Chapter 871: Chapter 851: Martial Technique?
Luo Qianqian didn’t feel anything until evening, when she finally felt somewhat recovered and sighed in relief.
Under the old man’s guidance, she led Qin Nuan through her first Inner Strength pathway while Qin Nuan was soaking in the bath tub.
Then she was once again drawn into the Sea of Knowledge... with an innocent look, she glanced at the old man floating in the misty air: "What now?"
The old man pointed at the book: "It’s time to learn some Martial Techniques today, unless you want to die at the hands of others just as you’ve achieved some success?" His face was full of calmness.
Luo Qianqian’s expression showed realization: "Makes sense, but by the way, Martial Techniques? How come I’ve never heard of them?" Clearly, there were no such explanations in that organization’s little room?
"Hmph, did you think everything was laid out in the open?" The old man didn’t say much more, just pointed at the book, and then leisurely floated onto the big white stone, watching Luo Qianqian.
With a slight frown, she beckoned, taking the book from the air into her hand: "Is Gongyang Chou’s cutting the light that kind of Martial Technique?"
"Cutting?" The old man was slightly puzzled, then shook his head with a frown: "How could a primary figure like Gongyang Chou come into contact with such things? That should have been a simple Inner Strength release, which anyone with a solid foundation can do, just like your previous Condensing Qi into Ice."
Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief, what? A primary figure? That was someone who almost destroyed her, alright?
Then what are intermediate and high-level figures like?
Is Diwu Yan... really that terrifying?
Thinking of that usually elegant ’Rose Flower Spirit,’ Luo Qianqian shivered inexplicably.
If Diwu Yan wanted her life, wouldn’t she have no chance to resist at all?
"Only when you are strong enough can you effectively dispel others’ intentions toward you," the old man said calmly, observing Luo Qianqian’s expression.
Luo Qianqian nodded firmly after a moment of silence.
She opened the book in her hands and looked at the page, which read: Ice Stab.
The old man floated to Qian Xi’s side, looked at the words on this page, and nodded: "Not bad, if your first Martial Technique is this, it won’t lack offensive power, and it won’t consume too much leaving you without follow-up strength."
"Ice, huh?" Luo Qianqian looked exasperated: "If we were in the Capital City, it’d be more feasible; here, trying to freeze something is...?"
"You know the three states of water, don’t you?" The old man didn’t dwell much on the temperature issue and started to talk about physics.
Luo Qianqian nodded casually: "Of course, solid, liquid, gas, which means ice, water, fog."
"That’s right, disregarding the temperature difference, what do they have in common and what makes them different?" The old man was inwardly relieved that recently, because he was on a university campus, he’d read quite a few books, so he wasn’t entirely illiterate.
"Commonality? They’re all made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, written as H2O in molecular formula." Luo Qianqian was silent for a moment before frowning deeply: "Differences... could it be density? Different arrangements lead to different states?"
"Exactly." The old man nodded approvingly, worthy of someone who had studied.
"Gaseous state allows relative freedom because the gaps between its molecules are large, allowing them to move freely without much hindrance. The gaps are tighter in a liquid, but it can still move. Ice forms a very stable structure among its molecules, preventing any movement. So..."
"So, it has nothing to do with temperature? Changing the arrangement of the elements can change the state of the attributes?" Luo Qianqian immediately replied, her face showing some sudden realization.
The old man nodded, displaying a ’teachable child’ expression.
Just as she assumed the cultivation position, Luo Qianqian showed a wry smile and looked at the old man, saying, "How am I supposed to learn this? By the way, what’s fire’s solid state? What’s fire’s liquid state? What state does fire belong to?"
The old man showed a troubled expression on his face, realizing he too had just learned that this was possible, having no experience himself. He’d never seen anyone manipulate water in three states either.
"Is it only water that can do this?" Luo Qianqian saw the difficulty on the old man’s face, sighed, and didn’t press the issue further.
"Ahem, that’s probably it. Your responsiveness isn’t bad," the old man lightly coughed, covering his mouth.
"So how do I learn this... Martial Technique now?"
"Uh, for now, you can only read." The old man awkwardly scratched his head: "Memorize it in your mind and find a suitable place when you’re outside."
"Then why did I come in? I could just look outside?"
The old man lightly shook his head: "This part can only be seen here."
Luo Qianqian was stunned, and said: "Alright then."
Then she obediently sat down to read the book.
The old man sighed and floated in another direction.
Watching the old man’s departing back, Luo Qianqian looked up at the misty sky, with no changes in the surrounding scenery, and finally sighed slightly.
It turns out this path is not as free-spirited as she thought, and bringing Qin Nuan along, she isn’t sure if it was right or wrong.
After reading several times, she silently committed the contents to memory, sighed, looked around, and softly said, "Exit."
Luo Qianqian’s body jolted, and when she opened her eyes again, she was already on a chair beside the bath tub.
Qin Nuan was just groggily awakening, looking at her body, disdainfully scrubbing: "Is this what they call body impurities? It’s a bit too disgusting, isn’t it?"
Luo Qianqian, prompted by Qin Nuan’s words, suddenly reacted, stood up, and moved to the bath tub before her brain could process it, looking at Qin Nuan’s body, seeing some black particles seeping from it, and curled her lip: "You’re that grossed out? If you saw me, you’d probably throw me away?"
Speaking, Luo Qianqian sighed: "Do you want to change the water?"
Qin Nuan shook her head slightly: "Could you find me some shower gel or hand soap? If not, even soap would do." She disdainfully looked at herself, sniffed the smell, suddenly showed a weird expression, and hurriedly wrapped the towel from the screen, rushing into the bathroom like a whirlwind.
Luo Qianqian patted her head, realizing she forgot something, oh right, back then she did take a shower while having a tummy ache.
"Then manage it yourself. Call me if you need anything," Luo Qianqian said to the bathroom, her face showing a look of habitual familiarity.
All those items were in the bathroom, and now that Qin Nuan was in there, there was no need for her to go in and rummage around, making Qin Nuan feel awkward.
Now she was extremely interested in that Martial Technique.
