"Alright then." Lu Xiaolu’s bright eyes flashed as she returned the two thin booklets to Zhang Ji Yuan.

Zhang Ji Yuan didn’t take them back. Instead, he looked at Chu Zhiyuan and said with a smile, "Xiao Chu, won’t you take a look? There’s no harm in practicing them."

Lu Xiaolu said, "Practicing them but not joining the Heaven-Reaching Sect really has no consequences? Mr. Zhang, you wouldn’t deceive us, would you? Saying it doesn’t matter, but once my junior brother starts practicing, you immediately change your tune, claiming that practicing these two secret techniques means he must become a disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, or else you’ll abolish his cultivation and reclaim the secret techniques!"

"Haha..." Zhang Ji Yuan laughed and said, "Don’t worry, I, Zhang, am not that despicable!"

Lu Xiaolu said, "Aren’t you Heaven-Reaching Sect people afraid of others practicing your secret techniques?"

"Why should we be afraid?" Zhang Ji Yuan laughed and said, "Those who can master our sect’s secret techniques must have extraordinary character. If someone manages our secret techniques while harboring hostility towards us, such a person won’t succeed in mastering them."

Lu Xiaolu tilted her head and thought for a moment, "But aren’t you afraid that once the secret techniques leak, others might discover their weaknesses?"

"Haha..." Zhang Ji Yuan laughed and said, "Miss Lu, you’re overthinking it. These three secret techniques are not methods to combat the enemy. So what if weaknesses are found?"

Lu Xiaolu said, "If they are not offensive techniques, what’s the point of practicing these three secret techniques?"

Zhang Ji Yuan replied, "To reach the heights of heaven and travel throughout the universe, isn’t it delightful?"

Lu Xiaolu nodded, "Such freedom is quite nice, but investing so much effort in practicing this doesn’t seem all that great."

"Miss Lu, as they say, difficult things aren’t for everyone, but for those truly apt at doing it, little effort is required."

"So, you’re saying that I’m not talented enough?"

"Hehe..."

Lu Xiaolu turned to look at Chu Zhiyuan, "Junior Brother, how about we take a look?"

"Forget it," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He had already seen it with his Super Sense, clearly and distinctly, so there was no need to take another look.

The two secret techniques shared a lineage with the Ascension Technique, delving deeper step by step.

"Then let’s forget it." Lu Xiaolu stuffed the two thin books into his hand.

Zhang Ji Yuan said in surprise, "Xiao Chu, aren’t you too cautious? You don’t even want to practice the secret techniques offered to you? You must know you can master them."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I only know that gold doesn’t fall from the sky."

"Who says gold doesn’t fall from the sky?" Zhang Ji Yuan said, "There’s still the Undying Golden Essence!"

Chu Zhiyuan was speechless.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "If you master these two secret techniques, in the vast world, you will roam freely, how carefree that would be!"

"Mr. Zhang, be honest with me." Chu Zhiyuan said, "What’s the real reason behind it all?"

Zhang Ji Yuan laughed, "What real reason?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Mr. Zhang, you’re so eager for me to join the Heaven-Reaching Sect. Even if joining isn’t necessary, as long as I master these three secret techniques."

Zhang Ji Yuan’s eyes flashed.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Everything has a reason. Mr. Zhang, you must understand that if it’s not explained clearly, I won’t practice casually."

Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head and sighed, "I didn’t expect you to be so cautious, lacking any arrogance or sharpness typical of a genius."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

He was cautious out of habit, and changing ingrained habits is difficult.

"Alright then, let me explain in detail." Zhang Ji Yuan sighed.

Lu Xiaolu said, "Can I listen?"

"Miss Xiaolu, it’s fine if you listen too." Zhang Ji Yuan smiled, "After all, knowing or not knowing doesn’t matter."

"Why doesn’t it matter?" Lu Xiaolu replied defiantly, "Is it because I simply won’t be able to master them?"

"Yes," Zhang Ji Yuan replied with a smile.

Lu Xiaolu said, "What about the Palace Master?"

"Also won’t succeed," Zhang Ji Yuan said.

Lu Xiaolu huffed, "I don’t believe the Palace Master won’t succeed either."

"Actually, many people have seen this secret technique," Zhang Ji Yuan said, "But they often overlook it."

Lu Xiaolu furrowed her brows slightly.

She couldn’t help but think about what she saw before; just two thin Sword Manuals.

If they were on a regular bookshelf or among collected works, she would just casually flip through and put them aside, not giving them a second glance.

Zhang Ji Yuan laughed and said, "The existence of Ascension Technique takes many forms. Some are Swordsmanship, some Fist Technique, some are Qinggong, and some might be ordinary Basic Heart Methods."

He shook his head and said, "Those who can’t master them often overlook them."

"Interesting..." Lu Xiaolu smirked, "So, I’ve seen them before too?"

"In fact, Various Martial Arts Sects, not just your Four Great Sects, have the Ascension Technique among their collections."

Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head, "Yet no one has truly recognized the Ascension Technique."

Lu Xiaolu said in amazement, "Really? All our sects have the Ascension Technique?"

"Zhiyuan said over twenty," Chu Zhiyuan said, "But in any sect with high expectations for its disciples, their collections will contain the Ascension Technique."

"This is too bizarre," Lu Xiaolu said, "How were they slipped in?"

Zhang Ji Yuan smiled, "Once you master the latter two techniques, it becomes as easy as pie, and this is traversing without obstacles."

He looked at Chu Zhiyuan, "There’s no place in the world you can’t go, walk as you please."

Chu Zhiyuan thought about what he saw in the Heavenly Sword Sect’s library, seemingly without spotting the Ascension Technique.

Of course, it could also be that he couldn’t recognize it as the Ascension Technique back then.

Now thinking back, the Secret Manual of the Ascension Technique also has the wonderful ability to conceal its aura.

"This really is absurd!" Lu Xiaolu muttered.

Being able to casually place a Secret Manual also means being able to take it anytime, even other things.

This ability can be described as divine theft, impossible to defend against.

She curiously looked at Zhang Ji Yuan and said, "Aren’t you guys from the Heaven-Reaching Sect, but from the Empty-handed Skillful Sect?"

Zhang Ji Yuan smiled, "If we were really to steal things, it would damage our cultivation."

Lu Xiaolu said, "Then it must be easy for you to assassinate too, right?"

"Not difficult," Zhang Ji Yuan said.

Lu Xiaolu said, "If others knew of this, they certainly wouldn’t sleep well."

Thinking that someone could appear beside you at any time, capable of stealing or assassinating anytime, how can one sleep soundly?

Zhang Ji Yuan smiled as he looked at her.

"Don’t worry, it won’t be spread," Lu Xiaolu said. "Even if they know, it won’t matter."

Zhang Ji Yuan smiled, "Miss Lu, you’re clever."

Lu Xiaolu said, "So you use the Ascension Technique to screen and identify disciples capable of learning the secret techniques?"

"Exactly," Zhang Ji Yuan said.

Lu Xiaolu said, "Then what are the consequences of mastering the Ascension Technique and the other two techniques? Surely it can’t be all good with no drawbacks?"

Zhang Ji Yuan sighed, "Our sect’s secret techniques are too difficult, the requirements for disciples are too high. In the vast Biyuan Heaven, in over a thousand years, only one like Xiao Chu has managed to master them."

"That’s really tough," Lu Xiaolu said, "Are you afraid your secret techniques will be lost? Is there more to it?"

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "The Heaven-Reaching Sect wants to restore its former glory, and enough disciples are needed for that."

"Is it solely to restore past glory?" Lu Xiaolu asked curiously, "It seems like your Heaven-Reaching Sect isn’t that famous either?"

"Hehe..." Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head, "Our sect’s previous name was indeed glorious, but it’s not convenient to mention."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Is it the Heavenly Person Sect?"

Zhang Ji Yuan’s eyes suddenly widened.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The most glorious era was the mythic era, but the Divine Race should have no inheritance left, only the Heavenly Person Inheritance."

The three booklets he saw contained crucial intricate patterns.

At first glance, they didn’t appear as Divine Language, but when combined with the three secret techniques, the patterns of the three booklets form the Divine Language.

This sect cannot belong to the Divine Race, leaving the Heavenly People Clan as the most likely option.

Heavenly Person Inheritance.

The inheritance of his Great Demon Suppressing Seal is the Heavenly Person Inheritance, as is the Great Brightness Scripture.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "It’s to require disciples to work together to form an Array, to unlock some Treasure, right?"