It wasn't that no one had pulled a blue orb before.
But previously, blue orbs were experience orbs.
This time, however, the blue orb wasn't for experience. It was a skill.
To think even this could be pulled.
[Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens] — A technique from a certain Sword Cultivator. A sword coming from the west, a flying immortal from beyond the heavens. Flawless and immaculate like the azure sky and white clouds. Striking from above, the downward thrust is brilliant and swift, carrying a sword-qi that chills to the bone. Its sharpness is terrifying and unstoppable. Upon merging, it can be instantly mastered and executed.
Seeing this skill orb, Felix's expression turned strange.
Pulling sword manuals he could understand. But pulling a direct skill unlock?
That meant other skills could be pulled and instantly used in the future.
But considering these came from the magical jars, he accepted it.
It was normal.
"Not an experience orb?"
Hearing Felix's correction, Xingqiu was confused. If not experience, then what?
Beside him, Chongyun looked over curiously.
It wasn't experience? It looked more fun than his white orb.
"It is a Skill Orb."
"Skill Orb?"
"Yes."
Felix nodded. "This Skill Orb contains a technique created by a cultivator. Merging with it allows you to master it instantly. Normally, to use such techniques, you must learn them and comprehend their intent—like the martial principles you learned at the Guhua Clan. Do you remember?"
"I remember."
Although Xingqiu didn't quite understand why Felix brought up the Guhua Clan, he nodded.
"I studied Guhua long, its secrets I have grasped. Guhua's spear and sword gather rust, but today Guhua's essence is like rain, like floating flowers. Floating flowers can be plucked, but rain threads are hard to paint. Guhua's spear essence is like burning lamp-flowers. Lamp-flowers scatter easily, gathering again like burning clouds. Three feet of light, how brilliant. People say wielding a sword is like wielding fingers; I say sword light is eye light. Detached from objects, weightless. The Raincutter cuts rain, the Light-Piercer pierces light. Moving like dragons and snakes, uncatchable. Green eyes as swords, side glances as spears."
He had spent four years comprehending the Guhua Clan's ancient and modern "Martial Principles."
By then, the Guhua Clan had declined.
In its glory days, Guhua was famous in Liyue for its spears and swords.
It had three secret arts: the Spear Art "Light-Piercer," the Sword Art "Raincutter," and the combined "Life-Death Method."
Over time, the techniques were refined to perfection, yet their power waned, leading to the clan's decline. The three arts became dusty treasures waiting for an heir.
"The reason you can use the 'Raincutter' sword art is because you understood the martial principles within."
"Correct." Xingqiu nodded.
"This Skill Orb removes the need for comprehension. You can use the move directly."
Felix explained smoothly. "Unlike an experience orb that supplements your practice, this Skill Orb lets you skip the learning process entirely. Even if you don't understand the underlying principles, you can execute the technique perfectly."
"I see."
Xingqiu understood now.
It was incredible, but for this shop, it seemed normal.
"This Skill Orb contains a specific move called Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens. Merge with it, and you'll know."
Felix smiled.
"Okay."
Xingqiu reached out and touched the blue orb.
Instantly, it merged into his body.
A vision flashed in his mind.
A figure in snow-white robes stepped through the air. Then, a sword light descended from the heavens—like a sudden flash of lightning, like a rainbow spanning the sky.
The vision faded.
Xingqiu was horrified.
He felt the terrifying speed contained in that strike.
It was an extreme sword. Faster than lightning!
And now, he could feel that he could execute this strike himself.
The power it would unleash far exceeded any of his current techniques!
"A very strong, very transcendent, very beautiful sword."
Xingqiu opened his eyes, still shaken by the vision. It took him a moment to compose himself before asking Felix seriously, "Shopkeeper, who is this person? Did he create this Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens?"
If such a sword master existed, they must be famous.
Even the Guhua Clan or Mondstadt's Sword Saint would be nothing before this figure.
"A sword cultivator who calls himself the Lord of White Cloud City. He created it," Felix smiled.
"You've mastered the technique, but the power depends on you. If you want to understand its intent and principles, you'll need to practice. But since the answer sheet has been given to you, reverse-engineering the process shouldn't be hard for you."
"Mhm."
Xingqiu nodded excitedly.
With this sword technique, he was confident about exploring Tianqiu Valley.
Before, he and Chongyun only roamed near Qingce Village.
Now, he could bypass the Geovishaps and go deeper!
"Xingqiu, let's spar tomorrow."
Chongyun leaned in curiously. "Let's see if your Flying Immortal is stronger or my Six Arts of the Cold Arrogance."
Xingqiu's new move looked powerful. Chongyun wanted to test it.
"Sure," Xingqiu laughed. "But haven't you not learned your Six Arts yet?"
Chongyun pulled a manual, not a Skill Orb. He had to learn it the hard way.
"I can learn it in one night."
Chongyun shook the book. "Just one night of cultivation, and I'll master it."
"Don't you sleep?"
Xingqiu rolled his eyes. "Rest first. You can't train if you're exhausted."
He paused, then added seriously, "You must sleep tonight. No training. I won't allow you to stay up all night. Your health is important."
Chongyun: "...."
He instantly regretted saying he'd pull an all-nighter.
"Don't make that face. After we sleep well tonight, I'll train with you tomorrow morning. Then we can go ghost hunting in the afternoon!"
Xingqiu wrapped an arm around Chongyun's shoulder, grinning. "Sparring can wait. Take it slow."
"Fine."
Chongyun sighed.
He shouldn't have said anything. Now Xingqiu would be watching him.
"I didn't expect my luck to be this good. Two jars, two huge gains."
Xingqiu released Chongyun and looked at the remaining eight jars.
Crash.
The third jar broke. A flower as red as neon clouds fell out.
[Silk Flower] — A crimson flower that blooms like neon clouds in Liyue. Can be made into silky fabric.
"Silk Flower? Not bad."
Xingqiu inspected it. "Top quality. Same as the ones Madame Ping grows at Yujing Terrace."
Silk Flowers had grades. Low grade wasn't very useful.
Top grade was valuable. Even the Feiyun Commerce Guild bought from Madame Ping because of her gardening skills.
Crash.
He smashed the fourth jar.
A stone fell out.
[Noctilucous Jade]
"Hehe, your luck ran out."
Chongyun grinned. "I pulled one of those too."
"Can't say it ran out. Noctilucous Jade is nice," Xingqiu countered. "Valuable rare ore. Sometimes priceless."
He smashed the fifth jar.
A black-covered book fell out.
"Oho."
Xingqiu's eyes lit up again.
Another book.
The last book gave him a super skill. What about this one?
He picked it up.
Four large characters were written on the cover: Liao Zhai Zhi Yi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio).
[Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Vol. 1)] — A book recording strange events of ghosts and gods. But it is not merely a record; reading it brings great rewards.
Felix saw the description.
"It's a novel. Read it in your spare time; you'll gain a lot from it."
"You can treat the stories as fiction or fact. And yes, this is Volume 1. There are many sequels."
Strange Tales had many volumes.
Felix knew Xingqiu loved novels.
But giving him an incomplete set? That was torture for a bookworm.
Pulling the rest from jars? That would take forever.
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