Liang Jie's destination was the Library Hall of the Sect, The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Daos. The Pavilion was said to be established by the Sect Founder—Lin Xuan himself. And the Library from the outside looked like a Ten-floored Pagoda was a truly mysterious place in the sect. There are even rumors among the students regarding how the Pagoda might have formed a consciousness and is now sentient.
The first floor of the pagoda was quite normal despite all its grandeur, filled with various historical records, and literary pieces. Stuff available outside the sect if one puts the effort, but stuff the scholars would love to get their hands on. It is said that Lin Xuan himself was quite an avid reader of poetry and historical stories. That is why till this day, the first floor was kept so.
A way to honour the passed away Legend.
Starting from the second floor were actual cultivation techniques— specialty of the sect, given the wide variety that rivaled some of the best sects on the land. And with each floor up, the requirements of cultivation and the profoundness of the techniques increased.
It was a vast wealth of knowledge that the sect accumulated since its establishment. Something that not even the best sects can look down upon.
And finally after running for an incense stick worth of time, Liang Jie manages to reach the Library Hall from his run down shack. "At last!" Liang Jie takes a deep breath as he wipes the sweat on his forehead. With excitement in his eyes, he walks towards the entrance only to be met with a long line that makes him feel it might drain his soul away.
But determined and confident than ever, he joins the line. He gripped the edge of his worn shirt, his internal excitement barely contained. Just a few more minutes, and I have the answer. Then, I can cultivate in secret, and when I re-emerge, they will all pay. Everyone that looked down upon me will pay. He was too lost in thought to even care about the murmurs of the nearby disciples, as they looked at him almost disgusted, scorn and jealousy filled their eyes.
But a group cuts the line in front of him, snapping him back to reality. Liang looked up at him, curious who cut the line, it was Xue Yun and three lackeys. Xue Yun— the current squad leader of the Wind Chasers Squad 2, a prestigious squad within the sect. He's a man that's been in the sect for longer than Liang has been alive in this world. The personal disciple of the 5th Elder. *This rotten luck, meeting him here!* he cursed internally, realizing who it was standing before him.
Despite the fear and uncomfortable storm of emotions swelling up inside, he said "Senior Brother Xue, I was here first. Please don't cut the line," he said meekly, hesitantly. His voice was a barely audible squeak. Stay calm! He commanded himself, forcing his fear down. I need to get there. Even if it means enduring this devil.
Though Liang never met Xue Yun before, he had quite the reputation for being a bastard and bullying other disciples using his status as an Elder's personal disciple. He also heard talks recently of how he reached Qi Condensation 1st realm. Meaning he's stronger than him. So using fists wasn't an option.
"And which bastard says so?" Xue Yun barked back irritatedly, as he turned around to see who was talking back to him, the great Xue Yun.
"Oh isn't it our Junior brother scholar Liang" Xue said sarcastically as he saw it was Liang Jie, the trash of the sect. *What luck, here I was feeling all stuffy from Master's scolding. Who'd have thought such a nice punching bag would deliver itself to the door* Xue Yun mused internally as sized up Liang, a cocky amused smirk plastered on his face.
The other disciples around cracked up at how Xue called Liang a 'scholar', which was nothing short of an insult even for any aspiring-to-be cultivator, let alone a practicing one like Liang. Jeering and laughing, while also mocking Liang Jie.
Despite his anger, Liang forced himself to be calm *It's okay. Let's endure it, for now. It's nothing compared to what I faced during all these 5 years* he reassured himself. "Yes, Senior brother Xue, it's me Liang Jie. I have urgent business in Library Hall, so could you please not cut the line" Liang asked politely, his face taking on a fake polite smile.
The mockery only toned up at Liang's polite demeanor. And a lackey of Xue Yun snapped at Liang "You think you have the authority to command brother Yun? Say what he should and shouldn't?" Another continued "Is you, a scholar's work and time more valuable than brother Yun's?" the berating continued.
"Go back to your little hole, Liang Jie. Are you pretending to research some mythical technique again to save face? A man who hasn't advanced in five years should focus on learning to sweep the floors, not hoarding the sect's resources." The last guffawed.
"Look at this bastard, acting all high and mighty in front of brother Xue, just for being the Sect Master's disciple" Somebody cursed from the crowd of disciples. "But what do we do, trash stays trash no matter where it goes or what it does" Another jeered, mocking Liang as if it was common sense.
Despite all this, Liang forced himself to endure. He is just moments away from what he hoped. A path breaking gateway. Just a few more days, all these jeers will be replaced by awe and then he'll be the one looking down.
Xue Yun, smirked looking at how Liang was trembling, eyes closed, trying to endure the insults. *Not enough. Let's notch it up a bit* He decided internally, he wanted to crush Liang even more. Belittle him more. Show that he is nothing but pathetic.
"Hey~Hey~, now don't be so harsh to our sect's only scholar" he said, sarcasm and contempt dripping in his tone, as slung a hand across Liang and pulled him closer. "We should be proud that there's such a scholar in our rank" He looked at Liang, titling him by the chin "isn't that right little scholar Liang" there was no end to his mockery and belittlement. But Liang endured.
"And what could we do? Not everyone is talented with martial arts. And few realize this early on like brother Liang" He said, arousing more mockery from the crowd. Many belittled and accused Liang of wasting the sect's resources for a farce to save his face.
"So don't be so harsh on brother Liang. What could he do for being born in such a trash family line. What more can we expect from parents of such trash talents" He shrugged, pulling back, saying such poisonous words, as if consoling Liang.
A lackey of Xue continued "No wonder, he has no manners. What could we expect from such trash parents", another continued "Exactly, what I wanted to say." The last finished "Go back to your pathetic family trash. This sect isn't place for people like you"
But hearing his parents being insulted wasn't something Liang could endure. After all, whatever the circumstances might be, they were the ones that gave birth to him and took care of him. Even when he was labeled as trash, when he fell from grace, they were the ones that supported and comforted him.
Anger boiled his blood and before he knew what he was doing Liang retorted with a hot-headed response "At least I have time to learn manners. Unlike you Uncles who are past thirty and barely scraped your way around 9th Stage Body Tempering Especially our uncle Xue, nearing 40, yet still a Qi Condensation first stage."
The laughter died.
Xue Yun's smile froze.
The silence that fell was absolute. Nobody could fathom Liang's audacity at calling Xue an 'uncle' and to openly declare he was past his peak.
It was an unforgivable insult, a declaration of war. Xue Yun's face went from amused scorn to a mask of livid, sputtering rage.
"You dare! You waste of resources!" Xue Yun roared, his control gone.
Before Liang could react, his aura erupted, filling the area with a suffocating pressure from his Qi running wild. Without a second he unleashed his White Tiger Chases Wind fist technique, 8th form— A killing move he was famous for.
In the blink of an eye, his fist met Liang's gut. The impact, a thunderous bang that sent Liang flying. He crashed against the wall 5 yards away, even the wall breaking down from the impact causing dust to raise in all directions. He heard the sound of his bones breaking, as a sickening crunch echoed.
Liang Jie slumped to the floor, his vision blurring, a gasp of blood erupting from his lips and staining the stone in the rubble. He could feel sharp edges digging into his lung—a collapsed rib—and the horrific, dull ache of his splintered forearm.
Is... is this how it ends? The thought was choked, filled with a desperate, burning reluctance. He had found the answer! He was so close to proving them all wrong! To die here, like this, at the hands of a low-life he was destined to surpass, was unbearable.
He tried to push himself up, just an inch, wanting to spit a final defiance at Xue Yun, but a new wave of agony swept through him. Another bone shifted, and his breathing became a shallow, wheezing struggle.
No... I can't give up! Five years! All that work...
Just as the darkness pressed in, threatening to claim his consciousness forever, and as his life force dimmed to a flicker, a cold, mechanical voice echoed inside the dying recesses of his mind—a sound like a spark of light in the deepest tunnel.
[DING!]
[The Great Cultivation System Found Host!]
[Initializing System Binding.]