3 Ling Hua
It didn't me long to finish eating my food, but it was quite bland in taste. This city was definitely in need of some salt.
Once I was done with my dinner, I hurried to my room to begin cultivating. I had no choice in the mater. You have to actually have soul force before you can use a soul crystal. I would rather wait and see if Nie Li regressed in this timeline and get a heavenly technique from him, but there's nothing I can do.
I sit cross legged on my bed and begin chanting the mantra in the Blossoming Orchid technique.
The first thing I noticed was energy entering my dantian and forming a soul realm within me. It was the single most exhilarating thing I bad ever experienced.
I'm now a cultivator!
The people here took such things for granted, but me? I could finally throw fireballs and fly! Of course, I had to get the requisite power and technique, but this was basically martial arts magic!
If anyone were to walk in on me at this moment, they would be unable to find any reason for why I had an erection at this time. I wouldn't explain even if they asked. An erection because you became a cultivator? They'd think I'm some sexual deviant.
Continuing with the mantra, I noticed energy gathering around me, but only a fraction of it actually came to me. This must be because I'm using a sub-par technique that cannot absorb increase my soul force as fast.
Where's Nie Li when you need him?
I cultivated until I saw the moon rise to its peak in the sky from the window. I wasn't sure if I would be fine cultivating at night, but I wasn't willing to try until I reached the bronze rank. Xiao Ning'er was warning enough.
Since I wasn't tired yet, I decided to do some modern exercises. I did as many push ups, squats, star jumps and sit ups as I could. I didn't know how effective they would be, but they would definitely increase my strength to some degree.
I then decided to call it a day and go to sleep.
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The next day started out pretty ordinarily. Since I didn't over sleep this time, I managed to reach the cafeteria and take some breakfast for myself before leisurely making my way to class.
I sat in the same seat as the day before, put my head down and began to daydream. I truly was not cut out for schools and standardised lessons. Just the mere thought bored me.
Shortly after, Xiao Ning'er came and sat beside me like before. She had the same ice princess expression on her face. I still did not understand how her face could be as pretty as it was, nor could I understand how her chest was as large as they were. There were women in their thirties who had smaller chests!
Bad Chen! No perving on the 13 year olds!
But there really was nothing else to do until the class began. I didn't have anyone to talk to, and even then, I doubted I'd be able to hold a conversation with them. I may have the memories of this world, but I was from one that was completely different. Our interests and hobbies were too different.
Now I could sympathise with those dandy nobles and playboy heirs. Without the need to go out and work, they had too much free time, but because entertainment hasn't developed, they turned towards women and alcohol to fill in the time.
Doesn't mean I'm gonna become one.
The class was pretty boring, all things considered. It took all my will to not fall asleep out of sheer boredom.
Looking around the class, Nie Li was asleep, Lu Piao was grinning perversely in Ye Ziyun's direction, much to Shen Yue's annoyance.
Looks like there is nothing new going on. Everything the teacher is explaining is stuff I read in the library yesterday. Maybe I should just go to sleep?
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The rest of the week passed in a similar manner. I'd just barely stay awake through the lessons and rush to the library right after. Once it became sunset, I'd go to my room to cultivate before doing physical exercises once the moon reached its peak. I would then bathe, go to sleep and repeat the process.
By now, I was certain I wouldn't even need anything from Earth to become rich here. There was just so much knowledge on pills and inscriptions in this blessed library. Knowledge people would slaughter the masses for.
Knowledge that was now in my head.
Obviously, I had no way to refine any of the pills, and inscriptions require a base level of strength correlating to its rank, but that didn't mean I couldn't sell the information and gain some profit off of the copyright.
It was baffling how many different foundation patterns and combinations there were. According to everything I'd read, there were as many types of patterns as there were elements and element combinations.
And that was the least interesting part of the library.
Soul techniques, enslavement seals, temporary strength enhancements, cultivation techniques that many would consider 'heavenly'; this library was worth more than the entire city's weight in gold for me. Techniques that included Xiao Ning'er's Lightning Dragon technique and Lu Piao's Holy Primal Chaos, as well as all the necessary information about soul forms and attributes.
I haven't even gotten to the books I can't translate yet.
But in all seriousness, the library made me realise one important thing.
Nie Li was an idiot.
Okay, maybe not an idiot. He had one of the most severe cases of tunnel vision I could have ever imagined. The knowledge within these walls could have propelled Glory City to untold heights. He could have strengthened the people here to take back the Divine Continent and eventually, the whole Tiny World.
Instead, he wants to go gank the Sage Emperor.
I don't even know why he was forcing himself so much. The Sage Emperor isn't going to go anywhere, so why not calm down and take the time to empower your home? Then when you decide to pull a REALLY stupid move like breaking the very seal protecting all the inhabitants of your homeland, they might be strong enough to adapt to the situation.
Not to mention he could have made himself filthy stinking rich. I'm talking buying everything and everyone within the area controlled by Glory City multiple times over kind of rich. Once he became such a moneybags, he could've trained up an army, invade the Nether Realm, destroy the Dark Guild and kill the Demon Lord.
Well, you know what they say. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Perhaps I should wait. It would be suspicious if the timeline changed like that before he arrived, if he were to arrive at all. I'd rather not have him go all murderhobo on me.
In other news, we got our strength, soul realm and soul force examined, and thankfully, I wasn't scraping the barrel. With an orange soul realm, soul force of 15 and strength of 34, I was completely average in terms of soul force and a bit better with strength. Average was good. It meant I went unnoticed.
Unnoticed by all except one. On my way out of my last class for the week, I made my way back to the library, determined to take a crack translating the Black Gold era books. Since Nie Li said it would be easier to learn the language of the Snow Wind Empire era after learning the language of the Black Gold Empire, the reverse should also hold true.
As I took my regular seat and began trying to decipher what looked like Chinese, Japanese and Korean wearing a trench coat and calling itself a language, I heard a chair being pulled out next to me.
"Hey, it's been a long time, little brother Chen."
"Huh? Oh, Ling Hua! Long time no see!"
According to my memories, Ling Hua was what you could call the bug sister of the orphanage past me grew up in. She was always doing what she could to help out and lower the burden on the matron and her helpers. She taught whatever she knew to whoever she could and tried to make life as fun as possible for the younger kids.
We saw less of each other when she got into the Holy Orchid Institute a few years ago, but we were quite close.
"Hmm, I never thought I would see the day. What got you reading books?"
Ah, yes. Because past me hated books with a passion. Short-sighted idiot.
"Well, umm, I, er, thought I shouldn't waste the opportunity, ya know? I won't always be in the Institute, so I should do my best, right?"
It wasn't even a lie. But will she buy it? Please tell me she'll buy it.
"Jiang Chen," she placed her hand on my shoulder. I couldn't see her eyes behind her hair. "I'm so proud!"
Huh? Tears? Are you crying?
"Waaaah! Shiang Shen grew uuuup! I sho happy!"
"Oi, let go! Dammit, what the heck are you doing Hua!"
She gripped me into a stifling hug and balled her eyes out. Meanwhile, I did whatever I could to push her off of me. It didn't help that her well developed bosom was in my face...
Bad Chen! No horndogging!
Judging by the number of people who had walked by and seen what was happening, I'd say we were causing quite a scene. A 17 year old woman crying on a 13 year old trying to push her off would obviously attract attention in the library.
When I finally pushed her off, my tunic (which was my only good tunic) was wet with tears and-wait, was that SNOT on my shoulder!?
Argh! Damn you, woman!
Don't you dare laugh at me! This is all your fault!
