The next day, Xue Zunjing woke up early to head to the Military archives, which was just a fancy way of saying the public library in Quadrant twelve. Qing Wu, his attendant, followed quietly behind him. Fading into the background silently, more so than a shadow ever could.
He honestly had forgotten that she existed, but anyways.
Having a system that relied solely on information received through visual or auditory senses, Zunjing thought it best to go to the library to test it out.
According to the system, it actively increases talent and provides enlightenment in a specific subject based on the amount of information regarding the subject absorbed.
While it may seem useless, as it only increases knowledge and talent proportionally, Xue Zunjing figured this...Dao Manifestation couldn't be so simple.
Heading into the library, a couple of miles away from his courtyard, Xue Zunjing was quickly met with the stunning sight of endless upon endless rows of bookshelves.
A space-time formation? Xue Zunjing thought to himself.
After all, the outside of the building was not nearly as large or majestic as the inside. Walking in made one feel as if they were in a different building altogether.
"What's a kid like you doing in my library?", a raspy, old voice slithered out from behind him, Xue Zunjing jumped as he turned around.
The old man seemed ordinary, yet the look in his greyed out eyes said otherwise. An aura of blood emanated from him, causing pressure to the surroundings.
Xue Zunjing narrowed his eyes, this guy was dangerous.
Quickly, he began to gather his Qi to combat the pressure, Daoist rhymes manifested around him, and a heavy, icy aura gathered 30 feet around him. His dark, royal blue robes fluttered and he leaned slightly forward, ready to move at any moment.
"Ha! I never thought a kid not even in his teens could have such good instincts! But there's no need to worry so much, im just a frail old librarian. Left to rot here until the end of the war.", The old man inched closer, his eyes clear, and full of intent.
"The question is, when did a twelve year old with a Dao body enter the military? The Dao is so active around you, and your bloodline...fate isn't what it seems anymore."
Xue Zunjing thought for a moment, before inching back his aura. The Daoist Rhymes and ancient symbols slowly faded back into obscurity, the crystal ice and snow around the only evidence of the aforementioned display of power.
"How do you know my age?"
The Old man chuckled.
"What a useless question! Tell me what you're looking for in the library, and I'll take you there, such is my job. According to your Aura, you're only at Qi Condensation 30%, hence, you're only allowed the first floor to access and explore. Once you reach Aura Coalescence, you can advance to floor two, and then from there on, each floor is based on merits in the war. "
Xue Zunjing gave the old man a heavy look. There was more than one floor? This place seems to hold substantial knowledge.
What did he want to increase his talent in first?
Hm...
"Take me to the archives on the basics and historical texts regarding cultivation, please"
The old man was puzzled. The kid clearly already knew the basics of cultivation, so what use would those texts be to him?
He was skeptical, but he guided him to the area anyways, deciding to just do his job and pretend that his curiosity never existed in the first place.
After all, with such a pure and comprehensive Dao body (According to the Qi and Daoist Rhymes earlier) this kid was a genius of his own right. He figured that geniuses had their own weird quirks that set them apart from others.
So why should this old man worry about it? He had no need to.
So he brought him there.
Immediately, Zunjing picked up the first book in the large section of shelves and started reading it.
He was really eager to test this ability of his.
{Information being absorbed...
Subject - The Foundational Basis of Cultivation
Dramatic increase in foundations, Enlightenment Commencing,}
The world around Xue Zunjing seemed to stop, and a ringing could be heard from him. Daoist rhymes manifested themselves again, but this time they seemed much more profound, ancient, and active, as if to mimic the process of thinking itself.
Like this, conscious but unconscious, lucid and full of clarity yet faded into but a dream, Zunjing started to speed through all the books in the section. With every thirty minutes, a new book on foundational cultivation was consumed, and soon, his cultivation released from his body, and rapidly rose.
Yet, despite the speed of which it was increasing, his aura was stable as rock, unmoving as a mountain, and uncluttered with heartful clarity. Like his mind and soul were cleansing itself, and his body began to follow suit.
Silently, the old librarian was watching from a distance, slightly confused, even more so baffled.
This was enlightenment!
Only the most wise, talented, and experienced in the Dao could achieve it! Nevertheless so fastidious!
And how old was this kid?
Just twelve...?
His eyes narrowed, and a chill went down his spine.
This kid, was a pure and utter monster, when those sect representatives begin scouting the empire for talent, won't this little demon get snatched right up?!
'I fear...he'll reach transcendence before he hits fifteen, won't he?', the old man mused to himself as a couple of presences began to hone in on what was happening in the library, the Daoist rhymes and Qi fluctuations a telltale sign of enlightenment.
All the Powerhouses in Quadrant twelve wanted to take note of this once in a lifetime miracle, but nothing could prepare them for the sight of a twelve year old diligently studying as his cultivation rapidly rose past Qi Condensation 60%.
....
....
In a majestic hall, a large council of seventeen people were looking in a specific direction, having taken notice of a certain event in a certain library. All of the people in question held extraordinary power, able to instantly tell the situation the near instant it occurred.
One of these powerhouses, a beautiful woman with pitch black hair, and pale brown eyes stared belatedly as her cold heart analyzed the situation in from of her.
This talented kid, why did he look like someone she knew?