331 ‘Archaic Guidance’

\"Oh, you are quite early. I take it that you have already made your choice?\"

It didn't take me much time to move back to the Wind Pavilion as I already knew the way, and I was easily able to enter the meeting room with the help of my four starred tag.

According to the explanation of the servant when he was handing me the tag, a member's tag naturally gained one star as the ascended in status, which was exactly why my tag already had 4 stars on it to explain my status as a personal apprentice candidate.

\"Yes, I have decided to exchange for 3 technique tomes.\"

\"Eh? Was I too vague with my explanation yesterday?\"

It was pretty obvious that Wind was confused as to why I decided to choose even more than 2 techniques, especially after he took the time to explain the disadvantage of practicing several techniques.

\"Not really, I have made my decision based upon your explanation after all…\"

\"But… alright, you aren't going to use any mental guidance either?\"

The look on Wind's face seemed to be somewhat bitter as he seemed to have the impression that I got too high on my horse thanks to his praise. He seemed to have given up on trying to explain more for some reason as if he had decided to let me experience defeat first before reprimanding me.

'That's better…'

\"I will think about it after I have obtained the techniques first.\"

While I did already plan to use a limited amount of them, I decided to tread with caution first and check the nature of the tomes first as my resources inside the sect were limited to the token I had received.

\"As you wish… so you want Wind, Fire and Ice techniques, right?\"

\"Not, not exactly, I won't be needing a fire technique for now…\"

\"Hmmm? You will be learning two techniques of the same element?\"

\"Also no, I also want to learn an Earth technique.\"

\"You… have a fourth element?\"

\"Mhm. Is something the matter?\"

\"Not really, I just should stop getting surprised… Anyway, since you want to learn a Wind technique, let's start with the pavilion's library then.\"

'Indeed, this is better…'

Wind's behaviour could be said to be quite strange as he didn't refute me that much or even question the authenticity of my claim about having a fourth element. If the fact that he tried to help me from the very beginning was also taken in consideration, then there was definitely a hidden order behind it.

Creeeak…

\"Here we are.\"

The door of the library which was situated in a building of its own behind the main building of the Wind Pavilion opened slowly as silence permeated, showing that the library was completely empty of the living.

\"You can take a look and check the tomes until you decide on one of them, you have two hours to choose in, I will explain the following step after you have chosen,\" Wind said before pulling one of the empty chair as he sat in silence, appearing to be totally carefree that it would be hard to imagine he was actually one the division masters of the 'Elemental Sect Blade'.

Ignoring the smile on his face, I headed for the closest book shelf as I picked the first book I saw, labeled as 'Calm Sword', and opened it to check the quality of the overall content, which was supposed to serve as a general indicator as to how I should go about choosing.

However, as soon as I opened the book, what appeared before my eyes weren't inky words or wrinkled pages, all I could see was a sword pointed at the shadow of a human!

To be exact… my own hand was holding a thin sword as both my wind elements and sword energy started to surge to the sword on their own, the whole sequence of fusing both energy and elements which I knew nothing of finished on its own as my hand moved… Piercing the heart of a shadow of humanoid shape before the shadow scattered as if it never existed…

'Is this…'

The whole experience barely lasted for a mere second, as I found myself holding the book and staring at the very first page…

'A mental vision?'

Closing the book and returning it to its place, I sent a questioning look towards Wind who seemed to be staring at me in a mix of happiness and confusion.

\"How did you experience the 'Archaic Guidance' for that long…?\" Wind muttered in confusion.

\"Pardon?\"

\"Nevermind, you are probably wondering about what you have just experienced now, aren't you?\"

\"Indeed.\"

Although I didn't actually know why it was called an 'Archaic Guidance', I understood that this was the nickname of the 'Mental Vision' that I just had, so I was naturally curious about its source.

\"What you have went through just now is supposed to be the original 'Mental Guidance' of the writer who filled in the book with words and mental intent that holds his understanding of the technique. Normally… you aren't supposed to even realize it as it passes by normally, but it appears that your mental expertise which seems to be quite honed has allowed you to last that long…\"

'Then…'

\"If such a mental signal is produced from just opening the book… shouldn't establishing a mental connection the other way around be possible?\"

Considering the experience that I went through, if I was able to make it last much longer, then it wasn't impossible to allow my understanding to reach the same level as the one I automatically received along with the inheritance!

\"Naturally, we already tried the eligibility of such a learning method, but none of the members seemed to have enough mental fortitude to make the reverse session last for more than a few seconds, so copying the content of the tome was considered a more plausible method when compared to exhausting your mind only to understand so little…\"

'I guess the question should be…'

\"Can I take the tome out with me?\"