Martial Saint through Reading

The next day.

A letter was delivered from Xirong County to the Baiyuan County Government Office.

"The official appointment for Chu Ming to serve as Librarian has been approved!" Liu Sitong said as he looked at the document in his hand.

"Go, call Chu Ming here!" County Magistrate Fu Chang picked up the document, and a look of joy appeared on his face. "Forget it, that boy was just poisoned—not fully recovered yet. I’ll go in person!"

"Lord Fu, now that the appointment is approved, Chu Ming is our Baiyuan County Librarian. Can we now..."

"Bring it, bring it. In the coming days, let Chu Ming prepare to decode it."

"With that boy’s talent, I estimate that in just three to five years, our Baiyuan County’s progress in decoding the Mountain Scripture will surpass all of Xirong County!"

"When that time comes, you, me, and Feng Yuan will be the ones credited for recommending talent, valuing ability above all, saving millions of lives—such merit, protecting our Great Qin Dynasty!"

...

West City, Chu Mansion, West Willow Garden.

West Willow Garden was the courtyard where Chu Ming lived, the name he had chosen himself.

Chu Ming was seated cross-legged at his desk, with piles of books stacked before him.

From poetry and prose, to summaries of the Classics, to historical records and military skill—books of every kind were present.

"Nothing Escapes the Eye..."

The effect after his Tier Breakthrough in reading was very practical; he could read all the books in a room in just one night.

Some of these books were moved from Wenlan Hall at the Academy, others sent by the County Yamen—he had basically read them all.

For a book as thick as , with Ten Lines at a Glance, what would have taken over ten days, could now be finished in one night— his reading efficiency vastly improved.

As the saying goes, "Read a book a hundred times and its meaning reveals itself." The floating fragments in his mind, under the massive input of book knowledge, were actually beginning to merge, tending toward the formation of a third Cultivation Technique Lake.

The more he read, the more fragments there were, intertwining and linking with each other, creating various reactions through Integration and Inference.

Merging, devouring—some fragments vanished, others grew ever stronger.

Those robust fragments, with too much information to float, would sink down and gather together.

Thus, a third lake, encompassing all kinds of knowledge, took form.

Chu Ming did not pause, continuing to flip through books.

Not long after the formation of his third lake, it connected with his Cultivation Technique Lake and Mountain Scripture Lake.

A bridge formed between the three great lakes, allowing the waters to flow rapidly and mingle.

The deduction speed for [Mountain and Sea Tiger and Python Fierce Blood Refining Scripture - Strong Bone] increased, as did the condensing speed of the twelfth strand of Qi Blood within him...

Even his martial skill, [Blood Wind Palm], which he had not intentionally practiced, saw steady progress under the influence of the lakes.

It was as if the formation of the three lakes laid a solid foundation for Chu Ming, making everything else inevitable.

"Young Master, breakfast is ready."

The voice of Little Shan came from outside the room.

"Alright."

Chu Ming set down his book and stood up to stretch his muscles and bones.

He had not slept the whole night, yet his mind was exceptionally clear.

When the body is strong, the Qi is robust; when the Qi is robust, the spirit is sufficient.

Using [Sword Gourd Spirit] consumed spiritual power, but also tempered it.

Now, he only needed two or three nights of sleep to fully recover, saving a great deal of time.

Walking out, the morning air was particularly crisp. In the center of the courtyard, a stone table was already set with breakfast porridge, pastries, and side dishes.

Chu Ming was more accustomed to life in Liuu Town, so after Little Shan came, he had her arrange meals and daily living as before.

The breakfast porridge contained meat, which Little Shan had specially added. The pastries she had made early in the morning, the side dishes too.

"Is there more?" After several large bowls, Chu Ming felt almost full.

"Yes, yes, I’ll go serve some more."

"No need, I mean, you should have some too."

"Young Master, I don’t need..."

"Are you ignoring Young Master’s words now?"

"I..."

In a few words before the other servants, Chu Ming not only cared for Little Shan but also made it known to all the servants her status.

He didn’t want Little Shan, having just arrived, to suffer bullying from others.

Among the servants it was always petty jealousy and tricks.

"Enough, go get some clothes made today. These ones no longer suit you."

Little Shan was still dressed as a maidservant.

Chu Ming took out some silver and stuffed it into her hand, his expression stern: "You must listen, you must change—go with brocade and silk."

Servants wore coarse hemp clothes; only those of status could wear brocade and silk.

The servants in the courtyard now fully understood—the servant girl, dust-stained and plain-faced yesterday, was not like them. She was also a mistress of this household.

"Young Master, County Magistrate Lord Fu, County Magistrate Lord Liuu, and Librarian Lord Feng have arrived."

At this moment, Fang Xiao’s voice called from outside.

Chu Ming’s gaze flickered.

For the three to arrive together—it must mean the official appointment had come.

"Good."

...

Main hall of Chu Mansion.

Fu Chang and Liu Sitong sat in chairs, sipping tea. Feng Yuan occasionally glanced towards the entrance.

The attending servants were all extremely cautious.

County Magistrate, County Magistrate, and Librarian—each was an important figure in Baiyuan County. And now all had come to see the master of this residence?

Suddenly, two figures stepped into Feng Yuan’s line of sight.

"They’ve arrived."

Chu Ming and Fang Xiao walked into the hall, bowing in salute to the three officials.

"No need for such formality."

Fu Chang waved his hand broadly and directly produced the official document: "From this day forth, you are the Librarian of Baiyuan County, a senior ninth-grade official."

Liu Sitong added, "The main duty of the Librarian is managing and editing the books, but..."

Feng Yuan caught the meaning, and sternly ordered the servants, "You are all dismissed."

The servants dared not linger and hurried out.

Fu Chang and Liu Sitong then looked at Fang Xiao.

Once Fang Xiao cupped his hands and withdrew, Liu Sitong fixed his gaze on Chu Ming, a book appearing in his hands, his expression solemn:

"Your duty will be different. You need not manage the books; you are only to decipher this Mountain Scripture."

"The , the passage we gave you before was excerpted from this book."

Fu Chang, too, spoke gravely, "This Mountain Scripture is extremely important—it concerns millions of lives, it concerns Xirong County, and the future fate of our Great Qin Dynasty."

"Chu Librarian, if you can fully decode this Mountain Scripture, the merit you gain will be so great that even I cannot estimate it."

Feng Yuan nodded heavily at the side: "Right now, the entire Xirong County has decoded half the Mountain Scripture. In over two years, countless people have worked day and night for this."

"It’s this half that has allowed the Tiger Armor Army to win more and more battles and suffer fewer casualties. If it is fully decoded, the Tiger Armor Army could even counterattack the Exotic Race and expand our territory!"

"By then, Chu Librarian, the greatest credit will be yours!"

Were the three of them just drawing big promises?

Chu Ming listened quietly.

The Mountain Scripture in Liu Sitong’s hand—he had already finished decoding it the previous night.

Should he say it?

Some things, if done too easily, only make others think they were easy to begin with—and the rewards shrink dramatically.

Merit is determined by those in power; if it cannot show its true weight, then it is futile.

If he told the three now that he had already deciphered the Mountain Scripture, they would certainly be excited.

But then, the merit would drop from ten, to one—or perhaps not even one.

He might even offend countless people as a result.