Ancient Divine Script?

Under the supervision of his teacher Lin Xiaodie, Zhong Wen meticulously copied the characters of the Great Qian Empire, with occasional guidance from the little girl, even though this teacher often struggled with her own words.

On the table were the Initiatory Learning and Read and Speak, specially written for children in the Great Qian Empire to learn characters. From a soulful perspective, forcing Zhong Wen, who was already in his thirties and had experienced the era of internet technology, to start learning to write again was a form of mental torment.

Fortunately, the teacher, who was also a little girl, was not one to sit still. She often taught a few characters and then chatted casually with Zhong Wen, achieving a balance between focus and relaxation, though not intentionally.

"Xiaodie, do the disciples of the Drifting Petal Palace never eat together?" Over the past few days, the little girl had been eating with Zhong Wen, but he hadn't seen Yin Ning'er or the others, which made him curious.

As they grew closer, Zhong Wen became more casual in addressing Lin Xiaodie, no longer using “Teacher," and the little girl didn't mind.

By the way, the food here was both vegetarian and bland, almost causing Zhong Wen, who considered himself a gourmet in his past life, to lose his appetite.

"We don't have many disciples at the Drifting Petal Palace to begin with. With our Master and Mrs. Wang, there are only six of us. Eldest Senior Sister often doesn't return to the palace, Second Senior Sister is busy with her cultivation, and Third Senior Sister is dedicated to alchemy. It's difficult for us to find time to eat together," the little girl explained.

The Mrs. Wang she mentioned was a widow from the village below the mountain, specially hired by the Mistress of the Drifting Petal Palace to clean, do laundry, and cook.

"So, you're usually alone, don't you get bored?"

"Not really. Senior Sisters often come to play with me when they have free time, and when Master returns, we all gather together." The little girl denied it verbally, but there was a hint of loneliness in her eyes.

Suddenly, Zhong Wen understood why the little girl was so eager to keep him around. An eight or nine-year-old child was at the age when they needed companionship the most. He suddenly felt a bit resentful toward the little girl's Master.

"Xiaodie! Xiaodie!"

Outside the door, there came a clear and melodious female voice.

"It's Second Senior Sister!" the little girl ran out happily.

After a while, she led a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl into the room. The girl was naturally beautiful, with flawless skin and an air of elegance. Her eyes and brows were like a painting, exuding a vibrant aura. Her chestnut-colored long hair was tied into a ponytail behind her head, and she wore a red martial arts attire with white shorts underneath, revealing her long and slender legs.

As soon as the girl entered the room, Zhong Wen felt like the entire place had been illuminated. Could it be that this sect placed a strong emphasis on the appearance of its disciples?

Both Yin Ning'er and the girl in front of him had exceptional looks. Although Lin Xiaodie was young, she was also a budding beauty. Zhong Wen couldn't help but suspect the entrance standards of the Drifting Petal Palace.

Unfortunately, some parts hadn't fully developed yet. As his gaze inadvertently fell on her chest, Zhong Wen couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

"Are you awake?" The young lady hadn't noticed Zhong Wen's inappropriate thoughts.

"Zhong Wen, this is my Second Senior Sister, Liu Qiqi. She's the one who carried you back that day," the little girl introduced.

"Thank you, Miss Liu, for saving me," Zhong Wen expressed his gratitude once more, feeling indebted to everyone here.

"It was nothing," Liu Qiqi replied cheerfully. "What are you two doing?"

"I'm teaching Zhong Wen how to read," the little girl proudly puffed her chest.

"Huh?" Liu Qiqi looked bewildered and turned to Zhong Wen. "You can't read or write?"

Zhong Wen hadn't expected this girl to be so straightforward in her speech, and he felt a bit awkward.

"He suffered a severe injury, and he can't remember many things, including how to read and write," the little girl quickly explained on his behalf.

Liu Qiqi wore a relieved expression, then cast a sympathetic glance at Zhong Wen.

"That's right, I don't have any cultivation abilities, and now I've forgotten how to read and write. Xiaodie was worried that I wouldn't be able to survive when I went down the mountain, so she kindly taught me how to recognize characters," Zhong Wen said with a touch of frustration. Although there were many beauties here, he couldn't be like the protagonist in novels, effortlessly attracting their attention. Instead, he felt like a pitiful and useless supporting character.

Well, at least he could appreciate the beauties.

"You're a good kid," Liu Qiqi praised as she patted Lin Xiaodie's head.

"Second Senior Sister, how is your Light-Dividing Sword coming along?" the little girl asked.

"It's going okay. I can now handle six sword puppets simultaneously..."

The two girls began discussing their cultivation matters, leaving Zhong Wen completely clueless and unable to join the conversation. He could only sit quietly at the table and continue copying Initiatory Learning.

After a while, Liu Qiqi said, "I'm a bit tired after eating. Xiaodie, I'll lie down here for a while. Please wake me up in half an hour."

With that, she paid no attention to the fact that there was a man in the room and went to the bed, lying down with her clothes on. Her rhythmic breathing soon filled the room.

Lin Xiaodie walked over to Zhong Wen, watched him copying characters for a while, and taught him for a bit. Then, she sat at the table, holding her head in her hands, deep in thought, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Zhong Wen continued to memorize new characters for a while, then looked up and saw Lin Xiaodie appearing somewhat bored. Feeling sorry for her, he spoke up, "Xiaodie, are you tired? Would you like to take a nap too?"

The little girl shook her head.

"I've been writing characters these past few days, and although my memory hasn't fully recovered, I've started to recall some stories I heard before. How about I tell you a story?"

When she heard the word "story," Lin Xiaodie's eyes instantly lit up.

"Great! I'd love to hear a story!"

"Alright, then I'll tell you the story of a powerful monkey." After careful consideration, Zhong Wen realized that in his mental library, aside from self-help books, only the Chinese Four Great Classical Novels remained.

In this world of cultivators, adapting Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Water Margin would require significant modifications, and Dream of the Red Chamber was too focused on family matters and intricate relationships, making it unsuitable for children—only the setting of Journey to the West still somewhat fits the world's concept.

"In a very distant place, there is a land called the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, and overseas, there is a country named Aolai..." When telling a story to a child like Lin Xiaodie, Zhong Wen naturally simplified some of the profound verses and content, adapting them into simple sentences suitable for children. "On top of that mountain, there is a magical stone... that turned into a stone monkey..."

As Lin Xiaodie listened, she gradually became enchanted by the story. Her body, which was initially lying down, unknowingly sat up straight.

"From then on, the stone monkey ascended to a higher rank and became known as the Monkey King..." Zhong Wen adopted the demeanor he used when speaking at meetings in his previous life. His tone was unhurried as he continued, "Seeing the Buddha meditating on the platform..."

At some point, Liu Qiqi, who had been lying on the bed, had opened her eyes. However, she remained motionless, simply listening attentively.

"‘Shall I teach you the ways of the 'Art' character sect?’... ‘No, no!’... ‘How about teaching you the ways of the 'Flow' character sect?’... ‘No, no!’..."

The lively and spirited monkey in Journey to the West was naturally beloved by children. Lin Xiaodie, who had grown up in the Drifting Petal Palace, had never heard such an interesting story before. She listened with wide-eyed excitement and a joyful smile.

When Zhong Wen reached the part about "a somersault cloud that spans tens of thousands of miles," there was a gleam of interest in Liu Qiqi's eyes. She wondered if this "somersault cloud" from the story truly existed. If she could learn it, she could travel anywhere in the world.

When I reach the realm of a sage, I wonder if I'll be able to do it. Liu Qiqi couldn't help but reveal a look of longing.

Time passed by imperceptibly, and an hour had already gone by.

“Alright, it's getting late today, so let's stop here. We'll continue the rest tomorrow." Zhong Wen felt a bit thirsty from speaking and picked up the water glass on the table to take a sip.

"Ah!" Two voices exclaimed simultaneously.

"Miss Liu, you're awake," Zhong Wen turned his head toward the sound and saw that Liu Qiqi had already sat up.

"Zhong Wen, can you continue for a bit longer?" the little girl tugged at Zhong Wen's sleeve, acting coquettishly.

Although Liu Qiqi didn't say anything, her eyes revealed a hint of anticipation.

"This story is quite long, and it'll take many days to finish. We can't let it interfere with your cultivation. Otherwise, when your master returns, she'll kick me out, and you won't get to hear the ending," Zhong Wen explained with a smile as he gently patted Lin Xiaodie's head.

"Oh, alright," the little girl said with a start when she heard that Zhong Wen might be asked to leave. She didn't want to pester him anymore. "But you must continue tomorrow!"

"It's a promise," Zhong Wen softly touched Lin Xiaodie's head again.

"What's the name of this story?" Liu Qiqi suddenly asked.

"Journey to the West!" As Zhong Wen spoke the three words, he suddenly felt a profound nostalgia for the world he had lived in before.

Reluctantly, Liu Qiqi left Zhong Wen's room, thinking about what excuse she could come up with to listen to the story again tomorrow.

"Second Miss, Second Miss!" As she walked to the door, Liu Qiqi encountered Mrs. Wang, who was rushing over.

Zhong Wen was half a head taller than Liu Qiqi, and he could see Mrs. Wang's appearance beyond her. The widow standing the room looked nothing like a typical countrywoman in his expectations. She had fair skin, and delicate features, and although she was middle-aged, she still exuded charm. Her figure was curvaceous, showcasing the allure characteristic of mature women.

Damn, even the maid who sweeps and cooks looks this good!

This further reinforced Zhong Wen's judgment of the Drifting Petal Palace's leader.

She's a beauty enthusiast!

"What's going on, Mrs. Wang?" Liu Qiqi asked with concern.

"Mr. Jin's people have come to collect the debt again. They're still refusing to leave the front hall," Mrs. Wang appeared anxious.

Liu Qiqi's expression changed, "I'll go take a look."

The two of them hurriedly left, leaving behind a worried little girl.

"Who is Mr. Jin?" Zhong Wen asked curiously.

"He's a big bad guy," the little girl pouted, clearly disliking the name.

Zhong Wen wasn't surprised. In any novel, antagonists were inevitable. Despite his curiosity, Zhong Wen firmly maintained his clear position regarding his identity. He wasn't even a guest here, so he had no reason to get involved in the affairs of the Drifting Petal Palace. Any trouble would be handled by Lin Xiaodie's beauty enthusiast master when she returned.

Learning to survive in this world was currently Zhong Wen's top priority.

"I've been cooped up inside for the past few days, feeling stifled. Can I go outside for a walk?" Zhong Wen asked.

"Sure, the scenery here is beautiful. I'll take you around," Lin Xiaodie replied, her tone tinged with a hint of pride.

Zhong Wen followed the bouncing Lin Xiaodie out of the room and into the courtyard. He immediately felt the difference in the fresh outdoor air, taking a deep breath and feeling refreshed, like a glass of cool water on a hot summer day. The negative ion content here far exceeded that of Qingcheng Mountain in his previous life.

If he could live here permanently, Zhong Wen believed he could live to be over a hundred years old.

Once they stepped out of the courtyard, Zhong Wen saw a plaque hanging above the gate with three golden words inscribed on it. As a non-literate person, he couldn't recognize the characters, but he could guess that they meant "Drifting Petal Palace."

In front of him stretched a forest, but Zhong Wen didn't head straight into it. Instead, he followed Lin Xiaodie around the buildings of the Drifting Petal Palace, slowly strolling and admiring the beautiful scenery of the mountain.

Soon, they arrived at a vast field where various plants unfamiliar to Zhong Wen were growing in different sections. Under the cover of mist in the mountains, these plants seemed to thrive.

"This is the Third Senior Sister's medicinal field. She grows the herbs for alchemy here," Lin Xiaodie explained as she held onto Zhong Wen's sleeve while walking.

In Zhong Wen's mind, he could picture the beautiful and serene girl tending to the plants in the field, and the scene felt harmonious.

After a while, the two arrived at a small gate behind the Drifting Petal Palace. Although Zhong Wen's current body was young, he had recently recovered from a serious illness, and he suggested returning due to tiredness.

Once they entered the small gate and walked only a few steps, they came upon a unique small building that seemed somewhat out of place in style compared to the rest of the structures. Zhong Wen still couldn't read the characters on the plaque.

"What is this place?" Zhong Wen casually asked.

"This is the library," Lin Xiaodie replied promptly. "Would you like to go in?"

"Is that allowed?" Zhong Wen was somewhat surprised. "A library is usually a sacred place for every sect. Can outsiders enter freely?"

"Others can't, but you're fine," Lin Xiaodie said with a cheeky smile. "After all, you can't read."

Zhong Wen chuckled, "You make such a good point..."

Zhong Wen was quite curious about the "library" and didn't want to be too pretentious. So he followed Lin Xiaodie inside.

The interior of the building was filled with bookshelves on all sides, sparsely populated with thread-bound books of various categories. With just a glance, Zhong Wen estimated that the total number of books in the entire building was less than that of a newspaper stand on the street in his previous life.

"Over here are cultivation techniques, over there are spiritual arts, and in that corner are books on herbology..." Lin Xiaodie walked and talked, quickly leading Zhong Wen to a bookshelf. "This shelf contains novels, miscellaneous records, and local chronicles. I usually come here to read novels after my cultivation."

Zhong Wen's eyes swept across row after row of books, but he quickly lost interest. It was clear he couldn't understand any of them.

Feeling a bit frustrated, he suddenly noticed a lonely three-tiered bookshelf in a corner. The shelves were empty except for two books placed in the corner of the middle tier, and there was a label above the shelf... that he couldn't understand.

"Why is that bookshelf so far away?" Zhong Wen pointed to the lonely bookshelf in the corner, feeling a strange kinship with it as he wandered through this unfamiliar world.

"That's where books written in ancient divine scripts are kept. I can't read them either," Lin Xiaodie said, uninterested.

"Ancient divine scripts?" Zhong Wen heard another new term.

"Yes, according to what my master said, the cultivation world in ancient times was incredibly powerful. There were golden-tier cultivation techniques and spiritual arts everywhere, and even higher-tier ones were not uncommon. Cultivators from that era could easily shatter a mountain with a single punch." Lin Xiaodie couldn't help but be fascinated when she mentioned the cultivators of ancient times.

Zhong Wen: "What happened next?"

Lin Xiaodie: "Later, for some unknown reason, the ancient civilization disappeared. Occasionally, people find some ancient texts, but they are all written in the ancient divine script. Except for the Sacred Lands, no one recognizes this script."

"Sacred Lands?" Zhong Wen heard another new term.

"My master said that more than two hundred years ago, there were many ancient relics and texts that appeared in the world. Many people began to study the ancient divine script in an attempt to decipher the contents of these texts. Eventually, more and more people joined the research, and they managed to decipher a part of the content, learning about the techniques and knowledge from ancient times. The organization formed by these people is known as the Sacred Lands."

"Where are the Sacred Lands?" Zhong Wen inquired.

"There are a total of seven Sacred Lands in the world, but the Great Qian Empire has only one."

Lin Xiaodie didn't seem particularly interested in this topic. After explaining, she picked up a novel from the bookshelf and began reading, engrossed in her world.

Zhong Wen didn't disturb her either. He wandered to the corner bookshelf and reached for one of the books written in the "ancient divine script."

Is this an ancient divine script?

As he saw the cover of the book, Zhong Wen felt waves of shock in his heart, and his hands trembled slightly. It was because the words on the book cover were Chinese characters.

Record of the Valley of the Medicine King!

Zhong Wen closed his eyes for a moment, trying to regain his composure. He was about to open his eyes again to confirm if he was seeing things when he suddenly had a vision in his mind of the Xinhua Scripture Repository.

Below the massive bookshelf in his mind, where the five characters "Xinhua Scripture Repository" were originally written, there appeared a line of small text: "Discovery of 'Miscellaneous Studies' book Record of the Valley of the Medicine King add to the collection? Yes/No."

When he opened his eyes, the five clear Chinese characters on the book cover met his gaze once again.

Why are there Chinese characters in this world?

Zhong Wen was filled with countless questions.

Could it be that this is still Earth?

After thinking for a while and not finding any clues, Zhong Wen closed his eyes again, and once more, the same line of text appeared in his mind: "Discovery of 'Miscellaneous Studies' book Record of the Valley of the Medicine King add to the collection? Yes/No."

"Yes!" Zhong Wen silently declared in his mind.

With Zhong Wen's intention, a book titled Record of the Valley of the Medicine King appeared in the "Miscellaneous Studies" section of the mental bookshelf. It finally showed some peculiar features, adding a hint of excitement to Zhong Wen's otherwise dull and hopeless life. He put down the Record of the Valley of the Medicine King and picked up another book written in the "ancient divine script" from the nearby shelf. This book was thick, with hundreds of pages, and had four large words on the cover, making him instantly excited.

The One Yang Finger!

Although he didn't know if it was related to the martial arts skills of Dali's Duan family in Jin Yong's novels, Zhong Wen could at least tell that this was a spiritual technique. It was his first real encounter with the world of cultivators in this world.

"Discovery of 'Spiritual Technique' book The One Yang Finger add to the collection? Yes/No."

Zhong Wen gently turned the pages of The One Yang Finger and rows of familiar Chinese characters appeared before him, filling him with an inexplicable emotion.

"Add to collection!" he thought to himself. To his astonishment, this book The One Yang Finger appeared in the "Spiritual Technique" section of the "Xinhua Scripture Repository" bookshelf, under the "Diamond Grade."

Bronze, silver... diamond. Zhong Wen counted on his fingers.

It seems... pretty advanced! Although he didn't have much knowledge of the cultivation techniques and spiritual arts in this world, based on the classification system of this bookshelf, Zhong Wen guessed that The One Yang Finger should be quite powerful.

He impatiently immersed his consciousness in the mental bookshelf and began reading The One Yang Finger. Countless words flowed before his eyes and swiftly entered his memory.

In just a few seconds, when he opened his eyes again, the entire book of The One Yang Finger spanning hundreds of pages, had been firmly imprinted in his brain. Every line and every word was etched in his memory as if he had read this book thousands of times. The method of using The One Yang Finger, a spiritual technique, was now completely mastered by him.

It felt as if he had opened the door to a whole new world. Zhong Wen was filled with excitement and extended a finger, pointing it forward.

However, nothing happened.

The imagined stylish "biu biu biu" didn't occur.

It was then that he realized he was not a practitioner, and there was not a trace of spiritual energy within him.

Well, this is embarrassing~