Scripture Depository

[The corresponding benefit is that you can freely cultivate any Five Elements technique or Dao art, and even generate new mutated spirit roots through Five Elements collision.]

The system's voice continued.

[The cultivation base and spiritual power you exchange for at this stage are all attribute-less, but can freely convert as you execute Dao arts.]

[When you reach the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation Realm, you can perform Five Elements spirit attachment. At that point, each of your qi meridians will converge with Five Elements spiritual power, increasing your total spiritual power to five times its original amount. Only by meeting this condition can you advance to Return to Origin Realm.]

[Please complete your Five Elements techniques as soon as possible, and cultivate them all to the Minor Success stage to meet the spirit attachment requirements.]

After hearing all this, Lin Chen fell silent.

The Extreme Path Method was truly monstrous.

If he followed normal cultivation, even living to a thousand years old, he feared he'd never finish.

Did people in ancient times live at least a thousand years or more?

Lin Chen sighed inwardly.

But if he succeeded in cultivating it, the benefits were immense.

First, five times the spiritual power—that alone let him crush anyone at the same realm.

Second, with five attributes, he could freely unleash Dao arts from all five systems.

His combat power would multiply.

And with the Five Elements generating and transforming each other, even using a single type of spiritual power, he'd have five times as much as others.

Most importantly, after advancing to Return to Origin Realm, he could generate mutated spirit roots through Five Elements collision, breaking the shackles of the Five Elements Root.

That was what he looked forward to most.

At that point, he could possess Earth-grade or even Heaven-grade spirit root talent.

If he ended up with an all-element spirit root, wouldn't that be defying heaven?

Thinking of these things, Lin Chen felt hope for the future.

He now had the Wood-type Yellow-grade Intermediate Eternal Spring Art and the Fire-type Spirit-grade High Flame Primer.

He still needed Water, Earth, and Metal techniques.

Flame Primer was a bit too high in grade; for him at this stage, cultivating it would waste too many Spirit Stones.

So now, he needed four sets of Yellow-grade techniques: Water, Fire, Earth, and Metal.

"I haven't completed any sect tasks, so I have no contribution points..."

Lin Chen muttered to himself. To exchange for techniques, he just needed to go to the Scripture Depository.

But they wanted contribution points.

The higher the points, the higher the grade he could exchange for.

Someone like him with zero points could only use Spirit Stones to exchange, but the prices were ridiculously high.

He only had fifty Spirit Stones left in total... no!

Lin Chen suddenly slapped his thigh. "I have the system—I can freeload!"

With that thought, he couldn't sit still anymore and went straight down the mountain.

After asking for directions to the Scripture Depository, he flew there on his sword.

The Scripture Depository sat on an independent peak between the outer sect and inner sect.

Bridges were built on the mountain, connecting the inner and outer sects.

For some reason, there were especially many people coming and going today, like a bustling market.

Even the winding mountain path was crowded with walkers.

Lin Chen put away his sword from afar and walked over.

"Are you all going to test techniques too?"

"Yeah, I heard the Scripture Depository cracked ten sets of techniques and Dao arts, all free for testing, and there are rewards for cultivation."

"Right, right, right. Fail cultivation, get a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones; succeed, get two hundred."

A few outer sect disciples ahead spoke loudly, sounding excited.

"I heard if you get injured from cultivation, you'll get pill compensation too. It's just a pity this event only happens once a year."

"No kidding! Us outer sect disciples, working hard on tasks outside all year, can't even save two hundred Spirit Stones."

"Two hundred? Last year, I ended up with just three Spirit Stones in hand. How could I not join an event like this?"

"Hahaha... as long as you don't die, just train until you drop. At worst, you get a guaranteed hundred Spirit Stones and pills."

Only then did Lin Chen understand why so many people were here today.

It was the Art Testing Assembly.

"Look, a menial disciple is here to join the fun too."

"That's not right—how can a menial disciple come here? Is he here for a task?"

"Possibly."

The outer disciples nearby all sneered when they saw Lin Chen.

Lin Chen paid them no mind.

Mocking others only shows your own inferiority.

If these people knew what kind of life he was living now, they'd probably be crying from inferiority themselves.

Most importantly, his current cultivation and strength didn't allow him to show off.

After all, those purple eyes hadn't been dealt with yet.

There might still be hidden enemies within the Green Mountain Sect.

He needed some time to develop.

"Chen-ge, what are you doing here?"

Just then, a shout came from behind.

Lin Chen didn't even need to turn around to know it was Jin Yuanbao.

This guy must be here to sell his storybooks.

"I came to pick a technique. You're here to sell storybooks?" Lin Chen turned back and saw Jin Yuanbao drenched in sweat, with a sharp-eyed young girl beside him.

She looked puzzled as to why Jin Yuanbao was so respectful to a handyman disciple.

Jin Yuanbao hurried a few steps to catch up and gave a thumbs-up. "Chen-ge, your foresight is uncanny. A bustling place like this is guaranteed to sell well."

"Sharp eye!" Lin Chen returned the compliment, glancing at the girl with double meaning.

Jin Yuanbao caught on immediately, his face slightly reddening as he said, "This is Junior Sister Xiao Yuer. We're both personal disciples of Elder Hai of the inner sect. She came to help me."

Lin Chen nodded.

"Yuer-shimei, this is the Chen-ge I told you about. That set of storybooks you love—Chen-ge wrote them."

Jin Yuanbao continued his introduction.

After hearing this, Xiao Yuer's puzzled little face instantly broke into a smile.

She looked at Lin Chen with eyes full of admiration, her voice like silver bells. "Hello, Senior Brother Chen."

"Haha, hello, hello..."

The three walked and talked, soon reaching the mountaintop.

Only then did Lin Chen realize the entire peak of this mountain had been leveled flat.

The first thing he saw upon stepping onto the stairs was a majestic palace.

The palace was surrounded by ring-shaped buildings.

Four straight pathways cut through these ring-shaped structures, connecting the four cardinal directions to the central palace.

Beyond that lay a massive plaza.

At this moment, the plaza was bustling with activity, packed with people.

The sounds of hawking and laughter filled the air.

"You two go ahead. I'll check out the techniques." Lin Chen gave his instructions and headed straight for the palace.

Jin Yuanbao led Xiao Yuer toward the crowd.

This was his battlefield.

Lin Chen continued forward, noticing the liveliest spot in the plaza was already packed tight, surrounded on all sides.

An elder was presiding over the Art Testing Assembly there.

Whenever he finished explaining a technique or Dao art, the layers upon layers of people would all raise their hands to sign up.

Truth be told, Lin Chen wanted to give it a try himself.

After all, he only needed to cultivate to the entry level to complete the task.

That would earn him a reward of two hundred Spirit Stones.

But he simply couldn't squeeze in.

He had no choice but to give up.

A moment later, he finally arrived at the outer affairs area of the Scripture Depository.

This was the place that specifically offered complete techniques and Dao arts.

Compared to the lively scene outside, it was quiet and deserted here.

The duty disciple sat there, drowsy and half-asleep.

Seeing Lin Chen enter, he rubbed his face vigorously and perked up.

He didn't discriminate against Lin Chen just because he wore a handyman disciple's robes.

Smiling, he asked, "Junior Brother, what business would you like to handle?"

"I'd like to take a look at some Yellow-rank elementary or intermediate techniques," Lin Chen said truthfully.

The attendant disciple was clearly somewhat disappointed, but he still pointed a hand and said, "Over on that shelf over there. Once you've made your selection, bring it here to register."

Lin Chen followed his direction and walked over, noticing a female disciple standing across from the shelf.

When that female disciple raised her head, Lin Chen was slightly taken aback.

"Liu Ruyan—wasn't she expelled from the sect? Why is she here?"

As if sensing Lin Chen's gaze, the woman across from him looked up and met his eyes.