Getting Stronger By Fighting

However.

Since the "sect traitor" Auntie, a pearl and gem, had already set a precedent, and even the "shameless" Old Master Zao, a common brick by comparison, followed suit, both coincidentally held Wang Zhan in remarkably high esteem. So, even though Wang Zhan found it rather embarrassing, he had no choice but to suppress his emotions and steel his resolve.

Work, work, work!

A hustler's heart, a hustler's soul! As long as I don't die, I'll hustle my way to the top!

Work, work, work!

Not just work, but work wonders! Work till the end of ages, till the seas dry and stones decay!

Thus, in this difficult moment of struggle and indecision, Wang Zhan finally made one of the most significant decisions of his life.

Hustler, time to clear it out! Book Collection Pavilion, I'm coming…

"Hey, Wang Zhan, what are you doing?"

In reality, plans can never keep up with changes.

Therefore, Xu Yuyu, who had been leisurely admiring the fragrance of ancient scrolls and ink, couldn't help but call out to Wang Zhan. This boy was peculiar; he seemed dazed and was acting furtively, wandering around aimlessly.

"Ah… Ah, nothing, nothing! You go on with what you were doing!"

Wang Zhan hastily looked around, wondering if there was a hole he could crawl into.

This is so embarrassing! He had only realized after stepping inside that the Book Collection Pavilion was actually a world of its own within the Small World, even larger than the Chu State Martial Arts Academy.

Books were piled up like a veritable sea, making it impossible to get his bearings, let alone find his specific destination.

So, Wang Zhan had honorably gotten lost.

This was the first time he had ever been lost, and also the first time he couldn't find his way, especially in front of a woman—a beautiful woman, at that.

Something feels a bit off about this…

"Oh, I'm not busy! Are you looking for a specific book? I can help you," Xu Yuyu said with a cheerful laugh, not pointing out Wang Zhan's obvious embarrassment.

Wang Zhan's face flushed red but quickly returned to normal. It's fine. As long as I'm not the one who's embarrassed, the girl in front of me will be.

He nonchalantly replied, "Yes, I'm looking for a book. But there are too many here, and I can't seem to find it right away. Are you familiar with this place?"

Yes, just for a short while. It was nothing more than the time it took for Chen Tuan to take a nap; nothing to be ashamed of.

Xu Yuyu harbored no ill intentions.

"Hehe, don't underestimate these secret manuals just because they don't look impressive. This Book Collection Pavilion is a universe unto itself. Its most crucial function is to enrich the foundation of the Sect's disciples, so it's also considered an opportunity. To prevent cheating, a small formation that disrupts mental energy was placed here long ago. It doesn't affect ordinary people, so of course, I'm familiar with it! Your mental energy must be strong; otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten lost."

Wang Zhan had a sudden realization.

Damn it! Isn't there a single good person in this whole sect? Pity his pure heart; he only planned to copy a few books. Why must the unfortunate make things so difficult for other unfortunate souls…

"Nonsense, how could I get lost! My mental energy is very weak, and coupled with my usual malnutrition and insufficient vital energy, I often feel dizzy. That's why I couldn't get my bearings for a moment…" Wang Zhan said weakly, refuting Xu Yuyu a little, which made her giggle, her chest rising and falling with her laughter.

A truly great and ominous sign!

With Xu Yuyu's assistance, Wang Zhan finally found the secret manual the Auntie had instructed him to get: "General Outline of the Basics of Spiritual Power Cultivation - Transforming the Void into the Real".

This was an ancient book specifically explaining the operational methods of mental energy. Its text was abstruse, and its content superficial. Generally, no one would willingly read such a book.

No, it wasn't so much a book as a brick, because Wang Zhan couldn't open it at all. He could only envelop it with his mental energy.

Naturally, he then sensed the cultivation methods and mental energy forging techniques contained within.

From this moment on, he suddenly realized his world seemed to have changed.

This Book Collection Pavilion became exceptionally clear before him—even its most hidden corners, books discarded in odd places, imprints left by generations of Sect disciples…

"Wang Zhan, Wang Zhan, Wang Zhan…"

Xu Yuyu kept calling him, noticing that Wang Zhan seemed completely frozen, utterly silent.

Wang Zhan's mental energy was disturbed. He gradually came back to his senses and apologized to Xu Yuyu.

"It's nothing, just that the content is a bit obscure and difficult to understand. It seems I couldn't adapt for a moment…"

In fact, just moments ago, he had been in a muddled state of half-understanding. His mental energy had been spreading outwards like a fishing net but lacking an anchor point, preventing him from returning to his senses.

If Xu Yuyu hadn't been calling out to him from where she stood, Wang Zhan might have truly become lost in the Book Collection Pavilion. He could have degenerated into scattered clusters of thoughtless mental energy, eventually dissipating with the wind.

Xu Yuyu breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, with a hint of gentle reproach, "Many of the books here are unorthodox, while others are orthodox. Some are beneficial, some are harmful; not every one is an opportunity. You must be more careful next time!"

Wang Zhan nodded and thanked Xu Yuyu.

Then, a glint of light quietly flashed through his eyes. He now understood the greatest opportunity his trip to this Small World had brought him.

Even if he obtained nothing else, with this wondrous application of mental energy from "Transforming Illusion into Reality" alone, Wang Zhan had definitely come out ahead.

This was actually a cultivation method that could allow illusory mental energy to manifest in the real world through intent!

One should know, individuals in the Federation with formidable mental energy were countless. Among them, people like Lin Xiaoyin had taken the lead on the path of mental energy, forging ahead unstoppably.

If they were to obtain this secret manual, their strength would undoubtedly soar to a level commensurate with their mental energy. One could imagine just how precious it was.

Just a moment before, when Wang Zhan hadn't yet returned to his senses, he had felt an incredibly clear stirring within his body, as if he could open the book before him!

It's simply a miracle.

Although I only partially understand it for now, Auntie, I still have to thank you…

Wang Zhan looked up at the sky with a complicated expression, suddenly feeling that the book in his hands was too hot to handle. He could only console himself, It's fine. Since I've taken it, it's taken. Besides, Qin Ying is already my woman. Sooner or later, I'll be the Qín Family's son-in-law. Why would I be afraid of them digging up old scores…

After he calmed down a little, Xu Yuyu, who had been looking concerned the whole time, finally left Wang Zhan.

She too had to go find her own opportunities.

As for Wang Zhan, after grasping the technique of "Transforming Illusion into Reality"—even if not to the point of complete mastery—he now possessed a true method to mobilize the vast mental energy within his body.

First, he utilized a sliver of mental energy, repeatedly trying to use it to turn pages and record their contents.

Then, after a full half-hour of failures, he finally gained a preliminary grasp of the "Transforming Illusion into Reality" technique and turned the first page of a book.

Only then did an irrepressible smile spread across Wang Zhan's face, his expression shifting from joy to excitement.

Very good. From now on, it's all up to you…

BOOM.

The invisible mental energy dampening array was utterly shattered by Wang Zhan's vast, ocean-like mental energy, meeting no resistance.

They transformed one after another into countless quasi-corporeal fingers, which landed on the pages of the books, waiting quietly like a perfectly disciplined army.

First one hundred books, then two hundred, then three hundred. At first, it was clumsy, then hesitant, and finally, it flowed as smoothly as water.

At this moment, the RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE of turning pages echoed through every corner of the Book Collection Pavilion.

Fortunately, the Sect disciples who were nearly frightened by the spectacle, except for Xu Yuyu, were all sent out in time, preventing any accidents.

But imperceptibly, this Book Collection Pavilion, belonging to another Sect, seemed to have become Wang Zhan's territory from this moment onward.

So incredible…

Xu Yuyu witnessed everything happening to Wang Zhan, filled with envy.

Those crystalline, jade-green finger-like projections, constantly flying out from Wang Zhan's head and then retracting, were they not in essence tiny figures? It was just that these figures didn't carry human wisdom on their backs, but rather densely packed characters that had been organized and inscribed.

As Xu Yuyu thought of this, an idea suddenly struck her.

Such an amazing book, can I learn it? But… would that be snatching Wang Zhan's opportunity? If I could learn it, that would be wonderful! Then Daddy wouldn't have to punish me by making me copy texts, memorize books, and remember medicine names every day. If I could just send out one tiny little figure, I could sleep soundly…

It was so tempting.

If Wang Zhan knew what Xu Yuyu was thinking, who knows what his reaction would be.

However, their objectives probably didn't differ much; both involved memorizing texts, after all.

One was ancient books; the other, medicinal formulas.

Largely similar, different paths to the same destination; such is fate, such is life.

"Very powerful mental energy," the Old Master Zao, who had been observing from the shadows all along, said softly.

Elder He smiled. "Indeed, it's powerful. An ordinary Martial Master, upon reaching his current stage of advancement, would possess less than a tenth of his mental energy. But since he cultivates the 'General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder,' it's not considered exceptionally outstanding."

The Old Man chuckled despite himself. "You cunning little minx! Profiting yet feigning innocence! Do you think the 'General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder' is a panacea? Go take a look! How many in your clan have cultivated it? Though their mental energy grows rapidly, they neglect other aspects, and their physical bodies become progressively weaker. In the end, they're just more living dead."

Elder He fell silent.

This was the drawback of the "General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder."

Excessively strong mental energy also requires the nourishment of a powerful physical body. If one's vital energy is insufficient, it will eventually become a hindrance, leaving one unable to advance or retreat, merely wasting away one's years.

The Old Man naturally knew this as well and continued, "Actually, haven't you noticed? This boy's physical body is also starting to decline! He's challenging his limits but has forgotten that limits also require a physical body as a foundation. As his realm soars, the day the gap between his mental energy and vital energy widens significantly will be the day he dies."

Elder He smiled, somewhat resigned. "Let him live to see that day first. If it truly comes to that, perhaps life and death won't matter so much anymore."

The Old Man nodded, then shook his head, sighing with deep emotion. "Your Ancestor was indeed a remarkable figure. But when it came to harming his own descendants, he was a first-class expert at that too."

What could the beautiful woman say? She could only remain silent.