As he had been warned by Mei, there were many Earth Grade and Heaven Grade martial arts. Thankfully, the techniques were easily marked in their respected grades.

  Yet, after inspecting the Heaven and Earth grades for a while, Li Zhen couldn't tell if there was anything wrong with them. They followed the same flowery language to explain the technique but seemed more mysterious and powerful.

  Even the names they had sounded powerful, like Heavenly Body Art and Seven Celestial Thundergod Burning Punch.

  Zhen’s eyes scanned the rows of martial arts tomes with a furrowed brow. If he was born in this world, the name might felt more powerful but his thoughts were different.

  Anything with such an impressive name couldn't possibly be just for the Foundational Establishment, and he had a feeling he had encountered the trope of martial arts with cool-sounding names but having weak effects.

  The descriptions were grandiose, filled with promises of unparalleled power, dominion over the elements, crushing mountains, splitting seas. Zhen’s lips curled into a dry smile.

  Techniques with such ostentatious details often carried hidden flaws or required insane cultivation realms to even comprehend. I could understand why Mei would stop me from looking at these martial arts. The air felt colder as he let Mei’s warning replay in his head.

  Turning to the Earth Grade section, Zhen found the tomes slightly more modest. Their spines were sturdy but plain, bound in leather with only the faintest embossing of elemental symbols. Yet, these too carried promises of greatness.

  These still carried a weight of power but felt slightly more attainable. Titles like Crimson Flame Steps and Gale Wind Saber Technique caught his eye. Their descriptions were equally alluring, promising mastery over fire or wind and unmatched grace in battle.

  Similar to the Heavens Grade… Grandiose descriptions, promises of power. The same script over and over. He shook his head. He wasn’t looking for something flashy or destined to make him a hero. Right now, survival was the priority.

  He also had to get a technique that might be useful for him right now. No point in future planning if he couldn't protect himself. For the hundredth time Zhen cursed his lack of memories for not having any cultivation advice.

  The fight that morning flashed in his mind like a cruel reminder. The sharp sting of bruises were still fresh.

  His defensive options had been laughably inadequate. A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the way his opponent’s strikes had cut through his weak stance like paper. If he didn’t address this gap, he’d be at the mercy of anyone with a grudge.

  To avoid further humiliation—or worse—he needed a skill that would bolster his defenses, something reliable and immediate.

  Most cultivators inside the sect would leave him alone if they saw he had strong defenses, and it wasn't like he could suddenly turn into a murderous aggressor as was typical in Xianxia tales.

  The Profound Grade section was less adorned but no less intriguing. Simpler titles caught his eye, each promising utility without unnecessary flair. After some searching, Zhen came across a set of options that sparked his interest: Golden Shield Art, Jade Turtle Shell, Diamond Skin Method, and Stone Skin Mantra.

  His fingers hovered over the spine of Jade Turtle Shell for a moment. The description promised a defensive barrier that could absorb and deflect Qi-based attacks. A solid option. But then, Diamond Skin Method seemed equally promising, offering unparalleled physical resilience against physical blows.

  Which one? Zhen frowned. The decision wasn’t as simple as it seemed. A misstep here could cost him dearly in the future. Jade Turtle Shell sounds like it would give me a good buffer, but what if I need something sturdier? Maybe Diamond Skin... Or should I combine two techniques? Would that even work?

  He clenched his fists, the weight of his ignorance pressing like a millstone. If only I had my memories of cultivation... or a teacher I could trust. For a moment, frustration flickered across his face, but he quickly pushed it aside.

  There was no time to wallow in self-pity. Gritting his teeth, Zhen focused. This was a test, just like everything else. He scanned the shelves again, determined to choose wisely.

  As he looked through these, Zhen’s mind raced. Defensive techniques like these could provide him with the stability he needed.

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  Zhen’s gaze fell back to Diamond Skin Method. Its simplicity struck a chord. This was no grandiose, flowery technique filled with promises of godlike power. It was practical, immediate—a method to fortify his body and turn his skin into an impenetrable defense. This is what I need, he thought, his grip on the book tightening.

  Closing the book with a decisive thud, Zhen placed the other tomes back on the shelf. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing as a sense of clarity settled over him.

  After he deliberated, a new thought sparked—wild and almost ridiculous. What if the library held something more?

  Soon he started to rush to get a look at all the techniques. Maybe there were hidden gems that he could see. He had already met He Shan, so there were chances of books for other blessed people presents. There should be a book here that would help a protagonist on his journey, right?

  Getting a hand on one of them might create a good start. If someone like him existed, wasn’t it possible that treasures meant for protagonists lay concealed in this library’s recesses?

  Driven by this thought, Zhen began to scour the shelves with renewed vigor.

  The further he ventured, the less polished the library became. The air grew stale, carrying a faint musk of forgotten paper and mildew.

  After looking at almost ninety percent of the floor, he came across only dusty bookshelfs with long-forgotten techniques.

  This part of the library felt abandoned, the Qi formations meant to preserve the books long since failed.

  Fatigue clawed at him, his legs aching as he combed through the neglected aisles. Am I wasting my time? The thought flickered, accompanied by a growing sense of futility.

  But then, his eyes caught a name that made his heart stop. Opening Heaven.

  He froze. The words sparked a memory, faint yet undeniable. His steps faltered, and he nearly stumbled into a nearby shelf. Isn’t this the same technique that inspired Hundred Stars Refinement?

  His gaze lingered on the book. Its cover, worn and faded, seemed out of place even in this neglected section of the library. The edges of the tome were frayed, threads of fabric peeling away like the unraveling of time itself.

  Opening Heaven: Edited by Dao Lord Tianxu, Year 1203 of the Celestial Era

  Zhen’s fingers hovered over the spine, hesitant. His eyes darted to the books beside it, their titles equally enigmatic, with five more empty sections on the shelf.

  All Things: Edited by Dao Lord Zhiyuan, Year 302 of the Verdant Age

  Heavenly Ascension: Edited by Dao Lord Yunfei, Year 789 of the Lunar Era

  Devil: Edited by Dao Lord Yeming, Year 145 of the Epoch of Shadows

  There was a plaque above the shelf, similar to which he had seen in the library indicating if these techniques were part of a larger series.

  Mortal Grade - Foundation Establishment

  Nine Eternal Laws of the Grand Dao

  Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. Mortal Grade? The realization struck him like a thunderclap. His thoughts churned, struggling to reconcile the revelation. The sect’s refinement technique is based on a Mortal Grade art?

  His gaze swept the dusty section, his unease growing. The thick layer of neglect—dust undisturbed, cobwebs draped like forgotten shrouds—suggested no one had set foot here in decades.

  What are they doing here, abandoned in the Martial Arts Pavilion? His pulse quickened. The weight of the air seemed to press against him, and a chilling thought crept into his mind. Are they here for a protagonist?

  The logic, while absurd, gnawed at him. It fit too well. Why else would treasures of this caliber be left untouched? If these techniques hold such power, they must be meant for someone. His lips pressed into a thin line. Am I that going to steal the protagonist treasures?

  His hands trembled as he reached for Opening Heaven, brushing away layers of dust and cobwebs. The weight of the book in his hands felt… significant. He cracked it open, the faint scent of ancient paper mingling with the musk of the room.

  The words were dense, the concepts profound. Though different from what he remembered, Zhen was certain: this was the same Opening Heaven that had once guided him.

  Zhen quickly pursed through the words. While it was quite different from what he could remember but Zhen was certain that this was the same Opening Heaven that he gained enlightenment from.

  His pulse quickened. The technique spoke of splitting chaos itself to create new worlds. Even in its fragmented state, its potential was awe-inspiring. But was it too much? He chewed his lip, the old conflict rising: caution versus ambition.

  This is dangerous… but what if it’s the edge I need?

  Zhen’s fingers tightened on the book’s spine. There was not much time and he had to decide whether to take it or not. For a moment, he thought about being impulsive and take the risk.

  Just as he began to pull the book closer, a rustling sound shattered the silence.

  Zhen stiffened, every muscle locking in place. He strained his ears, his pulse hammering in his ears as a figure emerged from behind the shelves.

  Her robe, deep crimson and embroidered with golden phoenixes, shimmered in the low light. The birds seemed almost alive, their wings poised to burst into flames. The faint scent of jasmine and charred wood followed her, and Zhen’s breath hitched.

  His body tensed instinctively, his muscles locking as if in response to an apex predator. The distance between them felt irrelevant; the intensity of her presence pressed against him like an invisible hand. His heart thudded in his chest, his mind racing. Higher realm. Much higher.