Chapter 5, the Sutra Repository

However, when he truly entered the Sutra Repository today, he felt somewhat bewildered and at a loss...

Ji Chang Kong, who had just sat up from the ground, managed a faint smile and nodded at Ji Xiao Lian, but did not say much more

The family rules of the Ji family are strict, and the direct descendants hold a status far superior to that of the collateral relatives. Of course, Ji Changkong, who is unable to gather spiritual energy, is considered an exception

Suddenly, the murderous gazes of the collateral descendants of the Ji family in the eastern corner shot towards Ji Changkong. These individuals looked at Ji Changkong coldly, clearly indicating that if Ji Changkong agreed, they would join forces to eliminate him.

They did not dare to say anything to Ji Xiaolian, only able to threaten Ji Changkong with their gazes

"Brother Chang Kong, come over here! Before you arrived, Father said that the secret manuals and techniques on this eastern corner bookshelf are truly useful. Hurry up and come!" After Ji Xiaolian stood at the eastern corner, she adorably waved at Ji Chang Kong, her petite body trying to lean closer to Ji Yueqing, wanting to make some space for Ji Chang Kong.

In this year's assessment, Ji Yueqing and Ji Xiaolian secured the fourth and fifth places respectively, far ahead of the collateral relatives.

Previously, the cousin of the Ji family, who had been trapped in the first layer of the East Corner, upon seeing Ji Yueqing pulling Ji Xiaolian over, unexpectedly jostled with one another, managing to create two additional spots in that small area of just a palm's width, each of them smiling ingratiatingly to let Ji Yueqing and Ji Xiaolian in.

For many years, whenever Ji Chang Kong attempted to gather Yuan power, he would inexplicably feel intense pain throughout his body. That deeply ingrained suffering was so profound and intense that Ji Chang Kong often fainted from the pain midway through the process

Then, once the body has recovered, it continues to strive again, only to faint once more

The family rules are firmly established, and even Ji Chang Kong's own grandfather, Ji Yu Sheng, and his aunt, Ji Wan Yun, have no choice but to acknowledge this fact. They can only resort to subtle means to secure some benefits for Ji Chang Kong.

For over a decade, Ji Changkong had often fantasized about entering the Sutra Repository, hoping to read the scriptures inside in an attempt to discover a method to gather his primordial energy.

Oh. Ji Xiaolian no longer insisted; her attention was suddenly drawn to the "Qinglian Jue" in Ji Yueqing's hand

This year, Ji Xiaolian is visiting for the first time, and everything in the Sutra Repository is so novel to her that she quickly forgets about Ji Changkong, who is standing alone on the outskirts

The four direct grandchildren of Ji Yuxing—Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, Ji Changle, and Ji Yueqing—are able to treat the collateral descendants of the Ji family with arrogance and disdain, not only because of their direct lineage but primarily due to their significantly stronger celestial abilities compared to those of the collateral descendants

Ji Chang Kong looked at the Ji family boys surrounding the eastern corner, silently contemplating what method to use to squeeze in. However, before Ji Chang Kong could approach that side, he suddenly felt a great force surge from his left shoulder. Caught off guard, Ji Chang Kong stumbled, retreating a few steps at an angle with a "thud thud thud," losing his balance and sitting down on the ground.

For seventeen years, it is unknown how many days and nights Ji Chang Kong has spent silently gathering elemental energy, enduring the piercing pain, and attempting repeatedly until fainting before finally stopping

At this moment, the area was already surrounded by the young men of the Ji family, and it would not be easy for Ji Changkong to squeeze in

Even if they are collateral descendants, as long as they possess strength that surpasses that of the direct descendants, they can still flaunt their power in front of the direct descendants, and no one dares to say anything

Even as direct descendants, if one cannot gather elemental energy to become a Celestial, in the Ji family where strength speaks, they can only survive in a state of despair, enduring humiliation, with no means to change their situation

The scriptures that truly record the secrets and techniques of celestial cultivation are only a small portion, all of which are placed on the smallest bookshelf in the eastern corner of this level

This is the foundation of their arrogance and pride

Upon waking, there were still no signs of vital energy circulating within his body, so Ji Chang Kong merely regarded it as a momentary and exquisite illusion he experienced just before losing consciousness

"Fool, how dare you block my way!" Ji Changle snorted coldly. Arriving a moment late, he first forcefully knocked Ji Changkong to the ground, then disdainfully glanced at him and sneered, "With your uselessness, how dare you come to the Scripture Pavilion? Hmph, it was because of that plate of asparagus yesterday that I got scolded by my father! And during the assessment, you actually made all of us from the Ji family wait with empty stomachs for you! Hmph, it was because of that plate of asparagus yesterday that I got scolded by my father! And during the assessment, you actually made all of us from the Ji family wait with empty stomachs for you! What is Ji Changkong even worth? Such arrogance!"

The sons of the Ji family are inherently robust and tall. In order to make room for Ji Yueqing and Ji Xiaolian, several big men have already pressed closely together. If Ji Changkong were to join them at this moment, it is likely that they would not merely be pressed together, but would have to embrace each other instead

However, even so, for seventeen years, Ji Chang Kong has never given up!

The abnormality in Ji Changkong's body remains unknown to anyone in the Ji family. Even his grandfather, Ji Yusheng, who doted on him the most during his childhood, had to helplessly give up after repeatedly attempting to gather spiritual energy for him without success, resigning himself to the painful reality that he could not become a Celestial Master.

The first floor of the scripture repository has the most volumes, with a sparse arrangement of stacks of scriptures on three rows of rosewood bookshelves.

As long as his body slightly recovered, Ji Changkong would continue to repeatedly attempt, enduring the piercing pain to gather the internal elemental energy time and again

No one from the Ji family has ever been like him. Even the collateral descendants, though they may not yet be able to gather elemental energy, are robust and rarely fall ill. As for those who have already begun to gather elemental energy, they have always found the process to be smooth and enjoyable, unlike him, who experiences such difficulty and unbearable pain

Having spoken, Ji Changle arrogantly cast a glance at those side branches of the Ji family gathered at the eastern corner of this floor, eagerly flipping through the secrets and techniques of the first level. She then, not daring to waste any more time, hurriedly made her way up to the second floor of the Scripture Repository.

After Ji Changle, the direct younger brothers of the Ji family, Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, Ji Yueqing, and Ji Xiaolian, also entered.

For seventeen years, no matter how many times he tried, the outcome was always the same

Many times, Ji Changkong could even faintly sense the flow of primordial energy within his body. However, at that moment, an unbearable sharp pain would surge through his mind, causing him to faint instantly

One day, when Ji Changkong learned that the Ji family had a scripture repository, a place where the secrets and techniques of the Tian Shi were stored, he regarded the scripture repository as his only hope. Today, he finally stood inside the scripture repository, gazing at the rows of books. Ji Changkong had to take deep breaths repeatedly to keep himself calm and composed, so as to avoid doing anything out of line

Ji Family, Scripture Repository

Not to mention the three prominent young leaders of the Ji family, Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, and Ji Changle, even Ji Yueqing and Ji Xiaolian, these two girls, are more powerful than those collateral descendants

Apart from Ji Xiaolian, Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, and Ji Yueqing did not spare Ji Changkong a glance. Among them, Ji Changxiao and Ji Changsheng directly stomped their feet and ascended to the next level, while Ji Yueqing held her head high and proudly walked alongside Ji Xiaolian towards the eastern corner of the first level

However, Ji Changkong flipped through and found that most of the scriptures placed on the rosewood bookshelf were miscellaneous books that elaborated on the realm of celestial beings and discussed some fundamental principles of cultivation.

Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that Ji Chang Kong has been frail and sickly since childhood. The more he strives to gather elemental energy, the worse his health becomes day by day. On countless nights, Ji Chang Kong can feel a faint pain in his marrow even in his dreams, and he is often awakened directly by the pain in his sleep

One of the family rules of the Ji family, and also the most important one, is that strength is paramount

Ji Chang Kong was still somewhat perceptive; under the cold, murderous gazes of those from the collateral branches of the Ji family, he forced a smile and shook his head at Ji Xiao Lian, politely declining, "Never mind, I will just observe for now"

"Brother Chang Kong, you are here so early?" Ji Xiao Lian cutely stuck out her little tongue at Ji Chang Kong and waved her small hand in greeting

Imagine a few young men with broad shoulders and sturdy builds, embracing each other in a close and intimate manner; even they would feel a sense of discomfort!

Everyone has given up, yet Ji Chang Kong has never given up!

"Xiao Lian, come and take a look at this book 'Qing Lian Jue', it even has the character 'Lian' in it!" In order to prevent Ji Xiao Lian from being willful and insisting on letting Ji Chang Kong in, Ji Yue Qing quickly pulled out a book of secret techniques from Tian Shi and handed it to Ji Xiao Lian

Three days, I still have three days left, there will definitely be an opportunity! Taking a deep breath, Ji Chang Kong clenched his fist tightly.