’Bleak’

"Eastern Continent!?"

Qai was stunned upon hearing the old librarian's words.

"Yes," the old cultivator quickly replied.

The chief librarian then explained that the cultivation world was actually divided into two major continents—and the eastern part was practically where they were currently at.

The map on Qai's right, which was evidently referring to the 'western' continent was largely made of separate islands of different sizes while the 'eastern' continent was composed of one large island.

"I'm truly a frog in a well," Qai suddenly uttered while listening to the old cultivator's words.

The new information definitely shocked Qai's senses. Growing up as a mortal, he thought that the cultivation world was all about the plateau and the forest.

Then upon stepping into the realm of immortals, he was gradually introduced to a much bigger world of nearby villages, towns, cities, the Purple Mist Sect and the Stonecrest region—until he finally realized that there is something called 'continent' which consisted of other regions like their own Stonecrest region.

Qai was just about to explore the Stonecrest region, but here came a new information that there is not only one continent. Things like these are those that kept on telling him that the world was truly vast.

"Our eastern continent is sometimes called the 'Bleak' continent by those cultivators from the 'West Islands'," the chief librarian said.

"Bleak!?" Qai uttered with confused look.

"Yes," the old cultivator replied. "I think that's their subtle but arrogant way of calling us weak."

Qai no longer inquired further about the rationale of the 'eastern' side of the cultivation world being 'bleak.' He was more interested in hearing some other things.

"I wonder if I'll ever have a chance to go such far away place," Qai said with a facial expression that clearly started to imagine things.

"Ho ho," the old librarian laughed. "Our lifespan stretches much further than you can imagine."

What he actually meant was that there would be plenty of time for Qai to roam around the entire cultivation world if he would will it.

Qai simply nodded and openly told the old cultivator the purpose of his visit to library. He also inquired few things about skills, sects and bloodlines—which the chief librarian willingly answered.

Their conversation went on and had lasted for more than an hour.

"I've met plenty of young cultivators through time in this library," the chief librarian stressed, "but I've never encountered as interesting as you.."

"Well actually..," Qai politely quipped, "the wisdom you just shared me felt like far deeper than I could actually gain from reading books."

What Qai actually said was true. He was supposed to load his brains up with informations from the library with only a couple of hours—but what actually took place was far more valuable than his original plan.

"You can take both of those maps if you want," the chief librarian delightedly offered. "We got plenty of maps in this place.. besides, no one had ever taken a liking to those maps before."

"Eh."

Qai took a deep look and tried to figure out the old cultivator's intentions. But after understanding that the chief librarian was simply extending some good will, he shamelessly placed the large scrolls in his spatial ring.

The old cultivator already knew that Qai was not a Mo Clan disciple just from his looks and attitude—so he knew that he was simply talking with a random young cultivator whom he felt would become someone big in the future.

And from the way Qai told about his plans, the chief librarian surmised that the map would undoubtedly help Qai in his journey.

"Young one," the chief librarian said with a grin, "find time to visit me again in this library after your adventure."

The old cultivator took a deep sigh before he made his point that it's time for him to get back to work.

"It's been a pleasant experience talking to you," the chief librarian said, "I guess your companions are already waiting for you."

Qai agreed and said his thanks before he finally left the floor.

****************

Qai met his sister Shu Liang and Mo Shui at the entrance of the building as earlier agreed.

"Hey Shu Qai," Mo Shui suddenly called his attention.

Qai, who's mind was still dreaming up things, was awoken by the abrupt call with a slight shake of his head.

"Where did you get that thing?" Mo Shui asked with a gesture pointing towards his spatial pendant.

Even without telling, Mo Shui had already figured out that the earlier extraordinary emergence of Shandian was due to the weird pendant hanging around Qai's neck.

She also noticed that the lightning black tiger was all of a sudden missing during their trip to the library—and that fact apparently confirmed her theory.

"Ah."

Mo Shui had obviously heard about Qai's exploits during the bandit extermination and how 'The Hunters' Plateau' team stumbled upon a cave of treasures. So she wanted to know if Qai also got that extraordinary item from it.

Qai looked a bit confused as he did not know what actually to say—but he was eventually quick to think of a satisfying answer in a way he would not tell a lie.

"A gift from an old friend."