Chapter 51: I Want to Become an Immortal (Part 20)
The next day, Liu Sheng and She Chan explored the second floor and finally found the handwritten notes written by an unknown Senior that Zhang Tinglin had mentioned.
The notes looked ancient, seemingly having been handled so much that their edges were frayed, and the paper was so brittle it felt like it would tear with a slight touch.
It hadn't been long since the weird objects disaster began, so how could someone have written these notes based on it, and how had the book become so old?
They both had this doubt in their hearts.
However, after flipping through it, these notes were of little use to an Upper Dormitory Student.
This Senior had meticulously described how to sustain oneself with meat zhi in the early stages, and the general rules of the weird objects in various areas of the Seven Profound Academy. Then, by offering fresh meat to the Instructor spirit tablets in the Jingshi Hall within the Chongdao Shrine, they acquired a clever method to pass the Ascension Examination, finally obtaining a Cultivation Technique to become an Upper Dormitory Student and entering the Chongdao Shrine to Cultivate. They also briefly mentioned the layout of the Chongdao Shrine. After that, the person stopped writing.
Thus, She Chan had no further need to visit the Hidden Scripture Library. Liu Sheng sent her back to the Chongdao Shrine to diligently practice her sword and movement techniques, striving to survive the weird objects disaster.
Liu Sheng, on the other hand, continued to come to the Hidden Scripture Library daily to select three books, studying and understanding the knowledge of this Realm.
...
Through these days of study, she indeed discovered that the Cultivation civilization of this Realm was quite different from her world. Although both centered on Spiritual Qi, their philosophies were vastly different.
In her world, the source of Spiritual Qi was a gift from the Supreme God, and one could only obtain a unique Cultivation path through the Supreme God. For this, schools would teach the art of communing with the gods through meditation, which was also the only publicly available Spell. Liu Sheng herself was not entirely clear on the specifics of how Cultivation worked.
As for how to use Spiritual Qi, it was primarily through Spiritual Artifacts, Talismans, Formations, and even weird objects.
Although weird objects were very dangerous, their inherent efficacy and power were incomparable to ordinary Spiritual Artifacts.
Liu Sheng knew that many weird objects collected by the Weaving Institute, once their danger Rank and usage methods were determined, could be used by eligible Cultivators.
Of course, if they were too dangerous, part of their abilities would be Sealed before being given to people for use.
As for those weird objects above the extremely dangerous Rank, they naturally would not be used casually.
For example, during the Li County Pear Blossom Lantern Festival, the oddly shaped Magical Artifacts used by the Cultivators of the Weaving Bureau were actually weird objects that had been contained and purified.
In this Realm, Spiritual Qi naturally existed between heaven and earth. One only needed to use specific methods of absorption and circulation to draw Qi into the body, change one's Physique with Spiritual Qi, and gradually raise one's Realm.
By changing the key Acupoints and Meridians for drawing Qi into the body, and even the Cultivation medium, such as ice and fire, fresh blood, Sword Qi, or stars, different Spiritual Qi magical power application effects were formed, thus giving rise to countless Cultivation Techniques and techniques.
Secondly, the methods of utilizing Spiritual Qi in this Realm were more unrefined and direct. Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Spells, Formations, Magic Treasures, and other methods flourished. Although they had not formed a mature and unified theoretical system, their diversity and freedom greatly broadened Liu Sheng's horizons.
In Liu Sheng's world, although these things also existed, there weren't as many types, and secondly, the energy levels did not span such a vast range as in this Realm—powerful beings could even shake mountains and rivers and pull stars.
Moreover, since the “Honghu Prosperous Era” began, through the power of the entire nation to sort and research, it had been basically standardized and made convenient for the people, to the extent that even Mortals could use it to a certain degree, unlike here, where the Immortal and Mortal Realms were still separated.
Of course, one reason was probably the vastness of this Realm; the known Cultivation world had five major continents separated by oceans, with numerous small countries on the continents, and above these small countries were many Immortal sects holding sway, making unification difficult.
Another reason, as Liu Sheng learned from historical records, was that the Cultivation civilization of this Realm could be traced back tens of millions of years. The techniques and theories that emerged during this time were truly vast, and organizing them could almost be said to be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Each sect could only manage its own affairs, forming its own Cultivation system and continuing it.
...
Such a peaceful routine of Cultivating and reading made Liu Sheng feel as if she had returned to her days studying at the academy.
Only the occasional fearful screams from the dormitory, the continuous roars of weird objects, the corpses by the roadside, and groups of people gathered around corpses, their eyes gleaming ferociously as they snatched meat zhi, all reminded her that she was still in the midst of a dark weird objects disaster.
"Why, after so long, do some people still not learn?"
She Chan looked at a figure with half their body sprawled outside the Hidden Scripture Library's door, one hand holding an extinguished candle, the other clutching three or four books, desperately trying to crawl out.
But only half of their body remained.
Then, with a scream, they were dragged back into the darkness deep within the Hidden Scripture Library.
"Greed and lucky are always human nature," Liu Sheng shook her head.
After so long, the rules of this Hidden Scripture Library should have spread. Why do people always fall for it?
Although walking in groups of more than two outside was prohibited, hindering communication.
But if they made arrangements in pairs like her and She Chan, or participated in the Ascension Examination, there should always be opportunities to exchange information, right?
Liu Sheng couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
"How long have you been waiting here? Is it urgent?"
Liu Sheng saw She Chan as she left after finishing her book. She wondered what was so urgent that She Chan didn't want to wait until they returned to the Chongdao Shrine to talk.
Liu Sheng then realized.
"You've succeeded? Are you going to be assessed?"
"Su Jin, you're really smart!"
She Chan walked a few steps with Liu Sheng and said, "My ‘White Rainbow Sword Art’ and ‘Flowing Water Movement Technique’ have both reached the first layer, and my Cultivation is almost at the second layer of the Qi Refinement Stage. I thought I might as well give it a try."
If it were the previous Liu Sheng, she would have been very happy about She Chan's Breakthrough and thrilled that she was finally taking this step, instead of spouting foolish words about wanting to accompany Liu Sheng.
But now, Liu Sheng felt something was not quite right, though she couldn't pinpoint it.
"And, if I don't go soon, I might be killed by that Old Woman at the Chongdao Shrine," She Chan whispered.
Liu Sheng looked at She Chan in confusion: "What do you mean?"
She Chan saw Liu Sheng's serious expression and chuckled, saying, "She's not really going to kill me. It's just that every time she sees me, she lectures me, saying that I'm already at the Qi Refinement Stage, so why haven't I gone for the Ascension Examination yet? She says others go as soon as they Break through."
Just then, they saw the Hidden Scripture Library's caretaker coming out of the building again, carrying that terrifying broom and a large bucket of red and yellow liquid. He mumbled to himself, "Time to make candles again... not enough... it's all because of that female Disciple who comes every day..."
Suddenly, the old man paused, as if sensing something.
Then, with two creaking sounds, he laboriously lifted his head, his large blood-hole eyes fixed on Liu Sheng's direction, as if recognizing, 'Isn't that the annoying woman?'
The blood-hole "stared" at Liu Sheng for a while, then "creaked" a few times to turn towards She Chan, and suddenly said fiercely, "You're already at the Qi Refinement Stage, why haven't you gone for the Ascension Examination yet? You're already at the Qi Refinement Stage, why haven't you gone for the Ascension Examination yet? You're already at the Qi Refinement Stage, why haven't you gone for the Ascension Examination yet?"
She Chan immediately recoiled a few steps, desperately controlling the urge to draw her sword.
But the old man seemed to be malfunctioning, repeatedly saying the same sentence.
She Chan didn't dare to reply, fearing to trigger something. At least for now, the old man didn't seem to have any intention of attacking her.
Liu Sheng tugged at She Chan's sleeve and shook her head.
Then, she led She Chan directly into the pine and cypress grove, while the old man behind them continued to repeat that sentence.
So, in this world, one must go for the Ascension Examination upon reaching the Qi Refinement Stage?
So impatient?