38: Chapter 38 The Sect Master's "Falling Flat on the Ground" and the Late-Night Dining Hall of the Scripture Pavilion

The morning in the Heavenly River Sword Sect had never been so noisy.

In the past, the mornings in the Cloud Break Mountain Range belonged to birdsong and morning mist, but today, the entire main peak was boiling like a bustling mortal market.

The sheer ecstasy of surviving a disaster caused these Cultivators, usually possessing the air of immortals, to completely discard their reserve. They gathered in small groups, spitting wildly as they discussed last night’s sky-obscuring 'Disappearing Hand' and the 'Ancestor Master's Divine Miracle'.

Yet, at the center of all the commotion, the Scripture Pavilion was eerily quiet.

No, to be more precise, it resembled a tomb just recovering from a massive hangover, exuding an aura of laziness and chaos.

"Smack!"

Li Mo swung the feather duster in his hand, accurately striking a copy of the "Blazing Fire Palm" that was diligently trying to climb onto the windowsill to bask in the morning light.

"Settle down."

His voice carried no discernible emotion.

"That is a window, not your channel to Ascension."

The book with the reddish cover shuddered aggrievedly, a faint wisp of green smoke puffing out from between its pages, before it sheepishly shoved itself back into the shadow of the bookshelf.

On its way back, it couldn't resist kicking the nearby "Basic Water Art" hard with its corner.

Li Mo sighed and raised his hand to press his temples.

The aftereffects of last night’s 'Reality Modification' were far greater than he had anticipated.

Not only was his Mental Energy completely drained, but the 'physical properties' of the entire Scripture Pavilion seemed to have been thoroughly activated by that copy of the "dragon vein heavenly book" and the [Truth Tampering] entry.

The Scripture Pavilion now was precisely like a naughty child that had just awakened self-awareness, leaking everywhere.

"Squeak..." (Boss, that copy of the 'Spring Palace Picture... cough, Joyful Union Sect Secret History' is seducing the 'Diamond Sutra' again!)

The gray-furred mouse, 'Squeak,' having just finished a long, torturous ordeal in the latrine, lay exhausted at Li Mo's feet, using the last shred of his strength to report.

He had been dominated by the rule 'No littering' last night, and now, the look he gave Li Mo was one of pure awe.

"Let them be."

Li Mo snorted coldly, the spring and autumn brush at his fingertips spinning rapidly.

"It's best if they fight. If they break, I can use them to boil water."

He was making amends.

While [Local Setting Fine-Tuning] was indeed useful, if the Scripture Pavilion continued in this 'Hundred Ghosts Night Parade' state, let alone lying low, it would be purged as a demon's lair by tomorrow.

Rules had to be established.

Li Mo pondered for a moment, picked up the spring and autumn brush, and wrote down the second setting for the day on a pale yellow talisman paper.

Yesterday's 'No Loud Noises' was a nighttime rule; now that there were many people around during the day, a more subtle means of control was needed.

[Setting Three: The Scripture Pavilion is a place for pure scholarly pursuit. Any who enter with impure intentions or bureaucratic attitudes shall suffer the 'Kiss of the Earth' (falling flat on their face).]

[Note: This rule does not apply to the Host or designated personnel.]

The ink dried on its own, and Li Mo casually pasted the talisman into an inconspicuous crack on the inner side of the threshold.

The talisman merged into the wood and vanished.

Almost at the same moment, hurried yet deliberately suppressed footsteps sounded from outside the door.

"Quick! Everyone, hurry up! Be sure to be gentle! Do not disturb the Ancestor Master’s quiet cultivation!"

It was the voice of the Sect Master, Gu Canghai.

Li Mo's eyebrows twitched, and the aura of life-and-death authority surrounding him instantly retracted. He reverted to the appearance of a simple, clumsy Servant who only swept floors, hugging his broom and shrinking behind the counter.

In the sunlight, Gu Canghai led a grand procession of the Sect's high-ranking officials.

He was wearing brand new, formal Sect Master attire today, his complexion glowing with health. The Grand Elder, Enforcement Elder, and others behind him were all holding luminous and exquisite gift boxes, clearly here to 'repay a vow'.

"Ancestor Master above!"

Before even entering the door, Gu Canghai stopped three meters away, meticulously tidying his robes. His expression was as solemn as if he were performing some ancient and sacred ritual.

"Your unworthy Disciple, Gu Canghai, brings all the Elders of the Sect to express our gratitude for the Ancestor Master saving the Sect!"

He announced loudly, then took his unique 'Sect Master Stride,' head held high, chest puffed out, and stepped toward the threshold.

This step was magnificent.

This step was imposing.

This step was filled with the majesty and confidence of a Sect Master looking down upon all living beings.

And then—

"Splat!"

A crisp, muffled thud of flesh making intimate contact with the ground.

Gu Canghai’s feet seemed to be violently tripped by an invisible large hand, and his entire body lunged forward in an extremely spread-out, character 'eight' posture.

His face plastered precisely onto the not-so-smooth bluestone floor, and using powerful inertia, he slid forward with sparks and lightning for a full three meters.

Finally, he stopped at Li Mo’s feet.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The Grand Elder following behind had one foot halfway raised and froze in mid-air, his eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets.

Li Mo looked down at the Sect Master, who was prostrate at his feet in a perfect five-point prostration posture, feeling his facial muscles undergoing some strange rebellion.

This was too effective, wasn't it?

"Sect... Sect Master?" Li Mo spoke in a probing tone, laced with a touch of concerned foolishness. He gripped the broom tightly, "What are you... practicing the Toad Skill?"

Gu Canghai slowly, slowly raised his head.

The bridge of his nose was bright red, and half a withered leaf was stuck to his forehead. His majestic image was shattered into pieces.

But the confusion in his eyes lasted only a moment before it was replaced by a more fanatical divine light called 'Epiphany'!

"Good! A good fall!"

Gu Canghai suddenly leaped up from the ground. Far from being angry, he turned around excitedly and raised his arms to cheer toward the petrified Elders behind him.

"Did you see that? This! This is the Ancestor Master’s teaching!"

The Elders: "Huh?"

Gu Canghai pointed at the ground, his voice booming like a great bell, passionately declaring: "We have just repelled a powerful enemy, and naturally, arrogance has begun to breed in our hearts! The Ancestor Master’s action is precisely to warn us through action to 'keep our feet on the ground' and not become 'overly conceited'! This is a timely warning, a sudden enlightenment!"

The Grand Elder was the first to react, instantly understanding, cupping his hands toward the air with an expression of deep respect: "The Sect Master is wise! The Ancestor Master’s intentions are profound!"

Li Mo: "..."

The reading comprehension skills of this group of people would be wasted if they didn't test for the top scholar in the mortal world.

"Um... Li Mo."

Gu Canghai adjusted his slightly askew hair ornament and turned to look at Li Mo with an unprecedentedly kind gaze. "Did the Ancestor Master... have any other instructions last night?"

Li Mo immediately switched back to his clumsy mode and shook his head skillfully.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, I slept soundly last night and saw nothing. I only noticed this morning that the window on the second floor was open."

"Understood!"

Gu Canghai clapped his hands, wearing an expression that suggested everything was under control.

"The window being open means 'opening one's perspective' and looking out over the world! The Ancestor Master hopes that we will spread the fame of the Heavenly River Sword Sect across this land again!"

He waved his hand spiritedly, and the Elders behind him immediately understood, carefully placing the precious gift boxes on the counter.

"These are offerings for the Ancestor Master. Since the Ancestor Master is unwilling to show himself, Li Mo, you shall take custody of them. You work hard cleaning every day; if any Spiritual Fruit or Medicinal Pill is about to expire, eat it yourself. Do not waste the Ancestor Master's grace."

After giving instructions, the group bowed and paid respects to the empty Scripture Pavilion before retreating backward, step by step, with bowed waists.

This time, everyone stepped over the threshold with exceptional steadiness and caution, fearing they too might receive a 'timely warning' from the Ancestor Master.

Watching their retreating figures, Li Mo casually lifted a jade box.

A "Calm Heart Grass" exuding the aura of three thousand years lay quietly within.

"Tsk, good stuff."

Li Mo didn't even look at it, tossing the Spiritual Plant toward the ceiling beam.

A dark shadow flashed, and the mysterious booklet named 'Little Black' opened its pages, swallowing the Spiritual Grass with a 'crack' sound, as if eating a potato chip. It then contentedly exhaled a visible breath of Spiritual Qi.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

Li Mo's gaze returned to the System interface. The blood-red warning, [Strange Tales are breeding], was still flashing. His eyes turned deep again.

"Gu Canghai and the others are gone. The real trouble has only just begun."

...

Night fell.

This should have been the quietest time of the day, but tonight, the Scripture Pavilion was strangely lively.

Ever since Li Mo established the rule that [Books must sleep], the books that had gained sentience indeed dared not run around anymore.

But the problem was... they started dreaming.

An ancient book, "Fierce Tiger Fist," emitted a low tiger's roar in its sleep, making the bookshelf hum.

A musical score, "A Laugh on the Vast Sea," vibrated continuously on the shelf, emitting 'snap' sounds like plucked, broken strings.

And the most ridiculous was the pickle jar containing the remnant Soul of the Old Ancestor of the Blood River.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

Dark red bubbles constantly rose from the jar, and a voice filled with extreme grievance echoed in the empty first-floor hall.

"Hungry... so hungry... I want braised pork... No, I want Souls..."

Li Mo sat on the railing of the second floor, holding the "dragon vein heavenly book" in his hand, researching how to completely repair the loopholes in the rules here.

Suddenly, the main door of the Scripture Pavilion was silently pushed open a crack.

A sneaky figure slipped inside.

It was an Outer Sect Disciple, clad in rags, carrying a rusty iron sword on his back.

It was the Hour of the Rat; someone was coming to court death?

Li Mo frowned, activating the [Void Walker] ability, his figure instantly merging into the deeper darkness.

The Disciple was clearly visiting the Forbidden Ground late at night for the first time. He nervously retracted his neck, tightly clutching an identity jade token as if it were his lifeline.

"I heard... if you kowtow three times to the mirror in the Scripture Pavilion late at night, you can borrow lost, peerless Secret Manuals..."

The Disciple shivered while trying to encourage himself.

"For the sake of excelling in the Outer Sect Grand Competition, for Xiao Fang... I'll risk it!"

Li Mo, hidden in the shadows, almost couldn't hold back.

What version of strange rumor was this now? Kowtowing to a mirror? The Scripture Pavilion's bronze was so rusted you couldn't make out a human silhouette; where would there be a mirror?

The Disciple fumbled in the darkness, moving forward step by step.

Suddenly, a faint chewing sound reached his ears.

"Crunch... crunch..."

The source of the sound came from Bookshelf C, where miscellaneous books were stored.

The Disciple's legs were already trembling, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to approach.

Using the faint moonlight filtering in from the window, he saw a scene that would be unforgettable for the rest of his life.

A thick copy of "Complete Culinary Arts" had its pages open, resembling a greedy giant mouth attempting to swallow an entire thin copy of "Basic Body Tempering Art" next to it.

And the pages of that "Basic Body Tempering Art" had actually conjured two tiny, matchstick-like hands, desperately pushing back.

"Ah!!!"

The Disciple let out a shriek that was almost inhuman, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.

This fall landed him precisely on top of the nearby pickle jar.

Rumble—

The jar rolled to his feet, and the lid slipped off.

A distorted, grotesque old face, condensed from pure black smoke, slowly floated out of the jar's mouth, almost touching the Disciple's face.

That face squeezed out a smile uglier than a cry.

"Young man... are you here to borrow a book too?"

The voice of the Old Ancestor of the Blood River was hoarse, filled with demonic temptation.

"What's the point of borrowing a book... why not lend your body to this Old Ancestor... I promise you invincibility under heaven..."

The Disciple's eyes rolled back, white foam dribbled from his mouth, and he promptly fainted from fright.

"Tsk."

In the darkness, a hand reached out of thin air, and with a 'smack' sound, like swatting a fly, accurately slapped the smoky face of the Old Ancestor of the Blood River back into the jar.

"How many times have I told you, don't scare the children."

Li Mo's figure slowly materialized. He looked helplessly at the fainted Disciple on the ground, then glanced at the "Complete Culinary Arts" that was still attempting to 'eat a midnight snack'.

"It seems simple rule suppression is no longer enough."

He picked up the jar, resealed it, and then walked over to the unconscious Disciple.

Li Mo thought for a moment, pulled out an unknown Medicinal Pill from his robes (one of Gu Canghai's offerings), stuffed it into the Disciple's mouth, and then pulled out a copy of "Clear Heart Incantation Advanced Edition" from the bookshelf and stuffed it into his embrace.

"Consider yourself lucky. You got to experience the internal beta version of these 'Scripture Pavilion Strange Tales' for free."

Li Mo lifted the Disciple with one hand and tossed him out the Scripture Pavilion door as if throwing a sack of trash.

After finishing this, he turned around, looked at the restless 'demons and monsters' filling the room, and a playful glint finally appeared in his eyes.

"Since I can't suppress them, I'll guide them."

"System, consume entry experience."

"I am going to reinstall the entire 'Operating System' for this Scripture Pavilion."

Li Mo picked up his brush and wrote lines of golden text in the void:

[Scripture Pavilion Late-Night Mode Update Announcement:]

[1. Effective immediately, all supernatural phenomena will be uniformly defined as 'Immersive Reading Experience'.]

[2. Anyone entering the Pavilion late at night must pass 'The Books' Trials' (commonly known as: getting beaten up by a book) to obtain Advanced Reading Permissions.]

[3. Old Ancestor of the Blood River (Jarred) is officially appointed as the 'Nighttime Librarian,' primarily responsible for discouraging... no, for screening seekers with weak minds.]

As the final stroke fell, the entire Scripture Pavilion shook violently.

That chaotic, gloomy aura receded like a tide, replaced by a new atmosphere that was even more bizarre yet perfectly orderly.

The "Complete Culinary Arts" reluctantly let go of the "Basic Body Tempering Art" and obediently flew back to its place, though it occasionally let out a satisfied burp.

Inside the pickle jar, the Old Ancestor of the Blood River let out a heart-wrenching wail.

"No! I am a giant of the Demonic Path! I will not be a Librarian! I want a salary! I want five insurances and one housing fund!"

"Rejected."

Li Mo spat out two cold words, turned, and walked toward the second floor.

"Starting tomorrow, the Scripture Pavilion's 'Night Session' officially opens for business."

"Want to become stronger?"

His voice echoed in the empty pavilion, carrying a hint of successful scheming.

"Then come here and make a deal with the devil."

Outside the Scripture Pavilion, the Disciple who had been thrown out twitched his fingers slightly.

In his hazy dream, he seemed to hear a majestic and grand voice whispering to him:

"Welcome to... the Scripture Pavilion of Truth."