C18 Martial Arts Repository

"How many Tao points do you want?" Zhang Daoming asked, his face clouded over. He had a sudden realization that he might have underestimated Zhao Yu.

Initially, it was Zhang Daoming who had put the pressure on Zhao Yu, but now the tables had turned, and Zhao Yu was the one setting terms.

"I wouldn't want to appear greedy," Zhao Yu replied. "Five thousand Tao points will suffice."

"How many?" Zhang Daoming's face tensed.

"Five thousand," Zhao Yu repeated.

Zhang Daoming's expression soured. After a few seconds, he scoffed, "That's outright greed."

"I wouldn't dare," Zhao Yu responded evenly.

Zhang Daoming huffed, "Even the elders of the Sky Profound Sect only receive four thousand Tao points a year. And here you are asking for five thousand."

"Sect Master, we're talking about two different scenarios," Zhao Yu explained. "While the elders are allotted four thousand Tao points, they can earn additional points through sect missions. I'm willing to forgo my own happiness for the sake of Junior Sister Xuemeng and Senior Brother Hsiao's union. Once they're married, the benefits that the Sky Profound Sect will reap from Senior Brother Hsiao will far exceed five thousand Tao points."

Zhang Daoming's face betrayed a shift in emotion.

He had consented to his daughter's relationship with Hsiao Fengyun because of the latter's influential background, and Zhao Yu had pinpointed his motive. Zhang Daoming was unsure if Zhao Yu had done so deliberately.

Zhao Yu continued earnestly, "Moreover, I'm asking for five thousand Tao points to enhance my own strength, so I can better serve the sect and you, Sect Master, in the future. You're aware of the close bond I once shared with Junior Sister Xuemeng. I've chosen to suppress my own profound anguish for the greater good, to ensure her union with another doesn't lead to gossip that could besmirch her pristine reputation. My intentions are genuine. I hope you'll grant me this favor."

Zhang Daoming's expression grew even more displeased.

Zhao Yu's acceptance was too facile. He clearly had no attachment to his betrothal with Zhang Xuemeng. Instead, he seemed to be seizing the moment to secure substantial benefits and, implicitly, to leverage some influence over Zhang Daoming.

Yet, Zhao Yu's arguments were sound, leaving Zhang Daoming with no outlet for his frustration.

He didn't buy Zhao Yu's talk of loyalty to the sect for a second.

As Zhao Yu opened his mouth to continue, Zhang Daoming's patience wore thin. He pulled out a jade plate and tossed it at him, his voice icy, "Here's the Sect Master's token. Take it to the Merit Hall and claim 5,000 Tao points. But I expect the marriage annulment papers by tomorrow morning, latest. And should today's conversation leak, you're well aware of the fallout."

With that, Zhang Daoming departed.

"Sect Master, thank you," Zhao Yu said, taking the jade plate and bowing to the retreating figure of Zhang Daoming.

He understood that this action would likely burn bridges with Zhang Daoming, but since they were already at odds, it hardly mattered whether he alienated him further.

His priority was to swiftly convert those Tao points into cultivation resources, bolster his strength, and gear up for the inner sect disciple evaluation in just over a month.

With only one slot available for the Sky Profound Sect at the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects, he had no choice but to secure first place to qualify.

Resolved, Zhao Yu pocketed the jade plate and made his way to the Merit Hall.

In the Sect Master's Mansion study, Zhang Xuemeng listened to Zhang Daoming's account, incredulous. "Zhao Yu's illness was cured by poison?"

"I'm skeptical myself," Zhang Daoming admitted, frowning. "It's unlikely Zhao Yu knew he was poisoned, let alone had an antidote. It seems he may have ingested so much poison that the effects counteracted each other, curing him with a paradoxical twist of fate."

Zhang Xuemeng's face darkened. After a tense silence, she said icily, "Zhao Yu's luck is infuriating. But luck doesn't strike twice."

Zhang Daoming caught her drift, his brow creasing with concern. "You're considering a second attempt on Zhao Yu's life? Is it necessary? He's already consented to the annulment. We'll have the papers by tomorrow morning. Once you marry Hsiao Fengyun, Zhao Yu won't be able to hold a candle to you. He'll pose no threat whatsoever."

"Zhao Yu must die!" Zhang Xuemeng declared icily. "As long as he's alive, there's a chance he'll discover that Senior Brother Hsiao and I poisoned him. Plus, he's changed somehow, and it's unsettling."

She paused before continuing, "And it's not just me who thinks this way; Senior Brother Hsiao agrees. Given his nature, he won't stand for another man being betrothed to me—especially since Zhao Yu has already crossed him."

Zhang Daoming let out a weary sigh.

"Father, I know you once held Zhao Yu in high regard. But his martial arts talent pales in comparison to Senior Brother Hsiao. If we cultivate a strong relationship with Senior Brother Hsiao, the benefits for our Sky Profound Sect will be substantial," Zhang Xuemeng asserted.

Her words finally swayed Zhang Daoming.

After a brief silence, he inquired, "So, what's your plan?"

With a malicious smirk, Zhang Xuemeng's face darkened as she replied, "I've burned all bridges with him, so the old methods of poisoning are out of the question. But the inner sect disciple examination is just over a month away. He's planning to take part. That will be our opportunity to eliminate him."

Upon leaving the Merit Hall, Zhao Yu made a beeline for the Martial Arts Repository.

Armed with five thousand Tao points from Zhang Daoming, the spoils from the Black Wind Tiger, and the Tao points won from his wager with Liu Guang, he had amassed nearly seven thousand Tao points. Without a doubt, he was ready to indulge in a spending spree.

The Martial Arts Repository was overseen by Elder Chung, who had once held Zhao Yu in high esteem.

Elder Chung was overjoyed to learn that Zhao Yu had regained his cultivation base and took a moment to converse with him.

After handing over the Tao points, Zhao Yu stepped into the Merit Hall.

The hall spanned three floors: the first stocked with assorted texts on pills and weaponry; the second housed foundational martial arts literature; and the third floor offered advanced martial arts techniques, a step beyond the Layer Two cultivation techniques found on the second floor.

Moreover, there were certain sect secrets not accessible to the average disciple. Only those granted special permission by the Sect Master or who had significantly contributed to the sect were privileged to learn these exclusive techniques.

The tomes within the Martial Arts Repository were strictly forbidden from being removed or copied. Disciples wishing to study these works could only do so within its walls, paying thirty Tao points for each hour spent.

To Zhao Yu, thirty Tao points were a trifle.

Gazing at the orderly bookshelves before him, Zhao Yu inhaled deeply. Approaching the first row, he selected a volume.

Light announced, "Recording initiated. Recording complete!"

Zhao Yu rifled through the pages at a blistering pace. In under five seconds, he had breezed through a book of several dozen pages.

Such speed made it unlikely he'd catch even a single punctuation mark.

But to Light, the Super Bio-Brain, capturing every detail of the book's content was a simple task.

Once Light had documented the material, it was etched into Zhao Yu's memory, never to be forgotten.

After returning the first book to its place, Zhao Yu picked up another and opened it for Light to document.

An hour later, Zhao Yu had documented the entirety of the first and second floors' collections in the Martial Arts Repository. He had also recorded roughly half of the third floor's offerings.

Then, Zhao Yu retrieved a damaged book from the shelf, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight.