Theressa had been expecting to see Tyler again after a few days, but after checking with her sister, the man had locked himself in one of the studies and hadn’t gotten out for the last two days.

She knew the man’s status was peculiar from the Sword King’s instructions and the token he had been given so she did not pry. Although she could, if she so wished, investigate and find out everything herself but that would be improper.

Throughout the last two days, she engaged in the task of reorganizing books and assisting young children in locating the volumes their families had requested in order to educate said children. She also welcomed a whole group of youngsters from Edge City Academy accompanied by their teacher and gave a small tour.

The only thing that bothered her right now was that according to the head servant, Tyler would’ve started to act as her helper this morning. But she knew all too well to not cause a fuss over the restricted sections as her sister, Meliessa, was a strict woman when it came to her visitors.

At dawn on the third day of Tyler’s trip to the restricted section, a group of aspiring mortals entered the library, accompanied by their cultivator master.

Eager to access the restricted section, they had accumulated enough merit and silver coins to trade for a token that would allow them to obtain three techniques, hoping to gain the necessary advancement and attain the legendary status of immortals!

Their master, a retired Qi Transformation elder who worked at Edge City Academy had experienced a cultivation plateau for the past hundred years, held an esteemed status in their eyes, akin to a divine figure when it came to cultivation matters.

Excitement and a touch of apprehension filled the hearts of the three mortals as they, accompanied by their master who silently followed behind, approached Theressa to seek directions to the restricted section.

While this old master knew where the restricted section was located, he believed that if they couldn't navigate and understand this world on their own, they would be destined to fail before even embarking on their cultivation journey.

Theressa, recognizing the opportunity to catch up with her sister and inquire about Tyler within the restricted section, willingly guided them to the sealing formation after confirming that they had properly acquired the right to access the underground facility.

Arriving at the location, Theressa had to use her own token to unseal the elevator and stepped in right after the group of four.

The moment the elevator revealed the museum-like structure, the three youths gaped in awe at the mystic air floating around. For Theressa, she was simply glad to see her sister once more after being apart for more than a few months.

Even though they technically lived in the same building and kept in touch telepathically every now and then, they never got to interact face to face much due to the nature of their task within their respective libraries.

They were, after all, following a very specific path of cultivation and held tremendous influence within the whole of Veridian Peaks. The Hill sisters were also part of an organization known as Keepers of the Red Dust, tasked with keeping records of history and mundane affairs and had an extremely powerful master residing in the Eternal Palace.

Seeing the new arrivals, Meliessa looked up from her books and greeted the visitors. “Sister, it’s been a while. Good to see you. Old Tian Ji, you came back once more. Not for yourself this time it seems?” She asked as she looked over the group of three children.

Tian Ji, the old Qi Transformation cultivator smiled as he answered. “Hehe, you still remember this old man, I’m flattered. It is indeed as you said, I decided to seek enlightenment through teaching the younger generation and took a position within Edge City’s Academy.”

Nodding in approval at the man’s choice to teach future generations, she signaled the old man. “Your token, please.”

After a short exchange between the group of youths and master and Meliessa, they were given a new token with a number on it, giving it a set maximum withdrawal value of 500 points.

The children handled this token with obvious nervousness, treating it as if it were a fragile relic, fearing that it might disintegrate into nothingness if mishandled.

Their elderly master, on the other hand, exuded an air of tranquility. He had walked through the hallowed halls of this library on numerous occasions over the past century and took great delight in once again gazing upon the pair of twin sisters. After all, the allure of beauty, even from a distance, was an eternal fascination for men.

The master didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding and quickly led his three disciples away, browsing the various techniques on display. If everything went according to plan, the three of them would be able to buy a single technique suited to their nature.

They were looking for three specific ones that their master had recommended they amass funds to purchase from this very library:

Five Furnace Refinement Technique.

Steady Mountain Spear Sutra.

Illusory Body Refinement Technique.

These three techniques were, without a doubt, excellent for youths as they had a set path up until the 15th level. Learning such a technique was, in retrospect, fairly easy as the system trivialized a lot of the effort required otherwise to truly understand the intricacies within. This wouldn’t bypass the cultivation barriers, but it at least offered various paths through them.

Learning a cultivation technique in this world almost felt like double-clicking a skill book in video games. You read the short couple of pages of descriptions, and magically, the skill became available in your spell book. At least that's how Tyler would see it compared to what he had been doing for the past couple of days.

Reality wasn’t as simple, but it wasn’t too far off. The youths would essentially have to read through the entire content of the technique, practice the few movements to activate the technique, and the knowledge as well as the essence of the technique would imprint itself within one’s mind with the System’s help with a Discerning proficiency rating.

From there, cultivators would need to refine the technique to its Forming Stage, into the Precise Realm and then the Flawless Stage, achieving mastery. Each provided more power and required more insights into the techniques.

These three techniques were all of Earth grade and offered affordable options compared to the more secretive ones. For instance, certain techniques, like the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method, which had been Tyler's primary focus in recent days, had no specified price; they required direct acknowledgment from the Sword King himself.

Meanwhile, other techniques, such as a few Celestial Grade ones, needed approval from an Inner Sect Elder of the Sword Sect.

All this to say that some techniques, regardless of one's wealth, couldn't be purchased and could only be transmitted willingly. Attempting theft within this place was also futile, as the Keepers of the Red Dust closely monitored the various libraries.

With a single word, they could annihilate entire sects, transforming any thought of theft to ash and if you possessed the power to even achieve such a feat, what use were some mere Celestial Grade and Heaven Grade techniques aimed at low level cultivators.

The least expensive option was a Mortal Grade fist technique, priced at 10 points, and provided a path of advancement up to level 9 at most. On the other end of the spectrum, the priciest choice was a Spirit Grade technique, available for up to 2,500,000 points, and it granted a path of progression up to level 29.

The classification system consisted of the following grades:

Mortal Grade

Earth Grade

Spirit Grade

Celestial Grade

Heaven Grade

These grades had been established by the system itself and had become an integral part of the cultivators' terminology along with the proficiency stages. A cultivator's journey often involved encountering numerous techniques, and those fortunate enough to acquire Celestial Grade techniques held esteemed positions within the Sword Sect and the wider cultivation world.

The power behind a Celestial Grade technique at the Discerning stage was at least 10 times that of an Earth Grade technique at the same stage. Of course, geniuses of cultivation could break the bounds of those rigid structures and would earn achievements through the system as proof of their feats.

Tyler had also learned of all of this throughout his reading earlier in the day and realized the value of those techniques when he was browsing earlier. He hadn't felt the need to inquire with Meliessa, considering that time was one resource he had in abundance and nothing felt better than figuring things out on your own through natural interactions.

The one thing he wasn’t sure about yet was the cost of these various points and tokens in terms of currency and what was the intrinsic difference between the grades themselves. That would come in time though.

Returning to the children and their master, they took their time exploring the various sealing formations and marveling at the prestigious cultivation techniques, once regarded as legendary tales.

"Children, before we proceed to your chosen techniques, there's one in particular that I want to show you. It will broaden your horizons," declared Tian Ji.

"Yes, Master Tian!" the three children exclaimed, their eyes shining with excitement.

The elderly master led them through the entire establishment, going through more and more expensive techniques that made the children’s skin crawl at the thought of the cost of such techniques.

Then, they reached the back room, the same place Tyler had visited a few days prior to obtain the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method. For a moment, the old man seemed perplexed, glancing around to confirm he was in the correct location and reading the epitaph.

Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method

Heaven Grade

Acquired by The Sword Ancestor. For access to this Cultivation technique, seek the current Sword King.

"This is the right spot... but why is it missing..." he murmured, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

At that moment, a tall young man with broad shoulders in his late 20s strode into the room, his short brown hair and deep navy blue eyes accentuated by a rugged four-day beard.

Tian Ji was taken aback by the sudden entrance, his eyes widening with shock. He was rendered speechless, for this young man held in his hands the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method!

"Are you, young master, the esteemed individual who borrowed the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method?" Tian Ji inquired, his voice resonating with profound respect and awe.

Tyler, feeling ravenous after two days of relentless reading and practice, wasn't particularly inclined toward conversation. Nevertheless, he engaged politely. "Yes, but I'm returning it for now. I need a break."

Observing the fatigue in the young man before him, Tian Ji continued, "I apologize for interrupting your cultivation, young master. My three disciples here were merely exploring some secret techniques, and I wished to broaden their horizons by introducing them to the legendary Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method. I hope we haven't caused any disruptions."

Tyler paid minimal attention to the presence of the elderly man. He promptly placed the book back on its pedestal, causing the sealing formation to reappear. He then turned his attention to the group of four, where he was pleasantly surprised to find two familiar faces standing at the back.

"Theressa, Meliessa! It's good to see you both! It might be a bit much, but could you please find me some food? I'm famished!" Tyler requested with a tired but hopeful smile. Theressa simply smiled back and nodded before hurrying off, leaving Meliessa behind with the three youths and master.

Recognizing that he didn't want to appear impolite to the courteous cultivator before him and that some food was on its way, he addressed the old man. "Don't worry, you haven’t disturbed me at all. I was simply practicing the technique here but I’m done for now."

"My disciples here will only be examining some of the more affordable techniques. I doubt even the Headmaster of Edge City Academy would be allowed to even glance at the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method, much less an old teacher like myself." the old cultivator remarked, emphasizing the exclusivity and costliness of the technique he had been practicing.

Since Theressa had gone to fetch some food for him, he figured he might as well learn a thing or two about the actual pricing of these techniques so he asked directly. “Excuse my ignorance but, how much would your techniques cost? I’ve seen the point system and everything but that doesn’t tell me much in terms of currency.”

"I guess someone able to take out such a technique wouldn't know or care about the price of everyday life... Truly a blessing for you," said the old man without a shred of contempt in his voice. “Allow me then, if you please.”

The elderly man pointed forward as he pivoted, signifying his intention to retrieve a few techniques for demonstration. His three disciples trailed him, still perplexed by their esteemed master's uncharacteristic deference toward this stranger only one of them understood what was happening here, given her status it would’ve been weird if she didn’t.

Behind them, Tyler followed closely as Meliessa had stayed behind to adjust the formation on the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method and take some notes in a special book only held by members of her order.

Before long, they reached the section housing a multitude of Earth Grade techniques, adjacent to the extensive array of Mortal Grade selections. Tian Ji adopted his role as an instructor.

The old man began, using a specific example: "Young master, consider this as an illustration." He motioned toward a particular technique chosen by his young apprentice, Shen Liang – the Steady Mountain Spear Sutra, an Earth Grade spear technique priced at 150 points. He then elaborated, "His family had to tighten their belts and work diligently to amass the required payment, which amounts to 150 Silver Coins. This sacrifice was made to provide their only heir with a chance to transcend the limitations of mortality."

Tyler, still unaware of the local currency and its relative worth, inquired further, "And how much would that be in the broader context?"

The old man couldn't help but be surprised once more, realizing that the young man seemed to possess no knowledge of the value of silver coins. He wondered how much of a silver spoon Tyler must have been to be so uninformed. Nonetheless, he maintained a respectful demeanor and went on to provide more details.

In this cultivation world, currency was categorized based on the quantity and type of energy contained within each specific coin. The most common currency used by mortals within the world was the Copper Coin. It was made out of normal everyday copper and contained trace amounts of Qi.

Silver Coin, the most common coin on Sword King Mountain, was crafted from Pure Zenith Silver and brimming with dense Qi. Melted, these coins could be used to forge exceptionally strong and durable weapons.

To put it into perspective, owning a single silver coin was equivalent to possessing a small fortune of 100 copper coins from a mortal's viewpoint. The most interesting thing though was that according to this old teacher, 2 copper coins would be enough to feed a mortal family of 5 for a whole week! The purchasing power of a single silver coin was not small in the mortal world.

Moving up the hierarchy, there were Spirit Coins and Celestial Coins, each worth 100 of the previous coin's value. These coins represented not only denser Qi but also a qualitative shift in the materials, containing traces of the essence of their respective elements. They were exclusively used by Sea Formation experts and above or extremely rich merchant groups.

He concluded by explaining that while these were indeed higher forms of currency, the more extravagant the purchases, the less relevant these coins became. The mighty individuals who dealt with substantial wealth often preferred bartering with valuable goods rather than concerning themselves with mere coins.

During the speech, Theressa had returned with some snacks that were swiftly devoured by Tyler as he listened with rapt attention to the old man as he couldn’t help but do some quick math.

If a week’s worth of food for a family of five is two coppers.. Then two coppers should be worth about… 200$? Then, that one cultivation technique would be worth… 1.5million dollars?! Wasn’t that a bit excessive?

After finishing his food and listening to the informative speech, Tyler finally realized something. He had been a bit rude, now that he thought about it. "Also, I just realized I've sort of been rude; I don't even know your name! Mine's Tyler Reed… You are…?"

"Young Master Reed, please call me Tian Ji. I am a level 19 Qi Transformation resident teacher at Edge City’s Academy. My three disciples here are Li Mei, Shen Liang, and Lo Xiu," the old cultivator replied as he pointed to his three young disciples.

"Tian, Tyler will be good enough. I am no young master.” Turning his attention to one of the three children, Tyler added. “Also, Lo as in the Lo family? The same Lo family as Lo Shen?" he asked.

"You're acquainted with Young Master Lo?" Tian Ji exclaimed, taken aback. "Indeed, she is his youngest sibling. Just turned 10, and she's aiming to join her older brothers in the outer sect once she clears this last hurdle with the help of a good cultivation technique."

Captivated by the fact that this stranger was aware of her brother, Xiu cautiously approached, her gaze fixed on Tyler. "You know my elder brother?" she asked, her voice tinged with shyness.

Tyler replied, his words tinged with a hint of ambiguity, "Yeah, in a way. He's been... Well, let's say we are familiar with each other." After a brief moment of contemplation, Tyler decided to extend a gesture of goodwill to Xiu, a favor to be surely repaid later by her brother.

The man had treated him fairly after his earlier honest mistake in the forest and had proven himself to be upright and honest. Tyler also had future plans to leverage Lo Shen’s knowledge about the various factions and facets of the Sword Sect, so building a positive rapport seemed advantageous.

“I tell you what. As recognition for your brother’s hard work, and our relationship, I’ll let you pick any technique you wish in this restricted section, as long as it doesn’t cause concern for Miss Meliessa.” Tyler declared, his words hanging in the air. The three young disciples and Tian Ji stood there, their mouths slightly agape, visibly stunned by this unexpected bombshell.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Xiu bowed deeply to Tyler, expressing her thanks without uttering a single word. It wasn't long until Meliessa coincidentally returned and announced that the chosen techniques couldn't be those requiring sect approval.

Master Tian Ji of the Edge City Academy embarked on a quest to find a higher-grade technique that would be a perfect fit for the young mistress. It was worth noting that, despite the Lo family's financial capacity, they had stringent rules.

The family would only provide cultivation techniques to individuals who had demonstrated their worthiness. In other words, if you couldn't navigate the world and secure the means to reach the Qi Transformation stage on your own, the family would show no interest if you failed and ended up as just another servant in their ranks.

But, on the other hand, if you did prove yourself capable to a certain degree, the family would then repay in full what you had spent and invest just as much back into your cultivation to make sure they could nurture a capable young individual to rise through the ranks of the family.

Of course, lucky encounters with strange benevolent masters were part of one’s fate and the family wouldn’t look down on that. They would surely investigate to ensure it wasn’t done in hopes of greasing the family’s paws, but if everything turned out okay, no one could say anything.

After 10 or 15 minutes of browsing, the master and apprentice duo came to an agreement and settled on a Spirit Grade Sutra.

Five Elemental Qi Fusion Sutra

Spirit Grade

Written by Daoist Master Lee. 210,000 Points.

Filled with curiosity, Tyler slid his token across the formation and retrieved it for them. He wanted to glance at what one would get for 210,000 points. This was, afterall a lot of silver coins, and this book would be worth 2.1 billion US dollars. That was insane.

Opening it up, and putting aside the sheer price of such an item, he examined the contents and furrowed his brow slightly. According to his knowledge, Chinese mythology indeed recognized the existence of five elements, as stated in the technique itself.

Although it appeared to be a high-level cultivation technique, it seemed to confine itself to just the five elements, potentially closing off other untapped possibilities if that representation proved to be incomplete. As Tyler knew all too well that there were other mythos out there that had focused on just four elements all the way up to ten elements...

Casually, Tyler handed the book to young Xiu and shared his perspective, "While the concept of the five elements is significant, it's important not to blindly accept everything written. Keep an open mind and consider the possibility that this Five Elemental Qi Fusion Sutra might not encompass the complete picture."

Taken aback by Tyler's words, Tian Ji inquired, "What do you mean young master? It's widely acknowledged that there are only five elements in this world."

"Don't worry too much about it," Tyler reassured with a smile. "I simply mean that you should never confine yourself to what is already known. Only by doing so can you possibly catch a glimpse of the unknown. Plus, it's crucial to understand that these five elements are conceptual ideas, not literal physical things so perhaps Xiu here will be able to catch a glimpse of more elements or hints at deeper truths later down her path…”

Before anyone else could add anything though, Tyler cut the conversation short. “While I would love to engage in a metaphysical debate with you, I am quite hungry, and these snacks were not enough. I need meat. So, I’ll just say goodbye here. It was a pleasure meeting each and every one of you and please, tell your brother hello for me, miss Xiu."

Having said his farewells, Tyler departed, with Meliessa following closely behind. This left the group both perplexed and fascinated by his unorthodox viewpoints.

As a result, the two remaining young individuals were brimming with joy, realizing that Xiu’s exemption from the cost meant that they, too, could now afford a more expensive technique!

Young mistress Lo had obviously agreed to this, seeing no shame in sharing the few coins she had amassed compared to the ludicrous cost of her newly acquired technique.

This newfound opportunity significantly enhanced their prospects of achieving success in their cultivation endeavors. Their faces beamed with happiness, eager to embark on this promising path.

At this moment, neither Tyler nor Xiu were aware of the significant impact that Tyler's kind gesture, allowing young mistress Lo to choose her own secret technique, would have on her future.

Little did they know that this act of benevolence would lead the family to make substantial investments in Xiu's development.

The fact that someone suspected to be a shattering ancestor had given her this opportunity hinted at the presence of something extraordinary within her. Surely, the ancestor must have seen some exceptional potential in her, setting the stage for a remarkable journey ahead.

On his way back Meliessa informed him that the Sword King had indeed intervened, limiting the use of his token to priced items. He wasn’t bothered by it and paid it no heed.

It wasn’t really his business to begin with and as far as he was concerned he was just doing the young Xiu a favor in the name of her older brother.

As he headed back to his lodgings, he crossed paths with Theressa, sparking a brief conversation. She reminded him of their previous agreement for him to work as her assistant and how she looked forward to having a new assistant, but she disclosed that the arrangement had been canceled by the Sword King and was a bit saddened.

According to Theressa, Tyler was welcome to stay in the area for as long as he desired, and she should provide him with any necessary assistance. If any uncertainties arose, she was instructed to reach out to the Sword King directly. This revelation left Tyler somewhat taken aback.

Tyler had just taken the first steps into this world, but he remained uncertain about how to interpret the Sword King's treatment of him. This legendary figure, who had lived for thousands of years, seemed to regard him with a level of reverence akin to that of a deity. Perhaps it was time to come clean as the man had been nothing but polite and upright with him as well.

After all, he did just give away 2.1 billion dollars worth of silver to a stranger on the man’s dime without asking first.