As for the swordsmanship itself, Li Heng was indeed leaning toward the "Flying Snow Swordsmanship," but the 143-pound weight requirement made him hesitate, since he currently weighed right around that much.
After a moment’s thought, however, Li Heng reached for the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* and began to flip it open.
Due to the unique nature of Soul Energy Skills, Li Heng was only able to read the first two pages. Beyond that, he would have to check out the book and could not browse any further.
When the purple-skirted upperclassman saw Li Heng reach for the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship*, her expression remained unchanged. She simply pushed up her glasses and blinked a few times, saying nothing.
After a moment of deliberation, Li Heng decided to choose the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship*. He had considered more than just the swordsmanship itself.
"Senior, I’d like to check this swordsmanship manual out!" Li Heng said, holding up the book for the purple-skirted upperclassman to see.
The purple-skirted upperclassman nodded. She took the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* from Li Heng, placed his One-Card System on top of the book, and a faint white light emanated from her hands.
A few seconds later, the purple-skirted upperclassman handed both the One-Card System and the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* back to Li Heng, adding, "Just return the book within a month. You’re the second student with a Snow-type affinity I’ve seen at this university. My own talent is nothing special, mediocre even, but I have some experience in certain aspects. Feel free to ask me if you don’t understand something."
!!!
"Okay! Thank you, Senior! I’ll be sure to take you up on that!"
Since the senior’s expression and tone hadn’t changed at all, Li Heng couldn’t tell if she was just flexing on him, genuinely insecure, or displaying the humility of a true master.
It reminded Li Heng of some of the "big shots" from his original world on Earth, the kind who would say things like, "I’m not interested in money," or "Peking University is just okay," or "Let’s set a small goal."
So, for the moment, Li Heng could only remain polite. ’She’s a third-year graduate student and looks like a total master. This conversation is making me green with envy.’
Hearing Li Heng’s thanks, the purple-skirted upperclassman simply nodded and said, "Junior, you’re not a third-year yet. Once you’ve used this borrowing opportunity, you cannot return to the third floor, except on the day you come to return the book."
"Thank you, Senior! I’ll leave the library right away then! And go take a look at this swordsmanship manual!"
’You have to be a third-year to access the third floor?’
That was a useful piece of information. Li Heng silently committed it to memory and thanked her politely one more time.
After a final nod, the purple-skirted upperclassman who had been at his side turned and left. Li Heng, unable to help himself, instinctively let his gaze fall once more on her long legs.
’Her legs are just so perfectly shaped and slender. If only she were wearing a pair of silk stockings...’
After a few seconds, Li Heng tore his gaze away. It absolutely wasn’t because she had just disappeared around a corner, but because he felt he needed to be decent; staring any longer would be crossing a line.
Thus, Li Heng took the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* and slowly made his way out of the library.
Recalling the epiphany he’d had when purchasing the *Mist Butterfly Swordsmanship* from the skill shop, Li Heng decided not to "comprehend" the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* in the library. He would wait until he was back in his private wooden cabin.
Li Heng barely stopped along the way. After leaving the library, he headed straight back to his cabin.
Just as Li Heng reached the entrance to the Xisha Area, he ran into an "acquaintance"—Jiang Hongtao, with whom he had teamed up during the spring outing.
Li Heng’s mind was solely focused on getting back to his room to "comprehend" the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* with his system, so he hadn’t noticed Jiang Hongtao at the entrance to the Xisha Area.
But Jiang Hongtao took the initiative to greet him.
"Big shot! I was going to look for you in the Xisha Area, but when I got there and asked around, some of the upperclassmen told me you’d gone to the library, so I decided to wait for you here."
"Sorry about that, Jiang Hongtao! I was lost in thought, so I didn’t see you just now. Long time no see! Did you need something?" Li Heng replied, offering an explanation.
Jiang Hongtao didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. He simply waved a hand dismissively and pulled Li Heng over to a corner.
"Big shot! Here’s that jug of infused wine I promised you! Even though you didn’t explicitly say you wanted it, I had to thank you for looking out for me during the spring outing. And for saving my worthless hide from that monkey-type soul beast! If I didn’t show my appreciation after all that, I’d be a real jerk!"
After pulling Li Heng into the corner, Jiang Hongtao first thanked him with utmost sincerity, then carefully retrieved a small wine jug from his Space Stone.
"This... I don’t really need this right now..." Li Heng said, stunned for a moment, and reflexively waved his hands to decline.
But Jiang Hongtao shoved it right into Li Heng’s arms, adding, "Big shot, I totally get it! I know we’re young, but after doing... *that kind of thing* a dozen or so times, a guy can start to feel a little depleted. My girlfriend is a third-year senior too, so I understand completely!"
"What do you mean... your girlfriend is *also* a third-year senior?" Li Heng asked, puzzled.
When Jiang Hongtao heard this, a look of sheer admiration filled his eyes as he replied.
"Big shot! I knew you were powerful, but I had no idea your charisma and skills with women were so incredible! I heard all about it—Senior Gu Qingwu is the pride of the third-years at Meteor University! She might even be the next student council president. And you managed to land a girl like her! I’m in awe!"
...
’So he’s misunderstood things between me and Gu Qingwu?’
After Jiang Hongtao’s spiel, Li Heng finally understood. He could only manage a wry smile before offering a brief explanation.
Explaining his side was a matter of principle for Li Heng; whether anyone actually believed him was out of his control.
In the end, after chatting with Jiang Hongtao a bit longer, Li Heng accepted the three-pound jug of infused wine. ’After all,’ he thought, ’I may not need it now, but who knows what the future holds?’
Besides, Jiang Hongtao had come all this way to deliver it. It would be rude to refuse such a kind gesture, and he couldn’t keep turning it down.
And it was just a small wine jug; it wouldn’t take up much space in his medium-sized Space Stone anyway.
So, after exchanging a few more pleasantries and thanking Jiang Hongtao again, Li Heng returned to his private wooden cabin.
After locking both his courtyard gate and his room door from the inside, Li Heng took out the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* with a hint of anticipation and began to read it from cover to cover.
After all, he’d already thought this through when he was choosing the manual. ’I have my Golden Finger, so I can upgrade this swordsmanship later on.’
’I can also keep farming divinity points and pour them into my Snow-type affinity!’
He envisioned a possibility where, with the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship*, every swing of his sword would trace an arc of fluttering snowflakes!
’And my Shangxue Flying Knife Technique, once my Snow-type affinity hits 50, will let me use any one of those snowflakes as a Shangxue Flying Knife!’
’Therefore,’ Li Heng theorized, ’I could use my swordsmanship to command the knives, creating some kind of displacement effect!’
While Li Heng was contemplating the possibilities of his Soul Energy Skills, his system was already at work. As he flipped through the book, the specific details of the *Buried Snow Swordsmanship* appeared before him.
Name: Buried Snow Swordsmanship (Lv. 1)
Category: Soul Energy Skills
Value: Rare
Effects:
1. Upon learning, practitioners with a Snow-type affinity of 10 or higher gain +1 Sword Speed.
2. +1 to comprehension of Snow-type Sword Intent.
3. Upon reaching max Level: Strength +3, Agility +3.
4. Upon reaching max Level, practitioners with a Snow-type affinity of 10 or higher have a low chance to generate snowflakes along the trajectory of their Longsword with each swing.
5. For practitioners with a Snow-type affinity of 50 or higher, all of the above effects are doubled.
[Consume 100 Soul Energy to increase the Level of this skill?]
[This skill’s Level is not maxed. Unable to upgrade this skill.]