Bang! The window slammed shut without a word.

Hey, this is so rude! Qin Zhaoyue's temper flared up instantly, and she reached out to grab the window frame.

The embarrassing thing happened: the window didn't move at all.

She now has the foundation of a fifth-grade realm, which means that this aloof girl is at least a fourth-grade realm, and most likely a Divine Martial Realm cultivator.

Qin Zhaoyue pouted.

According to the novel's setting, this person must be a master, someone with outstanding martial arts talent.

Maybe he traded an entire arsenal of books for his freedom, and who knows, he might even be quite happy with it.

Qin Zhaoyue wasn't disappointed that she hadn't managed to get close to him. She figured it was better to take a chance than not, so she turned and left.

"She's quite beautiful, but I wonder how old she is. Judging from Liu Yan's skin, she might be in her seventies or eighties..."

The soft whispers reached her ears, and the woman by the window bent her knuckles, her breathing quickening slightly.

Liu Yan... just hearing the name makes him seem like an annoying person.

Qin Zhaoyue turned back and strode into the main hall.

The hall was completely empty, and there was no sign of anyone inside.

"Is anyone here?" She flicked the token in her hand. "I'm here to learn martial arts."

The next moment, Qin Zhaoyue's eyes widened.

A gaunt, withered face suddenly appeared before her, startling her.

Good heavens, her heart was pounding. She quickly clutched her chest and glared at the other person with annoyance.

"Grandma, do you know that this can scare people to death!"

The old man had a calm expression and serene eyes.

Because of the cultivation method she used, her face was pitted and full of wrinkles, like the bark of an old tree.

It's no wonder that people who meet for the first time are easily frightened.

Without her making any move, the token appeared in her hand. "Come with me."

Qin Zhaoyue snapped out of her daze. She had been holding the token tightly, but in the blink of an eye, it was in someone else's hand.

This person must be a hidden master, like a "sweeping monk"—a highly skilled individual who keeps his abilities secret.

I followed behind her, still feeling lingering fear.

"Where are we going?"

"Is the armory located in this hall, or is there a secret passage or something leading elsewhere?"

"How many years have you been guarding this place, old lady!"

old lady:……

Weren't you just startled? Why are you chattering away now?

"I'm not deaf!"

Good heavens, he yelled at the top of his lungs right next to her ear, making her ears ache.

Arriving at the six-bay pillar, I placed my palm on it.

Without any apparent movement, a crack appeared in the ground on the right side.

Accompanied by the sound of springs and chains, a bookshelf slowly rose.

Qin Zhaoyue crossed her arms and squinted. This style was a bit low-class; it was just an ordinary bookshelf.

At first glance, the numbers on it ranged from one to sixty-three.

"Wasn't it said that all martial arts techniques in the world were collected by the inner court? There are only sixty-three manuals?"

The old lady snorted coldly.

"What you brought is the highest-level token, and the bookshelves are all cultivation techniques that can be practiced up to the Divine Martial Realm."

You think this is just a bunch of cabbages? You think it's not enough? Do you know that any one of these books, if released into the martial arts world, would cause a bloodbath?

Indeed, Qin Zhaoyue accepted this explanation.

"What's the next step? Will you let me choose, or will I have to read them one by one? When will I finish reading all sixty-three books?"

The old lady frowned slightly. "She's here to learn the most profound martial arts techniques, how come this girl has no common sense at all?"

"Stretch out your hand and circulate it throughout the body."

"yes!"

Qin Zhaoyue agreed readily, so it seems she doesn't need to read them one by one.

The old lady took her hand and carefully sensed the true energy within her body.

In no time, his brows furrowed even deeper.

What happened?

The old lady's deep furrowed brows made her look even older.

It's not surprising that a fifth-grade martial artist's internal energy can circulate naturally.

However, having cultivated to this level, it's impossible to have no special characteristics at all; there will always be some bias.

People have talent, which is something they are born with, something that cannot be explained or described. This is also the basis for choosing a training method.

For example, Hidden Hibernation's true energy is characterized by sharpness; while Flowing Flame's true energy leans towards a fiery style.

It is precisely because of these characteristics that practicing the corresponding techniques is so effective.

However, the true energy within this little girl's body... had absolutely no special characteristics!

The old lady observed intently, and with her level of understanding, she could see even the slightest change. She had never encountered anything like this before.

After confirming it several times, she let go of his hand.

"So, what kind of cultivation method is suitable for me? Bring it to me quickly so I can take a look."

Faced with Qin Zhaoyue's keen interest, the old lady fell silent.

"Your internal energy is somewhat special..."

Qin Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't special at all; her true energy wasn't something she cultivated bit by bit.

Neither Hidden Insects nor Flowing Flames noticed anything amiss. Could it be that this old lady saw through it all at once?

The old lady didn't hesitate and went straight to explaining the characteristics of true qi.

"Tell me first, what kind of cultivation technique did you practice before?"

"I have never practiced any martial arts techniques."

"Then where did you get this internal energy?"

"It came naturally."

The two sentences of conversation left the old lady speechless again.

She prided herself on her extensive reading and had never encountered anything like this before. It took her a long time to speak again:

"I have carefully sensed it, and your true energy does not possess any particular characteristic."

Like a pool of clear water, it can be dyed with any color.

That's not quite accurate, because water itself is a property.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!