171: Second floor of the library

Hearing this, Yao Delong put away his joking expression, his eyes revealing solemnity and joy.

"This is a good thing! Junior Sister's Foundation is solid; this time you will surely succeed in one go!"

Without hesitation, he took out several jade bottles from his storage ring and pressed them into Lin Qingxue's hands.

"Take these Medicinal Pills. They solidify the Foundation and nurture the origin, calming the mind and qi; they might be useful when you strike for the Nascent Soul stage."

The jade bottles contained rare Medicinal Pills for recovering Origin Qi, nourishing the Divine Soul, and even assisting in breaking through realms—all of great value.

Lin Qingxue looked at the pills in her hand, then at Yao Delong's concerned gaze.

A warm current surged in her heart, and she nodded gently. "Mhm, thank you, Senior Brother. Then I shall head back first."

"Go on. Enter seclusion with peace of mind; I'll handle everything."

Yao Delong watched as Lin Qingxue transformed into a cold, ice-blue light of escape, disappearing into the horizon of Luoxia Peak.

As the beauty departed, the tenderness on Yao Delong's face quickly retracted, replaced by a sharp sense of anticipation.

He adjusted his robes, feeling the surging power of his Golden Core Perfection within him, his lips curling into a confident arc.

With a shift of his body, he turned into a swift golden light of escape, flying toward the core area of the Yin Yang Sect.

He headed toward that towering, massive pavilion emanating an ancient and vast Aura—the Yin Yang Sect Scripture Pavilion.

The golden light fell like a meteor, landing steadily on the massive plaza in front of the Yin Yang Sect Scripture Pavilion.

At this moment, the plaza was bustling with people, far more than usual.

With less than a month remaining before the next Inner Sect Disciple ranking assessment,

an invisible tension and restlessness permeated the air.

This assessment was a grand event for the Yin Yang Sect to spur its Disciples and select elites, divided into two sessions: Inner Sect Disciples and Core Disciples.

Those ranked at the top would receive generous rewards from the Sect.

Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, and even opportunities to enter Secret Realms were enough to make anyone's eyes turn red with envy.

Conversely, those at the bottom would be ruthlessly demoted to the Outer Sect, losing face and suffering a sharp reduction in resources.

Therefore, the Scripture Pavilion had become a Holy Land for last-minute preparation.

Countless Inner Sect Disciples, and even a few Core Disciples, gathered here.

Some were in a hurry, heading straight for their target technique areas.

Others lingered before various ancient texts, trying to find clues to counter their opponents within the vast sea of books,

verifying the ancient proverb: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."

As soon as Yao Delong landed, his gold-trimmed black robe, symbolizing his status as a Core Disciple,

shimmered with a noble yet restrained luster under the sun, instantly attracting countless gazes like a magnet!

He stood tall as a pine, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes.

After breaking through to Golden Core Perfection, his temperament had gained a few more layers of unfathomable harmony and majesty.

Coupled with the fact that he was not deliberately restraining his Aura, the vast and flawless pressure of Golden Core Perfection

spread out quietly like invisible ripples, making some nearby Foundation Establishment Disciples feel like their breathing was slightly constricted!

"Hiss... what a strong Aura! Which Senior Brother is this?"

"I've never seen him! When did such a figure appear among the Core Disciples?

This Aura... it feels even more robust than Senior Brother Zhao Lie's just now!"

"So handsome! That gold-trimmed black robe on him is simply... simply too perfect!"

Several young female Disciples had a strange light in their eyes and slightly flushed cheeks as they discussed in low voices.

"Hmph, just putting on an act! So what if his Aura is strong?

There are over four hundred Core Disciples; which of those in the top hundred isn't famous?

This person looks very unfamiliar. He probably just got lucky and promoted recently. With such a shallow Foundation, he dares to show off here?"

A male Disciple at the Middle Golden Core Stage said sourly, his tone full of jealousy.

"Exactly. Looking at him, he's probably at the Scripture Pavilion for the first time, right?

He doesn't even know the rules, just standing there stupidly to attract attention," someone nearby chimed in.

The crowd discussed spiritedly, with curiosity, awe, jealousy, and disdain... all sorts of gazes intertwined on Yao Delong.

His appearance and temperament had changed greatly after breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.

Furthermore, he had lived in seclusion on Luoxia Peak for a long time; the Inner Sect Disciples who recognized him could be counted on one hand.

At this moment, in this surging crowd on the plaza, he had clearly become a mysterious and eye-catching focal point.

Yao Delong acted as if he hadn't heard the surrounding discussions. His gaze calmly swept across the towering, ancient-looking

Scripture Pavilion hall that emanated a vast scholarly Aura, and he stepped inside.

The space inside the hall was vast, with row upon row of Spirit Sandalwood bookshelves reaching the ceiling, and ancient texts as vast as a sea of smoke.

Not far from the entrance, a woman in purple robes leaned lazily on a wide lounge chair.

Her purple hair cascaded down freely, her skin was whiter than snow,

and her exquisite features carried a hint of the exotic. She was the Deacon of the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion—Luo Tianying.

She propped up her head with one hand while the other delicate hand toyed with a Jade Slip, seemingly engrossed in it.

Sensing someone entering, she nonchalantly lifted her eyelids.

When she saw clearly who it was, a flash of surprise instantly crossed Luo Tianying's lazy purple eyes!

What a handsome young man! What a deep Aura! When did such a character appear among the Core Disciples?

As the Scripture Pavilion administrator, while she couldn't say she knew every Core Disciple,

she had at least seen their faces and had some impression. This person, however, was very unfamiliar!

What made her heart stir even more was that the Aura emanating from this person gave her an... extremely faint sense of familiarity?

It was as if she had felt it somewhere, yet it was blurred and elusive.

Her red lips parted slightly, just as she was about to ask.

However, Yao Delong's gaze only swept over her faintly without lingering.

His footsteps didn't falter for a second as he walked straight toward the depths of the Scripture Pavilion.

Luo Tianying was slightly taken aback, and the words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

Watching Yao Delong's tall back disappear around the corner leading to the inner hall,

the laziness in her purple eyes faded, replaced by a deep sense of inquiry and amusement.

"Who is this person?"

She murmured to herself, turning her gaze back to the Jade Slip in her hand, but her eyes were no longer as focused as before.

Yao Delong passed through rows of bookshelves, ignoring those Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills on the first floor that were at most Human Rank High Grade.

The Great Evolution Mixed Yang Scripture he cultivated was already a top-tier existence among Human Rank High Grade techniques.

What he needed now was a more powerful Earth Rank Cultivation Technique or Martial Skill!

That was a Domain that only Nascent Soul great cultivators were qualified to touch and Cultivate!

His goal was the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion!

The entrance to the second floor was not an ordinary staircase,

but a massive light screen suspended in mid-air, emanating a soft white light.

The light screen rippled like water, with runes flowing upon it, emitting a powerful force of spatial isolation.

Before the light screen, many Disciples had also gathered, mostly in the Golden Core Stage,

including several Core Disciples with powerful Auras.

They were either staring at the light screen with furrowed brows, discussing in low voices,

or sitting cross-legged, seemingly adjusting their state in preparation to try and break through.