Desire to Give!

Zhu Ying's heart raced with anticipation as she composedly turned to face Xu Han. However, her anticipation swiftly turned into shock as she saw a pale fist hurtling directly towards her.

In a split second, fear gripped her, and she instinctively shut her eyes, bracing for the punch's impact. But to her astonishment, the blow never landed.

Instead, Xu Han's voice, dripping with disdain, cut through the air. "Weren't you confident when you schemed against me? Why the fear now?" His cold words sent a chill down her spine, prompting her to open her eyes and meet his icy gaze.

Fear and anger mingled within Zhu Ying as she trembled. But before she could utter a word, Xu Han's hand, which he had withdrawn, shot forward once more with lightning speed, catching her off guard.

His firm grip closed around her neck, effortlessly lifting her off the ground. She dangled there, completely at his mercy, unable to break free from his unyielding hold.

"I didn't bother with you back then because dealing with pests like you wasn't worth my time. Don't flatter yourself," Xu Han's voice dripped with contempt.

With a scornful curl of his lips, Xu Han tossed Zhu Ying to the ground before striding away. As he departed, Zhu Ying, consumed by anger, clenched her teeth and silently vowed to exact her revenge someday.

…

Though Xu Han was practically twitching with the desire to give Zhu Ying a piece of his mind, he held himself back, driven by a crafty scheme taking shape in his thoughts to make use of her somehow.

And just to be clear, it wasn't about her being a girl – as he had given her a taste of his fist before. And he had embraced the noble notion of gender equality. You know, that whole "equal rights, but maybe not equal responsibilities" thing... Wait, scratch that! It's more like "equal rights and absolutely equal responsibilities." My bad!

As Xu Han's mind buzzed with the complexities of his scheme, he found himself standing before the Archive Hall. Remarkably, he had reached this destination in just a brief two-minute journey.

The Archive Hall was a mesmerizing fusion of traditional elegance and celestial grandeur. Its exterior showcased the luminous beauty of icy color jade stone, casting a magical radiance that seemed to emanate from within.

Adorning the walls were intricate carvings, narrating legendary battles, celestial creatures, and the esteemed figures from the sect's history. The roof, designed with its upturned corners and layered eaves, echoed the grace of ancient pagodas, evoking an ageless ambiance.

At the pinnacle of the roof, a meticulously carved phoenix perched majestically, its wings extended as if caught in perpetual flight.

Stepping through its entrance, one would be embraced by the fragrance of aged scrolls and the soft hum of dedicated disciples absorbed in their studies. Towering shelves adorned the surroundings, laden with scrolls, tomes, and manuscripts, some so ancient that they seemed to bear the wisdom of countless ages.

Within the heart of the hall, a grand hourglass held its place, encircled by tables and chairs where disciples immersed themselves in reading and discussions.

Soft and ethereal illumination enveloped the surroundings, casting a sanctified aura over the extensive trove of wisdom, evoking an air of veneration and enlightenment.

Positioned at the entrance was an unoccupied desk, presided over by an elderly man. His eyes bore the marks of time in delicate wrinkles, his cascading white hair resembled a gentle river flowing down to his neck, and his dignified, lengthy white beard added to his venerable appearance.

As Xu Han stepped inside, the old man's eyes opened, revealing a questioning gaze that sought an explanation for the interruption. Recognizing the inquisitive scrutiny, Xu Han withdrew a disciple token from his bag—a sacred emblem bestowed upon those who joined the sect, signifying their connection to Sect.

The token's serene blue shade resembled tranquil waters, while a skillfully carved phoenix graced its center, capturing both elegance and strength in its poised wings. Beneath the majestic phoenix rested the engraved name: Xu Han.

The elderly man acknowledged Xu Han's token with a respectful nod, granting him access to the hall. However, Xu Han couldn't shake the understanding that the old man's discerning spiritual senses had thoroughly examined both him and the token, searching for any traces of deceit.

His inability to perceive the old man's probing intent stemmed from his own limited cultivation. Shaking off these thoughts, Xu Han redirected his attention to the task at hand. With determination, he made his way to a distinct area within the Archive Hall, commonly referred to as the Beast Section.

Although his objective was to tame a seemingly mundane creature—a pigeon—Xu Han found himself forced to employ the methods designated for dealing with beasts.

This was because techniques for controlling common animals were absent within the sect and even in the wider world, due to their perceived insignificance.

Unlike beasts, animals are more akin to everyday people in that they don't have any kind of special training. They rely on their natural instincts and can't use any spiritual energy or do any complicated actions.

On the other hand, beasts are quite different. They have the ability to train themselves, which lets them use the spiritual energy around them to cultivate and get stronger. This cultivation also contributes to the growth of their intelligence, although it may not reach the level of human intelligence at start but as they progress, they had their intelligence grow.

Xu Han didn't hesitate. He picked out several books from the shelves and made his way to an empty table. Seated there, he immersed himself in the content of the books, his curiosity driving him to dive into his reading without delay.