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墨書 Inktalez
"What about the techniques? The collection of techniques in the Scripture Pavilion is vast; how would I know?" A gatekeeper disciple shrugged, clearly annoyed.
Another disciple chuckled and pointed to a shadowy corner. "Why not ask Elder Qi? He has been stationed here at the Scripture Pavilion for a long time; he might know something."
Only then did Qi Xiao notice an elder in gray robes sitting in the dimly lit corner of the hall. The elder's eyes were cloudy, and his face was lined with wrinkles, resembling an ordinary old man from the mortal realm. However, one could not underestimate any elder in the Scripture Pavilion of the Carefree Sect, regardless of how ordinary they appeared.
Qi Xiao clasped his hands in respect and asked politely, "Elder Qi, I have something I wish to inquire about."
"I found a fragmentary book upstairs that seems to have a continuation. I would like to know if Elder Qi has any information regarding it."
Elder Qi yawned slowly, took the book from Qi Xiao's hands, flipped through a couple of pages casually, and then tossed it aside. "Just some worthless techniques written by nameless cultivators. You find this interesting?"
Qi Xiao frowned in dissatisfaction. "Elder, although this technique is incomplete and its author is unknown, I believe it is not as simple as it appears."
Hearing this, Elder Qi squinted at him for a moment and clicked his tongue in admiration. "Well, you do have some discernment. I've been in the Scripture Pavilion for seventy years, and thirty-one disciples have handled this book. Nineteen of them merely glanced at it before tossing it aside. Only two came to me about it."
"I thought that kid was a genius, but when he brought me the book, he only found it peculiar and asked if there was a continuation. He dismissed the latter part of the technique as worthless, unaware that it was precisely where the true value lay. He lost out on an opportunity without even realizing it—truly laughable."
"Among those thirty-one disciples, you're the only one with such insight."
Qi Xiao felt a surge of joy and suppressed his excitement, bowing even lower. "I humbly request your guidance, Elder. Please tell me where I might find the continuation."
Elder Qi stroked his beard and sighed leisurely. "As for that... I don't know either."
"Ah???"
Elder Qi glanced at him as if he were looking at a fool. "If this technique had both a beginning and an end, do you think you little disciples would be able to pick and choose? If there were truly a continuation here, this technique would have been safeguarded long ago."
Qi Xiao understood that what he said made sense but couldn't help feeling disappointed. It seemed that today he had come away empty-handed after all.
Elder Qi did not think so. He leaned in closer and whispered, "There’s none here, but who knows about other places? You have a connection with it; today you encountered the first volume, perhaps one day you'll come across the second volume."
Qi Xiao glanced at him warily, feeling that the elder's advice was too obvious.
Elder Qi chuckled. "Young man, don’t be afraid. My intention in advising you is not sinister; I simply can't bear to see a gem covered in dust. You can tell this cultivation method is extraordinary. If you can practice it, you might achieve something remarkable in the future."
"Since you think it's such a pity, why didn't you cultivate it yourself back then?" Qi Xiao asked.
Elder Qi's eyes darted around as he hesitated for a moment before sighing helplessly. "I just had bad luck! When I came to this Scripture Pavilion years ago, I had a chance for great fortune. You see, with your bright future ahead, how could you bear to abandon the path and gamble on an uncertain future?"
"I admit I'm an old fool without courage. During my years guarding the Scripture Pavilion, I've pondered endlessly but couldn't make up my mind, wasting seventy years."
"But you're different from me; you're still young, and you need this."
Elder Qi glanced meaningfully at Qi Xiao's abdomen. "Young man, your spirit is unsettled, your meridians are blocked, and your foundation is damaged. Isn’t this method like rain on parched land for you?"
Qi Xiao's fist tightened suddenly, his breath becoming slightly erratic. Every word Elder Qi spoke struck deep into his heart; it was precisely because of this that he found it hard to make a decision. He feared that this choice wasn’t his own but rather a result of Elder Qi’s persuasion.
He took the book and hurriedly bowed to Elder Qi, saying he needed to think it over some more.
But Elder Qi watched his retreating figure with a smile, stroking his beard as if he had already foreseen this outcome.
As night fell and the moon hung high in the sky, Qi Xiao sat in the cave but found no peace in his thoughts. The more he pondered, the more chaotic his mind became; he even felt his blood boiling, hinting at a backlash.
Finally unable to resist any longer, he pulled out the book and flipped through the last few pages.
"Fine," he thought. "I'll take this gamble just once."
He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, reversing his spiritual energy to completely disperse his foundation.
Five days later, Lu Yuan borrowed a spirit horse from the Beast Master Hall and quietly made his way to Qingjing Peak, arriving at the entrance of Qi Xiao's cave dwelling.
"Junior Brother Qi, are you there?"
After several days of cultivation, Qi Xiao's strength had weakened slightly, showing signs of damage to his foundation compared to before. Moreover, this particular technique was truly extraordinary; the speed at which spiritual energy circulated was significantly faster than that of the Bi Hai Tidal Technique.
Qi Xiao believed that as long as he persisted and combined his previous training experience, he would soon catch up to his former progress.
Hearing Lu Yuan's call, Qi Xiao got up and opened the cave door.
"Senior Brother Lu, have you come to see me about something?"
Lu Yuan scratched his head and chuckled, "Junior Brother Qi, I have some news to share with you."
"What news?"
"You were injured due to your unstable foundation before, right? This time, the sect is organizing a secret realm expedition for the disciples. I heard that someone found a rare herb called Jade Bone Grass in that secret realm, which is said to be highly effective for stabilizing one's foundation. If you come with me this time, we might just be lucky enough to find one."
Qi Xiao felt a surge of excitement. His foundation was injured; even if he abandoned his path and tried to cultivate again, it would take a considerable amount of time and many spiritual herbs to fully recover. If what Lu Yuan said was true and they could find Jade Bone Grass, it would be a tremendous opportunity.
Seeing him happy, Lu Yuan was also pleased.
"I knew you'd be interested! This time I'm leading the team, and only Foundation Establishment stage disciples are allowed to go. You're the only one from Qingjing Peak at that stage. As long as your master gives the word, this matter will be settled easily."
Qi Xiao nodded but suddenly paused as if recalling something.
"Senior Brother Lu, which secret realm is it this time?"
"The secret realm at Xiaonan Mountain. What's wrong?"
Qi Xiao's mind buzzed; he finally understood why this matter felt so unfamiliar to him. In his past life, he had been injured and rejected by Qingjing Peak, living in gloom and despair. Even when Lu Yuan told him about the possibility of finding Jade Bone Grass, he had no interest.
After all, the effectiveness of Jade Bone Grass was limited; it could only treat certain injuries but could not cure them completely.
So in his past life, he had rejected Lu Yuan's proposal and remained hidden at Qingjing Peak.
That decision had caused him many sleepless nights afterward and led to Lu Yuan's death during that secret realm expedition.
It was said that they encountered a powerful Nascent Soul stage beast. Unable to withstand its might, during a moment of crisis, Lu Yuan had volunteered to stay behind and fought valiantly until his last breath.
The disciples returned to the sect in tears, reporting the incident. The elders of the Xiaoyao Sect were furious and rushed to Xiaonan Mountain, joining forces to hunt down the culprits. However, by the time they arrived, it was too late; all they found was a skeletal frame hanging with remnants of flesh.
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