"Supplementary books?" Zhen asked, tilting his head in confusion.

  Mei nodded. "They're basic guides given to every sect disciple. You can choose a single book for free. Or, if you're feeling wealthy, you can purchase more with spirit stones or gold coins."

  Mei led him through the bustling hall, past rows of shelves overflowing with scrolls and books. They reached the end of the Qi Condensation Realm area, where multiple copies of the same books were stacked neatly. Zhen noticed a thin layer of dust on some, a testament to their infrequent use.

  What surprised him was that there were multiple copies of the same books stacked neatly here. I guess even in the cultivation world, they have mass production, Zhen mused. Though I wonder how they make copies of these books...some kind of magical printing press?

  He scanned the titles as they walked.

  Qi Condensation Primer

  Mapping the 12 Meridians

  The 360 Acupoints

  Basic Herbs near Abyssal Harmony Sect

  Common Beasts of the Southern Divine Continent

  The Azure Cloud Sect: A History

  Eternally Cursed Lands: A History

  These seem pretty basic, Zhen thought. These were clearly the standard, general knowledge texts. He was a little disappointed that there wasn't anything more advanced on offer, but he supposed it made sense for new disciples.

  Mei selected a slim volume from a less dusty pile and handed it to him. "Here she said. "Ascending the Mortal Realms: Breaking into Foundation Establishment. Should be helpful."

  "How much are these books?" Zhen asked, curiosity piqued.

  Mei replied with a straight face, "Fifty gold coins each."

  Zhen nearly choked. "Fifty gold coins?" he sputtered, aghast. A 1st Realm Qi Condensation cultivator like himself only received one spirit stone a month as an allowance, and that was worth a hundred gold coins! Looking at this flimsy book, he thought, I can't imagine it cost that much to produce.

  "Are you serious?" Zhen asked, incredulous.

  Mei looked as if she was just waiting for this chance. "Senior Brother Zhen, knowledge is priceless! These books contain the wisdom of countless generations of cultivators. They'll guide you on your path, prevent costly mistakes, and potentially save your life! Fifty gold coins is a small price to pay for such invaluable insights."

  Zhen couldn't help but feel like he was given the classical sales pitch. But then again, maybe knowledge was more costly in this world. Back on Earth, before the printing press and the information age, books were kind of rare and expensive.

  Maybe I could even open a printing press here and make a fortune… He shook his head, dispelling the thought. He needed to focus on his cultivation, not on entrepreneurial schemes.

  "Fine," Zhen conceded with a sigh. "I'll take the compulsory one and two others... Let's see, Mapping the 12 Meridians, The 360 Acupoints, Basic Herbs near Abyssal Harmony Sect and Common Beasts of the Southern Divine Continent."

  Mei beamed and handed him the books. "Excellent choices, Senior Brother Zhen! I'm sure you'll find them enlightening."

  Well, that was painful, Zhen thought, wincing internally. It wasn't just the cost that bothered him; he was pretty sure Mei was getting a commission from these sales. Maybe she's got a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit, just like me...or maybe she's in debt too. He shrugged mentally. Either way, he needed those books. Plus, I'm already in debt, what's a few more gold coins?

  When Zhen tried to give her the gold coins, Mei waved him off. "Just pay at the reception," she said. "Do you need anything else, Senior Brother?"

  "Can I take any other cultivation techniques?" Zhen asked, hoping to expand his options.

  "Only one at a time, unfortunately," Mei explained. "Once you've mastered it, you can return it and choose another." Then, as if an afterthought, she added, "Or you could borrow one of the Eternal Laws for a month with spirit stones." Mei had already started walking back to the reception desk.

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  Zhen paused, the phrase Eternal Laws catching his attention. Is she talking about the Nine Eternal Laws of the Grand Dao?

  "Can I check those out?" Zhen called after her.

  Mei turned back, a curious look on her face. "The Eternal Laws? Are you not familiar with them, Senior Brother?"

  Zhen hesitated. "Not really," he admitted.

  "Ah, well..." Mei led him to a different section of the library. "The Eternal Laws are ancient cultivation methods," she explained. "They were once widely practiced, but have fallen out of favor in recent centuries as various cultivators create their arts and techniques. Too common, too ordinary. Anyone could practice them, but they were slow and, well..." she trailed off with a delicate shrug, "...inefficient."

  They arrived at a shelf filled with multiple copies of only two books, both emanating a faint Qi.

  Chaos: Edited by — — —

  Opening Heaven: Edited by — — —

  Zhen squinted at the titles, a wave of disbelief washing over him. No editor names? Seriously? So no Dao Lords wrote these, huh?

  "Only these two are available on this floor," Mei said. "The rest are distributed throughout the other floors or in different pavillion."

  Zhen's eyes fell on Opening Heaven, a flicker of excitement igniting within him. But Mei's words about the limited availability of the Laws on this floor struck him as odd. Elsewhere? What does that even mean? If these books are so common and easy to copy, why the mysterious distribution?

  "What's the price?" Zhen asked cautiously.

  "Five spirit stones for one month," Mei replied.

  Five spirit stones?! Zhen winced internally. That's highway robbery! For a dusty old book that everyone and their grandmother has already memorized? He hesitated, his mind racing. Should I take the risk? This whole setup screams 'protagonist cliché', and those usually come with hidden benefits...

  He glanced at the multiple copies of Opening Heaven lining the shelf. If I keep a low profile, I could practically disappear in this crowd. No one would even notice me, let alone suspect I'm cultivating some ancient, forgotten technique. Maybe they would think that I failed…

  With a deep breath and gritted teeth, he declared, "I'll borrow Opening Heaven."

  Mei's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure, Senior Brother Zhen?"

  "Yes," Zhen affirmed, feeling his heart bleed for those precious spirit stones. It's just money, right? Or rather, crystallized essence of the world... Okay, maybe it's a bit more than 'just money'.

  "If that's what you want..." Mei said slowly, leading him back to the reception desk.

  Elder Liang looked up as they approached. Zhen placed the Diamond Skin scroll and the Opening Heaven scripture on the counter, along with the stack of books Mei had selected.

  Elder Liang's eyebrows shot up as he took in the unusual combination. He exchanged a quick, questioning glance with Mei, who merely shrugged with a subtle smile playing on her lips.

  "Are you certain about this choice?" the elder asked Zhen, his voice laced with a hint of concern.

  Zhen nodded earnestly. "Yes, Elder Liang."

  "That will be seven spirit stones," Elder Liang stated, his tone turning serious. "These manuals are for your personal use only. Sharing their contents with anyone, especially those outside the sect, is strictly forbidden. The consequences for such a transgression would be severe."

  Zhen simply nodded, slightly taken aback by the sudden gravity in Elder Liang's voice, and placed the required spirit stones on the counter.

  Elder Liang scooped them up and began recording the transaction in his ledger. As he meticulously noted the details, he paused and looked at Zhen with a thoughtful expression.

  "I understand you're with Jadecrest Peak now," Elder Liang began, "But if things don't work out there, you should seriously consider joining the Celestial Archive Hall. Your sensitivity to Qi would be quite valuable to us."

  "Thank you, Elder Liang," Zhen replied politely, "I'll keep that in mind." He was even more surprised that the elder not only remembered him but also his fake chosen peak.

  With a final flourish, Elder Liang closed the ledger and slid Zhen's identity badge back across the counter. "Return the book within a month from today."

  Zhen gathered his books and badge, then bowed respectfully to Elder Liang while nodding to Mei as he left. As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. This is going to be interesting...

  ? ? ?

  The midday sun cast long shadows as Zhen walked towards the his house, eager to test his newly developed technique.

  Unbeknownst to him, Lan Xingchen descended the steps of the Martial Arts Pavilion, her regal bearing evident even in her quiet movements.

  Behind her, a figure materialized from the shadows, coalescing into the form of a woman of middle age. She was clad in the valiant attire of a royal guard, her armor gleaming subtly in the light.

  “Did you find any clues, Princess?” the guard inquired, her voice respectful.

  Lan Xingchen sighed, a delicate sound that betrayed her frustration. “How can it be that easy to search for the Divine Seed?” she murmured, more to herself than to her companion.

  The guard remained silent for a moment, allowing the princess her moment of contemplation. Then, she responded, "Perhaps fate has not arrived yet."

  "Perhaps…" Lan Xingchen’s gaze drifted in the direction Zhen had taken.

  A thoughtful expression crossed her face. “Ailin,” she began, using the guard's name, “have you ever met someone who doesn’t know about the Southern Royal Family?”

  Ailin’s brow furrowed slightly. “No, Princess. The history of the Southern Royals is… foundational. It's woven into the fabric of our culture, our very identity. Even the common folk know the tales of their lineage.”

  Lan Xingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And he was even touching the Sect’s Secret Manual…” Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

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