226: There's too much stuff, let's cooperate.

In the time that followed, within the peculiar space of the Scripture Pavilion, the sound of rushing air and occasional low sighs rose and fell.

The five individuals, including Jiang Donghua, all began to make tentative attempts.

Zhao Ming moved, grabbing a cluster of light that emitted a heavy, earthy yellow glow. It felt weighty in his hand. As the light dissipated, it revealed a Dou Technique scroll titled "Indestructible Body Protection Art." After a quick appraisal, he shook his head in disappointment.

"xuan-rank high-tier. Although the defense is strong, it is too cumbersome and does not match my cultivation method."

He casually released it, and the cluster of light wrapped around the scroll, submerging back into the spatial wall.

Wang Han targeted a sharp, azure cluster of light and snatched it. Inside was a cyan jade slip as thin as a cicada's wing, titled "Gale Stab." After sensing its contents, he spat dismissively.

"Tch, the name is misleading. It's just a profound rank mid-level movement auxiliary Dou Technique

—useless!"

The cluster of light returned to the cycle once more.

Lin Xiu and Bai Ling also made attempts once or twice. What they obtained were either profound rank mid-level cultivation methods with incompatible attributes or peculiar-looking but impractical niche Dou Techniques. They all frowned and let go.

"Trying to accurately grab a high-tier cultivation method that suits oneself among these tens of thousands of light clusters

—the probability is simply too low."

Lin Xiu couldn't help but sigh, his gaze sweeping over the dense, multi-colored light clusters that nearly filled his vision, feeling a wave of powerlessness.

This was even harder than finding a needle in a haystack, relying entirely on vague, ephemeral luck.

Bai Ling also pursed her lips, clearly extremely dissatisfied with her previous gains. However, her temperament was stubborn, making her search even more focused.

Just as the atmosphere became slightly dull and anxious, Jiang Donghua, who had been standing still

—seemingly observing casually, but actually relying on the subtle sensing from the jade slip in his possession to continuously eliminate incorrect options

—suddenly narrowed his eyes!

The jade slip in his storage ring suddenly became scorching hot at that moment, and a strong sense of pull directed him toward a seemingly inconspicuous, fist-sized cluster of light right in front of him, emitting a faint, chaotic colored glow!

Now was the time!

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Donghua moved!

Fast! Extremely fast!

Like a bolt of cold lightning splitting the space, everyone only felt a blur before their eyes. They didn't even see how he moved, yet the chaotic colored cluster of light was already firmly grasped in his hand!

His sudden, swift movement and the determined aura immediately drew the attention of the four other people present!

"Hmm?!"

Zhao Ming's eyes sharpened.

"Did he grab something good?"

Wang Han immediately stopped his movements, staring intently at Jiang Donghua's hand.

Even Bai Ling and Lin Xiu subconsciously looked over, the same thought arising in their minds.

Given Jiang Donghua's strength and discernment, whatever he decisively reached out and grabbed must be extraordinary!

Could it be that an Earth-Rank Cultivation Method had appeared?

In that instant, several pairs of eyes stared intensely at Jiang Donghua's hand, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and even a hint of barely perceptible jealousy, all wanting to know what astonishing treasure he had managed to obtain.

Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Donghua squeezed his palm, forcefully shattering the chaotic colored light, which dissipated to reveal the item inside.

However, in the next moment, everyone froze.

Even Jiang Donghua himself, looking at the dark purple crystal in his palm

—roughly the size of a baby's fist, containing tremendous yet mixed energy within, and even having a slightly uneven surface

—showed a momentary look of astonishment on his stern face.

This was definitely not a cultivation method scroll, nor was it a Dou Technique jade slip!

This was clearly a Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast's Demonic Core!

Although a Sixth-Tier Demonic Core itself was quite valuable, containing powerful energy and serving as a precious material for refining high-tier pills, setting up powerful arrays, and even powering certain puppets.

Jiang Donghua looked at the Demonic Core in his hand, which still emitted strong energy fluctuations, then felt the jade slip in his possession, which had quickly cooled down as if it had never been hot, leaving him speechless for a moment.

The first guidance provided by the guide my teacher gave me pointed to this?

He expressionlessly released his grip.

The Sixth-Tier Demonic Core was immediately re-wrapped by the chaotic colored light, transforming back into a light cluster, and with a "whoosh," it melted back into the spatial barrier, awaiting the next destined person who might be delighted for nothing because of it.

A poor start.

Even with Jiang Donghua's temperament, he felt a trace of awkwardness and helplessness.

It seemed that even the 'radar' provided by his teacher was not infallible; the mysteries within the Scripture Pavilion appeared to be more complex than imagined.

Time passed minute by minute. Light clusters flew within the space, but the frequency of the five people making attempts noticeably slowed down.

Jiang Donghua tried twice more. The light clusters he grabbed based on the jade slip's faint sensing still only yielded a xuan-rank high-tier fire attribute Dou Technique and a fire attribute cultivation method of the same rank.

The items were not bad; if placed outside, they would be enough to cause ordinary Dou Spirits and Dou Kings to fight fiercely over them. But for Jiang Donghua, whose goal was an Earth-Rank Cultivation Method and who already practiced a decent cultivation method himself, these were meaningless. He could only casually release them, letting them return to the light stream.

"We can't keep going like this!"

The one who spoke this time was none other than Jiang Donghua himself.

His cold, clear voice rang out in this peculiar space, breaking the long silence and the dull atmosphere of individual struggle.

The gaze of the other four instantly focused on him.

Jiang Donghua's gaze swept over Zhao Ming, Wang Han, Lin Xiu, and Bai Ling. His tone was calm but went straight to the heart of the matter.

"The opportunities in the Scripture Pavilion are good, but the variables are too great. Every year, geniuses enter this place, only to return empty-handed due to poor luck."

He paused, looking at the light clusters whose speed varied and whose trajectories were completely random, and continued.

"There are only five of us here. Instead of bumping around like headless flies, relying entirely on vague, ephemeral luck, why don't we try a different approach?"

"Let each of us state what attribute and type of cultivation method or Dou Technique we desire most. If someone happens to encounter what another person needs, they can grab it. Afterwards, we can exchange, or at least have a clear target. This is much better than everyone blindly grabbing, only to end up with meager gains, or even leaving empty-handed."

This suggestion was very pragmatic and highly tempting, but it simultaneously involved issues of trust and information exposure.

Stating one's preferred direction was, to some extent, exposing one's trump card and cultivation tendency.

For a moment, Zhao Ming, Wang Han, and the others showed looks of hesitation and caution. They glanced at each other, none of them speaking immediately.

No one wanted to be the first to reveal their needs.

The scene fell into a brief silence, broken only by the faint sound of the light clusters rushing through the air.

Jiang Donghua took in their reactions completely, understanding their hesitation.

As the proposer and the strongest among the five, he naturally understood that someone needed to break the deadlock first.

His expression unchanged, he spoke plainly, being the first to state his needs, his tone candid.

"I require a fire attribute cultivation method."

He omitted the specific requirement for the Earth-Rank, but his direction was already very clear.