Shen Biru was also inside the Compendium Pavilion.
At first, the continuous footsteps and rapid page-flipping did not draw her attention. But as time passed, something felt increasingly wrong.
Reading required patience—progressing step by step. Who read this fast?
Frowning slightly, she walked over.
What she saw made her heart sink.
Zhang Xuan was moving methodically from the first row of shelves onward, flipping through books one after another. His movements were swift and mechanical, as if he weren't reading at all—merely searching for something.
Could it be… this is why Elder Mo didn't want to let him in?
She watched for a while longer. Zhang Xuan showed no sign of stopping.
Her heart thudded.
Just moments ago, she had thought him somewhat different from before and had spoken up on his behalf, hoping he would take the opportunity to study seriously and escape his awkward position.
She had never expected that he would come in and behave like this.
The Compendium Pavilion was sacred ground within the academy. Teachers came here daily to consult knowledge. There were no rare treasures hidden here—only accumulated wisdom.
Flipping through books at random like this was nothing short of disrespect.
Damn it.
A thought suddenly formed in her mind.
Perhaps… he already knew I'd come here today. He's deliberately making all this noise to draw my attention.
Her impression of Zhang Xuan plummeted instantly.
As the academy's most renowned beauty, she had long grown accustomed to men seeking her attention through all manner of shallow tricks. And what she despised most was precisely this kind of pretentious behavior.
Her expression darkened.
She stepped up and said coldly, "Teacher Zhang, what exactly are you doing?"
"Reading," Zhang Xuan replied casually, not even lifting his head.
"Reading?" Shen Biru let out a cold laugh. Her flawless jade-like face was filled with indifference."If you think behaving like this looks impressive and will catch my attention, then I advise you to give up. I, Shen Biru, don't fall for such tricks. Acting like this will only make me dislike you."
"Oh. I know."
Zhang Xuan continued flipping pages.
Time was tight. His goal was to copy the entire Compendium Pavilion into the Library of Heaven's Path in one go. He had no spare energy to explain himself—nor any interest.
In his eyes, Shen Biru was simply being self-important.
Attractive? Certainly.But in his previous life, he had seen countless beauties—online and offline. Compared to those, her cold elegance stirred little interest.
He was busy.
"I don't have time to waste trying to get your attention," he thought.
Seeing him ignore her so completely, Shen Biru's anger surged.
"Since you understand," she said sharply, "then leave the Compendium Pavilion. Stop pretending to study here!"
Zhang Xuan's footsteps moved away.
"This is more like it," she muttered, nodding in satisfaction.
But just as she turned back to her own reading—
Hua-la-la! Hua-la-la!
The sound of pages flipping rang out again.
She snapped her head around.
Zhang Xuan hadn't left at all. He had simply moved to the next row of shelves.
"You—!"
Shen Biru nearly exploded.
Was he endless?!
Hadn't she made herself clear? The more he did this, the more she disliked him!
Clenching her teeth, she strode over again, her dark eyes filled with disdain.
"Didn't you hear a word I said? Everything you're doing now only makes me hate you more!"
Zhang Xuan finally stopped and looked at her, clearly annoyed.
"Are you sick?" he said bluntly."You read your books. I read mine. If you're really that bored, go squat in a corner and draw circles. Don't follow me around."
Shen Biru froze.
For the first time in her life, a man had spoken to her like this.
Her vision darkened. She nearly fainted from rage.
I'm sick?!Draw circles?!
Her chest felt as though it might explode.
Before she could speak, Zhang Xuan had already turned away and resumed flipping through books, not sparing her a second glance.
"Good. Very good!" she said through clenched teeth."Go on pretending. I'll expose you myself."
Suppressing her fury, Shen Biru returned to her seat, picked up a book at random, and began transcribing—though her eyes repeatedly drifted toward Zhang Xuan.
She waited for him to falter.
Minutes passed. Then hours.
To her shock, Zhang Xuan's pace never slowed.
From noon until evening, he flipped through every shelf methodically, without rest, without distraction, without pause.
Six… seven hours.
Her confusion grew.
If he were merely trying to attract her attention, he should have stopped long ago. Why persist for so long?
"Is he insane?" she wondered."Did he suffer qi deviation during cultivation?"
Finally, Zhang Xuan reached the last shelf and stopped.
"Quite a harvest," he murmured.
Every book in the Compendium Pavilion had now been copied into the Library of Heaven's Path.
Martial skills, cultivation techniques, alchemy, herbology, forging, arrays—everything.
The flaws and principles within them interwove, granting him a far deeper understanding of this world.
"Zhao Ya's Pure Yin Body…" he thought."I know how to resolve it now—though some preparations are still needed."
Even the defects in his own early cultivation had become clear. With time, he could refine everything to perfection.
Grrr…
His stomach growled loudly.
Only then did he realize how hungry he was.
Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan turned and walked toward the exit.
At the entrance, Shen Biru stood waiting, staring at him coldly.
He ignored her and continued forward.
"Stop right there!"
Elder Mo's thunderous voice rang out.
His face was dark as a storm cloud, rage barely contained.
He had endured enough.
In his mind, only one word remained:
Disturbance.
"Elder Mo?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled.
"Teacher Zhang Xuan!" Elder Mo barked, his tone icy."You did not come here to study—you came to disrupt order. From today onward, the Compendium Pavilion is closed to you. If you dare set foot here again, I'll break your legs!"
"Disrupt?" Zhang Xuan frowned."I read seriously. How is that disruption?"
Though he no longer needed to return, the accusation still irritated him.
Others could read freely—why was he labeled a troublemaker?
This old man is completely unreasonable.