"Lord Cauldron, the Great Han royal family's secret technique is already one of the most 顶尖 [top-tier] cultivation methods in the world. Compared to immortal cultivation sects, it's only slightly inferior," Lin Yu explained helplessly.
"Once your cultivation stabilizes, take me to the royal family's library," Lord Cauldron said proudly. "I'll help you get some real top-tier secret arts!"
"Real top-tier secret arts? Lord Cauldron, you...?" Lin Yu guessed something.
"Hmph! I am a divine artifact forged by ancient sages, capable of refining all things. Do you know what 'all things' means? Do you really think I can only devour heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and demon beast flesh?"
Lord Cauldron smiled triumphantly. "As long as I refine the cultivation manuals in the Great Han royal library, even if they're trash, I can discard the dross and extract the essence to refine a real top-tier secret art for you!"
"Lord Cauldron, is this true?" Lin Yu asked in disbelief. If he could obtain the top-tier secret art Lord Cauldron mentioned, even as a Sixth-Rank Innate, he would dare to challenge the Seventh-Rank+ demon lords in the depths of the Qilian Mountains.
"Would I lie to you?" Lord Cauldron harrumphed, full of confidence.
...
A few days later, in the dead of night, Lin Yu turned into a shadow and quietly swept toward the imperial city.
With his current cultivation, entering and exiting the imperial city was as easy as walking on flat ground.
He moved calmly through the palace under the night sky. Neither the imperial guards nor the hidden powerhouses could detect his presence unless their cultivation far surpassed his.
Lin Yu's Saint Emperor Sword Body could completely suppress his aura and spiritual energy. Unless they were Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, no one could see through his cultivation or sense his presence.
As long as he didn't confront those powerhouses directly, he was like invisible air, attracting no attention.
Soon, Lin Yu arrived in front of the library.
It was a three-story wooden building housing various cultivation scriptures the Great Han had collected from around the world, one of the holy lands for warriors.
At the library entrance, an old man slept leisurely in a recliner— the library guardian.
"An Innate Fifth-Rank expert!" Lin Yu was secretly surprised. He had often met this old man before, never realizing he was a hidden Innate Realm master.
"Indeed, the palace is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. I must not be careless," Lin Yu shook his head and walked past the old man.
The sleeping old man didn't react at all. An Innate Fifth-Rank expert, even in sleep, could sense qi within dozens of zhang [1 zhang ≈ 3.33 m], avoiding danger and repelling intruders. However, Lin Yu's aura was as subtle as a breeze, undetectable.
Entering the library, the Great Han's collected martial arts manuals were neatly categorized on the shelves. Normally, only royal family members were allowed inside.
Breaking into the library required breaching the imperial guards, facing the city's demon-suppressing array, and then confronting the Innate Fifth-Rank guardian—all while more 强者 [powerhouses] would arrive. Over the years, no one had dared to target it.
Lin Yu could enter silently without triggering the demon-suppressing array because of his royal blood. Outsiders without royal blood or a pass token would immediately activate the array, face its attack, and be surrounded by guards.
Reaching the library's top floor, Lin Yu summoned the Divine Devouring Cauldron.
The golden cauldron hovered before him as Lord Cauldron's laughter echoed in his mind: "Good, good! Although these martial arts manuals aren't exceptional, there's a huge variety. After I refine them, I'll definitely bring you great good fortune!"
"Lord Cauldron, it's up to you," Lin Yu nodded, eager.
The cauldron emitted ripples of starlight. Wherever they passed, martial arts manuals on the shelves flew up, pulled by the starlight to circle the cauldron.
Golden lights burst from the manuals, sinking into the cauldron.
Lin Yu looked at the cauldron and saw thousands of golden characters forming a vortex, being refined and fused.
Once Lord Cauldron completely refined the characters, two golden lights shot out from the cauldron, sinking into Lin Yu's mind.
"Kid, this is the top-tier secret art from refining the library. One is called the Saint Emperor Heart Technique. With your Saint Emperor Sword Body, this technique will make your cultivation soar!"
Lord Cauldron's proud voice sounded. "The other is the Sword Intent of Wind. After fusing it, every move you make will unleash wind sword intent. With this, we can challenge those demon lords!"
As soon as Lord Cauldron finished, two balls of golden light bloomed in Lin Yu's mind. The Saint Emperor Heart Technique turned into golden characters inscribed in his mind, while the other light contained insights into Wind Sword Intent—subtle as the breeze, sharp as a gale...
With his Saint Emperor Sword Body, Lin Yu could master any sword technique quickly. Thus, he grasped Wind Sword Intent almost instantly.
"Lord Cauldron, you're amazing!" Lin Yu sincerely admired the cauldron, feeling the power of the Saint Emperor Heart Technique and Wind Sword Intent.
"Of course—who do you think I am?" Lord Cauldron chuckled, as if refining these two techniques was effortless.
As Lin Yu left the library, the manuals circling in the air fell to the floor, leaving the library in chaos, as if ransacked.
After exiting, just as Lin Yu prepared to return to the imperial mausoleum, he noticed two black-clothed figures sneaking through the palace.
They didn't trigger the demon-suppressing array, indicating they had pass tokens and must have an accomplice in the palace.
Lin Yu quietly followed them, curious about their intentions.
The two Men in Black [black-clothed men] reached the imperial kitchen's backyard, where an old eunuch stood.
"Eunuch Chen, we've come as ordered. Tomorrow, the emperor will host a banquet for Princess Qi. Our master commands you to put this bottle of Meridian-Dissolving Powder in her food."
"This Meridian-Dissolving Powder is colorless and odorless—even poison tests won't detect it. Once done, our master will reward you handsomely."
The two men spoke in tandem, taking a jade bottle from their robes and offering it to the eunuch.
But before Eunuch Chen could take it, the men saw a blur, felt their hands lighten, and the jade bottle vanished.
"Meridian-Dissolving Powder—what a vicious plot. Who is your master?"
A cold voice sounded as Lin Yu tossed the jade bottle in his hand, looking up at Eunuch Chen and the others.