174: Enter the second floor

Passing through the spatial ripple, the scene of the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion appeared before Yao Delong's eyes.

Unlike the first floor, which was vast like a sea of smoke and bustling with people, the second floor appeared exceptionally empty and quiet.

The space was still vast, but the number of bookshelves made of ten-thousand-year cold jade had sharply decreased, amounting to less than one-tenth of the first floor.

Every Jade Slip, every scroll of animal skin, and every stone tablet emitted an ancient, profound, and heart-palpitating powerful aura; that was the unique dao rhyme belonging to Earth Rank Cultivation Technique and Martial Skill!

An invisible pressure permeated the air, several times stronger than on the first floor, as if countless eyes were scrutinizing everyone who entered this place.

At this moment, in the vast second floor, there were only a few people.

An old man wearing a plain white Daoist robe, with a gaunt face and an aura as deep as the sea, was sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, eyes closed in meditation, with dao rhyme circulating around his body, faintly in harmony with the aura of the entire Scripture Pavilion.

He was the guarding Elder of this floor, his cultivation unfathomable.

The other three were scattered among the bookshelves, their auras equally powerful, far exceeding the Golden Core Stage; they were clearly the highly respected and rare True Disciple of the Yin Yang Sect!

One of them, dressed in black tight-fitting attire and carrying an ancient long sword on his back, had a cold face like ice and eyes as sharp as swords; he was like a drawn blade, his edge fully exposed.

He was standing in front of a sword technique Jade Slip, frowning slightly, seemingly comprehending something.

Another person was exceptionally burly, two heads taller than an average person, with muscles knotted like rocks and skin glowing with a bronze luster; wearing only a sleeveless short jacket, he revealed an explosive sense of power.

He was facing a stone tablet engraved with savage totems, fists clenched tightly, the power of his blood and Qi steaming like a furnace.

And the most eye-catching one was the third person.

That was a woman wearing a gorgeous palace dress.

The skirt was woven from celestial silkworm silk, dotted with tiny ice crystal gems, shimmering and magnificent as she walked.

Her figure was graceful, her curves exquisite, her skin whiter than snow, and her face was breathtakingly beautiful, with a hint of innate nobility amidst her charm; as her eyes shifted, it seemed as if she could capture souls.

At this moment, she was lazily leaning against a bookshelf, playing with a Jade Slip that emitted cold air, looking at Yao Delong who had just stepped into this place with great interest.

Yao Delong's appearance instantly broke the tranquility of the second floor.

The guarding Elder remained with his eyes closed, as if he had not noticed.

The cold Sword Cultivator and the burly Body Cultivator just glanced at Yao Delong indifferently, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashing in their eyes, before they immersed themselves back into their own comprehension, not paying much attention.

Being in the Golden Core Stage and able to enter the second floor, while rare, was not unheard of, and not worth them putting down what they were doing.

Only that stunning woman in the palace dress had shimmering eyes.

She looked Yao Delong up and down, her gaze lingering on his handsome face, his upright posture, and especially the gilded black robe that symbolized his status as an inner Core Disciple, her red lips curving into a charming smile capable of turning the world upside down.

【 Ding! Target detected: Cang Yunyao 】

【 Age: 50 】

【 Cultivation: Mid Nascent Soul Stage 】

【 Spiritual Power Affinity: 10 】

【 Favorability: 40 (Curious) 】

The System's notification sound rang in Yao Delong's mind.

"Oh~"

A lazy, magnetic, and coquettish laugh rang out, crisp and pleasant like pearls falling on a jade plate.

Cang Yunyao moved with light steps, swaying gracefully as she walked towards Yao Delong, a faint, cold fragrance like an orchid in an empty valley drifting along with her.

"This Junior Brother, you look very unfamiliar."

She stopped about a zhang away from Yao Delong, smiling sweetly with her beautiful eyes darting around,

"To be able to break through the Profound Origin Barrier and enter this place at the Golden Core Perfection stage, this level of strength is rare among Core Disciples. I wonder which peak you are a talented disciple of, Junior Brother? Why have I never seen you before?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of natural charm; as she spoke, an invisible pressure belonging to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage quietly enveloped Yao Delong like mercury pouring onto the ground.

This was not malicious; it was more like a test and... a tease.

Yao Delong felt a heavy pressure descend upon him, as if he were deep in the ocean.

But his Golden Core Perfection cultivation, powerful Physical Body, and the protection of the "yanshen fetus" in his Sea of Consciousness allowed him to remain motionless, his expression still calm.

He slightly cupped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Luoxia Peak, Yao Delong. Greetings, Senior Sister."

"Luoxia Peak? Yao Delong?"

Cang Yunyao was slightly stunned, then her beautiful eyes widened instantly, and unmasked astonishment appeared on her charming face,

"Are you that... Yao Delong, who is rumored to have a Spiritual Power Affinity of only 2, but took first place in the inner sect selection and was specially promoted to inner Core Disciple by the Sect Head?!"

Her voice was filled with thick disbelief, and she looked Yao Delong up and down, as if wanting to get to know him all over again.

The probing pressure also instantly withdrew.

"Indeed." Yao Delong admitted calmly.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Cang Yunyao circled around Yao Delong, as if admiring a rare treasure, her eyes filled with surprise and curiosity,

"Spiritual Power Affinity of 2... yet able to Cultivate to Golden Core Perfection, and possessing such a powerful Physical Body and explosive force... Little Junior Brother, you have quite a few secrets!"

She leaned closer, her breath like orchids, with a hint of playfulness, "I am becoming more and more curious."

【 Ding! Target Cang Yunyao's favorability +30, current favorability 70 (Strong Interest) 】

Yao Delong retreated half a step without changing his expression, putting a little distance between them, and said calmly,

"Just luck. You flatter me, Senior Sister. I have come here only to select a few suitable Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills in preparation for next month's inner sect ranking assessment."

"Oh? Selecting Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills?"

Cang Yunyao's beautiful eyes lit up, her interest deepening.

Although her probing just now had been easily resolved by Yao Delong, the pure, vast, extremely rigid, and extremely Yang Pure Yang Yuan Power inside him, which she had contacted for an instant, made her heart jump suddenly!

The Yin Yang Sect emphasizes Yin-Yang Harmony; as a True Disciple of Spirit Water Peak, she mainly Cultivates the "Mysterious Yin Ice Soul True Scripture," and the Mysterious Yin power in her body is extremely pure, but because of this, she has a natural craving for extreme Yang power.

If she could find a Dao Companion who possessed pure Pure Yang Yuan Power, the Yin-Yang union would be of great benefit to her Breakthrough of her Bottleneck, and even her future Dao!

And this Junior Brother Yao before her, with his pure and majestic Pure Yang Yuan Power, was simply the "great tonic" she dreamed of!

"Is the Cultivation Technique you are Cultivating on the Pure Yang path, Junior Brother?"

Cang Yunyao suppressed the palpitation in her heart, her smile becoming even more charming and moving, and her voice softened a little.

"Indeed." Yao Delong nodded.

"Then your Senior Sister must help you carefully consider it!"

Cang Yunyao enthusiastically took Yao Delong's arm and, without waiting for an answer, led him towards a row of bookshelves in the depths, her intimate and natural posture as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years.

"Although the Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques on this second floor are good, their attributes are mixed; if you choose the wrong path, not only will you get half the result with twice the effort, but it may also affect your dao foundation."

Her jade fingers tapped lightly, and a Jade Slip that was entirely crimson gold, with flame-like runes flowing on its surface, flew up from the bookshelf and landed in her palm.