to decipher what the hell they were reading.

It’s almost as if the one writing these manuals had only a vague idea of what the hell he was even trying to say, and was completely clueless as to how a sentence should be structured. Something I figured might actually have been the case.

They were just for the lower ranks of Disciples. Why waste effort on them, right? Fucking hell!

I eventually began understanding the concepts behind these cryptic words after I reread the scroll a few times. Though, some expressions still eluded my understanding. A difference in culture, I suppose.

For example, there is this one sentence. [… as an Ebra on a warm summer night, battling the Apil.]

Anyone got a clue what the hell this was supposed to mean?! What the hell is an Ebra?! What the hell is Apil?! I can only guess it’s some kind of animal, but I have never heard of either of them! What kind of movement should my glaive do if I don’t know what the manual is saying?

Fortunately, some pictures in the manual demonstrated the moves, but I still needed to expand my knowledge if I wanted to keep learning like this.

Luckily the other manual, the Turtle Breathing Technique, was much clearer and I figured it out almost immediately.

It was just describing how Qi should flow through the body to strengthen the cells. It was something I have done in the Before, but just because it felt nice. I didn’t experience any benefits other than a relaxed body.

But then this thing was saying that Qi flowing through the body will strengthen it by itself? I don’t even have to do anything and my strength will increase over time. Okay?

I guess the few months in the Before weren’t enough for me to notice any changes, huh? That’s how the beasts become stronger over time, I guess? Apart from eating other living beings, of course.

But then I read the rest of the manual and found out that deliberate practice can speed up this effect, and mindful guidance can influence the results as well.

So basically, I had to guide the natural effects in the direction I wanted, and this manual showed me how to achieve greater durability of my body. Cool!

It was about two hours when I decided I have learned enough and left the hall after depositing the scrolls back in their place.

As the wall opened before me and I stepped back out, the Disciple there looked at me and then at the clock on the wall opposite to him.

“Two hours and two manuals. 4 SSS.”

It was a bit wasteful to do it the way I did it, but I didn’t care. I was switching between the two anyway to find some clues, so it was worth it.

I handed over the small white crystal shards, each of them exactly the same as the rest, and returned the keys.

I then went, with the memories still fresh in my mind, and found a shop selling some ink and paper. Buying an entire stack for 1 SSS was an excellent deal and it would last me quite a while.

Returning back home I immediately put my mind to paper, creating a perfect copy of those manuals. Not a word was out of place. Well, except for where I changed the wording to make it more legible, which was pretty much everywhere in the Living Fortress manual.

Yes, yes, sarcasm was fun.