Chapter 97: Chapter 62: The Fading Figure

With Peng Yuhui, who knew his way around, Zhao Rui quickly found the section containing books on the history of the Martial Dao.

“Take your time. I’m heading off to study.”

Peng Yuhui said his goodbyes and headed toward a nearby study room on his own.

Watching him leave, Zhao Rui felt his figure looked a bit lonely.

The Martial Dao was, at its core, a competitive field. Who among those who walked this path didn’t dream of commanding the wind and clouds, of roaming the Jianghu with pride?

But the harshness of reality slowly wore down a young person’s sharp edges, leaving only compromise with the real world and a re-evaluation of one’s dreams.

From elementary school to university, from the grassroots to positions of power, every stage filtered out those who were once considered geniuses or exceptionally talented. In the end, those who could break through the ranks and rise to the top were always in the minority.

Zhao Rui clenched his fists. ’In this bonus life I’ve been given, even if I fail, I’ll fail on the path to the peak.’

’Worst-case scenario, it’ll be as if I never lived this life at all!’

His gaze hardened. Zhao Rui turned and walked toward the towering rows of massive bookshelves.

Countless books were lined up on each shelf, vast in both variety and number.

Zhao Rui followed the search index, looking for the books he wanted, category by category.

“The Legendary Marshal Zhao and His Ten Concubines!”

“The Amusing Jianghu Anecdotes of Yizhi Mei!”

“An Affair or Two of the Rakish Heroine Huo San Niang!”

“The Past and Present of Yin Yang Replenishment.”

Reading these titles, Zhao Rui felt his face flush. He couldn’t help but glance around.

’Are these embarrassing titles the same kind of trashy novels that got banned on Qiandu in my past life?’

’What an unrestrained Martial Arts Academy library.’

Zhao Rui quickly skipped past these obviously frivolous titles and continued searching down the index.

He finally found some serious-looking texts.

“A Factual Record of Huaxia’s Martial Dao!”

“A Brief Analysis of the Origins of the Martial Dao!”

“The Late Qing Dynasty’s History-Altering Mutation!”

Seeing these titles, Zhao Rui followed the index and quickly located the shelf where the books were.

He grabbed a copy of *The Late Qing Dynasty’s History-Altering Mutation* and began to flip through it.

“During the Qing Guangxu Period, the people’s livelihood withered and society was in turmoil. The Western powers, relying on the might of their guns and cannons, blasted open our nation’s gates…”

Zhao Rui skimmed through it. After reading for a while, he realized the “mutation” it described was just some historical incident that had a slight, but not significant, connection to the Martial Dao.

He couldn’t help but put the book down and turn to look through the others.

Faced with a sea of books, Zhao Rui read with intense focus.

When he got to *A Factual Record of the Martial Dao*, a particular passage inside revitalized his spirits.

“Since the year of Guangxu Jia Wu, the Celestial Spirits have fallen into disarray and the Earth Veins have surged. The Qi of Inner Strength has suddenly manifested in the mortal world.

“Common ruffians, chancing upon the secrets of Breathing, gained the power to lift cauldrons and shatter stone. Urban vigilantes, glimpsing the mysteries of the Meridians, developed the wondrous ability to tread on snow without leaving a trace.

“Yet in this declining age, the social order has collapsed. Dragons and snakes rise from the mud, and ambitious heroes compete for the nine tripods.

“The rise of Inner Strength is no auspicious sign, but rather a prelude to a change in the divine right to rule, a herald of the universe’s indifference!”

Zhao Rui read it word for word. ’Celestial Spirits in disarray, Earth Veins surging… Could it be that a massive disaster occurred back then?’

“Long ago, Han Fei wrote that ’swordsmen violate prohibitions with their martial prowess,’ and how true those words are! The ruffians of the Jianghu, often emboldened by hot-blooded courage, casually transgress the laws of the nation. Relying on the edge of their blades, they even seek to enact heaven’s punishment, a true blight upon the social fabric.

“Some commoners, armed with swords, look down upon the authorities. At the slightest disagreement, they cross blades in enmity, spilling blood within ten paces.

“Others settle personal grudges in back alleys, carrying out private justice in the dead of night. They cut down men like scything grass, staining the long streets with blood, yet still proclaim it as ’gratifying their enmities…’”

Reading further, he found that the rest of the content focused more on the social turmoil and historical progression that followed the rise of the Martial Dao.

It didn’t contain any description of the Martial Dao’s origin.

Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed, but the chaotic scenes described within still sparked his imagination.

’What a chaotic era that must have been, full of grievances and vendettas, a time for wandering swordsmen!’

Although the book provided a detailed account of that period of history, it had nothing to do with what Zhao Rui wanted to know.

He had no choice but to put the book down and continue looking through others.

He kept at it until just past noon. Only when he felt his stomach rumble did he reluctantly put down the book in his hands.

The book was filled with so many historical tales. They were not only bizarre and thrilling, stirring the soul, but also interwoven with themes of patriotism and national righteousness, making it impossible to put down.

It was every bit as good as the wuxia novels he’d read in his past life.

Unfortunately, only a few scattered sentences touched upon the process of the mutation, and they were all ambiguous, cryptic, and profound.

’If the Court intentionally hid it, how could they possibly let you see it?’

’You definitely wouldn’t find it in a public library like this, right?’

Zhao Rui felt a bit discouraged.

However, this wasn’t something to be rushed. Once his strength was great enough, all his problems would be solved.

After leaving the Martial Arts Academy library, Zhao Rui gave Zhang Kui a call.

“Where are you? Eaten yet? I’ll bring the card over.”

“Eat what? I’ve been waiting for you to treat me!”

Zhang Kui chuckled.

“Fine. Let’s go to the Martial Arts Academy cafeteria.”

“Alright! A treat from Young Master Zhao! I’ll be right there.”

After hanging up, Zhao Rui headed for the Martial Arts cafeteria. In the past, whenever he came here, basically no one recognized him.

But ever since he’d made the first-year team, more and more people had started greeting him.

The sense of unfamiliarity Zhao Rui felt toward the Martial Arts Academy also began to fade.

“Zhao Rui, here to eat? Wanna join?”

“Nah, I’m waiting for someone. Maybe next time!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep