Scripture of Days Past

Chu Qiguang flipped through the Secrets of the Religion of Inaction, examining the illustrations that depicted scenes of ascension.

It seems like to the Religion of Inaction, ascension means leaving the earth behind and rising into the heavens. If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean the so-called immortal realm is in outer space? Wouldn’t that make immortals aliens?

All of a sudden, Chu Qiguang recalled the first time he had ridden on the backs of Chitter and Chatter. He had ordered them to fly higher so he could get a better view of Hidden Fiend Village down below, but the two Chongming Birds had refused. Back then, they had shown a clear fear of the sky above.

Is there something special about the sky in this world?

After memorizing the contents of the Secrets of the Religion of Inaction, Chu Qiguang began examining the Primordial High Zenith Demonic Arts again.

The last boon gave me the ability to see things I previously couldn’t, and this time, it altered my cultivation art. It seems like the Ring of Ignorance can bestow different boons. It also seems to be very interested in the history of different cults.

Just as Chu Qiguang was about to set off in search of a new book under the guidance of the Ring of Ignorance, the gatekeeper’s voice rang out from afar.

”It’s closing time. You have to go now.”

Chu Qiguang could only make a mental note to return the next day.

This is a bit of a pain. I can only spend a limited amount of time here each day, and I still have to find the books and read each one twice. That’s far too inefficient.

As he prepared to return the book to the shelf, Lin Lan’s voice rang out from the darkness.

”Just put it on the table. I’ll put it back where it belongs.”

”Thank you,” Chu Qiguang said as he placed the Secrets of the Religion of Inaction on the table.

All of a sudden, a thought occurred to him.

The archive building was enormous, and its interior was completely shrouded in darkness, so exploring it would be a massive task. However, as the bookkeeper, Lin Lan had to be extremely familiar with all the books here.

If I can make friends with her, it’ll be much easier for me to find the books I’m looking for.

With that in mind, he asked, ”Do you work here every day, Ms. Lin?”

”Yes,” Lin Lan replied. Her timid voice was barely louder than a whisper.

”Doesn’t that mean you hardly get a chance to go outside during the day?” Chu Qiguang asked. ”I’ll be coming again tomorrow. Do you want me to bring you anything?”

”N... No, thanks, I don’t want anything,” Lin Lan hurriedly replied, a hint of panic entering her voice.

Looks like she’s the type who’s slow to warm up to others, but I don’t have time for that.

After getting a rough sense of Lin Lan’s personality, Chu Qiguang decided to forcibly make friends with her.

Thus, he said, ”Can you find a few books for me? Just put them on the table, and I’ll be able to read them when I come back tomorrow.”

”Wh... What books are you looking for?” Lin Lan asked, resignation creeping into her voice.

”I want books related to the doctrines and histories of the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Religion of Inaction,” Chu Qiguang replied.

”Alright, I’ll try.”

From the tone of her voice, Chu Qiguang could almost picture the reluctant pout on her face. It was the kind of expression that said she wanted to refuse, but would feel bad if she did.

”Thanks,” Chu Qiguang said with a smile. ”I’ll bring you a treat tomorrow.”

By then, the gatekeeper had already arrived beside him. Chu Qiguang waved into the darkness and said, ”See you tomorrow, Ms. Lin.”

On the way out of the building, Chu Qiguang asked, ”Has Ms. Lin Lan always been a bookkeeper here?”

”That’s right,” the gatekeeper confirmed. ”She grew up here.”

”She grew up here?” Chu Qiguang repeated in a surprise.

”You seem very interested in her,” the gatekeeper remarked.

”Ms. Lin Lan agreed to find some books for me, so I want to bring her a treat as thanks,” Chu Qiguang explained. ”Do you know what she likes?”

”Bring her some sweets,” the gatekeeper suggested. “She’ll like that.”

***

After leaving the archive building, Chu Qiguang set off for the courtyard where the giant boulder was located.

I wonder how the Primordial High Zenith Demonic Arts has changed compared with its original form.

However, he was stopped midway by patrolling soldiers of the Demon Vanquishing Department.

This villa was technically a military zone, so soldiers naturally patrolled it. At night, the trainees were only allowed to access a very limited number of areas, and leaving the villa without permission was treated as desertion.

Chu Qiguang had spent the previous night cultivating in his courtyard, so there has been no issue. However, to reach the courtyard with the boulder, he had to cross almost the entire villa, and that was most definitely prohibited.

Thus, he had no choice but to go to Yang Ling.

”Instructor Yang, you know that I don’t actually need to sleep at night because I’m a third-state Dao artist. I want to go back to that courtyard to practice my Primordial High Zenith Qigong on that boulder, but I was stopped on the way there by some soldiers. Can you find a way to help me circumvent that?”

”You want to forego sleep to cultivate the Primordial High Zenith Qigong?”

Yang Ling was ecstatic to hear this. ”Your resolve and work ethic are both very commendable. Leave it to me.”

He pulled out his waist badge and handed it to Chu Qiguang, then said, ”Take my waist badge for tonight. I’ll apply for one for you tomorrow.”

With Yang Ling’s waist badge, Chu Qiguang was able to make his way to the courtyard with no further incident.

He lit a fire starter, then pulled out the Primordial High Zenith Qigong cultivation art and began comparing it with the Primordial High Zenith Demonic Arts in his mind, trying to find the differences between the two.

So the qi and blood circulation method has changed, and this allows for shedding of the skin to recover from injuries.

noting, so it didn’t appear to have any drawbacks.

Thus, Chu Qiguang quickly got to work. He channeled the Primordial High Zenith Demonic Arts befo6re throwing himself at the snow-covered boulder.