Xie Bing felt a surge of profound respect.
Sure enough, no matter where you are, the librarian is always a hidden big boss!
The librarian, Kong Yixian, had disappeared without a trace again. Even extending her Divine Consciousness, Xie Bing couldn’t sense him. She mused thoughtfully to herself. It seemed Kong Yixian’s strength was truly unfathomable. She also wondered how he ended up at a cliff later on, meeting the female lead Xuan Yao.
Opening the book Kong Yixian had handed her, it was a copy of The Complete Works of Master Five Willows. Tao Yuanming, also named Qian, and known as Master Five Willows — this was his complete anthology.
The very first piece in the book was “Drinking Wine”: “I built my hut among the dwellings of men, yet hear no clamor of horse and carriage… I pluck chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, and leisurely gaze at the southern mountains…”
Flipping further back, she could only see one essay title: The Story of Peach Blossom Spring. Past that, all the pages were completely blank.
Xie Bing had been through the Immortal Cultivation Training System’s first exam already, so she was familiar with the process. The exam content was hidden. Only after finding the book and raising its proficiency could she get the complete textbook. Her current task was to find material on Li Bai, and also…
“Romance and Dissoluteness…”
Xie Bing frowned. She still didn’t understand the meaning of “Romance and Dissoluteness.”
Thinking that the System’s keyword hints also included Little Rest Pavilion, she found a map of Taixu Sect in the Scripture Library, yet still couldn’t locate Little Rest Pavilion’s position. She could only put that aside for now.
The Scripture Library was no longer a quiet, peaceful place.
From inside, flipping through the books, Xie Bing could hear the various noises of the dark mass of people outside. These were all the people who had wanted to negotiate with Xie Bing yesterday, only to be chased out by Kong Yixian.
Scared off by Kong Yixian’s reputation, no one dared forcibly barge in again and could only wait outside.
Some people boasted loudly: “I don’t believe Xie Bing won’t come out!”
What cultivator could stay inside the Scripture Library for days and nights on end?
Anyway, they’d never seen one!
However, to their humiliation, for three days straight, Xie Bing still hadn’t left the Scripture Library! According to the people who occasionally managed to sneak a peek inside, they only saw Xie Bing earnestly flipping through books and reading. How was this possible?
She must be putting on a show of loving to study, seizing the opportunity to confuse them!
And while they weren’t paying attention, she’d slip away!
Xie Bing couldn’t be bothered with these people who wanted to force a deal. Her current status in the sect was that of a pitiful little nobody; Shifu ignored her, her martial brothers wouldn’t back her up, and she was a useless Object Cultivator. Everyone thought she was easy to bully and coveted her possession. But she still had many things to do.
Since Kong Yixian, in the original plot, appeared at a cliff, that meant he was probably not permanently staying in the Scripture Library. She had gained favorability with Kong Yixian, and had even been able to mutate a reward, obtaining a sword technique. This meant he was a big boss from whom grinding favorability could drop rare items. Seizing this fated opportunity, she absolutely had to grasp it tightly!
Inside the Scripture Library, Xie Bing kept her head down, reading, sporting two dark circles under her eyes.
Outside the Scripture Library, a crowd sat in meditation along every necessary path, staring unblinkingly, also sporting huge dark circles under their eyes.
Some, unable to bear the boredom, were so idle they even started sparring right at the doorstep. Others were so sleepy they were about to lose it, shouting: “Junior Sister, hiding is useless! Why don’t you come out and we can have a nice chat?”
The Scripture Library offered no response whatsoever.
Xie Bing yawned and stuffed her homemade earplugs in a little tighter.
Too noisy.
Five thousand Reputation points brought nothing but trouble.
Dog-shit System.
The back courtyard of the Scripture Library.
It was deep autumn. Golden chrysanthemums were in riotous bloom.
Xie Bing’s Storage Brocade Pouch was stuffed with all sorts of household goods. When she tired of studying, she set up a pot among the clusters of golden chrysanthemums and cooked porridge and meals. It was an utterly leisurely and content scene.
Her nose caught another whiff of drifting alcohol. Xie Bing’s expression remained unchanged as she continued simmering the soup.
Two pots: one was millet porridge for herself, the other was Eight-Treasure Hangover Soup.
After Xie Bing finished eating and packed away her own bowl and chopsticks, she unhurriedly ladled out the Eight-Treasure Hangover Soup, which had simmered into a fruit consommé, placed a white jade spoon, and set it on the small side table nearby.
She stood up and headed back inside the Scripture Library.
A long while later, a breeze swept by, yet the chrysanthemums remained utterly still.
Kong Yixian drifted down silently from midair. He saw the Eight-Treasure Hangover Soup on the table, then glanced at the wine flask in his own hand. He sighed.
“Fine. For several days in a row now, right after filling my stomach with wine, I then have to fill it with a stomach full of hangover soup!”
Although his mouth grumbled, the expression on his face softened considerably.
…
She always felt that Kong Yixian here could still drop cultivation formulas.
Just like how the System wanted her to grind formula proficiency, her favorability with Kong Yixian definitely hadn’t been maxed out yet. No, time was running short. She had to quickly find out where the mysterious Little Rest Pavilion was.
With all those people outside the Scripture Library, she folded a Spirit Paper Crane and transmitted it to Yan Chengchi:
“Senior Brother Chengchi, I’m besieged by people outside the Scripture Library and need to find another hidden place to take shelter. May I ask if you know anywhere quiet? I’ve heard Little Rest Pavilion is nice, but I forgot when I heard about it. Does Senior Brother have any recommendations?”
She watched the paper crane depart in a flash of light, hesitating briefly. There weren’t many people she could trust right now. After asking Lu Chu, who also didn’t know where Little Rest Pavilion was, she could only ask Yan Chengchi again. He was obsessed with alchemy and not a blabbermouth, so he could be trusted.
Before long, Yan Chengchi’s paper crane flew back to her: “…Do I really have to call you Junior Sister-in-law? Junior Sister-in-law, last time you still vehemently denied it. Isn’t Little Rest Pavilion Brother Juanzhi’s private courtyard?”
Xie Bing: …Dammit.
…
It took Xie Bing an immense effort to explain to Yan Chengchi that she had just heard about it by chance. Only then did Yan Chengchi quell his thirst for gossip.
As for the situation on Xie Bing’s side, Yan Chengchi also understood a bit. He said, troubled, that apart from those wanting to see Xie Bing’s magical artifact, there were also people demanding an audience with Kong Yixian to challenge him in sword arts. The number of people outside the Scripture Library was growing, and he was unable to help.
Xie Bing: “…”
She’d almost forgotten, Kong Yixian was also a mega deity. In the original book, after the female lead Xuan Yao received the Seven Sword Inheritance from Kong Yixian, she also shook the world, yet people searched for his true visage a long time but never found it.
Something’s wrong. This mission is wrong. Xie Bing gave up trying to find a second key book while still inside the Scripture Library.
The mission content progressed according to the chronological order of Huaxia’s literary history. The difficulty wouldn’t spike abruptly either. During the last exam, searching for books hadn’t taken nearly this much time. There must be some critical issue she had overlooked.
She couldn’t waste any more time.
Maybe she needed to visit Little Rest Pavilion.
Eldest Senior Brother Yin Juanzhi’s private courtyard — which was to say, the Devil Venerable’s courtyard. Thinking about whose place that was made Xie Bing feel a numbing dread in her heart. Fortunately, remembering that Yan Chengchi had said a few days ago that Yin Juanzhi was away on a mission, possibly not back for ages, she felt relieved.
She had to leave the Scripture Library.
…
“Creak” — the Scripture Library’s door, closed tight for three days, opened.
The cultivators outside jolted mentally and quickly looked over.
A gentle breeze brushed past, stirring the thin, frail woman’s jet-black hair. The Frost Hair Ribbon fluttered in the wind, making her complexion seem extremely pale. A trace of exhaustion faintly appeared on her fair face, her dark circles prominent.
It was Xie Bing.
They surged forward!
“Junior Sister, you finally came out. Have you considered our proposal yet?”
“Let me touch it! Let me touch it!”
Xie Bing kept her head down, tightly clutching a little yellow book. With a light, casual motion, she flipped it open.
At the same time, the hair ribbon moved according to Xie Bing’s will, instantly slipping down from among her jet-black strands. A frosty, icy-white glimmer burst forth!
The hair ribbon emitted a dazzling, brilliant light. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a translucent, frosty-white sword!
“It’s a Sword Cultivator!”
Someone cried out in alarm. How was this possible?
Xie Bing was clearly an Object Cultivator!
Xie Bing’s right hand opened slightly, and the Frost Spirit Sword directly landed in her palm. Her fingers clenched tightly, one by one, as she held the sword and faced the crowd.
Murderous aura blazed. It was the intense Sword Intent of an Innate Artifact.
Someone retreated a step.
Then another step.
Slowly, the crowd uniformly retreated several steps back, finally leaving a small breathing space.
Xie Bing’s eyes were cool and detached: “My fellow martial brothers and sisters, do not go too far.”
As her words fell, someone voiced displeasure: “How have we gone too far? We just wanted to negotiate a transaction with you.”
She laughed coldly: “My Lifebound Magic Weapon is my life. Anyone who wants to continue this negotiation wants to take my life, Xie Bing’s life!”
“Though my cultivation is not high, I still believe I possess some pride. You wish to humiliate me, to disgrace me — how could I possibly agree?”
A suffocating silence.
This was the principle, and they all knew it. They had just been playing dumb.
After all, if an ordinary Object Cultivator saw such a situation and faced this pressure, they might very well agree.
Xie Bing looked at them calmly. That they would bully her to her doorstep simply meant they knew she had no one to support her:
Gu Monian had shown no signs recently; he was probably off healing Xuan Yao. This time, Xuan Yao hadn’t even obtained a magical artifact. After he healed her injuries, he’d still have to figure out how to find her a suitable artifact. How could he spare a thought for a minor figure like Xie Bing?
It is the innocent man’s crime to possess a jade treasure.
No one could help Xie Bing. The only one who could help her was herself.
Xie Bing lifted her eyes slightly: “Fellow martial brothers and sisters, all of you are members of Taixu Sect. Forced deals aren’t good trade. Fighting over one sword is truly not worth it. Please step aside, and don’t bring this up again.”
Some hesitated, but no one moved.
Just a little Foundation Establishment Object Cultivator, that’s all.
Even though Yan Lixuan from Crimson Flame Peak had been beaten to tears by Xie Bing last time, it was nothing more than luck, some thought.
Xie Bing no longer hesitated. The wind lifted the pages of the little yellow book in her left hand. On the fourth page, written in thick ink, were the words “I pluck chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, and leisurely gaze at the southern mountains.”
Xie Bing leisurely recited the verse, her voice strong and resonant!
The Frost Spirit Sword grasped in her palm flashed with fragmented light. Xie Bing casually swept it horizontally, softly chanting:
—“Chrysanthemum Withering Sword Intent”!
Brilliant light flashed!
The “Chrysanthemum Withering Sword Intent” exploded forth!
The plants and trees on the mountain all trembled. Chrysanthemum petals in the Scripture Library’s flower garden swirled and fell, a sheet of gold.
“Boom—!”
Mad, raging Sword Intent, wrapped in boundless, swirling chrysanthemum petals, charged to slaughter them all!
“This is bad! This Sword Intent is extremely terrifying!”
“Quick, retreat!”
Those who retreated early were left in a wretched state. Those who retreated too late had their clothes torn apart.
The airflow surged with chaotic, scattered chrysanthemums.
“Junior Sister, are you certain you want to use force within the sect?” The leader, Rong Mingxu of Bright Moon Peak, frowned at Xie Bing.
The Taixu Sect had rules prohibiting unauthorized combat. Such a large-scale use of force would soon bring the Law Enforcement Team! Wasn’t Xie Bing afraid?
Xie Bing sneered: “I, Xie Bing, am afraid of nothing.”
She had just obtained Tao Yuanming’s Chrysanthemum Withering Sword Intent, just understood his literatus pride of “not bowing for five pecks of rice.” If she showed fear now, she would be betraying the Sword Intent she had just unleashed!
Matters having reached this point, Xie Bing would not retreat, and so many others would not retreat either. It looked like a one-sided gang-beating was about to ensue. But suddenly, an even greater wind howled from the horizon. Xie Bing looked up and only caught a glimpse of a black robe corner mingled with countless chrysanthemum petals drifting down from the sky.
The wind blew fiercely.
It billowed the empty sleeve of the severed arm.
Everyone drew a sharp intake of cold air.
It was Kong Yixian!
Outside the Scripture Library, Kong Yixian appeared? How was this possible?
Ever since Kong Yixian’s presence was revealed, they had researched him. That person had declared he would never re-enter worldly affairs. Appearing at the Scripture Library was already shocking enough. No one ever imagined he would actually appear before everyone like this.
As soon as Kong Yixian made his appearance, those behind who were waiting for their idol to emerge could no longer sit still and swarmed forward.
Kong Yixian’s brows and eyes held a trace of drunkenness, but his voice was still clear, distinct, and hoarse: “Lingering outside the Scripture Library for three days already… In three breaths’ time, if I still see you…”
His voice was concise, yet carried absolute authority:
—“Die.”
Everyone sucked in a deep breath of cold air!
If Kong Yixian killed someone, no one would dare question it.
He lifted his sole remaining left hand, raising one finger. “One.”
The crowd: !!!
Before he could even raise the second, in the blink of an eye, those flying on swords flew, those hitching rides on cars hitched rides, those fleeing wildly on foot fled wildly… Just as three breaths passed, not a single person’s shadow remained outside the Scripture Library.
Only a ground full of ruined chrysanthemums was left.
The wind swept past. Xie Bing said sincerely: “Thank you.”
Though she hadn’t retreated, a Foundation Establishment cultivator fighting a crowd definitely wouldn’t have been a pretty sight.
She was afraid of pain; she didn’t want to get beaten up.
Kong Yixian smiled faintly. His fingers opened slightly, and a chrysanthemum from the flower garden left the dark soil, arriving instantly between his slender fingers.
He raised his hand and, into Xie Bing’s loose, cascading black hair from which the ribbon had been taken, he tucked a fresh chrysanthemum.
“What you love is, indeed, chrysanthemums.”
“Turns out Object Cultivators are this interesting. Using chrysanthemums to comprehend Sword Intent. Intriguing, intriguing.”
Xie Bing stood there stiffly, a huge chrysanthemum atop her head: Damn your ancestor!
Kong Yixian might look like a transcendent master, but in reality, he was the one with truly twisted tastes!
The two returned to the inner courtyard of the Scripture Library. Xie Bing’s gaze fell upon the small side table. The hangover soup had been completely drunk.
Lowering her head, she cleaned up the wooden bowl. Kong Yixian suddenly slapped his forehead. “Thanks to your hangover soup, I’ve recalled some things.”
Xie Bing’s heart stirred. “What is it?”
“You’re looking for Li Bai’s poetry collection, right? I seem to have seen it.”
A jar of wine materialized in his left hand. He was about to drink again, but Xie Bing snatched it away in one motion. Her eyes gazed at Kong Yixian, bright and clear: “Think carefully.”
“Mm…” Kong Yixian gave up on drinking, his eyes becoming increasingly clear.
Finally: “I remember.”
Xie Bing looked at him expectantly.
Kong Yixian crouched down, lowering his head to look at the corner of a table, sighing. “Seems like it’s here.”
Xie Bing looked down, seeing the clump of things under the table leg, used to prop it up: “…”
He pulled the book out and handed it to Xie Bing, appearing somewhat regretful. “Now missing a book to prop up the table leg, I’ll have to find another.”
Xie Bing: “…”
She wanted to scream. Li Bai’s key poetry collection was used as a table wedge? How could she possibly have found it?!
No wonder the big boss Kong Yixian appeared. If she hadn’t triggered the plotline involving Kong Yixian, she absolutely would have been unable to complete the second exam task!
Suppressing the urge to beat Kong Yixian to a pulp, she tried her best to smooth out the book cover. Seeing the title Collected Works of Li Bai, she fell into a solemn silence.
The moment she flipped open the crumpled poetry collection and saw the very first line, the System broadcasted:
[System: Found key figure Li Bai’s poetry collection. Experienced Li Bai’s extraordinary confidence of “Heaven gave me talents, they must be of use,” his independent character of “How can I stoop and bow, serving the powerful and elite,” his unrestrained vengeance of “Resting my body among white blades, killing men in the red dust”— Obtained Ten-Step Swordplay, “One man kills every ten steps, leaving no trace for a thousand miles”!]