Back mountain of Azure Dragon Temple.
When Zhao Ya carefully opened the box he obtained from Yu Zhang, he was taken aback.
For inside was not the celestial treasures or rare elixirs he had imagined, but a simple, antiquated key.
The key was made of bronze, inscribed with mysterious patterns, exuding an ancient and enigmatic aura.
Zhao Ya examined it in his hand for a long time but couldn’t decipher anything unusual.
Other than confirming it must be an antique, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it.
However, the fact that Yu Zhang valued it so highly and carried it with him clearly indicated that the key was extraordinary.
Even though he couldn’t see anything special about it for now, Zhao Ya still carefully placed it back in the box and returned to Azure Dragon Temple.
At this time, the New Year was only three days away, and most of the disciples whose homes were nearby had already left.
The once bustling Azure Dragon Temple now seemed quite empty.
Even the normally lively library was quiet.
But Zhao Ya was rather content with this.
His plan for the New Year was to spend as much time as possible in the library, aside from necessary social engagements.
The fight with Yu Zhang made Zhao Ya realize his shortcomings profoundly.
If he truly wanted to establish himself, he needed to break through to the Meridian Opening Realm as soon as possible.
Zhao Ya understood, especially after this incident, that he had completely fallen out with Xia Jiye and the other elders.
To get rid of him, who knows what means they might resort to?
So the immediate priority was to enhance his strength as quickly as possible.
This time Zhao Ya planned to check out the third floor.
He had always wanted to go, but had been unable to due to insufficient sect contribution points.
Now, with a full three thousand sect contribution points, Zhao Ya felt much more confident.
Just like the second floor, there was someone at the entrance of the third floor responsible for registration.
When Zhao Ya handed over his sect contribution token, the registrar looked at Zhao Ya with some surprise, then smiled and said.
"So you’re Zhao Ya, still putting in the effort even though New Year is almost here?"
After the incident with Yu Zhang, Zhao Ya had become quite famous in Azure Dragon Temple.
Not only the disciples, but also many elders, and even the library staff who usually stayed out of external affairs, knew Zhao Ya’s name.
Zhao Ya just smiled at this, "I have nothing else to do, and it’s quiet during New Year, so it’s a good time to enhance my strength."
"Good, martial artists should strive diligently and courageously, go on, you know the rules, no need for me to repeat them."
Zhao Ya nodded and then walked into the third floor.
The layout of the third floor was similar to the first and second floors, the only difference being a much smaller collection of books here.
However, without exception, all the books on the shelves were premium in quality, each worth a fortune.
As Zhao Ya wandered among the shelves, looking at the dazzling array of books, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
This is the advantage of being in a major sect.
Not to mention anything else, just these collections of books are worth the effort.
Time was precious, Zhao Ya didn’t dare delay, quickly choosing a few secret manuals on leg techniques, he began reading voraciously.
Now, Zhao Ya’s fist and blade techniques had reached the limits of his current realm.
The only shortcoming was his leg skills being too weak.
Moreover, Zhao Ya had a premonition that once his leg skills improved, his lightweight body technique could be elevated significantly.
While Zhao Ya was diligently absorbed in the library, in a side hall of Azure Dragon Temple.
Xia Jiye and many instructor elders sat together, but no one spoke, and the atmosphere was stifling and oppressive.
After a long while, someone finally sighed lightly.
"No doubt, the great elder is targeting us, Yu Zhang was just the beginning, and we are next."
Everyone’s mood grew heavier.
Because they had all witnessed the scene of Yu Zhang’s "tragic death" in the main hall yesterday.
As a representative of clever minds among them, Yu Zhang had high prestige.
So his death inevitably sparked sentiments of doom among this group.
"No way, we have to come up with a plan, otherwise aren’t we just sitting ducks?" An elder said solemnly.
"What plan? Can you defeat Guan Xuejiang? Even if you can beat him, don’t forget that there is still Guo Luming in the library with unfathomable strength." Someone sneered.
"I just don’t believe those two dare to commit a massacre, we made significant contributions in the split battle back then, and if they really remove all of us, the Azure Dragon Temple is doomed." An elder retorted indignantly.
"That’s easier said than done, but who can guarantee Guan Xuejiang won’t truly take drastic actions? He doesn’t even need to act personally; just by instructing Shen Yunshen or other disciples to investigate like this time, we’re already at a disadvantage." Someone lamented.
"Damn it, speaking of this makes me angry, if Yu Zhang had been killed by Guan Xuejiang, it would have been understandable, but he ended up falling at the hands of a disciple who just entered, what a disgrace."
"Didn’t this Zhao Ya have conflicts with Elder Xia before? This kid is so audacious; isn’t there anyone who can manage him?"
"Right now he is favored by the great elder, I hear even Guo Luming holds him in high regard, so there’s really nothing you can do about him."
Upon hearing this, the elders fell silent once again.
Just then, Xia Jiye, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.