This kid is too honest, the ancient bronze celestial book seal

Qingyuan Sect, Scripture Pavilion.

The octagonal structure towered layer upon layer, reaching a staggering height of three hundred meters. Disciples streamed in and out without end.

The moment Li Mo appeared at the entrance, countless eyes turned toward him.

"Is that the true disciple, Li Mo?"

"Senior Brother Li is so handsome, especially when he smiles—so gentle, unlike the other aloof true disciples."

"That must be the Scarlet Sky Sword at his waist. To obtain a mystic weapon at such a young age, his swordsmanship must be exceptional."

"Did you hear? The Divine Edge Cave’s earth veins erupted prematurely yesterday."

"Now Elder Hanhe has sealed everything below the third level. It’ll be much harder for disciples to obtain mystic weapons in the future."

"Even many elders don’t possess mystic artifacts. It was never really something for disciples to begin with."

The hushed whispers were barely audible, but Li Mo caught every word.

"Elder Hanhe works fast."

"The old man may be prideful, but he gets things done."

Lost in thought, Li Mo approached the first-floor counter.

The inner sect steward recognized him immediately and flashed a smile.

"True Disciple Li, are you here to claim your sect trial reward on the fifth floor?"

"Indeed."

Li Mo nodded and handed over his waist token.

"Ah... True Disciple Li, the fifth floor only houses mid-tier martial arts."

The steward offered a polite reminder.

For inner sect disciples, a suitable mid-tier martial art was a rare treasure. But a true disciple shouldn’t lack such things, right?

Li Mo smiled without answering.

Then it struck the steward—Li Mo might be a true disciple, but his master was Elder Shangwu...

Suddenly, everything made sense.

"You may select two mid-tier martial arts. Please proceed."

"My thanks."

The steward completed the records swiftly, and Li Mo turned to ascend the stairs.

The second floor of the Scripture Pavilion was just as crowded.

The lower three floors housed unranked martial arts, along with miscellaneous texts, biographies, and other writings.

Li Mo didn’t linger, continuing upward.

By the fourth floor, the crowd had thinned considerably.

Here, low-tier martial arts were stored, alongside knowledge on alchemy, forging, and taming exotic beasts.

Most of the readers here were inner sect disciples.

Li Mo’s gaze briefly lingered on a section that surprised him—books on cooking.

He picked one up, skimmed a few lines, and promptly set it back down with a twitch of his lips.

"No wonder the Qingyuan Sect’s dining hall food is so terrible."

It couldn’t hold a candle to the cookbook he’d obtained through his investment returns.

The fifth floor was nearly deserted.

Only disciples who had completed sect missions and accumulated enough contribution points could spend them to access this level.

"Hammer techniques..."

Li Mo walked to the section dedicated to weapon-based martial arts.

"Tempering Hammer Art... for forging."

"Tiger’s Roar Hammer... requires a long-handled warhammer. Not suitable..."

Well.

It seemed Li Mo wasn’t the only one who disliked smashing people with hammers.

Even the all-encompassing Scripture Pavilion had barely any hammer techniques.

Then again, the martial world had Sword Gods, Blade Sovereigns, and Spear Immortals.

When had anyone ever heard of a legendary hammer-wielder?

Hammer techniques were already niche.

The "Meteor Annihilation Hammer" was a short-handled weapon—niche among niches.

"Brother Li!"

A familiar youthful voice called out from nearby.

Turning, Li Mo saw Murong Xiao waving at him.

"You’re here to pick a martial art too?"

Li Mo was surprised.

The Divine Edge Peak was wealthy and well-stocked. Why would a true disciple need to scavenge the Scripture Pavilion?

"You misunderstand, Brother Li."

"I didn’t inform my master."

Murong Xiao forced a bitter smile.

After a brief explanation and a glance through his Heavenly Destiny Eyes, Li Mo understood.

[Name: Murong Xiao.]

[Age: 16.]

[Physique: Howling Serpent Body.]

[Cultivation: Qi-Blood Realm, Seven Meridians.]

[Destiny: Blue tinged with gray.]

[Evaluation: Born of a human father and a shapeshifted flood dragon mother. Kind-hearted but tormented by his bloodline. If he harmonizes the strengths of both lineages, his future is boundless. If he succumbs to their flaws, he will bring calamity.]

[Recent Events: Afflicted by his bloodline, he has been plagued by intrusive thoughts and nightmares, repeatedly dreaming of his hands drenched in blood. Seeking a mind-calming cultivation technique.]

"My master still doesn’t know my half-demon bloodline comes from a howling serpent..."

Murong Xiao sighed, his face lined with worry.

"So you came to the Scripture Pavilion alone?"

Li Mo’s expression turned odd.

Murong Xiao nodded. "Exactly. If he asks, I don’t want to lie, but I can’t tell the truth either. Better to avoid the topic entirely..."

Li Mo: "..."

Elder Hanhe was so easygoing—just hint at needing a mind-calming technique, and he’d probably toss you a high-tier manual without a second thought.

This kid was painfully honest.

"You might find a technique here."

"But don’t expect a mid-tier mind art to suppress your bloodline."

Li Mo shook his head.

"Then what should I—huh?"

Murong Xiao’s anxious words cut off as Li Mo shoved a manual into his hands.

"This is...?"

"Golden Bell Shield—a high-tier body-refining martial art."

"Ah?"

Murong Xiao gaped, utterly lost. Why was Brother Li handing him a body-refining manual?

"Who said calming the mind requires a mental technique?"

Li Mo gave the poor boy a look of exasperation.

"This high-tier art originates from the Buddhist tradition. It integrates physical and spiritual cultivation, embodying Buddhist principles."

"Master the Golden Bell Shield, and what fear will you have of intrusive thoughts?"

"Golden Bell Shield..."

Murong Xiao’s dim eyes brightened.

But soon, he fidgeted, fingers twisting his sleeves as hesitation overtook him.

"Don’t overthink it."

Li Mo patted the Scarlet Sky Sword at his waist. "I took a mystic weapon from Divine Edge Peak—far more valuable than a high-tier martial art. Consider this repayment."

Of course, it wasn’t just the sword.

Whenever Li Mo gave something away, the other party might gain, but he always gained more.

"Divine Edge Peak is Divine Edge Peak. This isn’t repayment..."

"Brother Li, I owe you yet another great debt."

Murong Xiao pressed his lips together, overwhelmed with gratitude.

At this rate, short of bearing children, there was nothing Li Mo could ask that Murong Xiao wouldn’t agree to.

"When you take on a sect mission outside, be sure to notify me."

"Sect missions..."

All Qingyuan Sect disciples, including true disciples, were periodically required to complete missions—large or small.

It was mandatory.

After all, if the Qingyuan Sect just stood around doing nothing, no one would uphold its status as the leading sect of Purple Sun Prefecture.

"I’ve been considering one recently."

"I’ll take you up on that offer."

Li Mo accepted readily.

The Murong family held considerable influence in Purple Sun Prefecture—a local power. Whatever the mission, their connections would smooth the way.

"Then I’ll return to study the Golden Bell Shield!"

Murong Xiao finally broke into a smile.

"Go on."

After he left, the system promptly chimed in:

[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully invested in Murong Xiao with a high-tier martial art, aiding him in overcoming his bloodline affliction.]

[Investment Reward: An Ancient Bronze Tome Seal.]

[Ancient Bronze Tome Seal]: "When stamped onto any martial technique, it can deduce, refine, and elevate the technique's grade—capable of raising it to the level of a peerless art."

"What a treasure!"

A high-tier martial technique upgraded to a peerless art.

And he could even choose the type of peerless art!

The feedback from Murong Xiao this time had far exceeded his expectations!