The Mirror Master

Lu Bai walked to the bookshelf where the Cultivation Techniques were placed and gave it a quick glance.

There were only four books on it: Basic Breathing Technique, Mountain Opening Skill, Minor Circulation Skill, and Calm Heart Technique.

They were all Yellow Tier Techniques.

Lu Bai then went to the Martial Technique bookshelf on the other side.

There were a few more Martial Techniques on this shelf.

Mountain-Opening Palm, Shattering Stone Fist, Leaf-Sweeping Leg, Gale Swordsmanship, Cloak Blade Technique...

There were about a dozen books in total, covering fists, feet, blades, and swords.

They were also all Yellow Tier Martial Techniques.

Lu Bai asked, "Why are they all Yellow Tier?"

Luo Xiao explained, "As for Profound Tier Cultivation and Martial Techniques, you can only find those at Jingzhou Academy in Jingzhou Prefecture City."

The Wu Dynasty had fourteen states, and Bluestone County was located within Jing State.

Lu Bai asked again, "What about Earth Tier and Celestial Tier Martial Arts?"

Luo Xiao said, "Those can only be found in some of the top sects and clans in the Jianghu, or at the Wu Dynasty’s Royal Palace Academy."

"This is a bit troublesome."

Lu Bai frowned to himself.

"It’s not that bad, actually. A Yellow Tier Cultivation Technique can still open the Nine Acupoints."

Luo Xiao said, "It just might take a bit longer.

Besides, even if you had Earth Tier or Celestial Tier Martial Arts, without a master’s guidance, it’s easy to go astray and suffer cultivation deviation if you practice on your own."

Lu Bai shook his head slightly but didn’t explain.

From the Fierce Tiger Stance to the Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique, and then to the White Tiger Stance, he clearly understood the improvements that came with High Grade techniques.

Especially when it came to the level of an Ultimate Skill, it wasn’t just about a faster cultivation speed. The improvements to one’s body and the boost in combat power were a complete qualitative transformation!

Still, Lu Bai didn’t give up. He started searching all over the small building, paying special attention to the inconspicuous corners.

Based on his past life experience, many hidden treasures, like fragmented manuals, were found in such out-of-the-way places.

He then carefully flipped through the Cultivation Technique manuals on the shelf, checking for any hidden compartments between the pages.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill was once found hidden inside a sutra.

After a thorough search, he found nothing.

Greatly disappointed, and seeing that the midday break was almost over, Lu Bai had no choice but to leave the Vast Martial Arts Pavilion with Luo Xiao.

’Looks like there’s no point in staying at Bluestone Academy anymore.’

Lu Bai pondered this on the way back.

With the help of the Ancient Mirror, cultivating at the academy and listening to these Tutors explain Cultivation and Martial Techniques was a complete waste of time.

He would be better off spending that time collecting some Evil Spirits.

’I need to find an excuse to leave.’

Lu Bai mused to himself.

After all, Luo Qing had gone to a lot of trouble, pulling strings to get him in. Without a good excuse, it would be difficult to explain things to Luo Qing.

"Brother Xiao, this is bad! Brother Ben is fighting Sun Jifang!"

Just then, a disciple ran over from a short distance away, panting, and said, "Sun Jifang was no match for him, so he used a dirty trick! Brother Ben was caught off guard and got hit."

The moment Luo Xiao heard this, he took off running toward the training grounds without a second thought.

Lu Bai quickly followed and asked, "Why not get a Tutor for something like this?"

"As long as no weapons are involved and it’s just a fistfight, the Tutors don’t really get involved."

The person said, "We people of the Wu Dynasty value martial prowess. They even encourage this kind of sparring and fighting to hone our fierce spirit.

The Tutors say that if you can’t even handle a fight in the academy, you should give up on martial arts early. Otherwise, when you get to the Jianghu, you’ll just be throwing your life away."

Lu Bai nodded.

’That does make sense.’

Suddenly.

Lu Bai blinked, and a thought flashed through his mind: ’An opportunity to leave the academy... isn’t this it?’

"A fight’s broken out! A fight’s broken out!"

"I heard Sun Shufei and Luo Cheng from the Middle School have rushed over too."

"Those two are Inner Martial Artists, aren’t they? They’re not going to fight, are they? This is going to be good!"

Along the way, many disciples who heard the news rushed over to watch the spectacle.

By the time Lu Bai and the other two arrived at the training grounds, there were already more than two hundred people inside, creating a huge commotion.

"You little calf, do you submit or not!"

Sun Jifang’s voice rang out.

"Submit my ass!"

Luo Ben cursed loudly.

The three of them pushed through the crowd and saw Luo Ben on the ground, his face flushed red with exertion.

Sun Jifang’s eye was red and swollen, indicating he’d taken a punch. He was sitting on top of Luo Ben, twisting Luo Ben’s arm with both hands in a grappling lock.

Even with his immense brute strength, Luo Ben couldn’t break free.

"Let’s see you talk tough now!"

Sun Jifang’s expression turned vicious. He put more force into his arms, pinning Luo Ben’s head and pressing it hard against the ground.

Luo Ben’s arm twisted further, and a faint, gruesome sound could be heard.

If this continued, his arm would probably be broken on the spot!

"Second Brother!"

Seeing this, Luo Xiao shouted and was about to charge forward.

"What, you want to make this a group fight?"

Several members of the Sun Family surrounded Luo Xiao, blocking his path with unfriendly tones.

Luo Xiao grew anxious. He looked at a young man of about twenty in the distance and yelled, "Brother Cheng, say something!"

Luo Cheng frowned deeply. He looked at Sun Shufei beside him and said in a low voice, "Brother Sun, that’s enough. Your little brother has already won."

"I’d say he’s far from done."

Sun Shufei smiled faintly. "This big brute from your Luo Family is still talking tough."

Luo Cheng coughed lightly and said, "Xiaoben, just give in and admit defeat. This whole thing will be over."

"I won’t!"

Hearing this, Luo Ben shouted, "He used a dirty trick! He couldn’t beat me so he threw sand in my face! I don’t accept this!"

"You’re still being stubborn!"

Luo Cheng scolded him, "In the life-and-death struggles of the Jianghu, people use Poisoned Darts that can kill you. What’s a little sand? Your skills were inferior, there’s nothing more to say."

Luo Ben lay on the ground, dirt clinging to his mouth, panting heavily. His eyes were red, and he clenched his jaw, his face still full of indignation.

Luo Cheng walked forward and said in a low voice, "What did the family elders tell you? Cultivate properly at the academy and don’t get into fights. When we get back, I’ll tell Third Uncle about this and see how he punishes you."

He didn’t want to say these things.

But the Luo Family had indeed been dealing with some issues lately that hadn’t been resolved. The elders had repeatedly warned them not to get into any conflicts with the Sun Family during this time.

"Punish me then!"

Seeing that Luo Cheng, a fellow family member, wasn’t taking his side, Luo Ben felt even more wronged and couldn’t help but start crying. But he still shouted defiantly, "That bastard insulted my older sister! If I hear him do it again, I’ll still beat him up!"

"Heh, I was just speaking the truth. So what if I insulted her?"

Sun Jifang sneered. "Who in Bluestone County doesn’t know your sister is a young widow now? She was supposed to marry some medicine-seller from the countryside, but before she could even marry him, she became something nobody wants."

"I’ll fucking kill you!"

Luo Ben was overcome with rage. Blood rushed to his head, and even with his arm twisted by Sun Jifang, he tried to forcibly break free!

"Xiaoben, don’t be reckless!"

Luo Cheng’s expression changed.

The consequence of Luo Ben forcefully breaking free like this would undoubtedly be a broken arm.

"Hey."

Just then, a voice came from behind Sun Jifang.

Unnoticed, Lu Bai had come up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

Sun Jifang turned to look, still holding Luo Ben down.

In his line of sight, a thick, wide palm came swinging at him.

As the palm passed, it made a WHOOSHING sound, its momentum astonishing!

SLAP!

With a crisp sound.

Sun Jifang felt a sharp pain in his cheek as if struck by lightning. His vision went black, and his whole body seemed to float into the air.

He lost consciousness before he even hit the ground.