Chapter 7

The Martial Arts Pavilion is a three-story building, housing various martial arts techniques and cultivation methods inside.

On the vast and wild continent, the cultivation methods are ranked from high to low as "Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow" tiers. However, in the Martial Arts Pavilion of the Qingyun Sect's nominal disciples' area, the most precious are only the Yellow-tier methods.

The first floor of the small building houses the lower Yellow-tier methods; the second floor, the middle Yellow-tier methods; and the highest third floor, the upper Yellow-tier methods.

As Ye Chen entered the Martial Arts Pavilion, the wide variety of martial arts manuals broadened his horizons.

"Tiger-Leopard Thunder Fist, a lower Yellow-tier martial art, consisting of seven fist techniques, with fists as swift as thunder, priced at 2,500 silver taels."

"Cloud-Dispelling Palm, a lower Yellow-tier martial art, when cultivated to a high level, can produce thirty-three palm clouds with one strike, priced at 3,300 silver taels."

"Wind-Breaking Finger, a lower Yellow-tier martial art, with fingers like arrows, breaking the wind when used, costing 2,000 silver taels for a one-month loan."

After browsing through the first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion for a long time, Ye Chen did not find any suitable cultivation methods, so he walked up to the second floor.

The cultivation manuals on the first floor were placed on shelves, while those on the second floor were placed on stone platforms. Just from the arrangement, it was clear that the methods on the second floor were much more precious than those on the first floor.

All the methods hidden on the second floor were middle Yellow-tier methods.

While the lower Yellow-tier methods on the first floor could be purchased directly, the middle Yellow-tier methods on the second floor could only be borrowed for a fee, and could not be bought outright.

As for the upper Yellow-tier methods on the third floor, they were even more exclusive, only available to disciples who had made significant contributions to the sect. Ye Chen did not even have the qualifications to go upstairs.

Ye Chen planned to carefully select one or two suitable methods from the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

"Flowing Cloud Thirteen Sword, a middle Yellow-tier method, with sword techniques as smooth as flowing clouds, divided into thirteen forms, costing 5,000 silver taels for a one-month loan."

Looking at this set of sword techniques, Ye Chen's gaze lingered slightly. Like his predecessor, he had a special fondness for swords, so his main cultivation method was sword techniques.

However, the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Sword did not attract him much.

"Clear Wind Sword Technique..."

"Star-Cutting Sword Technique..."

As Ye Chen went through the methods one by one, he suddenly stopped beside a stone platform in a corner of the second floor.

"Storm Sword Technique, a fragment of a sword technique, obtained by a sect elder during his travels. Originally an upper Yellow-tier method, but due to only the first three forms remaining, it is classified as a middle Yellow-tier method. This set of sword techniques has extremely strong offensive power, ranking first among all the methods on the second floor! A one-month loan costs 8,000 silver taels."

The Storm Sword Technique!

Reading the description of this sword technique, Ye Chen was immediately captivated.

The Storm Sword Technique, with swords like a storm, for some reason, just the name made his heart race.

After carefully reading the description of the Storm Sword Technique on the stone platform, Ye Chen finally made up his mind.

"I'll choose this one."

Ye Chen put away the Storm Sword Technique.

"Having chosen an offensive martial art, I'll now select a movement technique."

Movement techniques can assist in killing with offensive martial arts and can also help save one's life in critical moments, making them a very important auxiliary technique for martial artists.

In the end, Ye Chen chose a movement technique called the Swift Crane Step. When cultivated to a high level, this technique allows one to move as swiftly as lightning, as fast as a swift crane, with incredible speed.

Holding the two martial arts manuals, Ye Chen walked downstairs.

"Practicing cultivation methods indeed requires a significant investment. Just borrowing these two middle Yellow-tier methods for a month costs 9,000 silver taels."

The Qingyun Sect would not give away manuals to nominal disciples for free, as each manual is very precious to the sect and martial artists. Ye Chen understood the need to charge a fee.

"No wonder it's said that martial arts cultivation requires a large amount of money. This is just for middle Yellow-tier methods. Higher-level upper Yellow-tier methods and Mystic-tier and Earth-tier methods would cost even more."

"However, as one's strength increases, earning money becomes easier. It's rumored that hunting a high-level beast in the 'Ten Thousand Beast Mountain' can earn tens of thousands of silver taels."

Martial arts cultivation involves investment, but there is also a return.

Ye Chen understood this principle.

"Fortunately, my predecessor left me a considerable amount of money, enough to practice these two methods." Ye Chen smiled.

He came from the Ye family, a prominent clan in Qingyang City, and his parents sent him money every year. At the moment, Ye Chen had over ten thousand silver taels.

After deducting necessary expenses for clothing, food, and accommodation, the remaining surplus was worth using to exchange for the opportunity to practice the two desired methods.

Holding the two martial arts manuals, Ye Chen went to register with the Pavilion Guardian Elder.

"Swift Crane Step, this movement technique is quite good." The Pavilion Guardian Elder took the manuals from Ye Chen, looked at the movement technique on top, and nodded.

"Hmm, you also chose the 'Storm Sword Technique'?" When he flipped to the second manual, the Pavilion Guardian Elder frowned. "The 'Storm Sword Technique' has astonishing offensive power, but it is extremely difficult to cultivate. Many disciples, greedy for its power, end up unable to even grasp the basic first form within a month, wasting thousands of silver taels. Are you sure you want to choose this manual?"

Ye Chen knew the Pavilion Guardian Elder was kindly warning him and said with a smile, "Thank you, Elder, for the reminder. I'll choose this sword technique."

Ye Chen had a feeling that this sword technique was extremely suitable for him to practice. It was a wonderful feeling, and he would not let others' words sway his choice.

"Young disciples nowadays are always reaching for the stars." The Pavilion Guardian Elder shook his head. "Well, if you insist on choosing it, I can't stop you. But if you make no progress after a month, don't blame me for not warning you."

"Also, I must remind you that the cultivation methods borrowed from the Martial Arts Pavilion cannot be spread without permission, or you will face severe punishment from the sect. Pay the silver taels and return the manuals on time within a month. If you fail to return them, you will face additional penalties."

"Elder, rest assured, I understand."

After paying the silver taels and putting the manuals away, Ye Chen walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

"Ye Chen!"

Just as he walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion, a voice called out. Ye Chen stopped and looked in the direction of the voice.

The one calling him was a teenager around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a cold expression.

Seeing the teenager's face, Ye Chen's brows furrowed slightly.

"Wang Yuan." After a moment's thought, he remembered the teenager's name.

Wang Yuan was also a nominal disciple of the Qingyun Sect, but he was a well-known figure among the nominal disciples. He was well-known for two reasons: one, his cultivation had reached the fourth level of True Qi, ranking him among the top nominal disciples; and two, he was ruthless and cruel.

Wang Yuan enjoyed using lower-ranking nominal disciples as "human punching bags" during his cultivation, beating and kicking them. The former Ye Chen had been called to be a human punching bag several times, receiving many beatings.

Wang Yuan was extremely powerful, and if one did not follow his orders, it would not just be a matter of being a human punching bag and getting beaten. At best, one would be bedridden for months, and at worst, one's legs and arms could be broken.

Ye Chen had no good feelings towards Wang Yuan at all.

"This is the Martial Arts Pavilion, where all the Yellow-tier methods are stored. What are you, a fool, doing here?" Wang Yuan asked condescendingly as he approached Ye Chen.

Ye Chen glanced at Wang Yuan indifferently and walked past him without a word.

The former Ye Chen was afraid of Wang Yuan, but the current Ye Chen was not at all afraid. His cultivation had already reached the third level of True Qi, and even if he could not defeat Wang Yuan, he was confident that Wang Yuan would not gain any advantage over him.

Moreover, with the "Vein Refinement Technique" and the newly chosen methods, given some time to practice, Ye Chen was confident he could easily defeat Wang Yuan.

"Are you deaf!"

Seeing that Ye Chen ignored him, Wang Yuan's face darkened. He wanted to grab Ye Chen and give him a lesson, but after glancing at the Martial Arts Pavilion, he stopped.

"Hmph, if I weren't in a hurry to exchange for the 'Blood Fiend Claw,' I would have given you a lesson today!"

"Ye Chen, one month from now, come to my residence and be my human punching bag. If you don't come, don't blame me for not holding back!"

Wang Yuan's voice echoed toward Ye Chen.

"One month from now?"

Ye Chen's steps paused slightly, then he continued walking.

One month from now, we'll see who doesn't hold back!