New Neighbor

Half an hour later, Shokoya and I had changed into the pale lilac robes of an Outer Court Disciple of the Library, and using a useful trick from an old Technical Studies lesson, we had mentally transposed all the maps present in the Guide to our System Atlases. With that done, the gate into the sect proper opened to us.

On the way to the living quarters district, Shokoya asked, "so, what are your plans for now?"

"Once we've checked out our rooms, I want to finish learning the Spirit Arrow technique as soon as I can. Once I can use it, it'll be an extremely useful bread-and-butter attack.

On that subject, what technique did you get from the Codex?"

"A sword technique called Steel-Piercing Thrust—a perfect sort of move to use against guarded opponents or hard shelled or scaled Magical Beasts. What does your do?"

I told him. "Wow, that sounds insanely useful for you! In fact, it might be the best way to use a treasure-quality bow like yours to its full potential."

"The thought had occurred," I said, smiling at his excitement, "I think I see the start of the living quarters district up ahead. We should probably check out badges."

After focusing my eyes on my new ID badge for a few seconds, the information encoded on it transferred into me. Among that information was an impression that it had also added to my System's Status page. Sure enough, there it was, in a new section marked <Sect > between the <Personal Status> and <Attributes > sections:

<Sect >

Current Sect: 10,000 Scrolls Library (Mortal Heaven Rank #11)

Status: Outer Court Disciple (unranked)

ID Status: A Rank

Residence: Outer Court Living Quarters District A, Building 242)

Contribution Points: 0

Outstanding Punishments: None

Completed Missions: 0

Outstanding Mission: Not Selected (90 days remaining)

"I'm in District A, Building 242. You?"

"District B, Building 447. Good thing we got a new communication stone."

"There might be restrictions on using that kind of thing. We'd better check the regulations section of the Guide carefully."

We stopped for a few minutes to look. We did find a few references to "remote communication tools" in the rulebook section, but they were only forbidden in the Codex Pagoda, Concentration Garden, and while attending a lecture. That was workable. We wished each other good luck for now, and parted at the signpost that informed the sect that District A was on the left path, and District B was to the right.

The buildings in District A were rather nice, especially compared to those in the largest District D. The building numbers for the district started from 300, so it didn't take me long to find #242. The front door opened easily into a hallway containing four more doors. Three of them were shut, and each of those had a person's name painted onto them. The door to the rear and left was open, with the word "vacant" painted. When I entered it, I thought I saw a shimmer out of the corner of my eye. Where "vacant" had been, my name now appeared. Apparently the room had recognized my badge and now this particular door would open only for me. I shut it behind me.

The room was rather sparse, but spacious enough, and the bed was better than the one I'd owned in my old world. There was also a writing desk with a cushioned chair. That was about it, though. Clearly we were supposed to decorate or otherwise furnish our rooms ourselves. Not that I likely would decorate much.

I spent the next several hours poring over the Library Guide, assimilating as much information as I could. Then, I brought out the scroll for the Spirit Arrow technique. Most of what I read over, I already knew, but the scroll was much better organized compared to the assimilation method in the Codex Pagoda. Once I felt confident in being able to use the technique, I opened my door to leave and was surprised by a "Hoh?"

Another disciple was entering the room across from mine just as I was leaving it. "I wondered, when I saw the last room of this building had been assigned. You just got here yesterday?"

"Yes. I mean, I assume it was yesterday. I lose track of time when I'm studying."

They laughed. "I know what you mean. So if you just became a disciple recently, that must mean you were invited from one of the Library's unranked sects."

"That's right." It was a white lie—if this person didn't know about the Academy, I wasn't about to go through the hassle of explaining it to him.

"Heh, you must be really something if they actually awarded you an A Rank badge. It's not often building-mates actually meet up here, so it might be fate."

"Fate?" You're not coming on to me, are you? I barely refrained from saying that out loud, since he'd likely take it as a grave insult.

"Yeah. Something about you makes me think you won't stay a nobody for long, so I'll give you a little advice. The buildings numbered 1-100 here, stay away from them if you want to stay out of trouble. They're the best accommodations the Outer Court has, and they're occupied by either Inner Court disciples who got reassigned there as a minor punishment, or newer disciples who come from serious privilege. I'm talking the kind of cultivator who'll get offended at you just for looking at them."

"I see, thank you."

"No problem. The name's Li Han by the way, in case you didn't read it on my door. It's nice to meet you, junior brother Xu Zuhui."

"Nice to meet you too, senior brother." I turned to go, then did a double-take. "Wait, Li as in the Li Family of the Nine Sacred Families?!"

"That's right. Oh, I'm not a blood member. I was recruited by them 10 years ago and transferred to this sect for my Comprehension talent. If I was a blood member, I'd probably be somewhere like the Azure Flame Abbey. I haven't spent much time in the sect since then since I spent most of my time doing missions to earn enough merit for a Heaven Rank technique. So, it really is a stroke of fortune that you actually caught me here."

"A Heaven Rank technique, eh? And how close are you to affording it?"

"I should be able to buy the one I want from the Contribution Hall in another couple years or so. Even that's really fast; Heaven Rank techniques are highly prized even by the Library. Once I learn it, I should be able to pass the Inner Court Exam without a problem." At my quizzical look, he continued, "the second part of 3 of the Inner Court Exam is to strike a special training puppet with your strongest technique. Most who try it use Spirit Rank techniques, but when I saw the particular Heaven Rank I'm after, I just had to go after it."

"I see. Though if Heaven Rank techniques are that prized, does the Library have any Divine Rank techniques? I'd heard they did."

"Just one, discovered by the founder himself. Some say it's the best cultivation technique in the Mortal Heaven, surpassing even those used by the Rank #1 Earth Ascension Palace. Only Inner Court Disciples can attempt to learn it, and succeeding is the prerequisite to test to be a Core Disciple. It's very difficult—one without Comprehension talent could never hope to master even the easiest Divine Rank technique in their lifetime, and I doubt this technique is the easiest."

A Divine Rank cultivation technique…looks like I need to find a way to become an Inner Court Disciple as quickly as possible. "Thank you for the information."

"No problem, and hey, if there's anything else you wanna ask me, you can always slip a note under my door. Just don't expect a reply for quite a while."

"Same for me," I said, "I plan on spending plenty of time away on missions, too."

Li Han nodded. "It's the best way to advance in a sect, especially when you're at a cultivation bottleneck."

"Plus you get away from most drama that happens between disciples."

"Haha, you said it!"