Charles Baker did not pause after reaching the second floor, but headed straight for the third. When he arrived at the entrance to the fourth floor, there were already guards stationed there, and a token had to be presented in order to proceed further.

The two guards did not recognize Charles Baker. After stopping him, they were startled when they saw the token he produced—a token for the ninth floor of the Secret Arts Pavilion, something that might not be seen even once in an entire year.

"Who is that young man?

He actually holds a ninth-floor Secret Arts Pavilion token.

Is he a direct descendant of the family?

How come I've never heard of such a person in the Gong family?"

After Charles Baker went up to the fourth floor, one of the guards said suspiciously.

"If I'm not mistaken, this person’s surname isn’t Gong, but he is that Young Master Baker who was recently promoted to scholar."

The other guard mused.

"Ah, so he’s that Young Master Baker who shocked everyone with a single remark?"

The first guard immediately looked surprised, and when he glanced up the stairs, Charles Baker had already reached the fourth floor, his figure nowhere to be seen.

Charles Baker continued all the way up to the ninth floor, having to present his token at each level, which caused a bit of a stir.

The token did not need to be handed over immediately; only after he selected a secret manual would he have to surrender the token in order to take the manual away.

In the entire Scholar’s Secret Arts Pavilion, the lower three floors held the most books, the middle three gradually fewer, and the upper three barely needed bookshelves at all. Especially on the ninth floor, there were only a dozen or so books, each one displayed under a special crystal dome. To take out a secret manual, a key was required to unlock the sealed dome.

On the stone pedestal beneath each dome was a brief introduction to the manual. Charles Baker was in no hurry; he read through the introductions of all the manuals one by one, but couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

These dozen or so techniques were already considered the Gong family’s most secret arts, ones that ordinary family members might never have the chance to learn. Yet, they were far from what Charles Baker truly desired.

"Even if I can’t fly with a sword, I should at least be able to leap dozens of meters with lightness skill, right? Why are they all brute-force techniques for training strength, fists, blades, and spears—just clumsy, hard-hitting skills?"

Charles Baker stopped in front of one manual, feeling a bit frustrated. Of all the manuals on the ninth floor, only this one managed to pique his interest even a little.

Chapter 13: The Art of Verbal Condemnation

"You want to choose this technique?"

The elder guarding the ninth floor of the Secret Arts Pavilion looked at Charles Baker with a strange expression and asked.

"Yes, I want this one, 'The Art of Verbal Condemnation.' Please help me take it out."

Charles Baker took out a ninth-floor Secret Arts Pavilion token and handed it to the elder.

"Son-in-law Baker, I know you are exceptionally talented and have obtained the Saint-grade True Fate Dao Seal. Scholar-level techniques are not difficult for you to master, but this 'Art of Verbal Condemnation' is somewhat unsuitable. You’d better choose another technique."

The elder said kindly.

"May I ask, senior, what is unsuitable about this 'Art of Verbal Condemnation'?

Is the technique incomplete?"

Charles Baker asked curiously.

"This 'Art of Verbal Condemnation' is not incomplete; it is a complete technique.

However, it is recorded within the 'Scripture of a Single Word.'

The 'Scripture of a Single Word' contains cultivation methods for the Foundation, Scholar, and Sage stages. There are also rumors that the 'Scripture of a Single Word' itself is only a fragment—the first half of a Sage’s cultivation manual.

No one can confirm this, but the methods in the 'Scripture of a Single Word' are indeed extremely profound, and very few have ever mastered them. Our Gong family has never had the fortune to see the full 'Scripture of a Single Word'; we only obtained this 'Art of Verbal Condemnation' from the Scholar section. But because we lack the foundation of the 'Scripture of a Single Word,' the 'Art of Verbal Condemnation' cannot display its true power. Many Gong family members have tried to substitute other methods, but none have ever truly mastered this 'Art of Verbal Condemnation.'"

The elder briefly explained the origin of the 'Art of Verbal Condemnation.'

"I see. Thank you for your guidance, senior. Then please also get me that 'Dominating Moon Slash'...

And this 'Art of Verbal Condemnation.'"

Charles Baker took out another ninth-floor Secret Arts Pavilion token from his robe and handed it to the elder.

The elder was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile, accepted the two tokens, opened the crystal domes, and handed both 'Dominating Moon Slash' and 'Art of Verbal Condemnation' to Charles Baker.

"There is a training room over there. You may recite or practice the techniques inside; there is no time limit. When you leave, you must return the manuals. In the future, without the permission of the Gong family head, you are not allowed to reveal these techniques to anyone else, nor may you record them on paper. Otherwise, you will be considered a traitor to the clan and the entire family will hunt you down. Just remember these rules."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Charles Baker accepted the two manuals, bowed, and entered the training room.

'Dominating Moon Slash' sounded impressive, but in reality, it was just a technique for gathering and focusing energy into a weapon for a slashing attack. Charles Baker wasn’t very interested in this kind of technique.

If not for the questionable origins of the 'Art of Verbal Condemnation,' and his uncertainty about whether he could master it, Charles Baker wouldn’t have bothered to choose 'Dominating Moon Slash' as well.