Chapter 36: The Forbidden Archives of the Holy Spirit Academy

The library.

The golden glow of the setting sun illuminated the transparent glass, and a gentle breeze rustled through the maple trees lining the path.

Zhang Liang stood before the library’s colossal transparent glass facade, his hand resting on his chin as he gazed upward.

The ten-meter-high glass wall was truly awe-inspiring.

‘Hmm… how exactly does this door open?’

He had never anticipated encountering such advanced technology in what appeared to be a medieval era.

[‘That old man didn’t say a word when he activated the container,’ Zhang Liang mused, ‘Does he really think I’m some sophisticated city dweller?’]

Standing on the red carpet, Zhang Liang first stepped back, then cautiously moved forward onto it again.

Yet, the door remained utterly motionless.

Zhang Liang glanced at the sign standing beside the carpet, which bore inscriptions he couldn’t decipher; the only thing he understood was the downward-pointing arrow ⬇️.

Believing it to be an instruction manual, he tried stepping on and off it several more times, even bouncing a little, but still, there was no reaction.

His brow twitched in frustration. ‘What a piece of junk!’ he exclaimed. ‘Is the sensor out of power?’

Suddenly, the sound of girls’ laughter drifted from a short distance away.

Four girls, each cradling a stack of documents, entered through an adjacent open door.

Zhang Liang slapped a hand to his forehead with a soft ‘thwack,’ taking a deep breath. [‘Maybe I should just restart,’] he thought.

Considering there might not be a save file, he flushed crimson and stepped into the library.

“Hello there~”

“Yoo-hoo~”

No sooner had he entered the library than a young woman sprang out from both his left and right, waving their hands in greeting.

They were clad in black garments resembling qipaos, their cool grey hair tied into ponytails that draped over their shoulders. In stark contrast to their somber attire, they exuded vibrant energy.

The two of them circled Zhang Liang several times, then gasped, pressing their hands to their mouths and leaning back slightly, feigning astonishment.

“You’re the legendary, perverted Zhang Liang!”

“You’re the legendary, perverted Zhang Liang!”

Zhang Liang’s brow twitched. He cared little for what others said about him, but he had certainly not expected to hear surround sound in another world.

They looked identical, sounded identical, and moved identically. The only discernible difference was that their thigh rings were worn on opposite legs.

Zhang Liang felt a strong urge to complain. [‘What if I mistake one for the other? Will I have to check their legs?’]

Still, they were undeniably attractive, and Zhang Liang admitted he wouldn’t mind identifying people by their legs.

“I’m here to find some information,”

Zhang Liang presented the jade pendant Bai Huo had given him. Immediately, the two women sprang into action, one producing a form and the other a pen.

“Please fill out the membership form.”

“Please fill out the membership form.”

While the surround sound was nostalgic, the way their voices faded in and out was rather disorienting. As Zhang Liang filled out the form, he took the opportunity to inquire about their identities.

“My name is Yingying, and I’m the elder sister.”

“My name is Yanyan, and I’m the younger sister.”

“We are the librarians here~!”

Zhang Liang had attempted to ask them to speak one at a time, but they immediately began squabbling over who should remain silent. Even their arguments formed a peculiar surround sound effect, prompting Zhang Liang to sigh and concede defeat.

The library was immense, its overall circular design filled with countless exceptionally long tables and matching wooden chairs, arranged in concentric rings, much like the growth rings of a tree.

Unlike the outside, the interior was remarkably cool and comfortable, permeated by the distinct scent of old books.

Yingying and Yanyan led Zhang Liang on a brief tour. After all, Zhang Liang was a renowned figure; though they had only heard rumors of his grim demeanor and reputation as a perverted dignitary, this was their first actual encounter.

As librarians, they deeply understood a particular concept.

The transmission of language was prone to erosion; hearsay could not represent the truth, and practice was the sole criterion for verifying it. Consequently, they were eager to see for themselves if Zhang Liang truly lived up to his reputation.

“Do you have any books on magic here?”

“Oh, we do! A total of 23,333 volumes,” Yingying and Yanyan replied in unison, each extending a single finger and touching them together.

“Are there any books that allow those without an elemental affinity to use magic?”

“None,” Yingying and Yanyan answered, shaking their heads and crossing two fingers.

Zhang Liang was not surprised by their answer. Having navigated this world for so many years, he had never witnessed anyone without an elemental affinity performing magic.

Nevertheless, Zhang Liang did not despair. Their ignorance did not necessarily signify its non-existence.

Battle Aura served as a prime example.

“Is there a hidden storage area here? Something very old, legendary, almost forgotten?”

Typically, the more secluded a place, the greater the treasures it held.

This was especially true for places like the Forbidden Archives; regardless of whether entry was permitted, one simply had to find a way in.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhang Liang had requested full access to all books from Bai Huo, to prevent any future complications.

“Yanyan, is there such a place within the library?”

“Yingying, there definitely isn’t one inside, but it seems there might be something outside.”

Subsequently, the two women led Zhang Liang to the rear of the library, to an overgrown courtyard. As they pushed open the iron gate, they startled a scattering of rats within.

Upon entering, a foul odor immediately assaulted their senses, suggesting the place had been untouched for decades.

Beyond two solitary trees, however, the area was utterly devoid of anything else.

“Have we come to the wrong place?” Zhang Liang inquired, a hint of doubt in his voice.

“We are professional administrators!” the two declared, hands on their hips.

Then, standing face to face, they pressed their palms together, closed their eyes, and began to chant an incantation.

Before long, Zhang Liang felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. Five meters ahead, the earth began to swell, causing the soil and weeds to crack and crumble away.

An arched wooden door materialized before them, adorned with two metal ring handles, presenting an appearance of great antiquity and solemnity.

A smirk tugged at Zhang Liang’s lips. [‘Isn’t this just like a Forbidden Archives from a game? Hidden so deeply, it must contain significant treasures.’]

He was already itching to enter and unearth its secrets.

“Yanyan, that incantation actually worked!”

“Yingying, it really did work!”

The two of them gazed up at the ancient portal, exclaiming in wonder. Appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen, they had likely never witnessed such a sight before.

Yingying and Yanyan each gripped a metal ring, and after exchanging a glance, they pulled backward with all their might.

KRRREAK—

A crack appeared in the massive door, from which an acrid stench wafted out, reminiscent of pickles fermented for centuries.

The door on Yingying’s side seemed to be stuck, so Yanyan hurried over to assist her.

“Ugh—!” The two strained, their fair cheeks flushing red. With a resounding ‘CLANG,’ a rusted chain snapped, and the massive door began to topple directly towards them.

“Ah!” they shrieked in unison.

Terrified, Yingying and Yanyan clutched each other, their eyes squeezed shut.

Perceiving the imminent danger, Zhang Liang swiftly plucked a weed from the ground. With a flash of green, it transformed into a blade, cleaving the massive wooden door in two. The upper half flipped over the girls’ heads, embedding itself into the earth.

‘Holy hell, how heavy was that door?! It almost crushed them!’

He had initially not wanted to let the girls open the door, but having just suffered a moment of social embarrassment, he had lost his confidence, even with a seemingly traditional wooden door.

“Wow! We’re alive!”

“We get to have chicken drumsticks for dinner tonight!”

Though it sounded like two distinct lines, both girls had, in fact, spoken two different phrases simultaneously. Zhang Liang simply could not fathom how they managed it.

The interior was shrouded in complete darkness. They produced magic stones to illuminate their surroundings, barely making out the path ahead.

The descending spiral corridor, from its stairs to its handrails, was entirely covered in moss and vines.

Zhang Liang would have believed it if someone told him no one had set foot here for millennia. After a considerable amount of time, they finally reached the lowest level.

The silence here was profound, broken only by the drip of water, the scuttling of insects, and the squeaks of mice. It was as if this place were a sanctuary for small creatures.

The magic stones were insufficient to illuminate the entire area, only allowing them to barely discern the path beneath their feet. They explored their surroundings and discovered a magic array on one wall, beside which was a handprint and two characters.

“Switch?”

Yingying and Yanyan pressed their index fingers to their lower lips, tilting their heads in confusion.

Zhang Liang thought, [‘This must be my cue. Clearly, all I have to do is place my hand on it.’]

The next moment, Zhang Liang felt a sudden dizzying sensation, his internal power being heavily drained. This was a feeling Zhang Liang had never experienced before, and he immediately realized his magic was being siphoned away.

Suddenly, the entire Holy Spirit Academy trembled violently, as if struck by a colossal hammer, astonishing all the teachers and students.

Bai Huo sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in concentration, a faint smile playing on his lips.

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