9 Chapter 8: The Forbidden Book - "Dragon and Phoenix Changes" (Thanks to the lords who gave me a hug and a peaceful life reward)_1

After Yun Zhi left, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou proceeded to check out their respective abodes like the other disciples.

Before doing so, Lu Yang had escorted Old Horse into the Seek Dao Sect with Meng Jingzhou.

Outside the Seek Dao Sect, Lu Yang saw several new fellow disciples happily informing their families of their acceptance. Whether from small clans or influential cultivation families, having a member accepted into the Seek Dao Sect was a matter worthy of being recorded in family history.

"Why didn't anyone from your family come?" Lu Yang asked, having gathered from Meng Jingzhou's remarks that the Meng Family was a well-established cultivation lineage.

Meng Jingzhou replied with some pride, "I ran away from home!"

Lu Yang: "..."

What's there to be proud of?

Once Meng Jingzhou had led Old Horse back to his abode, Lu Yang went back to his own.

He took out a jade pendant, a gift from a senior brother he had just met. It was a Seek Dao Sect membership badge, which could provide proof of his identity and grant him access to his abode.

The jade pendant, crafted from Spirit-Stone Marrow and inscribed with the name "Lu Yang", had functionalities that could only be used once Lu Yang formally became a cultivator.

Lu Yang placed the jade pendant on the stone wall of his abode's entrance. Emitting a faint blue light, the pendant corresponded to the socket at the entrance. After the socket flashed twice, the stone wall parted, unveiling a lavishly luxurious abode.

As soon as he stepped into the abode, he felt a pleasant warmth surging through his body, as if some miraculous energy was nourishing him.

"Is this the so-called spiritual energy?"

Upon realizing this, Lu Yang was surprised. The density of the spiritual energy in the abode was so high that even an ordinary person like him could sense it, showing it was remarkably unusual.

The abode was sparsely furnished with just a table, a cushion, and a straw mat. Despite the spacious abode, it felt rather empty, making him wonder if the Seek Dao Sect was encouraging disciples to live modestly or allowing them to decorate according to their preferences.

There was a paper on the table with words written on both sides.

The front suggested that disciples unfamiliar with cultivation should first go to the Teaching Peak to learn the basics or head to the Scripture Pavilion to study independently.

The back displayed a simplified map of the Seek Dao Sect, which occupied a hundred thousand miles, truly staggering and beyond Lu Yang's imagination.

The front message provided Lu Yang with a direction for the following month.

Yawning, Lu Yang decided to get some much-needed sleep.

From venturing out in the rain, passing three trials using sincerity and wisdom, gaining attention from Eldest Senior Sister Yun Zhi and Second Senior Brother Dai Bufan, to finally becoming a Seek Dao Sect disciple, the day's events had exhausted him. He was so sleepy that he could barely keep his eyes open.

"The Seek Dao Sect doesn't even provide a pillow..."

Lu Yang mumbled, succumbing to the day's fatigue and promptly falling asleep, regardless of his comfort level.

...

He rose early the next morning. His plan was to first visit the Scripture Pavilion and learn more about the Central Continent.

"Are you new here?" A senior brother at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion looked up at Lu Yang.

"Yes."

"Since you're new, I will inform you of the Scripture Pavilion's rules. It's simple; there are only three rules."

"First, with your current status, you can only access books on the first floor. Feel free to browse whatever is available there. Second, you can only temporary borrow one book. And last, please take care of the books and refrain from dirtying them. If you do, you must compensate the original price of the damaged book."

"I will remember." Nodding, Lu Yang was granted access by the senior brother without another word.

Inside the Scripture Pavilion, disciples were engrossed in reading, undisturbed even when Lu Yang passed by.

The large pavilion was filled only with scattered footsteps and the rustling of pages.

There was a myriad of books available, ranging from rudimentary comedy scripts to secret cultivation mantras of cultivators, to insights on Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment. It was all there.

Overwhelmed, Lu Yang didn't know where to start.

"What is this book?"

Chanced upon a dust-coated book hidden in a crevice of the shelf, Lu Yang wiped off the layers of dust to see the title clearly—it was "Dragon and Phoenix Changes".

"What a dominant name!"

Barely controlling his excitement, Lu Yang could sense an overwhelming aura just from the title itself!

In a moment of shock, he heard the cries of the dragon and phoenix and saw their specters emerge before his eyes. They then transformed, recreating the scene of the dragon and phoenix appearing.

Coming to his senses, Lu Yang looked around. The sounds and specters had vanished.

"Was that an illusion?"

Baffled, and yet somewhat exhilarated, Lu Yang carefully opened the first page.

Perhaps this could be his chance of a lifetime!

Unexpectedly, the sharp paper cut his finger, and a few drops of blood fell onto the page.

Seemingly in response, the ancient book started emitting a golden glow, as if something within was trying to break free!

His heart pounded in his chest, the unfolding events completely caught him off guard and were beyond his control. It was unclear if this was a blessing or a curse.

He even felt as though he was being watched by a powerful entity, freezing him on the spot!

The feeling became more apparent, implying that the powerful entity was getting closer.

In the end, the powerful being stood behind Lu Yang, silently observing him. The overwhelming presence caused him to break out in cold sweat.

"You..." Eventually, the powerful entity spoke.

"Yes!" Lu Yang shivered.

"You've dirtied the book."

The powerful entity furrowed his brows. Turning around, Lu Yang discovered it was the senior brother at the Scripture Pavilion's entrance.

The senior brother looked at the bloodstain on the book with disapproval, he had just reminded Lu Yang not to dirty the books, yet he had already spilled blood on one.

The Scripture Pavilion was protected by an array method. If a book was damaged, it would emit a golden glow as a signal to the protector.

"What kind of book is this? I've never seen it before."

The senior brother curiously picked up the book and skimmed through it, his face turned grave, "This... This is actually the forbidden book from the legends!"

Lu Yang felt a surge of joy, he did not expect to find a legendary forbidden book upon his first visit to the Scripture Pavilion. Now he was dying to know what secrets were contained inside.

"Senior Brother, is there a problem with this book?" Lu Yang asked, curious.

The senior brother pondered whether to divulge such important information to a newcomer. After thinking for a while, he decided to tell him the truth.

"This book chronicles the mating process of dragons and phoenixes in great detail. Because of this, it was complained against by both the Dragon and Phoenix tribes, and classified as a forbidden book. I thought all copies had been destroyed, I didn't realize we still had one here, no knowing who had hidden it!"

In other words, it was an adult book.

Lu Yang: "..."

Screw the dragon and phoenix union!

Then, he remembered that the senior brother mentioned if a book was damaged, it had to be compensated.