Molting the Mortal Coil

The Elders had no problem with the Disciples that had gained by searching the Soul Taming Abode first. Sage’s Storage Ring was far different than the standard. Usually a storage bag was the size of a belt pouch and could hold as much as a backpack within. The different grades of bag would correspond with how small the pouch was and how large the space inside. The highest grade storage bags were the size of a coin purse yet they could store as much as a large camping pack. A one cubic inch pouch holding one cubic yard of matter.

Storage Rings on the other hand were special in that they were much tougher, smaller, and they ignored weight. A storage bag was more like a shrinking device in that the objects within still had weight, it was the reason that most storage bag were carried on belts and not slipped into a pocket or on a necklace. The most expensive Storage Bags were mounted on belts that reduced weight. The most low grade of Storage Rings stored the same amount of material as a Storage Bag, but they cost ten times more. Larger Storage Rings were even more expensive with one the same size as Sage had easily costing millions of Spirit Stones. Sage already had a Storage Ring so he didn’t really look into buying others, and so didn’t really realize how valuable his ring was. One of the main reasons the Elders let the six Disciples keep what they’d found was because they assumed the amount they could take was limited. They really had no clue that Sage’s ring could hold enough for him to completely strip clean a few rooms. Lucky for them Sage had only had the chance to visit a few rooms before he was taken out of the treasure hunt.

Sage stood silently with the rest of the group, just watching as Peak Master Zhen walked down row after row. Every item she passed disappeared with a wave of her hand as the whole treasury was rapidly collected by her. Elder Shuren merely waited by the side, only there to look out for any other formation traps. Given the security of this place, it was safer to have a Formation Master on either side of the energy screen to cover all their bases. All the Inner Court Disciples were watching Peak Master Zhen and marveling at the many treasures she was sweeping up. Whenever a Disciple recognized a treasure they would call it out, the others gasping in amazement at such rarities. Many of the pedestals even had stacks of jade boxes which the Peak Master would first open one to confirm the treasures within before collecting the whole stack.

Within an hour, the Peak Master had cleaned the whole place out. She called out to the whole group, “That should be everything. Does anyone see anything else?”

There was no telling whether the Holy Flame Sect would make use of this site, nor when they were likely to return again. It was better for them to take everything of value now, and the Disciples knew that the more the Sect gained the most points they would all receive as compensation. Obviously, the Peak Master was quite astute and nobody saw anything that her sharp eyes had missed. After a moment they all exited the Treasury room and locked the doors behind them. From there, they all journeyed over to the last locked door that had been unexplored and once again had the two Formation Masters decipher the arrays individually before confirming their findings. The large group stayed well away as they performed the operation to open the door.

This time there was no rush of air, the double doors here were of a standard size, the room they blocked access to seemed unusual. Elder Shuren and Peak Master Zhen proceeded forward alone for a few minutes before calling back, “You may all enter.”

After entering the doorway, the group followed a dark hallway around a few corners and through a few energy barriers before climbing a few flights of stairs and entering a massive chamber. They were standing in a circular area with small tables and chairs dotted around it. This circular area was at the center of easily a dozen long rows of bookshelves. Each of the bookshelves branched off from the circular central area like the spokes of a wheel. Even the area behind the stairs where they entered led to more bookshelves. Across from the staircase was a small enclosure with a circular desk and a large filing cabinet. Must be where the librarian would sit.

They had entered a quite large library and were all astounded at the number of books on display. Looking upwards, Sage noticed that this library had three floors, each of them were easily twenty feet tall and this circular central area was like a courtyard that the upper floor balconies could look down upon. Glancing down the rows, Sage noticed that the rows to the four compass directions ended in staircases leading upwards. The rows were each about fifty feet long which wasn’t too large but given that this place was three stories tall it would certainly add up to an astounding amount of books.

While everyone was still marveling over the storehouse of knowledge, Peak Master Zhen interrupted their thoughts, “We already checked the index. The first floor is general knowledge and references. The second floor are historical records, and the third floor is filled with Cultivation Arts and Techniques.”

The crowd collectively gasped as this final line was emitted and everyone looked eager to run up to take a look. Of course their hopes were immediately dashed, “I know you all wish to tear into them, but this place is now the property of the Sect. As you are all part of this discovery, you will all be allowed to learn one technique from those collected here!”

A cheer resounded as people started to dash towards the stairways. That was until a loud cough seemed to disrupt the Qi running through their bodies and stopped everyone in place, “Ahem! You will be allowed to learn a technique, but not now. First, all of them must be catalogued and moved back to the Sect. Copies will be made and you will all get to pick from the list after we return.”

Frowns grew on everyone’s faces as their hopes of digging through a massive treasure trove were dashed. They all had the dream of sorting through a pile of dusty scrolls and finding that overlooked technique that would cause their strength to improve by leaps and bounds. Now that they were just going to get a list and pick from it like ordering lunch… the romance of the whole affair had been ruined. Grumbling about their luck, the Peak Master had an impish smile on her face. It seemed she enjoyed toying with their emotions as she finally gave them some good news, “This sorting should take some time. While myself and the Elders are doing this, you all can feel free to search this place once more. I’m sure those six didn’t find everything. Just stay out of the two locked rooms. Once you’re tired of searching you may return here and read the books on the first floor. Tomorrow we shall continue the expedition. This Soul Taming Abode is the new base camp where myself and half the Elders will remain to continue cataloguing.”

After a moment to let all these instructions set in, the Peak Master made sure to light a fire under them, “Remember to all search well. If you’re lucky, you might find another place like this Soul Taming Abode!”