"Senior brother, I am Qing Chen, a newly admitted disciple. I have come here to select a cultivation art. This is my identity token."
Qing Chen spoke earnestly as he bowed to a disciple in gray robes guarding the Scripture Repository.
The gray-robed disciple raised his head, revealing a slightly sallow face.
He took the token and examined it several times before tossing it back to Qing Chen, his voice somewhat hoarse:
"Mm. New disciples get one chance to enter the first floor, for just two hours. If you run out of time without choosing, you forfeit the chance. Coming back next time will cost ten contribution points."
Qing Chen caught the token, his thoughts stirring.
He had just heard Senior Brother Gao mention how precious contribution points were, but he did not know exactly how valuable they were.
He quietly circulated his spiritual power and took a Qi Accumulation Pill from his storage pouch.
While the disciple lowered his head to mark a wooden plaque, Qing Chen flicked it lightly. The pill slid into the other man's sleeve, landing right against the inside of his wrist.
"I still know little about the mysteries of the Scripture Repository. Could you tell me about it, senior brother, and explain a thing or two?"
The disciple paused, then lowered his head and felt his cuff. A trace of a smile instantly curled his lips, and his voice grew warmer. "Junior Brother Qing, you know the rules. My name is Qin Zigu. Just call me Senior Brother Qin."
He glanced to either side and lowered his voice. "A chance to enter this floor is very precious to outer disciples. Ten contribution points aren't easy to earn.
"If you do menial work, washing medicine jars for a whole month only earns you one point. Even a spirit stone won't buy you one contribution point. Wouldn't you say they're precious?"
Qing Chen replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Qin. I'll be sure to make the most of my time."
"Don't just choose your cultivation art, either," Qin Zigu added. "Even after you've chosen, browse a few more.
"Next time you want another cultivation art, just go to the Technique Transmission Hall and give its name. They'll deduct the contribution points, saving you another ten points to come in here.
"There's nothing good on the first floor. The mystic grade cultivation arts are all on the second floor, and only inner disciples can enter. Everything here is yellow grade, though better than what you'll find outside. Most are high-tier or peak-tier."
Qing Chen's eyes lit up, and he asked again, "Senior Brother Qin, have you heard of the Everlasting Spring Inner Vista Art? What grade is it? And... is there really not a single mystic grade art on the first floor?"
Qin Zigu frowned, pondered for a moment, and glanced at Qing Chen.
His gaze held scrutiny and some hesitation. Only after a while did he say:
"The Everlasting Spring Inner Vista Art? The Scripture Repository doesn't collect that. It's a low-tier yellow grade art practiced by rogue cultivators outside. It doesn't even qualify for inclusion."
He glanced into the Scripture Repository again, making sure no one was paying attention to them before lowering his voice:
"It's not that there aren't any mystic grade arts. It's just... they all have serious flaws. You might suffer cultivation deviation as you practice. At best, your Dao foundation is ruined; at worst, you die right in your cave abode."
Qing Chen's heart tightened. Sure enough, there was no free lunch in this world.
"Our sect takes a neutral stance. We believe in 'people mastering cultivation arts.' As long as they don't violate the harmony of heaven, even flawed cultivation arts aren't forbidden."
Qin Zigu sighed. "Those problematic mystic grade arts are all piled on the shelves in the western corner of the first floor, covered in dust. Hardly anyone looks at them.
"I advise you not to touch them. Choose a peak-tier yellow grade art, like the Indestructible Vajra Body in the back row. That's a safer choice. Don't throw your life away for a mystic grade art."
Qing Chen thanked him repeatedly, then exchanged a few more pleasantries. "If I have some free time in the future, I'll certainly invite you to the immortal market for a cup of immortal wine and a stroll through the immortal pleasure quarters, Senior Brother Qin."
Qin Zigu smiled and waved a hand. "All right, hurry inside. Your time is nearly up."
Qing Chen stepped into the Scripture Repository. Just as he crossed the threshold, the back of his neck went numb.
It felt as though a needle had pricked his skin, as though a pair of eyes were watching him from the shadows.
He abruptly turned around, but all he saw was Qin Zigu at the entrance, his head lowered as he marked a wooden plaque. Everyone inside the repository was looking down at jade slips. No one paid him any attention.
Was that a protective restriction on the repository? Qing Chen wondered.
He steadied himself and walked farther inside. The repository was quiet, with only the clicking of jade slips knocking together.
Rows of jade slip shelves stood before him, each bearing a handwritten wooden plaque:
"Mid-tier yellow grade - escape arts"
"High-tier yellow grade - body refinement."
Qing Chen did not linger in the front rows and headed straight to the back.
Following Senior Brother Qin's directions, he looked for the high-tier yellow grade and peak-tier yellow grade shelves.
"Seven Baleful Intents Heart Formula - wood attribute, peak-tier yellow grade. Draws baleful energy into the body. Includes a secret art for giving baleful energy form."
"Demon-Trapping Escape Art - no attribute, high-tier yellow grade. Excels at escape. Includes methods for trapping and killing."
"Blazing Incineration Formula - fire attribute, peak-tier yellow grade. Produces fierce magical power. Includes the Blazing Incineration Art."
"Indestructible Vajra Body - earth attribute, peak-tier yellow grade. Primarily focused on body refinement, with astonishing defense."
Qing Chen picked up the jade slip for the Indestructible Vajra Body. The moment his fingers touched it, an introduction to the cultivation art appeared in his mind:
"Draw earth spiritual energy into the meridians and temper the flesh daily. At full mastery, the body can withstand high-tier magical artifacts..."
His thoughts stirred. If he practiced this, he would be able to hold out a little longer when he encountered danger in the future.
He picked up the jade slip for the Seven Baleful Intents Heart Formula next. Spiritual energy entered his mind, but it carried a faint trace of savagery:
"The baleful energy of heaven and earth may arise in mass graves or accumulate on battlefields... it must be tamed through willpower. The slightest carelessness allows baleful energy to assault the heart, reducing the practitioner to a raving madman..."
Qing Chen frowned.
This cultivation art was powerful, but its risks were also great.
He spent an hour browsing the back rows, holding five or six jade slips and comparing them repeatedly.
The Spirit Giant Turtle Art was water-based and suited to prolonged battles; the Spirit Wood Life-Nurturing Formula allowed self-healing, but it was too gentle and slow to cultivate;
The Indestructible Vajra Body was still the safest choice. Though dangerous, the Seven Baleful Intents Heart Formula was a cut above the Indestructible Vajra Body in power.
Considering that he possessed mid-tier five spiritual roots, both cultivation arts suited him.
If only there were a mystic grade art... A thought suddenly rose in Qing Chen's mind.
What if he could master those flawed mystic grade arts Senior Brother Qin had mentioned?
He recalled his time on Immortal-Severing Island. From refugee to assistant military commandant, which step had not been won through a gamble?
If he merely chose a safe peak-tier yellow grade art, what would it matter even if he reached the middle Qi Refining stage within eight years?
It certainly could not offer as much help as a mystic grade cultivation art!
He gritted his teeth, returned the jade slips in his hands to the shelves, and headed toward the western corner.
The farther he walked into the corner, the colder the air grew. A thin layer of dust covered the shelves; clearly, few people came here.
On the top shelf lay several jade slips wrapped in black cloth, with the word "Danger" embroidered on the fabric.
Qing Chen intended to take a look first and reached toward the black cloth.
He took a deep breath and lifted the black cloth, revealing the jade slips inside.