The Sect Library was a very important part of the Lingyuan Sect. It had a collection of different cultivation manuals, sutras, and skills gathered over hundreds of years. Usually, the number and quality of a sect's books determine how strong the sect will be.
Gu Yuze looked up at the three-story building in front of him and walked in. On the first floor, there was a large quantity of cultivation manuals and skills, but most of them were low-ranked, with a few middle-ranked ones.
They were contributed primarily by disciples who found them during their expeditions outside the sect. The sect's traditional techniques for novice disciples were mostly on the second floor.
As for the third floor and above, one must reach the practitioner level to access those floors.
The disciple at the counter did not even glance up to look at him and just gave him a token, saying, "The first hour is free, but subsequent hours will deduct a point per hour for reading." If you want to check out a book, it will cost more depending on the book. The girl recited the words; she had probably said them at least fifty times today.
But Gu Yuze came here for a reason.
"Greetings, fellow disciple." He cupped his fists together and bowed.
The girl blinked, confused for a second before she bowed in return. Among novice disciples, such greetings were few and far between. This was not 1767, after all.
"Hi. I need a little help. The girl nodded and came out from behind the counter, leading the way into the reading room. Inside the room, all sorts of jade slips, book pages, boxes, and collections were suspended in mid-air, displaying a variety of colors.
"This must be your first time in the library. It is pretty easy; you know how to use spiritual energy, right?"
She did not wait for his answer; she reached out her hand in mid-air and gently grabbed at something. Instantly, a blue streak flew out of her hand, wrapped around a jade slip, and brought it back to her hand.
She then looked at Gu Yuze as if she were waiting for something.
"Wow."
The girl, who looked around fifteen, coughed and said, "It is nothing." You can simply use your spiritual energy to nudge the slip or book, and it will come to you. Infuse some into the slip, and you can read it. When you pick one, after reading it, just put it back in its original position. There is a meditation room to your left if you want to read a sutra. Don't take too much time picking, or your points will be gone. Don't try to learn a skill here."
She moved closer and continued, 'There was a senior who tried to learn a movement art in the library, and when he woke up, it had been three days. He lost more than 70 points; he would have checked out the book for 5 points."
She thought he was new, so she became even more patient as she explained things to him.
"I want to reconstruct my cultivation base and learn a new cultivation technique." Gu Yuze said.
The girl shook her head. "I also wanted to change my cultivation technique; my master said no. She said that there is no point in being hasty; besides, it is very dangerous. It might limit your potential. There is no benefit. Don't do it."
She tried to advise him, "Just choose a good skill. You can go upstairs, but since you are still new, the easier skills are down here. Clearing her throat, she imitated her master's tone. 'Cultivation is a long road, fellow disciple."
She turned to go.
"Thank you. My name is Gu Yuze. What's yours?"
Realization flashed in her eyes, and Gu Yuze watched various emotions accompany that realization. She was silent for a minute and then replied, "Jie Hua. I don't think changing the cultivation technique would help you."
"I can try, can't I? I promised myself I would change."
She nodded slowly and left.
Gu Yuze felt bad for using such a nice person, but he had no choice; he still did not know who had given him the first cultivation technique.
Gu Yuze looked through the techniques. Even though this was the first floor, some of the techniques were really unique.
For example, with the "Mirage Spirit Art," one could produce an avatar that looks exactly like oneself at any particular time to confuse enemies. The higher one's cultivating rank was, the more avatars one could produce, which would confuse enemies even more.
Gu Yuze browsed carelessly for about fifteen minutes before choosing two jade slips and stepping to the counter.
"Four points for one week. More points would be deducted if you don't return it in exactly one week." She did not have the cordial kindness she had shown earlier, but she was not openly hostile either.
"Thank you." Gu Yuze said sincerely, both for the conversation and everything else.
The girl looked at her; she seemed like she wanted to say something but thought against it and just sat down, her eyes back on her phone.
After he went to the library, Gu Yuze headed to the cafeteria. If he were at home, he would order some fried chicken. It made Old Zhao very angry when he sneaked out to collect his order. "I own a three-Michelin-star restaurant. Young heir, are you saying my cooking is not up to your taste? What do you like about those greasy things?"
All they did was scold him morning and evening. Why was he thinking of those old coots even more often nowadays?
He stepped inside the cafeteria; there was a sudden silence, and then the noise erupted.
Gu Yuze had already gotten used to it, so he just took his tray, filled it up, and headed to one of the empty benches.
He truly could not wait to leave this sect.
The white rice porridge had a bit of crushed vegetable leaves inside. The seasoning was only salt and a few drops of sesame oil, but it had a light and warm flavor.
Someone slid into the seat in front of him. "I am sure that the little monks at the Shaolin temple even eat better food than this gruel they serve here at the Lingyuan Sect."