Scripture Pavilion (Part 2)

Yan Kui did not linger. He headed straight for the stairs leading to the second floor.

Clutching Luo Yue's Elder token, he walked with firm, steady steps. Luo Yue's unique Spiritual Sense imprint was engraved on the token. As Yan Kui approached the stairs, the Forbidden Array coiled around them trembled slightly, then automatically opened a passage.

This was not a furtive infiltration, but an open and aboveboard entry. The token was his legitimate proof of identity.

Yan Kui climbed the stairs one step at a time. Every step was heavy, and his 2.8-meter giant body sent faint tremors through the staircase. Yet he remained completely alert—if he was discovered, he would have to turn and flee immediately.

The staircase was not long, yet it seemed to take an eternity to climb. Energy fluctuations lingered around him, traces of the pressure left behind by Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Such pressure would be enough to greatly suppress ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but to Yan Kui, it was merely the sensation of oppressive, heavy air.

A curtain of light stood at the entrance to the second floor. The token's power took effect once more, and the light curtain parted automatically, clearing a path for Yan Kui.

The instant Yan Kui stepped through the light curtain, an entirely different energy environment engulfed him.

The second floor was much smaller than the first, but every jade slip here radiated an aura far beyond those below. Golden Core Stage cultivation techniques, ancient secret arts, even forbidden powers—all were carefully sorted onto different shelves. The entire space was shrouded in an oppressive energy field that made it hard to breathe.

These were the lingering remnants of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator's pressure—the Sect Master had entered the second floor many times, and his power had been deeply branded into every corner of this space.

Less than three seconds after Yan Kui entered the second floor, a sudden change occurred.

The Mysterious Bone Fragment fused within his body abruptly heated up.

It was not ordinary warmth, but an intense, searing heat, as though something was awakening, calling out. Even Yan Kui's bloodline trembled in response, and the rhythm of his heartbeat was altered by that summons.

An irresistible pull came from the depths of the second floor.

Yan Kui had no choice. His body seemed to be tugged by invisible threads, automatically walking toward the deepest part of the second floor. There lay the oldest cultivation techniques in this Scripture Pavilion—the ancient secret arts section.

The jade slips became more and more sparse. Ahead were several Golden Core Stage cultivation techniques, emanating powerful auras, but none of them were what Yan Kui sought. His gaze swept over them automatically as he continued forward.

Until...

A black, ancient jade slip entered his sight.

Unlike the other cultivation techniques, which were neatly arranged on shelves, this jade slip floated in midair—proof that the sect treated it specially, and that its importance far surpassed that of the others. Ancient Runes covered its surface, seemingly emanating a dim, profound glow.

As Yan Kui approached the jade slip, the resonance of the bone fragment within him reached its peak.

It was not a sound, but a call from the depths of his soul. It was the recognition of bloodlines sharing the same origin, a fated encounter.

Yan Kui stretched out his hand and slowly approached the jade slip.

"It's you..." A soundless murmur escaped his lips.

The instant his fingers were about to touch the jade slip, the entire world seemed to pause for a moment.

The system reacted instantly.

[Detected: Ancient Cultivation Technique Restriction—Spiritual Sense Seal (Golden Core Grade)]

[System analysis in progress...]

The strength of this restriction far surpassed any restriction on the first floor. This was a Spiritual Sense seal personally laid down by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, its complexity and defensive power reaching the pinnacle of the cultivation world. If an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator attempted to break it, they would suffer backlash in an instant, perhaps even injuring their Spiritual Sense.

But what was the Crimson Modifier?

It was an existence that stood above the rules of the cultivation world. Every law, restriction, and seal of the cultivation world was nothing more than insignificant code before it.

[Cracking in progress...]

Five seconds.

In only five seconds, the Crimson Modifier completely cracked this Golden Core-grade restriction.

[Cracking complete!]

[Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record · Third Layer information recorded]

[Detected: This cultivation technique shares the same origin as the bone fragment. Fusion potential is extremely high.]

But at the instant the cracking was completed, a faint energy fluctuation leaked from the restriction. This fluctuation was exceedingly subtle, too weak even for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator to notice.

But there was someone on the second floor.

A Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, one whose cultivation was already close to breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. An old man specially assigned by the sect to guard the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

He had been waiting in the shadows all along. His Spiritual Sense spread out, covering every corner of the second floor. He detected that faint energy fluctuation with perfect clarity.

A figure burst out from the shadows.

It was a stern-faced old man with grizzled hair and beard, dressed in a gray robe. His aura was oppressive and heavy, as though the entire space was under his control. This was the unique pressure of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator—the power already approaching the Golden Core Stage.

"Who dares trespass!"

The old man's voice exploded like thunder, carrying the pressure of the Golden Core Stage. The energy throughout the second floor twisted in response, and Golden Core-grade pressure bore down on Yan Kui from all directions.

Yan Kui did not evade. He turned around, his icy gaze meeting the old man's.

"An Outer Disciple?!" The Gatekeeper Elder's pupils shrank instantly. "How did you get in here?! How dare you enter?!"

But the old man did not wait for an answer. His hands rapidly formed seals, and a great net woven from spiritual power descended from above, trying to trap Yan Kui. This was a control spell of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage—"Heavenly Net." Once trapped, an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be utterly unable to break free.

Yan Kui reacted even faster.

His body suddenly blurred as "Spirit Snake Absolute Shadow" activated instantly. Five figures appeared at once, scattering in five different directions and evading the net's blockade.

But the old man was vastly experienced. He had long anticipated this.

"Mystic Ice Seal!"

The second spell came close on the heels of the first. The air around them instantly congealed, and the temperature plunged below freezing. All five of Yan Kui's figures were frozen within ice crystals, their movement immediately slowing.

This was an ice-element spell cast by a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, immensely powerful. Any one of those spells would have been enough to severely injure a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator.

But who was Yan Kui?

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A warrior who possessed the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage and the "Ice Fire Yin Yang" defensive effect.

"Extreme Path Domain!"

Yan Kui's body instantly erupted with tremendous power. With the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage unleashed at full force, a domain spanning three meters instantly expanded. Ice-and-fire energy raged within it, its intertwined red and blue radiance lighting up the entire second floor.

"Sizzle—"

The sound of ice crystals colliding with flames rang out. The two forces clashed violently within the domain, creating fierce energy surges and explosions.

The defensive effect "Ice Fire Yin Yang" displayed its might—spell damage -70%.

Yan Kui forcibly shattered the Mystic Ice Seal. Though a thin layer of frost covered his body, he had not suffered any serious injuries. His gaze was colder than ice as he charged straight at the elder.

"Impossible..." Shock flashed through the Gatekeeper Elder's eyes. "You actually withstood my Mystic Ice Seal?! An Outer Disciple can actually..."

He never finished.

Yan Kui had already rushed before him. As a spell cultivator, the Gatekeeper Elder was not skilled in close combat. He immediately released Protective Mana, forming a blue barrier as he tried to stop Yan Kui's advance with defensive spiritual power.

But it meant nothing to Yan Kui.

The physical strength of the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage, the defensive effect's 70% damage reduction, coupled with the dual resistance of "Ice Fire Yin Yang"—all of it combined had brought Yan Kui's defenses to a terrifying level.

The Gatekeeper Elder realized something was wrong. This Outer Disciple's strength far exceeded his expectations. If they continued to struggle, he might be defeated.

"Thunderous Charge!"

Just as Yan Kui was about to close in, the elder unleashed a powerful lightning-element spell. A thick bolt of lightning split down from the sky, carrying an aura of destruction.

Yan Kui did not dodge. He raised his right arm and directly took the lightning strike.

"Boom—"

Charred wounds appeared across Yan Kui's back. His skin was scorched, his flesh burned black. Yet Yan Kui made no sound of pain. His body merely swayed slightly before he turned and charged toward the stairs.

"Trying to run?!" The Gatekeeper Elder tried to pursue him, but it was already too late.

Yan Kui's speed far exceeded the elder's expectations. In a single step, he crossed more than ten meters, rushed to the stairway, and sped down the stairs.

The alarm blared behind him.

The Forbidden Array of the entire Scripture Pavilion had been activated. Pillars of red energy shot skyward from every direction around the Scripture Pavilion, linking together into a massive alarm network. This was Qingyun Sect's highest-level alert—signifying that the sect's innermost core had been breached.

After breaking out of the Scripture Pavilion, Yan Kui found that some disciples had already begun to surround the entrance, including the two gatekeeping disciples from earlier.

Yan Kui had no time to waste on them. He found a point with fewer disciples and weaker defenses, swiftly killed several Qi Cultivation disciples, then broke out of the encirclement.

Artifact Refining Peak.

Luo Yue was refining a Magic Tool, crimson flames churning in his palm. But at that moment, a Message Talisman flew from his Storage Bag, flashing with purple light.

Luo Yue caught the Message Talisman and sent his Spiritual Sense into it.

The next second, his face darkened instantly.

"What?! The second floor of the Scripture Pavilion was breached?!" Luo Yue's voice was terrifyingly cold. "Who was it? Who dared trespass onto the second floor?!"

The Gatekeeper Elder's voice came from the Message Talisman. "Elder, it was an Outer Disciple nearly three meters tall, with a dark-red body and mismatched ice-and-fire eyes... He broke through the second-floor restrictions, stole an ancient Cultivation Technique, and then forcibly escaped!"

The Message Talisman in Luo Yue's hand was crushed to powder.

"Yan Kui!"

He ground out the name through clenched teeth. That Outer Disciple to whom he had given an Elder's token, that perfect test subject he had intended to transform into a war puppet, now actually dared defy his orders and break into the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion!

A complicated swirl of emotions flashed in Luo Yue's eyes—anger, regret, and even a trace of excitement.

That brat had completely slipped out of control. Yet at the same time, he had displayed strength beyond expectations. The ability to withstand a Foundation Establishment Late Stage spell... What kind of mutation was this?

"Pass down the order!" Luo Yue's voice rang throughout Artifact Refining Peak. "The entire sect will hunt him down! Yan Kui must be captured alive! Activate the War Puppet Project immediately!"

The entire Qingyun Sect was shaken.

The Enforcement Squad swiftly mobilized, and search parties spread throughout every corner of the sect. Even the Sect Master was alarmed and began paying attention to this unusual incident—an Outer Disciple had actually dared to trespass onto the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion and had even escaped successfully.

And Yan Kui's name began to spread widely throughout the sect.

A remote mountain cave.

[Origin Power: 30.7 (18.7+12.0)]

Yan Kui hid here. It was a refuge he had scouted out and marked long ago. He removed his shirt and examined the injuries on his back. Charred skin and bleeding wounds—those were all traces left by that lightning strike.

But for someone who possessed the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage, these were not serious injuries. With a little recovery, they would heal completely.

The System Panel appeared before his eyes:

[<Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record - Third Layer Fragment> successfully recorded]

[Fusion potential assessment: Extremely high]

[Bone Fragment Affinity: 99.9%]

A cold smile curled at the corner of Yan Kui's lips.

"Success. Though I was discovered, this trip was absolutely worth it."

His gaze fell on the cultivation technique list in the System Panel. He now possessed Six Cultivation Techniques—five Foundation Establishment Realm techniques, plus this ancient secret art, <Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record · Third Layer Fragment>.

"Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record · Third Layer... this is the true ultimate cultivation technique." He murmured under his breath, "Fuse multiple body-tempering arts, and one can forge a God-Demon True Body..."

Outside, the footsteps of the search party drew ever closer. Yet there was not a trace of fear in Yan Kui's eyes. He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

"Luo Yue, oh Luo Yue..." he whispered inwardly. The three days you gave me... I'll make full use of them. You'll see an utterly different me.

Yet Yan Kui knew full well that the sect had already begun hunting him down. A great battle could erupt at any moment, and what mattered most now was using the little Origin Power in his hands to increase his strength!

Only a fist could smash through every threat...

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