Chapter 53: Spirit Treasury Pavilion

He slept until broad daylight.

Xu Xiaoshou swore this was the most refreshing sleep he'd had so far. No mosquitoes buzzing around, no worries about tomorrow's matches, and no need to get up in the middle of the night to practice swordplay to ease his nerves... As for yesterday's dismal defeat, he'd felt down for a bit but had already tossed it out of his mind. After all, even death hadn't taken him out, so what was this little setback? It was just the Nei Yuan, anyway—maybe he, Xu Xiaoshou, didn't even need it!

There was another urgent knock at the door, which was what had woken Xu Xiaoshou up. He went over and opened it.

"It's you?"

The person standing there was the staff member from the waiting area—the one who had gone to ask Xiao Qixiu for the Chi Jin Dan on his behalf.

"You need to hurry a bit; Elder Xiao is waiting." The staff member chose his words carefully, afraid Xu Xiaoshou might drag his feet, so he quickly added, "You're the last one."

Today was the day to enter the Ling Zang Ge and select spiritual techniques. With the sun already high in the sky, it was indeed getting late.

"Lead the way!"

Xu Xiaoshou had nothing to pack, so he waved his hand to signal they should go.

The staff member quickly strode ahead to guide him.

"By the way, are there any special rules for entering the Ling Zang Ge, or any unwritten customs?" Xu Xiaoshou pulled out a bottle of Chi Jin Dan.

Not again?

The staff member jumped, waving his hands frantically.

"There's no need for that. Elder Xiao will explain the rules when you get there." He pushed the Chi Jin Dan back, lowering his voice. "We already bent the rules last time. I can't accept it this time!"

"Take it!"

Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brow.

The staff member was almost in tears: "There really are no unwritten rules. Even if I took it, I couldn't tell you anything—I haven't even been to the Ling Zang Ge myself."

"Oh, I see." Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, realizing he wasn't going to get any information out of him.

His last visit to the Ling Zang Ge was about three years ago, and it was with a different soul, so he remembered nothing. Back then, he was naive and just picked the "Bai Yun Jian Fa," and after three years, he had only mastered one move.

This time, he needed to be smarter about it.

But he wasn't confident in his own aptitude—probably whatever he chose would end up the same.

"Sigh!"

Xu Xiaoshou's expression darkened as he handed over the Chi Jin Dan, not bothering to take it back.

The staff member took a deep breath, as if making a big decision. "I can't accept it!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at him, but he didn't back down, gritting his teeth and meeting his gaze.

Clang!

Xu Xiaoshou drew his black sword from his chest.

"Take it."

"Ah!" The staff member tucked the Chi Jin Dan into his sleeve.

"Lead the way."

"Right away."

Under the blazing sun, the staff member lifted his head, trying to let the sunlight evaporate his tears.

Elder, ah!

I didn't mean to take it—he forced the bribe on me, wah...

I'm sorry, I broke the rules again...

"Received curse, passive value +1."

"Received admiration, passive value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled—this was quite the conflicting mindset.

...

The Ling Zang Ge was located in the Nei Yuan.

The spiritual energy in the Nei Yuan was several times denser than in the Wai Yuan, and as soon as one entered, it felt invigorating and clear-headed.

Every new disciple of Tian Sang Ling Gong got one chance to enter the Ling Zang Ge, with selecting cultivation techniques as the main goal. But it also served to make them feel the difference in spiritual energy between the inner and outer areas, motivating them to strive for improvement.

What's more, rumor had it that each Nei Yuan disciple had their own private courtyard, and once the arrays were activated inside, the spiritual energy density increased several times over!

A private courtyard was a real luxury.

Not everyone was like Xu Xiaoshou, who had managed to get one in the Wai Yuan.

Some people even had to sneak to others' doorsteps just to cultivate...

Xiao Qixiu led the eleven people along, saying as they walked:

"Even though you've all been here before, I still need to go over the rules."

"Each of you can select one innate spiritual technique. Once you've chosen, go register it. Remember, no loud noise or horsing around."

"If you anger the guardian of the Ling Zang Ge, they'll burn you to ashes in an instant."

He turned his head and stared straight at Xu Xiaoshou: "Got it?"

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened: "Why are you looking at me when you say that?"

"Heh."

Xiao Qixiu gave him a look that said, "You know exactly why." "I'm not beating around the bush—these words are just for you."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

The others burst into laughter.

"Received mockery, passive value +11."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt exhausted. He shot Xiao Qixiu an expression that said he didn't want to talk and headed straight to the back of the group.

To his surprise, Zhou Tianshen was also in the group. This puzzled him.

He remembered Xiao Qixiu saying only the top ten would get to enter the Ling Zang Ge, and this guy had been knocked out in the round of 32 by him.

Did he pull some strings?

"How did you end up here?" Xu Xiaoshou slung an arm over his shoulder.

Zhou Tianshen hesitated, as if unsure what to say.

Xu Xiaoshou grinned, giving him a knowing look, and pulled him slightly away from the group, whispering, "What's the connection? Spill it—I won't tell anyone!"

Zhou Tianshen carefully chose his words, thinking how to put it.

After their match, he had started seeing Xu Xiaoshou as a friend and didn't want to upset him.

But since Xu Xiaoshou seemed insistent, he reluctantly grumbled, "It's the opportunity for entering the Nei Yuan."

Xu Xiaoshou's smile froze for a moment.

Oh, great—he'd just reopened his own wound.

"So... those top ones can pick two techniques?"

"Yeah." Zhou Tianshen nodded. "They can select one now and come back for another once they've cultivated it properly."

Hah, so many perks!

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath and turned to leave.

That middle-aged man was right—he really should just keep his mouth shut.

"Received concern, passive value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, glancing back to see Zhou Tianshen looking worried, as if wondering if his words had hurt him.

"What a straightforward guy!" Xu Xiaoshou thought with a smile.

...

"We're here!"

The path wound around a bend, and a three-story pavilion appeared before them.

The building was simple, with no ornate tiles or carved beams, except for a large, reddish sphere on the top floor that seemed to radiate heat. Otherwise, nothing stood out.

A plaque hung above the wooden door, inscribed with the three black characters: "Ling Zang Ge."

It was rustic and imposing—a great place for studying!

Xiao Qixiu took out a black-red elder's token and pressed it against the door's array. The wooden gate opened.

"Go on in. The first floor has acquired spiritual techniques, the second has innate ones, and the third is off-limits."

"You have three hours to choose. Don't get too absorbed—keep an eye on the time and register once you've selected."

He looked at Xu Xiaoshou again: "Remember what I said on the way."

The group chuckled once more. As the one singled out for criticism, Xu Xiaoshou just kept his head down and followed them inside.