Qingyan and Lin Hao walked together along the wide cobblestone path leading to the Central Library. The morning sun illuminated the academy's well-kept gardens, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient trees. Lin Hao maintained a respectful distance, speaking in a calm and friendly tone.
"Contribution points are the main currency within the academy," he explained. "You earn them by completing missions, helping with daily tasks, or excelling in tournaments and exams. With them, you can borrow technique books, rent private cultivation rooms, or even buy medicinal pills at the resource pavilion."
Qingyan listened attentively. Although her mind already knew the basic system of sects and academies, she pretended to be interested. Little by little, her attitude toward Lin Hao softened. It wasn't as cold as it had been at first. There was something in the way he spoke — calm, without obvious ulterior motives — that made her feel strangely comfortable.
"I understand," she replied, her voice less distant. "Thank you for explaining it."
Lin Hao smiled sincerely.
"No problem. It's normal to find it confusing at first. If you need help with anything else, just let me know."
They arrived at the entrance of the Central Library. The building was imposing: columns carved with dragons and clouds, tall doors of dark wood, and an aura of ancient knowledge floating in the air.
Once inside, the respectful silence of the studying disciples filled the space. Endless rows of shelves stretched upward, filled with manuals, jade slips, and ancient scrolls.
Qingyan looked around and spoke in a softer voice:
"I'm looking for sword techniques. Something basic but solid to start with."
Lin Hao nodded and guided her down one of the aisles.
"The sword techniques are in the east section, second floor. There are several categories: basic sword, wind sword, mountain sword… I recommend starting with 'Nine Forms Sword' or 'Flowing Cloud Sword.' They're good for fundamentals."
Qingyan followed him, walking at his side. For the first time since arriving at the academy, she didn't feel so alone or so defensive.
Lin Hao stopped in front of a tall bookshelf and pointed to several jade slips.
"Here are the ones most recommended for beginners in Foundation Establishment. If you want something more advanced, you'll need contribution points."
Qingyan picked up one of the jade slips and examined it briefly.
"Thank you. These will be useful."
Lin Hao scratched the back of his neck with a shy smile.
"I… I'm looking for a book on a specific Dao. But it's something a bit rare, so it's probably in the restricted section."
Qingyan raised an eyebrow with curiosity but didn't press.
"A specific Dao?"
Lin Hao nodded but didn't give more details. He simply smiled with some discomfort.
"Yes, something personal. It's not very common."
Qingyan felt a slight interest, but decided not to push. She didn't want to seem too curious.
"I understand. Good luck then."
Lin Hao bowed his head respectfully.
"Likewise. If you need anything else, I'll be in the north section. See you later."
They parted ways. Lin Hao headed toward another area of the library, and Qingyan remained alone in front of the sword technique shelves.
She picked up several jade slips and began examining them calmly. "Nine Forms Sword," "Gentle Wind Sword," "Flowing Sword Fundamentals"… All seemed suitable to begin with.
While reading the descriptions, her mind continued working.
"The sword is a good choice. Versatile, elegant, suitable for an emperor.
And Lin Hao… he seems harmless. Maybe he can be useful as a source of information."
The sword techniques section of the Central Library was spacious and quiet. Tall shelves of dark wood rose toward the ceiling, filled with carefully organized jade slips and scrolls. Qingyan walked between them with calm steps, examining the titles with attention.
Lin Hao had pointed out the areas recommended for Foundation beginners, but she had already mentally discarded most of them. She was looking for something that suited her new body: slender, fast, and with a pronounced ass that slightly affected her center of gravity.
She reviewed five techniques in detail:
1. Nine Basic Forms Sword
A standard academy technique focused on fluid and precise movements. Good for fundamentals, but too generic and slow for her taste. It didn't take advantage of her natural speed.
2. Unbreakable Mountain Sword
A heavy, defensive technique that generated explosive force through stability and rooting to the ground. Ideal for robust cultivators, but her slender and light body would make it inefficient. She discarded it quickly.
3. Gentle Wind Sword
Focused on light and continuous movements. It used the wind element to increase speed and create illusions of motion. Good, but it lacked real destructive power in the final strikes.
4. Lightning Cutting Sword
An aggressive technique that prioritized extreme speed and rapid cuts. It took advantage of body agility, but it was very demanding on Qi and easy to counter if the opponent had good defense.
5. Flowing Cloud Sword
An intermediate technique that combined fluidity with explosiveness. It allowed elegant and fast movements, using the concept of "cloud" to change direction unpredictably.
After analyzing them, Qingyan picked two jade slips.
The first she chose was Lightning Cutting Sword. It perfectly utilized the natural speed of her slender and light body. In her previous life as Mo Xie, her style had been dominant and explosive, based on brute force. Now, with this new body, she could combine that explosive power she still possessed in her Qi with a superior speed she didn't have before.
The second was Gentle Wind Sword. This complemented the first by using the wind element to further enhance her speed and agility, allowing sudden changes of direction and attacks from difficult angles. Together, they would give her a fast, unpredictable, and lethal sword style.
"It's different from my previous life,"
she thought while holding the two jade slips.
"Before, I relied on overwhelming force and direct domination. Now… I can have the explosive power I always had, but combined with the speed this body offers me. It will be a new style. More dangerous."
Satisfied with her choice, Qingyan headed toward the elderly librarian in charge of registration at the exit of the section.
Just as she approached the counter, she saw Lin Hao walking toward her from another row of shelves. He was also carrying a jade slip in his hand.
Lin Hao smiled when he saw her, with that kind and open expression that was already starting to feel familiar.
"Mo Qingyan," he greeted with a slight nod.
"What a coincidence running into you again. Have you already chosen your techniques?"
Qingyan nodded slightly, not as cold as before.
"Yes. I chose two sword techniques."
Lin Hao stepped a little closer, looking curiously at the jade slips she was holding.
"May I ask which ones? If it's not too much trouble, of course. I'm interested in knowing what path you're choosing."
Qingyan hesitated for only a second. She saw no danger in answering.
"I chose 'Lightning Cutting Sword' and 'Gentle Wind Sword.' I want to focus on speed and unpredictable changes of direction."
Lin Hao nodded with approval.
"Good choice. Both techniques complement each other very well. Lightning Cutting will give you explosive power in your strikes, and Gentle Wind will allow you greater freedom of movement. With your natural speed, you could develop a very dangerous style."
He paused and raised his own jade slip.
"I'm looking for something different. A somewhat… particular Dao. But I still haven't found it in the open section."
Qingyan felt a slight curiosity, but didn't press. She remembered he had mentioned earlier that he was looking for a specific Dao.
"I understand," she replied simply.
Lin Hao smiled again, without pressing.
"Well, if you need help understanding any of the techniques or want to practice together sometime, just let me know. I'm in the east pavilion, room 47."
Qingyan bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind."
They parted with a polite farewell. Lin Hao headed toward another section, and Qingyan approached the elderly librarian to hand over the jade slips and register the loan with her main disciple token.
Qingyan walked back to the Vice Dean's private residence with the two jade slips carefully stored in her bag. The sun was already high in the sky, and the midday heat made her black dress stick slightly to her skin. Her mind was still processing the conversation with Lin Hao and her choice of sword techniques.
"Lightning Cutting Sword and Gentle Wind Sword…
An interesting combination. The first will give me the explosive power I've always had, while the second will take advantage of the natural speed of this slender body. Together, I can create a style that is both fast and lethal. Different from my previous life, where I relied on pure domination and overwhelming force. Now… I will have to be more precise, more agile."
She was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't notice someone approaching in the hallway until she almost collided with them.
Huo Ling.
The red-haired girl was standing in front of the door to her own room, arms crossed and wearing that arrogant smile Qingyan was already becoming all too familiar with.
Qingyan stopped abruptly. For an instant, her mind hesitated. But the memory of the previous humiliation — the slaps, the order to kiss her feet — was stronger than her pride.
Without thinking too much, she knelt right there in the hallway.
She leaned forward and kissed Huo Ling's right foot, then her left, her lips touching the soft skin. The act was brief, but deeply humiliating. She felt her face burn and her body react treacherously: a familiar heat spread through her lower abdomen.
Huo Ling stood still for a second, clearly surprised by the initiative. Then she smiled with satisfaction.
"Well, well… how obedient you've suddenly become," she said in a soft but mocking voice. "Very well. I'll wait for you in my room tonight. Don't be late."
Without another word, Huo Ling turned and walked away down the hallway, leaving Qingyan kneeling on the floor.
Qingyan slowly stood up, her cheeks still flushed. Her mind burned with rage and shame.
"How could I…? How could I kneel and kiss her feet without her even ordering me to?
This is… unacceptable."
But her body was already responding. She felt the wetness between her legs and the tingling in her large ass. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore it, and entered the training hall.
The Vice Dean was not there. The hall was empty, perfect for practice.
Qingyan took out the two jade slips and activated them, absorbing the information directly into her mind. She began training immediately.
First, she practiced Lightning Cutting Sword. The movements were fast and explosive, designed to cut down an opponent in an instant. Her slender body allowed her to execute direction changes with a speed that even she found surprising. Each cut carried the explosive power she retained from her previous life, but now combined with an agility she hadn't possessed before.
Then she moved on to Gentle Wind Sword. This technique used the wind element to further enhance her speed and create illusions of movement. Qingyan felt how the Qi flowed around her, enveloping her like a light breeze that made her faster and harder to predict.
She trained without stopping.
Strike after strike, step after step, repeating the forms over and over. She lost track of time. Sweat ran down her forehead, down her neck, and slipped between her small breasts. Her black dress clung to her body, clearly outlining her figure: the narrow waist, the firm breasts, and above all, her large, round ass that tensed with every explosive movement.
She didn't realize how many hours had passed.
When she finally looked up at the window, the sky was already tinged with the first hues of dawn.
"Is it almost morning already…?
How long have I been training?"
She felt exhausted. Sweat covered her skin, and her dress was damp and stuck to her body. She wiped her forehead with her hand and sighed.
Then she remembered.
"Tonight… Huo Ling told me to wait for her in her room."
A shiver ran down her spine. She had completely forgotten the order.
"How could I forget…?
Now… what's going to happen?"
She stood up with difficulty, her legs heavy from the intense training. She left the training hall and walked toward her room with tired steps.
She opened the door.
And there was Huo Ling.
The red-haired girl was sitting on the edge of Qingyan's bed, legs crossed and with a cold, dangerous expression. Her red hair fell over her shoulders, and her green eyes gleamed with contained irritation.
Qingyan stopped in the doorway, her heart beating hard.
Huo Ling looked her up and down, observing the black dress clinging to Qingyan's sweaty body, her disheveled hair, and her exhausted expression.
"You're late," she said in a low and dangerous voice. "I told you to wait for me in my room. And instead, I find you here… smelling of sweat and effort."
Qingyan swallowed hard. Her mind searched for an excuse, but her body was already reacting to Huo Ling's dominant presence.