Aiden walked into the bustling administrative hall the next morning and nothing had changed. Orange robed administrative hall disciples moved behind the counters, helping others with pleasant smile. One could just come here to get rid of sad thoughts or depression. Just watching people moving around could be meditative in its own way. Add a few calming incenses burning in the corner, give them a cup of hot coffee, and one would feel like visiting a counselor's office.
"Brother An, how this little one can assist you today?" The same girl who had assisted yesterday welcomed him. Her long hair was let loose on her back and shoulder, and she moved gracefully, documenting a few things with the quill and ink.
Spectral Sight
System: The target has layer six Refinement Realm cultivation and low Mental and Soul fortitude.
"Junior sister, I want to buy a battle skill. Can you tell me where can I buy them?" Aiden asked, rubbing the tip of his nose. The scent of the ink was peculiar, like the beast's blood he had smelled in the depths of the cave.
The girl gave him a strange look before bending forward. "Brother An, why are you, a red card disciple of Alchemy Hall, buying a battle skill? If someone is bullying you, then go to the Disciplinary Hall and they will take action," the girl said. "Ask for brother Kahn. He is a kind person and always helps the new disciples. But don't tell him I sent you." She gave him an assured smile that this thing had happened many times.
Aiden smiled. He could sense the kindness in this girl's heart. Not that it mattered, but if someone showed him a hint of kindness, he wouldn't just shove them away. He might have a ruthless heart, but he wasn't a psychopath.
"I absolutely can't, because I don't even know your name." Aiden chuckled.
The girl blushed. "Please forgive this junior sister. This one is called Jia Hana."
"Junior sister Jia Hana, thank you for your suggestion, but I want to purchase a battle skill and would appreciate your help in getting one."
"Senior brother An, it's not that I don't want to sell them to you, but with your alchemy hall badge, you only have limited access to the skills. Only Sword Hall or Disciplinary Hall people can buy battle skills." She hesitated.
"What bullshit is that? What if the sect is attacked and Alchemy Hall people don't have anyone to help them?" Aiden frowned.
"Then you die, or burn them to death." A large man chuckled as he shifted behind the counter and forced Jia Hana to step away.
She scowled at him, clearly itching to speak her mind, but for some unknown reason, she swallowed her retort.
Spectral Sight
System: The target has layer one Foundation Realm cultivation and low Mental and Soul fortitude.
So it was like this. This guy must be pursuing the girl. A grin stretched across his face, but the expression held no warmth or genuine feeling. His deep gray eyes even had hostility hidden inside.
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"Junior brother, An, do you want to buy something or sell something? Please forgive little Jia, as she is a newcomer and doesn't know how to deal with senior disciples."
"I want to buy a battle skill and if you can show me the counter for it, then I'd be out of your hair, and you won't have to run here in fear of me stealing your crush," Aiden snorted. Although he felt Jia Hana was a kindhearted girl, that didn't mean he would protect her from this guy or something. It wasn't his issue to start with, so why would he bother?
"You want to buy a battle skill?" He smiled, mockery visible in his tone.
"Do you have any problem with that, senior….?" Aiden asked, staring into the guy's deep gray eyes.
"Why would I've any issue? You can call me senior brother Hao Tian"
"Senior Hao Tian, please show me where can I buy battle skills."
The burly guy chuckled. "Come with me. I will take you to the battle skill counter." Hao Tian walked briskly to the farthest counter and handed Aiden a booklet. "There are three tiers of battle skills. As an Alchemy Hall disciple, you can buy tier 1 skills at a normal price, but if you want tier 2 skills, the cost is double and only inner sect disciples can buy it. For tier 3 skills, you need to be a core disciple.
Aiden scanned through the booklet and read through the skill names. The tier 1 skills seemed very basic skills like Basic Sword Slash, Ember Strike, Water Shield, Sword Qi, Flame Blade, Water Whip, Quick Draw. Those were mainly focused on bow, flame, water, and swords. There was one peculiar called as Wood Armor as well and required one to have wood qi. Each skill cost 10 Mana Crystal each, and he only had 45 on him. So, he would have to choose carefully.
Tier 2 skills seemed more powerful, and had skills like Sword Dance, Piercing Arrow, Rain of Arrows, Water Projectile, Fireball, Water Walking, Sword Beam, etc. They normally costs 30 Mana Crystals each but with the limitation, he would have to spend 60 Mana Crystals, and some of them even required Foundation Realm cultivation to use. Anyway, he couldn't buy them as he wasn't an inner sect disciple yet.
Tier 3 skills were only a few, and they seemed powerful just by their names. Storm of Arrows, Water Dragon Charge, Azure Sword Formation, Phoenix Flame Sword, Tidal Waves. They required 100 Mana Crystals to buy normally and he would need 200 Mana Crystals, and he couldn't use them until he reached the peak of Foundation Realm and become a core disciple.
"Fancy anything, junior brother?" Hao Tian asked with a mocking smile. "If you waste 10 Mana Crystals you got on a skill, how will you purchase herbs required for your concoction? I heard the competition in the Alchemy Hall is pretty fierce these days, and if you can't complete your mission, then you might be expelled. I don't want a junior brother with the potential to be kicked out so quickly."
Aiden raised his neck, staring at the Hao Tian, pondering what method should he use to handle this arrogant prick?
"Senior Hao, I heard there is a simulation room where we can watch the usage of these skills? How can I access them?" Old man Li didn't have any battle skills, but he was well aware of the things happening in the sect because he had to go through a lot of paperwork being a hall master. The sect had a Simulation Battle Ground where disciple could learn about the tier 2 and tier 3 skills if they are stuck somewhere. Those simulation rooms had special arrays that had recorded battles and the use of these skills.
"There is one, but you can't use them because you need to own a tier 2 skill for that."
"Senior Hao, I don't think there is such a rule like that."
"You think you can lecture me on the rules, junior?" Hao Tian leaned forward, his hands flat on the counter as he glared at Aiden with a threatening look in his eyes.
"Well, I know there is a rule book about it." Aiden chuckled inwardly before pointing to the hidden compartment at the first counter. There was a rule book that administrative hall people kept hidden as they didn't want people to fight over rules.
"What rule book. What I say is the rules." Hao Tian had a shocked look on his face.
"Senior Hao, do you want me to hit the bell behind the third counter to call an elder to judge this dispute?" Aiden pressed his palm on the edge of the counter and leaned forward, threatening the burly guy. If this guy wanted to flaunt rules, then who could be better than Aiden with old man Li's memories?
Bring it on, bastard.