Outside the Scripture Repository Hall, heavy guards stood watch.
Every Guard was a peak Body Tempering Realm expert.
The leader was a Qi Refining Realm expert, tall and imposing, holding a Long Spear.
When he saw Xiao Minghuang approaching, he cupped his fists and said, “Greetings, Ninth Princess Your Highness.
By Imperial Decree, Your Highness may browse any texts in the hall, but may not take any cultivation methods out.”
Xiao Minghuang smiled and nodded.
“Thank you for delivering the decree, General.
I understand, and I won’t make things difficult for you.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness.”
Only after the figure in bright yellow disappeared into the hall did a flicker of emotion cross the Gate Guard General’s eyes.
“The Royal Family’s children are all arrogant, never sparing a glance for us Guards.
This Ninth Princess is an exception.”
… Inside the Scripture Repository Hall.
Being kind to others was simply Xiao Minghuang’s habit.
To her, the most important thing right now was to pick the cultivation method most suited to her.
But to call it a choice was misleading—there was hardly any real choice at all.
Within the Scripture Repository Hall, there was only one Xuan-grade Upper Rank cultivation method, the Dragon Origin Scripture.
The rest were at most Profound Rank Low Grade.
So, as soon as Xiao Minghuang entered the hall, she headed straight for the deepest part.
Turning a corner, she suddenly heard faint snoring coming from a corner.
Ever since she reached Body Tempering Ninth Level, her hearing had improved greatly.
Within a hundred meters, even a pin dropping would be clear as day.
“Someone’s actually napping in the Scripture Repository Hall?” The sound piqued Xiao Minghuang’s curiosity, and she followed it.
After a few more turns, Xiao Minghuang saw an Old Man in white, leaning against a pile of books on the floor, fast asleep.
Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang’s pupils contracted slightly—she couldn’t sense this person’s cultivation at all.
At her current level, Body Tempering Ninth Level, she could at least sense the general cultivation of Gushing Spring Realm cultivators.
If she couldn’t sense anything at all, there was only one possibility.
“A Divine Sea Realm Royal Family Old Ancestor!” In the Great Xia Royal Family, aside from the Xia Emperor, there were five Divine Sea Realm experts.
They usually ignored worldly affairs, focusing on cultivation, only appearing when needed to protect Great Xia or quell chaos.
Xiao Minghuang’s expression grew solemn.
Not daring to disturb the Old Ancestor’s rest, she was about to quietly leave when an aged voice sounded behind her.
“Since you came to find this old man, why are you leaving?”
“Junior came to the Scripture Repository Hall to look for a cultivation method.
I didn’t mean to disturb Senior.
Please forgive me, Senior.
I’ll leave right away.”
“If you’re here for a cultivation method, why not just ask me?” The Old Man’s voice was hoarse as he slowly stood up.
The Old Man was thin, his face wrinkled, hair white as snow, his whole body exuding a sense of decay, as if he didn’t have much time left.
“Divine Sea Realm can live five hundred years, but even that ends…” Xiao Minghuang thought, then respectfully said, “If I could receive Old Ancestor’s guidance, I would be deeply grateful!”
“Heh!” The Old Man let out two laughs, sounding more like crying.
“Little girl, you really aren’t polite with this old man.”
Xiao Minghuang remained respectful.
“Senior is a person of virtue and trustworthiness.
Your words are always kept, your actions always fulfilled.
You would never go back on your word, so naturally you wouldn’t toy with me.”
“To say that to an old man like me, little girl, you’ve got guts!” The Old Man said, “Go to the third row from the back in the deepest part, count the seventh bookshelf from the inside out, push it open—there’s a hidden door underneath.
Turn it gently and it’ll open.
What you want is inside.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior.
I’ll work hard in my cultivation and won’t let down your generosity!” After bowing, Xiao Minghuang headed deeper into the Scripture Repository Hall.
“If not for this Senior’s guidance, in such a huge Scripture Repository Hall, who knows how long it would take me to find the Dragon Origin Scripture.”
Xiao Minghuang felt grateful.
In no time, she reached the deepest part of the Scripture Repository Hall and, following the Old Man’s instructions, entered the hidden door.
Inside, the light was dim and pearly.
The space wasn’t large.
After a few steps, Xiao Minghuang reached a stone table.
On the table sat a delicate little box, glowing faintly, seemingly made of some extraordinary metal.
“So this is where the Dragon Origin Scripture is kept? Just a Xuan-grade Upper Rank cultivation method, yet it’s hidden so carefully.”
Xiao Minghuang muttered to herself, then opened the treasure box.
Inside, a jade slip lay quietly, its surface shimmering with a faint glow, looking quite extraordinary.
“So this is the Dragon Origin Scripture?”
“That’s not the Dragon Origin Scripture.”
In the dim, narrow chamber, a dry, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, startling Xiao Minghuang.
She turned around to see the black-robed Old Man standing not far away.
Xiao Minghuang pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her startled heart.
“Senior, what do you mean?” The Old Man spoke, his tone rather disdainful: “The Dragon Origin Scripture is just a Xuan-grade Upper Rank cultivation method.
How could it compare to the Earth Rank Low Grade Dragon Soul Mind Method?!”
Xiao Minghuang was helpless.
Even if the Dragon Origin Scripture wasn’t as good as the Dragon Soul Mind Method, they were both her family’s inheritance martial arts—there was no need to praise one and belittle the other.
But she didn’t dare say that out loud.
“Little girl, are you wondering why the world says Great Xia’s most profound cultivation method is just a Xuan-grade Upper Rank Dragon Origin Scripture, yet here there’s an Earth Rank Low Grade Dragon Soul Mind Method hidden?”
“Junior is slow-witted and truly doesn’t know.”
The Old Man said proudly, “An Earth Rank cultivation method, even if only Low Grade, is extremely powerful, pointing straight to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Such a rare cultivation method would attract the covetous eyes of any power on par with Great Xia, and even the three great Sects might be tempted.
So when I was young, I took the Dragon Soul Mind Method out of the Imperial Palace and claimed it was lost, never showing it again.
The world thinks this cultivation method is gone, but no one knows I’ve kept it hidden deep in the palace, never seeing the light of day.”
“Senior’s foresight is admirable.
Junior is in awe!” The Old Man seemed pleased by the flattery and laughed, “Little girl, you really know how to talk.
I wasn’t wrong about you.
You need to grow quickly—Great Xia’s future will depend on you!”
With that, the Old Man turned and left.
The topic changed so fast that Xiao Minghuang was caught off guard.
She hurriedly asked, “May I ask Senior’s name?”
The Old Man’s figure vanished, leaving only a faint voice behind.
“Eight hundred years ago, they called me ‘Holy Dragon Sword.’”
The voice faded, but Xiao Minghuang fell into thought.
“Divine Sea Realm can live at most five hundred years.
Why did Senior say eight hundred years ago?” Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock.
“He’s Spirit Seed Realm!”
Divine Sea Realm cultivators can live up to five hundred years, but Spirit Seed Realm cultivators can live a thousand.
So this mysterious Royal Family Old Ancestor must be a Spirit Seed Realm expert!
