Chapter 116: Scripture Pavilion

Zhu Gang was speechless: "…This lion is truly sentient; it can even understand when people are speaking ill of it."

In fact, what Zhu Gang said was common knowledge, and Xiao Fan knew it as well.

However, he wasn't entirely clear on what kind of Yao Beast Xiao Jin actually was, as his knowledge regarding Spirit Beasts was quite limited.

"Whatever, I'll find some books about Spirit Beasts when I have time. Maybe I'll find the answer then…"

After staying in Xiao Fan's Immortal Cave for an hour, Zhu Gang left him a communication jade slip, informed him of where he lived, and departed.

He also mentioned that he would drop by often when he was free.

The entire Jixian Sect was massive, and for Outer Sect Disciples, it was relatively relaxed with few restrictions.

No one supervised their cultivation either.

Xiao Fan tossed out all the dried meat from his Storage Pouch. He planned to enter the Secret Room for a few days of secluded meditation. After the recent series of battles, he felt he could Breakthrough from the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm to the eighth at any moment.

However, he was in no hurry and planned to temper himself further at the seventh level.

Furthermore, he still had an opportunity to select an Earth Rank Martial Skill.

He intended to go to the Scripture Pavilion to redeem it after this period of seclusion ended.

"The Jade Slip records that Jiang Yushan has an Alchemy lecture in five days. I should go check it out then…"

"As for Formations and Artifact Refining, as long as those Elders are lecturing, I can't miss them either."

Before starting his seclusion, Xiao Fan very seriously committed the lecture times of several Elders from the Jade Slip to memory.

Alchemy went without saying; Alchemists held a noble status and could refine various Spirit Medicines and pills. The heaven mending pill he currently needed required at least a 3rd Grade Alchemist.

Artifact Refining involved forging various Magical Artifacts, and even items like communication jade slips were created by Artifact Refiners.

As for Formations, a truly profound Formation master could challenge those with higher cultivation than themselves even if their own strength was weak—they could even use powerful Killing Arrays to slay them!

Xiao Fan wanted to learn all of these.

Entering the Secret Room, Xiao Fan closed his eyes and sent his Divine Sense into the star chart.

After consuming a large amount of Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Plants, he held a Spirit Stone in each hand and began to Cultivate…

Early Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

Great Perfection of the Early Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

Middle Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

Great Perfection of the Middle Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

Late Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

…

Great Perfection of the Late Stage of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

Three days later, Xiao Fan slowly opened his eyes. His cultivation had been consolidated at the Great Perfection of the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm.

If he wished, he could even Breakthrough directly to the eighth level.

However, the increase in combat power from doing so wouldn't be very significant.

He wanted to polish himself and continue tempering his foundation at the seventh level.

"It's time to head out."

Xiao Fan murmured; he planned to go to the Scripture Pavilion today to select an Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique.

The Scripture Pavilion of the Piaomiao Immortal Palace had a long history and was divided into the Inner Pavilion and the Outer Pavilion.

The Outer Pavilion referred to the Scripture Pavilion of the Jixian Sect's Outer Sect.

Even so, it contained countless precious records, and Low Grade Earth-Rank Cultivation Techniques were not few in number.

It was said that in the Inner Pavilion of the Scripture Pavilion, located in the Jixian Sect's Inner Sect, there were even legendary Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques in addition to a large number of Earth Rank ones.

Of course, these were all just legends.

Following the location recorded on the Jade Slip, Xiao Fan arrived at the entrance of the Outer Sect Scripture Pavilion.

It wasn't crowded like the Internal Affairs Pavilion or Wanbao Tower.

On the contrary, it felt somewhat deserted.

At the entrance were two White-haired Elders, sitting and drinking tea while playing chess.

They looked completely at ease.

"Seniors, I wish to enter the Scripture Pavilion to select a Cultivation Technique."

The two Elders turned their heads to glance at Xiao Fan.

One of the Elders spoke indifferently: "Are you exchanging contribution points for a technique, or are you using a reward?"

"A reward."

Xiao Fan took out his jade token and handed it to the Elder in front of him.

The Elder took the jade token, a look of surprise in his eyes, and sized Xiao Fan up once more.

"An Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique… So you are that Freak from this year's batch?"

Freak?

Xiao Fan was stunned. How did he become a 'Freak' in the other's mouth…

However, he didn't say much. The other's cultivation was unfathomable, and he didn't sense any ill intent from them…

The other Elder also looked up, scrutinizing Xiao Fan with a curious gaze for a few moments.

Xiao Fan felt a bit awkward being stared at and gave a dry cough, saying: "Senior, may I go in to make my selection?"

"Go ahead. For Earth-Rank Cultivation Techniques, go directly to the third floor. You can enter by holding the jade token."

The Elder tossed the jade token back into Xiao Fan's hand, his expression returning to its original state.

The other Elder did the same. The two continued to look at the chessboard on the stone table and resumed their game.

Xiao Fan was speechless… He gave the two a bow and turned to head inside the Scripture Pavilion.

After Xiao Fan left, the two Elders began to converse via Divine Sense.

"This little fellow is the number one from this year's Outer Sect selection… Tsk tsk, he really is at the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm."

"That's not right. I remember that old fellow Xu Yongnian saying this kid's cultivation was clearly at the Early Stage of the seventh level, but looking at him just now, he's clearly at the Late Stage."

"Could it be he broke through again?"

"…If that's truly the case, he really is a Freak."

"That girl who went in before him isn't bad either. Ninth level of the Huaqi Realm, but I reckon even an ordinary Half-step Tongtian Realm wouldn't be her match."

Xiao Fan was naturally unaware of the idle chatter between the two Elders outside; he had already entered the Scripture Pavilion.

From the outside, the Scripture Pavilion looked ordinary.

However, once inside, there was a hidden world. On the first floor of the pavilion, the surroundings were filled with bookshelves decorated with ancient carved dragon patterns. These carvings looked lifelike, as if they were real dragons.

Each bookshelf held only a single Cultivation Technique.

Xiao Fan noticed that every bookshelf had the character 'Huang' on it.

"I suppose this entire floor consists of Yellow Rank Cultivation Techniques…"

Xiao Fan murmured. There were quite a few people walking back and forth near the bookshelves, sizing them up very seriously as if they were choosing a technique.

Xiao Fan glanced around and headed straight for the stairs; his goal was the third floor.