Chapter 4 Knowledge is power

In a crowded district of the Li Sect, people of all ages moved about their daily routine with purpose and energy. Stalls lined the wide, dirt-packed paths – some merchants displayed their wares on sturdy wooden tables covered in cloth, while others laid out goods directly on strips of fabric spread over the bare ground. Every single person in sight wore simple grey robes, the standard attire for outer disciples,unofficial disciples and some mortals who came to trade, save for a few guards who stood watch at intervals throughout the bustle.

These guards were clad head-to-toe in polished steel armor, with a single well-crafted sword attached to their waist by leather belts, their eyes sharp as they scanned the crowd for any sign of trouble. Amidst the sea of grey and the steady murmur of voices, Icaros walked with ease, his presence blending in despite his calm bearing.

Icaros had a chiseled, athletic build with sharp facial features, piercing eyes that seemed to take in every detail around him, and a strong jawline that added to his striking appearance. He exuded calm confidence and deliberate composure in his plain grey robe, moving through the throng with a grace that belied his immense strength. Even as people brushed past him and merchants called out their wares, he maintained his focus, his posture relaxed but alert – a habit forged through thousands of years of protecting others on Earth.

His brows were gently furrowed as he held an old, weathered map in both hands, running his fingers over the faded ink markings that showed the layout of the sect's lower districts. The paper felt thin and fragile beneath his touch, and he handled it with care despite his power.

"It should be just ahead – the map marks the library at the end of this path," Icaros muttered to himself, folding the map carefully along its creases and tucking it into a hidden pocket inside his robe.

He quickened his pace slightly, weaving smoothly through the crowd as his curious eyes drifted over the stalls around him. There were items he'd never seen before: glowing stones set in simple metal frames, dried herbs bundled with colorful string, small wooden carvings of beasts that seemed to shift in the light. Though each display caught his attention and sparked questions about this new world, he stayed focused on his primary goal – he had little time to spare before tomorrow's mission.

"Woah – this kind of building would be a palace on Earth, with guards at every gate and only nobles allowed inside. But here, it's just a low-level library meant for outer and unofficial disciples. The Li Sect truly is on a scale I never imagined."

The structure stretched wide across his field of vision, its walls made of smooth, light-colored stone that shone faintly in the afternoon sun. Neat architectural lines gave it a sense of order and grandeur, with majestic pillars carved with images of mythical birds supporting the sloped roof. A large wooden sign bearing the word "Library" in bold, black characters hung prominently above the entrance, its surface polished to a shine that added to the building's impressive presence.

Icaros paused at the edge of the path, pulling out a square bronze card from his robe and turning it over in his hands. He recalled Li Han's words from earlier that day, spoken in a quiet tone as he'd handed over the permit: "This card gives you access to all the knowledge outer disciples and unofficial disciple will ever need– basic cultivation principles, sect rules, maps of the surrounding lands, and more. Though you're still considered an unofficial disciple, you can consider it a gift from Young Master Deimos – he wanted to make sure you're prepared for what comes next."

Only the word "Li" was carved into the card's smooth surface, but when Icaros focused his gaze due to curiousity, he faintly saw intricate magical runes glowing with a soft blue light hidden just beneath the bronze. He narrowed his eyes, concentrating harder, but the runes remained just out of full view. "My enhanced sight still works here – I just need to focus like I did back on Earth. It's reassuring to know at least my unique abilities haven't been lost in this transition,as i haven't even tested my optic blast " He smiled slightly as he remembered one of his earliest acts on Earth, centuries ago – saving a bus of school children from plunging off a collapsing bridge by spotting the weakened structure with his heightened vision before anyone else could see the danger. "If my strength, durability, speed, and sight all work as they should, it stands to reason my other abilities do too. But I can't test flight or optic blasts yet – not when I need to lie low, learn my place in this world, and keep my true nature hidden."

By the time his thoughts settled and he tucked the card back into his robe, he'd reached the library's massive doors. They were made of a dark, polished wood he didn't recognize, and when he placed his hand on the surface to push them open, it felt cool to the touch, even in the warm afternoon air. As he stepped forward, he noticed the same armored guards from the market were posted at the library's entrance and along the walls, their stances steady and alert – but it was as if they paid him no mind as he approached, their gaze fixed on the crowd beyond.

Inside, the air was cool and still, with rows upon rows of wooden shelves stretching into the distance, each one filled with neatly arranged books bound in leather or cloth. The smell of paper and ink hung in the air, mixed with a faint, earthy scent he couldn't identify. A middle-aged man in crisp white robes sat at a sturdy wooden table near the entrance – Icaros noted immediately that he was missing his left arm, and the sleeve of his robe was neatly folded and tied at his elbow. The man seemed completely absorbed in a thick book open before him, his brow furrowed in concentration as he read. Before Icaros could step forward to speak, he felt a familiar tingle across his skin – the same feeling he'd had when Li Han's senior had scanned him with divine sense earlier that day. It was as if the man was studying him from head to toe, his attention sweeping over every part of Icaros's body with an intensity that would have made most people uncomfortable.

The man looked up from his book then, his eyes meeting Icaros's with a gaze that held both condescension and disdain. "So you're the so-called strong warrior that brat Deimos brought back from the mortal world?" he said, his voice low but clear, carrying across the quiet entrance hall.

Icaros's brow furrowed briefly in surprise – this was the first time he'd heard anyone address Young Master Deimos with such disrespect. He paused for a moment, weighing his response carefully before relaxing his expression and straightening his shoulders. He replied in a calm, even tone, with no emotion detectable in his voice: "I am indeed the one Deimos brought back. I've come to use the library, and I have a permit for entry." With that, he tossed the bronze card gently toward the man, his movements controlled and precise.

The card flew through the air smoothly, and just as it seemed about to pass the man's figure, his right hand shot out and caught it with superhuman speed – so fast that Icaros barely saw the movement. It was a small detail, but one that made him raise an eyebrow in interest – this seemingly ordinary librarian was far stronger than he appeared,maybe even stronger than me,a quiet thought appeared in his mind.

"Confident and cocky, but willing to bend low to get what you want," the man said, his tone that of someone who was used to being in charge. He turned the card over in his hand, his eyes scanning its surface. "But you're on the wrong side, boy – siding with Deimos means you've made enemies you don't even know exist yet."

He swept his gaze over the card one more time – Icaros suspected he was using his divine sense to verify its authenticity – then tossed it back with the same gentle motion Icaros had used. But as Icaros reached out to catch it, an enormous weight and pressure suddenly slammed into his hand, so strong it nearly made him stumble backward. He gritted his teeth and steadied himself, using his strength to grasp the card firmly until the pressure faded away. When he looked up, the man was watching him with a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"You can only access the first floor with that bronze card," the man called out as Icaros turned to walk deeper into the library. "All other floors are restricted unless you have a silver or gold permit – and those aren't given out to just anyone. Stick to what you're allowed to see, and stay out of trouble."

Once Icaros's figure had disappeared into the rows of shelves, the man leaned back in his chair and smiled to himself, his earlier disdain replaced by a look of approval. "That brat Deimos found a strong helper this time – maybe strong enough to make a difference when the struggle begins."

Time passed quickly as Icaros immersed himself in the library's vast collection of knowledge,not minding other disciples in the library. True to the Li Sect's reputation as one of the world's four great powers, the books covered everything from basic cultivation theory and beast classification to maps of the contested lands and histories of the sect's founding. With his enhanced physiology, his mind processed information far faster than any ordinary human could – he flipped through pages as if just scanning them, or glancing at the illustrations – yet every word, every diagram, every detail was imprinted clearly in his memory. It was an ability he'd discovered shortly after arriving on Earth millennia ago, when he'd realized his cosmic form allowed him to absorb and retain information with perfect clarity.

After what felt like hours – he gently placed the last book back on its shelf, straightening it carefully to match the others around it. "Finally – everything falls into place," he breathed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment as he let the mountain of information he'd just acquired settle in his mind. He now understood the basics of cultivation, the structure of the sect,the structure of the cultivation world,different powers and sects, and what to expect from tomorrow's mission.