Scripture Depository

[The corresponding benefit is that you can cultivate Five Elements techniques and Daoist arts as you please, and even give birth to a new, mutated Spirit Root through the collision of the Five Elements.]

The system's voice continued.

[The cultivation and spirit power the host currently exchanges for are attribute-less, but they can be freely converted when you use Daoist arts.]

[Once you reach the ninth-layer peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, you can use Five Elements Spirit Attachment. At that point, each Qi Meridian will be gathered from Five Elements Spirit Power, increasing your total spirit power fivefold. Only by meeting this condition can you advance to the Return to Origin Realm.]

[Please complete the Five Elements techniques as soon as possible and cultivate them all to Minor Achievement to meet the requirements for Spirit Attachment.]

After hearing all that, Lin Chen fell silent.

The Extreme Path Method really was outrageous.

Cultivating normally, even if he lived to be a thousand, he might still have trouble completing it.

Could people in ancient times really live to at least a thousand years?

Lin Chen sighed.

But if he succeeded, the benefits would be immense.

First, there was five times as much spirit power. That alone would let him crush anyone at the same cultivation level.

What's more, he had five attributes and could use Daoist arts from all five elements at will.

His combat power would multiply.

And with the Five Elements generating and transforming one another, even if he used just one kind of spirit power, he'd still have five times as much as other people.

Most importantly, after advancing to the Return to Origin Realm, he could make the Five Elements collide and give birth to a mutated Spirit Root, breaking the shackles of the Five Elements Root.

That was what he looked forward to most.

By then, he could have the cultivation talent of an Earth-grade or even Heaven-grade Spirit Root.

If he managed to create an all-element Spirit Root, wouldn't that defy the heavens?

Thinking of all this, Lin Chen was filled with hope for the future.

He now had the wood-element, Yellow-grade intermediate Eternal Spring Art, as well as the fire-element, Spirit Rank advanced Flame Primer.

He still needed techniques for water, earth, and metal.

The Flame Primer's rank was a little too high. Cultivating it at his current level would waste too many Spirit Stones.

So, right now, he needed four Yellow-grade techniques: water, fire, earth, and metal.

"I haven't completed any sect missions, so I don't have any points..."

Lin Chen muttered to himself. To exchange for techniques, all he had to do was go to the Scripture Depository.

But they required points.

The more points you had, the higher the rank you could exchange for.

Someone with zero points like him could only use Spirit Stones—and the prices were ridiculously high.

He had fifty Spirit Stones left in total... Wait!

Lin Chen slapped his thigh. "I have the system. I can get them for free!"

With that thought, he could no longer sit still. He headed straight down the mountain.

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

The Scripture Depository was on an independent peak between the Outer Sect and Inner Sect.

Bridges had been built across the mountain, connecting the outer and inner sects.

For some reason, there were far more people coming and going today, like a bustling fair.

Even the winding mountain paths were crowded with people.

Lin Chen put away his Flying Sword from a distance and walked the rest of the way.

"Are you all going to try out the techniques too?"

"Yeah. I heard the Scripture Depository deciphered ten sets of techniques and Daoist arts. They're all free to test, and there are rewards for cultivating them."

"Exactly. If you fail, you get a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If you succeed, you get two hundred."

The Outer Sect Disciples ahead of him spoke loudly, sounding excited.

"I heard that if you get injured while cultivating, they'll compensate you with pills too. It's a shame the Scripture Depository only holds an event like this once a year."

"No kidding! Those of us in the Outer Sect work ourselves to the bone on missions all year and still can't save two hundred Spirit Stones."

"Two hundred? I had only three Spirit Stones left by the end of last year. How could anyone pass up an event like this?"

"Hahaha... As long as you don't die, cultivate until you drop. At the very least, you're guaranteed a hundred Spirit Stones and some pills."

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

It was the Art Testing Assembly.

"Look, even a menial disciple's come to join the fun."

"That can't be right. How could a menial disciple come here? Maybe he's here on a mission?"

"Could be."

The nearby Outer Sect Disciples all looked at Lin Chen with mocking smiles.

Lin Chen didn't care.

Better to be laughed at than to be inferior.

If these people knew what kind of life he was living now, they'd probably cry themselves to sleep out of envy.

More importantly, his current cultivation and strength weren't enough for him to draw attention to himself.

After all, those Purple Eyes hadn't been dealt with yet.

There might still be hidden enemies within Green Mountain Sect.

He needed some time to grow stronger.

"Brother Chen, what brings you here?"

Just then, a shout came from behind him.

Lin Chen knew it was Jin Yuanbao without even turning around.

That guy had to be here to sell his storybooks.

"I'm here to pick a technique. You're here to sell storybooks?" Lin Chen turned and saw Jin Yuanbao covered in sweat, with a lively-eyed young woman beside him.

She looked puzzled about why Jin Yuanbao was so respectful to a menial disciple.

Jin Yuanbao hurried a few steps to catch up and gave Lin Chen a thumbs-up. "Brother Chen, you read my mind. A lively place like this is sure to be good for business."

"Good eye!" Lin Chen replied, his words carrying a double meaning as he glanced at the young woman.

Jin Yuanbao immediately understood. His face reddened as he said, "This is Junior Sister Xiao Yuer. We're both Inner Disciples under Elder Hai, and she came to help me."

Lin Chen nodded.

"Junior Sister Yuer, this is Brother Chen I told you about. The storybook series you love was written by Brother Chen."

Jin Yuanbao continued with the introductions.

After hearing that, Xiao Yuer's puzzled little face quickly broke into a smile.

She looked at Lin Chen with adoration, her voice like silver bells. "Greetings, Senior Brother Chen."

"Haha, greetings, greetings..."

The three chatted as they walked, and soon reached the mountaintop.

Only then did Lin Chen realize that the entire summit had been leveled.

The first thing he saw after climbing the steps was a magnificent palace.

The palace stood at the center, encircled by rings of buildings.

Four straight passageways cut through the surrounding buildings, extending from the east, south, west, and north toward the central palace.

Beyond them lay a vast plaza.

At that moment, the plaza was bustling and packed with people.

The cries of vendors and the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air.

"You two go take care of your business. I'm going to look at the techniques." Lin Chen said his piece and headed straight for the palace.

Jin Yuanbao led Xiao Yuer toward the crowd.

This was his battlefield.

Lin Chen kept walking. He saw that the busiest spot in the plaza was already packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

An elder was hosting the Art Testing Assembly inside.

Whenever he finished explaining a technique or Daoist art, people packed several layers deep would all raise their hands to sign up.

Lin Chen did want to go in and try.

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

That would earn him two hundred Spirit Stones.

But he simply couldn't squeeze his way in.

He had no choice but to give up.

A moment later, he finally reached the Scripture Depository's external affairs area.

This was where complete techniques and Daoist arts were made available.

Compared with the commotion outside, this place was quiet and deserted.

The Duty Disciple sitting there was half asleep.

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

He didn't pick on Lin Chen for wearing a menial disciple's uniform.

With a smile, he asked, "What can I do for you, Junior Brother?"

"I'd like to look at some beginner or intermediate Yellow-grade techniques," Lin Chen answered honestly.

The Duty Disciple was clearly a little disappointed, but he still pointed. "They're all on the display shelves over there. Once you've chosen one, bring it here to register."

Lin Chen followed his directions and saw a female disciple standing across from the display shelves.

When the female disciple looked up, Lin Chen froze for a moment.

"Liu Ruyan? Wasn't she expelled from the sect? What's she doing here?"

As if she'd sensed Lin Chen's gaze, the woman across from him looked up.