"I’m here to learn, what am I going to a milk tea shop for? Beautiful lady, since you’re leaving, can you give me the book in your hand? I’ve been looking for it for a long time."
Baiyu kept his eyes straight ahead.
Tang Xiaoyu snapped out of her dreamy state, a bit incredulous:
"You just want the book in my hand? Don’t you want to do something else?"
"I’m here for the book, is that strange to you?"
She couldn’t find words for a moment.
Not to brag, but her looks are definitely a solid nine or more.
Whether it’s her figure or aura, she’s miles ahead of those internet celebrities who overdo Photoshop, filters, and magical makeup.
I’ve even lowered myself to invite you!
Jerk, do you have to crush my self-esteem ?
Tang Xiaoyu felt like she’d taken a 10,000-point critical hit.
Her snow-white chest heaved continuously, but looking at him, she couldn’t muster any anger.
Take it, take it, you can have it all!
"Add me on WeChat, and I’ll give it to you," Tang Xiaoyu said with a beaming smile, steadying her mood.
As a woman of twenty-six, she finally found a man who caught her eye. How could she easily give up like that?
He just isn’t worldly-wise yet, speaks more directly.
Straight men are good; they’re not frivolous and principled, not surrounded by lots of flirty women, perfect for marriage. Plus, they’re the easiest to pursue.
In the future, with kids, he could take care of the family, responsible and committed...
They added each other as friends on WeChat.
Baiyu officially took the book, vital to his mission, from Tang Xiaoyu’s hand.
"Are you going for milk tea after you finish reading? I know a shop around here, their taste is quite..."
Tang Xiaoyu took another heavy hit.
"Sorry, I have to read now. If you have something to discuss, can we do it after I finish?"
Baiyu was very polite.
Tang Xiaoyu nodded instinctively.
When she came to her senses, looking at her now-empty hands and then at Baiyu, who was already engrossed in the book, she inexplicably felt something was off.
Did I... Did I just get played?
Can’t tell, but he’s quite experienced.
This roundabout way of getting what he wants is quite well-played.
Tang Xiaoyu felt both angry and embarrassed, giving Baiyu an evil glare.
Let’s see how long your spirit can hold up.
Still pretending to be in deep reading?
You should know that deep reading is taboo in the study of Spiritual Arts.
While deep reading gives a deeper understanding, some Spirit Techniques, if delved too deeply, can lead to hearing strange whispers or encountering inexplicable eerie corruption.
Tang Xiaoyu’s small boots swayed as her smooth, tender thighs crossed, with her arms crossed over her chest, quietly watching Baiyu, seeing how long he could keep up the act.
This guy focused on studying looks even more handsome than before...
By now, Baiyu was completely immersed in the ocean of learning.
From the moment he opened the book, he had used the chance for immersive reading.
The feeling was indescribable.
All his attention was on the book, completely unaffected by the outside world, and he could almost remember all the knowledge in the book at first glance.
The Scholar’s Space notifications kept chiming in.
[Reading a Spirit Technique-related book, gaining 30 academic knowledge points!]
[Reading a Spirit Technique-related book, gaining 50 academic knowledge points!]
This "Spiritual Technique: Forbidden Scroll" discusses how to construct a Spiritual Prayer Ceremony and communicate with certain ancient beings.
More simply put, it’s about praying.
Not every ancient and mysterious entity will drive people to madness.
Some are quite normal.
Like the God of Steam and Mechanics, the Goddess of Harvest, and others.
They have many churches, their guidance is positive and uplifting, and their followers are very rational, unlike those evil secret organizations.
Describes over ten main ceremonies used to communicate with seven True Divines.
Including the sacred names to recite during the ceremony, the Forged Words of invocation, etc.
These ceremonies don’t enable direct communication between the petitioner and the mysterious beings.
But some can make the petitioner’s wish come true through some reasonable means.
This is also strong evidence that the gods truly exist.
If a mortal communicates with them directly, they undoubtedly can’t withstand the spiritual pressure and contamination they bring. Even without mutation, they’d suffer varying degrees of mental pollution.
The most likely outcome is to go insane.
As Baiyu continued reading, he marveled at how unpredictable and diverse the Extraordinary Power was compared to the Blood Qi of Martial Artists.
Simultaneously, he didn’t notice.
Because he first came into contact with the Demon Paper, two small mouths on his palm, a grotesque change, started to reappear.
Like two faint black lines.
In those mouths seemed to be endless abyss, nothing visible within.
As his reading deepened.
A somber, twisted emotion began to envelop Baiyu.
During his reading, Baiyu heard water dripping.
How could there be water dripping in a quiet library?
Baiyu’s expression didn’t change; he curbed his curiosity and focused on reading.
When reading knowledge of the Mysterious Side, if the environment changes or strange things occur, never focus on them, or the spirit could suffer a serious blow.
Indescribable terrors could happen.
Before long, Baiyu felt as if his legs were in a river, with slippery water slithering over his skin, a biting chill piercing into his bones.
Baiyu remained oblivious as if unmoved by anything.
Immersive reading not only gave him a super-efficient learning capability but also significantly enhanced his concentration, minimizing the bizarre effects during reading.
Baiyu’s spirit was still fluctuating.
It seemed like a voice was calling him inside, urging him to discover the source of the dripping sound.
Might have given up at this point.
Without immersive reading, one could only imagine how difficult this task would be, a nightmare-level challenge, much more than it appears.
At this moment, Baiyu was also gritting his teeth to persist.
After a long while, he closed the book.
[Host has completed the Nightmare Task!]
[This reading has yielded 1000 points of Spiritual Arts knowledge (limit reached) and 700 point reward!]
The icy prompt from the Scholar’s Space echoed.
Baiyu immediately closed his eyes, his consciousness entering the Scholar’s Space.
Not only because he wanted to view the rewards but also because he needed to assimilate the knowledge and shake off the constant call inside him.
Ever since the middle of his reading, when the water drip sound started, an inexplicable whisper began playing by his ears.
The sound was too unclear to make out.
Each time, it caused Baiyu’s head to swim; only through sheer willpower did he manage to finish the book.
"The Nightmare Difficulty truly isn’t simple. Even with the help of immersive reading, it was too dangerous. If I’d let my mind wander for a moment, it could have ended in failure."
Baiyu was still shaken.
This had never happened during his studies before!