Chapter 55: Flawless
Eastern Abyss Sect, outer disciple library.
The Library of Scrolls was where the Eastern Abyss Sect stored its various cultivation manuals, legendary tales, and historical records.
Both the inner and outer sects had one.
The outer sect’s library housed a small number of low-grade cultivation manuals, but was mostly filled with legendary texts and similar works that saw few visitors on ordinary days.
As a result, the inner and outer sect libraries were typically distinguished by the disciples as the “Scripture Pavilion” and the “Library” respectively.
On this day, Song Yan stepped into the Library.
Several days had passed, and within the Twin Jade Realm, the dark flames of the “Heart Demon” on the sword body showed no signs of change.
At this rate, it would take more than half a year before the small sword could repel those flames from the blade.
Today, after completing his basic spiritual energy cultivation and qi nourishing practice, he had some miscellaneous items to sell at the market district. Passing by the outer sect library, he decided to stop in and search for any books about ancient sword cultivators.
The “Complete Records of Immortal Path Wonders” covered a wide range of topics and contained nearly everything, but its content about ancient sword cultivators was limited.
The outer sect library had five floors in total. Any outer disciple could borrow any book within, including those low-grade cultivation manuals.
A few scattered outer disciples were present, and none made a disturbance.
After all, on the uppermost floor of the library sat an elder who valued quiet.
“I need to find some ancient texts…”
Song Yan swept through the shelves with his divine sense, but the library’s collection was simply too vast…
“Junior Brother Song.”
“Hmm…?”
Song Yan was not sure if he was being called. He turned to look, and indeed the person was gazing at him.
However…
He did not seem to recognize the man, though he looked somewhat familiar.
The man had a dignified appearance and held a scripture in his hands. Although his attire was plain, his bearing carried an air of refined elegance, like polished jade.
“Sun Zhengfu, administrative disciple of the Ink Dao Academy.”
“Ah…”
Song Yan recalled now. Previously, when his cultivation had stalled and brought him mental distress, he had thought that calligraphy and go could assist his cultivation of the Five Element Vein-Seeking Technique. For a time, he had frequently visited the Ink Dao Academy to practice calligraphy and cultivate his mind.
He had indeed seen this man before, but at the time Song Yan had not paid attention, so he only felt a sense of familiarity without being able to place him.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Sun.”
Sun Zhengfu was at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Stage. To address him as senior brother was perfectly appropriate.
He shook his head. “We are fellow disciples. There is no need for such formalities.”
Among the other Eastern Abyss Sect disciples who knew Sun Zhengfu, he was considered a man of few words.
But this was not truly the case. His personality was old-fashioned and earnest, and he took matters extremely seriously, having offended many disciples with influential backgrounds.
His parents were also cultivators and had once warned him: disaster comes from the mouth.
He had since become taciturn.
Whether this silence was truly useful, however, was unknown.
“Come to think of it, Junior Brother Song, why have you not visited the Ink Dao Academy lately?”
He had taken the initiative to greet Song Yan primarily because this Junior Brother Song appeared to be the first person since he became an administrative disciple of the Ink Dao Academy who truly used the art of calligraphy to cultivate his temperament.
Perhaps he was a fellow enthusiast of the art of writing.
If the opportunity arose, he might invite him to the Ink and Wash Gathering in the future.
Song Yan was somewhat confused, but there was nothing shameful about the reason, so he answered honestly:
“I recently had a minor breakthrough in my cultivation, and afterward I went out with an inner sect senior sister to carry out a mission, so I did not return.”
“I see.”
Sun Zhengfu nodded. “The art of writing can teach a person to focus the mind and see one’s true nature. I observed Junior Brother’s calligraphy and found you have a natural talent for this path. In the future, we may exchange ideas more.”
“Yes, I thank Senior Brother for his instruction.”
This senior brother… seemed to be a cultivator who genuinely loved the art of calligraphy.
“Did you come here today looking for a particular text?”
“It is not any secret cultivation record. I came this time to find some books about the ‘sword cultivators’ of the ancient era.”
“Anecdotes, records, any will do.”
“Sword cultivators?”
Sun Zhengfu turned the word over in his mind. He often came here to search for calligraphy texts and was familiar with most of the books.
“I believe I have seen a few titles among the miscellaneous books that contained words like ‘ancient sword’ or ‘sword cultivator.’ What I can recall now is that it is on the third floor, shelf six, near the ‘Ink Dao Stele Forest Record.'” Song Yan was delighted and quickly expressed his thanks. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother.”
“No need to be polite.”
Sun Zhengfu had been there for some time already. He placed the book he was holding back on the shelf, bid Song Yan farewell, and left the library.
“Truly a kind senior brother.”
Song Yan went to the third floor, shelf six, found the “Ink Dao Stele Forest Record,” and used it as a reference point to search the surrounding area. Sure enough, he soon found the book.
“Strange Tales of Ancient Swords.”
It sounded familiar.
The books in the outer sect library were paper volumes, not jade slips, so they had to be turned page by page.
Song Yan flipped through a few pages to confirm it was the book he wanted, then went downstairs and registered it for borrowing.
Today’s schedule was tight, and he feared the market would close. He would read it properly after finishing his errands.
…
Lingyuan Marsh Market, central district.
Unlike Granny Qin’s Miscellaneous Troubles Shop, the area of pill refining, artifact forging, formation talismans, and treasure pavilions was just as bustling as the night market, save for a few oddities.
However, the daytime market still had more disciples from the Eastern Abyss Sect.
While strolling, one might even run into acquaintances.
“Kong You, do you take me for a fool? A few tattered scrolls and you want thirty spirit stones? Have everyone on Forgetfulness Peak lost their minds?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about…”
Whether it was the hawkers hawking, the haggling, or the noise of the crowd, all of it gave Song Yan the illusion that he had returned to market day in Stone Beam Town.
He spent about half an hour disposing of the miscellaneous items in his hands one by one.
He felt somewhat embarrassed about always going to Granny Qin’s shop to get rid of these small cultivation scraps. After all, he had already been scolded many times.
It was still early, and he wanted to find a teahouse to sit down, drink some tea, and read his book.
The contents of this volume of “Strange Tales of Ancient Swords” were not extensive. If he could finish it, he could return it on the way back and save himself a special trip next time.
Passing a street intersection, a few young and beautiful female cultivators were calling out their wares in front of a storefront, their voices as pleasant as silver bells.
“Daoist robes and gowns, cloaks and skirts…”
Song Yan could not help but glance a few more times… at the storefront’s signboard.
“Seamless Heavenly Robes…”
He murmured, reading the shop’s name aloud. “A cleverly named sign.”
Judging by the calls of these female cultivator fellow Daoists, it seemed to be a shop that tailored daoist robes and garments.
The craft of tailoring daoist robes, while not as popular as artifact forging, was equally sought after, especially by female cultivators.
One should know that clothes make the man, and moreover, cultivation world tailoring was not merely about looking good.
Song Yan had heard that many daoist robes custom-made at great expense contained formation patterns within, which could keep the robes free of dust.
Some even had Gathering Spirit Formation patterns sewn in, drawing spiritual qi to refine energy, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
However…
This was not something he could afford at the moment.
He was about to step away when he found his sleeve tugged.
“?”
He turned to look and saw a thin, frail young woman.
“Fellow Daoist, what guidance do you offer?”
Grabbing another person’s daoist robe sleeve without permission was a very rude gesture.
Song Yan had his own temper.
On the young woman’s fair and delicate face, scattered starlike freckles were visible.
She seemed somewhat timid, yet her eyes held a stubborn resolve.
“Tailoring… tailoring a daoist robe, three patterned spirit stones is enough.”