Junior Sister, to be honest, I need you to help me hone my spear skills...

Finally, Su Ji patiently finished reading half of the "Manual of Longing."

The remaining half was in the Golden Core section, requiring an exorbitant amount of contribution points to exchange…

After all, cultivation techniques were something that came with a heavy price to switch.

As expected, the free stuff turned out to be the most expensive…

Based on what Su Ji could gather so far:

The "Manual of Longing" was a fourth-grade cultivation technique.

Its advantage was that it was extremely easy to learn and offered rapid progress.

But its flaw was equally fatal—cultivating this method required harboring an "obsessive longing" for someone in one's heart.

The deeper the obsession, the faster the cultivation speed.

A former sect leader, finding the method too restrictive, made slight modifications.

Now, the "Manual of Longing" allowed the object of obsession to be non-living.

Whether it was a person, an object, or even a skill—anything worked.

At this point, Su Ji lost interest.

If pressed, he’d say his only "obsession" was his sworn brother.

But the idea of cultivating while fixated on his brother just felt… off.

However, what truly made Su Ji frown was a single line at the end of the technique’s introduction:

"Upon mastery, this method yields a fourth-grade Golden Core."

Fourth-grade Golden Core?

What kind of new measurement was this?

Su Ji’s mind flashed back to the opening passage of the "Manual of the Fallen Dragon’s Desolation."

The "Manual of the Fallen Dragon’s Desolation," upon reaching Foundation Establishment perfection, condensed a "Celestial Palace Golden Core."

Beyond that, it formed a "Fate-Bound Dao Infant."

Finally, it ascended to the "Heavenly Ruins God Incarnation."

One was "fourth-grade."

The other was "Celestial Palace."

The difference was night and day.

Instantly, the "Manual of Longing" became utterly unappealing to Su Ji.

The natives of this world truly had too narrow a perspective.

Wait!

A sudden realization exploded in Su Ji’s mind!

Why was the "Manual of the Fallen Dragon’s Desolation" written in Chinese characters?!

That was why Su Jiu couldn’t understand it.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked, "You can actually cultivate this?"

After all, its contents were ten times easier to grasp than the supposedly beginner-friendly "Manual of Longing."

Did this mean that no one in this world could read Chinese characters?

This discovery made Su Ji’s heart skip a beat.

The greatest cheat in transmigrating to another world wasn’t a system, nor divine favor—it was the simplified Chinese characters learned during compulsory education!

In this world, only he could read Chinese?

The sheer value of this?!

Those who understood would know!

That fat steward had been so desperate to dig out spirit stones precisely because Su Ji had instinctively used this world’s script when forging the manual.

A brand-new path crystallized in Su Ji’s mind.

Forget the Longing Sect, forget their lousy contribution points—they could all go to hell.

Why not search for more treasures left behind by fellow "transmigrators"?

…

Exiting the technique archive.

At the entrance, the drowsy old guardian didn’t even lift his eyelids, muttering vaguely,

"What? Didn’t find anything to your liking?"

"Or… perhaps you’re short on contribution points?"

The old man slowly cracked open one eye, a glint of shrewdness in his murky pupils.

"I lend them here."

"Up to three hundred contribution points, no collateral needed. For a thousand, some paperwork’s required. Anything beyond that, you’ll need something valuable to pawn."

Su Ji paused mid-step.

Right now, all he had was eighteen contribution points and a single Blood-Coagulation Pill—dirt poor.

The old man closed his eye again. "You can head to the personnel hall, fill out a form, get verification from three stewards, a signed seal from an elder, then come back to me. Then you can take your desired technique."

Su Ji: "…"

This vibe…

Yep, spot on, bro.

…

Su Jiu’s courtyard.

When Su Ji reappeared at the gate, displeasure was written all over Su Jiu’s delicate face.

"Didn’t I say we should minimize contact these two days?"

Clearly, she was unhappy with Su Guan’s breach of agreement.

"Something came up."

Su Ji plastered on what he thought was a friendly smile, striding into the courtyard in quick steps.

"Junior Sister, where did you get that cultivation manual you gave me?"

"Got any more?"

Su Jiu’s frown deepened. "No. That was a rubbing of ancient divine script—long lost to time. The complexity of those symbols is terrifying."

"Let me put it this way: even with identical arrangements, those ancient divine scripts can express over a dozen different meanings, some even completely contradictory."

"Nobody can decipher them, even by copying stroke for stroke."

"And with rubbings, slight deviations lead to massive errors."

"You… shouldn’t recklessly practice it."

She paused, her tone laced with something indescribable. "Never mind, just return it to me. I’ll find you a seventh-grade cultivation technique instead."

"It’s not too late to switch."

"Maybe the reason you ended up like this is because you just practiced whatever you got your hands on."

Su Ji countered instead of answering: "Seventh-grade? How are cultivation techniques ranked?"

Su Jiu, bearing the heritage of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, had insights far beyond ordinary cultivators.

"Golden Cores have nine grades, with the first being the lowest and the ninth the pinnacle."

She spoke slowly. "In most sects, producing a fifth-grade Golden Core already qualifies one as a genius. The Longing Sect’s 'Manual of Longing' guarantees at least a fourth-grade Golden Core, making it a top-tier technique in the Great Xia Kingdom."

[Conversation with Su Jiu aligns with aesthetic preferences, triggering romance options.]

[Option 1: "Junior Sister, I’ll be honest—I can read those so-called ancient divine scripts." (Reward: You and Su Jiu invite fatal trouble.)]

[Option 2: "Still, gotta ask—why are you wearing shoes now?" (Triggers special event.)]

[Option 3: Express doubt. "The Longing Sect’s core technique is only fourth-grade. Where’d you get a seventh-grade one?" (Reward: Clue about a Heavenly Dao secret realm.)]

[Permanent Option: …Sacrifice to the Sword! (Current kill count: 0)]

Su Ji: "…"

Option 1 was out of the question even without the warning about fatal consequences.

He wasn’t stupid enough to lay all his cards on the table with Su Jiu.

Bet on her kindness? Please.

As for Option 2—this was the second time it appeared…

Probably tied to something important…

But only one choice at a time.

He’d deal with it next time it popped up.

"Junior Sister, one last question."

"If the Longing Sect’s core technique is only fourth-grade, where did you get a seventh-grade one?"

Su Jiu’s brows knitted tightly. Instinct screamed at her to dodge the question.

This touched on her deepest secrets—absolutely forbidden to outsiders.

Yet, the moment she prepared to refuse, an inexplicable dread surged without warning.

It was as if an unseen gaze pinned her down, warning that terrible consequences would follow rejection.

Why?

Why this illusion of fate gripping her throat?

Su Jiu didn’t understand, but she trusted her Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox instincts.

They’d saved her life countless times in mortal peril.

After a long silence,

She reluctantly forced out a few words.

"Heavenly Dao secret realm."

Su Ji blinked. This term—he knew it all too well.

"Again?"

The last Heavenly Dao Secret Realm was nothing but a blood-soaked battleground where only one could survive.

"It's not the same as last time," Su Jiu said, her voice cool as if she had read his thoughts. "This secret realm is more like a trial, not a slaughter."

She paused, then added, "Tomorrow, at the foot of Longing Gate Mountain, a new Heavenly Dao Secret Realm will open. According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, one of the final rewards is a cultivation manual no lower than seventh-grade."

[Conversation with Su Jiu, meeting aesthetic standards, triggers romance options.]

[Option 1: Press for details, asking Su Jiu why she knows so much about the secret realm. (Reward: Su Jiu’s wariness, favorability -5. Note: Current favorability: 25)]

[Option 2: Get straight to the point and demand Su Jiu’s help in entering the secret realm. (Reward: A disdainful glare from Su Jiu, along with the label of "delusional.")]

[Option 3: Ask if you can enter the secret realm—you’re not the type to freeload. (Reward: Detailed intel on the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, Su Jiu’s favorability +1)]

[Permanent Option: Offer your sword in sacrifice! (Current kill count: 0)]

Was there even a choice? One of the final rewards meant there were other treasures to be had.

As for Option 1? Everyone had their secrets—prying too deep was a surefire way to ruin trust.

Option 2 was just asking for trouble.

His relationship with Su Jiu was nowhere near the point where he could shamelessly demand favors.

"Are there any entry conditions for this secret realm?"

"I’m not the type to freeload. I’ll get the manual myself."

Su Jiu rolled her eyes. Who was the one begging for a manual last time? "Of course there are."

Did Su Ji even feel any shame saying that?

"When the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm opens, you just need to be standing at the right spot."

Su Ji was skeptical. "That simple?"

Su Jiu countered, "It’s not simple at all. You either need an extensive intelligence network or enough 'luck' for it to drop right in your lap."

Su Ji nodded. "Then shall we go together tomorrow?"

Su Jiu refused without hesitation. "No. You’d just slow me down."

"This time, there’s no 'peak condition' rule."

Su Ji pressed further. "Then what’s the rule this time?"

"Probably 'skill'..."

Su Jiu abruptly changed the subject. "But it doesn’t concern you. Just stay put in the sect and wait for me to return."

Su Ji put on a serious face. "Junior Sister, to be honest, the red destiny I obtained from the last Heavenly Dao Secret Realm is related to 'skill.'"

"I need you to help me refine my spear techniques..."

Su Jiu bit her lip lightly, shooting him a look of utter disdain.

"Get lost!"