In this separated area, there were three stone pillars placed in the middle of the twenty-meter-wide open room. Standing at the edge of this open room, Xi Shen couldn’t help but notice a clear contrast between the treatment of this particular area and the rest of the section. On the floor and all around the room dust and cobweb overrun the area.

Xi Shen could even see where the person responsible for cleaning the Techniques Library stopped, resulting in a contrast between a clean floor and a dust-filled one being visible.

Xi Shen didn’t mind though and stepped inside this isolated area of space. He then came face-to-face with the three stone pillars that stood side by side at a height slightly below his chest.

On top of the three stone pillars, Xi Shen saw covered under dust three jade slips.

Xi Shen reached out and took up the one that was on the far left. After wiping off the dust that was practically caked onto it, he place it against his forehead and several texts appeared in his mind.

“Soul Diffusion Art. A Soul Art Technique that allows one to spread their soul from their body and move physical objects at will.”

After those texts appeared in Xi Shen’s mind, a set of mantras that he figure to be the Soul Art Technique itself appeared next.

Removing the jade slip from his forehead, Xi Shen looked at the jade slip with a shocked expression on his face.

“These people didn’t even bother to place a copy of the Soul Art here and just left the original for anyone to see. Well, this just goes to show how important soul techniques are to people in the Four Physical Realms, they just don’t care for them. They rather place all their focus on cultivating their Internal and External cultivation methods. Plus, if they reach a high enough cultivation soul techniques like these would become useless since they would eventually gain the ability to release their Spiritual Sense in the surrounding environment.”

As Xi Shen said that, he took up the other jade slip to the far right and placed it against his forehead.

“Soul Illusion Art. A Soul Art Technique that allows one soul to gain the natural ability to cast illusions on a sentient creature’s weak mind. Note, the use of a musical instrument is preferred to bring out the full effects of the illusion aspects of this technique.”

And like the first one, the Mantra for the Soul Art flowed into Xi Shen’s mind.

Placing down the second jade slip Xi Shen contemplated on whether to cultivate this technique. They weren't many Soul Art Techniques in his clan, and those ones were quite basic, so he was curious about these ones. The first one wasn’t really that useful to him in battle even if he were to disguise the nature of his Divine Will.

Xi Shen decided to check out the last one before he made his decision.

Placing the third jade slip against his forehead he read the texts inside.

“Soul Art: Rain Drop Sword Sutra. A Soul Art Technique that allows someone to split their soul into thousands of small rain-like portions and attack their opponent from multiple angles at once. Note, the use of a musical instrument is preferred to bring out the full effects of the attacking nature of this technique.”

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After reading the last one, Xi Shen took a liking to it. He wasn't that surprised that both Soul Arts required an instrument of some kind to bring out the technique's full power. Everyone who decided to become a Soul Cultivator was a musical genius and used their instrument of expertise to battle. His mother, for example, was a Soul Cultivator and she used a zither. Xi Shen didn't know anyone who could compare to his mother regarding knowledge about the zither.

As of now, Xi Shen was split between cultivating the Soul Illusion Art and this one.

After standing there for a moment undecided, Xi Shen suddenly started to smile as he said.

“Even though these are considered Soul Art Techniques, they can also be seen as soul cultivation methods that strengthen a person’s soul as they cultivate the technique. For people who are cultivating through the Four Physical Realms instead of wasting time cultivating a technique they wouldn’t use to strengthen their souls, they would rather use medicinal pills or elixirs to do so. And even if someone went against the norm and decided to cultivate a Soul Art Technique, at most they would cultivate one. However, I’ve decided to become a Soul Cultivator so why stop at just cultivating one Soul Art when I can just cultivate all of these and combine the good aspects of each of them, even the Soul Diffusion Soul Art.”

After saying that Xi Shen concentrated and the Mantras for the three Soul Arts appeared in his mind. Though they were in his mind he would still need to bring these jade slips down to the front desk and get copies of them to show that he had chosen them.

Taking up the three jade slips, Xi Shen exited that area and saw Yang Su already waiting for him. The two then headed down to the first floor and came back to the front desk where the old man was.

Yang Su then placed the three jade slips of the techniques he had onto the counter.

Seeing that Yang Su was the only one who had chosen his cultivation techniques, the old man wasn’t that surprised. The whole continent was after all talking about the second prince’s unfortunate case of having no foundation to cultivate. When he had told them to choose their cultivation wisely, he had merely done so out of habit, he didn’t really expect Xi Shen to pick cultivation techniques.

As the old man thought that, he suddenly saw Xi Shen place the three jade slips down onto the counter as well. This stunned the old man momentarily before he realized the excessive dirt on the three jade slips.

‘Oh, I guess the second prince has decided to learn Soul Arts. Is he trying to become a Soul Cultivator? That makes sense, without his foundation he won’t be able to embark on the path of Qi Cultivation. I heard he has a Supreme-grade soul, I wonder what his accomplishments would be because of that? There has never been someone like him with those levels of attributes that chose to become a Soul Cultivator, interesting. Though he should have chosen an External cultivation technique as well if he tends to become a Soul Cultivator. Hmm, I won’t say anything, he’ll figure it out when he battles Spiritual Qi cultivators and is at a disadvantage with his weak body in the future.’

The old man then glance at the sword skill Yang Su chose, which was called the Swift and Silent Willow Sword Movement. He nodded internally, however, he frowned slightly after seeing the other two cultivation methods. The Golden Fire Serpent absorption method and the Smoldering Furnace Body cultivation technique.

But aside from that, he said nothing and only handed over copies of the techniques to both Yang Su and Xi Shen.

“The information in these jade slips will only last for one month so you have to completely memorize their contents before then. And remember, the Sword Pavilion’s rules restrict persons from sharing these techniques with other members, but especially to disciples from other divisions, understood?”

Both youths nodded their heads upon hearing the old man's words. Afterward, they both exited the Techniques Library by walking past those placid faceguards.

At the bottom of the steps, Xi Shen turn to Yang Su and said, “You can head back to our courtyard first, I’ll have to find myself a music instrument.”

Yang Su was just about to protest, but Xi Shen interjected, “The Freshmen Disciple Competition you’ll enter now is going to be the Inner Disciple’s one. It’s less than a month away, if you want to get the first-place position you’ll have to hurry and start cultivating.”

Xi Shen patted Yang Su on the shoulder as he said that, while Yang Su himself was staring at Xi Shen with wide eyes, before he stammered, “F-First place? Elder brother are you really expecting me to be able to beat all those geniuses in the Inner Academy so easily? Aren’t there going to be seniors in this competition as well? I don’t think I could even enter the top one hundred, no, not even the top ten thousand if they're that many competing.”

Seeing Yang Su’s nervous expression, Xi Shen nonchalantly said, “What are you so worried about, you speak as if you aren’t one of those geniuses. Just cultivate diligently in the upcoming days and have more confidence in your abilities, okay?”

Hearing Xi Shen’s words, Yang Su could only nod in confirmation before he hurried off back to their courtyard. His mind was now completely preoccupied with thoughts of cultivating until the day of the competition.

After watching Yang Su disappear among the crowd of white-robbed disciples, Xi Shen walked towards a shop that sold Spirit Artifacts to look for an instrument with his hands held behind his back.