The wind blew through the apricot tree, rustling its green leaves and bringing a trace of cool air.

Gu An sat beneath the apricot tree, contemplating his cultivation arrangements for the coming days.

First, he needed to visit the Scripture Pavilion to select a technique. The three techniques Gu An currently knew were all ordinary. They were enough for dealing with average people, but cultivators in the late Qi Condensation stage would all learn high-grade techniques. Those with exceptional talent might even cultivate them in the mid Qi Condensation stage.

High-grade techniques were still Qi Condensation stage techniques, but they were either extraordinarily powerful, incredibly fast, or possessed special properties. Xiao Wenyuan's Cicada-Breath Spirit-Concealing Art and Huang Xuan's Blood-Burning Escape both belonged to this category.

Although Gu An had only recently reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, given the breeding efficiency of the Black Spirit Fish, it wouldn't be long before he broke through to the seventh layer.

"Hmm, I'll visit the Scripture Pavilion tomorrow morning and take a look."

Second was the diversity of his spirit beasts. Gu An had considered this before, but he lacked the proper conditions during his Garrison Duty in Yun Kingdom. He would need to find time to visit Qingyuan Immortal City and see if there were any good spirit beasts available.

Gu An also planned to buy some aquatic spirit beasts this time. Comparatively speaking, aquatic spirit beasts of the same realm were smaller in size but contained more Spiritual Qi, making them incredibly suitable for [Spirit Source Feedback]!

He also needed to buy some Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink. Leaving in such a hurry last time, he had given his Storage Bag to Xiao Wenyuan without asking if it held any Talisman Paper or Spiritual Ink. Gu An's own reserves were already running low.

Finally, and most importantly, Gu An needed to take on another breeding assignment!

Logically speaking, at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, accepting a breeding assignment wasn't difficult. However, recalling the face of the steward at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall today, Gu An decided to wait until Steward Zhang was on duty before going to check.

He would visit Zhang Song in a couple of days. Three years had passed, and he wondered how his old friend was faring.

Gu An took out the Storage Bag Xiao Wenyuan had given him and infused it with spiritual power to open it.

"Eh, why does it require so much spiritual power?" Gu An wondered inwardly. It was about the same amount of spiritual power needed to open a spirit beast pouch.

In fact, it was a spirit beast pouch. Storage Bags and spirit beast pouches were difficult to distinguish without handling them; only the amount of spiritual power required to open them was different.

The spirit beast pouch was completely empty. There was no so-called Xiao family inheritance inside, only a single ice-blue giant egg lying quietly within.

Gu An's breathing grew heavy. Could this ice-blue giant egg be the Cold-Scale Python egg with a flood dragon bloodline that Xiao Wenyuan had mentioned?!

The very prize that had caused the destruction of the Xiao family had simply been handed to him.

For a moment, Gu An even wondered if Xiao Wenyuan had handed him the wrong bag. But on second thought, he realized that was impossible. His own Storage Bag and spirit beast pouch...

Gu An's heart felt heavy. This gift was far too precious!!

"Brother Xiao, oh, Brother Xiao. I will accept this gift. If I form my Golden Core and True Person Black Flood Dragon is still alive, I will definitely help you avenge your family's annihilation."

...

The next morning, Gu An arrived before the Scripture Pavilion.

Walking slowly into the Scripture Pavilion, he saw Elder Gu Yan lying on a rocking chair, holding a small booklet and reading it with great relish. On the jade table before him sat a set of tea utensils, steam rising and tea fragrance wafting through the air.

Hearing Gu An's footsteps, Gu Yan casually tucked the small booklet under the jade table, cleared his throat, and looked up at him.

"Ahem. What are you standing there for? If you want to choose a technique, go inside. If not, leave. What are you staring at this old man for?"

"You're sitting right at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion. How could I pretend not to see you and just walk straight in?"

Despite his inner complaints, Gu An's face showed nothing unusual. He bowed respectfully and said, "Disciple will go in now."

Seeing that Gu An wasn't talking back, Gu Yan grunted in satisfaction and waved a hand, gesturing for Gu An to go in quickly.

Gu An cupped his hands again before striding upstairs.

Politeness never offended anyone, especially a temperamental Foundation Establishment Elder. Caution prevented great mistakes; he didn't want to unknowingly draw the man's petty ire.

As soon as Gu An went upstairs, Gu Yan immediately pulled out the small booklet and started reading again. If anyone had witnessed this scene, they would have seen the usually cold and stern Elder Gu Yan grinning lecherously.

Up on the third floor, Gu An naturally didn't know that Elder Gu Yan was reading a little yellow book downstairs. When he saw Gu Yan tucking the booklet away earlier, he only assumed it was some profound secret.

Who could have imagined that in a heavily guarded and solemn place like the Scripture Pavilion, in broad daylight and plain view, a Foundation Establishment Elder would be so debauched? This wasn't just shameless-it was utterly shameless!!

The third floor was much smaller than the second, yet there were still over a hundred Spell Jade Slips resting on the shelves. These jade slips recorded high-grade techniques and skill inheritances.

Any one of these inheritances would be considered incredibly precious in the outside world and could easily cause storms of bloodshed. Yet the Qingyuan Sect simply displayed over a hundred of them, leaving them for disciples to choose from!

This was the foundation of a Sect! This was what it meant to enjoy the shade beneath a great tree!

Gu An looked over the jade slips one by one, discovering many techniques that made his eyes burn with desire.

Blood-Burning Escape, a high-grade technique. It burned one's essence blood to drastically increase the speed of their escape art-an excellent method for fleeing for one's life.

When Yun Xiuyan decided to Invest in Huang Xuan earlier, this was the technique she gave him. Not only could it be used as a standalone escape technique, but one could also use their essence blood to enhance the speed of Magical Artifacts or Talismans, allowing them to flee even faster.

Gu An had coveted it for a long time. Now that he had the opportunity, he was definitely going to exchange for it.

Water Dragon Art, a high-grade technique. It summoned a water dragon to attack enemies-fierce, unyielding, and unstoppable.

Withered Water Art, a high-grade technique. It possessed no offensive power of its own, but it could be attached to other water-attribute techniques to add a property that eroded spiritual power.

...

Suddenly, Gu An's eyes lit up when he saw another technique.

Spirit Contract Art, a high-grade technique. It formed a spirit contract with a spirit beast, establishing the human as the master and the beast as the servant. Even if the beast was an entire major realm higher in cultivation, it would not suffer a backlash. The effect was optimal when contracted from the egg or infancy stage.

This was the one. The Cold-Scale Python was in luck!

Gu An picked up the three jade slips for Blood-Burning Escape, Withered Water Art, and Spirit Contract Art, then went downstairs to find Martial Uncle Gu Yan.

By this time, Gu Yan had already put away his little yellow book. He was holding a teapot, pouring himself half a cup of tea. The verdant tea cascaded into the cup. Coupled with Gu Yan's placid, expressionless face, he looked entirely like an aloof, otherworldly immortal.

Gu An walked up to the jade table, respectfully handing the three Spell Jade Slips to Gu Yan. "Martial Uncle Gu, this disciple has chosen these three techniques."

Gu Yan glanced at them, frowning slightly. "These kinds of high-grade techniques are usually only cultivated in the late Qi Condensation stage," he said in surprise. "You're only at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation. Why cultivate them so early?"

Gu An's Cicada-Breath Spirit-Concealing Art had already reached a profound level, so Gu Yan couldn't see through his true cultivation. The Elder genuinely believed he was only at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation.

Gu An had his excuse prepared well in advance. He spoke clearly, "This disciple's talent with techniques is decent, and I have some Spirit Stones on hand, so I thought..."

Before Gu An could finish, Gu Yan waved a hand and cut him off. "Suit yourself. If you want to cultivate them, then cultivate them. That will be ninety Spirit Stones in total. You must return to destroy the jade slips in six months. Do not pass them on to anyone else!"

After copying the contents of the three jade slips one by one, he tossed them over. Gu An brought out ninety Spirit Stones, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.