"A low-grade Fire Spiritual Root, heh, not bad!" Elder Sun said thoughtfully, his head raised. "To pass the trials and make it this far with a low-grade Fire Spiritual Root... you must have worked very hard."

Xu Shan's expression faltered, surprised by Elder Sun's response.

Before he could reply, Elder Sun gave a faint smile. "It's rare to see a disciple in the Inner Sect as hardworking as you. The path of cultivation is all about breaking through your limits and shattering barriers. There's no need to be discouraged by your low aptitude."

"However, your aptitude really is a bit poor—probably the worst in the Inner Sect. The only thing that really suits you is the Fireball Technique. You can find that technique all over the sect. Go ahead and pick one other technique for yourself. Remember, once you've chosen, you can't exchange it."

"Also, don't even think about stealing anything. There's a restrictive formation in this hall. If you're caught, you'll be expelled from the sect immediately."

Elder Sun's words actually moved Xu Shan.

But could he really only practice the Fireball Technique? That thing sounded like a common, trash-tier skill.

Fortunately, he could still pick one more. Might as well see what was available.

"Where should this disciple start?" Xu Shan asked, feeling a little lost as he faced the hall full of repository jade slips.

Elder Sun pointed to the left, at a vertical section of shelves holding jade slips that spanned from the first to the third floor. "All the jade slips are over there. Just pick from that section. You can choose from any of the three floors."

"Are the techniques graded?"

"This hall is exclusively for Inner Disciples. There aren't any particularly high-level techniques here. The jade slips on the third floor are the best."

"Can disciples pick from those other books?"

"Our Xinglan Sect is poor. Those are just miscellaneous books we bought from the common folk to fill the shelves."

"..."

Xu Shan was silent for a moment before walking over to the jade slips and inspecting them one by one.

Fireball Technique, Water Arrow Technique, Burning Wind Palm, Body-Lightening Technique...

After a quick scan, he could tell they were all common, dime-a-dozen techniques. He figured he could probably borrow second-hand copies of them anywhere in the Inner Sect.

There was no point in choosing one of these. It would be better to pick something valuable that he could trade later.

With this in mind, Xu Shan skipped the second floor and went straight to the third.

Three-Turn Thunder Curse, Heavenly Crane Dragon Seal, Steel-Cutting Fist Force...

The techniques here were clearly much more advanced; even their names sounded badass. However, they were organized quite haphazardly.

Although there was a book on the shelf that served as a detailed manual for all the techniques, with his limited perspective, he couldn't even tell which one was the most valuable.

Xu Shan frowned, pacing in front of the shelf while carefully studying the manual.

As he was walking, he suddenly heard a *clunk*... It seemed he had kicked something.

A faint noise followed. Xu Shan looked down, saw nothing, and immediately dropped to the floor to peer into the gap beneath the bookshelf.

He looked, and sure enough, there was something under there!

Xu Shan immediately reached in to pull it out. When the object was fully revealed, his eyes widened in shock.

A jade slip! A completely different kind of jade slip!

The slips on the shelf were all rectangular and white, but this one was a palm-sized, diamond-shaped, cyan jade slip.

Runes were carved into its exterior, making it very different from an ordinary jade slip. It looked more like... the style of runes on the Qing Seal.

This thing was so extraordinary, and it wasn't even on the shelf. This had to be it!

Xu Shan immediately put down the manual, returned to Elder Sun with the diamond-shaped jade slip in hand, and said with sweaty palms, "This disciple has chosen his technique."

He couldn't just steal it, but if it was a real treasure, the elder might confiscate it. He could only pin his hopes on Elder Sun's character.

Elder Sun had already gone back to his book. He gave a casual wave of his right hand.

A silver light flashed over the diamond-shaped jade slip.

"Hm, the restriction is lifted. You can take it... Huh? Wait a minute!"

Xu Shan had been about to grab the slip and run, but unfortunately, Elder Sun glanced over and slapped his hand down on it.

Xu Shan's heart leaped into his throat.

Elder Sun picked up the jade slip, observing it with a deep frown. "This jade slip..."

*It's over. He's going to pocket the treasure I found!*

Xu Shan cursed his luck inwardly but kept his expression calm. "Elder Sun, why is this jade slip different from the others?"

"Hiss... I can't quite recall. It looks very familiar." Elder Sun squinted, trying hard to remember, then suddenly slapped his forehead. "This is a type of ancient jade slip! Where did you find this, kid?"

An ancient jade slip!

Xu Shan's heart began to bleed...

Elder Sun muttered to himself, "These things are rare. I don't even know what technique is recorded inside, and you dare to choose it?"

"What's so special about an ancient jade slip?" Xu Shan asked.

"Not much, really. It's just a rather unique type of jade slip." Elder Sun pressed down on the slip and infused it with spiritual energy.

Suddenly, a ray of vibrant light shot out from the tip of the diamond-shaped slip, forming a screen of light in mid-air.

On the screen, a cultivator in strange and outlandish clothes could be seen clearly, channeling his energy!

The figure quickly formed a large fireball in his hands and then threw it into the distance.

At the same time, the jade slip vibrated and a deep male voice began to continuously explain the finer points of using the Fireball Technique...

"So it's this thing," Elder Sun lamented. "A few years ago, a junk-collecting rogue cultivator came by. I was packing up some old inventory to sell off the useless stuff and must have missed this one. And this ancient cultivator... he had access to mental-imprint jade slips but insisted on making something so flashy and impractical. Isn't this why it was eventually phased out?"

As he spoke, he was completely oblivious to the fact that Xu Shan's face had grown as long as a donkey's, his mind roaring in fury!

*Fuck this ancient jade slip!*

Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

*After all that, it's just a fing projector? And the only thing on it is the Fireball Technique?!*

*And why are there junk-collecting rogue cultivators? If you're that broke, why the hell are you even cultivating?!?*

"Can I still exchange it?" Xu Shan asked, his face fallen.

Elder Sun withdrew his spiritual energy, and the light screen dissipated.

He shot Xu Shan a sidelong glance and tossed the jade slip to him.

"No. Just take it as a lesson. You newly-initiated disciples are always hoping to find some hidden treasure. I'm here every day. If there was a treasure to be found, do you think I'd let you get to it?"

Realizing his little scheme had been seen through long ago, Xu Shan's face flushed red.

After composing himself, he held up the jade slip and asked, "Elder Sun, can this thing only project a light screen? Can the scene on the screen be changed?"

"You can. The runes on the slip are divided into left and right sections. Infusing spiritual energy into the right side records a scene, while the other side plays it back. It's a decent little toy, I suppose."

Xu Shan felt a great sense of relief.

*It can project and record. That's not bad. This wasn't a total loss after all.*

*The Cultivation World doesn't have movies. Maybe I can use this thing to make some films and earn a few spirit stones in the future?*

"Thank you for your guidance today, Elder Sun. This disciple will pay his respects again another day!"

Elder Sun gave a casual wave, and Xu Shan turned and left the hall.

Lu Xiangjun was still waiting outside. Seeing Xu Shan emerge, she came forward. "How did it go? Did you see Elder Sun?"

"I did. He's a good person, surprisingly kind."

"Actually, the Sect Master and the elders are all very nice," Lu Xiangjun said. "When the Xinglan Sect was first founded, they were all rogue cultivators who adventured together. After establishing the sect, they remained very close and take good care of the disciples. In that respect, it's much better than the major sects."

Xu Shan nodded in agreement.

*So that's how it is. They're still in the startup phase... That explains it.*

"What technique did you choose?" Lu Xiangjun asked curiously.

"The Fireball Technique."

"Are you okay?! You can find that thing everywhere in the Inner Sect! You couldn't even give it away!"

...

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Proofreader: Peter Pan