Chapter 25: A Small Disturbance in the Book Pavilion (Seeking Investment and Followers)

Hong Yuan rested and built up his energy overnight. The next morning, he went to the Book Pavilion.

The high-quality white jade floor gleamed with a gentle light. In the distance, vague palaces seemed to be enshrouded in a faint mist. Overhanging eaves carved from sandalwood featured phoenixes with outstretched wings, ready to take flight, while green-tiled protruding windows were set into jade-stone wall panels.

At the end of a straight road lay a vast square. As the jade stone steps gently descended, a huge altar stood in the center. On it, a straight pillar carved with lifelike dragon patterns echoed the distant phoenixes on the palaces.

"What grandeur, to have such extravagance even for a Book Pavilion," Hong Yuan praised quietly, raising his head before stepping into the Book Pavilion.

As soon as he entered the first floor, Hong Yuan discovered that the atmosphere was just like a library from his previous life: quiet, very quiet. Additionally, the arrangement of the space was also quite interesting. All kinds of Martial Skills were categorized, and there were even special places for transcribing near the windows.

Of course, unlike his previous life, each area here was tended to by assigned disciples. One could only take their desired Martial Skills after submitting Energy Stones. How to determine if it was the Martial Skill one desired? Read the introduction!

The manuals on the first floor of the Book Pavilion were usually first and second-tier common items; true esoteric skills were never placed here.

At a glance, the variety of Martial Skills dazzled the eyes.

"Water Flight, Cloud Vertical Step, Luo Yan Step, Residual Shadow Disease…, Five Tiger Breaking Gate Sword, Mountain Splitting Sword Technique, Heavy River Sword Technique, Eastern Wind Thirteen Swords…, Copper Body Skill, Elephant Skin Skill, Tortoise Shell Skill…."

Just by what Hong Yuan could see, there were over a hundred movement techniques, nearly two hundred Body Refinement and sword techniques, and even an area for skills like breath-hiding techniques.

This luxurious foundation exhilarated Hong Yuan.

It was a pity that these Martial Skills could only be transcribed after payment; otherwise, Hong Yuan would be at the Book Pavilion every day!

Without lingering any longer, Hong Yuan headed straight for the third floor.

Since the staircase to the third floor was in the center of the second floor of the Book Pavilion, Hong Yuan had to enter the second floor first.

The disciples perusing Martial Skills on the second floor were mostly cultivating disciples, with only a few being official disciples.

As Hong Yuan just stepped onto the second floor, the beautiful disciple Liu Xiang'er let out a soft exclamation.

Liu Xiang'er had a profound impression of Hong Yuan.

Back when they were both mundane work disciples, she was like the bright, lofty moon, while Hong Yuan was but a maggot writhing in the mud.

But after the Aperture Opening Event, Hong Yuan had opened a Class A Aperture, instantly becoming a legend among their group of mundane work disciples!

Liu Xiang'er was now the cultivating disciple in charge of the movement technique area on the second floor of the Book Pavilion, responsible for registering which cultivating disciples chose which movement techniques.

In just two more months, she would have saved enough for sixty Energy Stones, enough to exchange for the first three layers of the third-tier Martial Arts Skill "Green Wood Treasure Skill."

Hong Yuan has changed so much. Could he exchange for a third-tier Cultivation Technique so soon? Worthy of being a Class A Aperture genius, he must be exchanging for a complete Cultivation Technique. Liu Xiang'er thought.

If not for those cold eyes, Liu Xiang'er would hardly believe that the once sprout-like Hong Yuan had become as robust as an ox in just two months.

"Xiang'er, what's the matter?" asked Zhao Yi, the scholarly looking youth, with a gentle smile. He was a disciple working with Liu Xiang'er in the movement technique area and had recently been pursuing her intensely.

"No, nothing," Liu Xiang'er replied with a slight shake of her head, but her gaze occasionally followed Hong Yuan.

As Zhao Yi's eyes followed hers, he instantly noticed that Liu Xiang'er was looking at Hong Yuan.

Seeing Hong Yuan's physique, Zhao Yi dismissed him with disdain, "Looking at his build, you can tell he's one of those brute laborers from the Refining Equipment Hall. Those from the Refining Equipment Hall have no prospects; they only earn hard cash. I'm afraid he has Energy Stones but no life to spend them."

"Well, you can't say that," Liu Xiang'er said, chuckling lightly, without saying much more.

Yet, deep down, she too felt that Hong Yuan shouldn't have chosen the Refining Equipment Hall. It was both tiring and hard, and one misstep could indeed lead to having money but no life to spend it.

While the two were chatting, Hong Yuan reached the staircase leading from the second floor to the third floor of the Book Pavilion.

"It can't be real, right!?" Zhao Yi's eyebrows shot up, and his eyes bulged out, all traces of his gentle demeanor gone.

"This..." Liu Xiang'er's mouth hung open slightly, her eyes vacant.

Hong Yuan's destination exceeded their expectations! Up ahead, Hong Yuan took out a crimson Phoenix Feather Token and showed it to the inner gate attendant.

"Senior Brother Attendant, I wish to go to the third floor of the Book Pavilion," Hong Yuan said softly.

The inner gate attendant was drowsy at the registration desk but sprang to alertness upon hearing Hong Yuan's words.

He blinked his bleary eyes, glanced at the crimson Phoenix Feather Token, and reached below the desk to pull out several pieces of drawing paper.

Soon, the inner gate attendant selected one of them and then carefully compared the image on the paper with Hong Yuan.

With one glance, Hong Yuan noticed his own image donned in blue robes projected onto the paper, with tiny written notes below it.

So strict? It seems Master has truly cleared the way for me. Hong Yuan thought, feeling extremely grateful for his master, who always remained hidden like a dragon. He was particularly thankful to his Senior Brother Zhu Wushang, who had always treated him with great kindness.

Given the chance, I will find a way to let Senior Brother Zhu Wushang witness my advancement to Martial Saint, fulfilling Senior Brother Wushang's Martial Saint dream, so he can pass on peacefully. Of course, it would be best to help Senior Brother Wushang fulfill the dream himself. But since I haven't even achieved it myself, I can only focus on sorting out my own affairs for now.

"Hong Yuan, disciple under Elder Lin Daoyan, sixteen years old," the inner gate attendant said, "Give me the Phoenix Feather Token. Although you don't need to copy the fifth-grade Cultivation Techniques, don't overrun your time, or the Guardian Elder will chase you out."

After receiving the Phoenix Feather Token from Hong Yuan, the inner gate attendant cleared the way to the third floor of the Book Pavilion.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother," Hong Yuan said, cupping his fists in thanks.

Hong Yuan then ascended to the third floor under the watchful eyes of the inner gate attendant, Liu Xiang'er, and Zhao Yi.

GULP.

Having witnessed this, Liu Xiang'er and Zhao Yi exchanged looks, then bowed their heads and quietly went back to their tasks.

But Liu Xiang'er still couldn't help herself, occasionally glancing towards the corridor, a myriad of emotions flooding her heart.

So Hong Yuan wasn't exchanging for a third-grade Cultivation Technique; he's getting a fifth-grade Cultivation Technique directly!? Sure enough, a genius is a genius anywhere. What does it matter if it's the Refining Equipment Hall?

Liu Xiang'er recalled the face of Hong Yuan, her eyes shimmering.

She looked at Zhao Yi beside her, scholarly and refined, and for some reason, the usual flutter in her heart was gone.

In the past, Zhao Yi was the perfect partner in my heart—gentle, knowledgeable about the Great Taoism, generous. He always took me to see scenery I had never witnessed on weekends and to travel around the Sect. If I hadn't known that giving myself away too easily would make others look down on me, I would have accepted Zhao Yi's pursuit long ago.

Yet, comparing Zhao Yi with Hong Yuan, I immediately realized what a truly perfect partner was, and I felt incredibly lucky I hadn't given myself to Zhao Yi. Gentleness and broad knowledge? What use were they if I could only ever look at things with him, never truly enjoy them? Energy Stones are the real currency! So what about the Refining Equipment Hall? So what about the Refining Equipment Hall!?

Thinking like this, the scales in Liu Xiang'er's heart steadily tipped in favor of Hong Yuan.

It seems Hong Yuan has more potential for advancement, perhaps...

Liu Xiang'er licked her lips subtly, her beautiful face becoming seductively charming.

Full of allure!