Chapter 115 - Arc 8: Wuling Immortal Sect | Chapter 115: Library
Translator: Lynn
The drastic change in the Tianlong List had everyone’s hearts surging, and the commotion near the library drew a crowd of onlookers.
In any sect, the number of disciples listed on the Tianlong List directly determined the sect’s status for the next ten thousand years. A higher ranking indicated more geniuses within the sect who had the potential to become immortals, bringing more prestige when interacting with other factions. Consequently, the disciples listed on the Tianlong List were cultivated by the sect with utmost dedication and at any cost.
Yun Lie was no exception to this treatment.
Seeing Yun Lie’s elevated ranking, envy and jealousy glinted in the eyes of those who had stayed behind. While Yun Lie had been somewhat famous before, most of it was attributed to his sword intent. However, due to the difficulty of the ruthless killing sword technique, the more outstanding disciples didn’t consider him a real threat. They believed that even if they were currently not as skilled as Yun Lie, their future prospects would surpass him by far.
Yet, no one expected that Yun Lie had only been hindered for a little over ten years.
It was not unusual for ordinary monks to face bottlenecks in their cultivation and remain stuck for decades. But for Yun Lie, what seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle turned out to be mere difficulties that he easily overcame. And not only did he break through, but he also secured the fifth spot on the Tianlong List!
Such a swift and remarkable rise naturally stirred jealousy among others. It was evident that his path to immortality would be extraordinary from this point on.
Yun Lie stood before the Tianlong List, gazing up at it for a moment.
An intensely frigid aura emanated from him, exuding a powerful will and an overwhelming fighting spirit.
This aura carried an endless killing intent, causing a chill to spread for miles around!
Unconsciously, Yun Lie released this formidable intent, making even Xu Ziqing feel the pressure, regardless of whether they were friends or foes. However, Xu Ziqing gritted his teeth and infused his body with true energy, standing firm without taking a step back.
Senior Brother Yun seemed to be ready for a battle, but whom did he wish to challenge?
Xu Ziqing lifted his head, noticing that above Ruthless Killing Yun Lie’s name were the names of four peerless geniuses, supremely dominant atop the Tianlong List, seemingly looking down arrogantly upon all those beneath them.
Overlord Xuanyuan!
Thunderlord Helianhong!
Ethereal Fairy An Jinshu!
Ghost Slaughter Yinshan!
Just one glance was enough to feel the sheer pressure contained within those names.
Xu Ziqing let out a slow breath, sensing that in the future, Senior Brother Yun would inevitably encounter these individuals, and eventually, he himself would also cross paths with them.
For a moment, Xu Ziqing’s consciousness drifted away. He was affected by the aura emanating from the Tianlong List and Yun Lie’s fighting spirit, as if he had entered a profound and wondrous realm. In this state, he felt a fighting spirit within himself. Even though he knew that the individuals before him were immensely powerful and seemingly invincible, he felt no intention of retreating whatsoever.
It was as if… only by confronting the challenges head-on could he ultimately achieve what he desired.
After a long while, Xu Ziqing regained his senses.
The icy killing intent he felt before had mostly dissipated, and he realized he had entered a state of samadhi. At this moment, the true energy in his dantian was still swirling, following the laws of his cultivation technique, and faintly exuding a sense of dominance.
Xu Ziqing quickly composed himself and, upon opening his eyes, found Yun Lie standing calmly before him, the intense pressure he exuded earlier had disappeared. Xu Ziqing smiled and said, “Thank you, Yun Shixiong, for your protection.”
Yun Lie replied, “Let’s head to the library together.”
Xu Ziqing nodded, “Yes, Yun Shixiong.”
The jade slips given by Master Qiu He contained the permission for all personal disciples to enter the library and choose a human-level cultivation technique to practice each month. There was no restriction on the grade of the technique, but it couldn’t be taken away and could only be inscribed into the jade slip. Xu Ziqing also had two of these specially crafted blank jade slips in his storage bag.
Yun Lie nodded, and they were about to turn around and leave when suddenly a roll of golden silk floated through the air, heading straight in their direction.
Yun Lie effortlessly caught it and scanned it with his consciousness.
Curious, Xu Ziqing asked, “Brother Yun, what is it?”
Yun Lie replied, “The Sovereign summoned me, I need to go there. You take this to the library and choose a cultivation technique.” With a wave of his sleeve, he disappeared in a flash of white light.
Xu Ziqing looked at his open palm and found ten additional jade slips, one of which faintly displayed the character “Huang” (Yellow), indicating a higher rank than the “Human” character jade slips he already had.
“This is… a jade slip for recording Huang-rank techniques?” Xu Ziqing was slightly surprised.
Yun Lie nodded, “You lack sufficient attacking methods, so you can choose some corresponding ones, but don’t be too greedy.”
Xu Ziqing’s eyes brightened, “Senior Brother Yun, you…”
Yun Lie cut him off, saying, “I can’t use them.”
Xu Ziqing gratefully put the jade slips away and said sincerely, “Thank you, Senior Brother Yun. I’ll go pick some techniques now, and in the future… I’ll still need Brother Yun to guide me.”
Yun Lie replied with a simple “Yes,” and then ascended into the sky, heading towards the main peak.
As Xu Ziqing watched Yun Lie disappear, he turned and entered the library. Gratitude towards his senior brother filled his heart, but he knew there was little he could do to help at the moment. The best way to show his appreciation was to focus on improving his own cultivation for the future.
The library, from its secluded location to its prestigious position in the Tianlong ranks, was a place that attracted people from all over the world. According to rumors, regardless of one’s cultivation level, physical constitution, or spiritual roots, as long as they entered the library, they could find the most suitable exercises for themselves. Moreover, as their cultivation base increased and they broke through to higher realms, they could always find compatible techniques for their progress. Countless peerless masters and geniuses had benefited from the library, using its resources to break through barriers and achieve immortality.
Once inside the library, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. He sensed an indescribable air of mystery—the broad and boundless momentum accumulated by countless techniques over the years. Even with just a small outer hall and a single gatekeeper, the library demanded respect, making people bow their heads in humility before the vast knowledge it held.
The gatekeeper, a young man in his twenties, exuded a cultivation that seemed unfathomable like the vast universe. He looked at Xu Ziqing and smiled, “What kind of jade slips do you hold? They will determine which floor you can access. If you go astray, just crush the jade slip, and someone will come to your aid.”
Xu Ziqing nodded respectfully, saying, “Thank you for your guidance, senior.” He couldn’t help but wonder why there were only a few people inside despite more than ten individuals having entered before him. Nevertheless, he didn’t dwell on it and proceeded to the nearby corridor.
The stairs were short but had no handrails on either side. Instead, there was an empty space filled with countless peculiar auras that scattered like stars, emitting a mesmerizing brilliance. These were the lights of knowledge, Taoism, and the inherent radiance of countless techniques.
As Xu Ziqing ascended the stairs, he felt like a boat navigating the sea, drifting without any support. The sea of knowledge seemed to be impacted by an abundance of knowledge, creating colossal waves. This was a warning—only disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect were allowed here. Anyone else who dared to enter recklessly would be submerged in this sea of knowledge and suffer serious injuries.
Xu Ziqing proceeded cautiously, and with a thought, he summoned a jade slip into his hand.
The jade slip in Xu Ziqing’s hand bore the word “human” on it, indicating that it could only engrave human-level exercises. Without it, one would be considered an enemy of the library, facing expulsion and harm. As he took out the jade slip, the overwhelming feeling he experienced previously dissipated, and the surroundings transformed into a common wooden corridor, leading to the entrance of a specific floor.
Above the entrance, a plaque read “人,” signifying the human-ranked exercise floor. Despite possessing a yellow-ranked jade slip from his senior brother, Xu Ziqing still lacked sufficient cultivation to explore those exercises. Thus, he decided to head to the human-ranked exercise floor to observe and make an informed decision. With this mindset, he stepped inside.
Upon entering the floor, Xu Ziqing found three rooms labeled “lower human level,” “middle human level,” and “higher human level.” The exercises were neatly categorized for the convenience of the disciples.
Outside the rooms, other disciples hurried past, each preoccupied with their own emotions, be it seriousness or joy. Nobody paid much attention to Xu Ziqing, and he, in turn, ignored them. After some thought, he chose to open the door to the low-grade exercise room.
Upon stepping in, Xu Ziqing was amazed by what he saw. The room was vast, housing numerous exercises!
Although the entrance seemed limited to only a few people, the interior space expanded grandly, making it difficult to take in everything at once. Countless tall bookshelves were neatly arranged, stacked with books and jade slips, making it challenging to decide where to start.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Ziqing once again realized the significance of being part of a sect judged as a large one in the Three Thousand Worlds. Comparing this to the trading hall in the small world, where he was elated to find abundant resources, he now felt humbled by his narrow vision before.
With a wry smile, Xu Ziqing recalled how he had once underestimated the vastness of knowledge and resources available in his current sect.
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