The sheer volume of clandestine manuals gave Ye Wen a headache; destroying them felt a profound waste, so he reluctantly stuffed them, book by book, into the hidden compartment. Fortunately, he had made the recess quite large; although it was already packed with many volumes, there seemed to be enough space left.

"Other people transmigrate and they always get at least one spatial storage item—why haven't I seen a shadow of that thing yet?" After restoring the hidden panel to its original state, Ye Wen began muttering inwardly, feeling his current situation was quite lacking compared to a true protagonist.

Glancing at the ring on his hand, he was seized by a momentary, bored impulse to stuff the teacup he was holding into it: "You're a mystical trinket of unknown origin, after all; having a few more functions wouldn't be excessive, right?" Yet, no matter how he fiddled with it, the ring remained completely unresponsive.

"Sigh, others transmigrate and even bring a wine gourd that turns into a spatial artifact. While I did bring a cheat system when I crossed over, it requires me to cultivate on my own, and it siphons my internal energy. On top of that, this thing can't even store objects!"

Ye Wen had completely forgotten that the world he inhabited was a Wuxia setting. His mind, filled with concepts from cultivation novels, immortal heroes, and high fantasy, simply didn't align with this reality. However, this was simply his way of reminiscing about his previous life. Indulging in these strange fits occasionally reminded him that he was a transmigrator from another world, not a native 'local'; it also helped him maintain a necessary level of vigilance, reminding him that he possessed many secrets, lest he become too comfortable and overlook crucial details.

Of course, he always made sure these eccentric behaviors were hidden from view. After all, as the leader of a sect, being seen babbling nonsensically at a teacup would surely shatter any semblance of authority.

Setting the teacup down, Ye Wen recalled that the manuals in his possession were not limited to these 'originals.' Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian each held copies he had made, and as far as he knew, after Ning Ruxue successfully mastered the Heavenly Net Grip (Tian Luo Di Wang Shi), she had also compiled her cultivation insights and key points into a separate booklet. This meant that every martial art the Shu Mountain Sect currently possessed had a corresponding manual; aside from the Purple Cloud Secret Manual (Zi Xia Mi Ji) that Ye Wen practiced alone and taught to no one, every other technique had at least two copies.

Setting aside his own 'originals' for the moment, those duplicates also needed secure placement. If thieves were attracted, the Shu Mountain Sect losing face would be minor compared to the disaster of being publicized as a place holding countless secret manuals, thus becoming a target for all.

In truth, Ye Wen had considered establishing a structure akin to the Shaolin Library Pavilion, perhaps naming it something whimsical like the 'Jade Cave of the Scripted Heavens' or the 'Water Pavilion of Returning the Favor' as a playful jab. However, his Shu Mountain Sect lacked the inherent prestige of Shaolin, which could openly announce the location of its manuals while few dared to attempt theft.

Shaolin's multitude of martial monks and defense forces, which were hardly inferior to those of the imperial palace, deterred casual attempts to steal their martial arts. Especially renowned was the Shaolin Mountain Protection Array, whose legend—that once trapped within, escape was impossible—kept many minds cautious.

Furthermore, neither Wudang nor any other sect had any publicly known pavilion dedicated to storing manuals. Or perhaps their members knew, but had simply never publicized it?

Such things were hard to verify. Ye Wen pondered where those martial arts duplicates should be stored next. Building a pavilion would require more guards than he currently commanded. For now, distributing them among himself and his two junior martial sisters and brother seemed the safest bet.

However, Ye Wen suddenly remembered one place perfectly suited for concealment.

"That cave in the Desolate Valley, next to the Cold Spring—ordinary people can barely get near it. It's an excellent spot for hiding things."

As for experts who could freely enter, ignoring the biting cold emanating from the spring, they likely wouldn't bother with the manuals Ye Wen stored there. That, of course, was assuming Ye Wen wouldn't summon even more formidable techniques in the future. But experts of that caliber usually disdained stealing others' divine arts; after all, even achieving mastery through theft would inevitably lead to whispers and backstabbing, something most true masters couldn't tolerate.

"Yes, thinking about it, that is indeed a good location. The only issue is that vile great serpent currently occupying it; I'll have to deal with that worm before making a final decision." Another factor was that Ye Wen's current internal energy cultivation couldn't withstand the area's chill. Forget free movement; just standing near the entrance for a moment would leave his limbs stiff and numb. Venturing further inside could easily result in instant freezing death.

Yet, recalling his first visit, where standing at the entrance for a moment left him barely able to move, the fact that he could now linger near the entrance for a significant time, even staring down the great serpent, counted as immense progress.

Carrying the heavy sword, he headed toward the back mountain, feeling inwardly pleased. His cultivation speed was unprecedented; reaching this level with the Purple Cloud Technique in just a few months—if the late Sect Leader Yue knew, he’d likely die of anger a second time.

After securing the heavy sword, Ye Wen activated Cloud-Treading Escape (Ti Yun Zong) and leaped again, finally scrambling onto the platform. Adjusting the heavy sword on his back, he felt deeply satisfied with the improvements in his lightness skill and internal energy.

Since mastering the Purple Cloud Divine Skill (Zi Xia Shen Gong), he had resumed carrying the heavy sword, keeping it on him daily. Even when heading to the Cold Pool to cultivate his internal arts, he brought it along, using the weight to train his lightness skill while ascending the sheer cliff. Compared to days past when he relied on vines for the final stretch, he could now soar up using only his lightness skill—the progress was undeniable.

Finding the narrow path, Ye Wen strolled through it, following the route he had traversed countless times toward the Cold Pool. In moments, he saw the pool, which shimmered with a cold light at night and was perpetually shrouded in mist.

But at this moment, what captured his attention more than the pool was his junior martial sister, Ning Ruxue. Clad only in a thin undergarment, she was frozen mid-motion, having just emerged from the pool, staring blankly at him.

"Uh..."

Ye Wen was startled by the sight. Ning Ruxue’s thin garment was completely soaked, clinging tightly to her figure and revealing her alluring curves without restraint. Worse still, the garment was originally white, but the water saturation rendered the fabric nearly transparent, failing to conceal the flesh beneath.

Staring dumbfounded for a moment, Ye Wen had to admit that Ning Ruxue’s appearance was overwhelmingly seductive. A spark of wicked fire ignited in his Dantian, surging left and right. If he hadn't forcefully suppressed it with his Purple Cloud Skill, he feared he would have made a fool of himself on the spot.

Compared to Ye Wen, Ning Ruxue’s reaction was far more intense. Initially, she stared blankly at her senior martial brother. Then, having stepped away from the Cold Pool, the circulation of her internal energy slightly slowed. A gust of cold wind swept over her, and the drenched Ning Ruxue shivered, finally realizing just how... indecent her current state was.

Of course, if Ye Wen were to offer a judgment, he certainly wouldn't use that word. He might substitute it with 'utterly captivating,' especially since the tightly adhering thin clothing left her long, straight legs and slender waist entirely exposed, showing Ye Wen that his junior martial sister was not only beautiful of face but possessed a figure worthy of eclipsing all others.

Furthermore, the current attire offered a sheer effect; the tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath stoked a desire to explore further. If Ye Wen hadn't possessed astonishing self-control, he might have transformed into a wolf and lunged forward. In his mind, however, he suspected he had already pounced countless times: 'Little Ning looks so breathtakingly hot like this—how did I never notice before?'

Regardless of Ye Wen’s internal turmoil, Ning Ruxue let out a sharp cry, then looked down at herself. Although wrapped in cloth, it offered little more coverage than being completely naked. She immediately spun around and leaped back into the pool, shouting fiercely, "Why are you here? Didn't Junior Brother Xu tell you I was training? And stop looking!"

Simultaneously, Xu Xian stood withdrawing his sword, thinking inwardly, 'I feel like I forgot something...'*

Ye Wen blinked, thinking to himself, 'You're allowed to wander around dressed like that, but I'm not allowed to look?' Aloud, however, he replied smoothly, "I haven't seen Junior Brother Xu today. Rest assured, Junior Sister, my eyesight is poor, I didn't see a thing."

His statement was deliberately vague. He only claimed he hadn't seen clearly, not that he hadn't seen at all. The implied meaning, therefore, was that he had seen everything.

Ning Ruxue was neither an idiot nor a fool; she instantly grasped the wordplay Ye Wen was engaging in, and tears welled up in despair.

In her mind, her life was ruined. Ye Wen had witnessed her pristine body; how could she ever marry now? Although she was a martial artist accustomed to a less rigid life, this level of exposure to a man—even a fellow disciple raised alongside her since childhood—was unacceptable.

Huddled in the water, the cold of the pool slowly calmed the heat in her head, caused by anger and embarrassment. As she reached for her discarded clothes near the bank, she looked back at Ye Wen and saw that her senior martial brother was shamelessly still standing there, staring at her. She snapped in anger, "Haven't you seen enough? Turn around!"

Truthfully, the moment Ning Ruxue jumped into the pool, Ye Wen could no longer see her. The pool's cold permeated the air, and mist constantly hovered above the water. Though the water itself was clear, nothing could be discerned beneath the surface. So, Ye Wen wasn't trying to gain further advantage; his mind had simply not caught up yet.

Hearing Ning Ruxue's sharp retort, he snapped out of his reverie and turned around. Yet, he muttered under his breath, "I was just complaining about not having the life of a protagonist, and then I stumble upon my junior sister bathing... Wait, barging into a girl’s bathhouse is standard protagonist treatment, isn't it? Even if I didn't stumble into a bathhouse..."

Thinking this, he recalled the beautiful scene he had just witnessed. But in the next moment, Ye Wen remembered: 'Wait... the background of this world is very similar to ancient times back where I came from. Do they have the 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues' doctrine here? If so, my junior sister won't just fight me; she might try to kill me!'

While lost in worried speculation about his future, he suddenly heard a startled cry from behind Ning Ruxue, indicating something unexpected had occurred.

P.S.: I recommend a competitive sports novel for those who love basketball. You all know where I come from in this genre.

Title: Raging Power Forward Author: Blood Colored King of Ball He is a miracle in the NBA. He is the greatest legend in basketball history. He conquers opponents with inhuman stats and team achievements. He gives all NBA coaches and referees headaches. Because of him, the court of basketball is no longer lonely. He will awaken the world with repeated dunks. I, Chen Lei, the great Emperor of Basketball, have arrived... .V