The cart slowly approaches one of the massive, vertical floating discs, as if there is some danger that we can’t see. Or… perhaps, navigating some unseen path that seems to require Ling to still have her face scrunched so.

And the closer we get to one, easily larger than a house, the more wary I feel.

It thrums. It pulses. Echoes.

The hairs on back and neck rise, reminding me of my place here. Contained. Subdued.

Something in me rises against it. And I draw my eyes over to the runic scriptures coiled around its circumference.

But my eyes and mind feel like they are being seared and I suddenly hear Ling yell out, despite being at the helm.

“Don’t look at the scripts or formations! None of us here can handle the residual qi left over by the creators of them. Even the elders have trouble after some time of reading them.”

Residual qi? Are you telling me that the people that made this couldn’t clean up their qi after making something?

No, it is more of a measure of how powerful the formations that create it is. Considering that even the large protective defense formation surrounding the sect didn’t cause issues for me, it might be a difference in iteration and purpose as well.

The massive formations in the sect, while strong, are not nearly as powerful as the ones in here. Adding to that, there seemed to be additional layers of formation on top of the ones in the sect, obscuring their presence. I suspect that was a major part of why the residual qi on it was not an issue.

Perhaps there will be areas in the sect where this will be more of an issue.

But despite my rational thoughts and analysis, there’s still an existing issue.

My anxiety rises the closer we go to it.

Mao raises her hand to the center of the hemisphere, motioning a single finger to her left. Causing a new property of the disc to emerge.

A circular line parts and separates a fourth into the radius of the large disc. Showing a disc within the disc.

Before our eyes, the interior disc turns, revealing a new space within. Even more surprisingly, the cart moves with the turn at the exact pace. Making me think it isn’t the cart that’s moving, but the space itself. Inside this larger disc I can see countless bluish lines, thrumming and shining, giving me the barest insights into the formations contained within these wonders.

And the moment all of this happens, the anxiety suddenly disappears. Making me wonder if it was an intentional part of the design, to keep those who aren’t librarians away.

And as we pass the threshold, the orientation changes from horizontal to vertical. Like we walked through a door, but ended up climbing up from the ground instead.

We arrive in a large hall of geometric shapes and a contrast between Romano-gothic ruins and the glowing disc floor in the center. Spires and pillars separate the different pathways, leading deeper into this area. Huge gaps of storage spaces, displayed between the pillars, appear open and waiting for things to be placed within them.

But despite the large storage space, everything here is empty.

And that’s the feeling that pervades this area.

Empty. Ruined. Silent.

Ling finally relaxes as the space closes. Motioning over to a stone table lined beside one of the large storage walls.

“We should be safe to speak here. Even the cart won’t record what’s said.”

Oh. She openly revealed that the cart listens in. That’s quite a generous thing to tell me. Though, I already knew that.

She leads, by stepping out of the cart and towards the aforementioned area. Ling and I quickly follow behind her as I answer.

“Well, that’s good to know. Where would you like me to start?”

After we take our seats, Ling leans forward, moving her colorless black hair out of her face.

“Let’s start with the information you gave our group earlier on the Pearls of Antiquity, regarding the note in the back of the book, ‘Diaries of Lao Quan, 87, 13”.

“It says, and I quote ‘The mountains of ice cannot hope to stand against us. For there is but one thing that holds the key. The title may be held to that.’”

She looks up at me with a curious look.

“Did you already know that we were looking into the local mountain ranges for the pearls and that we had leads on mountain clans? And where did you find out that there was an ancient group, called the ‘Title of Beast and Man’, meant to safeguard the relationship between spirit beasts and humans?”

… I did not know any of that. But considering the amount of time the pearls have existed for, it makes sense that information on them would go back to when there were large, openly dedicated groups to the positive relationship of both spirit beasts and humans.

Either way, I shouldn’t lie about where I get things. While this room seems safe from eavesdropping, I can’t be sure there isn’t lie detector safeguards. Best way to handle this is to deflect.

“Ling. I could tell you how I found this information, but we both know that isn’t the most important part of this. You’ve already confirmed the validity of the information. What you really want to know is what else I can give your group to lead to it.”

I pause for a moment to read her expression. And that’s when I notice something interesting.

The second after I speak, Mao and her sister blur a bit. Nothing that a normal person or even someone at my level would notice, but easily found with my abilities.

Wait a second. Are they… communicating with their other twin pair? The white-haired twins?

They could be using the connection between these girls and the other twins as a communication medium.

… just like the Patriarch was doing with his personal servant in the secured area.

“Very true, but then we should talk about what you actually want. It’s hard not to notice that you haven’t gone to any of the core disciple areas. Which does makes sense, considering your current method is doing well for you.

“So, that leaves a quite a few other options for you, like converting that privilege into merits. Since you wouldn’t be able to share a method with your group, of course. Of course, helping us to gain the pearls with valuable information would help the sect and gain you merits.”

Confirming my thoughts, is that she responds almost immediately after they stop blurring. Not only that, but there’s a subtle change in how Ling speaks. She still sounds normal, but there’s a slight feeling that she’s just communicating something over to me and then back to someone else. Not only by how she’s saying it, but the content of her words, as well.

“That’s good to hear. So, it sounds to me I should tell your group what I’m looking for and you can tell me what I need to tell you to get it?”

Another pause.

“That’s correct.”

Time for the pitch.

“I want the records for the dangerous and faulty cultivation techniques and records.”

There’s another pause, but one unlike the others.

Both Mao and Ling look at me, confused. It appears they haven’t communicated this over yet.

Mao speaks up.

“I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but you realize that you have unrestricted access to those already? Especially, as a core disciple, even if you took one of those trash methods sp…”

“Not just what I can find, Mao.

“Everything.”