“Su Ling?”

  "Fu Yang," she said pleasantly. "Mind if I join you?"

  "Of course not."She set down her tray and studied me with that same sharp, assessing look from before.

  "How's your first day going?"

  "Well…….enough, training was harder than expected but I managed."

  "Chen Wu spoke highly of you, he really believes in helping people."

  "He's a good person."

  "He is." She paused, taking a bite of rice. "He's also very trusting — sometimes too trusting, not knowing there are people who can… but I am with him.”

  Was this it — actually a warning in front of everyone?

  After that thought, we ate in silence for a moment. Then she stood up and before leaving she looked down at me, but not only me, also at other outer disciples whose eyes were ready to pop out after seeing this beauty sitting next to them and walking away.

  Wei Feng let out a low whistle. "Su Ling doesn't usually talk to outer disciples you must have made an impression,"

  "Impression….."

  Then, another outer disciple who had first ignored me tried to talk to me — to befriend me, perhaps — as they must have heard what she said and were now thinking I had some kind of connection with these main characters.

  I finished my meal and then left alone, as Wei Ling was still chatting with other disciples. With that, I slipped out and headed to the sect library. The afternoon was free time — and most disciples would cultivate or study in the library, which was larger than I expected.

  Three stories tall and built into the mountainside, with wide windows that let in natural light.

  In every direction, shelves upon shelves of scrolls, manuals, and bound texts lined the walls. And underneath it all, the smell of old paper and ink filled the air.

  As I entered, an elderly librarian sat at the entrance, barely glancing up. "Outer disciples have access to the first floor only," she said without looking. "No removing texts from the building. No damaging materials. Break the rules and you're banned.”

  "Mm.”

  I walked into the main hall. Several disciples were already there, studying at tables or browsing shelves.

  I wanted to start with the basics, so I went to the 'Basic Primers' section.

  I selected a thick manual titled "Foundations of Cultivation" and sat at an empty table. The text was straightforward, clinical, and written for disciples who knew nothing. Cultivation, it explained, was the art of absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth and then refining it within the body.

  I already knew most of this. But reading it systematically helped clarify things. The manual also discussed cultivation methods — how different sects had different techniques and different philosophies. Some used external resources, pills and spirit stones. Others, on the other hand, relied purely on meditation and comprehension.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  Clouded Peak Sect, according to the text, followed the "Balanced Path" —combining external resources with internal cultivation, emphasizing both combat strength and spiritual understanding. Blah, blah, blah

  Righteous sects useless philosophy…

  I moved on to another text: "Legends of Clouded Peak."

  This one seemed more interesting. The sect had been founded eight hundred years ago by Ancestor Bai Yun, who had reached the Immortal realm and was therefore called the only immortal of the Clouded Peak — because no one had ever become an immortal in the sect after him. His techniques had since formed the foundation of the sect's cultivation methods.

  Over the centuries, Clouded Peak had produced dozens of powerful cultivators. Several had reached the end stage of the mortal realm. A handful had even tried to face tribulations, defying heavens to become immortal like their ancestors but all died…

  It then talked about the sect's greatest treasure — the "Cloud Jade Scripture," a manual left by Ancestor Bai Yun containing insights about the Heavenly Dao. Only elders and inner disciples with sufficient merit, however, could study it.

  Standard sect legend material really, since every sect had stories like this, tales of glorious founders, ancient techniques, and sacred treasures.

  What mattered was whether any of it was true; I could clearly understand that this was just a way to attract talented individuals and assign them to the sect. So I pulled another scroll from the shelf: "Regional Powers and Allied Sects." This one detailed the surrounding area. Clouded Peak Sect was one of five major sects in this region:

  Clouded Peak Sect - Balanced cultivation, moderate power, RIGHTEOUS SECT.

  Crimson Sword Sect - Focused on combat techniques, aggressive expansion, rivals with Clouded Peak.

  Azure Water Pavilion - Primarily female disciples, specialized in water-element techniques, neutral stance.

  Iron Mountain Sect - Defensive cultivation methods, strongest physical cultivators, allied with Clouded Peak.

  Shadow Moon Valley - Secretive, practiced "unorthodox" methods, viewed with suspicion by other sects.

  There were also smaller sects, Tiger claw sect, purple jade sect, and various political entities. The cultivation world was more complex than I'd realized during my years trapped on a mountain.

  Crimson Sword Sect stood out. They were described as "ambitious" and "occasionally aggressive in disputes." There'd been border conflicts with Clouded Peak in the past, though nothing major recently.

  I spent two hours reading and absorbing information, gradually building a mental map of the area where I was — and finally, I returned the texts to their shelves and left the library……

  On my way back to the outer disciple quarters.

  Yue Lian.

  She was with a middle-aged man in elaborate elder robes. Dark blue with silver cloud patterns. Based on what Wei Liang had told me, this had to be Elder Shen.

  Yue Lian also noticed me at the same moment I noticed her. Her eyes went wide. And she immediately darted behind her father, hiding.

  Elder Shen looked down at her, surprised. "Lian'er? What's wrong?"

  She didn't answer. Just peeked out from behind him, staring at me with those punny eyes. I stopped in my tracks and kept my expression neutral, respectful.

  Elder Shen followed his daughter's gaze and saw me. His expression became curious but before either of us could speak, a servant appeared from a nearby building. An older man in plain robes who hurried over and bowed to Elder Shen.

  "Elder Shen, this is the young man who brought Young Miss back last night."

  Elder Shen's expression shifted to understanding. "Ah." He looked at me more carefully. "You're?"

  I bowed respectfully. " Fu Yang."

  "I see." He smiled slightly. "My daughter has a habit of wandering at night. It seems you found her and brought her home safely."

  "She was near the outer disciple quarters. I simply escorted her back to avoid any... misunderstandings."

  "Very thoughtful." Elder Shen's smile widened.

  Behind him, Yue Lian was still half-hidden. Her expression was complicated—embarrassed, maybe a little resentful towards me.

  She must-have remembered what happened last night. The slap and then being dragged back which she wasn't happy about.

  “Tell me, Fu Yang - how are you finding the sect so far?"

  "Overwhelming," I admitted. "But in a good way. There's so much to learn. I spent this afternoon in the library reading about cultivation theory."

  "Good initiative. Knowledge is as important as strength." He seemed pleased.

  "Thank you for the encouragement, Elder."

  "Mmm, Keep working hard. If you need guidance, the sect has many resources available."

  “ Yes.”

  Elder Shen nodded once more, then turned to continue walking. "Come, Lian'er. Your mother is waiting."

  Yue Lian emerged from behind him reluctantly — and as they walked past me, she glanced back and our eyes met briefly — and then she was gone, following her father down the path

  I stood there for a moment, thinking about what had just happened and then I continued walking back to my quarters.

  The sun was starting to set and evening lectures would begin soon—I reached my quarters just as Wei Feng and Zhang Kun were leaving for lectures.

  "There you are," Wei Feng said. "We were about to go without you."

  "Sorry. Lost track of time in the library."

  We then walked together to the lecture hall—a large pavilion on one of the middle terraces. Dozens of outer disciples were already gathering.

  An instructor stood at the front. Different from the morning combat instructor. This one was older, with a scholarly air.

  "Today's lecture covers qi circulation patterns," he announced. "Pay attention. These patterns form the foundation for future breakthroughs."

  Everyone settled in to listen. I did too, taking mental notes. The lecture lasted for an hour. Detailed explanations of meridian pathways, dantian management, avoiding qi deviation and When it ended, disciples dispersed for personal cultivation time before sleep.

  I returned to my quarters — Wei Feng headed to a meditation room while Zhang Kun stayed behind, sitting on his bed and glaring at cultivation manuals like they'd personally offended him.

  I settled on my bed and opened the system screen — but suddenly a notification appeared.

  __________

  [ TUTORIAL VILLAIN → FU YANG]

  Completed the first achievement, ( FIRST DAY), calculating reward…………………

  50 spirit stones

  Mask of sincerity→ Lv 2

  Silver Tongue → Lv 2

  Good, at least two of the skills have leveled up.