Chapter 168 – Scripture Hall

  Jun De followed Shen Weifeng down a stone path lined with tall trees that rustled in the mountain breeze. The walk was short, but the atmosphere grew steadily heavier and thicker, as the arrays protecting this part of the Sect were amongst the strongest on Tranquil Mountain.

  At the end of the path was the Scripture Hall.

  The building rose from the mountainside like a silent monument, its roof tiles were a deep green, each etched with flowing patterns that glimmered in the sunlight. Tall pillars of polished white stone framed the entrance, carved with designs of sages mediating, swords cutting through clouds, and even dragons coiling around mountains.

  A plaque hung above the doors, bold characters inscribed with strokes so forceful that Jun De felt the lingering intent of the Sect’s Founder who had written them ten thousand years before. They were like a sword pressed up against his neck, or an ocean of weight pushing down on him.

  They proclaimed this place the ‘Scripture Hall.’

  “Steady, Junior Brother Jun. Those words may be old, but they are no less potent now than when the Founder wrote them.” Shen Weifeng warned. The pair pushed past the uncomfortable feeling the script gave them as they entered the hall.

  Inside, the air was cool and still, carrying the smell of old paper and ink. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched into the high-vaulted hall, each section neatly labelled. There were scrolls, jade slips, bamboo records, and even manuals written on beast leather.

  The walls themselves were lined with even more shelves, holding thick jade tablets that were sealed within a spiritual array for preservation. These rare items wouldn’t be given out to study, but rather copies had been made for the Disciples.

  A soft glow lit the shelves, but rather than from spirit stones embedded in walls or lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the light came from the scrolls and jade slips themselves as the countless years of spiritual energy suffused everything in the hall.

  Several Disciples in blue robes moved quietly through the aisles, studying slips or taking notes. Some under the supervision of Elders or more senior Disciples. There were grey-robed servant Disciples maintaining the scrolls, their cultivations all in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

  When Shen Weifeng entered, several of the more junior Disciples glanced up at him and respectfully clasped their hands in greeting, while the Servant Disciples bowed. Then, almost inevitably, their eyes drifted to Jun De.

  The entire Inner Sect had known that Jun De had entered seclusion to reach Foundation Establishment the day before, and they were shocked to see that he had succeeded in a single night!

  The whispering from the Disciples broke the silence in the Hall, and even several of the Elders didn’t react to silence them as they were also studying Jun De intently. While many of the Disciples may not have known about the phenomenon above Jun De’s residence, the Core Formation Elders had been aware immediately, and knew the Sect Master himself had to intervene to conceal it.

  Shen Weifeng, ignoring the scrutiny directed at them, walked forward steadily with his hands clasped behind his back.

  “Welcome to the Scripture Hall. Within these walls lie the foundation of the Tranquil Mountain Sect’s strength. You’ll need to find a new cultivation method, along with movement and support techniques.” Weifeng murmured softly, mindful of his voice so as not to allow it to carry far.

  “Do you have any recommendations?” Jun De asked.

  Shen Weifeng opened his mouth, ready to guide Jun De toward the shelves containing the suitable Foundation Establishment Manuals. The former Elder’s expression had settled into that of a responsible senior preparing to lecture a junior, a serious look that Jun De had come to know well.

  But before Shen Weifeng could speak, the soft tapping of wooden sandals sounded behind them. Both men turned to see an elderly man approaching them at an unhurried pace. His back was stooped with age, but the spiritual pressure around him was unmistakably in the Core Formation Stage.

  He wore the blue Inner Sect robes of an Elder, with their gold trim that glowed faintly with inner light. A pure white beard flowed down nearly to his waist, and his hair was bound in a neat topknot secured by a sapphire and gold clasp.

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  Despite his frail-looking appearance, his eyes were bright and sharp as he assessed Jun De’s cultivation critically. Evidently satisfied with what he saw, the old man stopped in front of them and gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

  “Shen Weifeng.” The older man greeted Weifeng, who clasped his hands and bowed deeply in respect.

  “And this must be the young Disciple who caused such a stir yesterday.” The Elder said, and Jun De tilted his head slightly in confusion at the statement, before remembering his manners. He matched Weifeng’s deep bow and clasped his hands.

  “Elder, this Disciple greets you.”

  The old man’s lips curved into a faint smile, and he waved his hand dismissively.

  “There is no need for excessive formality from you. Xaio Weifeng, on the other hand…” The Elder trailed off in amusement as Shen Weifeng frowned and straightened his back.

  “Junior Brother Jun De, this is Elder Zhen Ronghai. He oversees the Scripture Hall and has guided generations of Inner Sect Disciples.” A warmth entered Weifeng’s voice as he spoke of the Elder, and Jun De could see the genuine respect Weifeng had for Elder Zhen.

  “He was also a great mentor of mine in my youth.”

  Elder Zhen stroked his long beard as he scrutinized Shen Weifeng.

  “A mentor, perhaps. Whether Xaio Weifeng was a good student is a matter that can still be debated. He was quite the rascal in his youth, if I recall correctly. Always getting into fights and chasing after the young women of Snowcloud Pavilion.” Elder Zhen’s eyes were full of delight at teasing Weifeng.

  Shen Weifeng coughed lightly into his fist, as he looked away with a flash of embarrassment.

  “Jun De is here for a cultivation method, Elder, along with any techniques that may be suitable for him.” Shen Weifeng quickly explained in an attempt to change the subject.

  Zhen Ronghai nodded.

  “The Sect Master informed me directly of your success before the sun had even risen.” Elder Zhen replied.

  Shen Weifeng blinked in surprise at the revelation.

  “The Sect Master contacted Elder Zhen personally?” Shen Weifeng asked. He had underestimated the Sect’s interest in Jun De’s future, although he should have known that such a quick breakthrough to Foundation Establishment would be noted by the Sect Master himself.

  “Mn, he was quite insistent that I prepare for your arrival.” Elder Zhen said with a nod. He lifted his right hand and held it out with the palm skyward.

  With a soft hum, several jade slips materialized in his palm. Each one radiated a spiritual pressure, with one in particular shining with an intense golden light.

  “I was instructed to bring these directly to you.” Elder Zhen said, focusing his full attention on Jun De.

  “The Sect Master has already selected your cultivation method, as well as the techniques you will be required to study.”

  Jun De felt his breath catch. This was odd; no one had chosen anything for him in the Outer Sect. Even his Sword Art had only been suggested by Mu Yanyu, and that had been more of a transaction or trade than a requirement to study.

  “Required, Elder?” Jun De asked tentatively, and the Elder nodded.

  “Required.” Elder Zhen confirmed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

  “You will find the contents unusual, even amongst the Tranquil Mountain Sect’s oldest collections. In fact, to my knowledge, no Disciple currently living has ever practiced these arts. They were archived long ago and have remained untouched for centuries.”

  Elder Zhen held his hand out to Jun De, who let out a small sigh before reaching over and taking the slips. They felt far heavier in his hand than he had expected, and oddly warm to the touch, as though they had been left out in the sun.

  “I have no doubt that you will have the same success with these techniques as you had with your Foundation Establishment.”

  Jun De, not having any other choice, placed them in his storage bag and bowed deeply to the Elder.

  While Jun De was receiving his required cultivation method and other techniques, Bai Xuelian was still in her cultivation chamber, attempting to reach Foundation Establishment.

  She was sitting in the center of her cultivation chamber, with her back straight and her breathing steady as she circulated the Qi within her. For months, she had laboured, first drawing in the spiritual energy from the Qi gathering array and meditating to achieve the proper mental state.

  Every impurity in her body had been purged, and after all her hard work, she had finally swallowed the Foundation Establishment pill. She had been as prepared as she could have been for the torrent of energy that battered her Dantian and meridians.

  The raw power of the pill had enough pain that someone without the proper mental fortitude would have perished. But she had persisted, and now she could look at the Sea of Qi in her Dantian that had turned to crystal.

  Unlike the perfect, crystalline transformation of legend, Bai Xuelian’s foundation carried the faint murkiness that all cultivators had to repair when reaching Foundation Establishment. No one formed a flawless foundation.

  Not a single cultivator could escape the stubborn impurities or flaws that came from mortal imperfection.

  After the Sea of Qi had crystallized, the true work began. With the utmost care and patience, she had guided her Qi to chisel and scrape away the imperfections, refining the spiritual energy and forcing the impurities out of her foundation.

  This was the true work of cultivation. It was the slow, deliberate effort that required absolute focus.

  Oddly, it had been easier than she had expected. Since her time in the Ironvein Quarry Sect, her cultivation had been more straightforward, with fewer blocks or problems. Her foundation had formed weeks earlier than anticipated, with far fewer impurities than she had been told would happen.

  “Master was right, the Ironvein Quarry Sect was truly the perfect place to prepare.”

  For some reason, she thought of Jun De, and a surge of excitement ran through her. It had been months since she had last seen him, and she couldn’t wait to show him her progress.

  “Maybe I will take him into the skies on my flying sword.” Bai Xuelian thought, before returning to her work of fixing her foundation and making it as perfect as possible.