That week did not pass without drawing attention.
Especially since two of the sect leader's sons were far from pleased with what they were seeing.
The three met in a secluded courtyard, where Li Fan was training alone.
One of the leader's sons laughed mockingly.
"So I hear you've become a rising star? You?"
Li Fan froze—but he did not bow.
The other stepped forward.
"Looks like the Shadow Hound found himself some new toys."
A calm voice came from behind them.
"If you have time," Jin said evenly, "don't waste it on words."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
There was no full battle.
There was no need.
A single strike from Yuan—unfinished, yet clean and decisive—halted one of them in place.
As for the other… he felt something he had never felt before.
Fear.
Despite their status.
Despite being sons of the Heavenly Demon.
Despite belonging to a lineage tied to one of the Sword Thrones of this world—
They were being humiliated… by people with no background. No standing.
He spat coldly,
"You will regret this."
Jin replied, his tone devoid of emotion,
"That's enough disturbance."
They left.
The confrontation was brief, yet inevitable.
After countless provocations, the anger of the sect's heirs toward Jin had finally reached its peak.
That night, the three sat together in silence.
At last, Li Fan spoke.
"After the seclusion… will you return the same?"
Jin looked down at his hand.
"I don't know."
They talked for a long time after that.
Then Jin stood up.
At dawn the next day, Jin stood before the academy library.
He carried nothing but himself.
Without looking back, he opened the door and entered.
The first floor welcomed him quietly.
He had four hours—more than enough time for someone who knew exactly what he wanted.
He did not open a single book to skim it.
Instead, he let his awareness flow like a calm current between the shelves.
The knowledge here was primitive to him.
Four full hours passed.
One hundred books.
Finished.
No surprise. No hesitation.
He left as he had entered.
The second floor greeted him with a different silence.
The books here were better—deeper—but still within expectations.
He sat.
Read.
Absorbed.
He did not need his full capabilities, nor did he feel any strain.
Ninety books.
Finished.
When he ascended to the third floor, everything changed.
This time—
Jin was no longer gathering knowledge randomly.
He had a purpose.
He stopped between two shelves and muttered softly,
"Hm… will I find a book on Void Steps here?"
He moved slowly, scanning the shelves with care.
"And I'll also need… a book on mental manipulation of internal energy."
He paused, then added,
"…and a new breathing method."
An entire hour passed.
An hour of true searching—not reading.
Then… he found them.
Three books.
Relatively old—but different.
This time, Jin did not memorize the contents blindly as he usually did.
He sat down.
Opened them with full concentration.
Studied every line, every diagram, every marginal note.
Half an hour passed—
A long time, for him.
Then he closed the books.
Finished.
After that, he resumed walking—his gaze now different.
A gaze searching for power.
Martial arts.
He found several noteworthy manuals, among them:
Earth-Shattering Blade Art
A style that merges rotational energy with consecutive cuts, designed for swift and decisive battles.
Hidden Star Fist
A hand-to-hand combat art that focuses on condensing energy into invisible points, then releasing it explosively inside the opponent's body.
Free-Hand Combat Style
Dual-Hand Combat Method
A style explaining how to use two different techniques simultaneously—one in each hand.
It belonged to no known clan.
They weren't perfect—
But they were useful.
By the time the remaining hours ended, the result was clear:
Forty high-level books.
Finished.
Jin exited the building without looking back.
He didn't think much about it.
Everything he needed was already his.
Clothes.
Food.
All stored within his storage ring.
He headed straight for the seclusion chamber.
Before the door, he paused for a moment.
He opened it—
And entered.
The room was relatively spacious.
About sixty square meters.
Steel walls.
Heavy insulation.
No connection to the outside world.
Perfect.
He didn't linger.
He closed the door behind him
And sat down in one corner.
He opened the status window.
Internal Energy:
320
A number—
Monstrous.
This level of energy should not belong even to a martial artist at the peak stage.
But Jin did not smile.
He did not feel pride.
He merely… confirmed it.
He took out a familiar box from his storage ring.
Opened it slowly.
Inside—
The golden pill.
He held it between his fingers and stared at it.
Then he said calmly,
"And now…
I think it's time to accelerate things."
He raised it—
And placed it in his mouth.
End of Chapter