"Not so!"
Sylvester wagged his finger slowly, shaking his head. "If you're not satisfied with the hollow fame brought by those earlier moves, then to become a true master, this final technique is an indispensable process."
His gaze locked onto March 7th's eyes, his voice carrying a sincerity that could not be ignored, every word seeming to flow straight from the heart. "Cliff-dropping is a required lesson for every peerless expert. Once you fall to the bottom, at best you'll find miraculous elixirs; at worst, you'll discover divine weapons and secret manuals. It's truly the one and only shortcut to becoming a master!"
"And this isn't some self-help nonsense cherry-picked from survivor bias—this move is backed by countless real-world examples." Sylvester turned toward the only two men present. "Let's not talk about distant cases. Just take young Yanqing's [Ayanami Grace Gossamer Steps] from earlier."
Yanqing, who had been quietly mulling over Sylvester's logic, froze at being named. He recalled that awkward skill scroll and coughed. "Uh, it's March 7th's now. Has nothing to do with me—not even half a Credit."
"Eh, that's not the point. Doesn't matter who's using it." Sylvester waved his hand, his tongue moving at full speed. "The key is that the original version of that footwork was first discovered after a refined young man fell off a cliff. Before that, he was just a mediocre martial artist. But with that movement technique—and a few rare treasures he picked up—he became one of the top three experts in his world within just a few years!"
"And not only that, he achieved success in both career and romance. Among these three—power, love, and fame—most people in the universe struggle to get even one, but that man nailed all three!"
"Whew~~" Sylvester took a slow breath, sipped his tea, and finished with a flourish. "That is the might of the [Cliff-Dropping Sword Technique]! From an obscure nobody to a world-renowned master—all within just a few short years!"
"Whoa! That's amazing!"
March 7th held the footwork scroll in one hand and the [Pure Yang Supplementary Manual] in the other, her head tilting between the two books in disbelief.
She hadn't expected these two curiosities to be connected! No—more like a chicken-and-egg relationship.
This manual could actually lead her to find another treasure? Wasn't this just like those legendary stories with a wise old grandpa sealed inside a mystical ring?!
Then this book was practically a guidebook for adventure!
That was the kind of privilege reserved for protagonists in hero tales!
Heh, as expected of me! What luck!
With proof right before her, the [Pure Yang Supplementary Manual]'s status in March 7th's heart skyrocketed, sweeping away its former "crooked-path" reputation.
She flipped rapidly to the last chapter, eager to absorb the sword technique's essence.
Indeed, the [Cliff-Dropping Sword Technique] wasn't as simple as just finding a cliff and jumping off.
The location, timing, even the posture while falling—each was crucial!
The Great Roc Spreads Its Wings form differed completely from the Flood Dragon Dives into the Sea form, and the rewards varied accordingly.
The worst, however, were the Banana Peel Slip Face-First into Mud form and the Upside-Down Turtle Belly Flail form—ugly, embarrassing, and poor in results.
One might even run into fierce predators… or worse, a shady old con man wearing tiny round sunglasses, scamming kids out of tuition money with a fake "XX Divine Palm." Truly not worth the fall.
The strongest ones, however, were the Four-Limb-Twist Braided-Dough-Roll form, the Tied-Up Meat-Dumpling-Can't-Move form, and the Three-and-a-Half-Spin-in-Mid-Air-Over-a-Month-Long-Flight Sky-Soaring Hero form.
In short—the cooler the pose, or the riskier the situation, the greater the reward.
The core philosophy of this move: either risk your life, or act like a legend. The book said these were the only two paths to the peak of life.
March 7th skimmed through the contents, utterly amazed. As expected of a tome written by immortals—it was eye-opening, blood-stirring, and made her want to find a good cliff and try it right now!
"Never thought my dream of becoming the top swordswoman is actually about to come true!"
She closed the book, unable to contain her excitement. Her face glowed with joy as she gripped an invisible sword, spinning it in a dazzling flourish before sheathing it smoothly behind her back, as if standing tall against an imagined foe atop the Seat of Divine Foresight in the Luofu.
But just then, a voice cut through her triumphant moment.
"Miss March 7th, that concludes the content of the [Pure Yang Supplementary Manual]. Would you like to continue opening trash cans?"
"Hm? Oh, right. I've only opened one so far!"
It took March 7th a moment to realize she still had nine more cans to go.
But why did it feel like this one treasure had lasted longer than three? It was as if ages had passed already.
"Of course I'm continuing!"
If the first Curio was already this powerful, who knew what the next nine might hold? Maybe something radiantly powerful, enough to shake heaven and earth!
Good luck doesn't last forever—by tomorrow she might turn into a walking jinx. So she had to ride the wave while it lasted and maximize her gains!
March 7th strode up to the shelf, her eyes scanning the remaining trash cans.
Thanks to the [Pure Yang Supplementary Manual], she now felt confident. Gone was the timid hesitation from before. Instead, she boldly picked the one closest to her hand.
"Doesn't matter—I still have plenty of Credits. Even if it's a green one, that's fine."
She lifted the lid.
But things didn't unfold the way she expected.
As the saying goes: those who seek it, find nothing; those who don't, gain everything.
Before her eyes, a column of violet light suddenly burst forth!
Yanqing and Yunli, who had been watching her with faint amusement, immediately froze.
Their gazes sharpened, filled with alertness and awe.
At the same time, both hands drifted toward the hilts of their swords.
Could it be—another divine weapon, imbued with conceptual power, was about to be born?*