Immortal Cage - Chapter 16 Good Karma, Scripture Repository
In the Dao Scripture Hall.
Three waiting Dao disciples, bored and idle, chatted about the sky in a low voice:
"How long do you think the test will take? If someone goes in and doesn't come out, wouldn't our trip be in vain?"
"Did that guy just lie? Did he really embark on the Dao path?"
The Dao disciples chatted, curious about what was happening behind the hall, wanting to sneak a peek again but hesitated, afraid of offending someone.
To their surprise, not long after they pondered, footsteps were heard from the depths of the hall.
The Dao disciples looked up and saw Yu Lie and the Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist coming out. They were all amazed: "How long has it been? It didn't even take a moment."
Involuntarily, various speculations arose in the minds of the three Dao disciples:
"Could it be that person lied? Is he trying to deceive his way through? Or did he simply give up on the test..."
But the next moment, the Dao disciples keenly noticed that the expression of the old Daoist had changed significantly from when he entered.
Before entering, the old Daoist had a bored and disdainful look on his face, looking down on the people in the hall. But now, the old Daoist was smiling, with a face full of wrinkles, resembling an old chrysanthemum.
A word emerged in the minds of the Dao disciples: "Flattery!"
Their gazes shifted away from the old Daoist and onto Yu Lie, their eyes widening.
They all understood that Yu Lie must have done something remarkable in the hall to make the old Daoist change his attitude!
On the other side, the Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist followed in Yu Lie's footsteps, smiling and saying:
"How about it? The Dao robes in the Dao Scripture Hall are all personally selected by me, never skimping on materials. Does the Dao friend find it fitting?"
Yu Lie touched the newly changed robe on his body, showing a satisfied expression.
The Dao Scripture Hall was quite generous to the promoted Dao disciples, preparing new robes in advance. Unlike the plain gray robes of the lowest-ranking disciples, the robes of the promoted disciples were embroidered with two silver lines, indicating that the wearer had undergone the Second Transformation.
"Very well." Yu Lie said respectfully to the old Daoist, "Thank you for your care, Dao friend."
The Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist hurriedly added, "By the way, please follow me, I will now hand over the position plaque of the study room to you."
After speaking, the Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist went behind the reception desk to receive guests, bent down, raised his buttocks, and rummaged through the cabinets for a while.
He took out a wooden box and then extracted a deep green copper plaque from it.
The old Daoist held it with both hands and presented it to Yu Lie.
Seeing the plaque, Yu Lie smiled, bowed to the old Daoist, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, I will remember this favor."
The Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist's smile became even brighter upon hearing this, and he politely said, "No need for such words! We are all friends. If you have time, feel free to come and have tea with me."
"There is a teahouse on the west street where I often go for leisure. You can come and find me there sometime."
The entire conversation between the two was observed by the three Dao disciples nearby.
The three Dao disciples were stunned, especially staring at the deep green copper plaque in Yu Lie's hand, their eyes widened!
Just behind the hall, after passing through the four tests in one go, the Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist, in order to show his apology and please Yu Lie, informed him of his name, and even brought out some hidden positions for Yu Lie to choose from, all free of charge.
Yu Lie was pleasantly surprised by this and did not hesitate to choose a study room position, exchange names with the other party, and remember the assistance he received.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Yu Lie needed to go to the Scripture Repository to collect cultivation techniques and did not linger.
He asked the old Daoist if there were any other formalities to be done, and upon receiving a negative response, they bid farewell to each other with a bow and Yu Lie walked calmly towards the exit of the Dao Scripture Hall.
As Yu Lie's figure disappeared at the door, the three lined-up young Dao disciples still looked dazed.
One of them muttered, "Didn't we just say that even with money, one can't buy a study room position... How come now he doesn't even need money."
The Dead Fish-Eyed Daoist still had a smiling face, but upon hearing the discussions of the Dao disciples in the hall, he restrained his smile and put on a business-like expression:
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, I will take my leave."
Upon hearing this, the three Dao disciples quickly snapped out of their murmurs, stood in front of the platform, became more respectful, and looked deferentially towards the old Daoist on the platform.
The old Daoist dismissed these Dao disciples while muttering to himself:
"Cultivation is not just about fighting, there are also human relationships and emotions. Despite my weak cultivation, I can still stay in this Dao Scripture Hall, relying on this understanding."
"My disciples, forge good karma, it will never harm you."
The Dao disciples nodded quickly, not daring to refute.
But seeing the old Daoist's change from arrogance to humility, a fire burned in their hearts, unable to be extinguished for a long time.
They all wished they could replace Yu Lie, so that the old Daoist would also flatter them and offer benefits!
...
Yu Lie left the Dao Scripture Hall, walking quickly towards the Scripture Repository.
As the sky darkened, he did not expect his journey in the Dao Scripture Hall to go smoothly, so he planned to be more diligent and go to the Scripture Repository to collect the cultivation techniques, to avoid coming back the next day.
Because as night fell, the Scripture Repository would close promptly, and anyone who trespassed unlawfully would be punished!
Before long, Yu Lie arrived in front of a stone building.
Although called a repository, the Scripture Repository was entirely made of stone, not ordinary black stone, with a surface shimmering like mercury, indicating the presence of formations.
In front of the stone building stood two crane-shaped stone sculptures with long legs and necks, sharp teeth in their mouths.
The Scripture Repository had a total of five floors. Although Yu Lie had never been there, he was quite familiar with the place.
The first three floors contained lower, middle, and upper-level cultivation techniques, serving as introductory arts for Dao disciples; the fourth floor contained cultivation techniques for Daoists; and the fifth floor housed spells for seventh-grade Dao officials, said to be the private library of the Blackwater Observer.
The Blackwater Observer, also known as the Mayor of Blackwater Town, was the one who founded the entire town and currently the only seventh-grade Dao official stationed in Blackwater Town.
As Yu Lie approached the stone building, a fire ignited in his eyes.
Compared to a lucrative position, the cultivation techniques that followed were undoubtedly more exciting for cultivators, as the former was important for stability, while the latter was crucial for advancement!
Without delay, Yu Lie took out the talisman coins he had just obtained in the Dao Scripture Hall from his pocket, bowed to the crane-shaped stone sculptures in front of the stone building, and offered a talisman coin.
The motionless crane-shaped stone sculpture slowly twisted its neck and looked at Yu Lie.
In the blink of an eye, before Yu Lie could react, the red talisman coin in his hand disappeared, leaving him bewildered.
The stone crane across from him held the talisman coin in its beak, made a slight cut, easily crushed the talisman coin into bits, and swallowed it.
Yu Lie, watching this scene, was stunned for a moment, taking a deep breath.
If the stone crane had pecked at his head just now, regardless of his fearlessness in the Dao Scripture Hall, he would have ended up with a shattered skull and brain matter sucked out.
Yu Lie bowed slightly again, the slight sense of pride that had just arisen in his heart vanished without a trace.
Although he had completed the transformation like a wolf and tiger, and his foundation was solid enough to earn admiration, he was still just a small Dao disciple, a lower-ranking one, not even in the middle or upper ranks.
Yu Lie's expression turned cold, clutching the remaining talisman coins in his hand, he walked quickly towards the building, feeling both horrified and eager.
Inside the building, there were cultivation techniques that could make him stronger once again.