He spun around to find Lian standing behind him, her presence so sudden it made his heart skip a beat.

“I asked him about where I could go with my badge,” Wu Meng replied, still slightly flustered, “and he said… everywhere.”

Lian’s eyes widened, a mixture of intrigue and skepticism glimmering in her gaze. "May I see it?"

Wu handed over the badge, watching as her slender fingers turned it over. She examined it closely, her brow furrowing with visible confusion.

Wu handed over the badge, watching as Lian's slender fingers turned it over, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"This is... strange," she murmured, her voice tinged with wonder. "It's not like any sect badge I've seen before. Not brown like the elders', not gold like outer disciples', not orange like inner disciples', and certainly not red like core disciples'."

Wu felt a surge of curiosity. What made his badge so special? And why did Lin give it to him? He pondered this as he retrieved it from Lian, the cool metal warming in his palm.

"I'm going to explore," he announced, his heart racing with anticipation. "There's so much to discover!"

Lian nodded, a hint of seriousness in her eyes. "Be careful, Wu. And... good luck."

Wu's first stop was the outer disciple section. He ran his fingers along the spines of countless books before selecting a weathered tome on the continent's history. As he flipped through the yellowed pages, disappointment settled in his chest.

This information is looking like a fairytale more than anything, he thought, closing the book with a soft thud. There must be more accurate accounts in the higher levels.

"I'm heading up," he told Lian, who looked up from her work with a wistful smile. "I'll see you later?"

She nodded, unable to hide the longing in her eyes. "I'll be here. Make the most of it, Wu."

As he ascended the stairs, Wu's mind raced with possibilities. What secrets lay hidden in the upper levels? What truths would he uncover? The weight of the mysterious badge in his pocket felt like a key to endless knowledge, and he couldn't wait to unlock it all.

As Wu's footsteps faded, Lian's fingers traced the outline of her own badge. With a deep breath, she activated its communication function, her heart fluttering with nervous energy.

"Disciple Lian reporting," she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

A crisp, feminine voice responded, "Acknowledged. What did you discover?"

Lian hesitated, her mouth suddenly dry. "He met with Protector Lin just as you said, but there was also Jiang Yan. He talked to me about some soul imprint and a collective consciousness world."

The silence that followed was thick with tension, stretching for what felt like an eternity. Lian's pulse quickened, her palms growing damp with sweat.

Finally, the voice returned, a hint of strain evident in its tone. "You've done enough. Report to Elder Chen for your reward."

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The connection severed abruptly, leaving Lian alone with her tumultuous thoughts. What have I gotten myself into? she wondered, a mixture of relief and apprehension washing over her.

Meanwhile, Wu found himself in a world of ethereal beauty. The inner disciple section was a stark contrast to the outer areas. Everywhere he looked, disciples moved with otherworldly grace, their features as if sculpted by master artists.

"They're so... perfect," Wu murmured, his eyes wide with wonder.

His curiosity burned, questions bubbling up in his mind. Why do they all look handsome like this? Is it some kind of cultivation technique?

But as he caught the cold, evaluating gazes of nearby disciples, Wu swallowed his queries. Their eyes seemed to bore into him, making him acutely aware of his own rough appearance and unrefined manners.

Better keep moving, he thought, ducking his head and quickening his pace. There's still so much to see, so much to learn. He clutched his badge tighter, drawing comfort from its presence as he ventured deeper into this new floor, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floor.

The air hummed with spiritual energy, making his skin tingle. As he passed by a group of disciples engrossed in their studies, their hushed whispers reached his ears.

"Who is that? He clearly doesn't belong here," a melodious voice murmured, laced with disdain.

"Look at his robes, he isn’t even an outer disciple," another replied, their tone dripping with superiority.

Wu's cheeks burned with embarrassment. He tried to focus on the shelves of ancient texts surrounding him, but the weight of their judgmental stares bore down on his shoulders.

I have every right to be here, he thought, gripping his badge tightly. But why do I feel so... small?

Shaking his head, Wu steeled his resolve. "I need to find somewhere quieter," he muttered to himself. "Somewhere I can actually concentrate."

As he approached a grand staircase leading to the upper floors, a towering figure suddenly blocked his path. The disciple stood nearly a head taller than Wu, his chiseled features set in a haughty expression.

"Halt," the disciple commanded, his voice resonating with power. "Only core disciples may ascend beyond this point. I don't know who you are but I don’t really care. Turn back now, little man."

Wu blinked in confusion. "But... I have permission," he stammered, fumbling to produce his badge. "See? This grants me full access to-"

The tall disciple’s eyes narrowed, an arrogant smirk playing on his lips. “So, you think you can just waltz into the inner section, pretending you belong?” He crossed his arms, a flicker of spiritual energy sparking faintly around him. “We may not be able to settle this here,” he sneered, his voice laced with threat, “but outside the library? That’s a different story.”

Wu's mind raced. How could he make this arrogant disciple understand? The situation was spiraling out of control, and he felt woefully unprepared to handle it.

As he gazed past the looming disciple, onto the stoic guard stationed at the foot of the staircase. A flicker of determination ignited in his eyes.

"This is pointless," Wu muttered, more to himself than anyone else. With a swift sidestep, he nimbly maneuvered around the stunned disciple, who seemed too shocked by Wu's audacity to react immediately.

Heart pounding, Wu approached the guard, acutely aware of the sudden hush that fell over the room. The weight of countless eyes pressed upon him, but he forced himself to focus solely on the impassive face before him.

"I... I'd like to proceed upstairs," Wu said, his voice steadier than he felt. He held out his badge, the black surface gleaming in the soft light. "I believe this grants me access."

The guard's expression remained unchanged as he carefully examined the badge. Wu held his breath, painfully conscious of the tense silence enveloping them.

After what felt like an eternity, the guard's eyes flickered up to meet Wu's. Without a word, he stepped aside, gesturing towards the stairs with a slight nod.

A collective gasp rippled through the gathered disciples. Wu's eyes widened in surprise, relief flooding through him.

"Thank you," he managed, inclining his head respectfully to the guard before placing his foot on the first step.

As he ascended, Wu couldn't help but marvel at the sudden shift in atmosphere. The haughty whispers had transformed into stunned silence, punctuated only by the soft echo of his footsteps.

I just hope it won’t be the same on each floor. Wu thought as he emerged from the stairs.