Actually, the more he considered it, the more plausible explanation became that someone had simply left the book unencrypted. The idea of a sentient library deeming a disciple worthy of a technique sounded like nonsense.

"Let's not overthink it," he muttered to himself. The reality was, he had acquired a technique for free! A smile touched Liu Xing's lips, but he quickly suppressed it. Obtaining a free technique was beyond his wildest dreams, especially considering his sect points were in the negative.

Deciding to put the matter of the Water Nation out of his mind for the moment, Liu Xing walked slowly and deliberately between the shelves. He tried to project an air of nonchalance, as if he wasn't concealing a book beneath his robe.

He battled the rising anxiety in his chest. He worried this might be a trap set by the librarian. If caught stealing, he faced not only a library ban but also a fine that would further plummet his already abysmal sect points.

He reached the double doors of the library, which framed a serene view of the Purple Moon Sect. The elegant buildings with their stylish roofs, the scattered towers, and the backdrop of green peaks created a peaceful scene. However, his heart was beating so fast that he felt like he was about to have a heart attack. Truth be told, stealing was not in Liu Xing's nature. But who could ignore an unencrypted technique?

"Stay calm," he muttered to himself, trying to soothe his racing nerves. He was convinced the library was equipped with sensors or alarms to detect book thieves. If an alarm blared the moment he stepped outside, he would be ruined. But the thought of returning the technique and risking someone else finding it was equally uncomfortable.

Psyching himself up, he inhaled deeply and took a step. No alarm. He took another step, then another, until he stood outside the library doors. Sunlight warmed his face, the air felt crisp, and still, no alarm. Relief washed over him. He had done it.

"Alright, time to run!"

Anxiety still gnawed at him. He wouldn't feel truly safe until he reached the seclusion of his cave. For a moment, the thought of summoning his gun and activating Lightning Cloak flashed through his mind, but he dismissed it. While sect rules didn't prohibit technique use, he worried it would draw unwanted attention. Instead, he simply ran as fast as his legs could carry him

He sprinted past other disciples. Some called out to him, but he ignored them and focused solely on escape. He soon reached the training grounds, less crowded than usual. It was still early morning and many disciples were likely still in the Dining Hall or cultivating in their respective house.

He looked back. The library was no longer visible and no one was following him. He allowed himself a small breath of relief. He was safe.

"Let's just walk," Liu Xing muttered, slowing his pace.

He walked at a normal pace now. With each step, his heart calmed, and confidence grew. It really did seem as if the technique hadn't belonged to the library. As he walked, his thoughts turned to the Statue Summoning Technique. He'd never encountered summoning techniques before, but given the sheer variety of techniques, it wasn't surprising. There were bound to be countless bizarre and unheard-of arts. This summoning technique was clearly one of them. The name itself suggested its function, which is to summon statues. But were they ordinary statues, or imbued with techniques? Did he have to craft them himself? Would he need a special space to store the statues, or did they emerge from some pocket dimension?

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

So many questions raced through his mind. But one of the most pressing was the technique's grade. Liu Xing suspected it was merely Base Grade, but since he hadn't yet read the introduction, there was a chance it could be higher. He secretly prayed it was a Heaven Grade technique, though even a Base Grade technique was a welcome gain.

He approached the Dining Hall, now overflowing with disciples like a vase spilling purple liquid. The air buzzed with chatter, shouts, and the general cacophony of morning activity. He quickened his pace. News of his duel with Shen Ye was likely spreading, and while his worst tormentors were either inner disciples or dead, there were still those who would enjoy taunting him.

But before he could proceed further, a voice cut through the noise, so sudden and commanding that everyone froze mid-sentence.

"Attention!"

The voice resonated everywhere and nowhere, seemingly whispered directly into his ear yet echoing from afar.

"To all the outer disciples of the Purple Moon Sect. This is Zhang Zhenking, leader of the Outer Court. When you hear my voice, gather in the Outer Hall immediately. This is an urgent matter. Disregard this summons at your own peril; I will personally expel anyone who ignores it. I repeat..." The announcement echoed three times to emphasize its urgency.

"Zhang Zhenking? Isn't he one of the Twelve Elders? The one in charge of the outer sect?" someone murmured.

"I've heard that no one has ever actually seen him. Rumor has it that he's always in seclusion."

"What are you talking about? Did you hear him? Outer Hall, now! No time for gossip!"

"Right, I'm not risking being kicked out!"

Similar murmurs rippled through the crowd, and he too understood the gravity of the announcement. He recognized the name Zhang Zhenking. The Purple Moon Sect had numerous elders, but the Twelve Elders held positions just below the Patriarch himself. When he had first arrived in this world, he'd imagined the Patriarch as a president and the Twelve Elders as his cabinet ministers, each responsible for a vital sector. Elder Zhang Zhenking oversaw the entire outer sect.

Liu Xing licked his dry lips, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. All around him, disciples were streaming towards the Outer Hall. Located in the center of the outer court, the Outer Hall was designed to be equally accessible from all points of the outer sect. Liu Xing estimated that every disciple in the outer sect would converge there within minutes.

"Should I stash this technique first, or rush straight to the Outer Hall?"

He glanced towards the mountains in the distance where his cave lay hidden. If he used Lightning Cloak, he could probably make it to his cave and back to the Outer Hall in time, but the risk of being late, of expulsion, was too great.

He shook his head. "Best to hold onto it for now. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong." He joined the throng of disciples rushing towards the Outer Hall, feeling like a single fish swept along in a powerful current.

To his left, he noticed a disciple he vaguely recognized. A man with unremarkable features, running with a notebook in his hand. Wasn't this the disciple who wanted to be slapped by Yan Yu?

"Hey," Liu Xing called out, "What's your name?"

He knew the man was an older fellow disciple, but he hadn't bothered to memorize everyone.

The man turned, his gaze lingering on Liu Xing's face, as if assessing him. "My name is Yuan Tao. You're Liu Xing, right?"

"Yeah, that's me. You know me?"

"Of course! Who hasn't heard of the trash disciple who lost his mind and tried to commit suicide by challenging Shen Ye?" Yuan Tao paused, then added, "That's how most people see you now, by the way. Did you really challenge Shen Ye?"

Liu Xing just sighed. His reputation was already in tatters. Annoyed, yes, but he understood the general perception. "I did challenge Shen Ye, but suicide wasn't the goal."

"Must have been something serious then," Yuan Tao replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Liu Xing didn't elaborate. It's actually because of a little kid and a sack of rice. He changed the subject. "Say, do you know anything about this announcement?"

Yuan Tao grinned, puffing out his chest slightly. "Is my reputation finally preceding me? Seems like my dream of becoming a legendary informant might actually come true! As for the announcement, while I don't have solid intel, I have a pretty good idea what it's about."

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