Scripture Repository, Three Thousand Six Hundred Immortal Aperture Wondrous Methods-New Book, Begging for Everything

Morning.

Ye Ping opened his eyes.

After a simple wash, Ye Ping stepped out of his room.

A faint mist drifted through the mountain forest, making it look like a paradise on earth.

The gentle tolling of a bell rang out, leaving one refreshed and at peace.

Ye Ping stretched his waist, then could not help murmuring to himself.

"Morning enters an ancient temple; the first sun shines upon the tall woods.

"A winding path leads into a secluded place; flowers and trees grow deep around the monks' chambers.

"Mountain light delights the birds' nature; pond reflections empty the human heart.

"Here, all myriad sounds fall silent; only the chime of bells and stone gongs can be heard."

This was the poem "Behind the Chan Temple at Broken Mountain" by the poet Chang Jian.

The poem did not quite fit the scene, since this was a Daoist temple rather than an ancient Buddhist temple. Still, with no one around, Ye Ping had spoken from the feelings in his heart. There was no need for it to fit the scene.

Once he had finished stretching, Ye Ping headed straight for the Qingyun Dao Sect.

He planned to visit the Scripture Repository and cram some knowledge about cultivation.

All night yesterday, Ye Ping had been studying the Creation Alchemy Technique—the secret manual Brother Luochen had given him.

Yet after reading further, Ye Ping immediately realized that he could not refine pills for the time being.

According to the Creation Alchemy Technique in the manual, one needed spiritual energy within one's body to refine pills.

Use qi to draw in spirit, use spirit to transform into divinity, use divinity to condense a pill—thus was formed a flawless spirit pill.

In other words, one still had to use one's own spiritual energy to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, then use one's will and mind to condense the pill. Only then could one refine a flawless spirit pill, a pill free of impurities and poison.

Ye Ping understood the method, but he had no spiritual energy. He could only set the matter aside for now.

The most important thing now was to properly cram some knowledge about cultivation.

Qingyun Dao Sect.

Several grand halls stood spotless, plain and orderly, utterly different from those bustling Daoist temples outside.

Perhaps this was the bearing of a hidden sect.

With sleeves fluttering in a clean breeze, they stood detached above the world.

Ye Ping greatly admired such a mindset—free from worldly strife, knowing heaven's decree, and containing the principles of the Dao.

Everything appeared ordinary, yet the Great Dao was utmost simplicity. The simpler something was, the more boundless principles it contained.

For instance, why was there always only one stick of incense in the censer outside the sect hall?

Could it be that the Qingyun Dao Sect could not afford incense?

That was clearly impossible.

Sincerity brought spiritual response. If one's heart was sincere, a single stick of incense was enough; if one's heart was not sincere, even incense filling the mountains could not bring any blessing of fortune.

Ye Ping gazed at the lone incense stick in the censer, his heart filled with emotion.

Such a tiny stick of incense contained so many principles.

A hidden sect. One word.

Magnificent.

Drawing back his thoughts.

Ye Ping entered the Scripture Repository.

The Qingyun Dao Sect's Scripture Repository was not particularly large. There were four bookshelves in total, and each was filled with many secret manuals.

Ye Ping behaved with great propriety. He did not rummage through anything, and even his footsteps were light.

But as Ye Ping stepped into the Scripture Repository and looked at the secret manuals on the shelves, he froze completely.

Ten Dragons Ten Elephants Primordial Spirit Art

Immortal Dao Twin Pupils Opening Method

Perfect Development of Supreme Phenomenon

True Dragon Supreme Divine Ability

Heavenly Emperor Sword Technique

Three Thousand Six Hundred Immortal Aperture Wondrous Methods

Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Divine Abilities

Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Dao Methods

Inside the Scripture Repository.

Ye Ping stood utterly stunned.

He knew the Qingyun Dao Sect was a hidden sect, but he had never expected it to be this terrifying.

Ye Ping did not even need to read these manuals to know they were incredibly formidable.

But what shocked Ye Ping even more was that such manuals had simply been placed on the bookshelves so casually.

There were no formations guarding them, nor were there any other protective measures whatsoever.

Was this what a hidden sect was like?

He loved it. He truly loved it.

Ye Ping was excited.

He was genuinely excited.

If anyone dared say this was not a hidden sect, he would definitely slash them with his sword.

Twin Pupils! Primordial Spirit Art! True Dragon Divine Ability! Heavenly Emperor Sword Technique! Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Divine Abilities?

Ye Ping trembled all over with excitement.

This was simply an unexpected delight—an unexpected delight!

But after a while, Ye Ping took a deep breath and tried his best to calm himself.

"Ye Ping, don't get excited. Although every book here is an unrivaled secret manual, that doesn't mean you can learn all of them. Calm down. Calm down."

Ye Ping took several deep breaths, and his emotions finally gradually settled.

He understood that although a whole pile of secret manuals lay here, whether he could learn them was another matter.

It was not as though he could master any secret manual handed to him.

And what if something went wrong from practicing manuals recklessly? What if Sect Leader and his senior brothers blamed him afterward?

Thinking of this, Ye Ping grew even calmer.

He could not lose himself.

Right, he could not lose himself.

Ye Ping kept telling himself not to get excited and to maintain an ordinary heart, but inwardly, he was still thrilled.

Who could remain calm after seeing secret manuals like these?

The manuals in the Scripture Repository had made Ye Ping unconditionally believe that the Qingyun Dao Sect was a hidden sect.

Still, Ye Ping truly did not read those secret manuals.

Instead, he browsed other books, materials concerning the cultivation world, such as the Qingzhou Chronicle and the Jin State Oddities Record.

These books were immensely thick.

Ye Ping was exceedingly patient. Alone in the Scripture Repository, he read from daylight until nightfall.

A full seven hours.

Ye Ping read for seven hours and finished all forty-five records of strange tales in the Scripture Repository.

He gained a general understanding of Qingzhou, the Jin Kingdom, and the immortal sects of the Ten Kingdoms. He also learned about sect powers, the imperial court system, and all kinds of strange and bizarre things.

"I never expected the power of imperial dynasties in this world to be no weaker than that of immortal sects."

Ye Ping muttered to himself.

According to the records in the books, imperial dynasties governed mortals. Though immortal Daoist sects stood detached above the world and lay beyond the court's jurisdiction, immortal sects and Daoist orders were still inferior to the imperial court, and in some matters, they had to cooperate with it.

It was a cooperative relationship, but the imperial dynasties held greater initiative.

But it made sense. In a world of cultivation, an imperial dynasty could not possibly have no cultivators. With such an enormous population base, powerful figures would always emerge. And once the machinery of the state began to operate, it became an invincible force.

The immortal Daoist sects certainly had peerless immortals, but the problem was that they all hid their secrets away. Their ultimate arts and inheritances were concealed; without becoming a true disciple, one could not enter their gate. The imperial court was different. So long as one worked hard and gave one's light and heat to the court, resources would be given if one wanted resources, and ultimate arts would be given if one wanted ultimate arts.

Furthermore, the most important point was this.

Fame and profit!

All under heaven bustled for profit; all under heaven scurried for gain.

Who did not want to become a king or patriarch? Who did not want to command the world? Who did not want people clearing the way whenever they walked down the street?

Of course, some people did not care for fame and profit, but how many such people were there?

It was like an old man in his seventies or eighties advising you not to covet beauty.

Of course he would say that. He was already seventy or eighty. When he was young, he repaired carts every day, and once he grew old, he began advising others not to covet beauty.

Perhaps beauty truly held little temptation for cultivators who had cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years.

But what about power?

What about the power to command an army of millions with a single word?

Or even the throne, above tens of thousands upon tens of thousands?

Therefore, the power of the imperial court surpassed that of sects.

At this thought, Ye Ping suddenly froze.

Then, for no reason, he felt a little miserable.

If he had known this earlier, why had he attended the Ascension Convention more than fifty times?

He could have simply taken the imperial examinations, won the top scholar title, and entered the imperial court. Would he still have needed to worry about being unable to cultivate?

It was all those web novels' fault. Every one of them wrote the imperial court as though it were something terrible. They had truly led him astray.

But very quickly, Ye Ping felt that something was off.

"If I had known earlier, wouldn't I have missed out on a hidden sect?"

That was right!

Ye Ping suddenly realized a fundamental problem.

If he had not been ignorant, how could he have joined the Qingyun Dao Sect?

Thinking of this, Ye Ping's mood suddenly brightened again.

After a while.

Ye Ping stretched his waist again.

Then his gaze could not help falling upon a secret manual.

Three Thousand Six Hundred Immortal Aperture Wondrous Methods

Just then.

A crisp voice suddenly rang out.

"Little Junior Brother, why are you here?"

It was a woman's voice.