C28 Learn the Alchemy!

"Come on in and join the fun, little guy."

Xiao Ling grinned as he scooped up Xiaojin in a firm grip.

Awoo! Awoo!

Caught by surprise, Xiaojin's fur bristled adorably as Xiao Ling held him.

Whoosh!

With a mere thought, Xiao Ling whisked Xiaojin into the Holy Monolith, which came to rest on the bed.

"So, it's possible to bring living beings inside!"

Xiao Ling let out a soft smile and gently set Xiaojin down.

Aowuuu!

Gazing at the expansive sky, Xiaojin yelped with delight. Spotting a butterfly, he scampered after it, intent on making the catch.

Plop!

Xiaojin lunged mid-air, but just as he was about to snatch the butterfly, it deftly evaded, leaving him to tumble headfirst in a comical heap.

Aowu!

With a look of stubborn defiance in his golden eyes, Xiaojin persisted in his pursuit, doggedly tailing the butterfly. He swiped with his paws, only to miss again.

"This little guy is having a blast."

Xiao Ling chuckled, his dark eyes gleaming. He approached the vast repository of the Holy Martial Institute's resources, pondering the best way to secure them.

Left exposed, the elements could ruin many of the books.

With a focused thought, Xiao Ling transferred the entirety of the Holy Martial Institute's treasures into the Red Blood Card, then in an instant, he stood before a mountain peak.

Having bonded with the Holy Monolith through his blood, he now commanded it, able to reach any desired location with a mere thought.

"I'll carve out a grand stone chamber to house the Holy Martial Institute's resources."

Xiao Ling mused that the Holy Monolith, capable of holding people, could serve as a sanctuary for the Institute's surviving disciples.

The Holy Monolith's spiritual energy was far richer than the outside world's. By harnessing it, he could strengthen the Holy Martial Institute's disciples significantly.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With those thoughts in mind, Xiao Ling gripped the Edgeless Sword and set to work carving out a stone chamber within the mountain. As he dug, he simultaneously practiced the body tempering techniques of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor. The dual effort synergized perfectly, yielding impressive results in his physical conditioning.

Several hours later, Xiao Ling had successfully excavated a vast stone chamber. He stepped inside, meticulously arranging the resources of the Holy Martial Institute. He also fitted the upper stone walls with numerous Night Pearls, which he had brought from the Institute's own chambers to illuminate the space.

Having completed these tasks, Xiao Ling guessed that dawn must have broken outside. Remaining hidden was crucial; discovery could lead to unwanted questions. The Tower Master of the Resplendent Building, Huo Wu, had reached the Martial King Stage. Though she had shown him kindness, the allure of the Holy Monolith could drive even the most disciplined Martial Cultivator to acts of desperation. His current weakness meant the Monolith must remain a secret at all costs.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Xiao Ling was back in his bedroom. He rose from his bed, pushed open the door, and his eyes widened in disbelief. The night still reigned over the Divine Martial Continent, the moon hanging like a gleaming disc amid a sea of stars.

"Could it be..." he pondered, closing the door and returning to his bed. With a mere thought, he was back within the Holy Monolith.

"Just as I suspected, time within the Holy Monolith doesn't align with the outside world!" Astonishment flickered in Xiao Ling's eyes as he whispered to himself, "I spent a full twenty hours inside the Monolith, yet only two have passed in the outside world!"

This meant that a single day of cultivation within the Monolith was equivalent to ten in the outside world. The realization brought a smile to Xiao Ling's lips, his heart racing with excitement. "With the Holy Monolith, I can accomplish so much more! It's like having tenfold the time compared to everyone else!"

Pacing back and forth, Xiao Ling focused his mind and could peer into the world outside the Monolith – his own bedroom.

Aowu!

Out of nowhere, Xiaojin sprang into action, leaping toward Xiao Ling with boundless energy.

"Xiaojin, this Holy Monolith is an enormous treasure trove. With it, we can grow rapidly and become powerful!"

Xiao Ling embraced Xiaojin, his face beaming with joy. The miraculous powers of the Holy Monolith would enable him to accomplish feats beyond the reach of others!

Aowu!

Xiaojin's wet tongue affectionately licked Xiao Ling's cheek, its golden eyes sparkling with delight. Clearly, it sensed Xiao Ling's elation and shared in his happiness.

"In a little while, Xiaojin, this will be your home."

Gazing at the landscape within the Holy Monolith, Xiao Ling was struck by its beauty—a splendor that seemed to outshine the world outside.

Awoo.

A plaintive howl escaped Xiaojin, its golden pupils tinged with sadness. It was clear that the prospect of living here alone, away from Xiao Ling, was not to its liking.

"Little buddy, don't worry."

Xiao Ling intuitively grasped Xiaojin's feelings. He gently scratched its nose, reassuringly saying, "The Holy Monolith and I share a bond. I can be back here in an instant."

Comforted by these words, Xiaojin contentedly nestled into Xiao Ling's embrace.

"It's time to delve into the Holy Martial Institute's knowledge and bolster my own strength!"

With a focused mind, Xiao Ling entered the stone chamber, set Xiaojin down, and plunged into the depths of the book collection.

"Firstly, I need to find a sword technique Martial Skill! It could be a palm or fist technique Martial Skill, and finally, a Body Movement and Martial Skill!"

Xiao Ling was aware that overreaching could lead to failure, so he set his goals with precision and clarity.

His dark eyes gleamed with anticipation as he sifted through the wealth of knowledge at the Holy Martial Institute.

"The Autumn Leaf Sword Technique, an intermediate Yellow Rank Sword Technique, is as graceful as falling leaves and renowned for its profound artistic impression."

"The Seven Flash Sword Technique, a high-level Yellow Rank, consists of seven swift and fierce moves. With the speed of a blink, it targets an opponent's face..."

"Earth Shattering Sword Technique, a high-level Yellow Rank sword method, demands mastery over the sword's vibrational power. When skillfully harnessed, it can produce ground-splitting destruction."

However, these techniques weren't a good fit for Xiao Ling, prompting him to shake his head and resume his search.

Then, his eyes brightened as he discovered a sword technique that seemed tailor-made for him.

"Ruined Sword Technique! Quite the peculiar name. Yet, its intricacies are perfectly suited for the Edgeless Sword."

Xiao Ling perused the Ruined Sword Technique, his dark eyes growing increasingly radiant, a smile spreading across his face. Closing the book, he declared with a grin, "This is the one, the Ruined Sword Technique!"

A low-level Profound Rank technique, the Ruined Sword Technique's brilliance lies in its ability to clash directly with an enemy's weapon. Through clever application of force, it aims to shatter the adversary's armament.

However, achieving such destructive power comes at a cost, potentially damaging one's own weapon.

But with a divine weapon like the Edgeless Sword, only the foe's weapon would meet its end!

The technique is comprised of three formidable moves: Extreme Breaking Weapon, Army Shattering Violent Strike, and Broken Horizontal Slash. Each stance is designed to aggressively target and dismantle the opponent's weapon, leaving them vulnerable to a lethal strike.

"Once I've mastered the Ruined Sword Technique, I'll be unstoppable with the Edgeless Sword, breaking through and demolishing enemy weapons with ease!"

Xiao Ling chuckled to himself. An unarmed opponent would be no match for him, clearly placing him at a significant advantage.

"Vajra Fist, a mid-level Yellow Rank martial skill, strikes with the force of a diamond. A single punch can crush a boulder..."

"Driedwood Palm, also a mid-level Yellow Rank skill, unleashes a palm strike potent enough to wither trees..."

"Five Direction Sun Fist, a high-level Yellow Rank martial skill, launches punches as radiant as the sun, emanating in five directions. The unleashed force can morph into five distinct energies, inflicting severe damage upon the enemy."

Observing the Five Directional Yang Fist, Xiao Ling gave a nod of approval, finding it satisfactory. His attention then drifted to a high-level Profound Rank leg technique that was incomplete.

"Crimson Flame Chain Kick!"

As Xiao Ling perused the leg technique martial skill, the recorded moves were so compelling that he couldn't help but smack his lips in appreciation. However, his enthusiasm waned when he reached a torn page and couldn't see the continuation, leaving him sighing with a tinge of regret.

"This is indeed an excellent leg technique martial skill, and it suits me well. I'll focus on cultivating this one."

The Crimson Flame Chain Kick, a high-level Profound Rank martial skill, featured a variety of leg techniques that could summon fierce flames, making it ideal for martial cultivators with a fire-type martial soul.

Despite its incompleteness reducing its potential power, Xiao Ling, with his Fiery Martial Soul, could fully compensate for the missing pieces, amplifying the might of the Crimson Flame Chain Kick to even greater levels.

Snap.

As Xiao Ling closed the book on the Crimson Flame Chain Kick, a yellowed piece of parchment fell from its worn corner.

"What's this?"

Xiao Ling was taken aback, not expecting a seemingly ordinary piece of aged parchment to be hidden within the damaged cover of the book. He sensed there was more to it than met the eye.

He examined the parchment closely, noting the faint, blurred pattern that resembled a red lotus...

"Never mind, I'll just keep this safe for now."

Unable to decipher its purpose, Xiao Ling stowed the parchment in his Red Blood Card and continued his search for body movement martial skills.

"Wind Walking Step, a low-level Profound Rank technique. Become as elusive as the wind, leaving no trace in your wake."

Xiao Ling was impressed by the description. Given its Profound Rank status, it was perfectly suited for his current training, so he decided on the Wind Walking Step.

"With sword technique, leg technique, and movement technique selected, I'll spend the coming days in the Resplendent Building, recuperating and honing my martial skills to solidify my realm."

Xiao Ling's eyes gleamed with determination. Filled with confidence about his future, he knew that with diligent practice and his natural aptitude, he would swiftly master these martial skills.

"Even though I'm equipped with a full arsenal of attack techniques, I'm still lacking some life skills..."

Xiao Ling settled onto a cattail mat, his gaze falling on the neatly arranged Jade Slips before him, a smile playing on his lips.

"With my affinity for fire as a martial soul, moonlighting as an alchemist shouldn't be too challenging..."

Emblazoned on the Jade Slips were bold characters outlining the essential survival rules for alchemists. The other slips delved into the foundational elements of alchemy and various other pieces of knowledge related to the craft...