"Junior Brother Kong Jiao, I'd like to borrow this book."
At a desk crowded with all sorts of old books and scrolls, a burly man waved a yellowed ancient scroll made of sheepskin at the young man sitting behind it.
The young man's face was pale, as if he hadn't bathed in sunlight for a long time. His long hair was tied back, and he leaned against a reclining chair behind the desk, engrossed in a storybook.
At the man's words, he merely glanced at the ancient scroll in his hand from the corner of his eye and said lazily, "Treatise on Miscellaneous Spirit-Grain Stoves costs one Spirit Crystal to borrow. The loan period is one month. If you extend it, you'll owe another Spirit Crystal for each additional month."
The burly man clearly wasn't borrowing a book for the first time. After tucking the sheepskin scroll into his robes, he carefully pulled out a thumb-sized crystal, milky white with a few yellowish streaks, and placed it on the desk.
Without even turning his head, the young man swept his palm over the desk, and the Spirit Crystal vanished.
Neither of them said another word. The burly man hurried away with Treatise on Miscellaneous Spirit-Grain Stoves in his arms.
Only when the man's back was about to disappear through the doorway
did the young man called Kong Jiao set down his storybook and fix his narrow eyes on the man's retreating figure.
Less than three inches above the man's head floated a wisp of mist that only Kong Jiao could see.
The mist was about the size of a fist and entirely gray. It roiled like a cloud, occasionally revealing traces of thick black.
"All living beings are caught in chaos. Only those with white mist three inches above their heads possess fortuitous opportunities. Senior Brother Mu has been growing spirit grain in the sect for over twenty years. He's a poor soul struggling among the teeming masses, through and through."
"Gray with black mixed in, too. He's probably run into trouble recently. And he's borrowing Treatise on Miscellaneous Spirit-Grain Stoves again. I'd wager there's a problem with his spirit fields."
Kong Jiao muttered to himself, shaking his head as he speculated about the man's recent fortunes.
Afterward, he picked up his brush and recorded the man's name and the borrowed book in the ledger.
Once he'd finished, Kong Jiao no longer felt like reading his storybook. His otherwise decent-looking face creased into a frown, worry written all over it.
"Two years already, and my opportunity still hasn't come!" Kong Jiao scanned the cramped space of the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion, its shelves lined with countless books and bamboo scrolls, his expression tinged with disappointment.
He sat there in a daze for a while, then suddenly closed his eyes.
Deep within his mind, a Cloud-Pattern White Jade Stele appeared of its own accord.
Line after line of text had been clearly engraved across the jade stele's surface.
'Joining the Cangwu Sect grants 1 opportunity point'
'Joined the Cangwu Sect. Opportunity points: 1'
'Electing to study the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture grants 2 opportunity points'
'Elected to study the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture. Opportunity points: 2'
'Taking a post at the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion grants 2 opportunity points'
'Obtained a post at the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion. Opportunity points: 2'
Two years ago, when Kong Jiao had just transmigrated to this world of cultivation, the Cloud-Pattern Stele deep in his consciousness had guided him to join the Cangwu Sect.
Then he had chosen to study the scripture for the Wheel-Nourishing Realm, the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture,
and gone to great lengths to secure a position at the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion.
Kong Jiao had nearly convinced himself he was about to soar to greatness and become one of those peerless geniuses from the stories.
That was before he spent two whole years cooped up in this lifeless outer-sect library.
Time had forced Kong Jiao to face reality, and the fervor in his heart had cooled.
The truth was that, according to the Cloud-Pattern Stele's guidance, after coming to the Cangwu Sect, Kong Jiao was no different from the other outer-sect disciples who had entered alongside him.
At least, that was how it felt to him.
The five opportunity points he'd gained from the Cloud-Pattern White Jade Stele hadn't made him feel any different, either.
Perhaps the only change was that the cloud of mist above Kong Jiao's own head had shifted from a murky gray to gray with a hint of white.
That tiny wisp of white was hard to see unless you looked closely.
It made him only the slightest bit better off than those countless cultivators pursuing the Dao.
That tiny bit isn't enough to change my fortunes. At the thought, Kong Jiao tugged at the corner of his mouth in a self-mocking smile.
For the first few months, Kong Jiao had thought that since the Cloud-Pattern Stele had guided him here, the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion must surely hold some opportunity.
So Kong Jiao had worked with all his might, devouring every book in the entire pavilion until his eyes nearly turned green.
Aside from learning all sorts of strange and unusual things, he hadn't found the slightest clue about any opportunity.
Then he suspected the opportunity might be hidden somewhere in the pavilion itself.
The result was predictable. He'd practically dug three feet into the ground and inspected the mouse holes more than ten times, yet still found nothing.
After two whole years, Kong Jiao had begun to think about giving up.
"Cloud-Pattern Stele! Cloud-Pattern Stele! To get this post, I gave half the ten Spirit Crystals I earned each month to the Outer Sect Affairs Office, just to fill that bloodsucker's belly."
"Two years have passed, and I haven't found a single clue about any opportunity. On top of that, I'm dirt-poor."
Kong Jiao's muttering echoed in his mind.
After grumbling for a while, he slumped into the reclining chair like a deflated ball, picked up his storybook, and read with a blank face.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time Kong Jiao had complained like this over the past two years.
"At least there's this to console me. Even with only two Spirit Apertures, I've reached the third Wheel-Nourishing stage. The geniuses haven't left me too far behind."
The first realm of cultivation was called the Wheel-Nourishing Realm. Cultivators nurtured their Spirit Wheels to gather and absorb spiritual energy.
This realm had nine minor stages, and Kong Jiao was currently at the third.
Given Kong Jiao's talent—he had only opened two Spirit Apertures—reaching the third minor stage in two years really was thanks to the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture.
After all, the other disciples who had entered at the same time as Kong Jiao with a two-aperture talent were mostly still in the second Wheel-Nourishing stage.
Kong Jiao was the only one who had reached the third.
His cultivation speed was nearly on par with that of the outstanding disciples who had opened three apertures.
The number of Spirit Apertures in a person's body determined their cultivation talent.
After all, cultivators absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth through their Spirit Apertures. The more apertures they had, the faster they could absorb it.
The human body had nine apertures, and they usually closed of their own accord at birth.
Only the very few with the aptitude to cultivate could retain a small number of open apertures.
Those born with two Spirit Apertures had ordinary talent.
Three Spirit Apertures could be considered excellent.
Four Spirit Apertures made one a genius.
Those with five Spirit Apertures entered the inner sect directly as Immortal Saplings.
Kong Jiao had never heard of anyone with six or more Spirit Apertures, at least not among the geniuses of the Cangwu Sect.
Strangely enough, quite a few people in the entire Cangwu Sect cultivated the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture, yet only Kong Jiao achieved such remarkable results with it.
He didn't know whether the scripture was exceptionally compatible with the Spirit Apertures in his body, or whether it was the Cloud-Pattern Stele's influence.
"Ah, I'm already stronger than most people. How fickle the human heart is—greed gets the better of us." Thinking about his cultivation, Kong Jiao felt a little less dejected.
The Cloud-Pattern Stele truly possessed mysterious power. It not only let Kong Jiao see other people's fortunes, it could also pinpoint opportunities with uncanny accuracy.
If Kong Jiao hadn't joined the Cangwu Sect, he never would have been able to cultivate the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture.
With his natural talent, he might well have ended up like Senior Brother Mu, tending spirit fields diligently in the Cangwu Sect.
After all, in this world, strength was the only hard truth.
"I'll wait one more year. If my opportunity still doesn't come, I really can't stay in this pavilion any longer." Kong Jiao gritted his teeth, set down his storybook, and gave himself a deadline.
Cultivation required wealth, companions, techniques, and a suitable place. Without Spirit Crystals, he couldn't speed up his cultivation.
Pills, Daoist arts, magical artifacts—not one of them came cheap.
With most of his pay from the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion withheld by the Outer Sect Affairs Office, Kong Jiao had no way to improve his strength quickly.
Just as Kong Jiao was planning out his future path of cultivation,
tap, tap! Footsteps sounded at the entrance.
A tall figure stepped into the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion.
There was no need to look at the newcomer's appearance or build. Kong Jiao glanced at the color of the fortune above his head and immediately recognized him.
The hazy mist, whiter than fresh snow, signified that this person possessed opportunities far beyond those of ordinary people.
In the entire outer sect, Kong Jiao had seen only one person with such fortune.
"Senior Brother Shangguan, what book are you looking for today?" The listless look on Kong Jiao's face vanished, replaced by a sincere smile as he looked at the young man approaching him.
The young man was tall and broad-shouldered, with swordlike brows and bright eyes. His face bore a maturity far beyond his sixteen or seventeen years.
He was none other than the outer sect's newest rising genius, its most sought-after disciple, Shangguan Yuzhou.
He had entered the sect at the same time as Kong Jiao, and had already reached the fourth Wheel-Nourishing stage. He was the first of their cohort to break through to the fourth stage.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would also be the first to enter the inner sect.
"Haha, Junior Brother Kong Jiao, do I have to borrow a book every time I come to the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion?" Shangguan Yuzhou laughed heartily, teasing him.
His casual tone made it obvious how close he and Kong Jiao were.
Shangguan Yuzhou loved reading travelogues left behind by people of earlier generations, and those books were all kept in the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion.
Kong Jiao, meanwhile, was the sect's dedicated disciple responsible for keeping the pavilion's records.
Little by little, the two had become familiar with each other over the past two years. They were probably the closest pair of friends in the entire outer sect.
Besides, Kong Jiao had shown impressive cultivation speed, only one minor stage behind Shangguan Yuzhou, and they had entered the sect at the same time.
Most importantly, Kong Jiao felt that Shangguan Yuzhou never threw his weight around. Though he was a genius, he never put on airs like some of the other outer-sect prodigies.
Shangguan Yuzhou, for his part, thought Kong Jiao was witty, clever, and knew when to advance and when to retreat.
All these threads of fate had made the two friends.
"Everyone knows you love reading travelogues, Senior Brother Shangguan. If you're not here to borrow a book, did you come all this way just to see me?" Kong Jiao raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by Shangguan Yuzhou's excuse.
"Heh, today I really did come specifically to see you, Junior Brother Kong." Shangguan Yuzhou chuckled, his expression touched with mystery.
Kong Jiao raised an eyebrow. Shangguan Yuzhou had two great passions in life: swordplay and reading.
Kong Jiao didn't use a sword, so Shangguan Yuzhou certainly hadn't come to spar with him. And he wasn't here to borrow a book, either.
Then what had he come for?
Kong Jiao spread his hands, looking helpless. "Senior Brother Shangguan, stop keeping me in suspense. There's no way I can guess."
Shangguan Yuzhou didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept across the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion, and once he'd confirmed there was no third person inside, he let his expression turn serious.
He leaned over the desk and spoke in a deliberately lowered voice. "If I remember correctly, Junior Brother Kong Jiao, the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture you cultivate contains a technique called Frost Breath."
The Wheel-Nourishing Scripture was merely a basic cultivation method, and there was little difference in quality between the various scriptures.
At least ten people in the Cangwu Sect cultivated the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture, so the Daoist arts it could be used to perform were no secret.
Kong Jiao didn't deny it. He nodded in response.
But his dark eyes, fixed on Shangguan Yuzhou, held a trace of confusion.
Why is he suddenly asking about this?
Shangguan Yuzhou already knew the secrets of the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture. He'd only asked to make sure.
After receiving confirmation, he continued, "I've come across an opportunity that requires your Frost Breath Technique. Would you be interested in coming with me to claim it, Junior Brother Kong Jiao?"
"As expected of someone blessed with good fortune. Shangguan Yuzhou has already run into an opportunity after just two years in the sect."
Kong Jiao looked envious, but not surprised. After all, the white-snow mist above Shangguan Yuzhou's head meant he was bound to encounter opportunities more easily than ordinary people.
The one thing Kong Jiao hadn't expected was that Shangguan Yuzhou would actually invite him.
When there's an opportunity, don't people usually keep it all to themselves? Who would want to bring someone else along to split what's theirs?
Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed Kong Jiao's mind. He thought he understood.
He had worked at the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion for two years, earning Shangguan Yuzhou's trust along the way, intentionally or otherwise.
And that opportunity happened to require the Frost Breath Technique from the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture he cultivated.
Kong Jiao's strength was no mean feat, placing him just below the ranks of geniuses where Shangguan Yuzhou stood. At the very least, he wouldn't hold Shangguan Yuzhou back.
Putting all the clues together,
Kong Jiao understood the true purpose behind the Cloud-Pattern Stele's guidance to the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion. Perhaps he had been meant to wait for Shangguan Yuzhou's invitation.
The Cloud-Pattern Stele truly is a divine treasure. Kong Jiao was secretly astonished.
Shangguan Yuzhou had no idea that a storm was already brewing in Kong Jiao's heart. He finished speaking, then gazed straight at Kong Jiao, waiting for his answer.
Having figured out the cause and effect, Kong Jiao didn't keep Shangguan Yuzhou waiting long. He looked up at the expectant young man and smiled. "Since you've asked, Senior Brother Shangguan, I'm naturally happy to help."
Almost as soon as Kong Jiao replied,
he could clearly sense a change in the White-Pattern Stele deep in his consciousness.
'Accepting Shangguan Yuzhou's invitation to break the Outer Sect Earth Cave Formation grants 5 opportunity points'
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