After registering without further incident, he now walked toward a quieter area of the outer courtyards with a clear destination in mind. He needed to adjust a few details before the tournament. However, the path was not completely silent. The disciples who passed by him murmured in low voices; some discreetly pointed at him and others pretended not to look while whispering to their companions. The recent incident had already spread through much of the outer sect.

  As he advanced, a voice sounded behind him, filled with urgency.

  "Senior Brother Fang! Senior Brother Fang, wait for me!"

  Fang Li stopped when he heard someone call him in such a familiar tone. It was not common for him to be approached like that, much less after what had happened that morning. Confused, he calmly turned toward the direction of the voice.

  An outer disciple, dressed in the same simple robe as he was, ran toward him with a wide and sincere smile. His expression showed no hostility or mockery, only enthusiasm. When he reached Fang Li, the young man leaned slightly forward and placed his hands on his knees while trying to catch his breath.

  "For all the heavens… Senior Brother Fang… you walk very fast…"

  Fang Li observed him in silence. After a few seconds, the young man straightened and adopted a more formal posture. His eyes reflected genuine respect.

  "I saw the fight a moment ago and it was undoubtedly… a great victory," he said, letting out a nervous laugh. "Anyway, it's good to see you again, Senior Brother Fang. That way I can thank you."

  Fang Li examined him carefully. He did not remember his face among the regulars in the courtyard, but neither did he associate him with the group that had surrounded him when he was attacked. He took a second before responding.

  "Who are you?" he asked naturally, tilting his head slightly, genuinely confused.

  The young man froze for an instant, surprised, and then forced a light laugh.

  "Ha ha… maybe you forgot, but it's me. Remember? You saved me from those three thugs," he said, pointing at himself with enthusiasm.

  Fang Li looked at him more closely and the scene in the forest returned to his mind.

  "So it was you."

  He resumed walking without stopping and the young man hurried to walk at his side.

  "Yes, I wanted to thank you, Senior Brother Fang. Without your help, who knows what might have happened to me. By the way, my name is Ping."

  Fang Li listened to his chatter with a neutral expression. The young man spoke with an evident mixture of respect and admiration.

  "You don't need to thank me," Fang Li replied with a faint smile. "I only did what was right to help a fellow disciple."

  Ping seemed even more moved.

  "You are a very just man, Senior Brother Fang. Those rumors saying you are shameless and unethical must be from jealous people."

  Fang Li almost choked on his own saliva. He coughed once to cover it, cleared his throat and, without losing his stride, slightly puffed out his chest.

  "Yes, that's me. This humble one is someone who dispenses justice for the good of the public."

  Ping nodded with genuine enthusiasm, as if that statement were perfectly natural.

  "I knew it, Senior Brother Fang."

  They walked a few more steps along the stone paths of the outer area. Ping looked around with curiosity until he could not hold back the question.

  "By the way, Brother Fang, where are you heading?"

  "I have something I need to obtain before the tournament," Fang Li replied calmly.

  When they turned at the next intersection, the structure appeared before them. A pagoda of modest size, but well preserved, rose in the center of a small silent courtyard. Above the main door, a wooden plaque displayed characters carved with firm strokes.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Scripture Pavilion.

  Ping opened his mouth slightly.

  "Don't tell me you're coming for a technique, Brother Fang…"

  His tone shifted from enthusiasm to concern in a matter of seconds.

  "There are only two days left before the competition. I don't want to insult you, but I don't think you can practice a technique to an advanced level in so little time…"

  Ping's voice lost strength until it became almost a murmur when he noticed Fang Li looking at him directly. Fang snorted with disdain and flicked his sleeve with a proud gesture.

  "Do not doubt my abilities, my friend. This Fang Li is destined for greatness. What is it to bring a mere mundane technique to its peak in two days?"

  Ping looked at him with renewed admiration. His confidence did not seem feigned; he spoke like someone who had already decided the outcome.

  Both climbed the steps and crossed the door of the Scripture Pavilion. The interior was spacious, with shelves aligned in orderly rows and disciples scattered about reviewing manuals or copying notes. The atmosphere was dominated by the rustle of pages and occasional murmurs.

  When Fang Li entered, several heads lifted almost at the same time. Gazes followed him and whispers began. They were not discreet; some pointed at him slightly and others leaned toward their companions to comment with contained excitement. The incident from the morning had already spread through much of the outer sect.

  Ping frowned upon noticing the change in the atmosphere.

  "Brother Fang… I think they're talking about you."

  Fang Li maintained a relaxed posture and let a warm smile appear on his face.

  "Of course they're going to murmur about me. It's not every day they get to see someone as handsome as Yours Truly "

  Several disciples looked away when their gazes met his. Others pretended to focus on the texts in front of them.

  They advanced to the main counter and Fang Li placed his outer disciple token on the table. Behind it, a fragile-looking old man sat with his back slightly hunched and his eyes half-closed.

  "Excuse me, elder," Fang said in a respectful tone. "I still have one opportunity left to choose a technique this year."

  The old man slowly opened his eyes, took the token and examined it without haste. Then he opened a thick book at his side and turned several pages with dry and steady fingers. After a few seconds, he closed the book with a soft thud.

  "You have one opportunity left. You may only remain in the library for half an hour. Once the time passes, regardless of whether you chose something or not, you must leave."

  Having said that, he closed his eyes again, as if the conversation had ended.

  Fang Li did not insist. He took his token and walked further inside. Ping stopped at the boundary of the library.

  "Brother Fang… it seems I won't be able to enter with you."

  "Wait here. I won't be long."

  The interior was more orderly and quieter than the main hall. The shelves rose in straight rows, classified by level and category. Fang Li scanned the first floor without wasting time on irrelevant sections. He walked with clear direction to a shelf located toward the back, where a simple sign indicated:

  Body Refinement Techniques.

  He smiled faintly.

  "Bingo…"

  The logic was simple. He already had a technique for striking and another for movement. What he lacked was something that reinforced his ability to endure damage. Although his complete Organ Tempering gave him a solid foundation, relying solely on realm was an incomplete strategy. Besides, there was something he wanted to verify.

  He approached and began examining the manuals. They were thin, bound in simple paper, without ornaments or special seals. They belonged to the low mortal rank; the worst within the sect's catalog.

  He reviewed several texts with exaggerated names and absurd descriptions promising "heavenly steel skin" or "indestructible bones in seven days," but whose practical explanation was reduced to repetitive exercises without real foundation. Inflated techniques for impressionable disciples.

  He clicked his tongue and continued searching until he found one with a less pretentious title.

  Iron Blood Body Refinement Technique.

  He read calmly: the practitioner had to circulate Qi through the blood while the body was subjected to physical impacts; each injury activated refinement, allowing the blood to absorb traces of external energy and strengthen muscles and bones.

  He closed the manual and held it under his arm. He was not looking for something extraordinary, but functional.

  He returned to the counter and placed the book in front of the old man. The elder registered it in the thick book and returned the token without additional comments. The process was quick.

  Fang Li left the pagoda with calm steps. Ping was waiting outside and immediately approached.

  "Senior Brother Fang, what technique did you choose?"

  Fang Li raised the manual without dramatics. Ping read the title and his expression changed instantly.

  "A body refinement technique? Brother Fang, I don't think it's practical to choose something like that two days before the tournament. Wouldn't it have been better to choose a technique to improve your attack power?"

  "Undoubtedly, for normal people it would be something stupid to do. But I am Fang Li and I am not ordinary."

  He said it with such natural pride that it did not sound forced. Several nearby disciples fell silent upon hearing it, as if witnessing something strange.

  Ping, on the other hand, seemed completely convinced.

  "Without a doubt, Senior Brother Fang is a genius who will enter the inner sect."

  Fang Li did not correct the conclusion. He continued walking toward his cabin and, after a few steps, spoke without turning around.

  "And you, Ping, will help me. Follow me."

  "Yes, Senior Brother Fang!"

  The response was so enthusiastic that several people looked at them with strange expressions, as if they were witnessing the formation of a society of fools.

  Fang Li continued walking without worrying about the looks. Ping caught up with hurried steps.

  Without a doubt, this experiment will be very fun, Fang Li thought as a shameless smile appeared on his face. Ping, who followed him with almost absolute devotion, did not notice the dangerous nuance in that expression.