King of Gods Chapter 5 – Choosing Martial Arts Skills (1)

The martial arts library stood as a crucial location within the sect, holding a vast array of martial skills amassed over centuries. These techniques aimed to assist future generations in elevating the clan.

Typically, the quantity and caliber of a sect’s martial arts decided its overall power. Zhao Feng recalled that the Zhao family in Green Leaf Village lacked even a martial arts library.

The martial arts library consisted of 3 floors.

The first floor contained a massive number of martial arts, mostly low-ranked, along with some middle-ranked ones.

The second floor housed the sect’s secret and heritage techniques. Most reached high rank, and a few even hit peak rank!

Yet, accessing the second floor required at least the 4th rank of the martial path.

As for the 3rd floor, it remained a mere legend, never once opened....

For Zhao Feng, though, the 2nd and 3rd floors lay far beyond reach, while even the 1st floor’s martial arts filled him with longing.

Lacking any backing in the sect, someone without influence or outstanding talent couldn’t obtain superior martial arts. The Flaming Metal Fists he possessed counted only as a core-rank martial art, weaker still than a low-ranked one.

But after advancing to the 2nd rank of the martial path, he gained permission to enter the 1st floor and select a martial art.

“The Zhao sect truly lives up to being one of Sun Feather City’s three great families, towering over hundreds of others.”

Zhao Feng entered the first floor, his breath growing rapid.

On the first floor, several Zhao disciples browsed about, each focused on picking their martial art skills.

Per the rules, entrants to the martial arts library had just half an hour to choose.

Thus, no one inside wasted a single moment.

“Half an hour—that’s my time to pick a middle-rank martial art or two low-ranked ones.”

Zhao Feng drew a deep breath and swept his gaze across the bookshelves.

Thousands of books filled the 1st floor of the martial arts library, each roughly half an inch thick. Pinpointing one or two amid such abundance proved challenging.

“Rock Breaking Palm, Angered Dragon Fist, Leaf Picking Sword, Wind Like Foot......”

The variety of martial art skills lit up Zhao Feng’s eyes with excitement.

Shuah! Shuah! .....

Zhao Feng swiftly turned these martial art manuals to their first pages.

Summaries of these martial arts appeared on the opening page.

Crazy Wing Blade: Blade like the wind, powerful like lightning, relies on speed to triumph. Minimum requirement: 1st rank of the Martial Path; training difficulty: average. Rank: Low.

Angered Dragon Fist: Boosts the cultivator’s strength, channeling all power into a single strike. Minimum requirement: 2nd rank of the martial path; training difficulty: quite hard. Rank: Peak of the Middle rank.

Wind Like Foot: A close-combat skill that leverages speed for victory. At peak mastery, it allows battling multiple foes without defeat. Minimum requirement: 1st rank of the martial path, demands high comprehension. Rank: Middle.

Metal Sand: Enhances bodily defense. When fully activated, it matches same-rank opponents head-on. High-level training lets the body withstand swords and blades. Minimum requirement: 2nd rank of the martial path, requires strong willpower. Rank: Middle.

.........

“The skills in this martial arts library far surpass core-rank ones, as anticipated.....”

Zhao Feng brimmed with satisfaction, noting that most skills he encountered were middle-rank.

Merely skimming dozens of books had already stirred his heart multiple times.

Still, the martial arts library imposed limits: only one middle-rank martial art could be taken.

If only a few more were allowed, that would be ideal.....

Zhao Feng felt a pang of reluctance at the unfairness, “Branch disciples get just one middle martial art, while main disciples claim two.”

To hasten his selection, Zhao Feng employed his left eye.

Through his left eye, his scanning speed surged over tenfold....

Shuah shuah shuah .....

Zhao Feng’s left eye devoured the martial arts at astonishing speed.

A single glance sufficed for full comprehension.

After viewing over thirty books, Zhao Feng had committed their contents to memory and begun comparisons.

Upon reaching fifty, Zhao Feng abruptly sensed an anomaly.......

Something’s off!

Zhao Feng halted suddenly.

He revisited memories of the other books.

Within his mind, the books’ contents materialized flawlessly, not a word amiss.

“This.....”

Excitement made Zhao Feng tremble.

Since fusing with the left eye, Zhao Feng’s memory had sharpened dramatically—he needed only one look to retain everything forever.

Especially with the left eye active, book contents seared indelibly into his brain.

Zhao Feng hadn’t anticipated gaining true “never-forgetting” ability.

Legends of Azure Flower Continent geniuses often mentioned “never forgetting” as a trait.....

Yet, most people’s version meant strong recall, retaining 80-90% after one read.

Zhao Feng’s eclipsed that; he couldn’t forget a thing.

This ability, in the martial arts library, let him “carry away” several more books.

“Faster, faster, faster!”

Zhao Feng’s face glowed with thrill as he memorized every book in sight.

Shuah shuah shuah ......

He maxed his focus, flipping pages right after scanning.

Anything his left eye touched—text or illustrations—etched perfectly into memory.

Just 20 breaths sufficed for a 50-page book.

“Hahaha ....... Never forget! Excellent!”

Zhao Feng reveled in it, his frenzy intensifying as he tore through the volumes.

His behavior drew glances from nearby disciples.

“This guy’s lost his mind...”

“First time inside, probably too hyped...”

The disciples shook their heads at Zhao Feng’s antics.

Time flew by swiftly......

Three-quarters of the half-hour had elapsed.

Hu!

Zhao Feng exhaled deeply. Fatigue weighed on him, yet excitement persisted.

By now, he had “claimed” over 100 martial art books.

Primarily middle-ranked, they spanned fist skills, palm skills, sword skills, breathing skills, footwork skills, defense skills, and beyond.

Prolonged left-eye use had drained his mind.

Next, Zhao Feng’s left eye swept the area, pausing on an ancient martial art manual.

It halted there because the book’s material differed from others.

Zhao Feng lifted it, spotting three words atop: Lightly Floating Ferry.

He opened to the first page.

Lightly Floating Ferry: High-rank martial art enabling snow traversal without traces, river crossing like drifting, a bird-like sensation..... At high mastery, allows double jumps and brief flight! Minimum requirement: 2nd rank of the martial path; training difficulty: very hard. Inner strength amplifies power. Peak realm grants unmatched speed below 7th rank of the martial path.

Zhao Feng initially saw it as standard footwork, but “double jump” and “inner strength” sparked his interest.

“Double jump” surpassed middle-rank limits; even some high-ranked couldn’t match it!

“Inner strength” suited martial artists at or above 4th rank of the martial path.

Most astonishing: peak realm outpaces all under 7th rank.

“Such bold claims! Even peak-rank martial arts wouldn’t dare boast this.”

Zhao Feng’s eyes gleamed; he dove into Lightly Floating Ferry’s contents without delay.

One puzzle lingered: why place such a potent skill on the bottom floor? Why did no one choose it?

He soon uncovered why.

By a quarter through, text blurred. Age had weathered the book, fostering mold.

Thus, only ¼ of contents remained legible.

“What a pity.....”

Deep disappointment struck Zhao Feng.

Undeterred, he focused his left eye on the faded sections.

At full power, his left eye pierced the mold, discerning words—vision 20-30 times beyond normal.

After 1-2 pages, mental exhaustion hit, his left eye powerless.

“Taking this home lets me decipher the rest slowly.”

With that, Zhao Feng carried Lightly Floating Ferry from the 1st floor.

“Lightly Floating Ferry? You choose this one?”

The white-robed elder furrowed his brows.

“Yes.”

Zhao Feng replied courteously.

“This book dates back a thousand years, with sections surpassing high-rank martial arts.” The elder paused, tone shifting: “But only ¼ remains readable. Note: mastering it fully is exceedingly difficult; even geniuses struggle. Below 4th rank of the martial path, its potential stays locked.”

Finally, the white-robed elder cautioned: “I suggest swapping it, lest you stall forever before 4th rank and true martial artist status.”

“Thank you for the warning, Elder, but I’ve made up my mind.”

Zhao Feng remained composed.

Watching him depart, the white-robed elder sighed, “Today’s youths always grab the highest-ranked they can.”

He doubted Zhao Feng could master Lightly Floating Ferry fully; even if partially, what value from an incomplete manual?

Exiting the martial arts library, Zhao Feng headed home.

Seated on his bed, eyes shut, over 100 martial art manuals’ contents flooded his mind......