The Guardians of Knowledge

  Huang Di closely observed the enigmatic expressions of the elders, trying to glean any useful information. Despite his own caution, he noticed that the elders seemed more curious than hostile. The first among them, still fiddling with his pipe, broke the silence with a deep chuckle.

  “How rude of us,” he said. “Here stands a true gentleman who has already introduced himself, and we old geezers are getting senile, forgetting our manners. Hahaha! Very well, boy, this old man will gladly introduce himself. I’ve had many names and been known in many ways, but the one I like best is Mountain Sage. You may call me that. We are also known as the Guardians of Knowledge.”

  The middle-aged woman, flashing a seductive smile, was next to speak:

  “Handsome, you can call me whatever you like, but for convenience, I’m known in this select group as the Scarlet Witch. And fire is my safe word, boyo,” she added with a suggestive wink.

  A short man, with a massive axe strapped to his back and features reminiscent of the ancient dwarven warrior race, spoke in a blunt voice:

  “Huang Di, right? I’m a practical man. Call me Bobby the Blacksmith. I’m at your service... for a price.”

  Next, an elder dressed in blue robes and wearing a tall, pointed hat, straight out of an unorthodox magic school, laughed heartily:

  “Young candidate, I imagine you have many questions. I’d be delighted to answer them... if you’ll join me for tea at noon tomorrow. You may call me Merlin.”

  There were many other elders as well. Some appeared so ancient they could no longer speak, or perhaps they simply didn’t understand Huang Di’s language.

  Lastly, an imposing old man stepped forward, dressed in garments of black and white, adorned with symbols, insignias, and medals from various traditions. He approached with a stern smile:

  “Young man, you don’t strike me as someone well-versed in anatomy, medicine, or even the fundamentals of alchemy. I strongly advise you to seek me out at your earliest convenience. Vital knowledge, my boy. To start, I suggest visiting the Grand Library. With the time you have in this realm, the more you absorb, the better your future will be. That advice is free... but if you’d like a second one, come to me. We can discuss the terms in private. Ah yes, how rude of me, you may call me Director. I’ll be awaiting your visit. Hehehe…”

  And just like that, the elders vanished as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Huang Di stunned, but also more determined than ever. He knew he needed more information and resolved that his next destination would be the library.

  The library was a towering structure that occupied at least half of the city’s entire area. Unlike the homes, which were made from simpler materials and visibly worn by time, the library was a masterpiece of architecture. Its finish was of the highest quality, untouched by the passage of centuries, no rust, no dust, not a trace of decay.

  As he approached, Huang Di laid eyes on a massive wooden gate, crafted from a material so dense and refined he had never encountered anything like it, not even in the Golden Crane Sect. When he pushed against it, he immediately felt its colossal weight, as though it did not wish to be opened.

  With some effort, Huang Di activated the Supreme King Technique, enhancing his physical strength to a staggering 22.5 tons. Thanks to this, he was able to move the heavy gates, revealing the vast knowledge locked behind them, knowledge that had been protected with such reverence for countless ages.

  The Gateway to Knowledge

  Night had already fallen. As Huang Di pushed open the gates of the library, he took a step that would lead him directly onto the true path of cultivation. Accessing an accumulated source of knowledge, vast, free, and unrestricted, was the dream of every cultivator seeking to grow. Sects guarded their wisdom jealously, and access to such content was always limited and highly controlled. But now, before him lay an entirely new world, filled with knowledge unlike anything the outside world had ever seen.

  With his heart pounding, Huang Di entered the library, and what he saw left him stunned. The interior was far vast than the exterior suggested, as though an entire world was contained within. The bookshelves stretched to the heavens, seemingly endless, and the ceiling towered over a hundred meters high, far more than the mere twenty meters the building’s outer appearance had implied. The shelves were alphabetically organized, but their immensity made it difficult to know where to even begin.

  As he observed, he spotted a nearby shelf where numerous strange beings bustled about with books in hand. They were small ghost-like entities of varying shapes, some triangular, others circular, and in a range of colors, darting to and fro. Above them hovered small corporeal beings dressed in black, resembling judges, watching everything with meticulous scrutiny.

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  Huang Di approached the front desk and noticed several unfamiliar machines, advanced devices shaped like rectangles, flashing with blinking lights inside.

  One of the small creatures, upon spotting him, quickly approached.

  “So, you're the new candidate, huh? Ah, my manners… Let’s see here…” it said, consulting a strange piece of advanced technology. “Ah, so your name is Huang Di.”

  He pressed a few buttons, causing a light to blink. Then he turned and called out:

  “Ozo, come here! This one is your responsibility!”

  A young gnome, wearing a name badge, came running at the call.

  “Yes, sir! I'm here at your service!” he said, slightly out of breath, glancing toward the elder.

  The elder gnome pointed at Huang Di and commanded:

  “Guide the guest and assist him with his needs.”

  The young gnome gave Huang Di a glance filled with mild scorn but obeyed, motioning for him to follow.

  “So... what are you looking for in the Grand Library of Kazan, young human?” the little one asked as they walked. He lacked a floating-colored orb like the others and instead walked with his tiny legs, taking short, quick steps. Huang Di had to fight the urge to laugh at the scene but managed to maintain his composure.

  “What I want right now are answers to my questions. I don't want to waste time with distractions,” Huang Di replied bluntly. “So… may I call you Ozo?”

  Upon hearing this, the gnome let out a noise somewhere between irritation and mockery, waving his arms dramatically.

  “I forgive your ignorance, just this once,” he snapped, clearly annoyed. “Ozo isn’t my name! It’s my title. In our language, it means ‘apprentice,’ fool,’ ‘boo!’” he made a ridiculous face, like a mischievous child.

  He stopped abruptly, crossing his arms.

  “My name is Salazar, at least, the short version that someone like you can pronounce, you blockhead.”

  Huang Di was mildly irritated but held back. He needed information.

  “Then, Salazar, can you help me find a few books to read?” he asked, speaking slowly so the tiny gnome would understand.

  “Very well, of course I can,” Salazar replied, planting his hands on his hips with a professional air. “But first, I need to give you the basic rundown, so you understand how everything works around here.”

  Exploring Knowledge

  “So, what was your name again?” asked Salazar, casting a disinterested glance.

  “It’s Huang Di,” he replied, eyes sharp.

  “Very well. Do you prefer the technological method or the mystical one?” Salazar asked again.

  Not understanding the gnome’s provocation, Huang Di replied directly:

  “Tell me about both methods.”

  Salazar, wearing an ironic grin, continued:

  “The technological method involves using those contraptions over there,” he said, pointing toward the screens with blinking lights. “They’re called ‘computers’ by most civilizations. Their purpose is to allow you to search for books, treasures, and other valuables in the library, as long as you have access rights to them.”

  “And the mystical one?” asked Huang Di, intrigued.

  “The mystical method is the most commonly used by those who visit the Grand Library of Kazan,” Salazar replied. “It uses your energy to directly access a more efficient search model within your mind. The cost is your energy, but it’s a more practical way to find what you’re looking for, your blockhead.

  Huang Di now understood better what Salazar meant but still needed to know how to use these methods. When he turned to look back at the gnome, he was gone, only to reappear on his shoulder without him noticing.

  “This spot’s more comfortable than that cold floor,” said Salazar with a grin.

  Before Huang Di could react, Salazar pulled out a pearl that looked like a pill crafted by a high-ranking alchemist and shoved it into Huang Di’s mouth. The pill dissolved instantly, and a surge of information flooded his mind, explaining everything he needed to know about the library: how to navigate, how to use the technological tools, and how to access the mystical search system.

  Huang Di looked at Salazar, who merely said:

  “No need to thank me. I’m just doing my job. I believe you now have all the answers you need to access the knowledge of the Grand Library of Kazan.

  Huang Di nodded, understanding now the reason behind Salazar’s blunt and even rude behavior. If the gnome had asked him to take the pill, he likely would have refused. But acting this way had allowed him to transfer the knowledge effectively.

  With the necessary instructions, Huang Di thanked the young gnome and set off to pursue his goal. After two hours of walking through the immense corridors of the library, he found a table with a crystal orb placed in its center.

  He sat in the chair, releasing his aura and making swift hand movements, gathering his Qi in his palms. As he channeled the energy into the orb, a flash of light appeared, and his soul was drawn into the crystal, while his physical body remained paralyzed, continuously emitting energy.

  Now, his consciousness hovered high above, as if in the sky, gazing down upon a massive library below. He focused his thoughts and visualized his desire to see the highest-ranked books available to him. Instantly, the vast scope of billions of books narrowed to just thousands, all compatible with his current level, up to the Sky Rank of the Mortal Realm.

  Determined, Huang Di refined his search even further, focusing on mental and soul-based techniques.

  Seven mental techniques and two soul techniques appeared before him. He scanned the covers and summaries, stopping to examine the two soul techniques.

  The first was titled “The Soul’s Path, The Way of Giants”, with the following description:

  “A foundation for cultivating the soul. Everything you need to begin this long path of understanding and power.”

  The second, called “Soul Attack, Soul Defense”, read:

  “Everything you need to know to create offensive and defensive techniques for your soul.”

  Huang Di realized that soul techniques were extremely rare, finding two was already a gift. He chose both without hesitation. To complete his selection, one mental technique caught his eye: “Secret Skill: Mind Control”, with the following introduction:

  “Unorthodox model technique. Designed to control those whose cultivation is equal to or below the user’s. Minor success: 25% chance. Major success: 50%. Perfect success: 100% chance of control.”

  Amazed by the description, Huang Di murmured:

  “Wow… This technique holds incredible promise. But for now, I’ll study it with caution. It’s always good to know how to defend against this kind of skill.