—Where the shelves are dusty, the scrolls are cursed, and the janitor might be a Celestial in disguise.
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Part 1: The Scroll That Shouldn't Be Read
Having barely survived their psychological clone battles, Wei Yun and crew descended upon their next destination: The Forgotten Library, a ruin said to house techniques too powerful, too weird, or too dumb to be used.
Legend said the founder was a wandering cultivator who once tried to cultivate enlightenment by reading every scroll in existence—including soup recipes, romantic poetry, and tax documents. The result?
A library so cursed even ghosts returned their cards on time.
Wei Yun eyed the towering obsidian gates, which were engraved with the warning:
> "Ye Who Enter Here, May Ye Know Not What Ye Find—Also, Please Be Quiet."
Mu Yao drew her blade. "So… we're going in."
Pan-Pan munched on dumplings. "Do they have cookbooks?"
Tang Zhi looked up at the stormy sky. "Why do I hear chanting?"
Wei Yun stepped forward. "Because we're about to unlock something stupid."
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Part 2: The Librarian Appears
As they entered, the air shifted. Dust danced like tiny ghosts. Scrolls floated in place, humming with forgotten power.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, robed, glowing eyes, and holding a feather duster like it was a divine artifact.
"SILENCE!" the man hissed.
Wei Yun: "Are you the guardian?"
The man raised his duster. "No. I'm the janitor. But I'm also a retired Heavenly Sage of the Seventh Lawless Heaven."
Mu Yao raised a brow. "Why… janitor, then?"
"Retirement plan. Comes with a pension and dental."
He waved his hand. Scrolls zoomed into the air, forming rows.
"I am Elder Shush. I guard the Forgotten Techniques. Each of you may choose one. If you can survive its trial, you may keep it."
Wei Yun blinked. "What if I pick two?"
"You get cursed."
"Three?"
"You become a yak."
"...Tempting."
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Part 3: Wei Yun's Choice – The Manual of Unorthodox Shamelessness
Wei Yun's scroll was wrapped in neon red silk and radiated an aura of deep, irrational boldness.
Title: "Manual of Unorthodox Shamelessness: 81 Ways to Weaponize Embarrassment"
System:
> [Warning: This scroll is infamous. It was once banned from 999 sects.]
[Warning: Mastering it may increase public ridicule, but also power.]
Wei Yun grinned. "I accept the price."
Scroll activated.
Trial began.
Suddenly, he stood on a stage, facing ten thousand illusionary cultivators in a lecture hall. A sign above him read:
"Welcome to the Dao of Shameless Public Speaking."
Wei Yun looked down.
He was in… pink robes, holding a plush duck sword, and the stage had sparkles.
The audience booed.
"YOU HAVE NO DIGNITY!"
Wei Yun smiled. "Exactly."
He launched into a speech about the philosophy of farting mid-battle, complete with interpretive dance.
At the end, the illusion collapsed. A single duck quacked in approval.
System:
> [Shamelessness Skill Mastered!]
[New Technique: Duck Blade—Every Quack Weakens the Enemy's Will to Live.]
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Part 4: Mu Yao's Choice – Sword of Uncut Emotions
Mu Yao's scroll pulsed with blue energy. Its title was poetic:
"Sword of Uncut Emotions – Weep Now, Slash Later."
She frowned. "I don't cry."
The scroll whispered: "We'll see."
Trial began.
Mu Yao found herself in a dreamscape filled with every memory she ever repressed: her parents, her training, every time Wei Yun annoyed her but made her laugh… every time she wanted to smile and didn't.
In the final scene, she stood before a mirror—her reflection smiled gently.
"You don't have to be cold to be strong."
Mu Yao whispered, "I… know."
Tears fell. Her sword glowed.
She woke with a new blade: Iceveil, formed from condensed sorrow and defiance.
System:
> [New Technique: Blade of Suppressed Emotions – Each strike carries the weight of your past.]
[Also unlocks Cry Slash – Damage scales with emotional repression.]
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Part 5: Tang Zhi's Scroll – The Dao of Improvised Luck
Tang Zhi picked a scroll that glowed gold, hummed "Yolo," and had dice on the cover.
Title: "The Dao of Improvised Luck: Survive, Somehow."
The trial?
A maze with randomly generated monsters, traps, and pop quizzes.
First room: Slime that asks for your greatest fear.
Tang Zhi: "Commitment."
Second room: A river of molten tofu.
Third room: A wall that only opens if you can answer a joke.
Wall: "What's the Daoist's favorite fruit?"
Tang Zhi: "Peach?"
Wall: "Correct. You may pass."
He emerged alive. Barely.
System:
> [Skill Unlocked: Random Fortune Aura – +77% Chance to Succeed at Dumb Plans.]
[New Technique: Dice Palm – Unleashes a spiritual roulette attack.]
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Part 6: Pan-Pan's Forbidden Cooking Scroll
Pan-Pan waddled into the kitchen wing.
He found a scroll wrapped in a noodle, glowing red with heat. It whispered:
"Forbidden Broth: Recipes the Heavens Regret."
Trial: Cook the legendary Flame Lotus Hotpot of Nine Tribulations.
He entered a kitchen realm where ingredients fought back. The tofu had blades. The cabbage screamed. The broth tried to boil him.
But Pan-Pan… laughed.
"FOOD IS LOVE. FOOD IS PAIN."
He diced, grilled, stirred—and cried once. Just once. The onions were divine.
He served the dish.
The trial collapsed. A heavenly bell rang. Somewhere, a chef-god nodded in approval.
System:
> [New Skill: Tribulation Chef's Wrath – Attacks now apply burning flavor.]
[Also unlocks Spiritual Soup Summon.]
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Part 7: Return of the Janitor Sage
Elder Shush reappeared, sipping tea. "You survived. You gained. You now owe me a library cleaning shift next week."
Wei Yun saluted. "You're a legend."
The sage smirked. "No. I'm just very old, very bored, and I really like dusty scrolls."
He handed them a token.
"Take this. It's a map fragment. Leads to the Realm of Divine Rejection. Only those who've been kicked out of three sects may enter."
Wei Yun: "That's oddly specific. I've been kicked out of four."
Shush: "Then you're overqualified."
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End of Chapter 30