Zanxing

Chapter 19 - Martial Arts Library (1)

The autumn frost was like water, and the Gufeng Mountain at night was very quiet.

A glimmer of starlight reflected in the Milky Way, making the distant lights appear blurry.

Next to the small wooden building, a cluster of osmanthus trees was in bloom, their fragrance thick in the air. When the wind blew, the scent drifted like fireflies, filling the mountain air with a layer of sweetness.

Zanxing sat on the third floor, staring blankly into the distance.

Duan Xiangrao had gone out in the evening and hadn't returned yet. She had been taken away by a group of newly admitted disciples. Zanxing couldn't help but admire her social skills; on the very first day, she had already made friends. Then, Zanxing thought about herself... best not to dwell on that.

The small wooden building of the Taiyan Sect had an open-air third floor, allowing one to look up at the stars. Sitting cross-legged, Zanxing had come to terms with one undeniable fact: she had indeed transmigrated into the book "Reaching the Peak of the Nine Heavens", and for now, it seemed there was no way back.

Zanxing was an ordinary person with no special skills. Her greatest strength, perhaps, was her good mindset. No matter what happened, she could face it calmly. That's why she could stay so composed even now. Falling into "Reaching the Peak of the Nine Heavens" had been accidental, as was obtaining the Xiao Yuan Pearl, but the path she chose was her own, and she would walk it, even if on her knees.

There were still scars on her face from the demonic energy. To heal completely, she would need to rank in the top 30 of the upcoming test. In today's selection, she had only ranked 68th, even with the help of the Xiao Yuan Pearl. Trying to secure an inner disciple spot with this ranking was going to be difficult.

However, the spiritual energy on Gufeng Mountain was abundant, which was a good thing.

The Taiyan Sect had chosen their location well. The mountain was rich in natural energy, purer than that found elsewhere. Using the Xiao Yuan Pearl to cultivate here would yield twice the result with half the effort.

Though she now held the protagonist's storyline, the original owner of this body had mediocre talent. Achieving the chosen one's accomplishments would require extra effort.

Zanxing closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and activated the inner energy within her, drawing the surrounding spiritual energy into her body, and beginning her cultivation.

...

In the early morning, sunlight slipped through the cracks of the wooden building's windows.

The dormitory was quiet when suddenly, a loud rooster crow pierced the air, as deafening as thunder, making Zanxing's ears buzz.

Startled awake, Zanxing sat up and rubbed her eyes. Was that a rooster? How could it be so loud?

She got up, washed up, and opened the door to see a rooster standing on a branch of the osmanthus tree in the distance.

The rooster was stunning, its entire body a beautiful red, with a golden streak down its back and a hint of emerald. Its tail was dotted with yellow spots, and its crest was golden as well. At this moment, it was pacing slowly on the branch, looking full of energy, like an usher in evening attire surveying the grounds.

They say "a crane among chickens," but this rooster would stand out even among cranes.

"Hey, Zanxing, you're up too?" Her neighbor, Tian Fangfang, was rinsing his mouth in front of her door and greeted Zanxing as she approached.

Zan Xing asked, "This rooster..."

"I heard from the guys staying in my room that this is the Taiyan Sect's morning rooster, General Youri. Every morning when it crows, we all have to get up."

Zanxing nodded, "Got it, a living alarm clock."

"Have you looked at the entrance arrangements?" Tian Fangfang asked.

Zan Xing replied, "I looked last night."

All new disciples of the Taiyan Sect had to attend classes on time. The classes were divided into public and elective courses. Public courses were further split into foundational and theoretical lessons. Foundational courses included basic cultivation practices like breathing, observation, and meditation, while theoretical courses covered texts like The Classic of Purity and Stillness, The Sublime Seal of the Mind, The Mirror of Medicinal Teachings, and The Song of the Clear Sky.

These large classes were attended by everyone. The smaller, more personalized lessons were reserved for inner disciples, who had the privilege of being taught by the true masters. Apart from that, the fastest way to improve one's cultivation level was through self-study.

With Gufeng Mountain's rich spiritual energy, it was an ideal place for cultivation. Only inner disciples of the Taiyan Sect had access to core techniques and methods, but the Taiyan Sect's library was extensive, and being a well-known sect, all disciples had access to it. However, only inner disciples could go beyond the first floor.

Last night, Zi Luo had someone deliver today's schedule. Soon, the new disciples would be heading to the Taiyan Sect's library to choose a cultivation method for their half-month study.

Tian Fangfang spat out the last bit of water, holding his bowl as he walked back. "I'm going to change my clothes. Zanxing, you should hurry too; if we go too late, all the good techniques will be taken."

Zanxing agreed and returned to her room. Duan Xiangrao had already finished preparing.

Even though she had stayed out late last night, Duan Xiangrao showed no signs of fatigue. She even had time to style her hair in an intricate updo and put on full makeup. Although she wore the same gray robes as the other outer disciples, her way of tying the belt made the outfit seem more form-fitting.

Zanxing picked up the gray robe issued last night. The robe felt soft, with a white underlayer and a gauzy outer layer. On the chest, a black and white phoenix was embroidered, simple yet elegant. When she put it on, it fit perfectly. Unlike Duan Xiangrao's complex hairstyle, Zan Xing simply tied her hair at the back in a small bundle with a gray cloth and headed out.

Outside, Tian Fangfang was waiting for her.

The two walked along, asking for directions. After some time, Tian Fangfang pointed ahead, excitedly exclaiming, "We found it!"

Zanxing looked up. A group of new disciples had already gathered ahead, in front of a small black building with three floors. It covered a large area, and at the base of the tower stood a giant stone tablet, with three large characters carved into it—Martial Arts Library. The characters, etched with sword strokes, were later stained with red ink, their boldness seeming to pierce the stone itself.

"That's the Taiyan Sect's Martial Arts Library."

A voice came from behind.

The two turned around to see Zi Luo approaching with a smile, looking in the direction of the building. "Every disciple who enters the Taiyan Sect gets to choose one cultivation method from the library. Once you become inner disciples, you can access more. For now, you can only enter the first floor."

"Senior Sister Zi Luo," Tian Fangfang scratched his head, "Can you give us a hint on which technique is the strongest?"

Zi Luo smiled, "Rather than strength, you should consider what suits you best."

"Go ahead," she said, "now's the time to pick a technique that's right for you."