Among the many fourth-generation disciples of the Lichen Sect, Zhou Yu was undeniably a legendary figure. Yu Ci, although he had not been on the mountain for long, had heard about this esteemed Senior Brother from various sources. The most classic tale was the origin of the three scars on his face.

It was said that these three scars were the result of Zhou Yu's youthful recklessness. He had descended the mountain and encountered a Vacuum Walking Cultivator from the Northern Demon Sects. At that time, Zhou Yu had just entered the Golden Elixir Stage and was naturally no match for his opponent. He was humiliated and left with three scars etched onto his face. Zhou Yu barely escaped with his life.

Many at the Sect's Mountain Gate thought Zhou Yu would be devastated. However, in a mere decade, Zhou Yu single-handedly infiltrated the Arctic Demon Sects Territory. After two years of hiding, he successfully killed the Demon Cultivator who had humiliated him. In that battle, he made a breakthrough on the spot, advancing to the Vacuum Walking Realm, a feat that shocked the world.

Zhou Yu became famous in one fell swoop. Logically, he should have removed the shameful marks on his face. Physical injuries were of no concern to a Cultivator. There were hundreds of ways to heal scars. However, Zhou Yu was different. He intentionally left the three scars on his face as a constant reminder to himself not to become arrogant or complacent in his cultivation. His character became more steady and quiet, and he was highly regarded by the elders of the Sect.

It was only after Yu Ci moved into the Countless Method Sanctuary that he began to understand this Senior Brother's temperament. He was increasingly puzzled as to why this Senior Brother seemed to have a prejudice against him. After Zhan Chuanyi and the Tu Brothers had been defeated, Yu Ci was not worried about Zhou Yu deliberately making things difficult for him. However, he felt that having a "misunderstanding" with such a formidable figure might be hard to rectify.

Given Zhou Yu's status, it was naturally impossible for him to interact with Yu Ci in public, whether with good or ill intentions. He merely glanced in Yu Ci's direction before turning his head back to continue listening to the debate between the two Cultivators in the Rotten Axe Pavilion.

Even so, each of the Cultivators on Chessboard Peak was extremely sensitive to Aura. Zhou Yu was one of the most outstanding among the fourth-generation disciples. Every move he made was observed by others. His momentary eye contact with Yu Ci did not go unnoticed. After he turned his head, several gazes from different directions swept over Yu Ci, all seeming somewhat curious.

With a sigh in his heart, Yu Ci paid no heed to anything else, and as per his previous plan, he stood up and prepared to descend the peak. He had barely taken two steps when he noticed a shadow overhead. Looking up, he saw a large bird circling above Chessboard Peak. The bird, with its wings spread wide, was more than thirty feet long. Its feathers were a vibrant jade-green, and under the sunlight, it seemed to be enveloped in a halo of pale blue light. It was quite striking.

Yu Ci recognized it as the azure sky bird, a popular aerial mount within the Lichen Sect's Mountain Gate. It was said to be a descendant of the Immortal Azure Phoenix. If its value was calculated in the Merit Points of the Empirical Department, it would be quite considerable. Those who could afford such a mount must hold some status within the Sect's Mountain Gate. Yu Ci assumed that the rider was a cultivator who had rushed to attend the debate conference. He paid it no mind and continued on his way down the peak.

However, he hadn't gone far when someone called out from behind, "Is that Junior Brother Yu Ci down there?"

Taken aback, Yu Ci turned around to see the azure sky bird flapping its wings and landing steadily on an open space. A man hopped down from the bird. He was tall and thin, with an exceptionally refined appearance. As he called out, many people on the peak turned their gaze towards them. Yu Ci, with his sharp senses, noticed that some people's reactions were slightly exaggerated.

The newcomer must be someone of high status!

Yu Ci quickly made this judgment, but he didn't show any particular reaction. He simply asked, "I am Yu Ci. How should I address you, Senior Brother?"

The man smiled slightly, his demeanor very amicable. "I am Zhao Fu from the Theory Department. I am here on behalf of my teacher to invite Junior Brother Yu to meet at the Spirit Sky Pavilion."

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After a pause, he added, "Sister Meng is also there."

Unable to find a reason to refuse Zhao Fu's invitation, Yu Ci readily agreed. He then, at Zhao Fu's invitation, climbed onto the back of the azure sky bird and retraced his previous path.

Before leaving, he looked down at the peak from above. Among the hundred or so people, about half were looking in his direction, including Senior Brother Zhou Yu.

Yu Ci had passed by the Spirit Sky Pavilion on his way to Chessboard Peak, but he had never actually been inside. This time, riding the azure sky bird, he landed directly on the platform of the seventh floor of the Spirit Sky Pavilion. Peering through the slightly ajar door, Yu Ci saw rows of bookshelves and countless invaluable scrolls and scriptures.

The Spirit Sky Pavilion boasts a grand total of twenty-seven levels, each one teeming with hundreds of thousands of books. These tomes, varying in their degrees of rarity, are either transcribed onto jade slips or written on specially crafted paper and silk. They are meticulously categorized and neatly arranged for the disciples of the Sect's Mountain Gate to peruse. Apart from the restricted areas on the twenty-seven levels, most books here are freely accessible, making the pavilion an extremely popular spot. The frequency of borrowing is high, necessitating dedicated personnel for management and guidance.

The person Yu Ci met this time was an old man in charge of managing the ingress and egress of books.

Of course, this identity was self-proclaimed by the old man. Regardless of whether it was Zhao Fu who brought him over or Meng Wei who had been waiting here early, both showed utmost respect to the elder, addressing him as "Old Master Zhu" without mentioning any familial hierarchy.

Although Old Master Zhu had asked Zhao Fu to bring Yu Ci over, when Yu Ci approached him, the elder was engrossed in his work - assigning numbers to a few newly added scrolls. He squinted his eyes, working with utmost dedication. Apart from the initial greeting to Yu Ci, he responded to Yu Ci's reciprocation with a couple of noncommittal hums.

After delivering Yu Ci, Zhao Fu had already taken his leave. Meng Wei, who was meticulous by nature, noticed Old Master Zhu's somewhat indifferent treatment of people. She reminded him, but the response was still the same noncommittal hum. Heaven only knew if the old man, with his silver hair and a face full of wrinkles, had heard her.

Left with no choice, Meng Wei gave Yu Ci a wry smile, which lit up Yu Ci's eyes.

"Sister Meng, how's your injury?"

It had been almost ten days since Yu Ci had seen Meng Wei since the rumors had started circulating. Upon meeting her now, he immediately noticed that the female cultivator's complexion was significantly different from before, improving for the better. The light in her bright eyes was particularly noticeable, indicating the accumulation of Aura within her body, which was quite substantial.

"Your kind concern has helped me greatly."

Meng Wei gave a light smile and thanked Yu Ci with a bow. She then took out the Red Veil, which she had borrowed for half a month. It was now neatly folded and returned to Yu Ci.

Yu Ci took it and asked, "Sister, have you finished transcribing it?"

"Transcribing? Don't you see the scroll in my hand, young man?"

Old Master Zhu had finally finished his work at hand, interjecting into the conversation with a peculiar expression on his face. In his hand, he held a silk scroll that had just been tied up. "I have archived the method you sent and plan to place it on the twenty-seventh level. Do you have any objections?"

Yu Ci was taken aback. Only then did he learn that Meng Wei had informed the Sect about the "secret" of the Red Veil. Of course, this was within Yu Ci's expectations. He was quite curious about the Sect's evaluation of the method on the Red Veil.

The type of Red Veil that had just been returned to Yu Ci, he had two of them. One was the "Hundred Spirits Transforming Radiance Veil" left by Yan Chu. After defeating Yan Chu and Fu Long, Yu Ci took this veil into his possession. The other was obtained earlier, from Nan Songzi on the mountain path outside the Still Heart Temple. This Red Veil had been refined into an Evil Artifact in its early years, but was later restored to its original state by Gan Shi Zhen, who erased its traces of Heretical Method.

The one lent to Meng Wei was the one obtained from Nan Songzi.

"Archiving is necessary, but the twenty-seventh level?" Yu Ci was puzzled. Was this treasure so valuable that it was on par with the Sect's cultivation scriptures?

Old Master Zhu squinted his eyes—a habit of the elderly—and said slowly, "Its intrinsic value isn't that high, but it's a shortcut, a left-hand path. Young people might not be able to resist its allure. Temporarily placing it high up in the archive, there's no safer place than the twenty-seventh level."

Yu Ci was not at all surprised by Old Master Zhu's words. As the owner of the two Red Veils, he had a good understanding of the methods recorded in unique patterns on them and agreed with the old man.

The so-called "God Slaying Sting," a peerless hidden weapon that required decades or even centuries of nurturing, was rarely seen once in hundreds of years. But if it could be produced in a few months or even days, flying all over the sky like cow hair, the mere thought of such a scene would send chills down one's spine.

And yet, the two Red Veils in Yu Ci's hands were about this very thing!