Chapter 2

After Gu Gu Hanyuan took his leave of Yu Yu Daiyan, he decided to head to the Library Pavilion first. Having finally arrived in a Wuxia world, it was impossible not to be curious about Wu Gong, yet his own memories contained no trace of any martial arts.

After identifying himself to the Elder guarding the pavilion, Gu Gu Hanyuan entered the building without issue.

It is worth mentioning that the Elder on duty today was named Shi He, a disciple of Daoist Mu. Since Zhang Zhang Sanfeng had accepted Daoist Mu as a disciple on behalf of his own master, by seniority, Gu Gu Hanyuan had to address him as Grand-Uncle-Master.

Pushing the frustration of the complex situation in this comprehensive martial arts world to the back of his mind, he began to survey the Library Pavilion. The pavilion had three floors; the first was filled mostly with various Daoist scriptures. The second floor housed martial arts manuals, including internal energy techniques, external combat moves, and light-body techniques. The third floor was locked, and Gu Gu Hanyuan was not qualified to enter.

The martial arts manuals on the second floor were numerous, filling five rows of bookshelves to the brim. Most were authored by Zhang Zhang Sanfeng, while the rest were left behind by the Elders who had joined the sect with their own masters, making the quality uneven.

As expected of the Wu Dangpai founded by Zhang Zhang Sanfeng, who could create an entire lineage of Daoist orthodoxy, its heritage alone was already on par with North Shaolin.

Gu Gu Hanyuan flipped through the manuals, reading them one by one, and discovered that he possessed a photographic memory; he could master any martial arts move the moment he saw it.

A glance at his personal status on the system revealed a new list of various moves, though all were at the introductory level. Above this were the realms of Proficient, Mastery, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, Perfection, and Transcendent. To improve, besides practicing and gaining insight, he could also use Villain Points. Unfortunately, at this moment, Gu Gu Hanyuan’s Villain Points were a pitiful 0.

After reading through all the manuals, Gu Gu Hanyuan found that the vast majority were useless—either low-level martial arts Zhang Zhang Sanfeng had researched in his early years, or those left behind by the Elders who had joined the sect with their own masters.

The more useful ones included the internal technique "Wu Dang Nine Yang Art," the light-body technique "Ladder-Cloud Ascend," the palm techniques "Cotton Palm" and "Mountain-Shaking Palm," the saber technique "Mysterious Void Saber Art," the sword techniques "Finger-Winding Soft Sword" and "Divine Gate Thirteen Swords," and the hidden weapon technique "Hibiscus Golden Needles."

As for the several ultimate arts—"Pure Yang Limitless Art," "Tiger Claw Hand," "Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber Art," "Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve," as well as Daoist Mu’s "Spirit Jade Heart Method" and "Two Forms Divine Sword"—they were likely all on the third floor, accessible only to direct disciples.

Although Gu Gu Hanyuan was somewhat disappointed he could not learn the ultimate arts, he was satisfied. Moreover, because he learned so quickly, he had mastered all the manuals on the second floor in less than two hours, thinking that perhaps once he learned more martial arts, he too could play at "Returning the favor with the same method."

External combat moves and light-body techniques were difficult to practice inside the Library Pavilion, but he could certainly try the internal energy techniques.

Gu Gu Hanyuan channeled the "Wu Dang Nine Yang Art" heart method and soon felt a wisp of airflow moving through his meridians. After completing one cycle along the cultivation route, it grew slightly stronger and flowed into his dantian. He had easily entered the early stage of the Post-Natal realm.

The realms in this world were Post-Natal, Pre-Natal, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, Earthly Immortal, and the legendary Shattering the Void. Each realm was divided into four levels: early, middle, late, and peak.

After being excited for a moment by his first wisp of internal energy, Gu Gu Hanyuan intended to continue his cultivation, but the hunger in his stomach interrupted his thoughts.

Feeling the hunger in his stomach and even some spasms in his gut, Gu Gu Hanyuan guessed that internal energy was not generated out of thin air, but converted from the body's energy. "Literature is poor, martial arts are rich"—the ancients did not deceive me. As for whether this was only true for the Post-Natal realm or for subsequent realms as well, he did not yet know.

Enduring the hunger, Gu Gu Hanyuan helplessly walked out of the Library Pavilion, expressed his thanks to the guarding Elder Shi He, and went off to find the cafeteria to forage for food.

Shi He looked at Gu Gu Hanyuan’s retreating back with slight confusion, feeling that he seemed somewhat different from before.

Was it more self-confidence?

Unable to figure it out, Shi He shook his head and gave up in resignation.

After finishing dinner, Gu Gu Hanyuan did not return directly to his room to rest, but instead wandered around.

As for the content of the dinner, there was nothing to say; in this era lacking seasonings, it was hard for him to adapt. If he hadn't been starving, he probably would have needed to prepare himself mentally before he could eat it.

Before long, Gu Gu Hanyuan found the courtyard where Zhang Zhang Cuishan and Yin Yin Susu lived; it was the one Song Song Yuanqiao had always kept reserved for Zhang Zhang Cuishan.

Because Zhang Zhang Cuishan was only in his early twenties when he went to Ice Fire Island and had not taken any disciples, the courtyard was very cold and secluded.

Yu Yu Daiyan’s courtyard was actually not much better than Zhang Zhang Cuishan’s. Although he had taken a few disciples, most were taken to look after his daily life. With no martial arts being taught, few people were willing to be his disciples. However, thanks to Yu Yu Daiyan, Gu Gu Hanyuan had an independent room. In the courtyards of Song Song Yuanqiao, Yu Yu Lianzhou, and others who had many disciples, several people had to squeeze into one room.

The desolation of the two courtyards made Gu Gu Hanyuan very satisfied; even though his martial arts were not high now, he could easily sneak into Zhang Zhang Cuishan’s courtyard at night. Moreover, he had heard on the way that Zhang Zhang Cuishan would be talking by candlelight all night with several fellow disciples he hadn't seen for years and would not be returning to his room to rest.

Gu Gu Hanyuan knew his opportunity had arrived.

He returned to his room to wait quietly for nightfall.

Several hours later, it was nearing the Hour of the Rat, which is 12:00 AM.

Gu Gu Hanyuan quietly left his room. He was very lucky on the way and did not attract anyone’s attention, successfully entering Zhang Zhang Cuishan’s courtyard.

Finding Zhang Zhang Cuishan and Yin Yin Susu’s room was simple, as it was the only room in the entire courtyard with candlelight, reflecting Yin Yin Susu’s slender silhouette. Of course, only Yin Yin Susu was in the room at this time; she must have been restless and unable to sleep because of her encounter with Yu Yu Daiyan during the day.

When Gu Gu Hanyuan walked to the door, he could see shadows moving inside; clearly, Yin Yin Susu had already sensed someone approaching. After all, she was a Pre-Natal realm expert, so it was not strange that she could sense Gu Gu Hanyuan.

Gu Gu Hanyuan reached out and knocked on the door a few times, and a female voice came from inside.

"Who is it?"

"Fifth Aunt-in-law, I am Gu Gu Hanyuan, a disciple of Yu Yu Daiyan. I have an urgent matter to discuss."

Yin Yin Susu had originally been unwilling to open the door to a man in the middle of the night, but upon hearing Gu Gu Hanyuan mention Yu Yu Daiyan, who made her restless, she hesitated for a moment before opening the door.

"It’s you?"

Yin Yin Susu clearly still had an impression of Gu Gu Hanyuan, who had been eyeing her during the day, and she exclaimed. Given what happened then, she felt a bit more vigilant, and her expression turned cold.

"What do you want with me?"