txolops Chapter 34 The Scripture Pavilion
Chapter 34 The Scripture Pavilion
Duan Chen flicked his fingertips, and the silver fan unfolded with a "whoosh." He lowered his voice and leaned close to Luo Ming, saying, "Last time, I went to deliver Foundation Establishment Pills to the disciples as instructed by my senior brother. That senior brother Feng somehow got the news and insisted on going with me. I really couldn't refuse, so I hope you won't mind, junior brother."
Luo Ming naturally wouldn't worry about such a trivial matter, but when he thought of his promise, his heart tightened suddenly—the Foundation Establishment Pill must never be exposed! How conspicuous would a Foundation Establishment Pill with pill patterns be? Once exposed, it would surely lead to disaster, and he might even be targeted by the Golden Core Ancestor of the sect. At that time, he wouldn't even know how he died.
"Well... Junior brother has something he'd like to ask senior brother for a favor." Luo Ming's tone was hesitant, but with a hint of seriousness.
"Please speak, junior brother." Duan Chen closed half of the silver fan, his expression becoming more serious.
Luo Ming immediately told the other party about the "difficulty" of his Foundation Establishment, saying that he had used up three Foundation Establishment Pills to barely break through. It was not that he was unwilling to sell to Senior Brother Feng, but that he had no pills left. He begged Duan Chen to help explain the situation to Senior Brother Feng.
"Haha, so it's just a small matter. Leave it to me, Senior Brother!" Duan Chen flicked his fingers again, and his silver fan unfurled with a "whoosh," as he laughed heartily at Luo Ming. This matter originated from him, so it was only right for him to relay the message.
After a conversation, the two completely dispelled the slight estrangement they had previously felt, and their conversation became increasingly lively. In a short time, they were already calling each other brothers and acting as familiar as old friends.
……
"Brother Luo, your identity token has been prepared. You only need to imprint your divine sense mark on it. This is your identity token, and the other will be kept by the sect to record your safety while you are out there."
As soon as he finished speaking, a boy quickly walked over with two brand-new black tokens and respectfully handed them to Luo Ming.
Luo Ming reached out and took the token, feeling its cool touch. His name was clearly engraved on it, and a faint spiritual light lingered around it—this was the exclusive identity token for Foundation Establishment cultivators. This token not only proved his identity but also allowed him to mobilize some low-level resources within the sect. Even in the marketplace, he could enjoy considerable privileges. As for the token entrusted to the sect for safekeeping, its purpose was quite straightforward—if he were to perish outside, the sect would know immediately.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Duan." Luo Ming put away the token and bowed to Duan Chen in thanks.
"Don't be so polite." Duan Chen waved his hand, his carefree smile returning to his face. "We're both disciples of the same sect, so we should help each other out in the future. I get along quite well with Brother Luo. Once you move to your new cave dwelling, don't forget to let me know. I'll definitely come over for a drink! Haha!"
"Definitely, definitely!" Luo Ming replied again, bowing respectfully.
In Spirit Beast Mountain, cultivators who advance to the Foundation Establishment stage often invite their friends to celebrate—after all, Foundation Establishment cultivators are now core disciples of the sect. Duan Chen's words undoubtedly showed that he considered him a friend, and Luo Ming felt a warmth in his heart.
He saw it clearly: Duan Chen was free-spirited, upright, and very tactful in his dealings with others, unlike those narrow-minded sect disciples—at least on the surface.
"It seems that Duan Chen is being groomed to be the next sect leader. It's just a pity that Spirit Beast Mountain will soon return to the demonic path..." Luo Ming thought to himself.
Judging from this person's behavior and the fact that he was able to act as the sect leader in the main hall, he felt that his guess was pretty much correct.
Luo Ming took his leave of the sect's main hall, watching the Qi Refining stage disciples hurrying to and fro outside, busy with miscellaneous tasks. He felt a surge of emotions. Without the Spirit Gathering Cauldron's assistance, he would likely be just like these disciples, toiling away for a few spirit stones a month. Moreover, given his mediocre talent, his best outcome in life would probably be a peaceful death, or perhaps establishing a small cultivation family in the mortal world.
But he knew in his heart that the demonic path would soon launch a large-scale attack, and it was unknown how many of these Qi Refining disciples would survive.
"This cultivation world is about to descend into chaos. I must prepare more ways to protect myself," Luo Ming muttered to himself. He then activated his magic artifact and flew towards the Scripture Pavilion. Since he could receive two cultivation techniques from the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion without using contribution points after advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage, he naturally wanted to choose carefully.
The Scripture Pavilion was not far from the sect's main hall. A quarter of an hour later, Luo Ming arrived in front of a magnificent building. The three gilded characters "Scripture Pavilion" on the plaque exuded a profound spiritual energy and majesty. This was his first time here since transmigrating to this world. As soon as he approached, he sensed a hidden divine sense falling on him.
Luo Ming's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze inadvertently swept over an open space—he knew that was where the guards were hidden. The Scripture Pavilion was a highly important place in the sect, so it was perfectly normal for it to be heavily guarded. He calmly walked through the gate.
At this moment, deep within the array of the Scripture Pavilion, two Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed in black robes were gazing towards the entrance. Disciples who had completed relevant sect missions would recognize these two as guards of the Scripture Pavilion.
One of the long-faced cultivators stared at Luo Ming's retreating figure, his face full of doubt, and said, "That junior brother just now looked quite unfamiliar. Could he be a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator? But how could someone at the early Foundation Establishment stage possibly have sensed my presence?"
The short, stout cultivator next to him sipped his spirit wine leisurely and said nonchalantly, "Why is it impossible? Didn't Duan Chen notice it last time too? It just shows how incompetent you are."
Upon hearing this, the long-faced cultivator was immediately displeased. He was a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and to be discovered by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator while spying under the cover of an array was an utter disgrace! He glared and retorted, "How can that be the same? Duan Chen is a disciple of True Immortal Han Chan, so it's normal for him to have formidable abilities. But I've never heard of this junior brother before... Oh, right, the Crimson Forbidden Land just opened recently, so this must be a ruthless individual who broke out of it. I should find an opportunity to befriend him in the future."
……
Luo Ming naturally had no way of knowing the conversation between the two people in the formation. At the time, he only vaguely sensed that the source of his divine sense was in that open space. He glanced at it casually and then didn't think much of it.
"The fees at this Scripture Pavilion are outrageous! It costs a hundred spirit stones to stay on the second floor for an hour, and if you want to copy cultivation techniques, you have to pay extra." Luo Ming muttered to himself as he walked to the outside of the second-floor barrier and activated the jade token in his hand. A ripple appeared on the light screen in front of him, revealing an entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time. He quickly went inside.
Although he wasn't short of spirit stones, he still felt the price was too high, which showed how much importance the cultivation world placed on high-level cultivation techniques. In the outside world, unless a rogue cultivator had incredible luck and obtained a high-level technique from a senior's cave, they could only cultivate low-level techniques sold on street stalls for a few spirit stones each, such as the "Eternal Spring Technique," "Mysterious Water Technique," and "Stone Rock Technique."