Record of Mortals Slaying Heaven

Back in the courtyard, Shen Moqi immediately went to the table and pulled out her phone from her pocket. She pressed her fingertips on the cold screen several times, but it remained completely black, showing no sign of lighting up. She had spent the entire day recording footage at the martial arts arena, and the phone's battery was long gone.

"I wonder how much crucial footage I recorded..." He looked down at his unresponsive phone in his palm and muttered to himself, a hint of regret in his voice. He then took out the hand-cranked charger, plugged it into the phone, and began to slowly and steadily crank the handle.

Creak...creak...

In the still of the night, the entire courtyard was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness. Only the mechanical, monotonous grinding sound echoed repeatedly in the air, sounding exceptionally clear. Shen Moqi sat on the bed, mechanically cranking the charger, while her mind uncontrollably replayed the scenes she had witnessed in the martial arts arena during the day—a cultivator unleashing a powerful palm strike, his immense spiritual energy suddenly exploding and forcefully sending his opponent flying several feet away; a swordsman drawing his longsword, its light as sharp as the wind, his figure leaving only a blur; a cultivator using speed to win, decisively ending the match within three moves, winning cheers from the crowd; and someone else using hand seals, alternating between earth shields, water curtains, and fireballs, the various spells flowing smoothly and seamlessly, leaving the audience breathless.

"So this is how spells can be used in combination, and the circulation of spiritual energy can be so exquisite..." He murmured to himself, gazing at the darkness before him, his eyes filled with awe and longing. During his three months in the Scripture Pavilion, he had read some books, but he always felt that what he learned from books was ultimately superficial. It wasn't until he witnessed cultivators fighting with their own eyes that he truly understood the vastness and wonder of the path of cultivation.

After shaking it countless times, the phone screen finally lit up slightly in the darkness. Shen Moqi quickly looked down and saw that the battery level in the upper right corner was only 7%, barely enough to power on and use normally. Just as he was about to shake it to charge again, a warm sensation suddenly came from his chest, as if he were being gently wrapped in a warm cotton ball, which slowly spread through his veins to his limbs.

He paused slightly, instinctively looking down. He saw a faint, flickering light emanating from the inside of his robe, soft and rhythmic, like fireflies in a dark forest, standing out starkly against the grey fabric. Shen Moqi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized—this was the communication jade talisman that Senior Lin had given him. Since receiving it, it had remained quietly inside his robe, never showing any unusual reaction. As time passed, he had almost forgotten about it. He quickly reached into his robe, took out the cool, smooth jade talisman, and held it tightly in his palm. The light continued to flicker slowly, carrying a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy.

He immediately remembered Senior Lin's instructions and dared not be negligent. He concentrated his mind and carefully poured a trace of spiritual power into the jade talisman.

The next moment, a voice carrying a hint of laziness and casualness came directly from the jade talisman, clearly reaching his ears: "Come to the Scripture Pavilion at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow. This humble Taoist has something to discuss with you."

The sound lasted only a moment before abruptly ceasing, and the glowing jade talisman in her palm quickly dimmed, returning to its original cold and silent state, as if everything just now had been an illusion. Shen Moqi held the unmoving jade talisman, standing there stunned for a long while, a strange sense of unease and doubt rising in her heart.

Senior Lin suddenly contacted him? What could it be about?

He stood there, carefully recalling what he had done in the Sutra Repository during this period—he had organized the more than 30,000 books in the repository neatly, categorized them, and made them easy to see at a glance; the daily entry and exit registers were written meticulously, without any omissions; when Senior Lin personally inspected it last time, he did not find a single fault; even his trip to the martial arts arena to watch the competition these past few days was with Senior Lin's personal permission... After thinking it over, he realized that he had been well-behaved and diligent during this period, had never done anything wrong, and had not violated any sect rules, so he really could not figure out why Senior Lin had suddenly summoned him.

Suppressing the turmoil in my heart, I continued shaking the charger until the phone was fully charged, but my mind was still uneasy. I tossed and turned in bed, repeatedly guessing the purpose of Senior Lin's summons. It wasn't until late at night that I finally succumbed to sleepiness and closed my eyes in a daze.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Moqi got up early to wash and tidy his clothes before heading towards the Scripture Pavilion. A quarter to go before Chen Shi (7-9 AM), he stood firmly at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, his posture upright and his expression respectful.

He took a deep breath, calming the last trace of tension in his heart. Just as he was about to raise his hand to knock on the wooden door, the door suddenly creaked open slowly from the inside. Shen Moqi was already used to this. After all, Senior Lin's cultivation was profound, and this little trick was nothing more than a matter of lifting a finger. He immediately composed himself and gently stepped over the high threshold.

Inside the library's first floor, the morning light slanted in through the carved windows, casting straight, bright beams of light onto the bluestone floor. A light dust mote mingled with the lingering scent of ink and books accumulated over the years. Beside the desk facing the main entrance stood a familiar figure, his back to the door, his slender frame visible.

It was Senior Lin.

But today's Senior Lin is completely different from the simple, casual, and indifferent old man of the past.

The old, faded robe with slightly frayed edges was nowhere to be seen; in its place was a brand-new, light blue robe, made of fine fabric, its hems hanging neatly, swaying gently in the breeze without a single extra wrinkle. The ordinary wooden hairpin that held his hair in place had been replaced by a smooth, lustrous white jade hairpin. His jet-black hair was meticulously combed and tied back, revealing a thin and serious face. His usually gentle features now held a touch of solemnity. A lustrous jade pendant hung at his waist, motionless at his side, and his entire demeanor suddenly became dignified, completely unlike his usual relaxed self in the scripture pavilion.

Shen Moqi had never seen Senior Lin dressed so formally and seriously before. She was momentarily dazed and stood there lost in thought, almost forgetting to move forward.

"You've arrived?" Senior Lin slowly turned around, glanced at him calmly, and spoke with a more composed tone than usual, "No need for formalities. Let's go see the Grand Elder."

Shen Moqi suddenly came to her senses, quickly composed herself, bowed and agreed, and followed closely behind Senior Lin, not daring to overstep her bounds in the slightest.

"The Elder is a man of few words and strict character, and he places great importance on the rules and etiquette of the sect. You must remember not to lose your composure and to be respectful in your words and actions." As they walked, Senior Lin did not forget to whisper his advice, his tone carrying a hint of concern for him. "Remember to speak less and do more, do not look around aimlessly, and do not ask questions rashly."

Shen Moqi took notes carefully and nodded repeatedly: "This junior understands and will certainly not cause any trouble for senior."

The two left the Sutra Repository one after the other. Senior Lin walked straight to the open space in the courtyard. Without stopping, he suddenly raised his hand and gently grabbed Shen Moqi's arm.

The moment his fingertips were touched, Shen Moqi instantly felt his body lighten, a strong sense of weightlessness suddenly washing over him. The ground beneath his feet flew away rapidly, and he soared into the sky along with the surging spiritual energy around Senior Lin. This was his second time experiencing flight, and the fear was not as intense as before. Although his heart was still slightly clenched, he felt calmer. However, his fingertips still instinctively gripped Senior Lin's sleeve tightly, seeking a sense of security.

The wind whistled past her ears, whipping her robes into the wind. Shen Moqi looked down, and the familiar scripture pavilion, the verdant bamboo forest, and her small courtyard were rapidly shrinking, becoming indistinct shadows in the mist. In the distance, the continuous mountain peaks appeared and disappeared among the clouds. On the peaks, several ancient buildings, with their flying eaves and carved beams, were built against the mountainside, shrouded in a light mist, appearing exceptionally solemn and mysterious, displaying the grandeur of a celestial sect.

Senior Lin remained silent throughout, simply leading Shen Moqi swiftly through the clouds, his spiritual energy flowing smoothly around him, their flight path as steady as Mount Tai.

After flying for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Senior Lin slowly slowed down and began to descend with him. Shen Moqi held his breath and looked down. Below was a solitary, towering mountain peak with a flat and open summit. Several ancient pines, thousands of years old, had intertwined roots and vigorous branches. A magnificent blue stone palace was quietly hidden among the ancient pines, with upturned eaves and blue stone paving the ground. It was surrounded by a faint spiritual energy, quiet and solemn, inspiring awe in those who looked upon it.

Senior Lin led Shen Moqi steadily to the bottom of the stone steps in front of the hall. He then gently adjusted his blue robe, his expression becoming increasingly solemn, and began to walk up the stone steps. Shen Moqi quickly suppressed all distracting thoughts and followed closely, step by step, each step steady and respectful, not daring to make the slightest mistake.

The doors to the main hall were open, and the light inside was much dimmer than outside, exuding a tranquil and solemn atmosphere. Shen Moqi followed behind Senior Lin, gently stepping over the threshold. At a glance, she saw a large, heavy blue stone table in the center of the hall. Several ancient books were placed on the table, and writing brushes and ink were neatly arranged. On the futon in front of the table, a Taoist priest sat cross-legged in meditation.

The Taoist priest appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old, with a thin face and a stern expression. His temples were streaked with gray, and he wore a dark blue Taoist robe intricately embroidered with silver cloud patterns, the fine lines revealing his noble status. He had been sitting with his eyes closed, concentrating on regulating his breathing, when he heard the two footsteps. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, yet carrying an imposing aura that made others hesitant to look him in the eye.

Senior Lin immediately bowed respectfully with Shen Moqi and said, "We apologize for disturbing your cultivation, Senior Brother. The person has been brought."

The elder's gaze fell directly on Shen Moqi, slowly scrutinizing her from top to bottom. His eyes were calm and unwavering, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Is it him?" His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the vicissitudes of time, devoid of any superfluous emotion, as calm as a mountain stream.

"Yes." Senior Lin bowed slightly, nodded with certainty, and then praised, "This lad is diligent and meticulous on duty in the Scripture Pavilion. He was able to memorize and classify all 30,000 books in the pavilion in just ten days, without the slightest error. He has been here for more than three months and has never made a single mistake in managing the Scripture Pavilion. His temperament and memory are both excellent."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Oh? To memorize 30,000 books in ten days? You do have a remarkable ability to remember everything you see."

Senior Lin smiled upon hearing this and continued, "Not only that, but the fire attack plan that defeated the enemy on the border of the Great Yan Kingdom was also his idea. At that time, the city was besieged by the enemy for two months, and was running out of food and reinforcements, and was on the verge of collapse. With just a few pieces of cloth soaked in grease, he burned 30,000 elite enemy cavalrymen and lifted the siege of the city. He was meticulous and had great insight, which was far beyond what ordinary disciples could do."

The Grand Elder's gaze lingered on Shen Moqi for a few more moments, his expression softening slightly as he nodded gently: "I have also heard of this matter. To be able to devise such a brilliant plan in a desperate situation, one must be meticulous, insightful, and composed. Indeed, she is suitable."

Senior Lin breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Otherwise, Junior Brother wouldn't have dared to bring someone here to Senior Brother's place so rashly."

The Grand Elder did not reply, but glanced at Shen Moqi, who stood respectfully to the side with her head bowed, and slowly stood up, saying, "In that case, let's go and take a look together."

After saying that, he turned around and led Senior Lin and Shen Moqi toward the back door of the main hall.

"These past few days, my junior brother and I have been repeatedly trying to solve the riddles in the hall using Taoist numerology, but we haven't made any progress and are completely clueless." The Grand Elder added calmly on the way, "Just do your best to solve it in a while. If you really can't solve it, don't feel pressured. I won't blame you."

"Senior brother, but..." Senior Lin's heart tightened upon hearing this. He was about to interrupt and persuade her, worried that the riddle was too difficult and would trouble Shen Moqi, but he was stopped by the Grand Elder's calm gaze. He had no choice but to swallow his words and say no more.

The three of them walked through the corridor and soon arrived at a quiet side room. The room was simply furnished with no superfluous decorations. There was only a square wooden table in the center, on which was laid a yellowed sheet of straw paper covered with neat squares, densely packed and intricately drawn.

The elder pointed to the scraps of paper on the table and said to Shen Moqi in a calm tone, "Go up and take a look, carefully study it, and see if you can solve this riddle."

Shen Moqi walked to the table as instructed, his gaze slowly falling on the paper. His expression remained calm and respectful, but his heart was already in turmoil: "This... isn't this Sudoku? Why is it in the hall of a cultivation sect and treated as an unsolvable puzzle?" He suppressed his shock and kept his face expressionless, afraid of revealing the slightest abnormality.

Senior Lin, standing beside him, noticed his focused observation and quickly whispered a reminder: "This object resembles the Nine Palaces of our Daoist school, and its rules are somewhat similar. However, our Daoist Nine Palaces only has nine squares, which can be used to deduce directions, predict good and bad fortune, and interpret the Dao of Heaven, while this object has eighty-one squares, and its rules are more complex than the traditional Nine Palaces."

He then patiently explained the rules to Shen Moqi: "You need to fill in the numbers from one to nine within these eighty-one squares. The numbers in each row, each column, and each small 3x3 grid must not be repeated and there must be no mistakes. Only then can it be considered solved."

Shen Moqi stood in front of the table, staring at the Sudoku puzzle on the paper. She stared at it quietly for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, memorizing all the empty spaces and known numbers before slowly turning around and respectfully bowing to the Grand Elder and Senior Lin, saying, "Seniors, I am willing to give it a try, but this puzzle is complex and profound, and I am not entirely confident."

"Then you may continue your deductions here in peace. I will give you half a month. Is half a month enough?" The Grand Elder asked, looking at him calmly.

Shen Moqi pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "If I cannot solve this within half a month, I am afraid I am truly powerless. However, before proceeding with the deduction, I would like to ask the two seniors to enlighten me with the Daoist Nine Palaces Method, so that I may have something to refer to and it will be easier for me to get started."

"Remember this well, I will only say it once." The Grand Elder looked at Shen Moqi, who was listening intently and not daring to slack off in the slightest, and slowly spoke, his voice clear and powerful, "The meaning of the Nine Palaces is based on the spirit tortoise, with two and four as shoulders, six and eight as feet, three on the left and seven on the right, nine on the head and one on the feet, and five in the center."

These few short incantations encompassed the core mysteries of the Nine Palaces of Taoism. Shen Moqi memorized every word, engraving them firmly in her mind. She then bowed again, solemnly thanking the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder nodded slightly, leaving behind the words, "You can focus on your divination here without worrying about anything else. I will wait for your news in the front hall." He then turned and left the room with Senior Lin.

Senior Lin followed the Grand Elder for quite a distance before lowering his voice and asking with some concern, "Senior Brother, is there any problem with this arrangement, directly entrusting the puzzle of the first level of the secret realm to an outer disciple? After all, this matter concerns the sect's secret realm quota, which is of utmost importance."

The Grand Elder did not stop walking, his gaze fixed ahead, and said calmly, "What problem could there be? This person knows nothing about the secret realm and considers it just an ordinary puzzle, so he would never reveal a single detail. I am just worried that other sects will solve the puzzle first, which will greatly reduce the number of slots for our sect to enter the secret realm. Now that no one in the sect can solve it, we can only try our best as a last resort."

The Grand Elder paused, his tone becoming slightly more somber, and continued, "I wonder when the Sect Master will finally break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. He has been in seclusion for over forty years. The sect now has many affairs that require our support, and we absolutely cannot fall behind in terms of the number of secret realm slots."

The two stopped talking and walked side by side towards the front hall, their figures quickly disappearing behind the pillars.

Shen Moqi was completely unaware of all these secrets concerning the secret realm, the sect's quota, and the sect leader's seclusion. He was currently standing in the side room, staring at the Sudoku puzzle on the table, concentrating and preparing to begin solving it, completely unaware that he had been drawn into the sect's important affairs, and even less aware of the opportunities and trials hidden behind this seemingly simple Sudoku puzzle.