33: Chapter 33 The Dust-Covered Sword Manual! That's it!

The Scripture Pavilion for Inner Sect Disciples is located halfway up the main peak of the Azure Cloud Sect. It is a simple and ancient nine-story pagoda built entirely from an unknown cyan stone, exuding an aura of solemnity and gravity.

Before you even got close, you felt a vast, ocean-like scholarly aura rushing towards you.

"Whoa, this place is much more impressive than that dilapidated little library in the Outer Sect."

You sighed inwardly as you stepped onto the white jade stairs leading to the pagoda.

At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, an elderly, white-haired, and drowsy Pavilion Guarding Elder couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids; he simply extended a withered hand.

You respectfully handed over your identity token.

The Elder took the token, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and his previously drowsy eyes suddenly opened a crack, glancing at you with some surprise.

"A Named Disciple of Liu Changfeng?"

"Go in. You can only choose one. Once selected, it cannot be changed. Think it through carefully."

The Elder's voice was hoarse and flat. After speaking, he tossed the token back to you and closed his eyes again, as if nothing had just happened.

You caught the token and muttered to yourself, "This Elder looks pretty impressive, so why does he seem like he hasn't woken up yet?"

Without overthinking it, you walked into the Scripture Pavilion.

The first and second floors contained Cultivation Techniques for the Qi Refinement Stage and various anecdotes. You only took a rough glance before heading straight to the third floor.

The space on the third floor was much smaller than the two floors below. Rows of massive bookshelves were arranged neatly, filled with various Jade Slips.

Each Jade Slip represented a Cultivation Technique for the Foundation Establishment Stage, flickering with a faint spiritual light that illuminated the entire third floor in a surreal, kaleidoscopic way.

You saw many Inner Sect Disciples standing in front of the bookshelves, focused on selecting their Cultivation Techniques, and you could occasionally hear their hushed discussions.

"'Burning Heaven Art'! A top-tier fire-attribute Cultivation Technique! It's said that when cultivated to a high level, it can boil rivers and seas! Unfortunately, I don't have a Fire Spiritual Root."

"Look at this, 'Mysterious Water True Scripture', a superior choice among water-attribute Cultivation Techniques. The mana cultivated is endless, making it best suited for prolonged battles."

"'Thick Earth Technique' is better. It focuses on invincible defense; you could just stand there and let someone hit you without taking damage!"

You listened to these discussions, feeling completely indifferent.

These single-attribute Cultivation Techniques, while powerful, were not suitable for a "useless Spiritual Root" like yours that possessed all Five Elements.

What you needed was a Cultivation Technique that could perfectly fuse the power of the Five Elements, or perhaps even have them complement each other.

You began to search carefully in front of the rows of bookshelves.

"'Blazing Sun Mind-Cultivation Technique', 'Kwai Water Canon', 'Everspring Technique'..."

You looked along the way and found that ninety-nine percent of the Cultivation Techniques here were single-attribute or dual-attribute. The occasional triple-attribute ones were all marked with "Extremely high cultivation difficulty; those without exceptional talent should not attempt."

As for Five Elements Cultivation Techniques? You searched for a long time and didn't even see a shadow of one.

"No way? In such a large Scripture Pavilion, there isn't even a single Five Elements Cultivation Technique?"

You were a bit disappointed, complaining inwardly, "Are they not going to let all-rounders like us survive?"

Just as you were about to give up and settle for any Cultivation Technique that looked decent, your gaze was drawn to a bookshelf in the furthest corner covered in thick dust.

That bookshelf looked dilapidated and out of place compared to the bright and polished ones around it, and it only held a single Jade Slip.

That Jade Slip was also different from the others; while the others glowed, this one was dusty and dull, like an ordinary stone, and was even covered in spiderwebs.

"What is this thing? Was it thrown here because nobody wanted it?"

You walked over out of curiosity, blew the dust off the Jade Slip, and probed it with your Divine Sense.

"Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon!"

Six ancient, simple characters instantly appeared in your mind.

Immediately after, an introduction to this sword canon appeared before your eyes.

"This sword canon was created by an ancient Sword Cultivator. It takes the meaning of the five 'Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth' Qi returning to their Origin, pursuing internal balance and Perfection. To Cultivate this method, one must possess a Five Elements Spirit Root, use the power of the Five Elements to temper oneself, condense Five Elements Sword Qi, and finally forge five life-bound Flying Swords to set up the 'Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Array', capable of slaying immortals and demons, and breaking all techniques..."

"Holy crap!"

Seeing this, your heart shook violently, and you almost cried out.

Five Elements Spirit Root! Five Elements Sword Qi! Five life-bound Flying Swords! Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Array!

This... isn't this fucking tailor-made for me?!

You were shaking with excitement, feeling as if you had picked up a massive bargain.

You continued reading.

"However, the conditions for cultivating this method are extremely harsh. First, it cannot be practiced by those without all Five Elements. Second, it requires extremely high control over Divine Sense and mana. Third, the Materials required to forge the five life-bound Flying Swords are all rare items in this world, costing a huge amount; those without great perseverance, great Opportunity, and great wealth cannot succeed."

"Therefore, although this method is a supreme Sword Dao, since the founding of the sect, no one has been able to Cultivate it to Major Achievement. Future Disciples should take this as a warning and not be overly ambitious, lest they ruin their own future. This Cultivation Technique has been listed as a forbidden technique and shelved."

"Forbidden technique?"

Seeing the end, you were not afraid at all, but rather even more excited.

Just because others can't Cultivate it doesn't mean I can't! I have [Epiphany] and [Effort Will Be Rewarded], so control is not a problem! As for Materials... I'll just find them slowly. With the simulator in hand, time is the one thing I have in abundance! This is practically endgame god-tier gear prepared just for me!

"This is it!"

You took the dusty Jade Slip from the bookshelf without hesitation.

Holding the Jade Slip, you ran excitedly to the manager's desk on the third floor, ready to register.

The manager was a middle-aged Cultivator who looked quite shrewd. When he saw the Jade Slip in your hand, he was stunned for a moment, then immediately revealed an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

"You... are you sure you want to choose this?" He pointed at the Jade Slip in your hand, his voice changing pitch. "Junior Brother, did you see clearly? This 'Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon' is the number one most famous 'scam' Cultivation Technique in our Azure Cloud Sect!"

"'Scam'?" You blinked, feigning confusion.

"It sure is!" The manager wore an "I'm doing this for your own good" expression and earnestly advised, "This thing sounds very intimidating, what with slaying immortals and demons, breaking all techniques. But in reality, for hundreds of years, not a single person who chose it has had a good ending!"

"Either they reach halfway, their mana conflicts, they suffer Qi Deviation, and become cripples. Or they exhaust their entire lives without even gathering the Materials for one Flying Sword, and end up dying in depression. Junior Brother, you are a Genius valued by Elder Liu, with a boundless future. Don't be foolish and trip up on this! Listen to your Senior Brother's advice and choose another one!"

You looked at his sincere eyes and almost laughed out loud.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother." You put on a touched expression, then changed the subject, speaking with the stubborn tone characteristic of a young person: "However, I happen to have a Five Elements Spirit Root. Other Cultivation Techniques cannot unleash my full potential. I feel that this sword canon was born for me! Wealth is sought in danger; if I don't try, how will I know if I can't do it?"

"Sigh! You child, why won't you listen to reason!" The manager slapped his thigh in frustration.

Just then, a hoarse voice came from the stairs.

"Let him choose."

It was the Pavilion Guarding Elder. He had appeared at the staircase at some point and was looking over here calmly.

"Everyone has their own Dao. His path should be walked by himself. Whether it is right or wrong, he must bear it himself."

Seeing that the Elder had spoken, the manager didn't dare say anything more. He could only sigh and helplessly process your registration.

"Fine, fine. Take care of yourself."

Holding the copied Cultivation Technique Jade Slip, you respectfully bowed to the manager and the Elder, then turned and left the Scripture Pavilion without looking back.

Watching your departing back, the manager shook his head: "Another silly kid who's been scammed. It's a pity to have such good talent."

And the Pavilion Guarding Elder, in his cloudy eyes, flashed a strange light that no one noticed.

"Five Elements Spirit Root... Five Qi Towards Origin... Perhaps, this time, it really will be different?"