Grand Hall of Scrolls and Slips

Scripture Pavilion of Ancient Script Mountain.

It was a huge library, spread across multiple levels like a grand hall filled with bookshelves.

In the middle, there was a circular area.

The library had many floors, each connected by curved, fancy bridges or walkways that went over the open central space. Large, glowing spherical lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting light. The walls were lined with tall bookshelves packed with bamboo scrolls.

It was clearly a place meant for learning and deep study.

Liu Ming placed his hands on his waist, gazing up and around the grand hall filled with bamboo scrolls and jade slips. "Wow, this place is huge. I don't recall Grandfather ever bringing me here," he remarked, imagining how much he would have enjoyed it as a child.

Humming thoughtfully, Su Yan responded, "It's likely you've never been here. Sect Father always stayed within the Sacred Cloud Hidden Realm, where the most profound powers of the Sacred Cloud School are stored. He probably had his own library there for easy access."

This would also explain why most of her senior sisters hadn't seen Liu Ming.

Liu Ming nodded. He didn't entirely agree with Su Yan, but he didn't feel the need to delve deeper into the topic. "That's a plausible guess," he said.

Su Yan then pointed to the interconnected walkways.

"If the Patriarch wishes, he may explore the bookshelves and see if any techniques catch his interest."

Placing a hand on his chin, Liu Ming surveyed the grand hall from the lowest section to the highest, accessible only via ornate wooden walkways crisscrossing the area. With a powerful jump, he soared past three walkways and landed on the fourth level of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Hrmm, where to start…" he pondered aloud as he looked around.

From her spot below, Su Yan suddenly grew concerned.

"P-, Patriarch, please be careful up there. These walkways haven't been inspected in a long time; they could collapse if you're not careful!"

Despite her worry, her voice remained soft and soothing.

Liu Ming glanced down and gave her a small wave. "You don't have to worry about me, Yan'er…"

"Hm?" Su Yan uttered, a little surprised.

Liu Ming had unintentionally called her something unfamiliar, and he realized his slip-up. "S-, sorry… that was rude of me, wasn't it?" he nervously scratched the back of his head. "Is it okay if I call you that?"

Su Yan stood in silence, her face mostly expressionless, making it hard for Liu Ming to gauge her reaction. She looked back up at him and replied, "You can call me whatever you wish, Patriarch," her voice clear enough for him to hear from above.

Liu Ming smiled, "Good to hear that, Yan Mei."

A faint smile briefly appeared on Su Yan's lips before disappearing.

She nodded subtly, her eyes calm and distant.

"If that is what my lord wishes to call me."

Despite Su Yan's aloof demeanor, Liu Ming felt his words had an effect on her. He noticed her grip on the hilt of her sword loosen slightly and a subtle change in her expression.

"Alright then, Yan Mei."

Hearing him use the name again, Su Yan covered her mouth and cleared her throat loudly, "Ahem! I will explain how the jade slips and bamboo scrolls are arranged, my lord."

"Okay." Liu Ming nodded, refocusing on the bookshelves as he waited for her explanation.

According to Su Yan:

"In the cultivation world, cultivators learn techniques primarily through jade slips or bamboo scrolls. Jade slips are of higher rank compared to bamboo scrolls, but both hold significant value. Jade slips impart advanced and profound techniques, along with secrets and important scriptures. Bamboo scrolls, on the other hand, contain commonly known techniques that even Outer Sect disciples can easily access."

Saying all that brought back memories flooding for Su Yan, memories as fresh as the peaches in an Immortal's garden.

Back when she was an Outer Sect disciple, whenever she wanted to learn a new technique and get ahead of her senior or junior sisters, she would fly straight to the Scripture Pavilion.

On her way, she'd see other Outer Sect disciples hustling to learn something new or being taught by Inner Sect and Core disciples. They usually ignored her since her cultivation was only at Late Grotto Spirit.

Seeing so many disciples ahead of her always pushed her to strive to be her best.

'I miss how lively the Scripture Pavilion used to be… when we got too noisy, the Scripture Pavilion Elder would get angry and sometimes even hit us with his cane.'

She smiled and tears welled up without her realizing it.

A tear rolled down her cheek, snapping her out of her reverie with a gasp.

Meanwhile, Liu Ming on the fourth floor was engrossed in searching through numerous jade slips and bamboo scrolls.

Suddenly, he paused and shouted, "Yan Mei! How many should I take with me for now?!" He was too absorbed in reading to notice Su Yan wiping her tears and composing herself before answering.

"Um, take as many as you can learn, my lord," she replied calmly and audibly.

Nodding seriously, Liu Ming jumped even higher, skipping past several walkways until he reached the ninth level of the grand hall.

There, he found high-ranking bamboo scrolls detailing various magical techniques like the Dragonwater Spirit Art and the Nine Heavens Cloud Walk.

"Oooo~" he exclaimed with growing interest.

After some time, Liu Ming stumbled upon a bamboo scroll detailing the Sacred Qi Sword Formation Art. The text and illustrations clearly indicated it was tailored for cultivators at the Refined Spirit Stage, the core technique of Sword Cloud Peak.

"Mmm, this looks good!"

He eagerly snatched it up and continued his exploration.

As hours passed, Liu Ming had already perused more than half of the ninth floor. By now, Su Yan must've been weary from waiting for him.

'These should be enough…' Liu Ming thought, reviewing his picks.

Besides the bamboo slip on the Sacred Qi Sword Formation Art he had picked earlier, he also carried two more bamboo slips teaching the Nine Heavens Cloud Walk and the Golden Bell Shield. The final choice was a jade slip, the most intriguing of all because it required a specific lineage to learn.

His eyes sparkled like stars as he examined the jade slip.

"Sealing Sword of the Sacred Cloud Mountain!"

It was a powerful Daoist magic reserved for those at the Core Spirit Stage, and only those of the Sacred-Emperor bloodline could master it.

Sacred-Emperor was a True Celestial from the Eternal Lands who had passed on his lineage through three families in the Lower Regions, one of which was the Liu family!

Discovering a technique meant only for his bloodline felt like fate had a hand in it.

Laughing like a child after experiencing their first kiss, he held the jade slip apart from his three bamboo scrolls and descended the stairs joyfully.

Back on the first level of the grand hall, Su Yan sat in a chair she had cleaned, patiently waiting for Liu Ming. She harbored no resentment over the time spent in the Scripture Pavilion; she understood completely, having done the same during her younger days. For months, no one would see her because of her deep love for bamboo scrolls and jade slips.

"Sorry for the wait, Yan Mei," Liu Ming called out to her from across the hall.

Su Yan gracefully stood up. "It's fine, my lord. I'm glad you found something you'd like to learn."

━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━

As they exited the Scripture Pavilion, Su Yan took a moment to review the selections her patriarch had made. "Hrmm…" she murmured, focusing on the last item, which happened to be the only jade slip in Liu Ming's collection.

Liu Ming's eyes widened with curiosity. "Is there something wrong with that one? I should have the Sacred-Emperor bloodline, right?" He seemed confident in his lineage.

After considering for a moment, Su Yan replied, "Your previous choices were excellent, especially the Sacred Qi Sword Formation Art. It's a foundational cultivation art that enhances a cultivator's control over sacred Qi naturally. However, the sealing technique in that jade slip might not be ideal for you right now, especially since you're still at the Heavenly Grotto-Spirit Stage."

Liu Ming fell silent upon hearing her assessment.

"We could go back and choose another one," Su Yan suggested. She didn't mind even if it meant staying late; the patriarch's decisions were top priority.

Liu Ming waved dismissively and smiled, "No need. I have my reasons for picking that one, so don't worry about it."

Su Yan didn't press further. "If you say so, Lord Liu."

As they walked towards Liu Ming's temporary courtyard residence, they discussed the unsealing of the Sacred Hall so Liu Ming could relocate there. It was where the patriarch stayed when not in the Sacred Cloud Hidden Realm.

"Oh, my lord?" Su Yan spoke up as they walked.

"Yes?" Liu Ming responded.

"Would you like something to eat tonight?" Su Yan asked.

"Hmm, you're offering to cook for me?" Liu Ming teased, pointing at himself.

Su Yan shook her head gently. "No. But Junior Sister Meixiang can prepare some sweets for you if you'd like."

"Sweets at night? Hmm, maybe tomorrow morning then."

"That works. I'll let her know."

With that settled, the two continued on their way, disappearing into the horizon.