Scripture Repository, Forging Cultivation Methods!

In the deep mountain hollow behind the rear mountain, there was dead silence. Only the whimpering of the wind blowing through the treetops and the faint, nauseating stench of decay emanating from the huge pit could be heard.

Lin Chen stood quietly on the large rock, his eyes closed, carefully sensing the surging, incomparably powerful True Qi flowing within him.

Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer!

This threshold, once like an insurmountable chasm before him, pressing him to the point of suffocation, had finally been forcefully broken through by him in an almost savage manner!

Three years of suppression, three years of despair, three years of unwillingness, at the moment of breakthrough, it was as if a vent had been found, transforming into a surging pride that churned in his chest. He even had the urge to let out a long roar to the heavens, wanting to scatter all the humiliation and mockery he had endured over the past three years with that cry!

But, he ultimately held back.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the desolate mountain hollow, finally landing in the direction of the Lin Family mansion. There resided the clansmen who looked down on him, the enemies who wished him dead, and the high and mighty family elders who disregarded his fate.

Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer was merely a beginning. It would only allow him to barely secure his qualification to remain in the Lin Family during the Family Test seven days later, temporarily warding off the crisis of expulsion or even assassination by Wang Teng.

But this was far from enough!

What he wanted was far more than just barely surviving!

He wanted to stand tall and proud, repaying a hundredfold all the humiliation inflicted upon him! He wanted to crush those who regarded him as an ant and trampled his dignity at will! He wanted to truly control his own destiny, no longer be manipulated by anyone!

And to achieve all this, the cultivation of Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer was still far from sufficient!

Especially after witnessing Wang Teng's Body Tempering Realm Fifth Layer strength and the unfathomable aura of the Lin Family's higher-ups, Lin Chen's desire for strength became even more fervent, like a prairie fire!

"Strength... I need more strength!" Lin Chen muttered to himself, his clenched fists turning white at the knuckles from the force.

The Myriad Dao Furnace could refine medicinal dregs and the essence of demonic beast flesh and blood, providing him with a continuous stream of energy for rapid cultivation. However, having cultivation without powerful techniques and martial skills to support it would only make him a brute with empty strength, unable to unleash his true combat power.

He recalled his brief encounter with Wang Teng during the day. Although he had caught Wang Teng off guard and forced him back, it was more due to the sudden surge in his physical strength and his cunning, ruthless attacks. In a true life-or-death struggle, his current rudimentary fist and foot techniques would likely not last more than a few rounds against Wang Teng's sharp claw techniques, which clearly had been trained in advanced martial skills.

"Techniques! Martial Skills!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. "I need more powerful techniques to improve my cultivation efficiency and more formidable martial skills to enhance my combat ability!"

And within the entire Lin Family, the place richest in techniques and martial skills was undoubtedly the Scripture Repository!

The moment this thought arose, it was like a wildly growing vine, instantly occupying his entire mind!

The Scripture Repository was a vital location for the Lin Family. It housed various cultivation techniques and martial skill manuals collected and created by the Lin Family's ancestors throughout the generations, serving as the foundation for the family's inheritance and development.

Three years ago, when he was still the highly regarded genius, he had the right to enter the first floor of the Scripture Repository and peruse the basic cultivation methods. It was just that at that time, he was arrogant and single-minded, yearning for more profound techniques, and disdained those basic manuals.

And after he became a cripple, the doors of the Scripture Repository were completely closed to him. It became a sacred land he could only gaze at from afar, and an indelible pain in his heart.

But now, it was different!

He had broken through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer! According to the Lin Family's rules, as long as one reached the Body Tempering Realm First Layer, they were eligible to enter the first floor of the Scripture Repository to read basic cultivation techniques and martial skills!

Although with his current awkward status as a "convict" and the deliberate suppression from the Great Elder's faction, he would likely encounter considerable resistance in smoothly entering the Scripture Repository. But no matter what, he had to try!

Perhaps, the key to another leap in his strength lay hidden there!

Moreover...

A meaningful curve appeared at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth. He sank his consciousness into his Dantian, sensing the mysterious Myriad Dao Furnace.

Since the furnace could refine medicinal dregs and the essence of flesh and blood, could it also... refine the manuals containing techniques and martial skills?

Directly melt and absorb the technique information, and even... optimize and deduce it?!

This idea was truly earth-shattering! If it were truly feasible, it would be even more heaven-defying than simply increasing cultivation!

Lin Chen's heart began to beat uncontrollably, his eyes burning with an unprecedented, fervent light!

There was no time to delay!

He stopped lingering and immediately set off, following the rugged mountain path, rapidly returning towards the direction of the Lin Family mansion.

After breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer, his speed and endurance had greatly improved. The mountain path that originally took nearly an hour was completed by him in less than half the time.

When he reappeared in the rear courtyard area of the Lin Family, it was already close to noon.

There were more servants and disciples on the path than in the early morning.

Seeing Lin Chen returning from the direction of the rear mountain, and appearing to be... in much better spirits than when he left in the morning? (Although still in tattered clothes, covered in filth), many people showed expressions of surprise and confusion.

"Huh? Why is this trash back from the rear mountain? Didn't we tell him to deal with the dead pig? He finished so quickly?" "He doesn't look like he did much work either..." "Hmph, he must have gone slacking off! I knew he wouldn't last!" "Truly useless! Just wait until he's kicked out!"

Various discussions arose again, but this time, Lin Chen keenly felt that among these discussions, there seemed to be less pure contempt and more... inexplicable probing?

Clearly, his vow made in the main hall last night, and his earlier act of forcing Wang Teng back, had quietly spread within the Lin Family, causing some ripples. Although the vast majority still didn't think highly of him, even considering him crazy, they had at least placed a small question mark on him.

Lin Chen paid no attention to this, his gaze unwavering, and walked directly towards the direction of the Scripture Repository in his memory.

The Lin Family Scripture Repository was located in the relatively rear central area of the Lin Family mansion, a standalone, three-story ancient pavilion. The pavilion was entirely constructed from hard bluestone and an unknown type of black hardwood, with flying eaves and bracket clusters, exuding a magnificent aura. A circle of lush green pine and cypress trees was planted around it, adding to its solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The pavilion door was tightly shut, with two imposing stone lions standing on either side of the entrance. In front of the door was a spacious bluestone plaza, currently empty, appearing exceptionally quiet.

Unlike the bustling noise of other areas, this place seemed to be its own world, filled with the scholarly atmosphere of accumulated years and a faint pressure.

Lin Chen stood at the edge of the plaza, gazing at the pavilion, which was both familiar and unfamiliar, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Three years ago, he had stepped in here with longing and pride.

Three years later, he had to knock on its door again as a "waste" and a "convict."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and strode onto the bluestone plaza, walking towards the heavy black wooden door.

Just as he was still more than ten steps away from the door, an old voice, tinged with a hint of laziness, suddenly sounded from the shadows beside the door:

"Halt, whoever approaches!"

Lin Chen's footsteps paused, and he looked towards the source of the voice.

From the shadows beside the main gate, he saw an old, worn armchair. Seated in it was an elder with white hair and beard, clad in a grey robe. The elder appeared to be at least seventy or eighty years old, his face etched with wrinkles. His eyes were half-closed, and he held a purple clay teapot, leisurely sipping his tea as if he had been waiting there for a long time.

Lin Chen recognized the elder. He was the guardian of the Scripture Repository, Elder Qiu. It was said he had been with the Lin Family for decades, possessed extremely high seniority, and his strength was unfathomable. However, he was known for his eccentric personality, and apart from guarding the Scripture Repository, he rarely involved himself in any family affairs.

"Disciple Lin Chen pays his respects to Elder Qiu," Lin Chen said, quickly bowing without daring to be negligent. Elder Qiu's strength was likely even greater than the Patriarch Lin Xiaotian's, and he was someone Lin Chen absolutely could not afford to offend at this moment.

Elder Qiu lifted his eyelids, his cloudy old eyes slowly sweeping over Lin Chen. When he saw Lin Chen's slightly pale yet exceptionally calm face, a flicker of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes before returning to a state of tranquil stillness.

"Lin Chen?" Elder Qiu put down his teapot and said slowly, "I remember you. The little fellow with blocked meridians from three years ago?"

His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell if it was mockery or a simple statement.

"It is this disciple," Lin Chen replied respectfully.

"What are you doing here?" Elder Qiu asked. "The Scripture Repository is a restricted area, not just anyone can enter freely. Especially you... I heard you're in quite a bit of trouble lately."

Clearly, even the reclusive Elder Qiu had heard about what happened last night.

Lin Chen's heart tensed, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived. He raised his head, meeting Elder Qiu's gaze, which, though seemingly cloudy, felt as if it could penetrate one's very soul. He spoke neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "Reporting to Elder Qiu, this disciple has now fortunately broken through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer. According to family rules, I should be qualified to enter the first floor of the Scripture Repository and peruse basic cultivation techniques and martial skills."

As he spoke, he circulated the True Qi within his body, and an aura fluctuation belonging to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer clearly emanated from him.

"Oh?" A flicker of surprise flashed in Elder Qiu's eyes again. This time, the astonishment was noticeably more intense than before. He scrutinized Lin Chen for several moments, as if trying to see through him.

A young man, declared a "crippled meridians" and unable to cultivate for three years, had actually broken through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer in such a short time? This was indeed somewhat beyond his expectations.

After a moment of silence, Elder Qiu slowly nodded, "Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer... that's barely enough qualification."

He paused, then added, "However, rules are rules. The first floor of the Scripture Repository is accessible to outer disciples and disciples of the Body Tempering Realm First to Third Layers for perusal. Each entry requires a payment of ten Low-grade Spirit Stones, or one hundred Family Contribution Points. The perusal time shall not exceed one hour. No loud noises, and no damage to the texts. Can you abide by these?"

Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones! Or one hundred Family Contribution Points!

Lin Chen's heart sank.

Spirit Stones were the common currency of cultivation on the Xuanhuang Continent, containing pure Spiritual Qi from heaven and earth. Although Low-grade Spirit Stones were the lowest tier, they were still a considerable sum for ordinary Lin Family disciples. As for Family Contribution Points, they could only be obtained by completing various family tasks.

For the past three years, he had been treated as trash, and his monthly allowance from the family had been completely withheld. He couldn't even produce a single piece of silver, let alone ten Low-grade Spirit Stones! His Contribution Points were zero!

This seemingly fair rule was, to him, an insurmountable threshold!

Could it be... after finally making his way here, he would be turned away because of a mere ten Spirit Stones?

Lin Chen's expression instantly turned somewhat grim.

Elder Qiu saw Lin Chen's predicament, and a hint of an unreadable emotion flickered in his cloudy old eyes. He didn't speak, merely picked up his teapot and took another slow sip, as if waiting for Lin Chen's reaction.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

I can't give up! I absolutely cannot give up here!

His mind raced, searching for a solution. Charging in was out of the question, and confronting Elder Qiu directly would be suicidal. Begging for mercy? Given Elder Qiu's personality, he probably wouldn't pay any mind.

What should I do?

Just as he was filled with anxiety, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning!

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Elder Qiu, saying in a deep voice, "Elder Qiu! This disciple truly has no Spirit Stones or Contribution Points on him. However, this disciple is willing to offer his labor in exchange! I am willing to clean the Scripture Repository, organize the texts, and do any menial tasks! I only ask for one opportunity to enter and peruse!"

"Offer his labor in exchange?"

Elder Qiu put down his teapot and looked at Lin Chen again, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Oh? Cleaning? Organizing texts? Do you know how many texts are in the Scripture Repository? The first floor alone has tens of thousands of scrolls! Organizing them is no easy task."

"This disciple is not afraid of hard work!" Lin Chen said decisively, his tone filled with determination. "As long as I am allowed to enter the Scripture Repository, this disciple is willing to pay any price!"

His eyes were so earnest, so full of longing, as if the Scripture Repository held the only straw that could save his destiny!

Elder Qiu stared at Lin Chen for a long time. Deep within his cloudy old eyes, a trace of approval seemed to flash, and perhaps a hint of emotion.

He remained silent for a long while, so long that Lin Chen's heart was about to leap into his throat, before he finally spoke slowly:

"Very well." Elder Qiu sighed and waved his hand. "Seeing as you still have some backbone, and you have indeed reached the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer, I will make an exception today."

"Thank you, Elder Qiu!" Lin Chen was overjoyed and quickly bowed in gratitude.

"Don't thank me just yet," Elder Qiu interrupted him and said slowly. "I can let you in. However, the rules cannot be entirely broken. You have no Spirit Stones, so you will use your labor to compensate. You are responsible for sweeping the fallen leaves in the front courtyard of the Scripture Repository. When you are finished, you may enter."

The bluestone plaza in front of the Scripture Repository was extremely vast. Although the pine and cypress trees planted there didn't shed leaves often, the area was huge. Thoroughly cleaning it would require considerable time and effort.

This was clearly Elder Qiu's small test for him.

"Yes! This disciple obeys!" Lin Chen accepted without any hesitation.

Compared to the immense opportunity of entering the Scripture Repository, what was sweeping the courtyard?

He immediately went to the edge of the plaza, found the broom and dustpan placed against the wall, and began to sweep diligently.

He swept meticulously and earnestly, without any hint of perfunctoriness. Every fallen leaf, every speck of dust, was cleaned away.

Elder Qiu remained reclined in his armchair, his eyes half-closed. He occasionally glanced at Lin Chen's busy figure, a flicker of imperceptible satisfaction in his eyes.

This young fellow, despite his difficult fate, has a good disposition. Unperturbed by fortune or misfortune, clear in his goals, adaptable, and willing to put in hard work. Perhaps... he can truly create a miracle?

Time passed bit by bit, and the sun gradually began to set.

Finally, after nearly two hours of strenuous labor, Lin Chen had the vast bluestone plaza sparkling clean, almost spotless.

He walked up to Elder Qiu and said respectfully, "Elder Qiu, your disciple has finished cleaning."

Elder Qiu slowly opened his eyes and nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, not bad, it's quite clean."

He stood up and walked to the heavy black wooden door, reaching out to gently press it.

"Creak—"

With a dull sound, the dusty door slowly opened inward, revealing the deep world behind it, filled with the scent of books.

"Go in," Elder Qiu said faintly, stepping aside. "Remember, you only have one hour. No loud noises, no damaging the scriptures. The first floor is the outer area. Make of it what you will."

"Thank you, Elder Qiu!" Lin Chen was excited and bowed deeply again before stepping without hesitation into the Scripture Repository he had longed for for three years!

As soon as he entered, a rich aroma, a mixture of aged paper, ink, and a faint scent of sandalwood, hit him, calming his mind.

The light inside was dim, with only a few high windows letting in some daylight. What greeted his eyes were rows upon rows of giant bookshelves, several feet tall, made of the same black hardwood. They were densely packed with scriptures of various materials—yellowed ancient books, green bamboo slips, beast hide scrolls, and even some peculiar jade inscriptions.

Vast as a sea of smoke!

Even though Lin Chen had been mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the magnificent sight!

This was the Lin Family's heritage of hundreds of years!

He suppressed his excitement and, instead of immediately flipping through the tempting scriptures, quickly scanned the layout of the first floor.

The first floor was enormous, like a giant library. The bookshelves were neatly arranged and divided into different sections by category. The further he went, the better the material of the bookshelves seemed to be, and the more exquisite the preservation of the scriptures, clearly indicating more valuable sections.

And what Elder Qiu called the "outer area" referred to the section near the entrance, with the most ordinary bookshelves and the most cluttered and old-looking scriptures. This area primarily housed basic cultivation methods, low-level martial arts, and various miscellaneous records, legends, and geographical accounts that were widely circulated on the Xuanhuang Continent.

Lin Chen's goal was clear—cultivation methods!

He needed a basic cultivation method that could allow him to quickly improve his cultivation and was suitable for the Myriad Dao Furnace!

His gaze quickly landed on a rather familiar-looking beast hide scroll on a bookshelf in the outer area.

The label on the scroll, written in an ancient script, bore four large characters—

"Basic Qi Refining Art"!

This was the very cultivation method!

The most widely circulated, most basic, yet also claimed to be the most stable introductory Qi refining method on the Xuanhuang Continent!

Three years ago, it was while cultivating this very method that the accident happened! This cultivation method had almost become his nightmare!

But now, seeing it again, Lin Chen's eyes held no trace of fear or disgust; instead, they flickered with an unusual light!

The most basic is often the most essential!

Moreover, this cultivation method was so widely circulated that it must have its unique merits. It was just that perhaps due to its ubiquity, it inevitably contained some subtle flaws, or rather, it wasn't suitable for everyone.

What if... he refined it with the Myriad Dao Furnace?

Lin Chen's heart began to race uncontrollably again!

He reached out and took down the slightly worn beast hide scroll. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, carrying a sense of ancientness.

Without opening it immediately, he held the scroll and quickly walked to a very secluded corner on the first floor, a place almost no one frequented. Here, some broken tables and chairs and discarded bookshelves were piled up, the light even dimmer, making it an excellent "crime scene."

Confirming that no one was around and that Elder Qiu's spiritual sense wasn't specifically focused on this area, Lin Chen took a deep breath, sat down cross-legged, and spread the beast hide scroll on his knees.

He didn't read the text on the scroll. Instead, he closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into his Dantian!

"Myriad Dao Furnace... Refine cultivation method!"

Hummm—!

In his Dantian Sea of Qi, the mysterious black iron piece once again erupted with a brilliant, ethereal light!

Unlike the previous refinement of medicinal dregs and essence of flesh and blood, this time, what emanated from the furnace was no longer a simple suction force, but a more profound and subtle power!

This power spread silently, enveloping the "Basic Qi Refining Art" on Lin Chen's knees!

The next moment, an incredible scene unfolded!

The ancient characters on the beast hide scroll seemed to come alive! One by one, the characters floated up from the scroll, transforming into streams of light imbued with information. As if drawn by some mysterious force, they continuously poured into Lin Chen's forehead!

As soon as these streams of information entered Lin Chen's Sea of Consciousness, they were instantly pulled and drawn into the phantom furnace suspended in his spiritual world, which echoed the furnace in his Dantian!

Boom!!!

Lin Chen felt as if his head were about to explode!

A torrent of information, like a river breaking its banks, madly assaulted his consciousness!

The general principles of the "Basic Qi Refining Art," the circulation routes, detailed explanations of acupoints, precautions... every word, every detail, was presented with unparalleled clarity in his mind!

But this was only the beginning!

Under the mysterious power of the Myriad Dao Furnace, this raw cultivation method information was being rapidly analyzed, decomposed, and reassembled!

The obscure and difficult parts of the cultivation method were instantly dissected, transforming into the most straightforward insights!

The potential, hard-to-detect flaws and drawbacks were ruthlessly removed and corrected!

Even more astonishingly, the furnace was optimizing and deducing this basic cultivation method based on Lin Chen's own reshaped meridians, which were far superior to those of ordinary people!

Lin Chen was completely immersed in this wondrous state. He felt as if he had transformed into an unparalleled grandmaster with immensely rich experience, scrutinizing, analyzing, and perfecting this seemingly simple basic cultivation method from a perspective that defied common sense!

He "saw" how the True Qi circulated within his meridians under the guidance of this cultivation technique; he "saw" which acupoints were crucial nodes and which routes could be more concise and efficient; he "saw" how to draw in the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth to the greatest extent, and how to refine and absorb it more quickly...

Countless realizations, like a sudden enlightenment, surged into his mind!

After an unknown amount of time, when the last character, transformed into a stream of light, was completely absorbed and refined by the furnace—

Hum!

The phantom of the furnace trembled slightly!

A brand new "Basic Qi Refining Art," both similar and entirely different from the original, was deeply imprinted into Lin Chen's soul, much like the Great Dao itself!

This "new" Qi Refining Art retained the core framework and stability of the original technique, but its qi circulation route was more concise and fluid, increasing the speed of qi absorption by at least thirty percent! Its refining efficiency had improved by over fifty percent! Furthermore, the technique now included some subtle, wondrous methods that could better temper the meridians and nourish the physical body!

Most importantly, this cultivation technique felt tailor-made for him, perfectly matching his unique meridians!

"This... this is simply..." Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with disbelief, shock, and ecstatic joy!

The Myriad Dao Furnace could actually refine cultivation techniques! And it could optimize and deduce them on its own!

This wasn't defying the heavens; it was a miracle!

He immediately attempted to circulate his True Qi according to the new "Basic Qi Refining Art" in his mind.

Boom!

In just an instant, he felt the surrounding Spiritual Qi being strongly attracted, pouring into his body at several times the previous speed! The Spiritual Qi followed the new, more fluid route, circulating with almost no obstruction, and was rapidly refined into pure True Qi, converging in his Dantian Sea of Qi!

His cultivation speed... skyrocketed!

Lin Chen trembled with excitement!

With this optimized version of the "Basic Qi Refining Art," coupled with the Myriad Dao Furnace's ability to refine all things for energy, what terrifying level would his cultivation speed reach?!

Seven days!

Let alone the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer!

Perhaps... he could even aim for higher realms!

Just as Lin Chen was immersed in immense surprise, Elder Qiu's aged and calm voice, like the tolling of a great bell, sounded at the perfect moment by his ear:

"Kid, an hour has passed. It's time to come out."

Lin Chen's heart jolted, and he suddenly realized how quickly time had flown.

He quickly collected his thoughts and carefully rolled up the Beast Hide Scroll on his lap—at this moment, the scroll was no different from ordinary beast hide in his eyes; all its essence had been completely "refined" and absorbed by the Myriad Dao Furnace.

He stood up, tidied his clothes, returned the scroll to its place, and then quickly walked out of the Scripture Repository.

Elder Qiu was still sitting in his armchair, his eyes half-closed, as if he were asleep.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Qiu!" Lin Chen bowed respectfully once more.

Elder Qiu didn't even lift his eyelids, merely giving a faint "Mm" and waving his hand, signaling him to leave.

Lin Chen didn't linger and turned to leave the Scripture Repository plaza.

He could feel Elder Qiu's seemingly cloudy gaze lingering on his retreating back for a moment, carrying a hint of inquiry and... anticipation?

But Lin Chen had no time to ponder.

His heart was filled with unprecedented confidence and power!

The basic cultivation technique was obtained, and it was a super version optimized by the Myriad Dao Furnace!

Next, he would use this unparalleled cultivation efficiency, along with the undigested medicinal dregs and Crimson Flame Pig essence, to push his cultivation to a new peak!

The Family Test? Lin Bao? Wang Teng?

Just you wait!

I, Lin Chen, am back!

This time, I will definitely make you... greatly surprised!

He quickened his pace, sprinting towards his dilapidated small courtyard, his figure casting a long shadow of hope and fighting spirit in the afterglow of the setting sun.