C13 Cold Storage

The system panel opened, displaying Qin Xuan's personal information.

Name: Qin Xuan

Music Skill: 3.0

Rites and Music System Unsealing Progress: 3%

Martial Cultivation Realm: Xiantian Sixth Level

Today, at the Melody House, Qin Xuan had won the approval of numerous beauties, which significantly boosted his music skill attribute and even advanced his Martial Cultivation Realm to the Xiantian sixth level.

This achievement was something to take pride in and brag about. He had thought he was set to win tomorrow's challenge, which is why he left the Melody House on cloud nine alongside Squirt.

However, Wu Ji's stark warning was a reality check. With no real combat experience, he had been far too complacent!

Without Wu Ji's timely reminder, he might have met his end tomorrow without even understanding how.

He had assumed that facing Yu Lin at the fifth level of Xiantian would be manageable, but now...

Facing someone at the seventh level of Xiantian with extensive combat experience, even if he managed to reach the seventh level overnight, victory seemed out of reach.

This realization left him feeling uneasy.

"My dear wife, I've been practicing a few new pieces lately. Shall I play them for you?"

He intended to have Squirt bring the zither, but looking around, he noticed Squirt was nowhere to be found.

"You're thinking of playing the zither at a time like this?"

Wu Ji's voice grew colder, her impatience clear. Was she the only one concerned, while he seemed utterly fearless?

Indeed, if he feared death, why would he visit Miss Yanyu at the Melody House during such a critical time?

She suddenly found her own assumptions rather foolish.

"Don't be upset, my dear. I'm just trying to use my time wisely..."

With a stroke of luck, he might manage another breakthrough tonight.

Sadly, a return to the Melody House was out of the question. Everyone was resting, and even if he could bring them together, they wouldn't be able to concentrate, resulting in wasted time.

And Wu Ji, standing before him, didn't seem to have much interest in his zither tunes.

Wu Ji had no idea what was going through Qin Xuan's mind. All she could see was a man who had lost his drive, like a lump of useless mud that couldn't be propped up.

Her gaze fixed intently on Qin Xuan, yet she found herself defeated by his nonchalant expression.

"What exactly do you want? Are you really planning to march to your death like a fool?"

"I haven't even brought you home as my bride yet; how could I possibly die?" Qin Xuan declared with brazen confidence. "Don't worry, my love. I'll give it my all tomorrow. Yu Lin won't have the upper hand."

Wu Ji looked at him as if he were a simpleton. "The gap in our strengths isn't something you can just close by trying hard!"

She feared that as soon as he stepped onto the stage tomorrow, Yu Lin would defeat him in a heartbeat!

And yet, this fool was blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation. If things continued this way, their meeting today might very well be their last...

With this thought, her rage began to subside slightly, and she handed him a bronze token.

"The Rite of Induction tomorrow is a battlefield in its own right. That zither of yours is hardly a weapon. Take this token and find a Willow Sword on the second level of the cold storage. My master crafted it for me—it's incredibly flexible and full of spirit. I hope... it can save your life."

The cold storage?

Qin Xuan's interest was piqued. He had heard that the Atrela Dynasty used this cold storage to house all manner of weapons, from common blades to great master level spiritual weapons.

He had always wanted to see it for himself but had never had the opportunity due to his insufficient martial arts skills. He never imagined that Wu Ji would bring him an admission token today!

"But isn't this token supposed to be with Premier Wu Xiangguo? How did you... You didn't steal it, did you?"

He couldn't bear the thought of taking it if it was stolen.

Premier Wu Xiangguo may dote on Wu Ji, but the cold storage wasn't a place just anyone could enter. He would rather forgo the visit than risk getting her into trouble.

Wu Ji shot him a look. "It's just taking a weapon, not a major ordeal. If you're worried, I'll accompany you."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"If you're not going, then forget it!"

Wu Ji made a move to take the token back.

Qin Xuan quickly pocketed the bronze medallion and flashed a broad smile, "Well then, thanks a bunch, dear wife!"

"Make it a quick trip!" Wu Ji prompted.

Qin Xuan nodded, wasting no further time, and made his way to the Cold Palace.

In truth, the so-called cold storeroom was originally the Weapon Pavilion. Its proximity to the Cold Palace and the surrounding desolation meant it seldom saw visitors, hence its gradual shift to being called the cold storeroom.

It was once home to a vast array of weapons and spiritual artifacts, making it one of the palace's secret troves, second only to the library. But for reasons unknown, it now resembled a derelict estate. Were it not for the presence of guards inside, Qin Xuan might have mistaken it for a completely forsaken place.

The guard on duty was nodding off. Upon noticing someone's arrival, he couldn't be bothered to lift his eyelids and mumbled, "Look for whatever you need. If you can't find it, then give me a shout."

This suited Qin Xuan perfectly; he was keen to explore on his own.

Despite Wu Ji's instructions to retrieve the Willow Sword, he wasn't particularly interested in swords. He was on the lookout for something that would suit him better, ideally a spiritual weapon.

Given his extraordinary progress in martial arts, ordinary weapons simply didn't measure up to his standards!

"Feel free to browse the first and second levels, but steer clear of the third level. That's not for you," the guard said, yawning without opening his eyes.

Holding Wu Xiangguo's entrance card led the guard to assume Qin Xuan was one of the Premier's new disciples, especially in the dim light that obscured his true identity.

Unconcerned, Qin Xuan took the key from the guard and proceeded to unlock the door.

The situation was peculiar. The room appeared to be a standard guest hall, but as the key turned in the lock, a thunderous rolling sound ensued, and Qin Xuan could even feel a slight vibration underfoot.

With a "click," the door swung open.

Before him lay a spacious hall, yet the door that had opened was actually a bookshelf on the hall's right-hand side!

Now, the bookshelf swung open, revealing a room hidden behind it.

As the air rushed into the room, there was a swift "whoosh," and suddenly, all the candles ignited at once!

The flickering candlelight settled into a tranquil stillness, broken only by the occasional crackle that lulled one towards sleep.

This must be the first level the guard had mentioned, right?

Qin Xuan mused as he strode confidently into the space.

Once inside, he discovered the room was even larger than he had anticipated, likely a combination of several rooms adjacent to the parlor.

Shelves lined three walls, each laden with an array of weapons—swords, spears, sabers, and halberds.

In the center, two rows of bookshelves housed what appeared to be military texts.

A quick survey revealed that each weapon was paired with corresponding literature on the shelf before it.

For instance, a book on saber techniques sat in front of a crescent moon saber.

It was clear that King Qin had invested considerable effort into amassing this collection of weapons and books.

Qin Xuan took his time exploring the room, eventually concluding that these were merely common weapons, designed for practitioners in the Acquired Realm, and were of no use to him now.