Library Pavilion

Elder Meng, the middle-aged man, addressed the crowd. "I won't waste words. I'll just say two things."

His voice rang out loud and clear.

He Zhiping awkwardly turned his head again to glance at Peak Master Han, who remained composed, stroking his beard with a smile.

"First, there are a total of 5,322 new disciples in your batch. With the sect master's approval, the top 100 in the first East Dawn Peak Grand Competition and the top 200 in each of the second and third competitions—a total of 500 disciples across the three competitions—may enter the inner sect directly and become inner sect disciples."

The cultivators in the square looked even more eager than before. What Peak Master Han had said earlier had been vague and intangible, but Elder Meng's talk of entering the inner sect was something solid and real!

"Second, over the next ten years, you will each have two chances every year to enter the sect's Trial Tower. These two chances are very important, so cherish them. If you can enter the top ten of the Trial Tower's annual rankings, you will directly become an inner sect disciple."

"Of course, the rankings are secondary. The Trial Tower holds infinite wonders. You'll understand once you go in and try it for yourselves."

"Alright, I'm done. Senior Brother, Junior Sister Mo, I'll be heading back first."

Having finished crisply and neatly, Elder Meng cupped his fists toward Peak Master Han.

"Let's go together. Zhiping, we'll leave the rest to you."

With that, the three of them soared away through the air without relying on flying swords.

"Yes, Master!" He Zhiping said with a bow.

After the peak master and the two elders departed, murmurs gradually rose from the crowd.

"I'm definitely going to enter the inner sect." Beside Qin Huaian, Lin Qingxuan clenched her little fists, her face flushed red as she spoke excitedly.

Heh, what a chuunibyou girl! Qin Huaian shot her a sidelong glance.

The newly inducted disciples were all young, and many were even teenagers under twenty. There was no lack of people in the crowd who were as excited as Lin Qingxuan, though some wore calm expressions.

More than five thousand people, with only five hundred ultimately selected to enter the inner sect—less than one in ten.

Once the crowd quieted down a little, He Zhiping smiled and said to them:

"Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, all of you newly inducted disciples have arrived. From today onward, you are officially members of the sect."

"The building behind me is East Dawn Peak's Affairs Hall. The Affairs Hall handles resource distribution for East Dawn Peak disciples, the purchase and exchange of medicinal pills and magic treasures, the acceptance of missions, and so on."

"When you receive cultivation resources for the first time, you will also be issued a basic storage pouch, a mid-grade flying sword Dharma Artifact, a basic cultivation method for the Qi Refining Stage, and a basic sword art."

"For other cultivation methods, you may borrow them from the Library Pavilion. The borrowing rules are posted at the entrance, so I won't go into detail."

"Also, at Transmission Cliff on the west side of the square, cultivators at Foundation Establishment and above will be there every day to impart teachings and answer your questions. Those in need may go there on their own."

"Our sect does not impose many restrictions. Everyone may cultivate as they please."

"However, I personally suggest that if you have the ability, try to take on some sect missions to earn Sect Contribution Points."

"That's all. With your Identity Tokens, you may collect your allotted resources at any time. I wish you all an early entry into the inner sect."

"Thank you, Senior Brother He!" Waves of thanks rose from the crowd.

This Senior Brother He seemed like quite a good person. After Qin Huaian thanked him along with everyone else, he prepared to visit the Library Pavilion first.

As the more than five thousand people dispersed, most headed toward the Affairs Hall. It seemed the Affairs Hall disciples would be working overtime today.

The Library Pavilion stood on the east side of the square, and Qin Huaian headed toward it.

"Senior Brother Qin, aren't you going to collect your allotted resources?" Lin Qingxuan asked, tugging at the corner of Qin Huaian's robe.

Qin Huaian quietly moved away a little.

He jerked his chin toward the Affairs Hall. "There are too many people. I'll go later. I'm going to take a look at the Library Pavilion first."

"Oh, oh. Senior Brother Qin, I heard that most of the books in the outer sect Library Pavilion of Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's East Dawn Peak are mundane idle reading. Senior Brother, don't waste too much time there. I'll go line up to collect my resources first."

"Alright, thank you for the reminder, Junior Sister Lin." In truth, Qin Huaian was quite interested in mundane idle reading as well.

When he reached the Library Pavilion on the east side of the square, he saw that it was a three-story building. A notice board stood at the entrance, listing the borrowing rules.

Disciples within East Dawn Peak's ten-year term may read on the first floor for one day free of charge each month. To borrow books, each book costs 100 Sect Contribution Points per month. Reading on the second floor costs 100 Sect Contribution Points per day, and borrowing is not permitted. Reading on the third floor costs 1,000 Sect Contribution Points per day, and borrowing is not permitted.

A line of small print was appended beneath the notice: The books in the Library Pavilion have been specially treated with formations and cannot be stored inside storage Dharma Artifacts. Without permission, they may not be taken out of the Library Pavilion.

He wondered whether Sect Contribution Points were difficult to earn, and what level these Library Pavilion borrowing prices were at. But then again, even if they were a little expensive, that was only right—after all, knowledge was priceless. After reading the notice, Qin Huaian entered the Library Pavilion.

Past the entrance was a not particularly large hall. A desk stood in the center, and an old man was seated behind it, reading. Seeing Qin Huaian enter, the old man looked up and asked, "Newly inducted? Are you here to read or borrow books?"

"Oh, I'm old and muddle-headed. You newcomers don't have Sect Contribution Points, so you can only read on the first floor." The old man smacked his forehead.

Qin Huaian could not see through the old man's cultivation, so he cupped his fists and said, "Senior, may I ask what the differences are between the books on the first, second, and third floors?"

The old man sized Qin Huaian up, then said, "The first floor contains basic books on the hundred arts of cultivation, such as pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations, as well as humanities, geography, historical biographies, and the like."

"The second floor contains cultivation methods. Most are unranked, while a small portion are Yellow-grade cultivation methods."

"The third floor does not have many books. They are all Yellow-grade and Profound-grade cultivation methods."

Qin Huaian knew that cultivation methods were divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. But he had not encountered many cultivation manuals before, so he did not know which grade the cultivation method he practiced belonged to.

"Senior, are there no Earth-grade or Heaven-grade cultivation methods?"

"Earth-grade cultivation methods can serve as the core true inheritance of major sects. If any sect possesses a Heaven-grade cultivation method, it is the sect's foundation. Most sects do not have Heaven-grade cultivation methods."

"Do you think a Library Pavilion open to Qi Refining Stage disciples would have Heaven-grade or Earth-grade cultivation methods?" the old man asked with a beaming smile.

Qin Huaian smiled awkwardly and handed over his Identity Token. "Senior, I would like to read on the first floor for one day."

The old man accepted the Identity Token, placed it on the device beside him, tapped at it a few times in the air, then handed it back to Qin Huaian.

"After one day, the Identity Token will send a reminder. At that time, just come straight out. You may not leave the Library Pavilion midway through."

"Thank you, Senior." Taking back his Identity Token, Qin Huaian entered the first floor of the Library Pavilion.

The Library Pavilion felt rather like a vast library from his previous life, with rows upon rows of shelves and countless books.

Qin Huaian casually picked a bookshelf and looked through it.

Pest Prevention in Spirit Rice Cultivation, Gazetteer of Chen Kingdom, Miscellaneous Discussions on Musical Tuning, Overview of Spirit Bird Husbandry...

Looking at the densely packed rows of enormous bookshelves, Qin Huaian suddenly felt a little lost. The various books had not been sorted at all; they were all mixed together. He wanted to read books about the hundred arts of cultivation, but after looking through this entire shelf, he had not found a single one.

The notice at the entrance said these books could not be placed into storage Dharma Artifacts. He wondered whether they could be stored in the Seed Space.

By now, another two or three disciples had entered the first floor of the Library Pavilion. However, the floor was spacious, and the bookshelves were densely arranged.

Qin Huaian found a secluded spot, casually picked up a book, and with a slight movement of his mind, the book entered the Seed Space.

Unknown book Postpartum Care for Spirit Beasts detected. Record it?

Qin Huaian froze slightly. He had randomly picked up this kind of book!

Record it! Qin Huaian gritted his teeth and silently commanded.

The more skills one had, the better!