The Sutra Library, nestled in the back mountains of the Lingxiao Sect, is shrouded in a faint aura of spiritual energy. The three-story building exudes a sense of simplicity and awe, like a sleeping giant, guarding the sect's treasure trove of wisdom for millennia. Every day, the place is bustling with activity, especially the first floor, filled with displays of basic sword techniques and mental techniques, which is as lively as a market.

"Quick, get out of the way! Don't block my way! I need to borrow the 'Thirty-Six Spiritual Cloud Styles'!" A disciple at the fifth level of Qi training hurriedly squeezed in from the doorway, shouting, "I just broke through yesterday, I can't let anyone get there first!"

"Hey, that's the 'Essentials of Sword Controlling Techniques', right? I heard it's super powerful!" Another disciple pointed excitedly to the back of the bookshelf, his eyes burning.

And in this noisy crowd, a short figure stood out.

Xiang Fan stumbled out from between the bookshelves, his arms clutching a heavy pile of books, swaying as if he would collapse at any moment. The titles of the books were strange and lengthy, like "One Hundred and Seventy-Six Sword Drawing Postures," "Ten Methods for Optimizing Spiritual Energy Condensation," and "The Circulation of Spiritual Energy in the Dantian." He carefully adjusted his center of gravity, his expression focused as if he were carrying a rare treasure.

At the door of the Sutra Library, a group of disciples couldn't help whispering.

"Look, it's Xiang Fan again!" A disciple gestured with his chin, a hint of gloating in his eyes, "He's borrowed another bunch of theory books!"

Another disciple took a quick look and couldn't help but chuckle, "What's the point of these theoretical books? Things like 'Dantian Circulation' and 'Sword Drawing Posture'? They're all just empty talk. How can they lead to immortality?"

"Don't say that," the third disciple lowered his voice and shook his head helplessly, "It's not easy for me either. My cultivation is so low that I can't even borrow the 'Thirty-Six Spiritual Cloud Styles'. I can only read some useless books to comfort myself."

Their laughter wasn't too loud, but it was loud enough for Xiang Fan to hear. He paused, his head lowered. He didn't look back, nor did he argue. He simply clutched the book tightly in his arms and slowly walked towards the exit of the Sutra Library, but a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.

"Maybe... they are right. These theoretical books are indeed useless. But what can I do? I am too stupid. I can only rely on these most basic things to grope my way through them bit by bit..." His footsteps seemed heavy, as if he was carrying an invisible mountain on his back.

The Lingxiao Sect's Sutra Library had a rule: Books on sword techniques, mental techniques, and magic were restricted based on the borrower's cultivation level. Those with insufficient cultivation would be mercilessly repelled by the protective formation, even if they had a coveted book right before them.

This rule wasn't a problem for most disciples. After all, most of them were at the fifth level of Qi training, enough to unlock most introductory sword techniques and mental skills. But for Xiang Fan, it was like a huge barrier.

He was stuck at the fourth level of Qi training, and despite repeated attempts to break through, he saw no progress. Every time he arrived at the Sutra Library, he could only watch helplessly as other disciples returned with their full loads while he was unceremoniously rejected by the formation. The feeling of being "expelled" was like being smacked in the face by a cold door.

The only exception was theoretical books. These covered only basic knowledge like the circulation of spiritual energy, sword techniques, and Dantian regulation. They had no direct application to cultivation, and they didn't even bother with the protective formations. Therefore, whenever Xiang Fan visited the Sutra Library, he would pick up a pile of theoretical books and take them home to delve into them. Over time, he became the most diligent "theoretical master" there, reading through nearly every theoretical tome on the first floor.

Just as Xiang Fan was leaving quietly, a disciple mocked him loudly, "Hey, Xiang Fan, you've been reading these theory books for a few years, right? Why are you still stuck at the fourth level of Qi training? Is it because there are too many words and you can't understand them?"

"Hahaha!" Several people burst into laughter, with deliberate contempt in their laughter.

Xiang Fan paused, but ultimately said nothing. He looked down at the pile of books in his arms, as if seeking solace. He knew these theoretical books might not immediately improve his cultivation, but they were his only recourse, the only "treasure trove of knowledge" he could touch.

"If you don't understand, read it a hundred times, a thousand times. One day you'll understand," Xiang Fan said silently to himself. He took a deep breath, hugged the book tightly in his arms, and walked out of the Sutra Library with determination.

The sun shone on him, and although his steps seemed a little tired, his eyes revealed a determination.

Xiang Fan clutched a pile of books, stepping cautiously, afraid of dropping them all. His mind raced, pondering their contents. "This book, 'On Swordsmanship,' discusses the relationship between sword power and the flow of spiritual energy. I'll compare it with 'The Way of Dantian Spiritual Energy,' and perhaps I'll find the cause of my sword's erratic flow. And this book, 'Three Secrets of Qigong,' discusses breath control methods that might remedy the situation... Hmm, worth a try."

Although the books in his arms piled up like a small mountain, blocking most of his vision, he was already accustomed to it. For Xiang Fan, these books were his only "friends" in the sect.

He had tried to borrow sword techniques and mental skills, especially the coveted "Thirty-Six Spiritual Cloud Styles." Unfortunately, every time he approached, the book would emit an invisible spiritual barrier, mercilessly repelling him.

When the barrier bounced off him the first time, he didn't give up and tried a few more times, but the result was the same. Finally, he gave up, smiling bitterly, and consoled himself: "Maybe I'm just too stupid. Even if I borrowed these advanced things, I wouldn't understand them. I'd better practice the basics first. At least I won't be held back too much."

Unfortunately, others don't think so.

As Xiang Fan reached the door of the Sutra Library, a senior brother stopped him. He leaned against the door frame, his eyes scanning the pile of books in Xiang Fan's arms, a teasing smile on his lips: "Hey, Xiang Fan, you borrowed so many theory books again this time, are you planning to copy them back and use them as pillows?"

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