White-Robed Chief

The following morning, Chu Li left Small Light Peak with Li Ruolan and headed towards Great Light Peak.

Once they had arrived at the basilica, five Elders were already waiting for them.

Sun Mingyue was still sitting upon the curtained pavilion as she reviewed the scroll in her hand. Upon hearing Chu Li and Li Ruolan’s footsteps, she lifted her head to glance at them before she calmly said, “You’re both the earliest, let Zhao Dahe in immediately.”

“Zhao Dahe.” A silver-haired Elder stood forward and gave a fist salute before saying, “My Saint, then we will return to the Sutra Library.”

“Yes, he will be under your care now, Sir Zhao.” Sun Mingyue lowered her head to continue reading the scroll in her grasp. Then, she calmly said, “He is a genius we’ve never seen before in these past 21 years.”

Upon hearing these words, the silver-haired Elder was stunned. He immediately gave a fist salute and said, “I understand, you may set your mind at rest, my Saint!”

Sun Mingyue waved her hand dismissively once more, without lifting her head.

Li Ruolan softly said, “This is the pavilion master of the Sutra Library, Zhao Zhe.”

Chu Li nodded his head.

The silver-haired Elder walked towards Chu Li and smiled at Li Ruolan. “Is he together with you, Ruolan?”

“Yes, I’m grateful for your future help in teaching him, Sir Zhao,” said Li Ruolan with a polite smile.

Zhao Zhe returned the smile and said, “But of course. You need not worry, I’ll handle it well.”

He then turned to look at Chu Li. “Do follow me.”

Chu Li nodded his head at Li Ruolan and gave her a fist salute before bowing his head at Sun Mingyue, who was still reading her scroll. Nevertheless, he gave her a fist salute as well. He then left the basilica with Zhao Zhe.

“Zhao Dahe…” Zhao Zhe walked on with his hands crossed behind his back. His footsteps were light.

Catching up with him, Chu Li greeted him with a fist salute. “Pavilion Master Zhao.”

Zhao Zhe merely said, “You’re quite lucky that you had a good guide.”

Chu Li knew he was talking about Li Ruolan. “Miss Ruolan is indeed a good person.”

“Her parents are from the Sutra Library.” Zhao Zhe glanced at him before he continued, “So I’m sure you’ll have a stable foundation in the Sutra Library as well.”

“Ah?” Chu Li was shocked.

Li Ruolan had never mentioned this to him before.

Zhao Zhe continued, “However, that doesn’t mean you should slack off. Otherwise, people might be able to use that against you and report you to the higher-ups. If that were to happen, your entire appointment will be ruined and I’m afraid you might even be transferred to the Spirit Medicine Nursery down below.”

Chu Li replied, “I understand, I’ll definitely put my heart into doing everything.”

“That’s correct, you have to put your heart into doing anything. Since you’re new here, you need to expend even more effort into doing well. The Sutra Library isn’t as simple as you think.” Zhao Zhe nodded his head in satisfaction, never once stopping in his tracks.

Chu Li asked, “What do I need to do first?”

“Since you’ve just arrived, you should start by familiarizing yourself with the Sutra Library. You’ll be in charge of cleaning the Sutra Library.” Zhao Zhe’s tone was calm as he continued, “If I’m not mistaken, provided that you don’t slack off, we’ll make adjustments in a year.”

Chu Li smiled bitterly. “How long can I work in the Sutra Library?”

“That depends on your ability.” With a shake of his head, Zhao Zhe said, “At least a year, at most five.”

“That’s good…” Chu Li heaved a long breath. “However, the martial arts competition only happens every five years, so I don’t think there’ll be any new people coming in. How can I work for just a year?”

“We have a reappointment once a year, so you might not be staying in the Sutra Library the next year.” Zhao Zhe then said, “Just because you’ve entered the Sutra Library, it doesn’t mean you’ll stay there.”

Chu Li was shocked. “Reappointment once a year?”

“Yes.” With a smile, Zhao Zhe continued, “Every year, all you new people who compete in martial arts and your appointment for the next year is decided based on your ranking. If you rank in the top three next year, then you’ll stay in the Sutra Library, but if you don’t, then you’ll be leaving the Sutra Library to another appointment. That is why you can’t neglect to practice your cultivation just because you’ll be working in the Sutra Library!”

“I understand…” Chu Li nodded his head, slightly defeated. “I wonder how many people will participate in the competition.”

“Fifteen,” Zhao Zhe replied.

Chu Li fell into deep thought.

Fifteen new disciples were to compete and yet only five disciples were chosen as inner mountain disciples, which meant that the remaining ten were official disciples of the Holy Church of Light.

It was just as he expected. These people were a minority, only making up one-third of the total.

Zhao Zhe glanced at him before he said, “The disciples who enter from the outside usually lose this appointment in their second year. However, since the Saint said that you’re a genius that only appears every twenty-one years, maybe you’ll break that pattern.”

“Yes, I definitely will stay in the Sutra Library,” proclaimed Chu Li.

“Good, young fellow, that’s quite a declaration.” With a smile, Zhao Zhe said, “I’ll see if you’re truly as amazing as you say.”

The pair continued their conversation as they walked. After they had walked downwards for about a hundred meters or so, a lofty building came into view.

This basilica was not nearly as glorious and dazzling as the basilica the Saint was in, but it was much larger. It had four stories and was erected atop an icy peak, proudly standing between the sky and the earth.

From time to time, disciples would enter or exit the large four-story building.

A smile tugged at Zhao Zhe’s lips before he said, “Cleaning the Sutra Library isn’t easy.”

Chu Li returned his smile with a bitter one of his own. “Will I be the only one cleaning?”

“There are three of you.” The smile still upon his face, Zhao Zhe continued, “Each person is in charge of cleaning one story and the highest story doesn’t need to be cleaned.”

Chu Li heaved a long breath.

Zhao Zhe then said, “It isn’t anything difficult, you just need the will to work hard then it’ll surely go well.”

“You needn’t worry, Pavilion Master, I will work hard at cleaning,” assured Chu Li.

“Let’s hope so,” Zhao Zhe replied with a smile.

The pair walked up 36 steps, all the way past the ground floor, and entered the first floor.

Chu Li felt little to no difference between this library and the library from his previous life — a long counter that blocked off rows upon rows of bookshelves, and the only way to enter was through a small door by the counter. Once a person passed through the small door, they had to hand in their identity jade tag, which would be returned to them when they left.

A beautiful young woman dressed in green was sat behind the long counter. She was obviously in charge of receiving and returning the jade tags, and she did her work quickly and skillfully.

“You’ll be responsible for the cleanliness of this floor.” Zhao Zhe retrieved a white jade tag and passed it to him. “This is your identity jade tag, it allows you to enter and leave the Sutra Library at will. After everyone leaves at night, you’ll clean this place. During the day, you can read the books here.”

Chu Li gave him a fist salute as a thank you gesture.

Zhao Zhe then said, “However, remember this. You must never leave the Sutra Library. You are to arrive in the morning and leave after cleaning when night falls, but you’re never allowed to leave the Sutra Library at any time during the day. There is a house for you here, and you may enter it to rest or cultivate.”

As he spoke, he led Chu Li past the counter. The young woman in green did not check their jade tags and allowed them to pass through directly.

The both of them walked towards a bookshelf, where Zhao Zhe pushed open a door within a wall before they entered into a small house.

The house was beyond cramped. It only had a bed and a desk that did not even have a chair. More so, there was only enough space for one person to sit down.

“Leaving this place means you’ll be able to read books, and when you’re tired of reading you can come back here to rest or cultivate.” Zhao Zhe said with a smile. “Isn’t this one cushy job?”

Chu Li nodded his head with a smile.

He had swept his gaze across the bookshelves just now and they were all filled with books.

Through the observation of his Omniscient Mirror, none of the books were secret manuals of martial arts. They were nothing more than miscellaneous titles. However, he did not dislike the variety that was offered.

“Pavilion Master, am I allowed to go to the second and third floors?”

“Of course.” Zhao Zhe continued, “However, you’re only allowed to look through the secret manuals, and they do not leave their floors. Not even any of us can take them away. If you want to read them, you can only do so on their own floor and try your best to remember what you’ve read.”

“Yes,” said Chu Li with a nod.

To be fair, he did not need to leave with the books since they would be imprinted into his mind instantly.

“Very well, I’ve already explained everything that needs to be explained. If there’s nothing else, you should take a break. I’ll get someone to call you when it’s time to eat,” said Zhao Zhe with a smile.

Chu Li thanked him with a fist salute and watched him leave before he laid down onto the bed.