Sol spent the next hours reading one of the many copies of Skin Tempering: How to Break Through that were seemingly placed at random throughout the shelves. The unnamed author gave a clear overview of how the progression of cultivation seemed to work while constantly mentioning examples that stood in contrast to his theory.

  For example, Skin Tempering was generally understood to have a simple breakthrough method: to try and push as much energy through your body as possible in order to clear the Qi pathways between the meridians and thus advance toward the next step, which required said pathways.

  After taking the shapeshifting cultivation pill, Nyx had a better understanding of Qi and was now able to feel it. His assumption was that the key to advancing was either mastering quantity—meaning how much Qi he was able to intake from his environment—or mastering quality, which he understood to mean being able to shape his skin both against physical force and hot or cold environments.

  His guess had been vague, just a feeling based on assumptions. This book claimed that quantity was the determining factor, and mastery over quality—or efficiency, as the author put it—did not contribute directly. Instead, a more efficient use of Qi would allow less energy to be wasted, achieving a breakthrough earlier.

  The author then went on to mention the advantages of a breakthrough: first and foremost, the increase in physical power. A Skin Tempering cultivator would boast twice the strength of a freshly awakened demon, so a rapid breakthrough could bring many advantages. Secondly, the book mentioned the second step of body cultivation: Muscle Refinement.

  Training here would permanently enhance one's physical capabilities through hard work. This was seemingly a step that could not be accelerated by the use of Qi at all—although the author mentioned half a dozen examples of rare bloodlines and cultivation methods that stood in contrast to this general theory—which meant it was the step best suited for the most hardworking cultivators.

  Sol’s reading session was then interrupted by Nox’Rictus’s return. The black-haired demon had bound his long, curly hair back with a hairpin stylized with a fancy golden symbol. Sol guessed that it was an Aurelius Vox family sigil or the sigil of their branch family. Contrary to his expectation, Rictus had returned with a cheeky smile on his face and a small bowl of tea cookies that he wordlessly placed on their reading table before unlocking the books.

  Sol had honestly feared the worst, so he retrieved the tea he had bought earlier and offered Rictus a cup. Apparently, he had made a bet with his older brother that he would be able to find all seven secret library entrances by a certain time, and this took care of the second out of seven.

  Sol had assumed that Rictus would also read about cultivation techniques, but instead, he had buried himself in books about arrays, runes, and a book about energy sources. Four books lay open in front of him; another one leaned against the pile of books he had not yet opened, equally wide open, while Nox’Rictus scribbled note after note in tiny writing on a sheet of parchment.

  His enthusiasm was infectious, and Sol soon found himself reading the book decorated with moving sheets of ice: Yin Qi - Moonlight Shadow Technique. Sol did not really care about learning the technique itself; he was trying to figure out how to apply Yin or Yang energy to his skin in order to protect himself from outside temperatures.

  No easy feat, it turned out. This Yin technique built up an intricate way of circulating Qi in order to neutralize it so it could not harm your body and to convert the unnecessary Yang into Yin energy. According to the book, this would initially be difficult but would show beneficial results when synergizing with frost techniques, as well as training in cold regions, at night, and in winter.

  After a few hours of trial and error, Sol finally managed to understand how the technique worked and applied it on a microscopic scale. Yin and Yang energy were never pure; they always contained lesser parts of one another when they were “neutral” within a cultivator's system. It was thus his objective to make as much of the Yin Qi “neutral” within his body, while allowing the remaining Yang Qi to be purified as much as possible.

  If Sol had 100 Qi, 50/50 Yin and Yang, his internal temperature would be neutral. If he had to sit in a snowpit or in ice water, however, the incoming Yin would outweigh the Yang over time, resulting in his body cooling down. If he now stacked small amounts of Yang with the Yin in a ratio of 95/5, he would have a lot of “neutral” Yin Qi as well as some “pure” Yang Qi, resulting in a rise in temperature despite the frosty weather conditions.

  In theory.

  Practically, this was much easier said than done. It took a massive amount of concentration to keep the composition of energy the way he intended, and he realized pretty quickly the downside to this system. Every time he dissolved the composition of energy again through a lack of focus, something made part of it dissolve.

  Even if Sol could perfectly adapt his entire Qi pool to stay warm, it would still cost him a not insignificant amount of energy when he stopped. It could also be the case that adjusting the composition again to achieve a different outcome—or losing control over his entire Qi reserve when he had changed it thoroughly—would bring some backlash.

  Nyx could feel his control improve rapidly. When Rictus tapped his shoulder to bring him out of his concentration, he had roughly 5% of his Qi in a carefully adjusted state and managed to keep it active and maintained as he spoke with his fellow trainee.

  “We ought to leave soon,” he said casually. “The library is closed to us body cultivators at night.”

  “Ah. Did we spend so much time here already?” Nyx stretched himself and stored his books away in his temporary storage ring. “Do you mind if I tag along with you back to the housing area?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Of course not.” Rictus shook his head. “You fought the young master; it is never bad to have some fighters around. I am more of a crafter myself,” he said, tapping his Almanac for Herb Growth.

  Then another thought presented itself. “I guess I have to fight for housing today.”

  Nox’Rictus waved him to follow. “Unless you want to sleep in a ditch? Yes. However, fighting off invaders in the middle of the night seems tiresome. You really only get one hour of uninterrupted sleep if you pick one of the really good houses.” He scoffed. “But you likely would enjoy this?”

  “I’d like to avoid too much today,” Sol lamented. “My body is still sore and bruised, and after finding that surprise when diving toward the secret library entrance, I need a good quiet night of sleep.”

  “No kidding. That thing was massive! Oh, are you familiar with the families that exist in the south?” Rictus asked as they passed into the entrance hall. “I assume you do not, given your robes.” The black-haired demon eyed them unenthusiastically.

  Nyx frowned. “What is wrong with my clothing?”

  “It does not show your family name, no affiliation. And it's visibly apparent that you have not washed or changed it in over a day,” Rictus said with a shrug.

  “No.”

  “No? Of course they are. Look at them!”

  “I mean, ‘No, I do not know about the families in the south,’” Nyx said patiently. “I assume the Aurelius Vox family has a lot of students in the Verdant Reflection Sect?”

  “Naturally. If you have no family connections, you might as well come and fight one of my rivals. They all have houses.” Rictus stepped through the entrance door, appearing in a large stairway. “But first we climb.”

  And climb they did. It took the better part of 15 minutes just to ascend from the depths of the library, step after step on the monotonous path draining their stamina. Sol would have liked to ask a few more questions, but his breathing went ragged after just a few minutes, and with the quick pace they kept, it quickly emptied his gas tank.

  Finally, as the staircase narrowed and split off in different directions, Rictus stepped through an unassuming wooden door and led Sol to exit into the entrance of an overgrown cave. Inside, there were a number of baths lined up, all seemingly herbal in nature, a cavern filled with various types of plants, and a cave of pure ice. A group of young cultivators stood before them, raised eyebrows and furrowed expressions greeting them.

  Nox’Rictus turned away from the group immediately.

  “Ah! Aurelius Vox trash! What, are you not going to stay?” their leader mockingly shouted after them. “What a shame!”

  Nyx hurried to catch up and asked Rictus, “So, those are the families that rival yours?”

  He condescendingly raised his left brow. “‘Rival’? No. They are irrelevant. All of their families combined are smaller than the branch family.” His chest swelled with pride. “I’m not engaging them because the young master has ordered me to not fight with anyone for any reason. That is all. Come now, let us wait here for a bit.”

  They hid between a few trees near a path toward the housing area. It did not take long before the group they had encountered earlier passed through, and Rictus signaled to follow them silently.

  It did not take them long to figure out which houses the group occupied.

  “Ah, I see,” Sol nodded. “You promised not to fight anyone. But conversations for housing are... well.” He laughed.

  Rictus nodded. “Yes. They have also refused others access to that training area, fighting whoever wants to access it in order to get them thrown into detention cells. Fighting is not allowed outside the houses.”

  Nyx frowned at the new information, made up his mind, and then pointed toward a run-down shack, no more than a collection of piled-up scraps of wood and stone. “Since I did not warn you about the tentacle beast today, let me make up for it. I will take this house.”

  “Much appreciated,” Rictus said. “They are quite cocky, but you never see them challenging the young master. That you really have earned some respect for. Happy hunting.”

  “Thank you. And to you as well.”

  Then he stepped toward the door and made his intentions clear with a clear knock and the opening of the door. After all the sitting he had done over the past few hours, this might not be so bad. His body itched for some more movement.

  Inside, at the sparingly decorated kitchen table, a young demon sat, hurriedly storing away his belongings in a bag.

  “Who are you?” he brought forth with anger. “Do you even know who this house belongs to? Do you know who I am?”

  Nyx just shrugged. “I just need a place to sleep. Just get another place and let me have this one.”

  “If you fight me, they will come for you.” The young demon stood, blue hair falling over his red-skinned face. “Spear Saint Mountain will make your life miserable for this!”

  He grabbed a wooden quarterstaff and mimicked a few spear motions before stepping closer.

  Nyx’s heart beat loudly in his chest. This would be his first fight without focus. He shapeshifted his claws to his fists. His lightly flexing muscles sent a few pangs of pain through his body, making him painfully aware that he was not in peak condition.

  Against Rax’Rathos, he had done rather well against a spear. How well would he do without his focus?

  His opponent was irritated at the seeming lack of reaction. His body language was unsure. Since Sol had not drawn a weapon, it seemed as if he was underestimating his opponent.

  The Spear Saint Mountain demon frantically observed the room. His eyes darted to the door multiple times and back to Sol. “You can still leave!” he exclaimed.

  Nyx just slowly shook his head.

  Then the weapon dashed forward with a fierce scream and plenty of power.

  The first thing Sol noticed was how terrible this Spear Saint Mountain student was. His form was different from Rax’Rathos’s—terribly unsure, and he moved much slower. Even without his focus, he managed to knock away the incoming thrust and step closer with rapid forward strides. Two steps and another jab and strike to his head parried, Nyx buried his fist hard into his opponent’s nose.

  Sol kicked at his opponent’s hand, knocking the weapon away, and tried to follow up with another strike, but his opponent sank to the ground with a whimper. “You are terrible with a spear,” he said to the unconscious body in frustration.

  Since the fight was over, Nyx dragged him outside and closed the door behind him, declaring his dinnertime.

  The table immediately produced a pitcher of milk and a bowl of stew.

  Sitting down, Nyx put a finger to the bowl, and his unhappiness increased significantly.

  Cold.

  Next time, he would really have to go for a better house.

  And maybe thus... also a better fight.