Volume 1: Femme Fatale Chapter 67: Tiger Roars, Wind and Thunder

"Elder Lin Feng, where has Her Royal Highness the Princess gone?"

Following Sun Ping out of the Elder Hall, Jiang Hao saw only Lin Feng standing outside the door and could not help but step forward to ask.

"Vice Dean Sun!" Seeing the two come out, Lin Feng respectfully bowed to Sun Ping, then looked at Jiang Hao and explained, "Her Royal Highness seemed to grow impatient and has already left, looking somewhat displeased."

"Oh," Jiang Hao acknowledged, not taking it to heart.

"Alas..." Seeing this, Sun Ping shook his head and took the lead, "Jiang Hao, let's go. This old man will take you to the Library Pavilion."

"Understood!" Jiang Hao replied with a nod, following closely behind.

Watching the retreating figures of the two, Lin Feng frowned in confusion: "Vice Dean Sun, why did you sigh just now?"

...

Shortly after, Jiang Hao and Sun Ping arrived before the gates of the Dragon Gate Academy's Library Pavilion.

At the entrance of the Library Pavilion, an ancient and solemn building stood majestically. With its blue bricks and dark tiles, it exuded an aura steeped in the passage of time, as though whispering endless stories.

"Greetings, Vice Dean Sun!" At the entrance, four sword-wielding guards bowed respectfully.

The guard commander stepped forward and respectfully inquired, "Does Vice Dean Sun's visit to the Library Pavilion mean you are bringing this disciple to select a spell manual?"

"Indeed. I am acting under the orders of Her Majesty the Queen to bring Jiang Hao here to select a spell manual," Sun Ping stepped forward and presented a token to the guard commander.

"Since you have Her Majesty's token, please enter, Vice Dean Sun!" the guard commander said respectfully.

"As expected of the guards guarding the Library Pavilion, their cultivation aura is so profound—they must have already reached the Spirit Sea Realm!" Jiang Hao felt a brief moment of surprise and inner emotion.

"Jiang Hao, go on in. Remember, you only have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Once you have chosen a suitable spell manual, you must come out promptly," Sun Ping reminded him earnestly.

"Understood!" Jiang Hao stood at the entrance, his heart filled with anticipation.

With that, Jiang Hao gently pushed open the heavy wooden door. Accompanied by a creaking sound, the doors slowly swung open, revealing a breathtaking sea of books.

Inside the Library Pavilion, bookshelves soared up into the clouds, with texts neatly arranged as if quietly waiting for academy disciples to come and select them.

Stepping into the pavilion, Jiang Hao was greeted by a faint fragrance of ink that refreshed his mind and spirit. He took a deep breath, feeling the dense scholarly aura, and a wave of intense eagerness surged within him.

"With a Library Pavilion this large, surely I can find a Tier 4 sword technique?" Jiang Hao's gaze wandered among the bookshelves.

"Sword cultivation spells?" Jiang Hao looked at the four large characters on the bookshelf, his eyes flashing with a bright light as he stepped forward quickly and began to browse.

"Floating Cloud Swordsmanship, Cold Light Sword Technique... Nine Heavens Sword Dance?"

"Nine Heavens Sword Dance, a Tier 4 sword cultivation spell. This spell possesses a sword momentum that is light and agile, ever-changing, with every single move containing..."

"Master, I think this spell is very suitable for me! What do you think?" Holding the *Nine Heavens Sword Dance*, Jiang Hao's expression was full of satisfaction.

Feng Ling'er let out a cold snort and indicated, "This sword technique is indeed somewhat more powerful than the *Heaven-Shattering Slash*, but in this Library Pavilion, the most suitable spell for you is not this *Nine Heavens Sword Dance*."

"Master, can there really be a spell more suitable than the *Nine Heavens Sword Dance*?" Jiang Hao found it hard to believe. He had just scoured the entire shelf of sword cultivation spells, and the only one that satisfied him was this *Nine Heavens Sword Dance*.

As for the other sword techniques, they were either too low in grade or mediocre in power, completely insufficient to stir Jiang Hao's heartstrings. He truly could not imagine what other sword technique in the pavilion could surpass the *Nine Heavens Sword Dance*.

Yet, out of trust in his master, Jiang Hao could only respond with lingering doubts: "Master, then I will look again. Perhaps your disciple missed something while browsing earlier." With that, he tried to re-examine the bookshelf containing sword techniques.

"Brat, who said the spell suitable for you must be on these sword technique bookshelves?" Feng Ling'er glanced at him impatiently.

"Master, what do you mean by that?" Jiang Hao paused, feeling puzzled.

Seeing this, Feng Ling'er helplessly instructed, "Go and check the bookshelf in the acoustic spell section."

"Acoustic spells?"

Hearing this and looking over, Jiang Hao saw a bookshelf not far away holding only a sparse few books, and his heart was filled with heavy doubts. He had clearly come to find a Tier 4 sword cultivation spell; why should he look for an acoustic spell?

Furthermore, although Jiang Hao had heard of acoustic spells before, he had never considered cultivating such arts.

Nevertheless, obeying his master's command, Jiang Hao walked forward.

"Counting from the left, the fourth spell is the most powerful acoustic spell in the Library Pavilion," Feng Ling'er reminded him.

"The most powerful acoustic spell?" Hearing this, curiosity welled up in Jiang Hao. He stepped forward and picked up the fourth spell manual, on the cover of which were clearly written four large characters: *Tiger's Roar and Wind-Thunder*.

"That's right. Even this master did not expect the Dragon Gate Academy to possess such an acoustic spell," Feng Ling'er said softly. "In the upcoming Azure Cloud Tournament, it may be able to lend you a helping hand."

Out of curiosity, Jiang Hao quickly opened the spell manual...

"*Tiger's Roar and Wind-Thunder*, a Tier 4 acoustic spell. This art uses a man's primordial yang energy as its source, transforming it into a heaven-shaking tiger's roar. The sound waves roll like wind, vibrating all directions, roaring like thunder beside the ears, causing the mind and soul to tremble violently and making it difficult to maintain composure..."

"What an overbearing acoustic spell! In close-quarters combat, this spell will definitely catch opponents off guard and unleash astonishing effects!" This was Jiang Hao's first impression of the spell.

"Consider yourself not entirely foolish, brat," Feng Ling'er chuckled lightly.

"Hehe! This is all thanks to Master's profound foresight!" Jiang Hao hurriedly offered flattery.

"Hmph! Save that slick-tongued flattery for your Princess," Feng Ling'er dismissed with disdain.

Jiang Hao gave an awkward laugh and then asked, "Master, there are only two days left until the Azure Cloud Tournament begins. I wonder if I can cultivate this spell to the minor success stage?"

"Brat, your appetite is truly too greedy!" Feng Ling'er gave a cold laugh and replied, "This is a Tier 4 spell after all; don't daydream about cultivating it to the minor success stage in just two days. However, if your primordial yang energy is abundant, you might give the entry level a try..."

"That's great! Master, what are we waiting for? Let's hurry back to the cave dwelling and cultivate!" Filled with excitement, Jiang Hao picked up the *Tiger's Roar and Wind-Thunder* manual and strode rapidly out of the Library Pavilion.

"..." Feng Ling'er remained silent.

"Jiang Hao, did you find a suitable spell?" Outside the door, seeing Jiang Hao emerge, Sun Ping stepped forward with a warm smile of concern.

"I found it, many thanks, Vice Dean Sun! Time is pressing, so Jiang Hao will take his leave now!" Expressing his gratitude to Sun Ping, Jiang Hao turned and strode away swiftly.

"This fellow, it seems his mind is filled entirely with cultivation matters?" Watching the hurriedly departing Jiang Hao, Sun Ping shook his head and sighed, "I'm afraid he is going to disappoint Her Royal Highness's kind intentions..."