103: Sutra Repository

To the southeast of Xuan Yin Continent, the Taihe Mountain Range stretches for over ten thousand miles like a winding dragon, with peaks towering and clouds rising like misty vapor.

Within it lies one fourth-grade Medium Grade Spiritual Vein, nearly ten third-grade Spiritual Veins, and countless first and second-grade Spiritual Veins.

Dense Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence permeates the mountains and rivers, where Spirit Beasts roar and gallop, and birds fly, creating a magnificent scene.

Since eight hundred years ago, the Taihe Sect has been situated here.

The name of this mountain range was also changed to the Taihe Mountain Range.

To the north of the mountain range.

Two ten-thousand-zhang cliffs stand as if split directly by a Heavenly God's giant axe, smooth as mirrors, with a gap of several miles between them.

This is the formal entrance to the Taihe Sect's mountain gate.

On the cliffs on both sides, the two giant characters "Taihe," each a thousand zhang tall, are carved!

Golden light overflows, and the pressure is as vast as the sea.

When ordinary Cultivators arrive here, their minds are already awed before even entering the mountain gate, filled with utter shock.

This was written by True Monarch Taihe himself!

A Formation barrier connecting heaven and earth stands at the entrance; those without a Taihe Sect token cannot enter.

After passing through this gate, the view suddenly opens up.

One sees peaks competing in beauty and continuous halls and palaces.

The main peak, Taihe Mountain, is over ten thousand zhang high, pointing like a sword toward the firmament.

The halls and pavilions at the mountain summit are hidden within the Nine Heavens' astral winds and the ethereal sea of clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently; it is the place where the Sect Master, True Monarch Taihe, cultivates in seclusion.

Most of the other peaks are ablaze with fire, and the sound of Artifact Refining resonates through the heavens and clouds.

A few others are surrounded by pill clouds, with the fragrance of medicine permeating the air;

Or sword light soaring into the sky, with constant clanging;

Or runes flickering, with strict Formations.

The Taihe Sect's Disciple system is strict, with clear Ranks.

Those who have just entered the Sect are all Outer Sect Utility Disciples.

Their total number reaches fifty to sixty thousand, distributed across eighty-one outer Sect peaks.

The number of Disciples on each outer Sect peak varies, with three Inner Sect Disciples at the Dao Foundation Stage serving as the primary and deputy peak masters.

These Outer Sect Disciples can only practice basic methods. Most of their time each day is spent handling mundane affairs and performing Artifact Refining or Alchemy for the Sect to earn cultivation Resources; the competition is extremely fierce.

Only by breaking through to the Dao Foundation Stage can one be promoted to the inner Sect.

There are no Sect competitions or rewards bestowed; only cultivation and strength are everything!

Qi Refinement Stage Disciples, regardless of how many years they have been in the Sect, remain Outer Sect Utility Disciples for life.

As for the Foundation Establishment Pills and other Resources needed for Breakthrough, they must rely entirely on their own efforts.

Either exchange them using Sect contribution points or "contend" for them themselves.

Only the Core Disciples of the inner Sect at the Dao Foundation Stage are the true backbone of the Taihe Sect.

They are granted true scriptures and Cultivation Techniques, and Resources begin to tilt in their favor.

Above them, there are even True Disciples!

They are the Prodigies among Prodigies, the seeds of Xuantai True Persons, and the future hope of the Sect.

Internally, the Taihe Sect is divided into the Deacon Hall, Punishment Hall, Scripture Conveying Hall, Pill Cauldron Hall, Divine Weapon Hall, Spirit Beast Hall, and so on.

Each hall has varying numbers of Dao Foundation deacons, primary and deputy hall masters, and Profound Fetus Elders, each performing their duties and rising through the Ranks to maintain the orderly operation of the Taihe Sect behemoth... Among the eighty-one outer Sect peaks, there is one named Diecui Peak, whose strength is middle-of-the-road among all outer Sect peaks.

This mountain is only three thousand zhang high and has a second-grade Low Grade Spiritual Vein. The terrain is gentle, and the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence is also somewhat thinner compared to other peaks.

Most who cultivate here are Disciples with mediocre Aptitude who have only recently joined the Sect.

At the mountainside, a cluster of buildings built against the mountain is one of the branch pavilions of the Scripture Pavilion on this peak.

The Scripture Pavilion is subordinate to the Sect's Scripture Conveying Hall, with branch pavilions existing on all eighty-one outer Sect peaks to facilitate the cultivation of Outer Sect Disciples.

Of course, the true core Legacy main pavilion of the Scripture Pavilion is within the inner Sect.

The outer Sect branch pavilions only store basic Qi Refinement Stage techniques, low-level Spells, low-level legacies of the various cultivation arts, insights into breaking through to the Dao Foundation Stage, and so on.

There are also a large number of travelogues, miscellaneous talks, mountain and river geographies, and transcriptions recording parts of the Sect's history and the deeds of the Sect Master, True Monarch Taihe.

Yu Xuzi is on duty at this Diecui Peak Scripture Pavilion branch.

He requested this himself.

Other Outer Sect Disciples look down on this task; the contribution points are few, and there is no power or perks—it is worthless except for being leisurely.

However, this is the most suitable Sect mission for Yu Xuzi.

Except for Cultivation Techniques, classics, and Spells, which cannot be viewed at will, he can freely browse various books recording the history of the Taihe Sect and the deeds of True Monarch Taihe... lunar calendar year 22, early May.

"In the blink of an eye, it's already been three months since I joined the Sect."

Early morning.

Facing the sunlight, Yu Xuzi opened the main gate Restriction of the Scripture Pavilion branch, sat skillfully at the entrance registration desk, and leisurely began to browse the travelogues he hadn't finished yesterday.

This task is indeed quiet, and simple and boring enough.

He only needs to watch over the Scripture Pavilion, organize the books and Jade Slips inside, and make records and provide guidance when Outer Sect Disciples come to exchange for methods.

"Senior Brother Qiu, I'm looking for the 'Detailed Explanation of the Azure Wood Qi Refining Art'!"

"Area C, Technique Annotations category, third row, seventh scroll from the left."

Yu Xuzi didn't even look up and spoke directly.

Since he displayed a Peak Qi Refining cultivation and was still young, with hope of breaking through to the Dao Foundation Stage in the future, no one in the outer Sect dared to bully or order him around at will.

As soon as they entered, other Outer Sect Disciples with lower cultivation than him would basically address him respectfully as Senior Brother.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Qiu."

The person gave a casual salute and eagerly went to find it.

"Once you find it, transcribe it yourself. Remember to come back and register; it costs three contribution points!"

"Understood, Senior Brother Qiu!"

As time passed, more and more people arrived.

"Senior Brother Qiu, I'm looking for the records of the Yao Beast uprising in the Black Wind Kingdom thirty years ago."

"Area F, Miscellaneous Records category, eleventh row, ninety-eighth scroll from the left."

"Fellow Daoist Qiu, I'm looking for some 'Introductory Explanations of Artifact Refining'."

"Area J, Technique category, bottom level. There are over a hundred different 'Introductory Explanations of Artifact Refining'; go see which one you want."

"Senior Brother Qiu, I want the 'Compendium of Basic Five Elements Spells' written by Immortal Master Guangchen three hundred years ago."

"Senior Brother Qiu, I want to find a book on Spirit Ore Smelting—"

"Senior Brother Qiu, why are you reading these useless miscellaneous talks again? You even made annotations?"

"..."

The spacious Scripture Pavilion branch gradually became lively.

However, Yu Xuzi remained unhurried; no matter what classics those Outer Sect Disciples were looking for, he could basically state their locations skillfully.

He himself stayed at the entrance, comfortably browsing those transcriptions of Sect history and travel journals of Elder Seniors that were piled in corners and rarely consulted.

From time to time, he would take a pen and make a note in the book.

There were legends of the Ancestral Master True Monarch Taihe obtaining a remnant stele in ancient ruins, attaining the Dao, and creating techniques.

There was a brief record of the Sect competing with the overlord Xuan Yin Palace for a large Spirit Stone mine six hundred years ago, suffering heavy casualties and ultimately being defeated.

And an anecdote about a certain unrestrained Profound Fetus Immortal Master Elder who, dissatisfied with a Sect decision, fought with a fellow Elder within the Sect in a fit of rage, after which both were punished by the Sect Master.

Until slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the pavilion, and a young Outer Sect Disciple poked his head in.

"Senior Brother Qiu, the Scripture Conveying Hall just released a new batch of rubbings of the 'New Illustrated Guide to Basic Formations,' personally annotated by Elder Miaoxuan. Senior Brother, please see where it should be placed; the Jade Slip is here."

Yu Xuzi closed the book in his hand, casually tidied up, stood up, and said, "Coming."