Chapter 54: Secret Knight Art, Bloody Furious Wind

After another brisk walk through the corridors, Wang Yu and Father Fang stopped before a wall. Without a word, the priest simply placed his hand upon it.

Under Wang Yu’s gaze, a door that had not been there before slowly manifested on the surface, appearing far more ancient and weathered than the mundane ones they had passed earlier.

"Is this a higher level of clearance?" Since the priest had no intention of explaining, Wang Yu saw no point in asking. This was clearly a place reserved for those of higher standing; a mere pawn with entry-level clearance like himself had no business here.

Pushing open the decrepit wooden door, Father Fang stepped inside first, gesturing for Wang Yu to follow.

The two entered, and the door clicked shut, reverting instantly into a plain, unremarkable wall.

Once again, the familiar sensation of spatial displacement washed over him. Wang Yu stood still, surveying his surroundings. His first impression was simple: so many books.

The structure was a tower, spiraling upward via a central staircase. Flanking the stairs were circular shelves and platforms, each level standing about five meters high and packed to the brim with volumes.

The architecture gave Wang Yu the dizzying illusion of infinite height; the spiral staircase seemed to stretch into eternity, with no end in sight, only more steps vanishing into the distant gloom above.

Strangely, when Wang Yu looked at the shelves, he found that despite his keen eyesight, the titles remained blurred and indecipherable, as if shrouded in a hazy mist.

He projected his ripple, only to find it suppressed here as well. His power was compressed to a five-meter radius, stripped of its Void-enhanced reach. This place, too, had a master.

"Samuel, I’ve brought a newcomer to select his book."

"You again, Fang Stuart? Haven't you had a few too many recruits lately? Four in such a short time—are you finding loopholes in our agreement? Hmm?"

The conversation drew Wang Yu’s attention. He realized that while he had been gauging the space, Father Fang had been speaking with a cloaked figure at the entrance of this gargantuan library.

"I swear by the Light God that I have neither the intent nor the actions to exploit our arrangement." Father Fang performed the standard Church of Light chest-salute, offering a reassuring smile.

"Fine. We all know your god is the least reliable of the lot, but your own word still holds weight. Send him over."

The cloaked figure, Samuel, had no interest in further barbs and signaled for Father Fang to bring Wang Yu forward.

As Wang Yu approached, he caught a glimpse of the figure and realized it was likely not human; there were no legs beneath the cloak, the hem of the robe hovering eerily above the floor.

"You, go in. Keep what you desire in your heart and follow the stairs. When the books on the shelves become clear to your eyes, pick one and read it."

Samuel’s tone was curt and unwelcoming as he gestured toward the library’s interior.

"Remember, the Knight’s Secret Arts," Father Fang added in a low voice.

Wang Yu stepped forward without hesitation, but before he could enter, Samuel issued one final, sharp warning.

"Remember, you have only one hour, and you may choose only one book. There are descriptions on the spines. Only one—once you open it, you are forbidden from touching another. Put it back when the hour is up, or bear the consequences yourself."

Wang Yu nodded. He was no rebel; if that was the rule, he would follow it to the letter.

Stepping into the library, he felt his ripple suppressed even further, as if the very concept of the Void had been stripped away. "What a strange, marvelous place this is."

He sensed the atmosphere around him; it was purely material, devoid of anything else. With the complete absence of the Void, his ripple was compressed to a mere two-meter radius, yet it persisted.

This confirmed that his power was not a gift of the Void, but something uniquely his own.

He didn't dwell on it. He had a task: to find a Knight’s Secret Art. "Knight’s Secret Art, Knight’s Secret Art..." he whispered, climbing the stairs level by level.

One floor, two, three... The staircase wound upward. When he reached the forty-first level, the previously blurred books finally snapped into focus.

"Right, this is the place." Stepping onto the landing, Wang Yu began to browse the shelves.

"Gale Trajectory, Pale Dawn, Corpse-Shell, Formless Thing, Dark Rite Codex...?"

He read the titles aloud. Each book corresponded to a secret art, their functions summarized in tiny script on the spines.

"Gale Trajectory... imbues battle aura with special properties; when released, it forms a gale around the user, propelling them forward. Both defense and mobility are greatly enhanced..."

"Pale Dawn... battle aura is significantly strengthened at dusk and dawn, reaching a fivefold bonus for half an hour during each period..."

Wang Yu marveled at their power. These arts granted abilities akin to inner-potential awakenings before one had even truly awakened—no wonder they were called pseudo-inner-potentials.

His gaze paused on one particular volume, and he read the description aloud.

"Dark Rite Codex... battle aura becomes akin to Void energy; the two can be converted into one another. Void affinity is drastically increased. As long as one can commune with the Void, battle aura becomes inexhaustible..." Wang Yu rubbed his chin. "Not bad at all!"

...

"Fang Stuart, I’m beginning to doubt your denial of ulterior motives... You didn't tell me this fellow was a dual-class wizard."

"What do you mean? Believe me, I have no ulterior motives." Fang turned with a smile.

"His mental resistance... plus the fact that he’s a wizard, he’s summoned that thing..." Samuel’s tone was irritable, clearly displeased.

"The Dark Rite Codex!?" Father Fang’s voice betrayed a hint of surprise.

"Yes," Samuel replied coldly.

"Then you’re going to suffer a heavy loss," Fang said, still smiling. He hadn't expected Wang Yu to pull that specific book out. It was worth half the library; would a knowledge-obsessed old miser like Samuel really let it go?

"Wait...?" Samuel’s tone shifted to one of confusion.

Father Fang looked at him, questioning.

"He didn't choose the Dark Rite Codex... he chose a very ordinary art..." Samuel sounded baffled as he explained the situation.

...

"Bloody Gale-Wind: grants the ability to manipulate blood. Battle aura integrates into the bloodstream; as it flows, blood circulates, turning wounds from a burden into a weapon..." Wang Yu held the book in his hand. This was his choice.

He had noticed the Dark Rite Codex, of course. Its power was terrifyingly superior to the others, but he chose to ignore it.

For one, he only had an hour; he doubted he could master such a complex art. He knew his own limits—if he couldn't learn it, he’d only be wasting his time.

More importantly, he held a deep-seated belief against over-relying on the Void. All wizardry was, at its core, borrowing the Void to distort reality. He didn't reject the power, but his foundation would always be his own body.

After searching, he found most arts focused on boosting aura rather than physical constitution. Only "Bloody Gale-Wind" felt right.

For someone like him, who fought like a berserker despite being a knight, the ability to turn blood loss into a lethal advantage would be a massive leap in combat effectiveness.

Without hesitation, he opened the book. Strangely, the text consisted of bizarre, unrecognizable symbols.

Yet, as he stared at the dense, complex patterns, their meanings were automatically understood, the knowledge flooding his mind and allowing him to grasp the essence instantly.

"Is it really this easy to understand? Did I lose out by not picking the Dark Rite Codex?" Wang Yu grinned, amused by his own earlier worries.

He didn't care. He knew the best choice was the one that suited him. The moment he opened this book, he knew he was right.

This art would be the stepping stone for his next phase of growth. He had to run the technique at least once within the hour, letting his body memorize the sensation, to truly master it.

Otherwise, without the aid of these special books, his trip to this "slightly larger" library would be for nothing.

"Pseudo-inner-potential, or secret arts... they essentially force battle aura into a matrix. True inner-potential is the result of natural physical evolution—the most compatible and powerful."

"Secret arts, however, use artificial regulation to achieve that matrix. They aren't as potent, but the principle is the same..." Wang Yu pondered the contents.

After fifteen minutes of study, he began his attempt, manipulating his aura to follow the matrix inscribed in the book.

His mental energy acted like fingers plucking strings, directing the flow of aura within his body. As his will exerted pressure, his body began to generate the corresponding currents.

It was a blessing that he could generate aura from every part of his body.

Though his aura was more diffuse than those with a central vortex, and he lacked their total volume, his ability to generate it everywhere gave him a massive advantage in precision. Following the manual, he guided the circulation.

Because he could generate aura anywhere, he didn't need to rely on a single vortex like a normal knight. He simply forced his body to generate aura along the path of the matrix.

Gradually, an invisible matrix formed within him. As the aura aligned into this specific pattern, a strange sensation rippled through his frame.

The flow became smoother, more obedient. The energy no longer merely clung to his internal pathways; it began to fuse with his blood.

His heart rate spiked, and his blood began to circulate faster, driven by the aura itself. It was slightly out of control; the capillaries on his skin, unable to withstand the sudden surge, began to rupture.

Thin, crimson lines appeared across his skin, making him look like a drunkard flushed with wine.

Remaining calm, Wang Yu felt no tension despite the temporary loss of control over his blood. He simply channeled his mental energy, sensing his own physique, and commanded both his spirit and his body to regulate the blood that had become slightly unruly after merging with his battle aura.

His robust frame played a vital role at this moment; his heart, brimming with immense vitality, pumped powerfully, once again serving as the core that drove the circulation of his blood.

The blood that had surged out of control upon absorbing the battle aura was forcibly slowed and reined in by this potent force, its accelerated pace gradually subsiding until it returned to its natural rhythm.

Taking a deep breath to allow the necessary gases to diffuse through his alveoli and back into his bloodstream, Wang Yu began to focus his attention on manipulating his body and his battle aura.

The unique properties of the matrix-like battle aura caused it to continuously fuse with his blood, and an increasing amount of this specialized fluid began to occupy Wang Yu’s vessels.

This was the synthesis of aura and blood; the blood became a vessel for the otherwise intangible aura, while the aura granted the blood a level of controllability and a unique, reinforced strength it had never possessed before.

Wang Yu closed his eyes, turning his entire consciousness toward the transformation of his body, undistracted and singular in his focus.

...

On the ground floor of the library, Samuel and Father Fang were discussing Wang Yu’s choice.

"I truly did not expect your newcomer to make such a choice. The power of the Dark Rite Codex should be apparent at a glance; the value contained within it is, in fact, beyond your imagination."

"In essence, this thing is a key—one of the doors that bridges the material world and the void," Samuel said, his tone grave as he spoke of the Codex's worth.

"Is it really that important? And what is your reason for telling me this? Are you not afraid I might harbor covetous thoughts?"

"Hmph, I said it before: I trust the character of you people in the Church of Light. It is those fellows in the royal family I despise more; that nauseating lot has probably wanted to make a move on an old man like me for a long time."

"Then they would surely regret it," Father Fang said with a smile, hoping the royal family would not be so foolish.

"Do not flatter me. The only reason I tell you about the Dark Rite Codex is to let you know that even if your newcomer had chosen it, I would not have handed it over. He is not worthy." Samuel’s tone was disdainful, cold and self-assured.

"Is it really all right to be so righteous about breaking a promise?" Father Fang asked, unperturbed.

"Do you think everyone is as honorable as your Church of Light? Still, this newcomer interests me. To forgo the Dark Rite Codex and choose 'Bloody Gale,' a common secret technique... I wonder what is going on in that head of his."

Samuel’s words were blunt; it was unclear whether he found Wang Yu’s choice intriguing or simply thought him a fool who could not distinguish good from bad.

"Hmm... and so?" Father Fang maintained his unchanging, polite smile, watching the abrasive Samuel.

"Do not look at me like that. This old antique is merely piqued by a bit of interest. There is one spot left in our agreement; if the next newcomer you bring is special enough to draw the Dark Rite Codex from the Great Library, I will not refuse to hand it over."

"So generous—that is not like you, Samuel. I knew when my current newcomer drew out the Codex that a miser like you would never surrender it."

"Do not speak to your elders that way, daring to call me a miser... The times are changing, and these secrets will eventually be buried. I am but a ghost of an old era."

"You are well aware of the current turmoil; there is no need for me to hoard these ancient treasures. They need not rot in the graveyard with me." Samuel’s tone remained cold and hard, yet it carried an indescribable weight.

"Now that someone has appeared who would abandon the Dark Rite Codex to choose Bloody Gale, what is so impossible about me becoming a bit more generous?"

"Is this... the closing of the library?" Father Fang caught the hidden meaning in Samuel’s words.

"Yes, it is closing. So, your last newcomer had better be quick. I cannot wait that long. If it is too late, then forget the Dark Rite Codex—do not expect me to grant you any other knowledge, either."

"You old skinflint," Father Fang said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Show some respect."

...

Fifty-five minutes later, Wang Yu opened his eyes. He felt the ceaseless flow of blood throughout his body and the special energy carried within it, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

His battle aura had merged with his blood. From this moment on, he would no longer need to expend mental effort to circulate it; instead, it would be driven by his heart, flowing endlessly through his circulatory system and providing him with a constant, inexhaustible enhancement.

He bit the tip of his index finger, and a drop of blood welled up. Strangely, however, the crimson bead did not drip from his fingertip but remained perched upon it.

Wang Yu flicked his finger, and the bead stayed firmly in place.

No further blood flowed from the wound. Wang Yu smiled, sensing the battle aura with his mind. The aura within the bead responded to his command, and driven by an invisible force, the droplet was pushed back into the wound, rejoining the circulation.

The initial stage of Bloody Gale: battle aura fused with blood, granting the blood a degree of manipulation. Although the wound remained, the danger of blood loss would henceforth be largely overcome by Wang Yu.

Sensing his body once more, he saw the matrix of battle aura shimmering within him. His body had memorized this configuration. From this moment on, the secret technique of Bloody Gale was fully mastered. All that remained was for Wang Yu to continue developing the art to elevate his strength.

Nodding in satisfaction, he tucked the book back onto the shelf and turned to head downstairs. Wang Yu did not notice that after he replaced the book, the volume titled *Bloody Gale* did not revert to its descriptive form; instead, it silently dissolved into dust, vanishing into the vast expanse of the shelves. Future visitors would never see this technique again.

Descending level by level, Wang Yu looked around, once again struck by the sheer scale of the library.

Each floor was at least five meters high. He had reached the forty-first level, yet he could still see no end to the stairs above. The height of the structure was unimaginable.

Wang Yu felt a flicker of curiosity about where this immense, towering library was actually located.

Suppressing his wonder, he walked down the stairs and returned to the ground floor, where both Samuel and Father Fang turned their gazes toward him.

Some might have felt nervous under the scrutiny of these two titans, but Wang Yu clearly did not. He stood calmly behind Father Fang, awaiting the next arrangements.

"Boy, why did you not choose the Dark Rite Codex, but chose Bloody Gale instead?" Samuel’s cold, hard question echoed.

Wang Yu paused. This fellow knew what he had chosen? It stood to reason; the master of this strange library should be this floating figure wrapped in robes...

"Because that book did not suit me. While it is indeed powerful, my foundation should not be the void. This *Bloody Gale* is the most suitable for me," Wang Yu replied.

"Hmm..." Samuel was somewhat surprised. He had expected Wang Yu to have some profound reason or long-term consideration for rejecting the Codex, but he had not expected the lad to have thought so little of it, dismissing a tome of such unique power with a simple "it does not suit me."

Glancing at Fang, Samuel’s cold voice returned: "My promise remains valid. Now, go."

"Thank you for your knowledge," Father Fang bowed to Samuel, then communicated with the Dark Web, pulling himself and Wang Yu into the rift.

...

"Tap." As soon as Wang Yu stepped into the corridor of the Dark Web, Zeke’s voice suddenly reached his ears: "A complication has arisen with the cultists in the Wall District. We need to mobilize immediately. Get to the Wall District via the Dark Web; Charles and Edward are already waiting there. I will act as your intelligence officer, relaying messages and providing support!"

Wang Yu did not pause to wonder why Zeke’s voice was in his ear; he turned directly to Father Fang.

"Go. This is your first mission, and the first for the Special Operations Team. You are only responsible for the perimeter—perform well!"

Without hesitation, following the prompts provided by Zeke, Wang Yu began to sprint. The first mission in the Royal City had begun.

(The name "Bloody Gale" is taken from an item in *The Binding of Isaac*, and the main plot begins now!)