Astonishing the Scripture Pavilion

Liu Yichen's brush moved swiftly across the paper, each stroke precise and deliberate. The characters flowed from his memory onto the page as if summoned by some unseen force. The soft scratching of the brush against the paper echoed through the silent Scripture Pavilion, creating an almost rhythmic melody that captivated everyone present.

"Look at how smoothly he's writing. Does he really remember all of it?" one disciple whispered to another, his voice barely audible.

"Impossible. This is advanced material. No way he could have memorized it," another replied, skepticism lacing his tone.

Elder Lingxu, Ye Bufan, stood frozen, his eyes widening with each passing moment. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at Liu Yichen's work, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"This... this can't be real," Ye Bufan muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper.

The fifteen disciples around him were equally stunned, their jaws hanging open as if they'd seen a ghost. The atmosphere in the pavilion was so tense that even breathing felt like a disturbance. The only sound was the rhythmic scratching of Liu Yichen's brush.

"Maybe he memorized it beforehand?" a faint voice suggested.

"No way. This is the Scripture Pavilion's secret treasure. It's not something you can just memorize," another countered immediately.

By the time Liu Yichen finished his thirtieth page and showed no signs of stopping, a yellow-robed disciple stepped forward, his voice trembling.

"Elder, this... this isn't according to the rules..."

But Ye Bufan raised a hand, silencing him. The disciples exchanged confused glances, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

Half an hour later, Liu Yichen completed his sixtieth page.

Ye Bufan snatched the papers, his hands shaking as he examined them. The disciples crowded around, their eyes glued to the pages, the tension in the air almost palpable.

"Is it really all correct?" someone whispered.

"With the Elder this excited, it must be," another murmured in response.

Liu Yichen, however, acted as if he'd merely completed a mundane task. He set down his brush, flexing his slightly sore wrist, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Ye Bufan's breathing grew rapid as his eyes darted across the pages. His fingers tightened on the edges of the paper, creasing it slightly.

"This... this latter part..." His voice trailed off, leaving everyone in suspense.

The disciples stared at him, their curiosity burning, while Liu Yichen stood calmly, his smile enigmatic.

Suddenly, Ye Bufan clutched the papers to his chest and hurried deeper into the pavilion. The disciples exchanged bewildered looks but dared not speak.

When Ye Bufan returned, he still held the sixty pages tightly. His face was flushed, his breathing uneven, and his eyes shone with an almost manic gleam.

He strode up to Liu Yichen, his voice trembling with excitement. "This... this latter content is unheard of! Profound and unparalleled in its depth!"

The disciples erupted into murmurs.

"What? The latter content? Did he really transcribe the entire Yi Jin Secret Manual?"

"Impossible! The second volume has been lost for centuries. How could he know it?"

"But look at the Elder's reaction. It can't be fake!"

They craned their necks, trying to catch a glimpse of the papers, but Ye Bufan shielded them protectively.

Liu Yichen smiled faintly and bowed. "Elder, you flatter me. I merely remembered some fragments by chance. In truth, I came today to borrow a few martial techniques."

His words stunned everyone.

"Borrow martial techniques?" a green-robed disciple asked, eyeing Liu Yichen suspiciously. "Which peak do you belong to?"

Liu Yichen scratched his head awkwardly. "I... I just arrived today. I haven't even taken the outer disciple test yet."

This revelation caused an uproar.

An uninitiated disciple entering the Scripture Pavilion?

Unprecedented!

The pavilion's rules were strict—only formal disciples could enter and borrow techniques. For an outsider to waltz in was unheard of.

The atmosphere grew even more tense.

Suspicious and envious eyes bore into Liu Yichen, making him squirm uncomfortably.

A short, stocky disciple stepped forward, pointing at Liu Yichen. "Elder, uninitiated disciples aren't allowed to borrow techniques. This is against the sect's rules!"

Liu Yichen's heart sank.

He had hoped to select a few techniques to prepare for the upcoming entrance test and Zhu Xiaotian's challenges. Now, it seemed his plan was crumbling.

A wave of disappointment washed over him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, the pain grounding him.

"I..." Liu Yichen began, but Ye Bufan cut him off.

The Elder took a deep breath, his gaze piercing as he looked at Liu Yichen. "What is your name?"

"Liu Yichen," he replied, his voice steady despite the tension.

Ye Bufan nodded, then addressed the disciples. "From today onward, Liu Yichen is permitted to access the first four floors of the Scripture Pavilion and select three martial techniques for cultivation!"

The pavilion erupted in chaos.

The fifteen disciples stared at Liu Yichen in disbelief, their eyes burning with envy. Some trembled with anger, one even snapping his brush in half as he glared at Liu Yichen, as if he wanted to devour him whole.

Many of them had trained for years as outer disciples without receiving such privileges. Yet this newcomer, this upstart, had been granted unprecedented access.

"Elder, this... this isn't fair!" one disciple protested, his voice thick with bitterness.

But Ye Bufan remained unmoved. He pulled out an exquisite pouch and handed it to Liu Yichen. "Here are five Star Stones. Take them."

Star Stones!

The sect's most valuable currency, imbued with pure stellar energy, immensely beneficial for cultivation. A single Star Stone was enough to drive outer disciples mad with desire, and Liu Yichen had just been given five!

The disciples' eyes nearly popped out of their heads. Envy and resentment surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown them.

Liu Yichen accepted the pouch, feeling the warm, pure energy seep into his palm. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Elder, for your generosity."

Ye Bufan waved him off, signaling for him to proceed.

Liu Yichen made his way to the first floor, where the basic martial techniques for novice disciples were stored. His eyes scanned the shelves, searching for something suitable.

He picked up Nine Waves Palm, a powerful palm technique, but quickly dismissed it. The cultivation requirements were too demanding, and he doubted he could master it in time.

Next was Iron Head Technique, which promised incredible defensive capabilities. But the thought of repeatedly smashing his head against hard objects made him shudder. He wasn't about to turn his skull into a weapon.

Finally, he considered Wind Thunder Slash, a formidable blade technique. However, his lack of proficiency with blades made it an impractical choice.

Frustrated, Liu Yichen ran a hand through his hair. Was there truly nothing here for him?

He slumped to the floor, staring blankly at the rows of books, a sense of helplessness washing over him.

Then it hit him.

His Divine Eye!

If his eyes couldn't discern the best technique, perhaps his unique ability could.

Liu Yichen immediately sat cross-legged, channeling his stellar energy. The air around him grew still, the pavilion's light flickering as if responding to some unseen force.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he struggled to maintain the Divine Eye's activation.

A soft hum filled the air as Liu Yichen's eyes snapped open, two beams of golden light shooting forth, illuminating the entire pavilion.

He rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the shelves.

"Let's see which technique is truly meant for me," he murmured, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

His hand reached out, hovering over an ancient, weathered tome.

"Hmm?"