Chapter 697

Chapter 697: Scholars in the Library

Invincible below the Golden Core!

Wang Chen’s second battle against Liang Cen fully demonstrated that his strength had reached the pinnacle of the same realm.

Liang Cen was no ordinary evil cultivator.

He was originally a silver emblem cultivator of the Exorcism division, but after turning to evil, his cultivation level rose instead of falling, stepping into the realm of Half-step Golden Core.

This was the fundamental reason why Wang Chen’s first battle with Liang Cen left him seriously wounded without raising any suspicion from Guan Shengping.

In the eyes of this Golden Core true master, it was perfectly normal for Wang Chen to lose to Liang Cen.

He just didn’t expect Wang Chen to "lose" so miserably.

In fact, when Wang Chen didn’t need to act, he faced this peak Purple Palace opponent with overwhelming power!

Even before Wang Chen obtained the external elixir, he could have easily defeated Liang Cen.

Refining the external elixir for his own use, not only could he handle Liang Cen, but even a Golden Core true master like Guan Shengping could be fooled!

However, having quietly returned to Yongle Immortal City, Wang Chen continued to appear as if his foundation was damaged, and his realm had fallen.

This completely lost Guan Shengping’s interest in Wang Chen; he even became too lazy to use his connections to get someone to heal him.

Under the direction of the chief steward of the Exorcism division, the "injured" Wang Chen was quickly assigned to a new place.

He was to take on a very easy job.

The position of steward of the library.

His previous two jobs as a jailer and then a cultivator were both at the lowest levels of the Yongle Immortal City system.

Now, Wang Chen had been promoted to steward—a small leader!

But what kind of place was the library?

The library of Yongle Immortal City was located in the southwest corner of the city, very close to the cliff (the edge of the dragon tortoise’s shell). If a war broke out, it would be one of the easiest places to destroy.

The library had nine levels, and while it was quite large, its architectural style was from hundreds of years ago. It was evident that regular repairs and maintenance were rarely conducted, creating a decaying atmosphere that struck Wang Chen as he stepped inside.

After showing the official document from the Patrol Office, Wang Chen smoothly accepted his new position.

His job would involve patrolling the library, protecting its books from malicious destruction or theft, and maintaining peace and tranquility inside.

But who would be foolish enough to create trouble in the library and invite trouble for themselves and their families?

It’s important to know that this library was not just any library; it housed thousands of books and scrolls, but there were no powerful methods or secret arts within. Instead, it mostly contained the training diaries, insights, and experiences left by previous practitioners.

There were also texts related to Daoist teachings and methods!

On top of that, the library archived the accumulated documents of Yongle Immortal City over the years.

It could be likened to Wang Chen’s previous life’s library plus an archive office!

Wang Chen thought…

This job actually wasn’t bad.

"Wang Steward, let me show you around the library."

An old cultivator with a graying beard smiled and said, "How about you get familiar with the environment first?"

The old cultivator, surnamed Ma, clearly showed signs of having worked there for too long, with little satisfaction in life. His smile carried a sense of helplessness, and his tone was weary.

"Thank you, senior."

Wang Chen bowed slightly to express his gratitude.

The elder waved his hand dismissively. "It’s just a small matter."

Inside, he sighed. A young Purple Palace cultivator like Wang Chen could surely catch the attention of significant figures if he found an opportunity to stand out.

He could achieve the glory of the past!

But Wang Chen was a bit older now and had no background, likely unable to afford even a spirit pill to reshape his root bone.

Working in a place like the library for a long time could lead to a downward spiral for him—forever sinking into despair.

Guided by Ma, Wang Chen started from the first-floor hall of the library and ascended to the eighth level.

While the library’s collection did not include technique manuals, there were still distinctions in the quality of the books, with the lowest and most ordinary found on the first two levels, and the weightier tomes further up.

As the newly appointed steward, Wang Chen did not need to do the tedious work of cleaning, organizing, or repairing.

His job was simply to ensure proper supervision.

No need for roll calls, overtime, or battles where he risked his life; this job was truly comfortable.

Of course, the pay could not be compared to that of his previous roles as a jailer and patrol officer.

The Immortal merits he could earn in a year were pitifully few.

Yet this kind of job was still in high demand in the immortal city!

Wang Chen had to thank the Patrol Office for finding him such a job to make ends meet.

As a veteran "librarian" about to retire, Ma shared his decades of accumulated work experience and the library’s rules and regulations with Wang Chen in detail.

He believed that after truly understanding the library, Wang Chen would feel heartbroken, angry, desperate, and regretful…

However, Wang Chen simply listened quietly, accompanying Ma on a nostalgic “journey” through the library.

Wang Chen increasingly felt that this job was perfect for him!

In the days that followed, Wang Chen arrived at the library on time every day, sitting in his own room to read the borrowed texts and scrolls.

It was said that the library contained hundreds of thousands of books, and even though Wang Chen was approaching Golden Core rank, finishing these volumes would likely take him years.

Interestingly, the highest level—ninth level—was not open to the public, and previously, Wang Chen had experienced nothing but dead ends when he tried to access it!

As the days passed, Wang Chen’s "injuries" gradually healed.

However, his realm had dropped by three levels, from the Eighth Layer of the Purple Palace back to the fifth level, suffering a "serious loss."

For cultivators like Wang Chen, once their realm falls, it becomes extremely difficult to recover.

Thus, Guan Shengping’s evaluation of Wang Chen had greatly declined!

Yet Wang Chen had found joy in his new work.

He read three books every day—one in the morning and two in the afternoon, roughly the same length.

During his free time in the library, Wang Chen quietly refined his external elixir.

His external elixir, though already perfected and easily controlled, became more attuned to him the longer and more frequently he refined it.

At the same time, Wang Chen did not neglect his studies.

Every five days, the immortal sect would send a peak Purple Palace cultivator to lecture and impart teachings to those in the library.

He did not miss a single class, studying diligently like a child from the countryside who had come to the big city to pursue a bright future.

Though the city was safe, Wang Chen felt a vague sense of urgency.

This urgency felt like a whip, driving him forward and making him unwilling to stop for even a moment.

His current efforts might just be the key to his future salvation!