Scripture of Days Past

After hearing what Jiang Longyu had to say, Chu Qiguang simply left without a word.

Jiang Longyu felt as if he hadn't gotten the chance to show off at all, so he could only turn to Yang Ling instead.

By this point, Yang Ling had become quite familiar with Jiang Longyu and knew that the latter needed constant attention, approval, and envy from others in order to feel satisfied.

Thus, he could only put on a sycophantic smile as he praised, "His Majesty was most certainly correct in placing such high hopes in you..."

However, Yang Ling's flattery sounded repetitive and hollow, and Jiang Longyu couldn't derive any satisfaction from it at all.

***

Inside the archive building, the gatekeeper looked at Chu Qiguang with a puzzled expression.

"Why're you asking me about Yi Shuang?"

In contrast to the gatekeeper's caution and confusion, Lin Lan was already revealing everything she knew.

"Lecturer Yi used to visit the archive building very frequently, around four or five times a month. Last year, he tried to read from the second floor, but he fell really ill afterward. Ever since then, he hasn't shown any desire to read from there again. After that, he began browsing books related to ghosts, but even that has become less and less frequent. I'm pretty sure I've kept records of the books he read. I can go fetch them for you—"

"That's enough, Lin Lan!" the gatekeeper snapped with a furious expression. "You can't tell him these things! Records of what others have read are strictly confidential and can't be shared with anyone!"

"It's fine," Lin Lan said, brushing off his concerns with a smile. "Given how brilliant Brother Chu is, it's only a matter of time before he becomes a thousand-man commander or even the future Demon Vanquishing Envoy. He'll gain access to information like this sooner or later anyway."

The gatekeeper could only watch in resignation and dismay as Chu Qiguang and Lin Lan examined Yi Shuang's past reading records together.

***

On this day, Chu Qiguang was once again on his way to the archive building when he spotted Yi Shuang waiting for him in the distance.

Yi Shuang smiled and waved at him, then asked, "I hear you've taken quite an interest in me as of late. Is that right?"

Chu Qiguang had anticipated that there was a good chance Yi Shuang would be tipped off about what he was doing, so he had already prepared an excuse.

"The half-yearly examination is coming up, and we'll all be assigned different factions. I'm interested in the Dao Soldier Faction, and I heard that you were from the Dao Soldier Faction, so I became curious about you. Could you tell me about the Dao Soldier Faction, Instructor Yi?"

Yi Shuang looked into Chu Qiguang's earnest eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder, Is he really only interested in the Dao Soldier Faction?

After a brief conversation, Yi Shuang suddenly said, "The Dao Soldier Faction isn't a good choice. In order to become perfect soldiers and servants of His Majesty, Dao soldier candidates have to take various pills to eliminate their emotions, thereby strengthening their willpower and resistance to cults and demonic tainting. At the end of that process, you'll completely lose your sense of self and be reduced to nothing more than a tool for His Majesty.

"These are also the prerequisites for cultivating the Silent Shadow Step, but you don't have to worry about that. Only those with strong faith who have been blessed by the divine power of the Profound Origin Dao Lord can be selected to cultivate the Silent Shadow Step, and you clearly don't fall into that category."

Before Chu Qiguang had a chance to say anything, Yi Shuang continued, "Even though your peers are slowly overtaking you, I've seen how much aptitude you possess, and I'm confident that you can catch up to them and even surpass them. Perhaps you'll even have a chance of reaching the Dao Comprehension state.

'Of the four orthodox arts of the Demon Vanquishing Department, the Sumeru Strength Scripture and the Lightning Screech are both martial arts, while the Myriad Ghost Journal and the Silent Shadow Step are Dao arts.

"At this point, I'm sure you're aware that reaching the Dao Comprehension state through cultivating Dao arts is much more difficult than doing so through martial arts. However, if you succeed, you'll also attain far greater power than a Dao Comprehension-state martial artist.

"Cultivating the Silent Shadow Step comes with the extremely severe side effects I mentioned earlier, so I strongly advise against it. However, if you have aspirations of reaching the true pinnacle, then I suggest you consider the Myriad Ghost Journal."

"The Myriad Ghost Journal won't come with any side effects?" Chu Qiguang asked.

"Of course not," Yi Shuang replied without hesitation. "The Myriad Ghost Journal is the safest and most powerful of the Demon Vanquishing Department's four orthodox arts. If you can cultivate it to the Dao Comprehension state, you'll surely become the most powerful cultivator in the entire Demon Vanquishing Department! Even Jiang Longyu will be left in the dust! Your future will be extraordinarily bright, and your name is sure to go down in history!"

Chu Qiguang feigned the excitement of an impressionable young boy as he asked, "Do I really have what it takes?"

Yi Shuang could see that Chu Qiguang had been completely won over by his grand promises, and he said, "Out of all the trainees I've seen during my years on Jade Face Mountain, you are the only one with the talents required to cultivate the Myriad Ghost Journal. Unfortunately, the head instructor doesn't think you have the aptitude for it, and he believes that you should be relegated to serving as Jiang Longyu's subordinate.

"I don't want to see your talents go to waste, so if you're willing, I can teach you about the Myriad Ghost Journal. Once you've learned enough from me, you can demonstrate what you've learned to the head instructor. When he realizes your brilliant aptitude, I'm sure he'll allow you to cultivate the Myriad Ghost Journal. Once you reach the Dao Comprehension state, you will be the most powerful cultivator the Demon Vanquishing Department has seen in at least a hundred years!"

"Thank you, Instructor Yi! I am eternally grateful to you for showing me this path!" Chu Qiguang said with an earnest, overjoyed expression.

"I take it that you agree then?" Yi Shuang asked with a smile.

"Of course!" Chu Qiguang replied. "I'll be sure to repay you once I reach the top!"

On the surface, Yi Shuang wore a benevolent smile of approval, but in his eyes, Chu Qiguang was already as good as dead.

"I don't need any repayment from you. I only need you to cultivate diligently, and I promise you'll give everyone a tremendous surprise," he said.

"Rest assured, Instructor Yi. I always repay those who show me kindness," Chu Qiguang promised. "I'll be sure to look after you in your old age and serve you to your grave."

Yi Shuang didn't know what to make of that.

Although Chu Qiguang's voice was filled with gratitude, his words sounded more like a curse than a promise.

Who cares? He's as good as dead anyway.

From that day onward, Chu Qiguang began studying ghosts under Yi Shuang in addition to his usual daily routine.

Meanwhile, the half-yearly examination was fast approaching.