Shushan's Scripture Pavilion

"So it's Elder Lu of Azure Cloud Peak."

"Congratulations on entering the Dao Palace Realm, Elder Lu. According to the Scripture Repository's rules, disciples below the Qi Condensation Realm may go no farther than the first floor, Golden Core Realm disciples may go no farther than the second, and Nascent Soul Realm elders may go no farther than the third. Elder Lu, however, may ascend to the fourth floor."

The Shushan disciples guarding the Scripture Repository were filled with reverence at the arrival of Lu Changsheng, who carried himself with the bearing of an immortal and the Dao Bone.

Dao Palace Realm elders were the pillars of Shushan.

Lu Changsheng had revealed his Dao Palace Realm cultivation when he encountered the Reincarnation Hall in Desolate Province, so he no longer concealed the fact that he had entered the realm.

However, Lu Changsheng could enter the Dao Palace Realm Second Layer at any time. Even if outsiders knew he was at the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer, his strength would not be fully exposed.

"Take me to the second floor."

"The second floor?"

The disciples were all astonished.

The first floor of the Scripture Repository held yellow-rank cultivation methods and ordinary texts.

The second and third floors held Mystic Stage cultivation methods and special texts recording strange tales and unusual events.

The fourth floor held Earth Stage cultivation methods and some of Shushan's secrets.

Only the sect master and a few old monsters knew what was on the fifth floor.

Since Lu Changsheng had entered the Dao Palace Realm, why would he choose to visit the second floor?

"I want to exchange contribution points for a few cultivation methods for my disciple."

"I see."

"To have the good fortune to become Elder Lu's disciple is an immortal blessing earned over three lifetimes."

The disciples understood at once, and envy followed.

Lu Changsheng was willing to spend his own sect contribution points to exchange for cultivation methods suited to his disciple. There was nothing more one could ask of such a master.

Lu Changsheng arrived on the second floor, where quite a few Golden Core Realm Shushan disciples were looking for cultivation methods.

Shushan disciples and elders could earn contribution points by completing sect missions, slaying demons, and saving the dying and tending the wounded. They could then exchange those points for cultivation methods at the Scripture Repository.

Any disciple who contributed would be rewarded.

The Scripture Repository also held all kinds of texts.

Reading ordinary texts cost no contribution points.

Some texts recording strange tales, unusual events, and Shushan's secrets required contribution points.

Besides cultivation, experience and knowledge were important too.

Knowledge was power.

"This is the very book I'm looking for!"

On a bookshelf on the second floor, Lu Changsheng found a special text titled Record of Special Physiques Through the Ages.

The book was exceedingly thick. It recorded the special physiques that generations of Shushan's sect masters, elders, and disciples had encountered over hundreds of thousands of years, along with their known mysteries.

Reading it cost 2,000 contribution points.

Lu Changsheng spent 2,000 Shushan contribution points and began reading, committing the records of the various special physiques to memory. He might encounter geniuses with these physiques someday.

[Myriad Desolations Indestructible Body, appearances: once, possessor: Li Changye, sect: Shushan, special traits: none recorded.]

Lu Changsheng saw his eldest senior brother Li Changye's special physique, but it had only a single, simple line of text.

Come to think of it, Eldest Senior Brother is a candidate for the next sect master. The special traits of his Myriad Desolations Indestructible Body couldn't possibly be in this book, or the Demon Sects could easily study them and devise countermeasures.

Lu Changsheng continued turning the pages.

[Spirit Sword Body, appearances: ten, possessors: True Person Tai Ling (Shushan), Qingxia Immortal Maiden (Ask Immortal Pavilion), ..., Elder Jingyu (Shushan), Xiao Xiangdao (Shushan), special traits: first seen in Shushan's seventh sect master, True Person Tai Ling. Those with this physique have an exceptionally high aptitude for the sword Dao. Barring unforeseen circumstances, their cultivation can reach at least the Dao Palace Realm. Of the ten Spirit Sword Bodies, half reached the Void Refinement Realm. As for its upper limit, that is unknown.]

Lu Changsheng saw the name of Xiao Xiangdao, the disciple his eldest senior brother Li Changye had taken in, along with the basic record of the Spirit Sword Body.

According to this Shushan text, the Spirit Sword Body had appeared ten times over the past several hundred thousand years!

True Person Tai Ling, Shushan's seventh sect master, was one of those who had possessed a Spirit Sword Body.

Eldest Senior Brother's Myriad Desolations Indestructible Body is recorded only once in this book, while the Spirit Sword Body has appeared ten times. It seems the Myriad Desolations Indestructible Body is the more formidable physique.

There's no record at all of the Spirit Wa Saint Body possessed by Xia Ningxue, the Ask Immortal Pavilion's saintess whom I met on my trip to Desolate Province.

Lu Changsheng read through the entire book without finding a single word about the Spirit Wa Saint Body.

Found it. The Martial King Divine Physique.

Near the back of the book, Lu Changsheng found a record concerning his young disciple's special physique.

[Martial King Divine Physique, appearances: once, possessor: Huang (a member of the Wilderness Tribe whose name was unknown, thus named "Huang"), special traits: one hundred thousand years ago, Shushan's twenty-first sect master, Tai Xu True Person, encountered a Wilderness Tribe expert in Desolate Province. The expert killed a Void Refinement Realm flood dragon with a stone spear. According to the sect master, the Martial King Divine Physique came from the Wilderness Tribe of High Antiquity and could attain the Dao through body refining. Its potential was limitless. Regrettably, the sect master never encountered this Wilderness Tribe expert again, and the records of the Martial King Divine Physique are limited to this.]

One hundred thousand years ago, the Wilderness Tribe also had someone with a Martial King Divine Physique? It seems this special physique is unique to the Wilderness Tribe.

Lu Changsheng closed Record of Special Physiques Through the Ages. There were far too few records of the Martial King Divine Physique. Even the Wilderness Tribe expert who had once possessed it had left no name behind and had simply been called "Huang."

For all I know, this young disciple of mine is a descendant of the Wilderness Tribe expert called "Huang."

Lu Changsheng returned Record of Special Physiques Through the Ages to the bookshelf, then began looking for cultivation methods and body refining methods suited to his young disciple.

Myriad Forms Body Refining Method, a high-grade Mystic Stage body refining method. It has ten levels, and cultivating it to the tenth grants the strength of myriad forms. Suitable for Qi Condensation Realm and Golden Core Realm disciples. Costs 3,000 contribution points.

Purple Flame Primordial Chaos Art, a mid-grade Mystic Stage cultivation method. Suitable for disciples with fire Spirit Roots. Costs 1,500 contribution points.

Swift Dragon Break, a mid-grade Mystic Stage spear technique. Suitable for disciples who seek to attain the Dao through martial arts and use a spear as their Law Treasure. Costs 1,500 contribution points.

Lu Changsheng exchanged 6,000 contribution points for the three cultivation methods.

With only 2,000 contribution points left, Lu Changsheng went to the Spirit Artifact Pavilion and exchanged them for an Upper-Grade Spirit Artifact, the Redfire Spear.

Of his 10,000 contribution points, not one remained.

Lu Changsheng returned to his cave abode with the three cultivation methods and the Spirit Artifact.

He could reward his disciples twice a day, and both rewards could go to the same disciple.

In other words, Lu Changsheng would have to give his young disciple the three cultivation methods and the Spirit Artifact over two days.

"Master, I'm here!"

After growing familiar with Azure Cloud Peak, Lian was no longer timid. She skipped into the cave abode and wandered around it curiously, even climbing onto Lu Changsheng's head and tugging at his long black hair.

Lu Changsheng frowned. This disciple might well become a little demon king in the future. Once she achieved Minor Accomplishment of the Martial King Divine Physique, he feared Shushan would be thrown into chaos, with chickens flying and dogs leaping.

He wondered what the sect master would think in the future.

It seemed necessary to simulate this disciple's future life later.

"Today, I will teach you how to temper your body."

Lu Changsheng took out the Myriad Forms Body Refining Method and began training this Wilderness Tribe disciple toward becoming a martial god.