The morning mist curled around the mountain peaks like lazy serpents. Zhen Liang stood quietly beside his father, Zhen Mu, in front of the Sutra Pavilion. The structure, three stories tall and built with plain grey stone and aged wood, sat calmly among pine-covered ridges. Despite its simple appearance, the Pavilion held the collective wisdom of generations of Zhen cultivators.
Zhen Mu looked down at his son. "Liang, once you enter, you must choose wisely. Your foundation will shape your path."
Liang nodded with an easy smile. "I understand, Father."
Footsteps approached. Zhen Liang's elder siblings arrived from the central hall. His elder brother, Zhen Tian, wore the clean uniform of the Eternal Star Sect—dark robes with silver embroidery and a sword at his side. Zhen Rou, their sister, dressed in green robes with golden accents and the emblem of the Jade Alchemy Sect. Her presence carried the subtle scent of fresh herbs and refined pills.
Zhen Tian greeted Liang with a nod. "Looks like it's your turn now. Our twin has already returned to the sect. I'll be heading back shortly as well."
Zhen Rou stepped forward and offered a small porcelain bottle. "These are mild spirit-calming pills. They'll help stabilize your qi during meditation. Use them when needed."
Liang bowed, receiving both the bottle and the smile she offered. "Thank you, sister."
Zhen Tian then unwrapped a dark cloth, revealing twin short swords. "These were our first training blades. We want you to have them now."
Liang took them with quiet appreciation. "I'll train hard with them."
Zhen Mu, arms crossed, said calmly, "Before you leave, go see your mothers. They'll want to speak to you both."
"Yes, Father," the siblings replied in unison before departing.
With a breath, Liang turned toward the entrance of the Pavilion and stepped inside.
The air within was dry and smelled of ink, parchment, and aged wood. Lanterns lit the hall in a soft glow. The first level was divided clearly into four sections:
Cultivation Methods
Mental and Spiritual Techniques
Martial Arts Techniques
Supplemental Arts (including pill refinement, weapon forging, and array studies)
Behind a desk sat the Pavilion's guardian, Elder Mo—an old man with a long white beard and eyes that shimmered with sharpness despite his age. He sipped tea lazily and looked up as Liang approached.
"Zhen Liang?"
"Yes, Elder."
"You're the library boy. Old Lin talks about you. Says you sleep more than you read but still finish every scroll."
Liang grinned. "He exaggerates. I always return the scrolls."
"Mhm," Elder Mo grumbled, examining the bronze and silver tokens Liang handed him. "You get one hour. Choose a cultivation method, a mental technique, and one martial art. Now go."
Liang nodded and began exploring.
First, he headed to the Cultivation Methods section. Rows of scrolls lined the wall, labeled by element and compatibility. Most techniques were neutral, suitable for all spiritual roots. Among them, he found three thunder-root-specific methods:
Rumbling Vein Sutra
Sky Pulse Breathing Method
Thunder Fang Meridian Flow
He skimmed through each, but none impressed him.
Just as he was about to give up, his eyes caught a half-charred scroll on a lower shelf. The cover was scorched, the title barely readable:
True Qi Condensation Method
Opening it slowly, he noticed nine thick pages—but something else drew his attention. Between the worn pages, nearly invisible, were delicate silk pages, perfectly blended into the scroll. Their shimmer was revealed only because the outer pages were deteriorating.
He didn't pull them out. Not here. Not with Elder Mo nearby.
Hidden pages... If they went through the effort to conceal them, there must be something valuable.
He closed the scroll and set it aside as his selection.
In the Mental Techniques section, he found only eleven manuals. After a careful read-through, he picked the Spirit Calming Technique. It promised enhanced spiritual perception and clarity, and at peak mastery, could triple one's spiritual sense range.
At the Martial Arts section, Liang ignored blades and fists and went directly to the spear scrolls. He found one wrapped in black thread:
Black Spear: Ten Destruction Moves
It focused on relentless spear sequences and was viable up to the Foundation Realm. It suited his preference for versatility and reach.
He made it his third selection.
With a few minutes left, Liang wandered into the Supplemental Arts section. Titles on pill refinement, weapon smithing, and arrays filled the shelves. One in particular—Thunder Gathering Array—piqued his interest. Just as he reached for a second book on weapon refinement—
DING!
A soft chime echoed.
"Time's up!" Elder Mo called lazily from across the hall.
Liang returned to the desk, presenting his three chosen scrolls. Elder Mo didn't inspect them closely. He simply glanced at the covers, recorded their names, and handed them back.
Liang held up the charred scroll.
"Elder, this one looks... old. Do you know where it came from?"
Elder Mo squinted. "Oh, that thing? Some Zhen cultivator brought it back four centuries ago after a beast tide wiped out a small sect. I don't remember the sect's name."
He took a sip of tea. "It's falling apart. If you can, make a clean copy and return that instead. You can keep the original."
Liang smiled slightly. "Understood."
As he turned to leave, Elder Mo added, "Don't forget—with that silver token, you're eligible for the Spirit Gathering Pool next month. Don't miss it."
Liang nodded and stepped outside, the scrolls tucked under his arm, and the mountain breeze brushing across his face.