With that thought, Jiang Yang closed the scroll of musical notation.
Even from the outside, the scroll was clearly no ordinary object. Luan birds and phoenixes were carved into both ends of its shaft, and it felt warm and smooth in his hands, its materials chosen with great care.
Clearly, considerable thought had gone into its creation. Even Jiang Yang, who knew nothing of music theory, could tell at a glance that it was something fine.
Putting the score away with the Pine Wind Painting scroll, Jiang Yang slowly withdrew.
The place was perfectly preserved, and for some inexplicable reason, he did not want to disturb it. He contented himself with taking only the valuable objects.
The Palace of Guarding the Void was not particularly large. It did not take Jiang Yang long to make a circuit of the main hall and its side halls, inside and out.
Without pausing, he returned to the first side hall. Bai Tang was still beside the pile of books and slips, her silhouette slender above and fuller below.
Jiang Yang approached and asked:
"Senior Bai, have you found anything?"
Bai Tang looked intent. A lustrous jade-green glow rose from her hands, protecting the fragile books and slips as she answered:
"A few things. I've deciphered some of these slips already. They don't contain cultivation methods or spell formulas, but internal records of this Dao lineage."
At this point, Bai Tang's expression grew pensive.
"The Dao lineage of this Blessed Land may be no simple thing..."
"Oh?"
Jiang Yang paused, then asked with considerable interest:
"Which Dao lineage is it?"
"It isn't a question of which one. Its origins are quite distinguished."
Bai Tang shook her head, then continued:
"Do you remember the register you picked up in that little shrine earlier?"
"I do.