"H-How rude!"
Elder Bai looked at the figure of Zhiran disappearing into the martial pavilion in surprise.
He was already surprised enough by his disregard for his offer, and now, with him practically running away like this...
'Is a few jars of Spirit Dew too much?'
He thought, feeling like he said too much and scared the guy directly.
'Sigh...should have just asked for two, or maybe one...?'
Elder Bai sighed, caressed his long white beard, while looking at the empty jar in front. He wanted to get a few jars of wine while also accepting a genius disciple in the meantime, but all came for naught.
"What are you looking at? Give me the token if you want to enter, otherwise, get lost."
He was so annoyed that he directly scolded the boy in front, who was waiting awkwardly for his turn. Since he was near, he of course heard their conversation and was quite surprised that Zhiran declined such a lucrative offer.
If it was him…
Unfortunately, his fate was only to get scolded even though he did nothing.
"Yes, Elder, here is my token."
But what could he do?
He could only curse his bad luck and hand him his token with a flattering smile.
Poor soul didn't know how lucky he was not to get scammed by the old man,
***
As soon as Lucien entered the tall Martial Pavilion, he saw multiple people walking to and fro hurriedly, looking through books lined in endless rows of shelves, some bamboo, some slate, some bound in thick leather, and others rolled into scrolls, all neatly arranged with meticulous care.
Although some of the closer ones looked at him in surprise as soon as he appeared, nobody stopped to discuss, as the time inside was precious.
After all, each disciple, no matter what realm, could only stay and choose the technique inside for a stick of incense of time. Once the time was over, the person had to leave even if he hadn't chosen one.
With such rules, why would they waste their precious time on mere gossip?
Zhiran didn't care what they were doing, instead, he slowly walked towards the stairs at the side intending to go upwards.
After all, this pavilion had an upper floor which was only accessible to people who were in the late stage of the Qi Condensation realm.
Unlike below, the upper floor was filled with Yellow Rank, Late Stage techniques, and even had a few incomplete peak grade ones.
Moreover, since he had the referral from the Affairs hall, Zhiran could choose two techniques, one movement and one attack type.
If not for him awakening his golden finger, he would definitely be very happy and not as calm as right now.
"Hey, isn't that Mo Zhiran just now?"
Just when Zhiran's figure disappeared on the stairs, suddenly, a tall and skinny guy near the stairs couldn't help but rub his eyes in surprise.
Feeling that he might have hallucinated, he nudged at his friend at the side engrossed in reading the scroll and asked in wonder.
"Hmm? Yeah, why?"
His friend was in a hurry to choose a good technique and didn't like him disturbing his time. So, he looked at him with cold eyes and warned this stupid guy who was wasting his time here.
"If you are trying to gossip, take it outside. I don't have time to entertain you."
How many outer sect missions did he do to gain enough contributions to choose a technique in Martial Pavilion?
How could he allow anyone to distract him now?
They could always talk about such things once they were outside, couldn't they?
"No…I mean, didn't you see where he went just now?"
The skinny guy saw that his friend was angry and hurriedly said, pointing at the stairs,
"That Mo Zhiran clearly went up just now. But…isn't he only at the early stage…how can he?"
Everyone knew the upper floor of the Martial Pavilion was for only the elite outer sect disciples who reached the late-stage Qi Condensation realm. So, it didn't make sense for Zhiran to be able to go there unscathed.
"He can because someone is blind and daydreaming. Now, don't disturb me anymore."
Sure enough, when his friend heard his ridiculous words, he just gave a cold sneer before directly leaving his position.
'Is this the time to joke around?'
He thought, wondering whether this friend of his was trying to sabotage his chances like this. After all, how could an early-stage cultivator go up?
Any cultivator below the late Qi Condensation realm would get incinerated alive by the array if he forced his way.
Even a stupid guy wouldn't risk his life like this.
So, he felt that this so-called friend of his was trying to distract him from choosing the best technique since he was better than him in cultivation, right?
'Sigh…how dangerous…I have to be careful.'
He shook his head, looked at the skinny guy in anger, before deciding to cut off their thin relationship immediately. If not for the rules of the pavilion, he might even have attacked him.
After all, anyone who blocked someone's path of cultivation was a mortal enemy.
"B-but…I saw him with my own eyes."
Seeing such a reaction from his friend, the skinny guy stood speechless. He definitely saw that Mo Zhiran went upstairs just now.
Why was this guy suddenly overreacting?
***
"Cloud Step, Willow Shift, Shadow Foot, River Glide, Drifting Leaf…"
Zhiran looked at the row upon rows of movement techniques in front, arranged neatly on the wooden shelves, each one Yellow Grade, Late stage.
For a moment, even Zhiran was confused about what to choose.
In his previous life, he didn't have luxury to choose ever. He practiced whatever method was available to him.
For a rogue cultivator, each and every method they came across was priceless.
That's why, even such a diabolical technique as detonating your own gold core, he practiced it with gusto.
"Hmm? What is this?"
Just when Zhiran was skimming the names and short descriptions of the technique randomly, intending to find something suitable for him, his eyes suddenly fell on an unassuming scroll.
[Heavenly Drift – Yellow Grade, Late Stage movement technique, practiced to proficiency, allows a person to do slight levitation.]
It was so unassuming that there wasn't even a proper introduction. Just a mention that practicing this technique to proficiency could allow you to levitate a little, that's all.
But that wasn't what drew Zhiran's attention. Rather-
'Why do I feel familiar with this technique… as if it's déjà vu?'