Wu Meng's footsteps echoed in the cavernous silence as he ascended the final steps to the core disciples' floor. The air seemed thinner here, charged with an expectant energy that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he froze, taken aback by the stark contrast to the bustling lower levels.

Sparse bookshelves stood like lonely sentinels, their shelves holding only a fraction of the tomes he'd seen below. The vast emptiness of the room was punctuated by just four or five disciples, each absorbed in their own world of study.

Wu's brow furrowed as he pondered, "Are there so few core disciples? Or do they simply avoid the library?" He ran his fingers along the spines of nearby books, their titles unfamiliar and perplexing.

Curiosity gnawed at him as he pulled out a particularly ornate volume, its cover embossed with swirling patterns that seemed to dance in the flickering candlelight. He flipped it open, expecting to find powerful cultivation techniques or secret sword forms. Instead, he was met with dense text on what appeared to be... philosophy?

"Strange," Wu muttered, replacing the book. "No techniques at all? What could be so important that it takes precedence over cultivation?"

His gaze drifted to a young woman nearby, her face hidden behind a tome so massive it dwarfed her slender frame. Wu's heart raced as he gathered his courage. He'd never spoken to an other disciple than Lian before, but his thirst for knowledge outweighed his apprehension.

Taking a deep breath, Wu approached her table, his footsteps light but deliberate. "Excuse me," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was wondering if you might be able to help me..."

The young woman looked up, her amber eyes widening slightly in surprise. Wu's breath caught in his throat as he took in her delicate features framed by cascading raven hair.

"What are you reading?" Wu blurted out, gesturing to the massive book before her. "I've never seen text like that before."

She tilted the book slightly, revealing pages filled with intricate hieroglyphs that seemed to shimmer and shift under Wu's gaze. "It's an ancient script," she explained, her voice melodious yet tinged with frustration. "I've been drawn to it for weeks, but I can't decipher its meaning. I suspect it contains a technique uniquely suited to my constitution."

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[Qiao Lan - Golden Core Realm (Late)]

Mental Resistance: 72%

Body Fortification: 55%

Danger Level: Mountain Breaker

Affiliation: Half-Phoenix Sect (Core Disciple)

Notes: Possesses an Ember Lotus Physique, a rare constitution that grants her a high affinity for controlled flames. Her Qi flows in balanced waves, blending gentle warmth with intense power, enabling her to wield fire with precision. This constitution is one of the best in this realm for alchemy.

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"Your constitution?" Wu echoed, his curiosity piqued.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

She nodded, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "It's rather... unusual. Most cultivation techniques don't quite fit. But this book..." She trailed off, running her fingers reverently over the strange symbols.

Wu leaned closer, intending to sympathize. But as his eyes fell upon the hieroglyphs, something extraordinary happened : their meaning was clear to him.

"I... I can read it," Wu said, astonishment coloring his voice.

The young woman's head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief and excitement. "You can? Truly? Please, you must read it to me!"

Wu felt heat rise to his cheeks, torn between his desire to help and his wish to try and learn more about the collective consciousness world. "I... I'm sorry, but I can't right now. I'm actually here searching for information on the 'collective consciousness.' It's rather important for me."

The disappointment on her face was palpable, and Wu felt a pang of guilt. "But," he added hastily, "I could meet you in… three days. To read it, if you'd like?"

Her face lit up with a radiant smile that made Wu's heart skip a beat. "Yes, please! That would be wonderful."

Wu shifted nervously, realizing he wasn't sure where he'd be staying in three days. "I'm not certain about my quarters," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "Perhaps we could meet at your place in the core disciples’ area?"

The young woman nodded, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she studied Wu's attire and demeanor. "Of course. I'm in the Eastern Pavilion, just ask the guard the way and you should be fine. By the way, you're new here, aren't you?" She smiled warmly. "If you have any questions about the sect, I'd be happy to help."

Wu's shoulders relaxed slightly, grateful for her kindness. "Actually, I do have a few questions," he said, glancing around the sparsely populated floor. "Why aren't there any cultivation techniques here? I expected the core disciples' floor to be filled with powerful secrets."

She laughed softly, the sound reminiscent of tinkling wind chimes. "Ah, you don’t seem to know a lot about how sects work, but it’s okay. In sects, techniques aren't simply handed out. They're rewards, earned through dedication and effort."

Wu's brow furrowed. "Rewards?"

"Yes," she explained, leaning in conspiratorially. "We complete missions to earn points. The more challenging the mission, the more points you receive. Accumulate enough, and you can exchange them for techniques suited to your cultivation path."

Wu nodded, absorbing this information.

That could be useful if I need a technique that suits my either rare or non-existent affinity, Wu Meng thought.

Then, remembering his original purpose, he asked, "Have you ever come across anything about the 'collective consciousness' in your studies?"

The young woman's brow creased in concentration. "Collective consciousness?" she repeated, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I've read every book on this floor and the ones below, but I've never encountered that term." She shook her head, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. If it's truly important, you might need to ask an elder. Only they have access to the upper floor, where the most secretive knowledge is kept."

Wu's hand instinctively moved to his chest, where the weight of the badge pressed against his robes. A sudden impulse seized him, and before he could second-guess himself, he blurted out, "Actually, I have a badge that grants me access to the top floor."

The young woman's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... what?"

Wu fumbled with his robes, carefully extracting the ornate badge. As he held it out, the light caught its intricate engravings, casting a mesmerizing dance of shadows across its surface.

The woman's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes, previously warm and friendly, now shimmered with a mix of awe and trepidation. "That's... that's the Protector's badge," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Wu's heart raced. He hadn't expected such a dramatic reaction. "The Protector? How do you know that" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

She nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed on the badge. "Protector Lin. She's... well, she's almost a legend in our sect. I've only read about her in ancient texts. She doesn’t appear much in public or even in the cultivation world."

The young woman's expression shifted, curiosity overtaking her initial shock. She opened her mouth as if to ask a question, then seemed to think better of it. Instead, she smiled, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "I look forward to our meeting in three days even more now," she said, her voice tinged with barely contained enthusiasm.