Chapter 45 - Disciple Borrows Manuals

Tang Ling took his time to search for the recommended martial skills by the Manor Lord. After all, he had no grudge against him so he didn't have a reason to lie and Master Gu Ze silently accepted his opinion.

In fact, even when he took his time, the number of martial books were quite small and eliminating a few categories, it only took him six minutes.

Roaring... Scorching... Soul... Soul Blade!

[Soul Blade Manual (Super Rare)

Learn: Soul Blade (Freestyle School)]

Learn!

[Soul Blade (Martial Empowering)

Level required : 0

To master Soul Blade is to be one with the sword. As the practitioner pours in his focus and intent into the blade, It becomes stronger and sharper. Using any skills with this active skill increases its effects by 10-50(by level)%.

Consumes one mental energy per minute, can be adjusted for more power.

1st Level: 120% damage multiplier, +1 rank to weapon's rarity in checks.

2nd Level: 140 % damage multiplier, +1 rank to weapon's rarity in checks.

3rd Level: 160% damage multiplier, +2 ranks to weapon's rarity in checks. ???

4th Level: 180% damage multiplier, +2 ranks to weapon's rarity in checks. ???

5th Level: 200% damage multiplier, +3 ranks to weapon's rarity in checks. ???

Requirement: Any bladed weapon understanding or intent is required for one to be 'one with the sword'.

Remarks: The Sword! One with the Sword! Cut everything that is on your path !]

This... This was a rare unexpected treasure. Compared to the other martial art manual in the library, this one was unexpectedly a lot stronger. Not because of the damage, it was only a 20% more damage at the First Level but it could stack with other skills. It meant that he could use other skills with it and effects while it was activated were enhanced by 10 to 50%!

Hmm... Tang Ling thought a little while. What was this +1 weapon's rarity in checks?

[Bonus to Rarity Checks, some weapons, skills, moves or abilities are related to the rarity of the target. For example, [Break Weapon with B.a.r.e Hands Under Rare] can break any weapon under the rarity of Rare, as such if any sword of Common rarity tries to attack, he would directly shatter the blade in a single shot. However if it has a Bonus to Rarity Checks, it is considered (and is temporally) equal or superior to Rare and won't shatter under the skills.]

So if he had a Common Spear, with Soul Blade, it would be considered a Rare Spear? The only thing keeping it from 'OP' would be the usage of mental energy. Tang Ling only had 7 points so he could only use it for 7 minutes unlike [Heat] which could also use Qi as a base. But unlike [Heat], Soul Blade wasn't sh*t.

Wait...

[Requirement: Any bladed weapon understanding or intent is required for one to be 'one with the sword'.]

This man knew that he had sword intent! Or how else could he recommend this martial skill to him ?!

I need to know how he could've known that.

After ten minutes, under Special-type category, he finally found it.

[Aspect of Leopard (Super Rare)

Description: The Leopard is known as the fastest animal to many scholars. When it sees its prey, it charge and pounce unto it; not giving any time to react. The renowned Animal Scholar went deep into the wild for a chance to observe it in its everyday life. After 30 days, he came back with a method to imitate the beast.

Learn : [Aspect of A Leopard(Special-type Series Martial Art)]

Requirement: Knowledge of Leopard (You have not learned yet.)

Remarks: To become one, one must understand one.]

Hmmm... The prerequisite is quite harsh. Unlike Soul Blade, he actually needed to learn. At least, all the knowledge he needed was in the book.

"Ha. Anyways, if it's hard, the reward would be great. Should I get another martial manual? Not really. We can only borrow two books this time and master said that a too broad set of skills is a jack of all trade but master of none; meaning that I'll get beat down by anyone who isn't dumb enough to learn many skills without depth." Tang Ling mumbled as he took the Soul Blade and Aspect of Leopard Manual to the counter and borrow them.

The librarian glanced the books over, nodded and said: "Soul Blade and Aspect of A Leopard? These are good manuals. Hidden treasures in this library. In other places, it would cost one hundred silver coins. It's your first time here so it's free for now."

He then wrote on his paper: Tang Ling, Wandering's Sect Disciple Borrows Soul Blade, and Aspects of A Leopard. Deadline : 3 days. Total : 0 (5) silvers.

"Do not forget to give back in a good state. I have seen many youths return with burnt, soiled and wet books. Ha... It's alright now, the books are now refurbished to be waterproof, fire-resistant, hardened, slash-resistant, smash proof, immune to changes in temperature up to five hundred degrees..."

'Damn! Tang Ling thought, it's not a Wutungstene alloy box containing an antique goddammit! I'm pretty sure that leather doesn't have this type of propriety!

It's just a book!

A book made of primitive material...

A book made of primitive material containing knowledge...

Special knowledge which can make a man powerful...

Uh. It seems quite valuable... Especially the knowledge and material (basically everything).

Leather cost about twenty credits per inch square and paper, one credit for every normal piece of paper.

In the black market, it's double the price. So just by its material, the manuals he has could bring him five hundred or more.

So, yeah? It's good to be fire, water, temperature changes, slash and smash resistant?