Chapter 1214: The Second Floor
Qi Xuansu used the jade token to unlock the restriction and stepped into the narrow alley.
The alley itself was nothing particularly remarkable. It was just extremely long, which made it evident that the nine library towers hidden within were far from ordinary structures.
Emerging from the alley, the nine library towers formed a courtyard around an open atrium with a shimmering pond and a small island in the middle. A three-story tower rose from the island, perfectly mirrored by its reflection in the water.
Qi Xuansu did not pause to admire its beauty. He proceeded straight ahead toward the island at the center of the lake.
There was an invisible bridge over the lake, imperceptible to the naked eye. As long as one walked straight ahead after leaving the alley, one would naturally step onto the bridge without obstruction.
After crossing the bridge and circling a short distance, Qi Xuansu arrived before the main entrance. A plaque above read, “Virtue Like Water.”
Beneath the plaque, the doors were tightly shut, upon which another Taiji Eight Trigrams symbol appeared.
With a flick of the jade token in his hand, Qi Xuansu lifted the restriction and pushed the door open.
The first floor of the Tianshui Core Tower was filled with tightly packed bookshelves from wall to wall. Books of every category were carefully arranged and stored in protective cases. For a first-time visitor, the sight was inevitably overwhelming.
Nearby was a record of past borrowers. Every name listed belonged to a person of great authority and influence. Qi Xuansu glanced at it, and as expected, the most recent name was Sun Hewu.
Qi Xuansu recalled something Yao Pei had once said, that Great Sage Shi was an upright man who placed great importance on rules. Though he had the authority to enter the third floor, he would not do so, as there was no need. He was neither the Grand Master nor the Zixiao Palace Master and had no authority to deal with prisoners, so there was no reason for him to inspect the detained dragon. Therefore, Great Sage Shi surely would not know what had transpired on the third floor.
At the time, Qi Xuansu had already harbored doubts.