Chapter Forty-One: The Ninefold Heavens of the Berserker

“The path of cultivation is paved with countless bones for every hero who rises. From the moment we step onto this journey, we must fight for resources and fulfill our needs. You’re a talent with first-grade aptitude, and both Zhou Ting and Zhou Yiyi have already spoken to you about the ruins. The government’s large-scale blockade of the ruins is meant for the stability of the rear; even students at the Cultivation Academy know little about it. Unless you reach a certain qualification, you have no right to know. You are an exception. That girl, Zhou Yiyi, caught wind of a few fragments and told you, and Zhou Ting did not stop her. It’s not a big deal. It’s better to gain a sense of crisis early; it gives you motivation to cultivate.

On another note, the people from the dark realm on the other side of the ruins can’t break through. Though our spiritual energy has only recently revived, we have plenty of modern weapons and equipment. These may not be usable within the dark realm, but they suffice to guard the passage to the ruins, so there’s no need to create panic. Let those with power protect ordinary people—this is a consensus across the world.”

Li Tian spoke to Yang Fan.

The ruins had always been something Yang Fan wished to understand better. Zhou Ting and Zhou Yiyi had once mentioned them, but neither had ever entered the ruins, so much of what they said was speculation. After entering the Cultivation Academy in the metropolis, the school made no effort to publicize the matter either. Yang Fan had kept it in mind, but lacked the chance to ask others.

Now, taking the opportunity during his apprenticeship, he asked Li Tian. Unexpectedly, Li Tian answered directly.

What Yang Fan did not know was that, for cultivators of a slightly higher grade, such matters were not even considered secrets. People simply did not care to share them with ordinary folk or those without strength—there was no need. Telling ordinary people would only cause panic, and telling the weak or those with unsteady minds might make them timid, fearful, unwilling to cultivate or face the future.

In today’s society, spiritual energy has revived, but life for ordinary people has not changed much. What they did before, they still do now. Cultivators and Awakened are far removed from common society; once an Awakened emerges, the Sky Net takes them to Awakened training camps. Once a cultivator’s talent is detected, they enter the Cultivation Academy. Contact between cultivators, Awakened, and ordinary people is rare.

When their power eventually reaches a certain threshold and they learn the true nature of the ruins, they rarely wish to tell their loved ones the truth, for it would only cause worry and serve no other purpose.

The ruins have never been a treasure paradise for humanity, nor a blessed land for cultivators or Awakened. The ruins are simply the graves of modern cultivators and Awakened.

There, glory is never found.

Only blood and bone are scattered.

Only blade and sword clash.

Only fire and water surge.

Only life exchanges for life.

...

Yang Fan left the Battle Arts Pavilion.

Li Tian remained seated at the entrance, eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

Yang Fan, meanwhile, stared at the ancient book in his hands, his expression fluctuating between hope and gloom.

In Li Tian’s collection room beneath the Battle Arts Pavilion, Li Tian had told Yang Fan a bit about the ruins and nothing more. As Li Tian put it: “A master leads you to the door; cultivation is up to you.” If Yang Fan encountered difficulties on the path, he could seek advice, but the journey must be walked alone. Li Tian would not provide cultivation resources—those must be fought for—but he would give Yang Fan powerful tools.

Then, from somewhere, he produced a book and tossed it to Yang Fan.

“Go home and practice the battle arts in this book. Abandon the Thunderblade,” he said.

He claimed Thunderblade did not suit Yang Fan, but did not specify why.

Yang Fan felt this old man would not give him inferior gifts for their first meeting. Yet, the thought of abandoning the Thunderblade, which he had cultivated for so long, left him reluctant.

He had swung the blade thousands of times daily, nearly reaching the instant-four-blade technique. Stopping now was painful.

But Li Tian explained that Thunderblade focused too much on speed, lacked destructive power, and, though its peak instant-nine-blade triple combo was swift, its lack of force was a fatal flaw.

No matter how quickly one swung, if it could not injure an enemy, it was useless. Good for foundation, but far inferior for real combat.

...

Yang Fan returned to his dormitory with the book in hand, wrestling with indecision all the way.

Once in the training room, he opened the book and felt he had made his choice.

“Battle Berserker’s Nine Heavens”

The first page bore five blood-red characters, aging and ominous.

He flipped further, and his face changed constantly.

After finishing the book, Yang Fan took a deep breath, then exhaled.

Astonishment.

That word alone could describe his feeling.

When he first opened the Thunderblade guide and its cultivation methods, Yang Fan had only just begun his path. The descriptions of Shadow Flicker and Thunderblade were thrilling.

Instant-nine-blade, triple combo.

That was Thunderblade.

A hundred li in the blink of an eye.

That was Shadow Flicker.

Those descriptions had once set Yang Fan’s blood aflame.

But now, compared to “Battle Berserker’s Nine Heavens,” they were nothing!

“Battle Berserker’s Nine Heavens” was not merely a battle art—it was more like a cultivation method.

It included routes for cultivating qi and blood, qi sea, combat techniques, movement arts, and more.

The cultivation method itself differed little from Yang Fan’s foundational methods, as basic cultivation only reached first or second grade, and the techniques for cultivating qi and blood at those levels were much the same.

The later sections—qi sea, the five organs, the six viscera—Yang Fan could not tell how they compared to modern methods, which was stronger.

But the battle arts far surpassed Thunderblade and Shadow Flicker.

Battle Berserker’s Nine Heavens encompassed three arts.

Offense: Sever the Nine Heavens

Movement: Break Through the Nine Heavens

Defense: Guard the Sky

Yang Fan now felt Li Tian’s advice was wise, and understated. Not only could Thunderblade be replaced, but Shadow Flicker as well.

He had no defensive art, and was sorely lacking. Now, this single book resolved it all.

Yang Fan suddenly realized how wise it had been to reveal his lightning ability.

Such a surprise.

First, Xiao Minghe and Zhang Weiguo wanted to take him as their disciple. Then, the guardian of the Battle Arts Pavilion, Li Tian, appeared.

Though he still did not know Li Tian’s strength or identity, Yang Fan could guess.

No doubt a hidden master of the Academy.

Hadn’t he seen how, after Li Tian spoke, Xiao Minghe, Zhang Weiguo, and Zhou Haifeng fell silent?

Those three were true high-level figures at the Academy—one a ninth-grade Martial King, one an eighth-grade Extreme Venerable, and another an eighth-grade Venerable.

Such a lineup was formidable. The Academy’s strongest was a tenth-grade Martial Emperor; a ninth-grade Extreme was equivalent to a principal elsewhere.

Yet, Li Tian’s mere words left them cowed.

Yang Fan had seen Xiao Minghe and Zhang Weiguo’s expressions—utterly aggrieved.

Even Zhou Haifeng, who had lifted Yang Fan up, behaved meekly in Li Tian’s presence.

All this told Yang Fan that Li Tian was far from ordinary.

Of course, what the truth was, Yang Fan did not care. He had a patron now.

After carefully stowing “Battle Berserker’s Nine Heavens,” Yang Fan left his dorm once more.

He headed for the infirmary.

Zhou Yiyi was still there, receiving treatment.

Yang Fan had no idea how Zhou Yiyi was doing, but reflecting that he had caused her such harm filled him with guilt.

Remembering how Zhou Haifeng had escorted Zhou Yiyi to the infirmary before returning to deal with him, Yang Fan guessed her injuries were serious.

...

In the infirmary, Yang Fan looked at Zhou Yiyi lying on the bed glaring at him, and his face twisted with bitterness.

Her hair was gone...

Upon entering, Yang Fan saw a bald girl lying there, twitching occasionally, wiping away tears.

The moment he saw her, Yang Fan wanted nothing more than to flee.

Zhou Yiyi had become bald...

Yang Fan was unprepared for this.

Before coming, he had imagined Zhou Yiyi might be seriously injured, but never considered the hairless state; he was truly unready for this.

It was terrifying.

When Zhou Yiyi looked at Yang Fan, her face was full of indignation, her eyes both angry and aggrieved. Yang Fan could barely bear it.

“Are you alright?”

Yang Fan asked weakly.

He really didn’t know what else to say. That beautiful black hair was just gone?

“I’m fine, really fine.”

Hearing Yang Fan’s words, Zhou Yiyi’s tears were forced out by sheer anger.

Can’t you see for yourself?

At this moment, Zhou Yiyi cared nothing for her injuries; only the grievance of her lost hair mattered.

A young girl in her prime—who doesn’t love beauty?

Now, this bald head—what was she supposed to do?

And the culprit blandly asked, “Are you alright?”

Fine, fine, you pig-headed fool.

Yang Fan could only feel bitter.

What to do? He didn’t know.

He’d come to apologize, for his actions had been excessive; though unintentional, he had sent Zhou Yiyi to the infirmary.

But now, facing her, all his prepared words were useless.

Zhou Yiyi continued to glare at him. Yang Fan’s back was soaked in cold sweat.

They stared at each other for a while, neither speaking.

Then Zhou Yiyi watched in shock as Yang Fan darted out the door, leaving the infirmary.

He ran?

Zhou Yiyi was stunned. What was that?

Yang Fan fled the infirmary and immediately felt he had escaped the tiger’s den.

Looking back at Zhou Yiyi lying on the bed, Yang Fan felt truly guilty.

But he didn’t know how to begin.

There was nothing else to do, so he simply chose the best of thirty-six stratagems: run.

He’d meant to comfort Zhou Yiyi, but now that plan was ruined. Yang Fan suspected he’d lost his first friend at the Cultivation Academy...

He felt a little lost at the thought.