Chapter 161: Chapter 118: Pan Yang’s Invitation
Liou Yuan was reluctant to use the Fixed Star Compass on the library.
The reason is that monetizing it is too difficult.
So far, the three useful books Liou Yuan got from the library are still in his possession, and they haven’t brought any significant improvement to his strength.
Therefore, Liou Yuan believes it’s better to use it to locate Star Evil, earning rewards after slaying them to maximize benefits.
"I won’t force it with the Calamity-level Star Evil, it requires fate."
"Pick a powerful one, or even a tougher demon would do."
"Looks like I have to find time to go to Shoushan Tower again."
Actually, it’s not entirely without clues about the Calamity-level Star Evil.
Near Qiwen Mountain, there’s a Calamity-level Star Evil entrenched, capable of driving away the Jin Dynasty’s Foundation Establishment; its power is undoubtedly strong.
If Liou Yuan can survey and kill it, he could seize another chance for the star baptism.
But since Jin Yingjie hasn’t sent a letter, clearly the Jin Dynasty has no intentions of acting against the Calamity-level Star Evil at Qiwen Mountain, even if Liou Yuan went now, it would just be staring blankly.
"Qiu Ming is back from Qingyou Prefecture, Bai Ling has already delivered the Star Stone. He’s got nothing to do, might as well find him these days for a Shoushan Tower mission outing."
"I wonder how things are at Xiang Mountain the Liou Family. Damn it, I can’t just stay indoors forever, right?"
Liou Yuan made up his mind, drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and strode out of the cave.
He wasn’t heading to find Qiu Ming.
That guy doesn’t come out since returning and you can occasionally hear indulgent sounds from his cave.
No need to think to know what he’s been up to, so Liou Yuan avoids bothering him.
"Didn’t Xie Miaobo say, after Wei Miaomeng seizes the male cultivator’s Primordial Yang, she generally won’t go a second time?"
Liou Yuan muttered to himself.
Upon calculation, besides Shoushan Tower duties, Wei Miaomeng stays at Qiu Ming’s cave almost all the time.
"She practically treats Qiu Ming’s cave like her own home, didn’t go less than twenty times already?"
Liou Yuan shook his head, uninterested in Qiu Ming’s romantic debts, his target today was the library.
After an outing, Liou Yuan deeply realized the importance of knowledge.
If it weren’t for his months in the library, how could he deduce the Calamity-level Star Evil clues at Chouhuai City from just a scent, a place name?
Hence, Liou Yuan became a regular visitor of the library, today he’s also there to read.
The outside was unbearably hot, the scorching sun wilting even the leaves of the trees.
Upon stepping out, Liou Yuan felt a heatwave surge toward him.
Fortunately, he’s adept at Water Acupoint Skill, a casual gesture set water ripples rolling, isolating the heat.
An incense stick time later, Liou Yuan appeared outside the library entrance.
Approaching the library brought a cool sensation drifting over.
His gaze moved to the library center, where a human head-sized ice crystal floated in mid-air, sending chilly aura from the crystal to every corner of the library.
Liou Yuan deduced that the ice crystal must be magic deployed by an Ice Acupoint cultivator.
"This skill, if it could be brought to my past life, would be enough to change the world... Liou Yuan looked up at the ice crystal, marveling to himself.
He even thought of an advertisement.
’Enjoy year-round spring.’
"Shame that I can’t go back, but this world isn’t bad either."
Liou Yuan smiled self-contentedly, his steps didn’t pause, directly stepping through the library door.
"Mr. Liou is here," Pan Yang’s familiar voice came from the direction of the registration desk.
"I just missed Mr. Pan," Liou Yuan bantered casually while greeting Pan Yang warmly.
Then, he strolled into the sea of books within the library.
Liou Yuan and Pan Yang tacitly avoided mentioning the matter of the book "Jiuli Travelogue."
Liou Yuan had long speculated that Pan Yang likely noticed something unusual about the Jiuli Travelogue, and besides, he couldn’t have gotten the book from him anyway, mentioning it again would certainly alert him.
Seeing Liou Yuan not bring it up, Pan Yang, of course, wouldn’t either.
Both tacitly avoided the topic of the "Jiuli Travelogue."
As Liou Yuan’s figure vanished among the bookshelves, Pan Yang lifted his face from the books, gazing at where Liou Yuan disappeared, brows furrowing, uncertain about what to ponder.
Liou Yuan wouldn’t care about Pan Yang’s bizarre actions, he’s familiar with his way around, arriving at a shelf, picking up an ancient book he previously didn’t finish.
The library was cool, Liou Yuan wasn’t in a hurry to leave, leaning against the bookshelf, reading intently.
Time trickled away, as the sun outside slanted westward, nearing the library’s closing time, Liou Yuan reluctantly returned the book to the shelf.
"See you, Mr. Pan," Liou Yuan said casually at the doorway, intending to leave.
Suddenly Pan Yang called out to him.
"Hold on, Mr. Liou." Pan Yang rose from the registration desk, waved to Liou Yuan.
Liou Yuan halted, heeding Pan Yang’s gesture without thinking much, approached the registration desk, smilingly asking: "Mr. Pan, what’s going on?"
Pan Yang looked at the young man before him with a complex gaze.
Although he worked in the library, he occasionally paid attention to Fifth Peak affairs.
He naturally knew about the confirmation of the young man’s status as Five-Star Star Acupoint.
Not only was his cultivation speed remarkably fast, he also had two impressive victories.
Equally matched with Liou Tao, who possesses Five-Star Mist Acupoint, and last month he went to Fifth Peak, fiercely thrashing Sheng Zeming of Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
It was precisely these extraordinary performances that stirred Pan Yang’s thoughts.
"If Mr. Liou’s not busy, after I close up, come over to my cave for a bit." Pan Yang invited.
Liou Yuan squinted at Pan Yang.
Their interaction was limited to nodding acquaintances in the library. If any interaction should be acknowledged, the "Jiuli Travelogue" would be one.
"Could it be about the Jiuli Travelogue?" Liou Yuan speculated.
Whether it is or isn’t, it was still early for his cultivation time, Liou Yuan nodded lightly accepting Pan Yang’s invitation.
Pan Yang’s cave was a Wu-ranked cave, far inferior to Liou Yuan’s Ding-ranked cave.
Although he earned merit points monthly from working at the library, it barely supports his daily cultivation.
With his Three-Star Star Acupoint, Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer cultivation, he could only afford this lowest tier of caves.
But at least the cave had full amenities.
Liou Yuan and Pan Yang walked into the cave one after the other.
Almost simultaneously as they stepped into the cave, the cave’s array activated, isolating the inside from the outside.
Liou Yuan glanced back at the array barrier, feeling not the least bit tense.
Don’t be fooled by his calling Pan Yang "Senior", the latter really posed no threat to his strength.
"Have a seat, Mr. Liou!" Pan Yang eagerly invited Liou Yuan to sit.
Liou Yuan smiled as he sat down, getting straight to the point with Pan Yang.
"Mr. Pan, let’s not beat around the bush, what’s the reason for inviting me today?"
Pan Yang was in the middle of pouring tea for Liou Yuan, had to pause his actions and sat down next to Liou Yuan with a bitter smile.
"I won’t conceal it, there is indeed something," Pan Yang said, his tone paused, beginning to self-deprecatingly share his situation in the Outer Sect.
"I’m dull in aptitude, it took over ten years to reach Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. The library job was only obtained through my seniority, pulling some strings."
"I don’t usually like making friends, hardly anyone to talk to outside the library, I’m just a dispensable figure here on Fifth Peak."
Liou Yuan looked at Pan Yang’s increasingly bitter face, said nothing, eyes deep and unperturbed.
Disciples like Pan Yang are countless within Five Extremes Mountain.
Actually, Pan Yang’s situation was considered good, certainly better than those menial disciples.
Even better compared to those Loose Cultivators under Jin Dynasty, and those in Jiuli State.
Like Ge Jinhong, that old man spent his life cultivating and only reached Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
And also Jin Yingjie in Yufengcheng wasn’t much better off.
"Mr. Pan, no need for self-pity, being able to join Five Extremes Mountain already makes you luckier than countless seekers of dao." Liou Yuan spoke softly.
