The Martial Skill Pavilion is a three-story building housing all sorts of martial arts techniques and cultivation methods.
On the Barbaric Wilderness Continent, cultivation methods are ranked from high to low as "Heaven, Earth, Profound, Yellow" grades, but within the registered disciple area of Qingyun Sect, the most precious ones in the Martial Skill Pavilion are only Yellow Class techniques.
The first floor stores Yellow Class lower-grade cultivation methods; the second floor beholds Yellow Class mid-grade cultivation methods; and the highest third floor treasure Yellow Class upper-grade cultivation methods.
Entering the Martial Skill Pavilion, the variety of martial arts manuals broadened Ye Chen's horizons.
"Tiger Leopard Thunder Fist, Yellow Class lower-grade martial skill, seven styles of fist technique, as fast as thunder, sold for two thousand and five hundred striped silver taels."
"Cloud Dispersing Palm, Yellow Class lower-grade martial skill, when cultivated to a profound level, can strike out thirty-three palm shadows, sold for three thousand and three hundred striped silver taels."
"Wind Piercing Finger, Yellow Class lower-grade martial skill, finger like an arrow, piercing wind with a flick, costs two thousand striped silver taels to borrow for one month."
After browsing the first floor of the Martial Skill Pavilion for a while, Ye Chen did not find a cultivation technique to his liking, and proceeded to the second floor.
The manuals on the first floor are placed on shelves, while those on the second are placed on stone pedestals, indicating the techniques on the second floor are much more valuable than those on the first.
The second floor houses Yellow Class mid-grade cultivation techniques.
The Yellow Class lower-grade techniques on the first floor could be purchased directly, whereas the Yellow Class mid-grade techniques on the second floor could only be borrowed by spending striped silver, not bought outright.
As for the third floor's Yellow Class upper-grade techniques, it's specifically required that only disciples who have made significant contributions to the sect can cultivate them, and Ye Chen does not even have the qualifications to go upstairs.
Ye Chen planned on carefully selecting one or two suitable techniques from the second floor of the Martial Skill Pavilion.
"Streamflow Swordsmanship, Yellow Class mid-grade cultivation technique, swordplay like flowing water in motion, comprises thirteen moves, five thousand striped silver taels to borrow for one month."
Looking at this set of swordsmanship, Ye Chen's gaze lingered for a moment. Like his predecessor, he had a special fondness for swords, which was why his main cultivated martial skill was swordsmanship.
However, this Streamflow Swordsmanship was not very appealing to him.
"Gentle Wind Swordsmanship..."
"Star Slicing Swordsmanship..."
Ye Chen perused one technique after another until suddenly, by a pedestal in the corner of the second floor, he stopped.
"Torrential Rain Sword Skills, an incomplete sword manual, accidentally acquired by a sect elder while traveling. Originally classified as a Yellow Class upper-grade technique, but only the first three moves remain, thus it's categorized as a Yellow Class mid-grade technique.
This set of swordsmanship has extremely strong attack power, ranking first in attack power among all the mid-grade techniques on the second floor! Borrowing for one month costs eight thousand striped silver taels."
Torrential Rain Sword Skills!
Attracted by the introduction to this sword technique, Ye Chen was captivated instantly.
Torrential Rain Sword Skills, sword moves as fast as a torrential downpour. For some reason, just the name alone stirred his enthusiasm.
After thoroughly reading the introduction beneath the pedestal about this set of Torrential Rain Sword Skills, Ye Chen finally made up his mind.
"I'll choose this one."
Ye Chen took the Torrential Rain Sword Skills with him.
"Now that I have an attack martial skill, I'll pick a movement technique."
Body Method Martial Arts assist in killing with attack martial skills, and they can save one's life at critical moments, making them an extremely important supportive martial art, essential for martial artists.
In the end, Ye Chen selected a movement technique called Startling Goose Steps, which, once cultivated to the Great Accomplishment Realm, allowed one to move as fast as lightning and as swiftly as a startled goose, granting incredible speed.
Holding two martial skill manuals, Ye Chen left the building.
"Cultivating techniques indeed consumes a lot, just borrowing these two sets of Yellow Class mid-grade techniques for a month alone costs nine thousand striped silver taels."
Of course, Qingyun Sect wouldn't provide manuals to registered disciples for cultivation for nothing; after all, each manual is precious to both the sect and the martial artist. Ye Chen understood the reason behind the cost of silver taels.
"No wonder they say that in martial arts cultivation, extensive financial support is a must. And this is only for the Yellow Class mid-grade techniques; for the more advanced Yellow Class upper-grade, as well as the Profound and Earth Rank techniques, the expenses must be even higher."
"However, as one's strength grows, earning silver becomes easier. It's rumored that hunting a high-grade demon beast in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain could even yield ten thousand striped silver taels."
Martial arts cultivation involves investment but also provides returns.
Ye Chen understood this principle.
"Fortunately, the predecessor of this body left me with a good amount of silver taels, which should be enough for me to cultivate these two Cultivation Techniques," Ye Chen said with a smile.
Born into the Ye Family, a major family of Qingyang City, his parents sent him silver coins every year, and at this moment, Ye Chen had over ten thousand patterned silver taels on him.
After deducting necessary expenses for clothing, food, shelter, and travel, the surplus was worthwhile to exchange for the chance to cultivate two admired Cultivation Techniques.
Holding two Martial Skill Manuals, Ye Chen went to register with the Pavilion Guardian Elder.
"Startling Goose Steps, this Body Method is not bad," the Pavilion Guardian Elder took the manual from Ye Chen and nodded in approval as he reviewed the movement technique laid out on it.
"Eh, you've also chosen the 'Torrential Rain Sword Skills'?" he frowned when he flipped to the second manual, "The 'Torrential Rain Sword Skills', though powerful in attack, are extremely difficult to cultivate. Many disciples have been enticed by its power, only to fail to grasp even the basic first sword move within a month and waste thousands of silver taels.
Are you sure you want to choose this manual?"
Ye Chen knew that the Pavilion Guardian Elder was kindly reminding him, and he said with a smile, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder, but I will choose this swordsmanship."
Ye Chen had a feeling that the "Torrential Rain Sword Skills" were extraordinarily suited for him to cultivate, a marvelous intuition that he certainly wouldn't let others' words sway his choice.
"The young disciples of today always aim too high," the Pavilion Guardian Elder shook his head, "Well, if you insist on choosing it, I won't stop you, but if there is no progress in a month, don't blame me for not reminding you."
"Also, I must remind you that the Martial Skills borrowed from the Martial Skill Pavilion must not be taught to others without permission, or you will face severe punishment from the Sect. Hand over the patterned silver, and make sure you return the manuals on time within a month. Failing to do so will also result in penalties."
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder. I understand," Ye Chen replied.
After paying the silver, he tucked the manuals close to his body and strode out of the Martial Skill Pavilion.
Not far from the Martial Skill Pavilion, a voice called out, and Ye Chen stopped in his tracks, looking up in the direction the voice came from.
The one calling out to him was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth with a cold expression.
Seeing this youth's face, Ye Chen's brows furrowed slightly.
"Wang Yuan." After a brief recollection, he remembered the young man's name.
This Wang Yuan was also a registered disciple of the Qingyun Sect but quite an infamous character among the registered disciples. Not only was he known for his fourth level of True Qi, which put him at the forefront among the registered disciples, but also for his ruthless and brutal temperament.
Wang Yuan liked to use the lower-ranking registered disciples as "human punching bags" in his cultivation, kicking and punching them. The former Ye Chen had also been called to serve as a human punching bag by Wang Yuan multiple times, taking quite a few hits.
Wang Yuan was especially strong, and not following his arrangements meant more than just getting punched around as a human punching bag—a lighter consequence would involve being bedridden for a few months, while the more severe one could even lead to broken limbs.
Ye Chen did not have the slightest bit of affection for Wang Yuan.
"This is the Martial Skill Pavilion, which houses only Yellow Class Cultivation Techniques. Ye Chen, you fool, what are you doing here?" Wang Yuan asked condescendingly, standing over Ye Chen.
Ye Chen gave Wang Yuan a cool glance, ignored him, and walked straight ahead.
The Ye Chen of the past feared Wang Yuan, but now, not in the slightest. Ye Chen had just begun his own cultivation, and his cultivation had already reached the third level of True Qi. Even if he couldn't defeat Wang Yuan, he was quite confident that he wouldn't be disadvantaged against him.
What's more, with the Primordial Star Scripture's "Meridian Refining Art" and the newly selected Cultivation Techniques, given some more time to cultivate, Ye Chen was confident he could easily defeat Wang Yuan.
"Are you deaf!" Wang Yuan's expression darkened instantly as he saw Ye Chen ignoring him. He wanted to grab Ye Chen and teach him a lesson right there, but after glancing at the Martial Skill Pavilion, he stopped himself.
"Hmph, if it weren't for my hurry to exchange for the 'Blood Fiend Claw', I'd teach you a lesson today!"
"Ye Chen, in a month, come to my place dutifully and be my human punching bag. If you don't come then, don't blame me for not showing mercy!" Wang Yuan's voice reached Ye Chen.
Ye Chen's steps faltered ever so slightly, and then he continued forward.
A month from now, it would be clear who would be showing no mercy!