My exclusive card pool

Chapter 224 Only children make choices
After leaving the courtyard, Wang Xi walked through a maple forest.

As the morning light shone, he re-examined the environment of the study... and found that it truly deserved the title of "paradise on earth," quiet and pleasant, as beautiful as a painting.

While enjoying the scenery along the way, Wang Xi also encountered some disciples belonging to the four halls of calligraphy, painting, swordsmanship, and staff fighting.

These young men and women dressed in black robes were walking together. When they saw Wang Xi, they were taken aback, as if they did not recognize this handsome and extraordinary "stranger" at first glance.

It wasn't until someone suddenly came to their senses and called out "Uncle-Master Wang" that everyone stopped and respectfully greeted him with the courtesy due to a junior.

Wang Xi was very approachable and responded with a smile, "There's no need for such formalities, everyone."

“By the way,” he said. “Where is the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion? I’m new here and not very familiar with the area.”

"Reporting to Martial Uncle, the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion is located to the east of Chengmo Hall, right next to the Master's Courtyard."

A female disciple with an oval face turned around, pointed in a certain direction, and answered.

"Thank you, nephew," Wang Xi said.

Looking at the young man's handsome smile, the female disciple felt her ears burning and stammered, "Uncle-Master Wang, my name is... Mei Xinyao."

Seeing this, Wang Xi added, "Thank you, Junior Sister Xin Yao."

Mei Xinyao didn't dare to look him in the eye. She lowered her head, her ears turning red and spreading to her cheeks. She replied softly, "Uncle Wang, you're too kind."

The sound was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

Wang Xi smiled and nodded, then turned and walked in the direction she indicated. His steps were steady, the hem of his golden robe shimmering in the morning light, and his tied-up medium-length hair further accentuated his handsome profile.

Even after that tall, straight figure disappeared around the corner of the maple forest, Mei Xinyao remained staring, rooted to the spot.

"Hey, junior sister! Have you lost your soul?" A female disciple next to her, dressed in the same black robe and with her hair in double buns, couldn't help but nudge her with her elbow and teased, "Look at you, your eyeballs are about to pop out!"

Another female disciple with a slightly aloof demeanor smiled and said, "It's not Xin Yao's fault. This new Martial Uncle Wang may not look very old, but his talent and bearing are extraordinary."

Mei Xinyao suddenly came to her senses.

Her face flushed red, and she stomped her foot reproachfully, "Senior Sister Lin! Senior Sister Zhang! What nonsense are you talking about!"

The more frantic she became, the more the male disciples around her laughed.

One of the older male disciples suppressed his smile, looked in the direction Wang Xi had left, and sighed, "To have received the true teachings of the sect leader at such a young age... I heard that he captured a Dongmen swordsman with lightning speed on his first day of business. He is truly a prodigy."

"Compared to them, we are simply..."

He sighed and didn't say anything more.

Upon hearing this, the other disciples also stopped joking and showed reverence and longing on their faces.

...

...

Following the path, Wang Xi quickly arrived at his destination.

This is a three-story pavilion with upturned eaves, standing amidst a grove of golden maple trees, exuding an ancient charm. The pavilion is built entirely of dark brown nanmu wood, and simple copper bells hang from the eaves, ringing softly in the wind, producing a melodious and clear sound.

Above the entrance on the first floor hangs a dark gold plaque with three large, bold characters: "Langhuan Pavilion".

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, containing a vast scholarly and sword-like aura, clearly the work of a great master.

Wang Xi climbed the steps and entered through the open door, where a unique scent, a blend of ink fragrance and the aroma of ancient books, wafted towards him.

He discovered that the first floor of the cultivation method pavilion was extremely spacious, over three zhang high, and the interior space was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Dozens of huge ebony bookshelves were neatly arranged, one after another, densely packed with jade slips, bamboo slips, silk scrolls, leather scrolls, and even stone carvings, a variety that was astonishing.

At this time, many disciples were already moving between the bookshelves or pausing to read quietly. Everyone was holding their breath and concentrating, and the atmosphere was calm and solemn, with only the faint sounds of turning pages and jade slips touching.

Most of them wore ordinary black robes, with a few personal disciples occasionally seen wearing black robes with silver patterns.

To the left of the entrance, there is a large rosewood desk, behind which sits a middle-aged, refined man wearing a dark robe with purple patterns and a gentle smile.

An old-fashioned register lay open in front of him, and he was writing something down.

In Wang Xi's view, the entry above the middle-aged man's head was clearly visible—

"Meng Shubai, Manager of Langhuan Pavilion at Mojianzhai and Guardian of the Pavilion (Friendly/High-Rank Four-Star/Hero)"

Silver frame, four-star rating.

Noticing Wang Xi approaching, Master Meng raised his head, a warm smile appearing on his face. He put down his pen, stood up, and bowed, saying:
"Junior Brother Wang is here? Congratulations on becoming a disciple of the sect leader. I was unable to offer my congratulations in person yesterday, so I'm making up for it today."

His words and demeanor, however, did not reflect his age; on the contrary, he was very polite.

Wang Xi quickly returned the greeting, his posture humble: "Greetings, Senior Brother."

The two exchanged pleasantries.

"Junior brother is new here and has come to choose a cultivation method. Please give me your guidance, senior brother."

"Junior brother, you're too kind," Meng Shubai said with a smile. "It's my duty, why would I need to offer advice? Please sit down."

After Wang Xi sat down at the table, Meng Shubai explained the rules of the pavilion in detail: "This Langhuan Pavilion has three floors, which store the essence of the collection accumulated by my Mojianzhai over the generations. According to the rules of the pavilion, any new disciple can choose a protective spell or cultivation method suitable for their own path on the first floor."

"Although the books on the first floor are mostly introductory and intermediate level, they are comprehensive enough to help lay the foundation."

He paused, then said in a gentle tone, “As a true disciple, Junior Brother, we are truly envious. However, there are differences in the rules of the retreat. Disciples directly under the Hall Master can choose two spells on the first floor... As for a true disciple of the Hall Master like Junior Brother, he can choose three spells on the first floor.”

Wang Xi listened attentively and nodded to show that he understood.

Even the true disciples can only choose three schools?
but……

Only children make choices.

I want it all.

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards the staircase leading to the second and third floors, and he asked with a hint of curiosity, "Senior Brother Meng, what are the differences between the books on the second and third floors? And what conditions are required to borrow them?"

Meng Shubai smiled slightly: "The books stored on the second floor are mostly high-level spells, secret mental cultivation methods, seniors' experience notes, and some extremely rare but also more obscure and difficult-to-practice methods. Their value is far greater than that of the first floor."

"The third floor houses the most core and treasured cultivation manuals and precious insights from predecessors, which are not accessible to anyone who has not achieved great skill or has a special opportunity."

He abruptly changed the subject, pulled a bright golden talisman from the register under the table, and pushed it in front of Wang Xi: "As for the borrowing qualification... it just so happens that Junior Brother made a contribution yesterday when he first entered the sect!"

"On your journey to guide others, you not only uncovered the traitor Kang Jiekai's treacherous scheme, but also personally captured Fang Ang, the swordsman of the Winter Gate of the Heavenly Alliance... Remember, Kung Fu has already classified this as a 'Class C Merit'!"

Meng Shubai's tone was approving:
"Based on this Class C merit, Junior Brother may go up to the second floor and choose a martial arts technique to borrow."

"Thank you, senior brother, for clarifying my doubts."

After listening to this detailed explanation, Wang Xi stood up and bowed to the other party.

"Then I'll go and take a look."

"Brother, please do as you please."

Meng Shubai smiled and gestured for him to proceed.

Wang Xi stepped between the rows of huge bookshelves and directly used his primordial spirit to scan the labels and brief summaries on the books and jade slips.

"Kendo: Autumn Water Sword Manual": Exquisite sword techniques, the sword moves are as refined as autumn water, focusing on "entanglement" and "continuity".

"The Way of Painting: A Stunning Reflection": The art of painting shadow clones, condensing ink into illusory images.

"The Way of Calligraphy: The Powerful Brush Technique": The way to strengthen talismans and incantations by using characters as hammers, containing immense power.

"The Way of Tools: A Comprehensive Guide to Solving Various Common Mechanisms and Traps": This book includes the construction and solutions for various common mechanisms and traps.

"The Way of Celestial Phenomena: An Introduction to Astrological Divination": A basic method for observing stars and predicting good and bad fortune.

"The Way of Music: The Melodious Flute of Purification": Uses specific melodies to cleanse the mind, dispel distracting thoughts, and subtly restore the spirit.

"The Way of Alchemy: An Introduction to the Cultivation of Spiritual Plants": How to cultivate basic spiritual flowers and herbs.

"Array Dao - Small Sumeru Maze Array": A simple deception array that requires a special array plate to set up.

As Mencius said, the collection on the first floor is extremely broad and is not limited to the four main categories of calligraphy, painting, swords, and staffs that are the mainstream of Mojianzhai.

He even saw some familiar methods and techniques:
"Clay Sculpting Path: The Method of Shaping Living Beings": A method for initially cultivating low-level spirit puppets by mixing special spiritual soil with one's own essence, blood, and magical power.

"The Art of Threads: Eight Points of Threading Technique": Cultivating one's divine sense to create invisible threads, one can manipulate objects or an opponent's joints from a distance, making it unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

"Acrobatics Technique: Three Immortals Return to Cave" involves exquisite magical power techniques, which can achieve small-scale teleportation and concealment, and can be used to quickly hide or transfer small objects.

"The Way of Opera: The Chapter on Voice Imitation": Techniques for altering one's own voice and tone to mimic the characteristics of others, used for disguise or to deceive the enemy. Includes simple illusionary hints.

The sheer variety of Taoist magic techniques dazzled Wang Xi. While none possessed great power, each had its own unique characteristics and could be surprisingly effective in certain situations. Wang Xi scanned through them with great interest, secretly pondering:

'The Mo Jian Zhai (Ink Sword Studio) truly possesses a profound and inclusive foundation. Calligraphy, painting, swordsmanship, and staff fighting are its main branches, but these unusual and ingenious skills also have their own ways of survival, and they may offer mutual insights and inspiration…'

Wang Xi pretended to stroll around the first floor twice, occasionally picking up a book or a jade slip to examine it.

But a series of tinkling sounds kept ringing in my ears.

"You've discovered magic!"

"Will you accept the tutelage of 'Mo Jian Zhai' and acquire this ability?"

"You've discovered magic!"

"You've discovered magic!"

"..."

"Yes, yes, I want them all."

Wang Xi thought to himself with a smug satisfaction.

One after another, orbs of light, some green and some dark green, flew out from the books and jade slips and disappeared into his brow.

"This 'Langhuan Pavilion' is like a buffet restaurant; I'm going to eat my fill today!"

Wang Xi said secretly.

He outwardly chose three spells: "The Finishing Touch," "The Image of the Impression," and "The Mountain-Suppressing Staff."

The first two belong to the art of painting, while the latter belongs to the art of sticks.

"The Finishing Touch" records various ways of drawing eyes, not only for humans but also for fairies and monsters.

"Linyingtu" is a technique of light and shadow in landscape painting, which can imitate the shadows of all things and preserve a small part of the target's power in the painting.

The "Zhenyue Staff" is powerful and fierce, with wide, sweeping movements.

These three spells have high entry requirements, and ordinary disciples rarely choose them, but Wang Xi did not have this problem.

In fact, the main reason he chose these three spells was to fit his identity as a true disciple.

As a disciple of the master, it wouldn't be right not to have explored all four paths, would it?
Ah.

Let this "genius" status remain.

After a while.

More than two hundred orbs of light had appeared in Wang Xi's mind, none of them white, the least of them were green.

Dark green made up one-fifth of the color.

What the hell.

This is a massive takeout.

Wang Xi, carrying three ancient bamboo slips, went up to the second floor. He planned to spend the "Grade C merit" in exchange for a high-level spell.

of course.

The real purpose was to eat at a more upscale buffet.

In stark contrast to the vast collection of books on the first floor, the second floor appears even higher, giving it a solemn and spacious feel.

The number of dark brown nanmu bookshelves has been drastically reduced, with only seven or eight rows arranged along the wall, leaving ample space between them.

The books here are obviously stored in more valuable containers.

Although the quantity was reduced to thirty or forty portions, the quality suddenly improved.

Wang Xi took a deep breath and began to read.

"You've discovered magic!"

"You've discovered the cultivation technique!"

"You've discovered the reflection journal!"

"Will you accept the tutelage of 'Mo Jian Zhai' and acquire this ability?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Wang Xi gave the instructions.

He saw clusters of blue, and occasionally deep blue, light shooting out, and his heart pounded faster and faster.

Another moment passed.

Wang Xi held a jade slip in his hand, labeled "Panlong Yun". This was a "calligraphy" spell that involved the application of external forms.

As he walked downstairs, he muttered to himself:
"As Master said, I should focus on the 'external appearance' method for now. It's a pity that I can only choose one spell... Such a vast array of spells, it's truly regrettable that I can't glimpse them all!"

His tone was full of regret.

Those who heard this couldn't help but turn their heads, their faces showing the same sentiment.

Little did he know that Wang Xi was almost unable to hold back at this moment, as more than twenty blue light clusters and eight dark blue light clusters appeared in his mind!
'It's a pity I wasn't allowed to go to the third floor; there must be some good stuff hidden there...'

Wang Xi looked deeply regretful.

This expression, combined with his earlier mutterings, felt perfectly natural and added to his sadness.

He returned to the desk on the first floor of Langhuan Pavilion, put down the four letters, and handed them to the custodian Meng Shubai to record.

"Junior Brother, have you chosen?" The middle-aged man smiled and examined the spells, praising, "Good eye! They are all excellent spells that can lay a solid foundation for you... It's clear that you have lofty ambitions and are not confined to one path. Perhaps in the future, you will be able to unite the four paths like the Master."

"Thank you for your kind words, senior brother."

Wang Xi said modestly.

Meng Shubai asked for his sword seal, stamped it on a book, and then comforted him:
“Junior brother, you have a calm mind. I have been guarding the pavilion for more than ten years. Most disciples are dazzled when they first enter the ‘Langhuan Pavilion’, not knowing that they cannot bite off more than they can chew… If you make contributions in the future, you can come again.”

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Wang Xi looked deeply moved and bowed with his hands clasped in gratitude.

He then left gracefully.

...

...

Wang Xi returned to the courtyard.

He wasn't in a hurry.

He first practiced a set of boxing moves in the courtyard to calm his excited mood before entering the side room, lighting an incense stick, and sitting on a prayer mat.

'Caus, you know what I'm going to say.'

Wang Xi said secretly.

However, Teacher DaKa remained unmoved.

"..."

Wang Xi was silent for a few seconds.

'Draw it.'

Only then did the flow of information pop up in my mind.

"Consume 23300 energy points (26730 remaining)"

Buzz buzz buzz——

Countless clusters of light shone brightly.

With 233 draws, Wang Xi unleashed all the accumulated resources of Mo Jian Zhai over the years!

(End of this chapter)