Chapter 233: 232 Learning and Examination

After hearing this absurd yet wildly effective anti-theft measure, Li Ang couldn't help but grimace in silence.

Those below the required level can't touch the Star Palace; those above it dare not touch it. If that's the case, even if you threw the Star Palace straight onto the sun—or right outside another true god's door—it probably wouldn't get lost.

After sincerely giving a thumbs-up to the senior members of the Cleanup Bureau, Li Ang, knowing there was no danger in this area, dropped the issue of divine essence loss and turned his attention to the last of the three abilities of the Taurus Star Palace: "Law Bestowal."

Without doubt, this was the true nature of the Twelve Secret Arts.

The Cleanup Bureau's twelve secret arts were, in fact, twelve corresponding laws: Aries' "Anomaly Annihilation" was likely a law of destruction, Taurus' "Anomaly Forging" was clearly a forging law, and so on.

What "gaining the Star Palace's approval to learn the Twelve Secret Arts" really meant was that one must first be bestowed the law by the Star Palace before learning the techniques passed down in the Bureau for wielding those specific laws.

Put simply, the Star Palace's "Law Bestowal" was the car key—the qualification to start the engine—while the Twelve Secret Arts were the driver's manual—the skill to operate the vehicle. The degree of mastery over the secret arts was, in truth, the degree of adaptation to the law.

Two people who both got the key and learned to drive: one might still be practicing reverse parking without markings, but someone like the Aquarius Director, a natural talent, was probably already trying drift turns.

…

"Though your analogy is odd, it does seem accurate…"

After listening to Li Ang's summary and deductions, the Taurus Director nodded thoughtfully.

"In all the generations before, there has never been a case where two people simultaneously mastered the same secret art. Though I was chosen by the Star Palace and began training early, my practical results were merely decent. But after the previous Taurus Director passed away, my mastery of the Anomaly Forging art surged dramatically."

"Hmm… if that's so, perhaps your theory is correct—the Twelve Secret Arts passed down in the Bureau are merely techniques for using the corresponding 'law.' Only those granted the law by the Star Palace gain the authority to wield its power."

And that meant, as long as I, the Director, remained alive, no one else could ever master more than a superficial grasp of the Taurus Art—it was nearly impossible to train more practitioners.

Without voicing this thought, the Taurus Director shook her head in regret, then looked up at Li Ang.

"It seems you can't learn my art—at least not this year… How about you pick another request?"

"Director Taurus, I still want to try one more time."

Looking at the prompt that appeared after touching and communicating: 【Due to understanding the ability and operational rules of the "Star Compass Fragment - Zodiac - Taurus," your resistance to this anomaly has increased dramatically—you can now fully block its deepest influences】, Li Ang stubbornly insisted:

"Though one must receive the Star Palace's Law Bestowal to learn the complete art, there are others in the Bureau besides you who can forge anomalies."

"So I still want to try—even if I can't master the full Anomaly Forging Art, learning even a little would be better than nothing."

"Since you insist… very well."

Seeing Li Ang's stubborn persistence, the Taurus Director paused, then nodded without further persuasion, gesturing for him to step forward. With a gentle expression, she said:

"Li Ang, I know you don't merely want to learn a little—you're hiding something, hoping it might let you master the full Taurus Art."

After exposing Li Ang's secret thoughts, seeing his expression tighten slightly, the Taurus Director smiled warmly:

"Don't worry—I don't blame you."

"Humans are like this. Everyone secretly holds onto things they don't wish to share. I, too, have things I won't tell others. That's not a fault."

"I'm telling you this to warn you: no matter what method you use to learn the art without the Star Palace's approval, you're opposing the Star Palace—and you may face suppression from the Taurus Star Palace."

"So I hope you proceed with caution. If anything feels wrong, stop immediately. Don't be reckless. If you hurt yourself, it'll be worse. With your talent and ability, even without mastering the art, your future will still be bright… Come, when you're ready, lean your head closer."

"…"

Director Taurus really is… it feels like, in her eyes, everyone is her child—there's always a sense of being embraced…

Watching the elderly woman before him, who didn't care about his hidden motives but patiently waited for him to prepare, Li Ang felt his face warm slightly. He mumbled an acknowledgment, then sheepishly leaned forward.

"I'll begin."

After calling out to Li Ang, the Taurus Director's aged fingers, glowing with a deep brown luminescence, slowly pressed toward his forehead.

Immediately, his forehead brightened as if a flashlight had been pressed against it. The deep brown light dissolved gently upon contact, like nourishing rain, speckling into his mind.

…

"Our Taurus lineage's Anomaly Forging art isn't actually that difficult—it's even similar to metal forging."

As a slow, leisurely voice spoke, an old man with a hunched back suddenly appeared in Li Ang's mind, pointing at a furnace glowing red-hot, smiling as he explained to the group of "apprentices" behind him:

"Find a suitable anomaly or material. Heat it like iron ore—use your power to 'burn' it until it loses its stable form and rules. That's the preparation done."

"The next steps are just as similar: forging metal requires hammering, shaping, removing impurities, increasing strength. The same applies to forging anomalies."

"Use your will and mind to swing the hammer—reshape the anomaly's form and rules toward what you desire. Then carefully refine it, strip away unnecessary chaotic rules, and distribute your limited strength precisely where it's most needed… Understood?"

"Understood!"

While the other apprentices looked baffled, a thick-headed young man stepped forward, grinning confidently:

"Just burn it hard! Then smash it hard! When you're done smashing, the anomaly's forged!"

"Exactly! That simple!"

The hunched old man laughed heartily, sucked in his half-missing front tooth, and waved his hand—producing dozens of monstrous creatures, each three stories tall, snorting roaring blood-fire from their nostrils.

"Come! These are the offspring of the Blood Flame Demon God. Last month, while hunting him in the Abyss, I snatched them from his nest. Each of you take one home and burn it! When you understand it, come back for the next lesson!"

"…"

Watching the dozen apprentices tremble with fear as they tried to "burn," only to be chased around like chickens and blistered by the blood-fire, Li Ang couldn't help but grimace.

The Cleanup Bureau's teaching methods were truly crude… Wait—Director Taurus taught me the art by implanting a memory? So this is the memory of some Taurus Director learning the art?

The long memory continued. Under Li Ang's curious gaze, the dozen unlucky apprentices endured countless hardships, being hunted by various "materials," crying and screaming, with people constantly dropping out or begging to quit.

Only the thick-headed man persisted without wavering, never giving up despite every obstacle. His willpower and talent were terrifyingly superior—and in the end… he became the next Director of the Cleanup Bureau????

Watching the thick-headed man reluctantly take the Director's seat, and the side character who'd been tortured countless times yet somehow became the Taurus Director, Li Ang was stunned.

Did this plot go somewhere wrong?

Shouldn't the most outstanding apprentice have gained the approval of the previous Taurus Director and the Taurus Star Palace, inheriting the Director's position? How did he end up becoming Director of the Bureau? What about the Taurus Art?

"Because he was too outstanding."

After Li Ang awoke from the memory of the third Taurus Director and voiced his confusion, the Taurus Director smiled and asked:

"The thick-headed youth you saw? He was the third Director of the Cleanup Bureau. Since he was already that outstanding, why would he want to inherit the Taurus Art just to become a Director? Isn't it better to be Director of the whole Bureau?"

"…"

That made sense—truly outstanding talent should become Director of the Bureau… but somehow, it felt like a letdown.

Li Ang grimaced, wanting to ask more, but the Taurus Director smiled and said:

"Forget him for now. What about you? How far have you gotten with the art? How much have you mastered?"

"As for me…"

Hearing the question, Li Ang glanced at his badge panel and answered uncertainly:

"I didn't get the full version, but I suppose I've entered the basics?"

【After accepting the memory granted by the Taurus Director, you successfully acquired the training method for the Taurus Art "Anomaly Forging." Through observation in the memory space, you gained vast valuable experience and activated the Silver Badge "Art Heir."】

【Art Heir: Heir of the Cleanup Bureau's Taurus Art, possessing the technique to use the corresponding law. But since the law is already occupied by the Taurus Star Palace, those not granted it can barely access it—thus, this is merely a "Dragon-Slaying Skill."】

【Wearing Effect: Even without the law's support, having witnessed the entire training process of the third Director of the Cleanup Bureau and the third Taurus Director, you have gained the right to use a degraded version of the Taurus Art, allowing you to forge anomalies far below your own contamination level using your materials.】

【Advancement Path: After the current Taurus Director's death, if you successfully gain control of the "Star Compass Fragment - Zodiac - Taurus," this badge will automatically upgrade to the Gold Badge "Taurus Director."】

【Hidden Trait: Due to your ability to partially block the Taurus Star Palace's influence, when forging anomalies, you may forcibly steal small amounts of the corresponding law under the Star Palace's suppression, enhancing the effect of the Anomaly Forging Art.】

Besides the 【Art Heir】 badge, after observing the Taurus Art's training process, due to some form of cross-applicability, the Aquarius Art also granted him a badge.

【After accepting the "True Word Balance" weight and observing the Cleanup Bureau's art training method, you comprehended the training method for the art "Anomaly Creation," activating the Silver Badge "Art Heir."】

【Art Heir: …】

【Wearing Effect: Even without the law's support… you can create anomalies far below your own contamination level, given suitable materials.】

【Advancement Path: …】

【Hidden Trait: None】

…

So… just by watching the memories of past Taurus Directors, without any practical experience, he already thought he'd entered the basics?

Seeing Li Ang's slightly distracted gaze, the Taurus Director frowned slightly, worried he might be overestimating himself. After thinking, she pulled out a blood-red egg and handed it to him.

"This is the egg of the Hellish Lustflesh Bird. When forging body-enhancing anomalies, adding one of these significantly improves the user's bodily awareness, preventing uncontrolled surges in physical attributes."

After explaining the egg's origin, intending to give Li Ang a small lesson to curb his theoretical arrogance, the Taurus Director said:

"If I recall correctly, the first lesson of Anomaly Forging is to melt the material, stripping it of its stable form and rules, preparing it for further forging."

"Since you claim to have entered the basics, why not try 'burning' this Lustflesh Egg? Let me see how well you've truly learned."

Is this… an impromptu test?

Hearing the Taurus Director's words, though he didn't fully grasp the art's mechanics, Li Ang nodded, donned both his new silver badges, and accepted the "pop quiz."

'Forging anomalies means burn hard! Then smash hard! When you're done smashing, the anomaly's forged.'

Recalling the thick-headed Director's confident summary, Li Ang took a deep breath, channeled all his contamination value, and began—first searing like a fried egg, then hammering like a sledgehammer, mimicking the apprentices' methods.

Worried his force wasn't enough, he even added a small Aquarius Art trick at the final "reduction" stage: he singled out the thickest rule within the 【Lustflesh Egg】, then, like changing a headline font, he thickened it, blackened it, enlarged it—made it glaringly prominent!

Done!

Watching the once rigid egg gradually soften and relax, gaining a peculiar, anomalous aura, Li Ang nodded in satisfaction, then poked his first creation.

【Name: Sensitive Egg】

【Appearance: A black-red, slightly loose oval object. Its appearance is poor, but it radiates heavy evil energy.】

【Ability: Flesh Sensitivity, Demon Aura】

【Cost: Minor loss of stamina】

【Archive: Created by Art Heir Li Ang Lian, combining two Cleanup Bureau arts and his own demonic will, this unique anomaly makes targeted male beings appear more evil and slightly sensitizes their left egg.】

【Evaluation: The most worthless demonic artifact ever created—and by far.】

【Contamination Level: 01】

"…"

What the hell?

Did Director Taurus just hand him not an egg… but an "egg"?