My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 355: Chapter 175: Choosing a Technique

Disciples hurried by, clutching Jade Scrolls or ancient texts, their expressions focused.

Still others had simply settled cross-legged on open-air stone platforms to one side of the plaza. They read the texts in their hands under the open sky, bathed in the light reflecting off the sea of clouds. Beside them sat cups of half-finished Spirit Tea.

The air, besides the scent of sandalwood and fresh greenery, was filled with the faint aroma of ink and medicinal herbs, along with the low, buzzing hum of discussion.

A few tame Spiritual Cranes strolled leisurely along the edge of the plaza. They would occasionally stretch out their necks and let out clear, resonant cries.

Farther off, a mischievous White Ape crouched on an upturned eave, craning its neck inquisitively to watch the bustling crowd below...

Despite having prepared himself, Qin Fang was still utterly captivated by the stunning scenery before him...

Only after a long while did he slowly come back to his senses.

He let out a soft breath and stepped onto the vast, white stone plaza that spanned the surrounding peaks.

The Scripture Pavilion lay ahead. It was a seven-story tower built against the mountainside, its ancient structure wreathed in a faint, fluorescent glow... a clear sign it was protected by an Array.

The white stone plaza branched out in all directions, connecting to several other Peak Veins. Ancient pines with drooping boughs formed a natural screen, through which distant pavilions and squares could be glimpsed among the branches.

Qin Fang knew this was the place where most Inner Sect Disciples gathered. It was called Baichuan Plaza, a name taken from the idiom ”a sea that embraces a hundred rivers,” signifying its vast and welcoming nature.

Surrounding the plaza were various departments, such as the Tempering Martial Hall, the Divine Craft Pavilion, the Hundred Herbs Courtyard, the Battle Hall Department, and the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, each situated on a different Peak Vein.

Walking across Baichuan Plaza felt like treading upon a roiling sea of clouds. Spiritual Cranes danced in the air, their clear cries echoing... It felt otherworldly.

Even Qin Fang felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, momentarily stunned into a daze by the sights.

After a long while, he let out a soft breath and composed himself. Only then did he begin his slow walk toward the Peak Vein where the Scripture Pavilion was located.

He finally arrived at the Scripture Pavilion. Its doors stood open, but a shimmering barrier of light blocked the path dozens of meters before the entrance. Disciples came and went, each presenting a Token before passing through.

Qin Fang paused for a moment before taking out his Token and stepping into the flowing light.

He felt a slight chill. The next moment, the Token in his hand grew warm and flashed with light. Immediately, the resistance before him vanished, and he walked inside with ease...

The main doors were open. Upon entering, he saw rows upon rows of bookshelves suffused with a flowing light. A great number of Jade Scrolls were arranged on them.

However, the flowing light only emanated from the sections holding the Jade Scrolls. In the areas below, rows of thread-bound books were arranged neatly, emitting no light of their own.

There were quite a few disciples inside the pavilion, but it was completely silent. No one spoke. They stood before the bookshelves, leafing through the thread-bound books with contemplative expressions, apparently in the middle of selecting something.

Just as Qin Fang was observing with curiosity, a voice spoke up beside his ear.

”Qin Fang?”

Qin Fang froze for a moment and turned his head.

An elderly man in a Steward’s robes stood to one side of the pavilion, watching him with a raised eyebrow.

Qin Fang, however, did not recognize the man.

”And you are?”

Qin Fang asked, a little surprised.

”It really is you.”

The old man stroked his beard and smiled. ”They all said this year’s batch produced a twenty-year-old True Essence prodigy who joined the Guiyuan Lineage. I thought you would have come yesterday to claim your True Essence Realm Root Skill and Leaf Skill, yet you only arrived today...”

He paused, then smiled. ”My name is Zhou Xuanmo. I serve as the Steward on duty at this Scripture Pavilion, and I am also... a member of the Guiyuan Lineage. You may call me Master Zhou.”

Hearing this, Qin Fang was taken aback. He quickly bowed. ”Disciple Qin Fang pays his respects to Master Zhou.”

Zhou Xuanmo sized Qin Fang up, then nodded with a satisfied smile. ”Not bad, not bad at all. A solid foundation and a steady disposition. You’re a fine seedling for our Guiyuan Lineage... And what’s more, with those looks, you have at least ten or twenty percent of my handsomeness back in the day...”

Qin Fang was left speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

”Eh? Master Zhou, were you really that handsome when you were young?”

An Inner Sect Disciple cleaning a nearby bookshelf snickered, chiming in with a tease.

Zhou Xuanmo shot him a glare. ”Get back to it, you. Have you no respect? Is your work finished?”

The young disciple snickered again, then gave Qin Fang a friendly smile and a nod before walking away to continue his work.

Qin Fang: ”...”

’...I’m not quite sure how to respond to that.’

Zhou Xuanmo cleared his throat a few times, then looked at Qin Fang with a smile. ”You haven’t been apprenticed to a master yet, so for now you’re considered part of the Inner Sect. This first floor only houses Mortal Realm Martial Arts. You should go straight to the second floor... Have you decided which Aspect you wish to pursue?”

Hearing this, an idea sparked in Qin Fang’s mind.

”Master Zhou, I want to pursue the ’Profound Water Aspect’.”

”Profound Water?” Zhou Xuanmo seemed surprised. A spiritual light surged in his eyes as he looked Qin Fang up and down again. He then nodded. ”Hm, you do indeed have a hint of the Profound Water Aspect about you... Did you cultivate a Water Element Root Technique in the Mortal Realm?”

”Yes. It’s called the Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile.”

Qin Fang answered without hiding anything.

”Spiritual Snake Listening Wave?... A Root Skill from the Hai Ming Sect?”

Zhou Xuanmo raised his eyebrows.

Qin Fang nodded. ’Yun Guanyu pointed that out too, the day I entered the city.’

”Hmm... But from the look of your flesh and bones, it seems you’ve also consumed some Water Phase Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, or something of the sort?” Zhou Xuanmo asked after a moment of thought.

A chill went down Qin Fang’s spine, but he shook his head. ”I’ve had a few fortunate encounters, but I don’t know if they were related to the Water Phase...”

”Hmm...”

Zhou Xuanmo stroked his beard but didn’t press the issue. After a moment of thought, he said, ”For the Guiyuan Lineage, the primary recommendation is the Cyan Wood Aspect, followed by the Kunyuan Aspect... but Profound Water isn’t impossible. Since you’ve already laid a foundation, it would be inappropriate to change your Aspect now... Fine, Profound Water it is. Follow me.”

With that, Zhou Xuanmo headed off to one side.

Only then did Qin Fang realize there was a staircase nearby, leading to the second floor.

Qin Fang hurried to follow. The staircase was also blocked by a curtain of flowing light. Qin Fang took out his Token. It flashed just before he stepped into the light, and he passed through smoothly.