Chapter 341

Liang Qu arrived in October, and it is October again now.

Leaving aside the Four Gates, it took a full year; just the other day, Chen Jie and others barely broke through the Second Gate using a few treasure fish.

For galloping martial masters, there is the saying: one breakthrough every three years, one realm every ten years—many, like Hu Yan Shi Jing, Master Lian Master Lian Jingye, and Liu Jie, have wasted away half their lives.

Liang Qu completed in just one year the path that ordinary martial masters spend half their lives, even their entire lives, traversing.

Of course, the main reason is his backing of the Great Marsh, the treasure fish, and the treasure plants he displayed.

I still remember the goal Master set for me last Spring Festival…

It feels like a lifetime ago.

"I wonder if any of the senior brothers have met their goals?"

Liang Qu was in high spirits, carefully stowing the Yuanqiao Great Pill.

The clerk lifted a small leather box from the carriage; it thudded to the ground, heavy with weight.

"Your Excellency, this box contains your one thousand taels of treasure silver—please inspect."

Liang Qu took the key offered by the clerk, unlocked the clasp, and ten horseshoe-shaped silver ingots gleamed with a soft white luster under the sun.

Silver is dense; each ingot weighs fifty taels and is no larger than a fist—ten ingots total five hundred taels.

Lifting the central divider, he found another ten ingots—twenty in total, each stamped beneath with the characters "Da Shun."

The silver issued by the imperial court is naturally treasure silver—the "er-si bao"—its purity surpasses that of ordinary circulating silver, yielding two and four mace extra per tael when exchanged at a money shop; this small box of treasure silver equals one thousand and forty-eight taels of standard silver!

Previously, Mistress had given him one ingot of er-si bao; now, this was his second time earning it himself.

Carefully accounting, his spending flowed like water, and so did his income.

The court's one thousand taels in cash, the two thousand taels in banknotes from the Shahe Gang, plus his remaining funds—Liang Qu's treasury had once again swelled to nearly six thousand!

Satisfying.

This trip to Huazhu County, Liang Qu's treasury didn't shrink much; he gained an additional Red Dragon Fish, a strand of Withered Wood Revived, one Yuanqiao Great Pill, two major merits, two fine fruits from the Shahe Gang, and several low-grade treasure fish and plants.

Made a killing!

Of course, Liang Qu contributed significantly himself; besides capturing the mastermind, the rest of the merits relied on the Inside Ze Ding, executed with solid effort.

The silver and the Great Pill were in hand, the major merits recorded in the Heposuo's ledger—only the right to choose a merit remained unused.

Liang Qu asked the clerk.

"Your Excellency, please wait a moment." In no time, the clerk led two officials clad in blue robes, bowing: "Lord Liang, these two are the Librarians of the Scripture Hall, Sir Si Si Tianye and Sir Si Si Shenfu."

Scripture Hall.

Liang Qu didn't need to ask—he knew from the name alone what kind of place it was; the position of Librarian was no low one.

"Thank you both for your trouble."

"Lord Liang, you're too kind—it's our duty."

The two librarians bowed in return.

After introductions, Librarian Si Si Tianye took a thick hardcover book from a small chest: "All the superior martial arts available for exchange are listed here."

You may choose your own superior martial art based on the catalog and descriptions, or specify criteria, and we will help screen options for you.

We can recite at least eight or nine out of ten entries from this book."

Once you've selected your martial art, no shipment from the capital is needed—the Southern Zhili branch library has copies; we'll send someone to transcribe it for you."

"This catalog is this thick?"

Liang Qu took the hardcover book, as thick as his palm, heavy with weight—he couldn't believe how many martial arts the court had amassed.

Librarian Si Si Shenfu chuckled: "The Da Shun realm is vast beyond precedent in all dynasties, its power dominating the world—it naturally gathers every martial art under heaven."

This catalog was newly compiled four years ago, having already removed many obscure, heretical, and outdated arts."

Lord Liang need not rush your selection; the envoy must inspect the Qiu Gong Di and Huazhu County's current state—the delegation will remain three to four days; time is ample."

Liang Qu fully agreed with the vastness of Da Shun's territory.

He opened the hardcover—the book's material was unique: paper supple yet tough, seemingly fireproof and waterproof.

Inside the catalog, all martial arts were meticulously categorized.

Fists, palms, body techniques, weapons—all included.

Each martial art listed its name, characteristics, effects, difficulty, suitability for martial masters, and all were rated as superior-grade three.

Many entries included feedback from cultivators; some anonymized, merely describing sensations, others openly displayed names, inviting discussion and mutual advancement.

The book ended with dozens of handwritten additions.

According to the librarians, the catalog was revised every few years; these handwritten notes were likely entries not yet formally cataloged.

After flipping through, Liang Qu saw many extraordinary martial arts—but the spear section was vast beyond measure; the more he read, the more his head spun, feeling he was wasting time—he pulled out four small silver ingots, twenty taels each.

The court had specifically sent two librarians who claimed to "remember eight or nine out of ten entries"—clearly meant to serve as living search engines.

"Have either of you heard of a spear technique called Qinglong Seven Kill Spear?"

"It requires only the first three strikes to qualify as superior-grade; when used, a blue light and dragon's roar emerge—its power is extraordinary."

"Qinglong Seven Kill Spear?"

The two librarians didn't refuse the silver, falling into thought.

Liang Qu sensed trouble.

The court wouldn't send incompetent men; those who traveled so far were clearly erudite—suddenly falling silent spoke volumes.

Long pause.

Librarian Si Si Tianye shook his head: "I recall no such technique. Several spear arts emit blue light, but none match your description or power."

Seven Kill—only the first three strikes qualify as superior-grade; the full technique must be at least superior-grade upper.

Liang Qu's eyes dimmed with disappointment; he handed back the catalog: "Could you help me find the spear arts I just described?"

"Certainly."

Si Si Tianye flipped through the catalog, checking folded corners.

Seizing the moment, Liang Qu turned to the other librarian, who had yet to speak.

Si Si Shenfu felt Liang Qu's gaze and hesitated.

Liang Qu saw opportunity: "Speak freely."

"I seem to recall a half-scroll titled 'Qinglong Sha Jing' in the Half-Scroll Pavilion—entered into the collection seven or eight years ago."

Qinglong Sha Jing?

No spear. No seven…

Liang Qu pondered the two words: "Sounds more like a cultivation method than a martial art?"

Si Si Tianye, overhearing, froze, then recalled: "The name sounds like a cultivation method, but it is indeed a martial art—its classification has been disputed due to its rank."

Liang Qu asked curiously: "What rank issue?"

Si Si Shenfu replied: "Several senior librarians have wanted to classify it as a True Art, but it's only the second half—otherwise it wouldn't be in the Half-Scroll Pavilion."

Many others argue that listing a half-fragment as a True Art isn't worth it, and would hinder its exchange and dissemination; if it's not passed down, learners must find the first half themselves—and that could take forever."

After three rounds of classification debates, consensus remains elusive—it's been shelved, never entered into True Art or superior-grade categories, so you won't find it in your catalog."

Liang Qu stroked his chin.

"True Art?"