Lin Jiu slumped there, staring at the split wooden post, his face etched with bitterness.
"So you weren’t even using your full strength during the day. Why are you so strong?"
Lin Jiu couldn’t understand it. This Holy Son looked about his age—or even younger—yet possessed such overwhelming power. Had he been training nonstop since birth?
He’d always considered himself a genius. Among Guardians his age, he’d never met his match. But Zhang Luan’s appearance shattered that confidence.
"Am I... strong?"
Zhang Luan asked himself, gazing up at the sky. A breeze swept away the clouds veiling the moon. Moonlight bathed him, and for a moment, Lin Jiu saw a battle-scarred survivor of brutal wars.
Lin Jiu braced himself on the ground, staring at Zhang Luan in disbelief.
"Who... who exactly are you?"
Zhang Luan ignored him. He put away the Ends Bow and left. He’d only come to test the bow. Now that he was done, he had no reason to waste time here with a man.
He walked toward the Sanctuary of Sages. Soft magical lights illuminated the area, flanked by vivid temple murals.
These depicted Goddess Akamana’s miracles. Only priests and devotees of the Akamana Temple could enter to view them; ordinary believers never got the chance.
At the sanctuary’s entrance, all traces of Zhang Luan’s earlier battle with Yanat had vanished.
Bathed in moonlight, the building glowed faintly. Any ordinary believer would have dropped to their knees in worship at this sight.
The Sanctuary of Sages spiraled upward like a tower, pure white with subtle gold accents. Its simple structure felt otherworldly.
Zhang Luan stepped through the door. Inside, a single beam of light pierced the darkness, landing on the floor.
Ye Ying quietly ate bitter chocolate. Before her, Nan Fenghua chanted prayers. Mysterious runes danced in the air like playful sprites.
She was slightly surprised by Zhang Luan’s arrival but said nothing. She let him sit beside her and offered her half-eaten chocolate.
"Want some?"
"No. I hate bitter things."
Zhang Luan looked up at the statue of Goddess Akamana. Unlike the one outside for believers, this statue radiated pure holiness—clearly no ordinary artifact.
He had no faith in gods, but he had to admit Akamana was beautiful. No wonder some players in his past life had willingly joined the Akamana Temple as devoted followers.
Ye Ying wasn’t surprised. Few shared her taste for bitter chocolate—not even Nan Fenghua, whom she’d raised since childhood.
After a while, Zhang Luan settled in, quietly listening to Nan Fenghua’s chants. The soothing prayers eased his fatigue. His earlier drowsiness vanished completely.
Ye Ying studied him, then spoke after a pause.
"Would the Holy Son like to learn blessing magic?"
"I’m psionic-type. I can’t learn that. But I know the Akamana Temple has divine arts, right?"
Ye Ying nodded. Akamana did possess a divine arts tome, filled with the goddess’s techniques. Few ever studied it—it was too difficult.
Compared to blessing magic, combat divine arts were like an unreadable tome. Only High Priestesses and bishops were forced to learn them.
But she’d killed the current bishop. Now, she was the only one left.
She’d tried teaching obedient Guardians, but none succeeded. Lin Jiu grasped a little, but too slowly. Physical training was simpler.
As for Nan Fenghua, she disliked studying those arts.
"Yes, the temple has a divine arts tome. But you’re not magic-type, and you’re already level 15... Wait. You’ve advanced? Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anyone advance so easily."
Ye Ying’s gaze sharpened with surprise. Only now did she notice the change in Zhang Luan. Advancing altered one’s entire aura. He seemed like a different person from the daytime.
She hadn’t noticed earlier. Now, it was startling.
"I’m a genius. Advancing is nothing. I’m psionic-type—I can’t learn your divine arts. I’m just curious. Show me that book."
Ye Ying pondered briefly, then accepted it. Perhaps true geniuses could advance at level 15.
"If you were magic-type, you might master all the divine arts. Forget it. Since the Holy Son insists, I’ll take you. Follow me."
She stood and walked straight behind the statue. Zhang Luan followed, discovering a hidden portal there.
They stepped through. Beyond it lay a snow-capped mountain piercing the clouds.
A cold wind blew. Tiny, pure-white snow sprites spotted Ye Ying and Zhang Luan. They fluttered over joyfully, circling them with curious eyes.
Ye Ying ignored the sprites. She pressed her slender palm to the ground. Holy light descended from above, lifting a heavy book before them.
The snow sprites danced even more excitedly around the book.
Ye Ying stepped aside and gestured to Zhang Luan.
"This is the divine arts tome."
Zhang Luan didn’t hesitate. He walked over and grabbed the book. Its details appeared before him.
[Divine Arts Tome of Akamana]
Tier: Advanced
Effect: None
Description: Records Akamana’s divine arts. Well-made material. Can be studied independently. Also good for hitting people.
This book documented Akamana’s divine arts, but unlike skill books, it couldn’t be learned by simply slapping it on your body. It required painstaking study.
Zhang Luan wasn’t surprised. In this world, only skill books and psionic stones granted instant power.
Players wanting NPC skills had two choices: slowly study books or train hard. No third option existed.
This realism confused many. Even if they mastered magic books, they couldn’t cast spells in reality. Only physical skills had limited real-world use.
But compared to their in-game bodies, most real-life players—often couch potatoes—couldn’t perform flashy moves.
He hadn’t planned to learn anyway. He couldn’t. Psionic and magic types shared similarities but differed fundamentally. Besides, with his ultimate psionic ability, he had no time to waste on this.
