Ch 179: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xie Yun’er pushed away the undergarments in a fluster, turning around so she wouldn’t have to look at them. Her neck turned bright red.

She heard Shen Yunxuan’s amused voice, “Why are you so shy? No one else will see them. They’re just for you to enjoy and to add some fun between husband and wife.”

“Sister Shen! Stop talking!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled and packed the undergarments and sleepwear into a cloth bag. “Alright, I won’t say more. Just keep them. There are different colors and fabrics—consider them a small gift from me. Even if no one else sees them, they’re still comfortable to wear.”

Only then did Xie Yun’er accept them, her face still flushed. A bit embarrassed, she admitted, “I… I pawned all my good things. Ever since my father passed, people in the martial world stopped taking us seriously. Some sects in the city want to swallow us up, constantly causing trouble and making us lose a lot of money.

Second Senior Brother and I don’t know how to make money, so I had to pawn many things. Instead, let me teach you martial arts.”

Shen Yunxuan agreed immediately. “That sounds great! But pawning things all the time isn’t a long-term solution. I have some things for you. I hope they’ll help you and Brother Xie get a good ranking in the Martial Arts Tournament or at least improve the sect’s situation.”

She took out two bulletproof vests to help them withstand attacks during battles. She also gave them a toolbox filled with high-quality tools far superior to those available in the ancient world—they could use them to craft tools for sale, perhaps turning it into the sect’s business. She also handed over special painkillers and several doses of adrenaline, which could give them a last-minute burst of strength in a fight.

For Xie Yun’er’s self-defense, she gifted her a solar-powered mini stun baton. She also gave her two sets of lighters, sleeping bags, mosquito coils, and other survival essentials. Finally, she wrote down formulas for making soap, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, and marinated foods—practical things that were easy to produce and sell without drawing too much attention. As long as Xie Yun’er and Xie Feng were willing, these things could resolve the Qingyun Sect’s financial difficulties.

She even gave Xie Yun’er a few medical books written in traditional Chinese characters. “Brother Xie said you like studying medicine, so these are for you. I hope they’ll be useful.”

Xie Yun’er flipped through the pages, quickly realizing their value. Not only did they contain traditional herbal medicine, but they also described surgical procedures from foreign medical practices. She didn’t know where “foreign” referred to, but if it was about saving lives, it was worth learning.

These books had been prepared by the Special Affairs Bureau’s civilian personnel, selected to be valuable but not overly extravagant. They were perfect for trade.

Once she understood what they were, Xie Yun’er was thrilled. “Sister Shen, these are far too precious. I don’t even know how to thank you. What kind of martial arts do you want to learn? I’ll teach you right away!”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “Let’s go shopping first! I finally got the chance to come out, and I really want to gather as much martial arts-related knowledge as possible. Whether it’s hand-to-hand combat, sword or blade techniques, poisons or medicines, weapons or hidden projectiles—if it’s useful for martial artists, I want it. Yun’er, help me find the best ones!”

Xie Yun’er hadn’t expected her shopping list to be so unusual. Surprised, she guessed that Shen Yunxuan must be heavily restricted at home. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Follow me, Sister Shen—I know exactly what to give you!”

She pulled Shen Yunxuan along and ran outside, first stopping by her own room to hide the cloth bag in her cabinet. Then she retrieved several martial arts manuals she had copied by hand—containing fist techniques, blade techniques, and other combat styles. Shen Yunxuan happily accepted them.

Next, Xie Yun’er took Shen Yunxuan to the Qingyun Sect’s treasury. Since Shen Yunxuan had given her so many treasures she had never seen before, she had completely let down her guard and now saw Shen Yunxuan as an older sister, willing to share everything with her.

Pointing to the weapons, books, and medicines in the treasury, she said, “Sister Shen, I’ll copy whatever books you want, pick out some weapons, and take whatever medicines you like.”

This was the Qingyun Sect’s foundation, but in reality, it wasn’t very useful. Compared to the things Shen Yunxuan had gifted her, these were far less practical. So, Xie Yun’er was generous, hoping to give her as much as possible in return.

Shen Yunxuan was delighted. “Really? Then I won’t hold back!”

“Of course not! Oh, and there’s also a box of poisons and hidden weapons we found in that bastard Chen Dong’s room. If you’re interested, Sister Shen, it’s yours as well.” Xie Yun’er ran to the corner, lifting a box filled with over twenty porcelain bottles and several uniquely shaped hidden weapons—one of which had an eerie color, possibly coated in poison.

Shen Yunxuan excitedly had the special forces soldier take it. Then, she opened her phone’s scanning software so the experts could digitize all the books. There were over a hundred of them—too many to copy by hand. Since they were part of the sect’s treasury, they were undoubtedly valuable. Scanning and saving them was the fastest and best option.

Curious, Xie Yun’er asked, “What is that? It looks so strange. Does it work like the flashlight?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Something like that. It also helps magnify text a bit. My steward has a photographic memory but poor eyesight, so this helps.”

Xie Yun’er suddenly understood. “Oh! Like reading glasses—people with bad eyesight wear them to see clearly.”

Shen Yunxuan responded vaguely and quickly redirected Xie Yun’er’s attention to the weapons. Special weapons were bound to bring in more dimensional currency. Ordinary swords and blades could be crafted even in the modern world, so they weren’t valuable enough.

So, Shen Yunxuan selected a slightly damaged but uniquely crafted curved blade and a piece of refined metal that was said to require fusion with a special alloy to forge a weapon.

Xie Yun’er also helped her choose a pair of gold-threaded gloves and a golden bell whip. These two items were particularly suitable for women and were once obtained by Xie Yun’er’s father during his adventures in the martial world. He had intended to pass them down to her, but since Xie Yun’er preferred using a nine-section whip and a soft sword at her waist, she had no use for them. Now, giving them to Shen Yunxuan felt just right, as if it was her father’s way of expressing gratitude for saving Qingyun Sect.

Xie Yun’er felt that Shen Yunxuan’s arrival at this moment had saved Xie Feng’s life and given her so many treasures. It was no exaggeration to say she had saved their entire sect—it was impossible to thank her enough.

Shen Yunxuan was also delighted with these two weapons. Weren’t they the kind of weapons only a character like *Xiaolongnü would use in TV dramas? She immediately tied the golden bell whip around her waist. The delicate golden spheres hanging from it were adorable. Of course, she had no inner strength and could only use it as a decorative belt for now, unable to unleash its true power.

*(T/N: Xiaolongnü is the fictional female protagonist of the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes.)

From the shelves of medicine, Shen Yunxuan also took a few kinds. Meanwhile, the expert had finished scanning all the books. Xie Yun’er was astonished. “You’ve already memorized them? Is there really someone with a photographic memory?”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Yes, but he doesn’t like to show off. Let’s go eat. I’m getting a bit hungry.”

“Alright, Sister Shen, come quickly! I had them prepare the best local dishes.”

When Xie Feng saw Xie Yun’er, his gaze wavered, avoiding eye contact. Xie Yun’er suddenly remembered that Shen Yunxuan had just helped her confess her feelings, and Xie Feng had heard it all. She couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.

Noticing this, Shen Yunxuan called for someone to bring out the marinated dishes and chili sauce she had brought. “Try these and see if you like them. They’re easy to store and carry—I love them.”

After tasting them, Xie Yun’er was amazed. “This is delicious! It looks so simple, yet the flavor is exceptional, not inferior to Bai Xiang Lou’s dishes at all!” She immediately regarded the recipe Shen Yunxuan had given her as a treasure and kept thanking her.

In truth, Shen Yunxuan felt a little guilty. She had taken so much from them, but in return, she could only help them financially—she couldn’t solve their fundamental problems. In this martial world, securing a position in the Jianghu was essential. Unfortunately, modern people weren’t skilled in martial arts, and she couldn’t just hand them firearms—that would be complete chaos.

The meal was excellent, and as they ate, Shen Yunxuan chatted with them. The special forces members and the expert dined with the other disciples. Throughout the meal, Shen Yunxuan kept thinking about how she could help them. After finishing, she suddenly had an idea. “Brother Xie, Yun’er, do you know about Tai Chi?”

“Tai Chi?” Xie Feng took a sip of tea and smiled. “Never heard of it. If you’re interested, Miss Shen, I can ask around.”

Xie Yun’er also shook her head. “I’ve never heard of it. Sister, do you want to learn Tai Chi?”

Shen Yunxuan grinned and waved an expert over. “Not for myself. This steward of mine knows Tai Chi. Since I’ve taken so much from you, I want to teach you Tai Chi in return. Though it doesn’t come with inner power techniques, if you manage to comprehend anything from it, it could be beneficial. What do you think?”

“Of course, that would be great!” Learning new martial arts was always a good thing. Even if they didn’t use it themselves, other disciples in the sect might benefit. After all, not every disciple excelled at the sect’s core techniques.

After a short break, everyone gathered in the courtyard, where the expert performed two sets of Tai Chi movements with careful precision.

“Energy flows along the back… Sinking into the dantian… Gathering intent… Opening the Yongquan acupoint…”

This expert had practiced Tai Chi for decades and had memorized all the key instructions. As he moved, he recited the guiding principles that most resembled a martial technique.

When he finished, Shen Yunxuan turned to ask if they had understood. But she found Xie Feng standing there in a daze. Xie Yun’er whispered to her, “Second Senior Brother seems to be having an epiphany. When our master taught him inner power techniques, he was like this too. Let’s not disturb him. Why don’t I take you shopping? Didn’t you want to buy things?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and gestured to the expert to stay behind. If Xie Feng had any questions, he could help answer them. Then, she took the other three and followed Xie Yun’er out.

Shen Yunxuan asked, “Can things be bought at the pawnshops here? Are the forfeited items up for sale?”

Xie Yun’er replied, “Of course! Sister Shen, do you want to take a look? I’ll take you there.”

Shen Yunxuan cautiously asked, “Are these pawnshops backed by any powerful factions? Are they safe?”

“They’re safe. The pawnshops here are run by the city lord’s office. The city lord is a good person.”

That put Shen Yunxuan somewhat at ease. No matter what, the city lord had to maintain a righteous public image. Even if a conflict arose, he wouldn’t be able to execute them on the spot. As long as they stalled for time, they could eventually return.

Xie Yun’er had been visiting the pawnshop regularly to pawn things, so she was already familiar with the shopkeeper. As soon as they entered, he greeted her with a smile. “Miss, what are you pawning this time?”

Xie Yun’er replied, “I’m not here to pawn anything today. I want to see what forfeited items you have for sale.”

Shen Yunxuan took out a flashlight and demonstrated it. “Shopkeeper, may we discuss this inside? I might want quite a few things.”

The shopkeeper was startled and immediately asked someone to watch the counter while he personally invited them into a private room. He took the flashlight, examined it, and exclaimed in surprise, “Is this one of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s flashlights? I heard they’re extremely rare and hard to trade for. Miss, are you looking to pawn this?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “Shopkeeper, I’m traveling, and I don’t have enough silver notes. But I do have several items like this. I’d like to select a few forfeited items from your shop in exchange. Would that be acceptable?”

“Of course! I’ll bring them out right away.” The shopkeeper had no hesitation at all—ordinary forfeited goods couldn’t compare to such novel treasures.

Shen Yunxuan quickly added, “I don’t want hairpins or jewelry, only items related to martial arts.”

Xie Yun’er chimed in, “Martial arts manuals, legendary weapons, things like that.”

The shopkeeper understood, though he found the request a bit unusual. But in his line of work, he had seen all sorts of strange people and requests. Business was business, and if he managed to trade for these items, he could even earn favor with the city lord—an excellent opportunity.

From the trays the shopkeeper brought out, Shen Yunxuan purchased all the books. Then, her gaze fell on a box of exquisite hairpins, each designed like small silver stars—delicate and elegant, perfect for wearing in one’s hair. But why were they placed here?

The shopkeeper stepped forward to explain, “These are Meteor Darts, a type of hidden weapon. Skilled dart throwers can use them with ease, and they can also be disguised as mere ornaments.”

Xie Yun’er exclaimed, “These are beautiful! They’re also perfect for women to use.”

Shen Yunxuan said, “Then I’ll take them as well. Yun’er, let’s split them—each of us can wear a few.”

“Alright!” Xie Yun’er was delighted. She had never had such a close sisterly bond before, nor had she ever shared matching accessories with anyone. She happily picked up the Meteor Darts, explained how to throw them, and carefully placed them in Shen Yunxuan’s hair.

The box contained thirty darts in total. Each of them wore four, storing the rest away.

Xie Yun’er could tell that Shen Yunxuan had no knowledge of martial arts but was deeply interested in them. She enthusiastically helped her choose a few other rare weapons and special forging materials. Then, when they reached the medicinal section, Shen Yunxuan picked out items like Seven-Step Soul-Breaking Grass and Detox Pills—remedies she had only ever heard about in martial arts dramas.

From a scientific standpoint, their effects were questionable. But in this world, such legendary items could earn her a significant amount of realm currency. She had already gained quite a bit from this pawnshop. Of course, truly legendary artifacts wouldn’t make it to the public market, but this outcome was already within her expectations.

Shen Yunxuan happily traded bulletproof vests, lighters, and flashlights in exchange, and the shopkeeper gladly made the deal. Then, she turned to Xie Yun’er and said, “Yun’er, Brother Xie mentioned a master craftsman who’s exceptionally skilled at forging weapons. Do you know where he is? I’d like to buy something from him.”

Xie Yun’er nodded and led Shen Yunxuan through a series of winding alleyways before stopping at a wooden door. She knocked three times, paused, then knocked twice more. Soon, an elderly man with one eye opened the door.

His gaze was sharp, scrutinizing Shen Yunxuan and the others before silently turning away and walking inside.

Xie Yun’er whispered, “Sister Shen, don’t be alarmed. Uncle Ying is just like this—he’s quiet and reserved, but he’s not a bad person. He simply doesn’t like interacting with others. If you want to buy a weapon, just choose what you want and pay.”

Shen Yunxuan understood. She signaled for one of her team members to wait outside in case anything went wrong, so they could run back to the inn for help. Then, she entered the dimly lit workshop with two guards and Xie Yun’er. The room was dark, and the walls were lined with weapons—mostly well-crafted swords and knives, though not particularly special.

Modern metallurgy techniques could easily match or surpass these in quality, so Shen Yunxuan wasn’t particularly interested. The old man seemed to notice her hesitation and wordlessly pushed open a smaller door, inviting her to take a look inside.

The room beyond contained weapons displayed on small tables. Shen Yunxuan carefully examined them and immediately noticed a Storm Needle Launcher. If hit by one of these, a person could be riddled with holes like a beehive. However, against a highly skilled martial artist, it might be too slow to be effective.

She also saw a Fire Scale Sword. The blade was wide, its surface engraved with patterns resembling scales. Strangely, the sword was warm to the touch. The old man claimed that during combat, the blade would heat up, not only cutting but also burning its target.

Shen Yunxuan was astonished. How could such a weapon exist? She immediately decided to buy both.

She also found a Blood-Drinking Saber, rumored to absorb the blood of those it cut, increasing its wielder’s power with every strike. It sounded like the kind of weapon used by demonic sects, but since it was so unique, she certainly wasn’t going to pass it up.

The rest were powerful but not particularly extraordinary weapons. Shen Yunxuan then began negotiating the trade with the old man. He was clearly fascinated by her modern gadgets, particularly the lighter and flashlight. When she gave him a solar-powered electric saw, his eyes lit up with excitement.

Finally, seeing that she had nothing more to buy, the old man unexpectedly retrieved a handwritten book from his room and gave it to her. Without another word, he waved them off, signaling that they could leave.

Outside, Shen Yunxuan flipped open the book and couldn’t understand it, so she handed it to the expert with her. After glancing at it, the expert suddenly tensed up in excitement. “This is a fragment of the Lost Luban Manuscripts…”

Realizing that Xie Yun’er might notice something was off, the expert quickly composed himself and refrained from saying more. But just from the words “Luban Manuscripts,” Shen Yunxuan understood why he was so excited. Luban’s engineering secrets had largely been lost to history. If this was authentic, even as a fragment, it held immense significance in the modern world.

With such a great harvest, Shen Yunxuan was in an excellent mood. She even took out some modern snacks and pastries from her bag to share with Xie Yun’er as they walked.

Xie Yun’er felt that every moment spent with Shen Yunxuan was pure joy. The treats she brought out were also delicious. As they chatted, a thought suddenly struck her, “Huh? Earlier, the pawnshop owner seemed to recognize the flashlight and said it was from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Sister Shen, what is Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?”

A few young heroes passing by overheard and immediately chimed in, “Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is that mysterious force that suddenly appeared! You don’t know about it? They’re at the Yue Lai Inn, in the Heaven’s First Room. You should go take a look—you might still have a chance to trade something. There’s already a long queue there.”

Xie Yun’er was taken aback. “It just appeared out of nowhere?” She turned to Shen Yunxuan. “Sister Shen, your things…”

Shen Yunxuan vaguely replied, “They were given to me by my family. With so many people in line, we probably won’t get anything. Let’s go back and practice martial arts instead. There are so many books, and I don’t understand a lot of them. Can you teach me?”

“Alright, let’s go back.” Xie Yun’er didn’t suspect anything and accompanied Shen Yunxuan back to Qingyun Sect. She was also a bit worried about how Xie Feng was doing.

When they arrived at Qingyun Sect, they saw that Xie Feng was consulting with the expert—and he was already practicing Tai Chi with considerable skill!

Shen Yunxuan was astonished. The expert, upon seeing her, excitedly reported, “Master Xie grasped it immediately! His learning speed is extraordinary—almost unbelievable. He even incorporated some of his own internal energy techniques into the Tai Chi principles. He can already generate palm wind!”

“Palm wind?” Shen Yunxuan turned to Xie Feng in surprise.

Xie Feng stepped forward and delivered a slow yet powerful Tai Chi palm strike toward a tree. Though his movement seemed gentle, it contained hidden force. With a tremor from his palm, a branch as thick as an arm snapped right off!

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes widened. This was the first time she had seen something like palm wind or internal energy in action. Was this the kind of world Zhang Yang had lived in during his past life? He had experienced so many legendary things, yet he still let the system bind her instead? What a fool! If she had martial arts like this, she could do anything! His fearfulness was truly a waste of such potential.

She joyfully asked, “Brother Xie, have you already mastered Tai Chi?”

Xie Feng retracted his stance and humbly replied, “I’m far from mastering it. I’ve only gained some initial insights. But I must thank Miss Shen for passing down this knowledge to us.”

“That’s already impressive. It means you have an affinity with Tai Chi. But I don’t know martial arts, so I can’t tell if there are any conflicting elements. You’ll have to refine and study it carefully. If it truly helps, I hope you can make a name for yourself at the Martial Arts Tournament.” Shen Yunxuan offered a gentle reminder. After all, Tai Chi was mostly used for health and wellness in the modern era. Though the expert had practiced for decades and remained physically fit, it was never really a combat art. She worried that if something conflicted with ancient martial arts methods, it could be problematic.

Xie Feng nodded in understanding and expressed his gratitude again.

Xie Yun’er, having witnessed her brother learning Tai Chi and feeling its power firsthand, became increasingly aware that their sect had gained much from Shen Yunxuan. Originally, it was Shen Yunxuan who had saved Xie Feng and gifted her so many valuable items. The things she had given Shen Yunxuan in return were far from comparable.

Determined, Xie Yun’er invited Shen Yunxuan to have tea and rest, then secretly called Xie Feng to the backyard for a discussion. “Second Brother, let’s give Sister Shen Father’s secret manual.”

Xie Feng was taken aback and frowned in thought for a moment before hesitantly saying, “That was Master’s treasured manual…”

“But it was a technique Father practiced himself. We’ve already tried and found it unsuitable for us. Even if we train diligently, it won’t necessarily make us much stronger—otherwise, others wouldn’t be trying to swallow up Qingyun Sect. But you just practiced Tai Chi, and it clearly suits you. Since Sister Shen has given us so much, we should repay her with an equivalent manual. Besides, she’s your savior.”

Xie Yun’er saw things very clearly. An object was just an object, but people were what mattered. If Shen Yunxuan could give them so much, why couldn’t they give her something in return? Hoarding that manual hadn’t done them any good. In fact, it had only brought them trouble—leading to their father’s death and nearly costing Xie Feng his life. She no longer had any fondness for it.

Xie Feng, realizing he had no other way to repay Shen Yunxuan, thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

He took the secret manual to the main hall and had the disciples guard the doors. With a heavy sigh, he told Shen Yunxuan, “This is the manual that caused the tragedy in our sect. My sister does not wish to train in it, and I find it unsuitable for myself. Since Miss Shen has such a strong passion for martial arts, my sister and I would like to gift this manual to you as an exchange for Tai Chi.”

He hesitated before adding, “Would Miss Shen be willing to keep this exchange private? That is… after today, you will not teach Tai Chi to others, and we will not mention this manual. It will be as if we simply traded knowledge between us…”

He struggled to finish his sentence, feeling a bit ashamed. He knew it wasn’t entirely honorable to ask this, but he also didn’t want his master’s treasured manual to be widely spread. However, as soon as he voiced it, he felt guilty.

But Shen Yunxuan didn’t mind at all. She had no intention of teaching anyone else, and she was leaving soon anyway—how could she possibly spread the manual? She readily agreed, “This must be fate. I never expected to make such great friends on my journey. It’s my good fortune.”

If she hadn’t met Xie Feng, if his sister hadn’t helped her in so many ways, she wouldn’t have gained so much knowledge or even started down the path of martial arts. She was genuinely grateful to them and felt incredibly lucky to have encountered them.

Xie Yun’er was delighted and said, “Sister Shen, why don’t we become sworn sisters?”

Shen Yunxuan was momentarily stunned. Her first reaction was that martial arts stories really couldn’t escape the trope of sworn brotherhood. But since she was already here, why not? She could experience the camaraderie of the Jianghu!

Shen Yunxuan gladly agreed. Xie Feng was also pleased and waved for the disciples to prepare an incense altar and censer. In the courtyard, the three of them offered incense, bowed three times to the heavens, and thus became sworn siblings—Xie Feng as the elder brother, Shen Yunxuan as the second sister, and Xie Yun’er as the youngest sister.

The special forces soldiers and experts witnessing this scene were deeply shaken. It had been less than a day—how had Shen Yunxuan managed to earn their trust so completely? They not only gave her a secret manual but also swore brotherhood with her. Was she really just an ordinary college graduate? Or did she have some special traits that had yet to be fully revealed?

It seemed the system wouldn’t bind to just anyone. Shen Yunxuan must have something extraordinary about her!

They were increasingly in awe of her. Until half a month ago, all they had seen was a young woman going through rigorous physical training without displaying any other particular talents. Yet, they were expected to revolve around her, with their lives dedicated to protecting her. Many had lacked a genuine sense of recognition for her role.

Of course, they would follow orders and even risk their lives to protect her. But they hadn’t truly been willing in their hearts.

However, in this mission, they realized they were only playing a supporting role. Instead of hiding behind them, Shen Yunxuan was actively earning dimensional currency, acquiring knowledge, and learning skills at an astonishing speed. Her adaptability and quick thinking were truly exceptional.

Looking at it this way, weren’t Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er just like them? They too had been impressed by Shen Yunxuan. At this moment, the special forces soldiers finally felt a deep sense of commitment—they were now genuinely willing to protect her.

Shen Yunxuan mused to herself, Luckily, sworn siblings in martial arts dramas can still get married, or things would get complicated for Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er. Thinking of all the classic tropes, she couldn’t help but smile even more brightly.

Seeing her happiness, Xie Feng suggested, “There’s a jar of Nu’er Hong buried under the tree in the backyard. It’s been aging for over ten years. Why don’t we dig it up and drink to our hearts’ content tonight?”

Shen Yunxuan wanted nothing more than to drink with them and experience the carefree spirit of Jianghu heroes. However, she knew she would likely return soon, and technically, she was still on a government mission. She couldn’t afford to let alcohol interfere with her work.

So she said, “Let’s save the wine for another day. Right now, I’ve acquired so many martial arts manuals and techniques, but I can’t understand them at all. I don’t know where to start. Big Brother, Little Sister, please teach me.”

Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er both laughed and sat beside her, one on each side, patiently explaining the manuals.

Essentially, they were translating the secret manuals for her. Martial arts manuals were not just in classical Chinese but were also filled with technical terms—how to guide one’s inner energy, how to circulate it, how to sink it into the dantian. How could a modern person possibly understand all this? The experts and special forces soldiers discreetly recorded everything from different angles, so they could study it thoroughly after returning.

The two experts exchanged glances, barely containing their excitement. If this knowledge could actually be studied and adapted for modern people, it could significantly boost the overall health and fitness of the population. The two special forces soldiers were equally thrilled—if they could master martial arts, the combat capabilities of soldiers would skyrocket. This was something that could truly strengthen national power.

More importantly, if they could learn internal energy techniques from a martial arts world, wouldn’t that help propel technological advancements in future worlds? Maybe it could even lead to the creation of more powerful weapons. Just the thought of it made their blood boil—this system was truly incredible!

Shen Yunxuan had already spent a lot of time trading earlier. Now, she figured that her grandfather’s group would be able to exchange enough items. Instead, she decided to focus on studying and practicing, believing that learning more might yield higher dimensional currency rewards.

She diligently tried to understand the principles in the manuals, attempting to grasp the flow of internal energy. The mystical concepts made her feel completely lost, but fortunately, she had previously studied the cultivation techniques of the “Cultivator Shen Yunxuan” recorded in the book of memories. Although she hadn’t been able to practice them at the time, she had at least gained some understanding of how mystical energies might circulate within the body.

But this was something she had never encountered before—there was no way she could comprehend it through sheer effort alone. Shen Yunxuan realized that she was approaching this the wrong way. She shouldn’t be so frugal with her dimensional currency. Instead of hoarding it, she should be investing in herself. The stronger she became, the more she could learn and, in turn, earn even more currency.

Previously, three-tenths of the dimensional currency belonged to her. Last time, she had received a little over 20,000, and combined with the few thousand she had earned on her own, she had just enough to make it 30,000. She checked the system shop and spent the entire sum on intelligence points.

[System, how do I use it? I want to increase my intelligence.]

[Acknowledged. Intelligence points will be added directly. The host’s previous intelligence level was above average for a normal person at 128. This time, 30 points will be added, increasing intelligence beyond that of most people to 158.]

158! Shen Yunxuan had never tested her IQ, but she remembered reading a news report about a Brain Champion contestant who mentioned their IQ was between 150-160. There was also a survival reality show where a girl labeled a genius had an IQ of 156!

This meant that she had just stepped into the range of top-tier intelligence!

Does this mean she was really smart now???

She was quite puzzled. [Thirty thousand dimensional coins can increase intelligence this much? Last time, it also cost thirty thousand to cure Grandpa’s illness.]

System: [Last time, the host needed to completely cure myocardial infarction, giving the other party a healthy body when they were on the verge of death. That required a relatively high number of points.]

[As for any physical attribute points, improvements are relatively easy and inexpensive up to a certain level. The higher you go, the harder it becomes.]

[For example, raising intelligence to 170 would require 50,000 dimensional coins. Jumping directly to 180 would cost 150,000. To reach 200, it would take a full 1 million coins.]

Shen Yunxuan understood. Such high amounts of dimensional currency were far beyond her reach. Right now, she had completely run out of coins and was broke. Whether she could improve further in the future would have to wait. For now, she needed to focus on learning as much as possible.

Her intelligence had increased drastically, placing her at the level of a recognized genius. She could now process information as quickly as a Brain Championship winner. Shen Yunxuan immediately noticed how much easier it was to understand Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er’s explanations—she grasped things almost instantly. Excited, she took out all the manuals and asked them to quickly go through them with her.

They didn’t quite understand her urgency and advised, “If you like martial arts, you should take appropriate breaks. Listening to all of this at once can be exhausting. We still have time to go through it slowly.”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “I may not have much time. I have a feeling my family will come looking for me soon, and I might have to go home. If that happens, there won’t be anyone to explain these things to me anymore. Please, help me while you can.”

“So soon?” Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er both felt reluctant, but if her family was really coming for her, they couldn’t stop her. So, they seriously focused on explaining everything to her. The lesson went on until dusk.

Xie Yun’er said, “Sister, I’ll go make arrangements so we can have dinner early. I’ll get you a beggar’s chicken.”

“Great!” Shen Yunxuan had now gone through most of the inner energy cultivation methods and combat techniques in the manuals. She realized that with her increased intelligence, she could now infer and understand many things on her own. She turned to Xie Feng and said, “I want to try practicing internal energy cultivation. Brother, please watch over me. If anything seems off, stop me.”

“Of course!” Xie Feng simply thought she was overly curious and eager to try what she had learned. He never expected her to actually succeed. He leisurely sat to the side, sipping his tea.

Shen Yunxuan took a deep breath and reassured the concerned experts and special forces soldiers. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything reckless.”

With that, she sat cross-legged on the ground, hands resting on her knees with palms facing upward, and closed her eyes. She carefully focused on sensing her body, imagining the dantian, meridians, and the circulation of energy within her.

Gradually, she lost awareness of the surrounding sounds and her physical presence, focusing solely on guiding the internal energy. Even her breathing slowed. Time seemed to disappear into silence.

Then, a faint, elusive energy surfaced within her body. She could sense it and began leading it through her meridians. Whenever it encountered a blockage, it would strike against it repeatedly, tirelessly, until it broke through. Once it cleared the obstruction, it continued its course.

Shen Yunxuan felt extremely exhausted but gritted her teeth and persisted. Finally, the energy completed a full circuit through her meridians, clearing all blockages. Following the method she had learned, she carefully guided it along its designated path once more.

With growing excitement, she opened her eyes and exclaimed, “I can feel it!”

Xie Feng was astonished. For someone to begin practicing martial arts at her age—especially as a complete beginner—and to successfully sense and circulate internal energy on her first try was unheard of. He blurted out, “Second Sister, you are a martial arts prodigy!”

Shen Yunxuan wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and smiled. “I’m not a prodigy. I just happened to get lucky and found the right path.”

She knew this was thanks to her increased intelligence and the experience recorded in Cultivator Shen Yunxuan’s memory. But since she had now touched the threshold of martial arts, she would definitely work hard to improve further.

Meeting the gazes of the experts and soldiers, Shen Yunxuan grinned with pure joy. She could practice martial arts now!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆