Chapter 34: Scripture Library 4
Chen Xing didn't waste any time, bringing him up to the second floor. And bowing his greeting to a rather immaculately dressed Elder. Qin Feng dipped his head at once, the moment that he saw Chen Xing drop into a bow. Especially when the one receiving it was clad in a robe that did not conform to the color scheme used by the disciples.
Apparently, the Elders of the School were not bound by any rules involving their choice of dress. Although most of them wore robes with a matching beizhi in a slightly darker color. Some sort of dress code?
But old man Chen Xing did not explain, and he could not be bothered to ask. He would probably find out more about that, once he was there long enough, he decided.
By the time he made up his mind, Chen Xing seemed to have finished talking with the Elder, and came back to his side with a somewhat tattered old manual in his hands. Which he held up before Qin Feng's eyes.
"Well, this is the basic martial arts manual that every disciple, Inner or Outer School, receives the moment that they step in here. After all, it would be ridiculous if a disciple from the Heaven Sword School not to be able to wield a sword, wouldn't it?"
Chen Xing chuckled as he handed the book over. It was not that thick, to Qin Feng's eye. He had seen account books that were much thicker than that! But when he opened it, he saw that it comprised of a set of drawings on the left, accompanied with lines of text on the right. Clearly, this was to instruct someone on the way to use a sword.
"The Four Seasons Sword."
That was the name of the technique, written in bold, large characters on its worn cover. And it was rather detailed too! There were even lines written on the page with the drawings, in a different hand. As if someone else was adding his notes to the manual. Probably from his own understanding of the moves.
"But you are entitled to two more manuals. You will need to pick one for quick movement, and another for developing your internal strength, or zhenqi. Shall I do the honors? Or would you like to look around, and see what catches your eye?"
Qin Feng did not waste the opportunity. "Well, it is a bit of a walk, having to climb all those stairs and to move around in the hills. Perhaps a Lightness-of-Body movement technique. That would certainly help. And it would be best if it can support the Four Seasons Sword technique."
Old man Chen Xing grinned and quickly dragged him to one of the nearby bookshelves. It took him only a moment, to find what he was looking for, and he pulled down another battered-looking manual, and pushed it into Qin Feng's hands. It was a little thinner than the other one, which made Qin Feng a little grateful. He didn't want to waste too much time reading them!
"There! That is the Flowing Wind Movement manual. There are a number of movement techniques available but this one is one of the oldest, and most comprehensive. Apart from just the movements that allow you to dodge an enemy's attack, this one also has a rather useful section on how to speed up your own traveling speed.
"Something that you would find useful, if you are always rushing for your meals, eh?"
Qin Feng chuckled along with the old man, and thanked him for his help. Now all he had to do was to get rid of him, so that he could hunt down that manual that he wanted!
"Well, since you are already learning two rather old techniques, you might wish to pick out a similarly ancient set of exercises to bring you up to the Qi Accumulation Realm. What I am talking about is a Foundation Formation manual. There are several of them that are rather popular here in the School, so maybe you should take a look at them yourself.
"Come with me. I'll bring you to the section where they are stored."
Which was in the corner furthest away from the stairs up from the lower level. There were only three bookshelves there, with one of them lining the wall. And it was to that last one that Chen Xing was headed.
"This is where all the basic Foundation Formation manuals are kept. They are all returned here, after the disciples are done with them. Of course, the Inner School disciples are usually accepted into the School after they have already started to accumulate qi, so they hardly come here, or read those books. Except as a reference."
Chen Xing stepped up to the same, which Qin Feng was surprised to find very neatly arranged and very clean. There was hardly any dust on the shelf itself, which made him wonder if it was really as abandoned as the old man said.
But Chen Xing did not pick out a book for him, as he had expected. Instead, the old man simply pointed at the shelf, as if to indicate that Qin Feng should make his own choice:
"The manuals here were gathered from various sources, but the School has gone through all of them and confirmed that they are suitable for those who are forming a Foundation. Of course, there are those that are eminently suited for those with a special leaning towards one of the elements or other. But none of them will cause any trouble for you.
"Well, except that one that requires you to remain ... untouched for all of your life. We got that off an Imperial Eunuch from the Zhen Empire. I don't know why the Elders had left it here, since none of the disciples have touched it in all the years that I have been here."
Qin Feng managed to shudder at his words, which seemed to satisfy the old man somewhat. To be honest, he was more than familiar with that sort of martial arts. Old Man Snow Mountain had been practicing something like that, which was why he had refused to pass down his own Foundational martial arts to Qin Feng.
Well, it was more like Qin Feng refusing to have anything to do with it in the first place. But he had recommended that he come to the Heaven Sword School, to try his luck, after he told Qin Feng about the outstanding qualities of the Jade Tree Foundation-building technique.
All that was left to do was for him to get his hands on it!
Stepping to the bookshelf, and ignoring the expectant gaze of the old man at his back, Qin Feng started searching at once. It wouldn't be one of the newer-looking manuals, he was certain. But he looked over all of the books all the same. He didn't want to risk missing it.
Then he saw it! There it was! He had found it!
His heartbeat pounded loudly inside his chest as his hands reached forward hungrily, and he had to force himself not to snatch it up like it was something that he had been searching for all his life. Which it was!
The Jade Tree Sixteen Breathing Exercises for forming a Foundation!
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CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Mournblade
Mournblade Introduction to some of the MC's main martial arts in here. Had a hard time coming up with the names until I looked out of the window and saw the tree leaves outside fluttering in the wind. Seemed like someone was trying to send me a message...
: )
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