Realistically, Fenghuang Yu needed everything. All her skills were terribly basic. The lowest of the low.

“Sign. Skills.”

Aura:

Mana:

Ether:

Grade 1:

- Qi Construct

(Initiate)

- Flame Thorns (Initiate)

- Stunning Grasp (Initiate)

- Fire Sword (Novice)

- Fire Shield (Novice)

- Flaming Acceleration (Novice)

- Fire Summoning (Novice)

Grade 1:

- Qi Construct (Initiate)

- Follow the Water (Initiate)

- Soothing Flow (Novice)

- Nature’s Blessing (Novice)

- Regeneration Vines (Novice)

- Bolt Strike (Novice)

- Flashing Burst (Novice)

- Shadow Meld (Novice)

- Silencing Darkness (Novice)

- Stone Spike (Novice)

- Water Control (Novice)

Grade 1:

- Qi Construct (Initiate)

- Beast Bonding (Initiate)

Grade {unknown}:

- Transformation (Novice)

- Enchant Lightning* (Novice)

She had numerous attack skills, some stunning skills, a single movement skill, some healing skills. Her gaps were in strength and not type then - well, with the exception of a single skill from downstairs she already knew she wanted.

That knowledge was profoundly unhelpful in narrowing down the choices for grade two, as they were likely stronger. Yu walked up and down the ends of the aisles hoping for inspiration. She stopped in front of the very last aisle. It was barely a quarter of the size of the others, only had three tablets on it, and was behind both the prior aisle and a column. The label at the end said, “Neutral Skills.”

“Huh. . .” Yu walked down and touched the first of the three.

Skill Name: Qi Regeneration

Grade: 2

Qi Type: Neutral

Affinity Type: Neutral

Meridian Requirements: 1

Qi Requirements: 10 per second

Description:

This skill will cause Qi to regenerate at an additional 5 Qi per second. This is used as a training method for those struggling with Qi cycling through meridians as it teaches one to master both input and output of Qi at the same time. As the gain is lower than the cost of the skill, it is viewed as an ineffective tool despite its ability to be stored and run in the mindscape.

Yu mumbled to herself, “Why in the hells is that grade 2?” It was completely useless. When she used the Qi Construct skill it was clearly far more powerful for her than for others, but also used three times the Qi. That skill would still be a negative, even if the benefit were tripled because the cost would triple as well.

Shaking her head she moved to the second.

Skill Name: Eyes of Qi

Grade: 2

Qi Type: Neutral

Affinity Type: Neutral

Meridian Requirements: 3

Qi Requirements: 100 per second per stage

Description:

This skill allows the user to visualize the power of the Heavens and Earth. Through a flood of Qi to the eyes, the user will be able to see the waves of any Qi that match those sent to the eyes, meaning only those of the same type and affinity. This skill‘s cost vs. benefit is viewed poorly due to its limitations. Some professions can find value in it but are unable to use it for periods of sufficient length to improve their products.

Now that could be quite useful for Yu. It would likely cost 300 per second per stage, but as her Qi increased, that cost will be very reasonable considering everything she could potentially visualize. It would certainly require a good deal of practice for her to be able to use it only for a second or two at a time or otherwise run out of Qi quickly, but that seemed like a reasonable possibility. Stepping up to the third she touched it, still thinking of the various benefits of the last skill when eventually she had 10 or 20 or 50 meridians cleansed.

Skill Name: Frozen Qi

Grade: 2

Qi Type: Neutral

Affinity Type: Neutral

Meridian Requirements: 5 (no maximum)

Qi Requirements: 75% of maximum Qi

Description:

Contrary to the name, this skill has nothing to do with the Ice Affinity. This skill uses 75% of the user's maximum Qi to “freeze” or disable all Qi of the user’s type and affinity up to its own stage in an area of five plus one per meridian paces around the wielder for one second per cultivation stage (not level).

As with most skills of the type, the limitations are viewed as too severe. The dissolution of all Qi (including the wielder’s) is not seen as a benefit since the wielder will be vulnerable to all other Qi types. Professionals do sometimes find this skill useful to dissipate Qi in their immediate area in case of an out-of-control experiment. However, its requirement of 75% of maximum Qi is usually found too taxing.

That was a fascinating skill. She was equal or superior in martial skill to most her age or slightly older as proven both in the tournament and against Jingxi and the assassin until he used skills. Thinking of how the fight with the assassin would have ended quite differently had she used this skill made it even more appealing. And as she was going to open her fifth meridian in just a few days she would be able to use it and find value in it sooner than the Eyes of Qi skill with its tremendous Qi requirement.

Looking at the nearby stick of incense Yu was startled to see it was nearing completely used up, meaning she was halfway through her total allocated time. And she still has two skills from downstairs to choose. Making her decision, she touched her badge to the jade tablet and headed downstairs. Her three friends were in line at the receiving desk and she waved to them. The twins waved back but looked curious. She mouthed, “I’ll tell you later,” and they nodded.

Yu had this planned out in advance and her trip upstairs did not change anything so she headed directly to an aisle with mana skills for the Lightning Affinity that were for attacking. What did change for her was the ability to pick two and not just one skill. Yu really wanted to be able to do more than stun with lightning at range. Unfortunately, her mother’s words were proven true when all but one of the skills was far more directed to disabling or distracting than destroying. The one damaging skill did seem interesting if odd.

Skill Name: Thundering Breath

Grade: 1

Qi Type: Mana

Affinity Type: Lightning

Meridian Requirements: 3 to 12

Qi Requirements: 50 per meridian per second

Description:

This skill allows the user to expel lightning in either a stream or ball form from the mouth. The range is a half pace per meridian and damage ranges along the same lines from minor shocks at 3 to severe burns, burst blood vessels, heart stoppages, etc at the highest. The Qi power of this skill cannot exceed a value of 12 meridians due to the energy becoming unstable at higher throughput resulting in damage to the cultivator’s throat and mouth. Additionally, this is considered something of a showy skill as blowing things out of the mouth makes for excellent party entertainment.

Yu chuckled at the end; that sounded like something Uncle Zhao would say. The skill seemed very appealing but the Qi cost felt high for a grade 1 skill. Or maybe it was high because it was a grade one skill? That still confused Yu somewhat. Either way, it was pretty much exactly what she wanted, if a little more bizarre than expected. She had time to come get it before she got kicked out so she headed to the Darkness skills.

Speaking of her uncle, the skills she got from him were incredibly annoying so she had Darkness Affinity next on her list for research. She was pretty good at stealth in the forest but unless it was already dark, all her Qi skills and most practiced abilities were useless or close to useless. Once again, Yu was disappointed with the available grade 1 Mana skills. Not only were there fewer than she had hoped, being less than a dozen, but they were all basically the same in limitations - darkness or shadow must already be present and it only stopped one sense, usually sight. There was one skill that stopped her scent from being detected but it also stopped her sense of smell from working too.

Yu sighed as she reached the last. “Trash,” she muttered.

A voice next to her whispered, “Most grade one skills are.”

She looked over and saw a boy’s stomach. She tilted her head up. And up. Yu said quietly, “Hi. You’re really tall.”

His rueful smile was on a square face surrounded by wavy black hair parted down the middle that fell to his jaw. His shoulders, chest and arms showed he was clearly muscular. If he wasn’t an Aura user it would be a colossal waste; why was he in the Mana skills section?

He said, “I’ve been told that before.”

Yu grinned back, “That doesn’t make it untrue.”

He nodded. “Good point. I’m Neng Po,” and he bowed his head.

Yu turned fully to him, did the same and said, “Hi. I’m Fenghuang Yu.”

“Nice to meet you, Fenghuang Yu,” he said with a smile.

She smiled back and said, “You too. I don’t mean to be rude but I am almost out of time and have more skills to review. I hope we can speak again.” She then bowed quickly to him again.

He returned it and said, “Of course. Me too.”

The last place Yu went was her original plan for a useful grade 1 combat skill better than she had. She headed to the Aura section for Earth Affinity defensive skills. Earth was not even close to as effective as Metal for defense, but it was by no means useless. She chose Aura instead of Mana because she expected to get hit. A lot. If she could strengthen her defense then she should have fewer broken bones and the like. Or at least that was the plan.

She eventually found the skill called Earthen Armor that Grandma Huan told her about. It was barely better than her enhanced skin but used less Qi since moving energy through meridians was more efficient than directly through the body. At least it would once she got good at it. As she was satisfied with her other skills, she tapped her badge on the Earthen Armor, returned to the Thundering Breath tablet, and then headed to check out. Yu felt a tap on her shoulder and saw the tall Neng Po behind her.

“Oh. Hi there.”

His excessively tilted down head had a smile and he asked, “Get what you were looking for?” She wanted to ask him if his neck is always in pain from looking down all the time.

Yu nodded and said, “Exactly. Defense and offense. Just what I was hoping for if you put darkness aside.”

He looked surprised. “You have dual affinities?”

She cleared her throat and said, “I’m fortunate to have been blessed with more than one affinity.” Until her master provided her schedule she wouldn’t say anything about affinities or Qi types.

He nodded. “I’m Darkness only and have Aura which is really weird for someone of my. . .”

Yu finished for him, “Size?” He blushed and nodded. Yu pensively said, “Darkness Aura. Huh. How does that work?” Yu didn’t even look at those.

Still blushing he answered, “So far it doesn’t. Low-grade darkness skills are not great.”

Yu blinked at that and stared off into space, thinking. Had she limited herself too much to Mana because of her uncle? What about some sort of Darkness armor that silences? Most martial artists focused quite a bit on sight but beasts use smell and sound more. It could be dual purpose if she. . .

Yu jumped when her large companion tapped her on the shoulder. She blushed and said, “Sorry. You may have just helped me. Let’s chat after I have some time to flush out the ideas.”

He blinked down at her. “Err. Ok?”

“Next!” sounded out behind her. She beamed up at him and waved as she moved to check out.

She tapped her badge on a tablet and the inner sect disciple said, “Please confirm your. . .” His voice faded and a few breaths later he said, “Wait here please.”

Yu said, “As you say, senior.” She assumed all these inner sect disciples got dragon points from the Elder’s Administration Building for doing this work. How many points did jobs like this give? Was it easy work for easy points? More importantly to Yu, was it enough to excel or just get by?

Her particular helper walked over to an elder and whispered something. The elder jerked upright and walked over while the disciple headed to another open area and called for the next person. This elder was an older bald gentleman with a neatly trimmed white beard that was long enough to cover his neck but not reach his chest. His eyes were sharp and focused when he approached. “Good afternoon, disciple. I am Elder Mingnian.”

Yu bowed politely, “Greetings, elder. I am Fenghuang Yu.”

“I was informed that Elder Qun Long authorized you to go to the second floor to pick out one skill. The skill that shows on this tablet is a Qi neutral skill that has almost no realistic use besides in battling yourself.”

Yu smiled at him. “Thank you, elder, for your concern and information. This skill is perfect for me. It is exactly what I need.”

He rubbed his beard and asked, “The other two skills here are common and excellent choices for a dual affinity user, except one uses Aura and the other Mana. Are you sure about this?” Yu paled slightly. Hells, she didn’t think about others seeing at the receiving area. What a foolish mistake!

She cleared her throat and said, “Ummm. . . these are confidential, right? Nobody can look it up?”

He tilted his head at her and said, “Elders of the Skills Library, and of course your vice leader, can see what anyone has requested. But that is all unless there is a question of law enforcement.”

Yu nodded. That was just going to have to be enough. She bowed and said, “I am satisfied with my choices, Elder Mingnian.”

He nodded slowly and said, “As you say, then. We all make choices we must live with.”