"You'll probably need some time," Eva said to Derek with a faint smile. "So you can sit here and read to your heart's content."

"What about me?" Art asked quickly. "I want to read too. Aren't there any other books?"

"I'm not sure," Eva replied thoughtfully. "Maybe there are other books with similar content, but the one on the table is the oldest, and it contains the maximum possible ways to learn a skill or technique. You can still check that shelf, though." She pointed toward the same shelf from which she had just taken the book.

"Oh. Then Derek and I will go through this one together."

"All right," Eva said, nodding. "Derek, I'll meet you again tomorrow. Take care."

With that, she turned and left the library.

Derek pulled out a chair and sat down, while Art took the seat beside him. Derek carefully opened the book and began turning the pages one after another.

[Genesis of Maharah — meaning, the origin of skill or technique]

The two of them continued reading, their curiosity deepening with every paragraph.

[Cultivators can acquire, learn, or achieve skills when they have mastered a technique to a certain level. Techniques, however, are learned through practice, observation, and proper guidance.]

[But there are other ways to learn them as well. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, immortals existed who had broken free from the shackles of life itself. They could master hundreds of techniques and unlock countless skills. Some of them taught their arts to others, while some left behind legacies for the worthy to inherit.]

[There were various methods to preserve and pass down skills and techniques. Some used scrolls — only the first person to open and comprehend a scroll could learn the skill within it. Others used runes; breaking a rune would allow one to inherit the technique or ability sealed inside. Some could even gain entirely new powers through this — cultivators becoming Aurans, Aurans evolving into mages, and so on.

These weren't the only means of learning. There were even beings capable of devouring other creatures to absorb their abilities. But as time passed, these miraculous methods were lost — though traces still remain. And if someone is lucky enough, they might come across them.]

Derek and Art became completely engrossed in the book. The content was so fascinating that they lost all sense of time, flipping through the pages with growing awe.

They only stopped once they had finished reading the final page.

"Damn," Art breathed out, astonished. "After reading this, I feel like I knew nothing about the real cultivation world. There were immortals? For real?" His voice was filled with excitement.

Derek didn't respond immediately. He simply stared at the cover, deep in thought.

'So… I just have to crush that thing in my palm,' he mused silently.

"Wait...! It's already midnight?" Art suddenly exclaimed, glancing at the clock. "How did we not notice the time?"

Since the library was open twenty-four hours a day, no one had disturbed them, and being so absorbed, they hadn't noticed until now.

"Yeah," Derek said after a pause. "Sorry... you even missed dinner because of me."

"What's there to be sorry about?" Art grinned. "I wanted to read it too, and I'm glad I did. Though honestly, I doubt I'll ever be lucky enough to find one of those things mentioned in the book."

Derek didn't say anything, or he actually didn't know what to say, as he had already received something like that. After that, the two returned to their respective rooms.

Once inside, Derek brought out the rune again.

He stared at it silently for a while before placing it in his palm. Then, with a slight clench, he crushed it. The rune shattered into fine fragments that began to fade, releasing a faint wisp of smoke. The smoke curled upward before seeping into Derek's body.

In the next instant, his mind was flooded with a surge of information and vivid images.

He quickly sat down in a lotus position, calming his thoughts and focusing inward. Gradually, the chaos settled, and he began to comprehend what was happening. Warmth surged through every fiber of his muscles, each movement of the technique etching itself into his body as if his muscles had always known them. It was as though the technique had been engraved into his very being.

A long while passed before Derek finally opened his eyes again.

A satisfied smile curved his lips. "Who would've thought learning a technique could be this easy?" he murmured. "When I trained under Vanessa to learn her sword technique, it took me years. And this one… if what I saw in my mind is real, then the skills I can unlock by mastering this technique aren't just amazing — they're extraordinary. I won't even need to be a mage for long-range attacks."

He raised his hand, and the twin daggers materialized from within his storage ring, gleaming faintly under the dim light.

"It'll take a long time, though," he muttered, examining them. "Those skills won't be possible until I reach at least A-class. But still… this technique alone is a huge boost to my strength."

Derek glanced at the clock on the wall — it was already past midnight. Though every part of him itched to test the new technique, he forced himself to resist the urge. Lying down on his bed, he whispered, "I'll go to the chamber tomorrow. I should rest a bit for now. Today wasn't an easy day."

Not long after, exhaustion took over, and he drifted into sleep.

The next morning, Derek woke up early, quickly freshened up, and made his way to the instructors' training chambers.

Once inside, he summoned his twin daggers and activted the Level One Weapon Mastery Challenge.

Instantly, several sections of the floor slid open, and a combat dummy emerged, twin daggers gleaming in its hands.

The moment it appeared, it wasted no time and lunged straight at Derek, slashing with blinding speed.

Whoosh!

A low chuckle escaped Derek's lips as he lunged forward to meet the attack as well.

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