No wonder it was worthy of being called the perfect nourishing pill. Such a pill was simply wonderful!

After the effect of the medicine had worn off, Lin Ping slowly opened his eyes. When he moved, an unprecedented sense of strength and power filled his whole body. If one carefully calculated based on the speed of his cultivation in the past three days, the effect of this perfect nourishing pill had allowed him to surpass three years of hard cultivation!

One pill actually allowed him to gain three years' worth of internal energy!

Shua!

His figure flickered, and all that could be seen was an afterimage. Lin Ping had appeared in another corner of the room in the blink of an eye, as if he was a ghost.

Crash!

With a strike from his palm, a stool in the room fell apart without resistance.

"With my current level of internal energy, I should be considered a grade-1 master. However, if I take into account my movement technique, speed, and so on, I am comparable to that of a grade-2 martial artist…"

Lin Ping was excited, and his eyes lit up.

He had already inquired clearly about some common knowledge in this world. From what he could tell, this was like a fantasy world similar to Gao Wu1, with countless powerhouses.

There was already an existing structure that ranked and judged the strength of a martial artist. The weakest of them were ranked as grade-1 martial artists, while the strongest were ranked as grade-9 martial artists!

The first grade was the lowest, where one was considered to have just joined the ranks of martial artists, while the ninth grade was the highest, with each one of them being a reputable powerhouse in their area.

For those ordinary people who practiced martial arts and had good talent and possessed a good cultivation technique, they were considered lucky if they could achieve a martial arts grade within five or six years. If their talent was not as good, or if they did not possess a good cultivation technique, they might not even be able to become a grade-1 martial artist even with 10 years of hard work.

Of course, the grading system only took into account the general cultivation base of an individual. One's true level of strength could not be clearly divided and recognized using the grades.

For example, Lin Ping's Sunflower Manual, which he was currently cultivating, heavily focused on one's movement technique and speed. The swordsmanship and needle skills1 in the manual were even more difficult to guard against when mastered. Even if he was only regarded as a grade-1 martial artist based on his internal energy, many grade-2 were definitely not as good as him in these aspects.

I can't become arrogant. I must stay humble!

This is just the beginning! A grade-1 cultivation base is nothing in this world. They merely play the role of cannon fodder. In this palace, any eunuch or court lady that is just slightly more powerful than me can slap me to death easily.

My focus should be to work hard, to check in, and to cultivate in secret!

Lin Ping quietly warned himself not to become too arrogant and look down on others.

Not talking about the others, even court lady Yun Su was far stronger than him!

Based on Yun Su's strength that was shown last night, although Lin Ping was unable to accurately gauge it, he felt that she definitely had at least the cultivation base of grade-3, or even grade-4.

Not to mention that concubine!

Chun Fei was an unfathomable woman and seemed very powerful. She was not someone that Lin Ping could currently mess with.

Therefore, Lin Ping did not show any abnormality. He regarded himself as a little eunuch or a passerby, working when it was time to work and sweeping the floor when it was time to sweep the floor.

He obediently did whatever Yun Su ordered.

Three days later.

The System had once again refreshed. The next check-in destination was still within the imperial compound.

However, it was not as close and as easy to access as the imperial dining room previously. This time, the place he had to go to was heavily guarded, the security of the area many times higher than that of the Changmen Palace!!

The check-in destination this time was the Emperor's study room and library, the Imperial Study Room!

Under normal circumstances, let alone Lin Ping, even Yun Su would not have the right to approach the Imperial Study Room.

As for sneaking in or secretly entering the Imperial Study Room at night, such action was no different from committing suicide.

There were nearly a hundred thousand eunuchs and maids in the compound, as well as countless guards and soldiers. On top of that, no one knew how many martial arts masters were also here.

He was not sure whether there was a grade-9 martial arts master in the place. However, the number of grade-7 and grade-8 masters was definitely not little!

If he met with a top-tier martial artist, he would not even know how he died when he was discovered!

However, Lin Ping quickly thought of a way.

He was close with someone who happened to be working as a little errand eunuch in the Imperial Study Room!

He was called Little Guizi.

…

…

"What?! Take you to the Imperial Study Room for a walk? No! Don't even think about it!"

Little Guizi, who looked plain but had very clever eyes, was very happy to see Lin Ping come out from the cold palace to reminisce with him about the past.

But when he heard of Lin Ping's request, he immediately refused.

"I just want to go to the Imperial Study Room to take a look. Don't worry. I will leave immediately after taking a look. I will definitely not stay, even for the slightest bit!" Lin Ping promised.

"No matter what, the answer is a no." Xiao Guizi shook his head resolutely. "Little Pingzi, are you intending to drag me down after being sent to the cold palace?"

"Do I look like that kind of person?"

Lin Ping sighed and said, "I shall not hide it any longer… My biggest wish in this life is to have a look at the Imperial Study Room one day.

"Because I used to be a scholar! Unfortunately, although I have been in the imperial compound for so many years, I have never been able to see the Imperial Study Room. Now that I have been sent to the cold palace, if I were to die one day unknowingly, I would definitely die with grievance."

Little Guizi frowned when he heard Lin Ping's words and said suspiciously, "Little Pingzi, you used to be a scholar, and your biggest wish was to take a look at the Imperial Study Room? Why haven't I heard you say such a thing before? You are definitely lying to me!"

Lin Ping did not talk any more nonsense. He took out a pouch from his clothes and stuffed it into Little Guizi's hand and directly said, "The savings that I have kept for the past few years are all here. Little Guizi, if you can help me realize my wish, these silvers are yours…"

Little Guizi, who had firmly expressed his disagreement previously, became less determined after the money was pushed into his hands.

His eyes darted around, but after carefully weighing the risks involved, he quietly put the pouch away and said, "This is not a question of money. We are friends. Since Little Pingzi has this wish, then I shall help you fulfill it before your death.

"But let me make it clear to you first, we are merely going to take a look at the Imperial Study Room! After taking a glance at it, you have to leave immediately, and you can't stay, not even briefly!"

Lin Ping smiled slightly as if he had expected it. He nodded and promised, "Don't worry. I just want to take a look!"

Little Guizi had a good relationship with him. However, Lin Ping was a very cautious person and wouldn't take unnecessary risks for himself.

On the other hand, Little Guizi was a gambler, very greedy, and short of money. As long as he was given enough money, he would be willing to take risks.

As for Lin Ping, he had no interest in money currently.

Therefore, that afternoon, Little Guizi picked a time when no one was inside and took Lin Ping into the Imperial Study Room.

…

[Ding! Congratulations to Host for successfully checking in. You have received the "Nine Yin Sutra".]

In the imperial study room.

After hearing the System's notification, Lin Ping was so excited that he clenched his fists silently.

This risk was really worth it!

It turned out to be another piece of peerless martial arts, the Nine Yin Sutra!

According to the legends, the Nine Yin Sutra originated from a civil official of the former dynasty who learned the principles of martial arts through proofreading the "Tao Zang1". Later, in order to enact revenge, he lived in seclusion for 40 years before creating this peerless martial art.

In terms of raw power, the Nine Yin Sutra was not necessarily better than the Sunflower Manual.

But in terms of comprehensiveness, the Sunflower Manual was far inferior to the Nine Yin Sutra!

This was because the Nine Yin Sutra included techniques to refine one's muscles and bones, healing techniques, acupuncture skills, palm skills, fist skills, claw skills, and even skills that influenced one's soul!

It could be said that the Nine Yin Sutra was a martial arts encyclopedia!

Moreover, although the martial arts recorded in it might not be considered the best, none were weak or useless!

Lin Ping took a deep breath and whispered while resisting the excitement in his heart, "Let's go, Little Guizi."

"Ah? We are going already?"

Little Guizi was stunned. He was planning to explain to Lin Ping the structure of the Imperial Study Room. However, who knew that he was intending to leave the moment after he just walked into the room?

He really wanted to merely take a look?

Then this money had really come too easily.

Ai. Little Ping is a good person after all!

It was a pity he was not too bright nor quick on his feet, making him offend the old woman Nan Xiang, causing him to be sentenced to serve in the cold palace.

Was the cold palace a place where people could live and stay for long?

It was practically considered a haunted house. No one who went there could live for more than half a year!

Only the heavens knew how long Little Pingzi could stay in there.

Since Little Pingzi had given all his savings to him this time, if he died in the future, I would burn some paper money for him during the festive periods…