After sweeping through the Mo Alliance, Heaven Gate’s gains were quite substantial. The entire Mo Alliance, with over thirty members, had amassed a total of more than five thousand thunder crystals.
This wealth was likely accumulated by the Mo Alliance over several years. The largest share belonged to Mo Yi, and when Mo Chang woke up, he’d probably be so furious he’d spit blood again.
Compared to the loot from the Mo Alliance, the earlier haul from Wang Long and the others seemed insignificant.
In the end, Lin Xiao evenly split one thousand thunder crystals between Hu Yue and Ling Hu, then distributed another thousand to the other seventeen new members, keeping three thousand for himself.
After all, he was now a three-star disciple, having taken Mo Yi’s three-star badge for himself.
For the final three months, he planned to enter the second and third levels of the Thunder Qi Tower, which would require a hefty amount of thunder crystals.
The slaughter training three months from now, along with the threats from Duan Cangsheng, Shura Butcher, and others, put considerable pressure on him. During this time, he needed to boost his cultivation as quickly as possible.
Of course, after today, Lin Xiao’s reputation would likely spread rapidly throughout the Outer Court, and Heaven Gate’s fame would rise with it. There’d probably be no shortage of disciples coming to join out of admiration.
That was the effect of establishing dominance. Naturally, over time, there’d also be plenty of people looking to cause trouble.
But such matters could be handled as they came—soldiers to block soldiers, water to dam water. Lin Xiao left the miscellaneous affairs to Hu Yue and Ling Hu, not paying them much mind.
The first thing Lin Xiao needed to do was select a sword technique.
Though the memories of the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor contained plenty of cultivation methods and martial skills, powerful sword techniques were scarce.
The Great Azure Dragon Slash was just a single move, not truly a sword technique in the conventional sense. Plus, it consumed an enormous amount of vital energy and couldn’t be used repeatedly, so he desperately needed a proper set of sword skills.
Attacking with a sword and using the Great Azure Dragon Slash as a trump card at the right moment would maximise its destructive power.
Thus, the next day, Lin Xiao headed to the central area of Shengyuan Academy: the Library Pavilion.
Elder Wei had once mentioned that three-star disciples could enter the third floor of the Library Pavilion to select martial skills. The third floor should have usable sword techniques.
Of course, Hu Yue and Ling Hu joined him on this trip to the Library Pavilion. Having taken Mo Chang and Mo Xuan’s badges, they could enter the second floor.
When they reached the entrance of the Library Pavilion, they saw an elderly man with greying hair sitting there.
The old man wore plain grey robes, his eyes dull and unremarkable, with no aura emanating from him. He seemed like an ordinary elder, devoid of any hint of a powerhouse’s presence.
But Lin Xiao knew better. The Library Pavilion was the academy’s most vital area; they wouldn’t let just anyone guard it.
Such a place was often watched over by the academy’s top experts.
“Senior, we’d like to enter the Library Pavilion,” Lin Xiao said respectfully.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, the grey-haired elder lifted his gaze from the ancient scroll in his hands, lazily looking up to appraise the trio.
Perhaps noticing the three-star badge on Lin Xiao, a faint glimmer of surprise flashed in his eyes, “Seventeen years old, a three-star disciple. You must be the new disciple who caused a stir yesterday, I take it?”
“I wouldn’t dare claim that; it’s all just empty fame,” Lin Xiao replied humbly.
“No need to be modest. All three of you can go up to the third floor to pick martial skills!” the grey-haired elder said casually, then returned to flipping through his ancient scroll.
Hu Yue and Ling Hu were thrilled. For two-star disciples to access the third floor of the Library Pavilion was a privilege other disciples could only dream of.
Of course, they both knew it was thanks to Lin Xiao.
“Thank you, Senior,” Lin Xiao bowed slightly and stepped forward. Hu Yue and Ling Hu also expressed their gratitude, casting appreciative glances at Lin Xiao.
Without him, they’d probably still be bottom-tier disciples, unable to even enter the Dragon Tiger Sect.
Wearing their two-star and three-star badges, the trio walked toward the central staircase leading to the second floor. The disciples on the first floor, busy selecting martial skills, let out gasps of amazement. Lin Xiao was quite the celebrity in the Outer Court now.
As the three headed toward the third floor, the disciples on the second floor showed expressions of surprise and disdain.
Lin Xiao, with his three-star badge, going to the third floor was one thing, but the other two, mere two-star disciples, also heading up?
“Two-star disciples trying to enter the third floor of the Library Pavilion? Have they lost their minds?”
“Do they think there’s no one guarding it, so they can just waltz in?”
“Newbies are newbies, clueless about the rules. Just wait, they’ll be blasted back down by terrifying pressure within five breaths.”
A group pointed and whispered, growing interested and settling in to watch the show.
But after five breaths, the scene they expected didn’t unfold. The group paused, slightly stunned, wondering if the trio was just walking slowly and hadn’t reached the third floor entrance yet.
Yet, after another five breaths, ten breaths, dozens of breaths, the two still hadn’t been blasted down.
The second-floor disciples’ faces grew increasingly shocked.
“No way, they weren’t thrown out?”
“How is that possible? I saw someone with a borrowed three-star badge get blasted down last time. They’re openly walking up with two-star badges—how are they fine?”
“Did the guarding elder fall asleep or something?”
The group was baffled, staring dumbfounded at the staircase. The Library Pavilion was a strict place; only disciples with three-star strength and badges could enter the third floor. Yet two mere two-star disciples had gone up, something they’d never heard of before.
Some even wondered if the guarding elder was asleep, but none dared test it. They didn’t believe that unfathomably powerful elder would be unaware.
“This is unreal!”
Someone sighed in disbelief.
Lin Xiao and the others naturally paid no mind to the opinions below. Upon entering the third floor of the Library Pavilion, they looked around and saw several neatly arranged, rustic bookshelves.
The martial skill jade slips on them were visible at a glance. These were likely higher-tier skills, though fewer in number.
“Pick one each!” Lin Xiao said softly, striding toward a set of martial skill jade slips. Ling Hu and Hu Yue, excited, began their search too.
“Cloud Wave Sword Art, Earth-tier primary martial skill: the sword flows like clouds, waves crashing against the sky…”
“Golden Flame Blade, Earth-tier primary martial skill: the blade births golden flames, striking like a golden snake…”
“Blazing Palm, Earth-tier primary martial skill: momentum like mountains toppling and seas overturning…”
Flipping through the jade slips, Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly. These skills were decently powerful, but in terms of grade, they were mostly Earth-tier primary skills—too weak for someone like him with Heaven-tier techniques.
If others knew what Lin Xiao was thinking, they’d probably curse him out. This was the third floor of the Library Pavilion, home to the highest-tier martial skills in the Outer Court. Most people couldn’t wait to get their hands on them, yet he found them lacking.
Time slipped by unnoticed. Lin Xiao had been engrossed in reviewing martial skills for half an hour.
Hu Yue and Ling Hu had already chosen their skills. Seeing Lin Xiao so focused, they didn’t disturb him.
But it left them feeling a bit deflated. After flipping through a skill, Lin Xiao would shake his head, looking thoroughly disappointed.
These were Earth-tier primary martial skills, and he’d gone through nearly every one on the third floor, yet he still wasn’t satisfied? Showing such a dismissive expression?
“Hm?” When Lin Xiao came across a particular sword art, his eyes lit up slightly, and he eagerly began examining it with hope.
