Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1493 - 1493 0856 Hard to Find Opportunity_2

Chapter 1493: Chapter 0856: Hard to Find Opportunity_2 Chapter 1493: Chapter 0856: Hard to Find Opportunity_2 Qi Tian nodded, realizing that neither Gao Jinmei nor Huang Liuyan could provide him with adequate reference jade slips. He himself had to resolve the matter and find a solution.

Qi Tian sent the two women off to tend to their respective affairs, and if there were none, then they should cultivate. Afterwards, Qi Tian made his way toward the Brightness Palace of the National Master Manor.

The Brightness Palace was where the Mansion Master lived and cultivated. Having completed three years of closed-door cultivation, Qi Tian, willing or not, had to go and greet the Mansion Master.

Yi Xuwen welcomed Qi Tian very politely, and they engaged in a casual conversation for a long while. Yi Xuwen appeared extremely enthusiastic, asking Qi Tian if there was anything he or the National Master Manor could help with, saying that they were obliged to assist if there was any need.

Qi Tian did not stand on ceremony, requesting Yi Xuwen for permission to enter the top floor of the National Master Manor’s Scripture Library to consult some literature, as he had encountered some issues during cultivation.

Yi Xuwen readily agreed, telling Qi Tian to go as he pleased. As a Great Elder of the National Master Manor, all places would be open to him, with no one to obstruct him. Should anyone dare to disrespect him, he was free to punish them, and no one would dare utter a word of objection.

After Qi Tian took his leave, Yi Xuwen watched his departing figure with a contemplative look. During their conversation, he had tried indirectly to pry some information from Qi Tian, hoping to understand the results of his three-year retreat, but Qi Tian remained evasive, declining to give a clear response. Yi Xuwen also tried using his own methods to discern the changes in Qi Tian, but he didn’t dare overstep, fearing to anger Qi Tian and reignite their conflict. He could sense that Qi Tian’s strength had indeed improved, but the extent of this growth and its magnitude remained indefinable to him.

Having left the Brightness Palace, Qi Tian headed straight to the Scripture Library of the National Master Manor, in hopes of finding some helpful information.

The Scripture Library was divided into five levels, the topmost of which was only accessible to the Mansion Master and a few Elders, housing the Manor’s most important scriptures and documents, places beyond the reach of the average person.

The entrance to the fifth level was guarded by a cultivator in the Gold Core Realm, who looked very old, gaunt and withered with a face full of wrinkles. Qi Tian hadn’t even approached him yet when he sensed an aura of duskiness, an inevitable condition following the Heavenly Decline. Unless a miracle occurred, this Gold Core Realm cultivator likely had less than a decade or two before he succumbed to the natural end of age and death.

Seeing Qi Tian approach, the old man stood up promptly, bowing respectfully. “Great Elder, greetings.”

Qi Tian nodded, “I’m looking to review some materials on local customs and cultures. Did the Mansion Master or any of the other Elders leave behind their travelogues from around the world? If so, can you take me to them?”

Without unnecessary talk, the old man led Qi Tian upstairs to a bookshelf, pointing to a few jade slips on it, “These travelogues have been left by the Mansion Master and Elders. They are all copies, with the originals in the hands of the Mansion Master and the Elders. If you wish to borrow them, you’ll need to inquire with them personally.”

Qi Tian barely perceptibly frowned, not rushing to grab the jade slips. Instead, he looked around; the fifth floor was vast but sparsely furnished. There were no bookshelves, merely a few tables with only a handful of jade slips on each, and nothing else visible.

“Is this everything?” Qi Tian inquired.

The old man nodded, responding, “Indeed, these are the scriptures and documents reserved for the Mansion Master and Elders. As for the exact contents, I am not too clear. Each of these jade slips is sealed, and Great Elder, if there is one you want to view, simply touch the seal with your identity jade card, and the seal will open for you to access. According to the rules of the National Master Manor, all scriptures and documents in the Scripture Library are freely accessible to the Great Elder. You may read them here or take them back with you; there is no time limit. However, there is one stipulation—you cannot take any of the scriptures and documents out of the National Master Manor. If you must, you can make a copy, but a record must be made before copying. Copying is also free for the Great Elder.”

Qi Tian took out a middle-grade spirit stone and tossed it to the old man, saying, “I will look around here, you may step back. Stand guard at the door and if someone comes in, just inform me.”

The old man took the spirit stone and, following Qi Tian’s instructions, retreated to the outside of the door.

Using the jade token of his identity as the Great Elder, Qi Tian began to take jade slips from the desk as the old man had explained. He didn’t rush to read the contents of the slips but first studied them briefly. He noticed that each jade slip had some restrictions that allowed the holder to view the contents but made it impossible to make copies. There were also prohibitions to prevent the jade slips from being taken out of the National Master Manor. Beyond that, there were no other restrictions, and this was true for several jade slips he checked in succession.

It was only then that Qi Tian picked up a jade slip and started to read it. He read very quickly and, after a short while, he had already gone through several slips. However, the more he read, the more he furrowed his brows. The person who left these jade slips was proficient in the Spring and Autumn writing technique; many crucial parts were either vague or skipped over entirely, without revealing what content had been omitted.

This was still somewhat tolerable, but regarding the lucrative opportunities Qi Tian sought, there was not a single record of them on the slips. It was unclear whether the person who left the jade slips had never encountered such opportunities or simply didn’t want to share them with others. In any case, Qi Tian’s goal of finding clues in the Scripture Library had now been thoroughly dashed.

Unwilling to give up, Qi Tian decided to spend some time and went through all the jade slips on the fifth floor. The result was disappointing. The content of these slips was mostly the same and did not touch on the core issues. The travel journals were like this, and so were the methods; none could escape this fate. If one wanted to gain a superficial understanding of the world of Nascent Soul Masters through these slips, it was possible. But if one wished to delve deeper, it was far more difficult. It was unclear what Yi Xuwen and the other Elders were thinking, leaving behind such slips. This was quite unfriendly to those who came after them, at least for someone like Qi Tian who wanted to find some clues through these slips, there was definitely no chance.

After returning the jade slips to their places, Qi Tian left the fifth floor. Before leaving, he asked the old man if anyone had come while he was reading the jade slips. The old man gave a straightforward negative response.

Qi Tian said nothing more and headed straight out of the Scripture Library. Since he couldn’t find any clues there, he could try his own methods. He walked towards the exterior of the National Master Manor, intending to visit Wanjie Commerce. Although the possibility of finding opportunities there was slim, it was still a hope.

Just as Qi Tian reached the entrance of the Scripture Library, he suddenly heard someone call out to him.

“Great Elder, please wait.”

Qi Tian turned his head to follow the voice and saw that it was actually the Third Elder, Sun Xiqi. He stopped walking, his expression indifferent, and asked, “What does the Third Elder need from me?”

Sun Xiqi’s expression carried a hint of respect. Although it had been three years since he last saw Qi Tian, he could never forget the shocking moment when Qi Tian released Huo Yunbiao in the Council Hall three years ago. Over the past three years, this scene had flashed through his mind more than once. Each time he thought of it, his heart filled with a bit more reverence.

“Great Elder, I heard you went to the Scripture Library, and I guessed that you might be looking for something in there, so I waited here for you.”

“What do you want with me?” Qi Tian asked in a nonchalant tone.

With a forced smile, Sun Xiqi replied, “Great Elder, I have a few jade slips here that record the course of my travels from the late stage of the Gold Core Realm up to now. They are unedited and complete. I wonder if the Great Elder would be willing to take a look to see how my writing is?”