Luòchén frowns at the Hall Master Yùhuá’s words. Then he senses a divine sense, almost imperceptible. He slaps at empty air, sending Dànxīng’s divine sense back. She noticed this but didn't say a word. A small smile crept, at least it seems like Dànxīng’s talent in Soul Arts will be much better. But it's better for him to not listen in right now. For precaution, he blocks the entire room from further prying. Only then, his attention back to the still bowing Hall Master.

  “Raise your head. Speak. What is wrong with Dànxīng?” He starts

  “Thank you elder.” She finished bowing and sat in her seat across the table

  “So?” Luòchén asked again as Yùhuá ponder on what to say

  “Dànxīng only has three High Mortal spiritual roots.” She finally answers

  A small creak sounds and the Hall Master flinched

  “And?” Surely she doesn’t call him to speak privately only for this. Is it his second disciple again?

  “That’s not what I mean Elder.” She quickly tries to correct herself

  “You know that mortals and Cultivators have all five spiritual roots, but they are-”

  “Get to the point.” Luòchén interrupt, his old temper starts flaring

  “Yes! What I meant is that Dànxīng does not have water and wood spiritual roots. Like nothing at all.” Yuhua explains in one breath

  Luochen’s Qi returns and the Hall Master heaves a slight relief. She then wipes her sweat using her Qi to maintain some air of composure. Luochen meanwhile finally understood what was wrong. Mortals and Cultivators, even beasts, all have five spiritual roots. It is when the rank of at least one spiritual root on Upper Mortal which made them can cultivate. It doesn’t mean a Cultivator only has one or more of those spiritual roots. However, most if not all cultivation manuals, even if not explicitly stated, make use of this as this is the natural state of things. Not having one or more spiritual roots at all means that someone is either a cripple or not a complete being. While Danxing looks like the latter, both can be the result of someone being a victim of demonic cultivator or a demonic cultivator themselves.

  “I’m sure you know what to do with this information.” Luochen finally speaks after understanding the situation

  “Of course.” Hall Master Yuhua nodded

  While the information themselves is not too sensitive, it is the others reaction on having this information is the problem. Discrimination is the least bad thing that can happen. While Luochen doesn't doubt that he can take care of any incoming problem, it is not ideal that he is not a complete being is the first thing that is known about Danxing. Not to mention he doesn't know Danxing quite well yet if he can take care of such pressure.

  “So, he will be kicked out soon then?” Yuhua dares herself to ask

  “What!? no.”

  “Well, he can’t exactly continue cultivating. It would be better that way, no?” She continues

  “He’s my son.” Luochen defends Danxing

  “Then you know that sooner or later, someone will know this. Ambitious and petty cultivators will try to use him as their stepping stone. Even the body tempering path requires all five spiritual roots to be intact too.” She adds.

  She knows that it is better to quickly kick Danxing out and set him up with enough wealth to live somewhere. It might be quite callous but that is the best case scenario for someone like him. She has read the record of Xia’s brutal campaign in exterminating demonic cultivators a thousand years ago and parents or siblings getting rid of their crippled kin is not uncommon. Something that cultivators still practice to this day.

  “That’s where you are wrong.” Luochen said as he stood and Yuhua followed

  “There is still one way he can cultivate.” He adds as he dispel the barrier within the room

  Yuhua thinks again. There’s still a way? Then her eyes went wide as she realized her mistake.

  “I apologize for my presumptuousness, elder.” She bowed and apologized again

  “Your reaction is… understandable.” Luochen then said before leaving the office

  Yuhua slumped back to her chair. Only then she realizes that her entire back is cold from sweat. This is not her first time dealing with Elder Luochen but still it is nerve wracking. Others may not feel it, but speaking with Elder Luochen feels like someone deciding not to kill you after every sentence. A perk from her cutivation arts that she practices. Not to mention the false sense of security that immediately disarms someone from their previous vigilance. No wonder her master is always reluctant to meet him.

  —

  Hmmm. The office is no longer blocked. But it looks like the conversation has ended already. I thought I could eavesdrop but it seems I am not skilled enough yet.

  “And that’s the mission hall, you can take missions there and obtain merit points that you can spend in Treasure Hall.” Qingfeng said like a tour guide

  “Uh, Qingfeng, I can just call you that, yes? No need for a senior brother and the like?” I try to ask

  “Sure? Since I don’t need to call you a young master.”

  “Okay then. So, I appreciate you telling me which building is which. But truthfully, all these buildings look the same to me.” To this he looks positively annoyed

  “That’s why I told you to just look for the huge plaque on top of each building door or gates. Are you not listening?” He repeats something I definitely did not hear

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Well, no. been trying to eavesdrop on the private conversation between the old man and that hall master.” Qingfeng immediately perk up in slight excitement

  “Oh? What did you hear?”

  That I cannot continue cultivating.

  “He kicks my divine sense before I can hear something important.” I decided to hear it from the old man himself about this matter

  “Tch.”

  Though I am very tempted to see Qingfeng’s reaction on this matter. To gauge his reaction on this matter. Though it seems like this cultivating is the central belief of this cult. So maybe let’s not randomly say that. It would be something like saying that I don’t believe in God in a church. No wait, I won’t exactly get a problem if I say that in church so that won’t be the exact analogy. There’s no telling what will happen in this cult. I will probably get lynched.

  “One more thing, when you see the elder of the Grand Library, don’t be discourteous." Qingfeng suddenly said

  “Why so? Why would I?” I asked but he didn’t answer

  We finally reached the Grand library. A huge and singularly tall building, surrounded by a massive courtyard instead of other building complexes. At least this one can be easily remembered, being the tallest one. Also the huge Grand Library emblazoned on a huge plaque above the massive door.

  Then there he is, sitting on a chair and desk beside the entrance is a man who looks to be in his early thirties. Balding head and chubby body. Both feet without shoes on the desk while he himself was busy drilling his nose with his pinky finger.

  “Greetings Elder Tianjiao (天驕|Heaven’s Pride), I am guiding my master's newest disciple in taking his cultivation arts manual.” Qingfeng cupped his hands and bowed

  I wave at the Elder. Who just raised his eyebrows as he scanned me up and down.

  “He fit the minimum requirement. He can go ahead alone. As usual he has five incense sticks of time.” The Grand Library elder then said (5 times 5 minutes)

  ‘Am I supposed to know how long an incense stick of time is?’ I connect to Qingfeng and asked

  ‘Around two times it takes to drink a cup of tea.’ He answers with another nonsensical time measurement. (around 2 times 10 to 15 minutes)

  ‘The fuck!?’

  ‘Fuck?’

  These people nuts! Of course I already disconnected my telepathy. Fuck it, let’s just get inside and see what happens. As soon as I entered, one of the five incense sticks in an incense pot lit up. What happens with the civilized minutes and hours man? The inside of the library is arrayed in a hexagonal shape. The entrance side, then lower left and right, upper left and right, and the front .Regardless, I don’t know how long any of the time measurements were used so I immediately browsed to the nearest shelf on the lower right. Let’s see.

  Golden Yang Radiant Finger, Shadow Phantom Finger, Ancient Spirit-Sealing Finger. Of course. Fingering techniques. What am I even expecting. I immediately put the Ancient Spirit-Sealing book back to where it was. Then I move to another shelf besides these.

  Profound Yin Frost Fist, Golden Yang Radiant Fist, then I closed my six eyes. Or rather, turning it off and on since I did not have eyelids. Now fisting techniques, of course. So I moved to another shelf across.

  These ones are filled with sword manuals. Finally, something that made sense. But I did not have a sword so I moved on. Spears, some type of polearm, bows, blades. Why the fuck do blades are separate with swords? I check the images in one of the blades manual and the dude in it is using a curved sword. Then it finally made sense. The shelves on the left side are therefore on weapons while on the right side are like manuals on martial arts or something. Maybe. Those are martial arts books right? Right?

  I looked back and three of the incense sticks were already burnt and the fourth one started burning. So I went to the other three shelf sections in a hurry. The upper left is filled with some sort of spell manuals. The upper right is filled with some sort of array or formation manuals. The very front of the shelf section is illusion arts. Also the section with the least shelves and least manuals. After noting what sort of manuals there are, I immediately put the soul arts manual back to their place. I always want to try to be a wizard. Hopefully not D&D wizard that can only cast three spells per day.

  But then, my hand brushed against one of the thin soul arts manuals. A torrent of visions exploded into my mind. A cataclysmic storm thundered forth, lightning cracking like whips across a blackened sky, the acrid scent of ozone searing his nostrils. No, not storm and lightning, but gunfire and sulphur and the chlorine-like scent near high-voltage equipment. Then flames erupt and the burning of everything. Then the sound of a book falling. Breaking me from my reverie.

  DROP ONE MORE BOOK AND I WILL BEAT YOUR ASS UNTIL YOU CAN’T SIT FOR THE YEAR!

  The roar of Elder Tianjiao encompasses the building and everything, echoing for a long while. Fucking hell, my ears. I lift my hands on where my ears are supposed to be. Do I still have ears? Can it still bleed? I checked my hands and it was dry. I rub the place where my ears are supposed to be again, before looking down. I warily picked up the manual, no visions this time. This is one of the thinnest manuals on the shelf. Titled, Celestial Soul Projection Manual.

  Times up

  A weary and old voice, not the elder’s suddenly sounded. I blinked and I am already outside the library. I just shrugged and opened the manual and perused it. Essentially, it describes an illusion spell that allows the illusion to have its real weight and can affect the real world. Since it is thin, it is also detailed enough that it can theoretically copy and remake everything that the user has a good degree of knowledge or familiarity with. Then, following the instructions, I made a replica of chainsword. Feeling its weight on my hand.

  “NOO! Why did you pick an illusion art manual!?” Came Qingfeng distressed voice as he grips his hair

  “What’s wrong with this one?” I ask what his deal is

  “No one is practicing illusion arts here. Let me see what manual you get.” Baldy Tianjiao then said as he stands

  I gave him the manual no problem. He speed read through the manual before throwing the manual back to me. Then he made a projection of a sword, the sword then flew around before creating some kind of energy slashes, then split into multiple swords, each with their own attacks. Then the sword returns to one and floats to one side. Then a shield appears next. On it are intricate patterns. The sword strikes the shield, making an ear splitting noise and an impact that displaced the wind. Then suddenly a naked lady. Which immediately dispelled along with the rest of the projection. The elder looked at me, Qingfeng, and any other disciple nearby. A silent warning for all to not say anything.

  “An illusion art that can have weight. Not a bad choice but still the wrong one.” He then concludes and back to his sitting position

  “How so? It is capable of quite a feat from what you have shown.” I ask for confirmation

  “Yes, it can replicate certain weapons and use that replicated weapon to unleash their respective art's most powerful technique. But then, you don’t need to bother to learn this illusion art.”

  “Why though? Surely two weapons that can unleash powerful techniques are better than one.” I made another chainsword, wielding one in each hand and turning it on

  “Yes, then if it misses, your Qi will be exhausted and the enemy can easily slit your throat.” He adds

  I dispelled my own illusions. Hmmm. Haven’t thought that far yet. The ergonomics of Qi usage. So if I use Qi to make a replica of an artifact, it will cost potentially a huge amount of Qi. Then using both artifact and ultimate skill can immediately drop my Qi to zero. Which is deadly for magic casters which these cultivators are partially from what I deduce.

  “I see. So the idea of this manual is to at least never be caught unarmed.” At least that’s what I can think of.

  “Huh. Not bad.” Elder Tianjiao then adds. Looks like he doesn’t consider this angle

  I guess in a world of powerful arts and techniques, illusion arts like this are considered a waste of Qi. But well, I think this is quite perfect for me. I now can have the ultimate Texas dream, having any guns I ever want. Finally watching plenty of youtube videos on how the weapon system works might be useful. I don’t know how effective guns might be here but surely it is not null.