Zhang Jian's gaze swept over the towering bookshelves.
Zhang Yi had granted him access to this study, without restrictions or prohibiting him from touching other ancient texts.
Yet Zhang Jian's gaze quickly fell in the direction of the secret chamber.
For some reason, he recalled the dozen or so mysterious rune scrolls in that secret room.
At first glance, he had felt a faintly strange sensation.
Zhang Jian silently thought, if given the chance, he must go in and take another look.
His curiosity was piqued.
Such curiosity is something everyone has.
But Zhang Jian suppressed it.
Since Zhang Yi trusted him, allowing him to frequent this private study, he naturally wouldn't act recklessly and pry into Zhang Yi's secrets.
Everyone has secrets.
Especially some people who dislike others prying into their secrets.
"The Yunyuan Health Care Scripture is peculiar in its health maintenance but lacks dominance and the next stage of cultivation technique, so I still need to find another inner cultivation technique to break through the realm!"
His gaze mainly focused on a section of inner cultivation techniques on the bookshelf.
But he didn't move to take any action.
He had already browsed through them.
The few inner cultivation texts on the shelf were mostly incomplete.
They were even inferior to the Yunyuan Health Care Scripture.
Gazing at these vast classics, Zhang Jian could only find a way on his own, as he couldn't easily discuss this with Zhang Yi.
However, Zhang Jian had another idea.
That was the golden destiny he reaped from the ancestral shrine a few days ago.
Zhang Jian recalled the cup of golden destiny bestowed by the "ancestor".
That golden destiny was still with him.
Just by imagining it, he could materialize it.
In his eyes, the cup of golden destiny emerged at that moment.
The usage was simple, just make a wish to this cup of golden destiny.
This kind of destiny often could fulfill small wishes, guiding circumstances.
For example, during his first courtyard examination, when there was a chance of cancellation; for instance, if the governor of the county was in a bad mood while reviewing or felt down after reading an official report, it might result in cancellation. But using the golden destiny increased the chance to avoid that.
Of course, if he had handed in an empty paper, even with this destiny, it would be hard to reverse the situation, only providing a slim chance.
This was a conclusion Zhang Jian reached after several experiments.
And now, if he used this cup of destiny for a wish, it might create an opportunity.
Especially since Zhang Yi harbored goodwill towards him.
With a thought, Zhang Jian immediately made a decision.
"I wish to find a suitable inner cultivation technique for breaking through the realm within half a month!"
When making the wish, Zhang Jian listed the most crucial keywords separately.
First was suitability, second was breakthrough, third was inner cultivation technique.
As for the half-month period.
Zhang Jian hoped to increase this probability.
After all, one day was too short a time.
As he made his wish, the cup of golden destiny above his head rapidly evaporated, dispersing into the mysterious heavens and earth.
Once this cup of golden destiny dissipated, Zhang Jian immediately focused his attention on the rows of bookshelves, beginning his search.
In the secret chamber
Zhang Yi was playing with a red pearl in his hand.
This was a marvel he acquired after eliminating a petty thief who had broken into the Zhang family a few days ago.
It was called a 'marvel' because it glowed faintly like a gem, yet resembled a natural 'luminous pearl'!
Zhang Yi had studied it for some time but had been unable to determine its origins.
Suddenly, struck by a whim, Zhang Yi focused his mind, sending a chilling inner breath shooting into the red pearl in his hand.
In an instant, the pearl in his hand swelled up, emitting a red light.
"It works!"
He was overjoyed at first, but his expression quickly turned to shock, his figure transforming into a shadow darting towards the door of the secret chamber.
At the same time, he tossed the red pearl into the corner.
But in that moment, the swelling red pearl exploded violently.
The entire secret chamber shook like an earthquake.
Zhang Jian, who was searching through the texts, was startled by the sudden commotion.
BOOM!!
The whole study seemed to be shaking.
Zhang Jian stood dazed, staring into the secret chamber.
"An earthquake?"
He subconsciously wanted to rush out, but his steps paused abruptly.
With the machine creaking loudly, a hidden compartment opened, and a sooty Zhang Yi crawled out of the secret chamber, looking like a piece of charred coal.
Seeing Zhang Yi in that state, Zhang Jian's mouth opened: "Ah... this!"
Quickly he came to his senses, rushing forward to help Zhang Yi up, while glancing into the secret chamber, only to see smoke everywhere, with many bookshelves toppled.
In a corner, many stones were still tumbling down.
Zhang Jian hurriedly pulled Zhang Yi out.
"Uncle Yi, you..."
"Don't mention it, it's Master Huilei's explosion! I've been tricked by that little thief!"
At that moment, Zhang Yi stood up and looked at the still-smoking secret chamber, feeling a bit unsteady, gritting his teeth.
He didn't know what had happened; on usual days, he wouldn't be so impulsive, falling into a thief's trap, which seemed unimaginable.
Zhang Jian's eye twitched, noticing a bit of peculiarity in his expression.
He had already seen the charred ancient text falling from Zhang Yi's sleeve.
Though part of the book had burned, a few characters were still barely visible!
"Celestial Spirit Child Skill!"
Zhang Jian glanced at it while Zhang Yi, still wearing a grim face, didn't notice the fallen ancient text.
At that moment, Zhang Lu rushed in from the study's entrance upon hearing the noise, only to be quickly chased away.
Zhang Yi frowned deeply, looking at the partially collapsed bookshelves outside the study, his eye twitching.
These were his precious treasures, along with those rows of shelves in the secret chamber, storing much of his life's work.
This time, the loss was not small.
And rearranging everything was even more troublesome.
Zhang Yi, with a darkened face, nearly tore the duster in his hand.
Cursing under his breath.
Zhang Yi glanced again at the pitch-black, smoke-filled study, twitching his eyelid, he said to Zhang Jian:
"Brother Jian, since the study is damaged, it's inconvenient for others to come and go here..."
He spoke with a consultative tone.
"Uncle Yi, leave it to me!" Zhang Jian nodded gently.
This was good news; he couldn't ask for more.
After all, there were so many invaluable texts in the secret chamber.
Zhang Yi nodded, leaving with a gloomy face.
Zhang Jian chuckled inwardly, knowing long ago that Zhang Yi was someone without a regular schedule, not fond of tidying up.
The study was always a mess before.
Now, it was no surprise that Zhang Yi, seeking convenience, handed over the study to him.
Yet he still hadn't anticipated that after making the destiny wish, an opportunity to enter the secret chamber would manifest so soon.