Chapter 6: The Archive Pavilion
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
To think there existed someone capable of devouring luck to strengthen themselves.
Such a horrifying method, if exposed, would undoubtedly ignite chaos and bloodshed. Yet, when this power fell into Ye Cong Xin’s hands, she effortlessly twisted the narrative, reducing it to a false accusation.
Yu Zhao, the one who dared to expose Ye Cong Xin, became the villain in the story.
In her past life, Master Qing Yan was enraged. Personally, he crippled Yu Zhao’s arm and expelled her from the sect.
That day, it rained heavily.
The downpour blurred Yu Zhao’s vision.
She couldn’t make out the expressions of those around her, but the piercing shouts of condemnation echoed relentlessly in her ears.
She wanted to cover her ears, but her arms wouldn’t move.
It hurt.
Her head, her arm, her chest—every corner of her being ached with unforgettable pain.
Yu Zhao curled her lips into a bitter smile.
She used to believe that heartfelt efforts would always yield rewards.
But after crashing headlong into countless obstacles, she realized that some people were born to take without gratitude. No matter how much you gave, they would always see it as their entitlement.
In this life, she wouldn’t cater to anyone. She would live selfishly, and she would live.
In the cultivation world, where the strong preyed on the weak, survival required strength and the ability to protect oneself.
The matter of dismantling her foundation and rebuilding it was urgent.
The priority was to find a new cultivation technique.
After a moment’s thought, Yu Zhao decided to try her luck at the Archive Pavilion the next day.
The Archive Pavilion was the Five Elements Dao Sect’s repository of knowledge, spanning six levels. The first two floors were open to disciples, while access to the higher levels was restricted: the third and above were for disciples at the Golden Core stage, with the fourth for Nascent Soul cultivators, the fifth for Soul Transformation cultivators, and the sixth reserved solely for the sect leader and Grand Elders.
Yu Zhao knew her odds were slim because the most precious techniques were stored on the third floor and above. The first two floors contained foundational techniques and biographies of notable sect figures—of little help to her.
Still, she wasn’t one to sit idle, so she decided to give it a try.
After resting for the night, Yu Zhao left her cave dwelling early the next morning and headed to the Archive Pavilion.
In her previous life, despite spending over a century in the sect, Yu Zhao had only visited the pavilion a handful of times. Fortunately, cultivators had excellent memories, so she found her way without issue.
On her way, she encountered several disciples who cast curious, amused glances her way. Yu Zhao ignored them, walking with steady determination. Soon, the towering structure of the Archive Pavilion came into view.
The Five Elements Dao Sect, being the preeminent sect in the cultivation world, commanded great respect. The phrase “one sect, two schools, four clans” referred to it as the single most powerful sect. Consequently, its Archive Pavilion was a grand and imposing structure befitting its status.
Pausing at the base of the pavilion, Yu Zhao took a moment to admire the building before ascending the steps and crossing the threshold.
The first person she saw was an elderly man with a white beard seated near the door, tasked with overseeing the registration process.
Yu Zhao blinked in surprise, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Elder Gu, as she recalled, was an eccentric.
He had once been a member of the Law Enforcement Hall, a position of considerable prestige within the sect. However, his blunt personality and lack of interpersonal skills had led to numerous complaints from disciples. Ultimately, the sect reassigned him to guard the Archive Pavilion.
For most, the move from the high-status Law Enforcement Hall to the quiet confines of the Archive Pavilion would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Yet Elder Gu had been overjoyed, eagerly taking up his post, where he had remained for decades.
Many mocked him privately, calling him unambitious and self-indulgent.
In her past life, Yu Zhao had been so consumed with her master, her five senior brothers, and her cultivation that she had paid little attention to Elder Gu. The gossip about him had barely registered with her.
Now, observing Elder Gu as he read an ancient text with rapt focus, Yu Zhao’s curiosity was piqued. She studied him closely.
Elder Gu was rotund, his complexion ruddy, and his white hair and beard framed a face lined with faint wrinkles. Yet his bright, childlike eyes exuded clarity and purity.
Though her gaze lingered, Elder Gu didn’t seem to notice her.
“Truly, those who are not fish cannot know a fish’s joy.”
While the world outside buzzed with distractions, Elder Gu seemed content in his tranquil haven.
Yu Zhao bowed silently to him, then turned her attention to the rows of shelves on the first floor.
The pavilion’s first floor housed 108 shelves, each packed with books and scrolls arranged in seven tiers. Finding a technique suitable for her among this vast collection was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
But compared to the suffering of her past life, this challenge seemed trivial.
She walked to a corner of the room and started with the bottom tier of the last shelf, pulling out a book and flipping through it.
The first was Vajra Technique, a basic metal-element technique suited for novices with metal spiritual roots. She returned it to the shelf and picked up another.
The second was also a metal-element technique.
She placed it back and took a third.
Open. Close. Move on.
With clear goals in mind, Yu Zhao sifted through the books with impressive speed, finishing the first shelf in no time and moving to the second.
Fifteen minutes later, she was at the third shelf.
Her unorthodox approach quickly attracted the attention of other disciples studying on the first floor.
“Isn’t that Senior Sister Yu from Lone Moon Peak? What is she doing?”
“I heard she knelt and wept yesterday, apologizing to Junior Sister Ye. She must feel so pitiful.”
“She’s Master Qing Yan’s personal disciple. Why is she looking for techniques here?”
…
The sect’s disciples fell into three categories.
Personal disciples served Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation cultivators, enjoying the highest status. Inner disciples apprenticed under Golden Core stage elders, while outer disciples had no formal mentors. Naturally, personal disciples were the most privileged, receiving superior resources and guidance. They rarely, if ever, needed to visit the Archive Pavilion for techniques.
Yu Zhao’s appearance in the pavilion’s first floor, typically frequented by outer disciples, was as incongruous as a wolf among sheep.
Yet Yu Zhao, having drawn insight from observing Elder Gu earlier, had learned to disregard the opinions of others. Her hands moved swiftly, flipping through books without pause.
The outer disciples, pressed for time due to the sect’s stringent requirements for their survival, soon lost interest in her and returned to their own searches.
Time slipped by unnoticed as Yu Zhao worked methodically through the shelves.
I like that she’s taking her time to look for a technique, instead of just magically finding it in an instant…
It’s definitely realistic.
But I also surprised she didn’t have anything in mind after living through her past life.