Chapter 183 - The Heavenly Demon’s Library Is Mine!
Picking up orphans at a young age made it easy to gain the students' entire devotion, but it wasn't an entirely sweet bargain. Unlike those born and raised to be Martial Artists from the very first day they were born, they had a very crucial disadvantage… Literary ability!
Some orphans who lost their parents late didn't exactly suffer from that lack of education, but those were merely a fraction of the whole. No matter how physically centered martial arts practice was, almost every technique had to be passed down in text, whether it was from one generation to another, or from master to student. At the very least, the ability to read was required from most.
"Go."
Naturally, such a deficiency was something that the Heavenly Strength Society wouldn't fail to notice. Even as they beat up the children during the first phase, there were rare break days given for the sake of studying in order to slowly break the future members' illiteracy barrier. The chance to rest additionally acted as a hidden motivation factor, allowing the children to master the basics within the very first year.
However, even with the nourishment of the extravagant meals that enhanced the children's ability to memorize, they remained lacking in this aspect as hasty learners, but even that was within the Society's plans!
To be given the chance to browse through the great Heavenly Demon's library was an opportunity that even Transcendent Martial Artists would kill to receive, but such an opportunity was given to three orphaned children? This was just what it seemed like at the surface!
A day may seem like a long time to steal as many martial arts as possible, but to children who had difficulty even reading basic books… Let alone memorizing other books, it was barely enough to pick up something suitable!
However, the arrival of an anomaly wasn't something that the Heavenly Strength Society could be prepared for…
'Did he become an orphan as of late?'
Iyeolhan's thoughts converged as his eyes followed Cheon Baekho's figure. In his eyes, this child was still the most interesting of the three, but even he couldn't interpret what he was engaging in at the moment!
At first glance, he wondered if the child's original background was good enough for him to learn fluent reading, but he quickly scratched away that thought. Although the ability of geniuses surpassed human understanding sometimes, flipping through a book at this speed wasn't something an adult 3rd rate Martial Artist could achieve, not to mention a child doing so. In Iyeolhan's eyes, this was an attempt at standing out…
'Great!'
Not even in the right mind to notice the gaze focused on him, Leo was happily reading without any restriction. Martial art books weren't as fun to read as novels, but it was something that he was greatly interested in as a fresh murim-in!
'Great! Great! Great!'
His mind went into one track mode once again. For once in a lifetime, his enhanced reading speed had finally come in handy! Leo undeniably appeared silly on the outside, but he was practically transferring the secret library into his 'Reading Space', this was a chance that didn't come by often!
Despite regretting the fact that he couldn't take his time browsing the whole library at ease, Leo faithfully read all the useful books that he came upon. Compared to any of the tasks given to him by the 'book', this was the task that he was equipped for as a reader!
'Great!'
If there were a certain type of protagonist that got on Leo's nerves the most, then it had to be those given the chance to re-try! Whether it was regressors who went back to the past, or transmigrators who happened to have reached the peak of their world, the moment where they always pulled out a technique or a piece of knowledge about something was the epitome of nonsensical satisfaction. Everything seemed to be lined up for them, but it was always misused for the sake of plot…
However, Leo was currently in the state of being thrown into the same position. Only a fraction of these techniques were of great help to him, but he was stocking up on anything that might come handy in the future!
'Great!'
Considering the existence of the internet, Earth was a great place to gather knowledge on, but the existence of martial arts and weapon techniques in the form of books was as scarce as water in the desert. Although most of the books that Leo found were focused on Internal Energy Channeling, every technique held a bit of battle knowledge that could actively act as the seed of his future 'Skill Reading'! Most of the basics were practically conquered!
'The Heavenly Demon's Library Is Mine!'
Iyeolhan considered advising Leo against this strange behavior, but he just gave them the freedom to do as they wished for the rest of the day. In the end, he could only give up and consider techniques that would suit this strange child.
'I will just have to give him a good recommendation.'
Unlike the agitated Leo, Cheon Yong was lazily looking through sword techniques. He was the kind to abhor studying in comparison to getting beaten up! If Leo was to see this, he would only give a nod to the mindset that gave birth to his demonic future…
On the other hand, Yeon had only checked the titles from the very start, picking two books within the first half-hour before sitting down. Iyeolhan could easily tell that the decision was made long before she entered. Still, Yeon didn't seem to blindly trust that choice as she carefully read through the first of the two manuals in her hand.
"Hu…."
It was only after the passing of half of the time that Leo calmed down, slowing down his reading speed by a tad bit. His ability to read and memorize were inhuman thanks to his role, but his eyes weren't. That didn't pose a problem to the current Leo, however. After all…
'Thanks.'
Leo's Internal Energy slowly flowed through his eyes as his speed recovered once more. It really felt strange to use the Heavenly Strength Society's resources to steal their knowledge, though… Wouldn't it be okay for someone who would eventually become part of their strength?