For an entire day, Ji Changkong found no opportunity to enter that small, coveted section of shelves. During this time, he could only circle the other bookcases, flipping through scriptures that detailed the origins of the Tianshi and the divisions of their cultivation realms.

Ji Changkong was not entirely without reward.

Over the course of the day, he managed a cursory scan of all the miscellaneous foundational books detailing the Tianshi realm divisions and expounding on the relationship between meridians, flesh and bone, and Yuan Power.

So-called Tianshi were cultivators capable of wielding the power between Heaven and Earth!

The cultivation of a Tianshi was divided into ten major realms: Yiyuan, Liangyi, Sancai, Sixiang, Wuxing, Liuhe, Qixing, Bagua, Jiugong, and Shifang.

Each of these ten realms possessed a unique cultivation method, sometimes borrowing the strength of the Sixiang, sometimes utilizing the power of the Wuxing, or perhaps even soaring spiritually among the Qixing and the sun and moon, wielding the power of the cosmos as they pleased.

The books Ji Changkong glanced through only offered a crude explanation of the basic principles of Tianshi cultivation; they offered not a single word on the specifics of how to practice. He flipped through every book, yet failed to find the cultivation secrets he desperately needed.

Soon, dusk deepened, and it was unclear when, but several oil lamps had silently been lit throughout the Scripture Repository.

It was only then that the young men of the Ji clan began to feel hunger. After staring at Tianshi secrets and techniques all day, some gradually lost their patience. Recalling they still had two more days to return, they decided against lingering and began leaving the Repository in trickles.

Ji Yueqing and Ji Xiaolian held out until the latter half of the night, yawning continuously, and ultimately departed due to the intense pangs of hunger.

A short while later, Ji Changle and Ji Changsheng, who had been on the second floor, also descended, weary. Their eyes were dull and yellowish, their spirits flagging—they must have exerted themselves considerably upstairs. This time, Ji Changle didn't bother provoking Ji Changkong; he merely cast a disdainful glance his way before walking out of the Repository shoulder-to-shoulder with Ji Changsheng.

Gradually, fewer and fewer people remained in the Repository, and finally, a large section of the eastern corner on the first floor became vacant.

Ji Changkong, who had been pacing the outer edges all day, silently chewed and swallowed the steamed buns he had brought in that morning. The clarity in his bright eyes began to sharpen, little by little...

The opportunity had finally arrived!

It was already the hour of Chou (1 a.m. to 3 a.m.), the time of day when people are most susceptible to sleepiness. Many of the collateral Ji clan descendants still remaining on the first floor, though holding scrolls in their hands, had begun emitting snores of varying volume.

Ji Changkong crouched low, carefully sidestepping two collateral descendants sleeping soundly against the bookcases, and finally, silently positioned himself at the spot he had eyed earlier that day!

Taking a deep breath, his fingers trembled slightly as he excitedly pulled down a scripture from the shelf. Holding it close to the lamplight, he read the title: Lingyun Yuanqi Jue (Cloud-Soaring Yuan Energy Art).

Good, this was truly a secret art for cultivation realms, not a secret technique for attacking with Yuan Power! Ji Changkong rejoiced internally, managing to forcibly suppress his surging excitement, and quickly focused his attention—he knew his time was limited.

Opening the first page, amidst the thunderous snores surrounding him, Ji Changkong began silently reciting the contents in his mind...

After fifteen minutes, Ji Changkong decisively placed the Lingyun Yuanqi Jue back in its place. He then pulled down another scripture from the shelf, titled Nuyan Kuanggang (Raging Flame Fierce Barrier)—this was a Tianshi secret technique for attacking using Yuan Power.

After turning just one page and confirming it was a Tianshi secret technique rather than a cultivation secret art, Ji Changkong hesitated not at all, quickly returning the Nuyan Kuanggang to its spot.

On tiptoe, Ji Changkong reached up high and pulled down another scripture, titled Xisui Naoshen Jing (Marrow-Washing Brain Nerve Scripture)—a Tianshi secret art.

A fresh surge of joy hit him. Ji Changkong carefully cradled the Xisui Naoshen Jing in his palm, brought it close to the candlelight, and began reciting silently again under the dim, yellow glow.

...

As the sky began to faintly lighten toward morning, Ji Changkong had managed to read four basic Tianshi secret arts on the first floor.

It was only when the sound of roosters crowing drifted in from outside the Repository that Ji Changkong reluctantly returned the scripture he hadn't finished reading to its place. Before the two collateral Ji descendants beside him could fully awaken from their hazy slumber, Ji Changkong tiptoed back to the secluded corner where he had spent the day.

Casually pulling down a book describing the might of Tianshi from the nearby shelf, Ji Changkong sat silently on the Repository’s cold terrazzo floor, nibbling on yesterday’s hard bun while squinting at the book in his hands.

After a while, Ji Changkong used the scripture to shield his eyes, mentally reciting the contents of the four Tianshi cultivation secret arts he had memorized the night before, over and over. Only when he could no longer fight the exhaustion did he allow himself a brief, shallow sleep.

...

The day passed quietly and quickly. Time blurred, and night fell once more.

It was the hour of Chou again.

Ji Changkong, who had been shrinking in the secluded corner of the first floor, suddenly saw his eyes light up. Taking advantage of the snoring emanating from the east corner, Ji Changkong resumed the work he had left unfinished the previous night.

He knew his only chance to pore over those Tianshi cultivation secret arts was when others were deep in sleep. He also knew that after this night, he might never have another opportunity to touch those essential arts. Thus, Ji Changkong was even faster than the night before; the moment a Tianshi cultivation secret art was in his grasp, he focused all his attention on memorizing its contents.

"Ahem..."

In the deep silence of the night, a faint cough suddenly sounded from within the Repository. Though the cough was minuscule, the highly vigilant Ji Changkong heard it instantly.

Startled by the soft sound, Ji Changkong shot his head up, only to find an old woman standing beside him, frowning, though he couldn't recall when she had arrived.

Still clutching a Tianshi secret art tightly, Ji Changkong bared his teeth in a slight smile. He glanced at the snoring collateral descendants beside him before quietly asking, "You must be Granny Mo, the one in charge of guarding the Scripture Repository?"

Before entering, Ji Wanyun had told Ji Changkong that an old woman was always stationed here; her surname was Mo, and her name was Mo Yunyi. She usually rested in a small room at the very top of the Repository, rarely leaving either the building or that upper chamber. Ji Changkong had been in the Repository for nearly two days and nights without seeing Mo Yunyi, and now she appeared suddenly in the dead of night.

"Mm..." Mo Yunyi nodded, her cloudy old eyes briefly glancing at the Tianshi secret art Ji Changkong held so firmly. With an undeniable tone, she commanded, "Hand it to me!"

Ji Changkong froze, puzzled why the guardian of the Repository would demand a Tianshi secret art from him. After a moment of stunned hesitation, Ji Changkong respectfully cupped the book, the Zhansi Lu (Severing Threads Record), in both hands and handed it over.

"Last night you began memorizing its contents. By tonight, including this one, you have reviewed six rudimentary Tianshi cultivation secret arts! Boy, can you actually retain what you read?" Granny Mo flipped a page of the Zhansi Lu casually and read aloud: "Raise the enlightened sword, sever the threads of longing, threads of resentment, and threads of anger in the heart; only then can the mind be clear, and essence, energy, and spirit coalesce into one, uniting with Heaven and Earth!"

Pausing, this suddenly appearing Mo Yunyi looked at the slightly tense Ji Changkong and frowned, "Boy, what does this passage mean?"

"Calm the heart! Discard all chaotic thoughts. The so-called threads of longing, resentment, and anger should refer to the Seven Emotions and Six Desires... meaning, during cultivation, one must sever all distracting thoughts that might disturb the stability of one's state of mind. Only when the heart is empty and clear can essence, energy, and spirit form a marvelous resonance, merging as one with Heaven and Earth!" Ji Changkong didn't overthink it, explaining his understanding of the passage immediately.

The formerly cloudy eyes of Mo Yunyi suddenly flashed with a dazzling brilliance that made Ji Changkong’s eyes ache slightly. As the sharp glint vanished, she abruptly closed her eyelids, seemingly processing the content of Ji Changkong's explanation.

After a moment, as if needing to prove something, she sharply reopened her eyes and reached up to the shelf directly above Ji Changkong’s head, pulling down another scripture—it was the Xisui Naoshen Jing Ji Changkong had memorized the previous night. She quickly flipped a page, rapidly read a section of obscure scripture, and then asked Ji Changkong what the new passage implied.

A faint smile played on Ji Changkong's lips; his mind was peaceful, and he softly narrated his interpretation of that passage.

Mo Yunyi nodded repeatedly, the clarity in her aged eyes growing brighter. She retrieved yet another scripture from the shelf and posed several more questions to Ji Changkong. To every one, Ji Changkong answered fluently, with barely any pause.

"Including the Zhansi Lu, you have memorized all six secret arts for cultivating Tianshi?" Mo Yunyi asked, staring blankly at Ji Changkong after a long silence. Even though she had just tested him, she still found it hard to believe and needed confirmation directly from his lips.

"Mm, I remember them all," Ji Changkong answered obediently.

An unstoppable shock registered on Mo Yunyi’s face. Finally convinced, her ancient, stooped body trembled lightly, seeming as if she might collapse at any moment.

Seeing her like this, a panic flared in Ji Changkong’s heart. Without thinking, he rushed forward, intending to support her.

"No need!" Mo Yunyi lightly pushed him away, then took several deep breaths to steady her racing emotions. She then fixed her gaze on Ji Changkong and questioned, "Do you know why the Ji clan youths are only permitted entry to the Scripture Repository after undergoing the Trial, and why they are only allowed three days inside?"

"Those who pass the Trial have proven their willpower, body, and age meet the requirements for practicing Tianshi secret arts. The reason for the Trial might be to ensure they build a solid foundation. As for the three-day limit, it should allow the testers to select the Tianshi secret arts or techniques truly suited to their cultivation. Since every secret art or technique is difficult to master, grasping at too many things at once is a major taboo—trying to learn everything might result in mastering nothing... uh... I think that's the intent..." Ji Changkong glanced furtively at the old woman, expressing his thoughts with slight uncertainty.

Mo Yunyi stared at Ji Changkong as if he were a strange anomaly. After a long silence, she finally couldn't help but praise, "Of all the little whelps in the Ji clan, it seems not everyone is a brute! At least, among the Ji heirs, there is a boy like you who can perceive the deeper meaning! To grasp my painstaking intentions at such a young age is truly rare!"

"Hmph, those little rascals... including a few of the older ones—they all think I'm just hoarding treasures from them! They are all fools!"

After a moment of hesitation, she asked Ji Changkong with surprise, "Since you see clearly and understand the principles so well, why did you rely on your talent to memorize so many scriptures? Furthermore, what you memorized were all secret arts for cultivating the Tianshi realm, not secret techniques for manipulating Yuan Power! While practicing several offensive secret techniques simultaneously might barely be understandable... cultivating several secret arts at once will only lead to a dead end! Surely you understand this logic?"

"I certainly won't cultivate several secret arts together; it’s just that I am different from others..." Ji Changkong’s expression darkened with sorrow and disappointment. "I have never been able to gather Yuan Power. The foundation of every secret art and technique is Yuan Power; without it, one can never become a Tianshi. I memorized the contents of those scriptures simply to try them one by one, hoping one might enable me to gather Yuan Power."

"So it is you..." Mo Yunyi seemed to recognize Ji Changkong. After a period of silence, her expression softened with comfort, and she whispered to him, "From now on, you can sneak in here, but you must not let your Second Grandfather know, understand?"

Ji Changkong’s body shook. He stared in disbelief at Mo Yunyi, who seemed to be speaking with complete sincerity. Overjoyed, he asked breathlessly, "You... you mean... I can come anytime... anytime...?"

Mo Yunyi recognized this child. Seeing his expression of delirious joy as he sought confirmation, her heart couldn't help but ache a little. She nodded, confirming, "That’s right! You can sneak into the Scripture Repository from now on, but you must come alone, and be very careful that your Second Grandfather never finds out, understood?"

"Understood!" Ji Changkong’s spirit trembled. He nodded heavily, then quietly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Granny Mo!"

"You child, go back and rest early today. Your body is frail, unlike those simple-minded brutes with strong limbs. Don't waste away here. Over two whole days, you've only eaten three steamed buns—how can that sustain you! From now on, you can come to the Scripture Repository whenever you wish!" Mo Yunyi reached out and gently patted Ji Changkong’s head, sighing with maternal tenderness.

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