Time flew by like a fleeting moment.
The ability theory class finally ended. Ryan reluctantly closed I Am the King of the Cultivation Realm, though his eyes were filled with struggle and confusion.
"System, why? Does it really have to be this way?" Ryan wanted to struggle one more time, asking the system with a glimmer of hope.
[Please consider carefully, host. The system respects your choice.]
"Ryan! Dude, that was absolutely insane!"
Danny rushed over like lightning and sat down in front of Ryan, looking at him with complete admiration.
Ryan held up a hand. "Wait a second, Danny. Let me ask you something first."
Danny scratched his head. "What question? If you are asking me about studying, I cannot help you there!"
Ryan waved his hand dismissively. "Not about studying. I am saying, hypothetically, if you had a chance to become stronger..."
Danny immediately interrupted. "What is there to think about? If I had that chance, I would grab it no matter what!"
Ryan facepalmed. "Let me finish! This way of becoming stronger... it comes with a price."
Danny looked puzzled. "Nothing in life is free. That is normal."
Ryan pressed on. "What if you had to trade your happiness for the rest of your life?"
Danny paused briefly, then said with determination. "The path of the strong is always lonely. Happiness has nothing to do with being powerful."
Ryan's expression darkened. "Damn it, I mean... what if you had to trade your little brother for it!"
The two stared at each other. The air seemed to freeze.
Danny looked somewhat embarrassed. "Well... if the price of becoming stronger means I cannot be a man anymore, I would rather stay an ordinary person."
Are you kidding? His little brother was his closest companion. How could he betray him for that?
Ryan nodded with satisfaction. "Good! You truly are my brother."
During the ability theory class earlier, Ryan had quickly skimmed through I Am the King of the Cultivation Realm.
At first, he read slowly, word by word. But then he discovered the plot was absolutely ridiculous.
The Ancient First Simp, Peng Cheng, met the Water Lotus Fairy by the riverside.
It was love at first sight. But alas, fate was cruel. The Water Lotus Fairy had voluntarily transformed herself into a stone to guard the river's seal, standing alone for ten thousand years.
The two loved each other but could never meet.
You think this is a touching love story?
Yes. When Ryan read to this point, he actually admired Peng Cheng. Truly worthy of being called the Ancient First Simp. But what came next completely shattered Ryan's worldview.
To prevent the Water Lotus Fairy from being too lonely, the Ancient First Simp Peng Cheng brought all 108 of his wives to live by the riverside.
Ryan thought to himself: Did you raid an entire harem?!
Wait, there was more.
But the Ancient First Simp Peng Cheng felt the atmosphere was still not lively enough. So he spent his entire fortune to build a pleasure house by the river, taking in all the lonely women in the world.
Later generations of cultivators passed down one of Peng Cheng's famous quotes: My wish is for every woman in the world to have a home!
Ryan could only shake his head. "I am impressed. Truly impressed!"
After complaining about this ridiculous plot, Ryan asked the system whether he had to read every single page to record techniques and skills.
[The host does not need to read every page. Simply glancing at it briefly will allow the system to automatically scan the content.]
Ryan perked up. "Okay!"
And so, moving like lightning, Ryan finished reading a thousand-chapter epic in just one class period.
Then came the critical problem.
After reading through an entire cultivation novel, the techniques and skills recorded were absurdly low-quality!
Remember the Severing Divine Manual mentioned at the beginning? At first, Ryan thought the name did not match the technique.
Now, looking back, Ryan realized it might actually be overrated.
Can you imagine a sect's founder going out to fight using techniques like Iron Palm and Iron Defense?
But there was something even more ridiculous.
The Celestial Court was supposed to be their highest combat force. Aside from the Immortal King Xiang Tianchong possessing the Severing Divine Manual, the Fire God's technique sounded impressive Blazing Flame Fist but when used in battle, it was no different from a tiny fireball!
When the system recorded it, even the Severing Divine Manual was rated as garbage quality.
By the time it got to this Blazing Flame Fist, it dropped straight to below garbage quality.
The system could not even recycle these techniques. All the trash-quality techniques from the entire book combined only exchanged for one and a half exchange coins!
Can you believe that? This was supposed to be a cultivation novel!
And that led to the scene from earlier.
Ryan asked nervously. "Danny, the cultivation novels around here... they are not all like this one, right?"
Danny glanced at I Am the King of the Cultivation Realm and smiled with contempt.
Ryan's eyes lit up. I knew it! I knew it! This must be a terrible novel!
Danny tilted his head. "The other cultivation novels out there? How could they possibly compare to this masterpiece?"
"Forget comparison. All the other cultivation novels combined cannot match even one percent of this book!"
"The author of this book, Talking shit, has even been named the most outstanding writer of the century!"
Ryan stared blankly. "..."
"System, is there any way to become stronger without reading novels?"
[.....]
[Respected host, this system currently can only strengthen the host through novels.]
Ryan buried his head in the pile of books. "Fine, fine. I remember you mentioned there was a system shop?"
[Yes, host.]
[The system shop is dedicated to helping the host select more excellent and comprehensive skills and techniques.]
Ryan felt like he had grabbed onto his last lifeline. "Quick! I want to see the system shop!"
[System shop now opening for the host.]
As the system's voice fell, a deep blue screen appeared before Ryan's eyes.
[System Shop]
[Techniques]
[Skills]
[Artifacts]
[Pills]
Four large modules appeared before him.
Ryan did not hesitate and clicked on Techniques. No matter how powerful a skill was, it needed a solid foundational technique to support it.
As someone who loved cultivation novels, Ryan naturally understood this principle.
Recommended by System:
[Pure Heart Sutra]
[Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique]
[Heavenly Demon Art]
[Supreme Heaven and Earth Nine Revolutions]
Ryan frowned. "System, I can understand the last three, but what the hell is this Pure Heart Sutra supposed to mean?"
[Respected host, detecting that you are still a virgin, therefore recommending the Pure Heart Sutra.]
[The Pure Heart Sutra does not strictly require gender. It only requires that pure vital energy remains intact.]
Ryan's eye twitched. "I suspect you are mocking me?"
He decisively eliminated the first option. Even if he was still a virgin now, he did not believe he would be one forever!
Ryan's gaze began shifting between the last three recommendations.
[Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique]
[Technique Description: As the saying goes, overwhelming strength defeats all skills. In the face of absolute power, all arrogance is illusion, and all illusion is arrogance! This technique is divided into three realms. Upon full mastery, you will obtain the power of nine dragons and nine elephants!]
[Exchange Coins Required: 1]
[Heavenly Demon Art]
[Technique Description: Heaven and Earth show no mercy, treating all living things as expendable! Learn this technique and become a demon, sweeping across the world! Wherever the Heavenly Demon goes, not even grass will grow! This technique is divided into seven realms. Upon full mastery, you will transform into the Heavenly Demon—immortal and indestructible.]
[Exchange Coins Required: 1.5 (System discount applied. First technique is free.)]
Ryan's eyes gleamed. "Oh! These two both look incredibly strong!"
However, he was most interested in the last one. For no other reason than the name sounded absolutely badass!
[Supreme Heaven and Earth Nine Revolutions]
[Technique Description: Supreme—the pinnacle of Heaven, the honor of Earth. Heaven and Earth stretch vast and boundless. All living things are born and perish. The energy of the void spans countless worlds. The energy of the Nine Revolutions fills the universe. Who dares not bow? This technique is divided into nine realms. Upon full mastery—above Heaven, below Earth, across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—you alone shall reign supreme!]
[Exchange Coins Required: 2.5 (System discount applied. First technique is free.]
[Tip: You can recycle the Severing Divine Manual.)]