Chapter 64

Chapter 64: People Comparing Themselves to Others Makes Them Die of Anger (Part 2)

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The moment Lin Muyu’s fingertips touched the rough pages, she couldn’t contain her eager anticipation and flipped it open.

The yellowed pages carried the scent of aged ink, but when the first line of text came into view, her fingers gripping the book froze completely.

‘First Form: Disparagement. If one can disparage the enemy to the level of dogs and swine, the firmer the conviction, the greater the power.’

Below was a line of tiny text:

‘Example: I call you a dog, dare you respond?’

“You’ve got to be kidding me… what kind of bizarre technique is this?”

Lin Muyu’s brow instantly furrowed into knots, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the edge of the page as she muttered to herself in confusion.

“Who would actually respond to that? Is this cultivation method even reliable?”

Flipping down with a belly full of doubts, she indeed found an explanation added on the page:

‘However, in actual combat, few would candidly accept such provocation.’

“At least you have some self-awareness.”

Lin Muyu let out a helpless snort, her fingertip lightly tapping the paper as her trust in this cultivation method dropped several more points.

But the next line made her eyes widen.

‘Therefore, one may establish inner conviction: viewing the enemy as a dog can also provide minor enhancement.’

‘When one’s mental state becomes pure in the future, completely viewing enemies as dogs, this form can double the staff technique’s power.’

“Still based on idealism?”

Lin Muyu held the book in a daze, her gaze lingering on the text for a moment as she pondered carefully.

This first form looked bizarre, but upon closer thought, it contained a kind of almost obsessive profundity. If one could truly achieve single-minded focus, it might actually unlock surprising potential.

She took a deep breath and continued reading. The content that followed suddenly became more structured:

‘Second Form: Dog-Splitting Staff!’

‘Third Form: Dog-Piercing Staff!’

‘Fourth Form…’

The technique names still carried that rustic air, but the accompanying diagrams were extremely refined. Vigorous brushstrokes outlined the staff wielder’s form.

From the horse stance with lowered waist to the power delivery of swinging the staff, even the angles of wrist rotation were clearly marked, this was actually quite a solid staff technique.

Lin Muyu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she wouldn’t need to call out the technique names when executing them, otherwise just reciting any random move would be enough to embarrass her in public for ages.

“But for someone in the Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment stages, this Dog-Beating Staff Technique should be more than adequate as a transitional method.”

She closed the book, her fingertip lightly tapping the cover as she already had a plan in mind.

Once she reached the Golden Core stage, she could cultivate the sword techniques she’d been longing for.

Just thinking about her future self wielding a sharp sword and cutting down enemies, all the hatred and anticipation accumulated in her heart ignited like sparks.

Making her eyes shimmer with an excited light.

“I wonder how Chenxi’s selection went?”

Lin Muyu turned to look toward the spear technique section next door, her gaze sweeping across rows of bookshelves but not spotting that familiar figure.

“Huh? Where did she go?”

Just as she was wondering, she saw Luo Chenxi emerge from behind a bookshelf in the spell section, several books held between her pale fingers, her robes fluttering lightly as she walked with quick steps.

Lin Muyu hurried over to meet her, asking curiously:

“What were you doing in the spell section? Not choosing spear techniques anymore?”

“I finished choosing ages ago.”

Luo Chenxi glanced up at her with slightly upturned eyes, rolling them in a beautiful white-eyed expression.

“Seeing you frowning over books for so long, I went to browse the spell section myself.”

With that, she raised her hand and tossed over a manual.

Lin Muyu quickly reached out to catch it, the slightly cool cover bearing five golden characters.

《Sun and Moon Reversal Technique》

“What’s this?”

Her eyes lit up, just from the name alone, it seemed quite extraordinary.

“Found it on a corner bookshelf. Looked like something a single Wood Spirit Root could cultivate, so I grabbed it.”

Luo Chenxi’s tone was flat, as if she’d merely handed over an ordinary fallen leaf.

Lin Muyu opened to the title page, and a line of small text made her pupils contract:

‘This technique is limited to those with single Wood Spirit Root. It is the art of absorbing sun and moon essence to refine spiritual energy and rapidly heal injuries. Those without single Wood Spirit Root will find it ineffective.’

A restricted spiritual root technique?

Her heart skipped a beat. In the cultivation world, techniques with restrictions were often extraordinary and immensely powerful, unusable by ordinary people.

“Thank you so much!”

When Lin Muyu looked up, the smile in her eyes sparkled like scattered stars.

“So what spells did you choose?”

This girl always loved bullying her, but she still thought of her when good things came up.

This bestie was worth keeping!

“Just two decent ones.”

Luo Chenxi raised the books in her hand, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Lin Muyu leaned in for a look and immediately deflated.

《Hundred Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix Spear》

《Crimson Feather Breaking the Heavens》

Just the titles alone radiated an aura of power.

Compared to what she held, they were incomparably more dignified.

People comparing themselves to others makes them die of anger.

“Why is everything you randomly pick up so good…”

She muttered quietly, looking down at the books in her arms, inexplicably finding those four words “Dog-Beating Staff Technique” particularly glaring.

“Is this what they call female lead luck?”

“Let me see yours.”

Luo Chenxi noticed her expression and took advantage of her distraction to snatch the book from her arms.

The moment she saw the cover clearly, she first froze, then burst out with a “pfft” of laughter, her clear voice ringing like silver bells.

Later she laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up, one hand supporting herself against the bookshelf, the other clutching her stomach, completely oblivious to the books falling from her hand:

“Dog, Dog-Beating Staff Technique? Hahahaha… you holding that fire poker practicing this, just imagining it is so vivid!”

Disciples selecting books around them all turned to look, curious gazes falling over them like a fine net.

Lin Muyu’s face instantly turned bright red, the flush spreading from her ears all the way to her neck, even her earlobes red enough to drip blood, blue veins throbbing at her temples.

She rushed over in a few steps, reaching out to firmly cover Luo Chenxi’s mouth, lowering her voice in anger and urgency:

“Stop laughing! I’m just an ordinary person who can’t compare to a genius like you, okay!”

Luo Chenxi made muffled humming sounds against her palm, and seeing she was really upset, finally obediently blinked, though laughter still lingered in her eyes.

“You two really have such a good relationship.”

A gentle voice suddenly sounded overhead.

Lin Muyu looked up to see Shu Mo standing nearby at some point, holding a registration book, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile as gentle as spring breeze.

Only then did she realize she was pressed intimately close to Luo Chenxi in an overly affectionate posture. She immediately jerked her hand back as if burned, her ears red enough to drip blood.

Her fingertips still carried a trace of moist warmth, a crystal thread stretching in the air.

She quickly hid her hands behind her back, secretly using spiritual energy to dry that bit of moisture, lowering her head in embarrassment:

“Sister Mo, how did you get here?”

“I heard some commotion over here and came to see if something had gone wrong.”

Shu Mo smiled and pointed at the books on the floor.

“You can’t roughhouse in the Scripture Pavilion, it might disturb other disciples’ book selection.”

Luo Chenxi had already straightened up, bending down to pick up the books with an unchanged expression, her pale fingers brushing across the pages as if she wasn’t the one who’d caused the disturbance.

Lin Muyu also hurriedly crouched down to help gather them, stacking the scattered books one by one.

“Have you finished selecting your books?”

Shu Mo opened the registration book, her fingertips glowing with points of blue light.

“After registration, you can take them away. Maximum borrowing period is 3 months, there’s a daily spirit stone fee for overdue returns.”

“We’re done!”

Both replied in unison.

Shu Mo’s fingertips’ blue light gently swept over the books in their hands, pale blue halos flowing across the covers for a moment before dissipating.

“All set.”

She gently ruffled Lin Muyu’s hair, a faint ink fragrance still lingering among the strands.

“Hurry back and cultivate, don’t delay your practice time.”

Before she finished speaking, her figure had already quietly disappeared into the shadows.

As soon as Shu Mo left, Lin Muyu immediately turned to glare at Luo Chenxi, her bright eyes full of indignation like an annoyed little cat, turning to leave.

But that huffing appearance had no intimidating power whatsoever, instead, she looked like a squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full of nuts, carrying a certain adorable quality.

“Wait.” Luo Chenxi reached out to grab her arm, her fingertips carrying a slightly cool touch.

“What?”

Lin Muyu shook her sleeve but couldn’t break free, her tone still carrying some lingering anger.

“Does the great genius Luo have any other commands for this lowly one?”

But Luo Chenxi didn’t take her bait, instead asking: “Do you want to take on a mission?”

“Huh?”

Lin Muyu stood frozen in place, completely unable to follow this sudden topic change.