After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 232 Inside the Library

Before the two even reached their destination, Shen Xu had already spotted the library ahead.

A majestic seven-story pavilion stands amidst the green mountains, its black body gleaming with a faint yellowish light under the sunlight, appearing solemn and mysterious.

The surrounding square was vast, shaded by lush trees, with dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and swaying gently in the breeze. A steady stream of people moved about, some strolling alone, others in small groups, weaving between the square and the library, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones.

Flying on swords is not permitted in the library and surrounding area. Even those of high strength and status must walk there to show respect for knowledge and the sages.

Standing in front of the library, Shen Xu couldn't help but look at Guan Bi beside him. The blush on the girl's face hadn't completely faded, and he wondered what she was thinking.

"Guanbi, are there any things to be aware of in the library?"

"Huh?" Guan Bi looked up at him blankly, clearly not having heard what he had just said, but she looked quite cute.

Shen Xu reached out to flick Guan Bi's smooth forehead, but to his surprise, Guan Bi didn't flinch when she saw his finger; instead, she closed her eyes.

Seeing Guan Bi's reaction, Shen Xu couldn't help but smile.

Feeling the fingers that hadn't yet landed on her forehead, Guan Bi narrowed her eyes and tentatively looked at Shen Xu, only to be flicked by Shen Xu's long-awaited fingers.

"Ah!" Guan Bi covered her forehead and let out a soft groan.

"What are you thinking about? I asked you if there's anything I should be careful about regarding the library?"

"Just say it again, why hit her?" Guan Bi said coquettishly.

"Tsk tsk, I really want to see you talk to me like that in front of Bai Lu." Shen Xu couldn't help but shake his head.

"Dream on! Don't you think this is exciting?" Guan Bi whispered.

"What's so exciting?" Shen Xu asked, puzzled.

"It's like I'm having an affair with you behind your back, Miss," Guan Bi said shyly.

"Guanbi, you're such a pervert!" Shen Xu couldn't help but exclaim.

"Let me make this clear beforehand: my relationship with your young lady is not what you think, and neither are you. So all your feelings are just your imagination. Let's get back to reality!" Shen Xu said, looking very seriously into Guan Bi's eyes.

"But they all... you can't just shirk your responsibility."

"I didn't do anything to you, you can't slander me out of thin air. Besides, your young lady is the most important person in your heart, right? I'm just a passerby in your life."

“Shen Xu, I won’t allow you to say that. Miss is indeed the most important person in my heart, but she can’t replace you, and I will never let you become a passerby in my life.” Guan Bi’s eyes revealed determination.

"Whatever you want!" Shen Xu looked at Guan Bi's serious expression with a hint of helplessness.

"After all this going around in circles, you still haven't answered my question from before?"

Guan Bi was immediately disappointed when she saw Shen Xu's frivolous expression, but she still answered softly, "There are no restrictions on Sword Alliance disciples on the first floor of the library. It contains all kinds of books. When the Four Directions Sword Alliance was established, it copied almost all the books from the five major sects and placed them here."

The first floor is arguably the largest library within the territory of the Four Directions Sword Alliance, where you can find all sorts of books that interest you.

However, you need contribution points to enter the second floor. It contains a large number of human-level martial arts and some earth-level techniques. As a newly joined disciple of the Sword Alliance, you have one free opportunity to enter the second floor.

You can borrow five books on the first floor, but only one on the second floor. Borrowing more requires contribution points, and each borrowing period is three months. Failure to return books on time or damage will result in penalties.

The lack of restrictions on the first floor reminded Shen Xu of the library on Earth, but there were also significant differences, as ordinary people could enter the library on Earth.

But in this world, only a very small number of people are able to enter that building.

Logically speaking, Earth-rank cultivation techniques are more valuable than Earth-rank secret manuals. The Four Directions Sword Alliance chose to place Earth-rank techniques on the second floor, probably to give disciples from smaller sects who joined the Sword Alliance an opportunity to cultivate higher-rank techniques.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a soft glow on the black jade slab floor of the library.

The towering bookshelves, seemingly endless, are neatly arranged, filled with a vast sea of ​​books, which can easily evoke a sense of bewilderment.

Although Shen Xu saw many people entering from the outside, the entire floor did not feel crowded; one would often walk a distance before seeing one or two people.

The entire library was eerily quiet; the noise from outside couldn't penetrate its walls. The air was filled with the scent of ink and paper—the smell of time, and the scent of knowledge.

"Shen Xu, is there any book you're looking for?" Guan Bi couldn't help but ask.

"I want to read some books about the soul. Do you know where I can find them?"

"The soul? You're probably going to be disappointed. The soul is a very mysterious realm. After all, only cultivators who have reached the Transcendent Realm are qualified to explore the soul. Therefore, most books about the soul are placed on the fifth floor, which is beyond your current access."

Although there are some books about the soul on the first floor, most of them are unfounded and best not to be taken seriously, and they are also quite difficult to find.

"Is there anything here where I can type in a term and get a whole bunch of related books?" Shen Xu asked expectantly.

"How could that be! But if you want to find certain books, you can spend contribution points to ask the book spirits on the first floor of the library. However, since some book spirits have strange tempers and often take money but do nothing, whether you can find them depends on your luck."

"Book spirit? What is that?" Shen Xu asked curiously.

"I don't know either. Nobody knows how they came to be, but they exist on every floor of the library and know the books in the area they are responsible for inside and out."

Their only requirement for the Sword Alliance is a book, specifically a book not found in the library. If you can bring them a book not in the library, they will be happy to help you.

"What if I just write a book randomly?"

“Not every book will catch their eye, and it’s not you who seeks it out, but they who seek you out. You just need to take a book and walk around the library, and if they are interested in your book, they will come to you,” Guan Bi explained.

"What a wondrous species! Are there any books about the Dao on the first floor? I'd like to take a look."

"Of course there are, and there are many. Let me show you!" Guan Bi walked gracefully in front of Shen Xu.

"Guanbi, how do you know so much about this place?" Shen Xu asked as he walked side by side with Guanbi.

"Because I worked here when I was a child, I was responsible for informing the Sword Alliance disciples about the general area where the books they wanted were located. Sometimes I was also responsible for classifying newly arrived books. I read a lot of books here back then."

"Didn't you and Bai Lu live in the Sword Alliance when you were little? Wasn't it in the Tianhe Sword Sect?" Shen Xu asked curiously.

Guan Bi rolled her eyes at Shen Xu, "Miss and I have lived in Tianhe Valley since we were young. We were sent to Tianhe Sword Sect when we were fifteen. Sword Alliance is the place we are most familiar with."