'Is anyone still researching martial arts these days?'

'Contributions are so quickly used up. Redemption for slaughter techniques and secret manuals with predecessors' experiences are good. How can they be used to redeem martial arts cultivation techniques which are useless?'

However, no one was foolish enough to stand up and point this out to Lou Yi.

Contributions are private; one has the freedom to do whatever they want with them.

An old man with a donkey face perplexedly took out a white jade document and used his finger as if it were a pen to write the word '武道' (martial arts) on it.

Three breaths later, rows of black characters floated up on the document.

Lou Yi, with sharp eyes, saw names like "Study of Cultivation Origin," "Martial Artist's Close Combat Techniques," and "Immortal Martial Dual Cultivation Deviation Record."

Only to hear the old man say: "Our sect has compiled thirteen volumes of mortal martial arts secret manuals, and besides, there are twenty-six volumes of books related to martial arts.

You're at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation; each volume requires five points of contribution for borrowing.

The time limit cannot exceed three days; each additional day requires the deduction of one more point of contribution."

"Can I browse the first two pages to decide which volume to borrow?" Lou Yi asked.

The old man was much more agreeable than the female cultivator at the Spirit Medicine Hall. He slowly brought over those paper booklets, letting Lou Yi review them one by one.

Lou Yi looked through them, constantly shaking his head.

These martial arts secret manuals, like "Blood Transferring Technique," "Vajra Technique," "Body Refining Technique," etc., did not break free from the shackles of the Breathing Technique and Skin Refining Technique he practiced. The principles were similar, and practicing them wouldn't result in any improvement.

But there were a few books related to martial arts that seemed useful.

Finally, Lou Yi selected two related books, namely "Study of Cultivation Origin" and "Disciple Record - Year Three of Yonghe."

Taking the copies of the somewhat old books back to his cave dwelling, Lou Yi began to carefully read them.

"Study of Cultivation Origin" narrates the origin history of cultivators.

Starting from the ancient times when everyone had an Innate Body and possessed Divine Skills, making it a highly coveted era.

To the gradual disappearance and transition from ancient times to the middle ages, where various cultivation paths were born in a burst.

Finally, arriving at recent ancient times, the method of Qi Cultivation emerged prominently, and Qi Cultivators became the mainstream in the cultivation realm.

Other cultivation methods almost vanished, only observable through some remnants of ruins to appreciate the past splendor.

Lou Yi's focus was mainly on the middle ages.

The middle ages were a period of a hundred schools of thought in cultivation paths contending.

Besides Qi Cultivation, there were also other paths like Gu (worm) path, martial arts, incense fire path, soul path, and artifact path, etc.

Among them, the middle ages martial cultivators primarily focused on the physical body, the great power belonging to oneself, forming one of the strongest cultivation roads.

But, they differed somewhat from current martial artists; they cultivated Divine Skills, many reaching the realm of ancient predecessors.

However, how it was cultivated wasn't clearly explained in the book; perhaps the author didn't quite understand either.

'What is Divine Skill?'

'Could it be that above the martial artist is the Divine Skill?'

'Do ancient martial cultivators have any legacy preserved?'

Lou Yi pondered for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

Knowing this book couldn't provide further assistance for himself.

He then started flipping through the second book, "Disciple Record - Year Three of Yonghe."

As the name implies, it records the overview of disciples entering the sect in year three of Yonghe.

Yonghe was the regnal name of the previous few emperors of Zhao Kingdom. Yonghe Year Three was already two hundred and twenty-one years ago.

Among the disciples from that year, the record documented several outstanding ones.

Two became Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators, and one even broke through to the late Foundation Establishment Stage, merely one step away from becoming a Golden Core Master.

One had a Super Grade Spirit Root, extraordinarily talented, reaching the Peak of Qi Cultivation at just over twenty years old, having a hope to break through to Foundation Establishment before thirty.

Unexpectedly, fell during a task, provoking the Corpse-Driving Sect's Sect Leader to investigate; found it was the demon clan from Cyan Wolf Ridge responsible, even engaging with demon clan experts.

But the author subtly implied the demon clan was just a ruse, challenging to discern human clan dynamics.

The culprit possibly belonged to cultivators from other major human sects, unwilling to see another genius rise in the Corpse-Driving Sect.

Records in the Disciple Record were about the more distinguished disciples.

Others mundane in nature rarely had their names left behind.

Among them, one individual, though without notable achievements, had several lines dedicated to recording his deeds.

This person had a Lower-Grade Spirit Root, similar to Lou Yi before entering the sect, but with extremely strong martial arts cultivation.

After more than a decade in the sect, still stuck at Qi Cultivation Third Level, with little hope for progress.

Thus began intensive research in martial arts, carving a new path, eventually breaking through to a strength of three thousand jin inconceivable; ordinary Iron Corpses weren't a match!

Upon reading this sentence, Lou Yi's pupils involuntarily shrank.

A sheer strength breakthrough to three thousand jin? That's already three times the human limit.

Nevertheless, Lou Yi himself could effortlessly achieve this, but that's with the aid of having the Attribute Panel.

Common Breathing Techniques and Skin Refining Techniques, at best, surpass by a little over ten thousand jin, hitting two times is unlikely.

'Perhaps this disciple possesses something I need!' Lou Yi felt invigorated and rushed to the Cultivation Hall.

"Senior Brother, regarding the disciple mentioned in this Disciple Record, named 'Feng Jiuyue,' is there any other documentation?"

The counter elder took out the white jade document, continued helping Lou Yi search, and found detailed information.

Nothing but irrelevant like entering the sect in Year Three of Yonghe, leaving the sect in Year Thirty of Yonghe.

Departing the sect was at the Peak of Qi Cultivation Third Level, related to martial details being sparse.

Among them, a related battle record caught Lou Yi's attention:

'In Year 28 of Yonghe, Feng Jiuyue once assisted Inner Sect Disciple Xie Guangyao, jointly killing three Qi Cultivation Middle Stage Evil Cultivators.'

It's recorded because Xie Guangyao later broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, becoming a sect elder.

Perhaps the recorder believed that with Xie Guangyao's ability, fighting multiple opponents was achievable, Feng Jiuyue was merely an auxiliary.

But Lou Yi held a different view.

A martial artist with over thirty thousand jin of strength, given close enough distance or satisfying other conditions, killing Qi Cultivation Middle Stage isn't a hard task.

"Senior Brother, could you tell me where this disciple's hometown is?" Lou Yi cautiously asked.

"This is sect confidential, not convenient to disclose." The counter elder's expression turned cold.

Upon hearing this, Lou Yi felt he had been too rash.

If living locations could be easily probed, how could a disciple's own and family's safety be guaranteed?

However, if official channels failed to obtain information, other channels might provide.

Lou Yi quickly sought out the Four Seas Association Hall Master Zhang Li, expressing his request.

Stating he merely wanted to research martial arts, without any ill intent.

"This, according to principles, violates sect regulations.

But, Junior Brother, you're seeking cultivation, and being a member of our Four Seas Association, I wouldn't deny you this face." Zhang Li caressed his bristly beard, calmly stated.

Saying a heap of nonsense, never explicitly stating if it was feasible.

"Senior Brother, name your price, how much?"

"Junior Brother, this isn't about silver coins…"

"How about one thousand taels?"

"Somewhat insufficient, I estimate at least three thousand taels, given it's no small matter."

"Hiss…" Lou Yi drew a sharp breath.

Luckily, he previously killed an Evil Cultivator, gaining over a thousand taels. With silver obtained from gambling bodies, the total was just manageable.

Information about Feng Jiuyue was too critical for him, possibly affecting his martial arts path.

Consequently, Lou Yi wasn't reluctant whatsoever; wealth is external, earn it again later.

He removed nearly all his silver notes and silver taels from his person, handing them to Zhang Li, once more becoming utterly impoverished.

"Wait for the news. Could take two to three weeks, or perhaps found by the next day." Zhang Li replied.

Parting with Zhang Li, Lou Yi felt an emptiness inside.

'Silver, silver, I need more silver.'

On the way back to Disciple Peak, Lou Yi saw a group of followers, these guys eagerly rushing toward Guest Welcoming Peak's direction.

"Brother, what's happening?" Lou Yi grabbed one to ask.

"You don't know? Four Seas Association and Cyan Cloud Alliance people clashed, preparing a corpse duel at Guest Welcoming Peak!"

'Corpse duel? Doesn't that mean there's silver to be earned?' Lou Yi's eyes lit up.

...

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