Shi Lang and Shi Tao jumped into the void tunnel that led them directly to the Citadel. However, when the two arrived at their destination. Shi Lang put up his guard and said, “Tao, do not let down your guard.”
Shi Tao sensed something serious in his voice and nodded slowly. The location of their arrival had changed. Shi Lang was unaware of this, but he knew how arrays worked. Earlier, the place was a wide open square; this time, the site appeared to be some hall. Gilded with gold trims and gems studded walls.
Just when he was about to use his spirit sense to check what was happening, a buzzing noise attracted his attention, and the wall on the left revealed a door-like slit in the middle from which Crystal walked in.
Shi Lang sighed and asked, “What are you guys doing with the beautiful open square and turning it into a hall?”
Crystal chuckled and said, “Boss, we cannot let anyone from the federation enter the Citadel until they have completed a security check. So the great teleportation array was shifted into a hall to the summit of a mountain outside the city. This way, you can still see the view, and at the same time, security is maintained. It also ensures the visitors are taught the rules and regulations followed inside the Citadel.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “You should have told me sooner. I was about to attack you.”
Crystal stuck out his tongue and said, “Sorry.”
Shi Tao peeked from behind Shi Lang and asked, “Baba, what now?”
Shi Lang looked at her and said, “Now, my dear, we learn.”
…
Shi Lang was taken from the hall, and Crystal guided him to the Citadel. On the way, they used simple hoverboards to climb down the mountain. Shi Tao was excited to see the scenery, a city at the foot of the hill surrounded by walls. This sort of city did not exist in the federation, and the joy of hoverboarding was entirely exhilarating for her.
After entering the city, Crystal took Shi Tao to where other Terran students had been gathered to study. Unlike others, Shi Tao will reside with Crystal in her home and commute to classes. The little girl did not mind this; she knew Shi Lang was there, and no harm would come to her.
Shi Lang met with the high council, and they welcomed him warmly. After the brief meeting, Moon Baley took the young man to the library of the spirit beasts. She was the keeper of keys, this place was considered sacred, and the younger generation would only be allowed inside when they had achieved some high-level merit.
Moon Baley said, “Shi Lang, this place will be left to you. For now, a room inside this building can be used as your abode.”
Shi Lang nodded to her as they stood in front of the door, and the lady took out a golden key from the space ring on her finger. She said, “This key will be left with you.”
This was an important key, and Shi Lang was surprised to hear this. He asked, “What do you mean, Senior? This place is an important landmark of your community. Entrusting it to me seems a bit too much. I cannot undertake this responsibility.”
Moon Baley shook her head, and with a faint smile, she said, “None of the people will make any trouble here. The entrustment of the key is only to make you feel our sincerity. We do not want you to feel like a prisoner here.”
Shi Lang chuckled. He did feel like a prisoner in the library when Moon Baley told him about the quarter to be used as a residing chamber. He softly said, “One cannot hide anything from the keen gaze of the heavenly fox spirits.”
Moon Baley chuckled and said, “Glad that you know it. Here, go, and feel free to call any high councilmen if you need help.”
Shi Lang nodded and entered the library. The building was designed like a bunker. It had layers to itself, and Shi Lang could tell that it was all from the repetitive repairs and constructions around the original building to preserve the originality of the structure.
After crossing three gates seven meters from each other, Shi Lang could tell the three eras of development faced by the spirit beast community. First, he looked at the structure with his spirit energy and found the buildings were sealed with nanobots. They were strengthening and repairing any damage left over.
Through the final gateway, Shi Lang entered the inner sanctum of the library. His gaze was glued to the wooden shelves and the books on them. He smiled and mumbled, “To think I will be able to find scrolls and jade chips at this age? That, too, is completely preserved.”
“Indeed, they outdid themselves. I would have never believed that the spirit beasts would be able to do such a thing if I had not seen it with my own eyes.”, replied an ethereal voice.
Shi Lang was unsurprised and said, “Greetings, Senior Unity.”
The sword spirit appeared before him and narrowed her gaze as she said, “You are calling me old? Your soul is older than mine can ever be.”
Shi Lang chuckled and said, “Fine, I will call you Lady Unity then. But, after all, I cannot be too casual with your esteemed self, can I?”
Unity nodded and said, “So, where will you start?”
Shi Lang looked around and said, “This place has over a thousand manuals and journals. Do you think I will be able to select where to start?”
Unity nodded and said, “It is difficult to select from all the options.”
Shi Lang said, “I will start from a random point and start collecting the knowledge. Then, I will organize it and look for leads in the relatable records when I am done. This way, things will be easier, and I can organize this joint.”
Unity was surprised and said, “What is the point of reading everything? Will you be able to comprehend it all?”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “Even if I cannot comprehend it all, I will be able to understand the subject and organize it for better research.”
Then began a long marathon of reading and digesting the records and organizing them in his mind. Shi Lang surprised Unity with his perseverance. He would not waste a moment when he is out of meditation. In the past month, the young man hardly left the shelves. He would sleep in this place and meditate over a table set in the center of the floor.
Unity told him often to sleep, but the young man said his strength was enough to support his body. So after the first month, only the young man goes to sleep. While he was sleeping, the library was visited by the high councilmen.
Unity would not have interacted with them if it was expected, but some questioned Shi Lang’s motive and hard work. Finally, the sword spirit appeared, and the people were tamed back in the line. Shi Lang woke up and continued this routine. Only after the first three months did he stop for a break.
He decided to take a walk and check on Shi Tao. The girl has been studying in this foreign land, which will make him. So he had to check on her. Unity did not follow him. After all, she had to guard the library, and how could she appear in front of everyone just like that?
Shi Lang arrived at the school building by sensing the spiritual energy of his daughter. He found that Crystal was also present at the scene. He was perplexed by the hubbub of the situation when he approached Crystal outside the building and asked, “What is the situation?”
Surprised, the lady recognized Shi Lang and said, “Boss, you, why are you here?”
Shi Lang furrowed his brows and asked, “What is happening here, Crystal?”
Crystal was caught off guard by the coldness of his aura, and the lady said, “Shi Tao was injured during a sparing match, and her Dantian was almost pierced.”
Shi Lang asked, “Where is she?”
Crystal nodded and hurriedly led him to the infirmary inside the school. Shi Lang did not care about the people on the way. All he managed about was his daughter. Shi Lang reached the infirmary, and just as he got closer to Shi Tao, his aura was restrained as if nothing had happened. Using the lapse, Crystal informed her sister.
Shi Lang placed his hand above Shi Tao’s dantian and carefully channeled his spirit energy inside to check her seals. If the seals cast around her dantian were to come off without giving her time, Shi Tao might die and then Shi Lang will lose control of himself completely.
After a few minutes, the young general asked, “How did this happen?”