Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Stall of Innate Secret Manuals

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Innate Manual Stall

Wu Hong’s cultivation had reached such heights that he no longer needed flint to start a fire. With a few pieces of firewood for roasting, he merely released his internal energy, and the wood would immediately burst into flames.

After he and Kun Kun had feasted in the mountain cave, Wu Hong intended to leave and seek the exit at the southernmost edge of the small world. Yet, he suddenly discovered that at the rear of the cave in the Realm of Spectacle, there was a passage he had not noticed before. It stretched deep into the darkness, its existence previously entirely unnoticed.

Taking Kun Kun with him, Wu Hong slowly ventured down the corridor, which grew increasingly narrow until it was nearly impossible to walk upright. But Wu Hong trusted that the existence of this passage must have its purpose.

After several hours of walking, he finally reached the end, and was startled.

The end of the corridor was shrouded in a chaotic mist, its destination unknown. Wu Hong frowned but resolved to explore further.

As soon as he stepped into the mist, he felt a tremendous force pulling him in. When he tried to retreat, it was already too late—the suction was irresistible.

He was drawn in, and his consciousness faded instantly.

The last thought that crossed Wu Hong’s mind was regret—his curiosity had gotten the better of him. This small world was astonishing, and how could he have acted so rashly? If he were to die here, it would truly be an unjust death.

When Wu Hong awoke, he found himself lying in a clearing amidst a forest, gazing up at the blinding sun overhead.

He was startled. "Ah—" One sun! Could it be that he had left the small world?

He quickly surveyed his surroundings. The trees were not tall, the spiritual energy in the air was pitifully scarce, and he even felt a lingering discomfort in his body.

It was as if he were dreaming. He had thought it would take some time to escape that small world, but unexpectedly, he had stumbled out directly.

If not for Kun Kun chirping away on his shoulder, Wu Hong might have thought he’d had a most extraordinary dream.

Unable to discern direction in the forest, Wu Hong had no choice but to follow the sun, journeying south.

After several hours, he finally discovered a main road. He asked a few travelers for directions and learned he was indeed heading the right way.

Following the road south brought him to Yunluo City. Returning to Yunluo City felt like a lifetime ago; everything seemed unreal.

The streets of Yunluo City were still bustling, filled with martial artists and wanderers.

Many of these martial artists must have emerged from the Heavenly Book Mansion, each discussing the strange events and wonders within.

Yet their conversations shocked Wu Hong. It turned out that he, along with the others who entered the Heavenly Book Mansion, had been inside for a full two years.

When everyone emerged, none could accept this reality; it seemed incredible.

Within that bizarre small world, though there was no night, everyone believed only a few months had passed. How could two years have elapsed outside?

"Aye, this trip to the Heavenly Book Mansion has brought great progress for some!" someone whispered in the crowd.

"Indeed! I’ve heard that many rising talents who exited the mansion early have reached the pinnacle of acquired cultivation! And many once famous masters have vanished without a trace—likely perished inside!"

Wu Hong listened, his heart pounding. Not everyone had emerged two years later; some renowned figures had come out a year before.

Those who returned early made a dazzling impact on the martial world a year later.

That was foreseeable, but Wu Hong could not fathom why the old generation had disappeared so suddenly.

Could they have been trapped inside? Perhaps their fate was bound to other opportunities—they hadn’t left the mansion.

"Those elders vanished because they failed to exit the mansion; how could they die so easily? Even the monsters within couldn’t handle those powerful martial artists!"

"You’re naive. The Heavenly Book Mansion—its exit was sealed three days ago! If those elders didn’t escape, they’re now trapped. Who knows if they’ll survive fifty years?"

Whispers continued in the crowd, and Wu Hong grew more anxious. He hadn’t expected to be among the last to leave.

Had he chosen to leave the cave in the Realm of Spectacle and search for another exit, he too might have been trapped.

He might survive for fifty years, but his mortal enemies would be long gone, and the world changed.

The more Wu Hong thought, the more terrified he became, cold sweat breaking out. He secretly thanked his luck for finding another exit in the cave.

"Books for sale! Innate manuals of all kinds! Don’t miss your chance as you pass by!" Suddenly, a bookseller’s shout reached Wu Hong.

"Hmph! That old crook only fools children," someone whispered. The bookseller was clearly a swindler—an infamous figure in the martial world, known for his trickery.

Wu Hong looked closely and saw a scruffy old man at a street stall, surrounded by piles of books, much like any ordinary vendor.

Some bystanders browsed, occasionally purchasing books they fancied.

Wu Hong, with nothing better to do, wandered over. He was startled—the stall was filled with all kinds of books, and some boldly labeled "Innate Manual."

Wu Hong laughed and shook his head. If innate manuals were being hawked on the street, then martial masters would be everywhere.

Just as he was about to leave, he spotted a familiar book title. "Hmm—why are the names the same?"

He saw a book he recognized—the very manual he had once handed to Li Yunda, called "Xuan Tian Mirror."

Wu Hong crouched down and picked up the Xuan Tian Mirror, leafing through it—only to be shocked. How could this be?

Holding the Xuan Tian Mirror, a strange energy seeped into his body, just as it had when he first obtained the manual. How could it be here?

The bookseller was even more astonished. His eyes gleamed as he revealed his yellowed teeth, saying, "Young man, you have a keen eye! You’ve picked a true innate manual from the Heavenly Book Mansion. Just five taels of silver!"

Wu Hong flipped through the Xuan Tian Mirror and saw it contained cultivation methods. There was no doubt—this was extraordinary. What on earth was going on?

Even when Wu Hong found manuals in the cave of the small world, he hadn’t been able to read them. Those manuals had a common trait: only those who reached the peak of acquired cultivation could practice them.

As Wu Hong puzzled over this, a burly man approached the stall—clearly a martial artist—picked up another Xuan Tian Mirror, and casually remarked, "Old Wen! You’re a veteran in the martial world. Why resort to such tricks? These aren’t manuals; they’re just ordinary stories!"

The old bookseller smiled, "What do you know? My innate manuals can only be seen by those with fate; without extraordinary talent, you cannot see their secrets. The foolish can’t see either..."

He rambled on, and the burly man’s expression grew sour. Perhaps out of respect for the old man’s status, he did not erupt in anger, but turned and left.

Wu Hong opened his Xuan Tian Mirror and found it identical to the one he’d picked up earlier—full of cultivation methods.

"This..." Wu Hong could only utter a single word, unable to continue. It was too incredible: the same book, yet two people saw different contents. Such inexplicable shock could not be described.

He looked over the stall—at least a hundred different innate manuals. Could these all be real?

Wu Hong dared not imagine.

He felt his own ideas bordering on madness. Could all these books truly be innate manuals, as the old man claimed, visible only to those with fate and exceptional perception?

Wu Hong stood frozen, unable to hear what the old man was saying.

He picked up book after book, and each one flashed with light as he opened it, revealing different cultivation methods.

Many martial artists gathered, teasing the old man, picking up books to browse—but none experienced what Wu Hong did. Each manual he touched sent a strange energy into his body, a fleeting flash of light.

The bookseller himself was dumbfounded. Wu Hong picked up manual after manual, each glowing briefly as he put them down.

"Grandpa, how much is the Golden Bell Scripture?" Just as Wu Hong and the old man stared in astonishment, a child’s voice sounded beside them.

The old man’s face changed several times, but he did not answer. His gaze flickered between Wu Hong and the child.

After a moment, the old man let out a sharp scream, startling passersby.

Wu Hong’s mind surged with tumultuous waves. Only now did he realize—could this old man be connected to the one who sold him a book at the ruined temple, both selling these miraculous manuals?

The old man suddenly came to his senses, looking at Wu Hong and the boy with delight. "I see that both of you have exceptional talent, truly rare martial prodigies. Young man, try picking another book—see if any catch your eye?"

His words were clearly meant for the child, while he regarded Wu Hong as a priceless treasure.