### Chapter 58: The True Scripture Pavilion
Dawn broke cold and gray, the mountain shrouded in mist. Lin Yi, Pan Yu, and the other twenty-six disciples gathered at the eastern gate, where Elders Zhao and Chen waited—tall, imposing men with 筑基期 (Foundation Establishment) auras that made the air hum.
"Check your artifacts," Elder Zhao barked. "Last chance to back out."
No one moved.
"Good," he said. "We leave in one hour. Use the time to gather your thoughts—or say your prayers."
Lin Yi turned to Pan Yu. "Stay by me. Avoid 单打独斗 (fighting alone)."
"I will, Senior Brother."
While the others chatted nervously, Lin Yi slipped away. He had one more stop: the 真藏阁 (True Scripture Pavilion). Core disciples were entitled to one technique from its shelves—a privilege he hadn't yet used.
The pavilion loomed ahead, a towering structure of white stone, its doors carved with 符文 (runes) that glowed faintly. A 老翁 (old man) sat on a stool outside, whittling a stick, his eyes half-closed.
"Name," he grunted, not looking up.
"Lin Yi. Core disciple under 管普 (Guan Pu)."
The old man's eyes flickered open, sharp as flint. "Ah. The Five Spiritual Roots prodigy. Heard about you—killed a Seventh Level with your fists. Impressive."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"
"Know everyone," the old man said, standing. He was shorter than Lin Yi, but his aura—faint, but 深不可测 (unfathomable)—sent a shiver down Lin Yi's spine. "What do you want? Not here to admire the architecture, I hope."
"Technique," Lin Yi said. "For the Black Veil Forest. Something… explosive. To get out of tight spots."
The old man snickered. "Tight spots? You mean when you're about to die? Coward."
Lin Yi's jaw tightened. "Call it caution."
"Caution gets you killed against demons," the old man said, but he pulled a jade token from his robe and tossed it to Lin Yi. "Third floor. Don't touch the red scrolls—they're 诅咒之物 (cursed). And don't linger. The pavilion doesn't like greedy boys."
Lin Yi caught the token, which hummed in his palm. "Thanks."
"Save it," the old man said, sitting back down. "Survive the forest first. Then we'll talk."
The pavilion's doors creaked open as Lin Yi approached, the runes glowing brighter. Inside, it was a maze of shelves, each lined with jade slips and scrolls. The air smelled of old paper and 灵力 (spiritual energy), thick and heavy.
He climbed to the third floor, the token warming in his hand. Rows of jade slips lined the walls, each labeled with techniques: *Fire Dragon Fist*, *Wind Walk*, *Earth Shield*. None felt right.
Then he spotted it—a black jade slip tucked in the corner, unlabeled. When he touched it, a surge of energy shot up his arm—raw, destructive, *perfect*.
*碎灵诀 (Shattering Spirit Technique)*, the slip read. A technique that drained all spiritual energy in a single burst, detonating not just the user's power, but the ambient energy around them. 同归于尽 (Mutually assured destruction)—but if it worked, it could take down even a 筑基期 (Foundation Establishment) demon.
"Bingo," Lin Yi muttered, tucking it away.
As he descended, he passed 方越 (Fang Yue), who nodded. "Found something good?"
"Hope so," Lin Yi said.
Back at the eastern gate, the disciples were gathering, their artifacts glinting in the dawn light. Steward Zhang clapped him on the back. "Ready, kid?"
"Ready," Lin Yi said, gripping the *Shadowpiercer*'s hilt.
Elder Zhao raised his hand. "Move out!"
The group set off, winding down the mountain, toward the distant 黑幕森林 (Black Veil Forest)—a dark smudge on the horizon, where danger waited.
Lin Yi glanced back at the sect, then forward, his resolve hardening.
*Survive*, he thought. *No matter what.*