However, William Harper flipped through the books and found that most of the scriptures placed on the rosewood bookshelf were miscellaneous books explaining the Tian Shi realm and discussing some basic cultivation principles.

The scriptures that truly recorded the secrets and secret techniques of Tian Shi cultivation were only a small portion, all placed on the smallest bookshelf in the eastern corner of this floor.

At this moment, that area was already surrounded by the sons of the Ji family, making it unlikely that William Harper could squeeze in easily.

William Harper looked at the Ji family sons crowding the eastern corner, pondering silently about how to get inside.

However, before William Harper could get close, he suddenly felt a strong force hit his left shoulder. Caught off guard, William Harper staggered back several steps with a “thud, thud, thud,” lost his balance, and landed on the ground with a thump.

“Idiot, how dare you block my way!”

Alice Harper snorted coldly. Arriving a moment late, he first knocked William Harper to the ground with force, then glanced at William Harper with contempt and sneered, “Even a useless person like you dares to come to the Scripture Repository.

Hmph, it was because of that plate of lettuce you brought yesterday that I got scolded by Father!

And during the trial, you actually made all the elders and youngsters of the Ji family wait for you on empty stomachs!

What do you think you are, William Harper?

Such arrogance!”

After speaking, Alice Harper arrogantly glanced at the Ji family collateral sons crowding around the eastern corner, scrambling to read the first-floor Tian Shi secrets and techniques, then, not daring to waste any time, hurriedly went up to the second floor of the Scripture Repository with a “thud, thud, thud.”

After Alice Harper, Edward Harper, Charles Harper, Julia Harper, and Little Lily Harper, these direct descendants of the Ji family, also entered.

“Brother Chang Kong, you came so early?”

Little Lily Harper cutely stuck out her tongue at William Harper and waved her little hand in greeting.

William Harper, who had just gotten up from the ground, forced a smile and nodded at Little Lily Harper, but didn’t say much.

Except for Little Lily Harper, the other three—Edward Harper, Charles Harper, and Julia Harper—didn’t spare William Harper a glance. Among them, Edward Harper and Charles Harper went straight up to the next floor with a “thud, thud, thud,” while Julia Harper held her head high and proudly led Little Lily Harper toward the eastern corner of the first floor.

The Ji family collateral sons who had previously packed the eastern corner of the first floor, upon seeing Julia Harper leading Little Lily Harper over, squeezed and jostled each other, somehow making room for the two girls in that tiny area, each smiling ingratiatingly to let Julia Harper and Little Lily Harper in.

The Ji family rules were strict: direct descendants held far higher status in the clan than collateral ones!

Of course, William Harper, who could not gather Yuan power, was an exception.

Even as a direct descendant, if one could not gather Yuan power to become a Tian Shi, in the Ji family where strength spoke louder than anything, one could only struggle to survive, swallow one’s pride, and had no other recourse.

Edward Harper, Charles Harper, Alice Harper, Julia Harper, and Little Lily Harper—these four grandchildren of Ji Yuxing—were able to treat the collateral sons with such arrogance not only because of their direct lineage, but mainly because they possessed far greater Tian Shi strength than the collateral descendants!

Not to mention Edward Harper, Charles Harper, and Alice Harper, the three always high and mighty young leaders of the Ji family—even Julia Harper and Little Lily Harper, the two girls, were stronger than the collateral descendants.

In this year’s trial, Julia Harper and Little Lily Harper took fourth and fifth place respectively!

Far ahead of the collateral sons!

This was the source of their arrogance!

One of the Ji family’s rules, and the most important one, was—strength above all!

Even a collateral son, as long as he had strength surpassing the direct descendants, could also show off in front of them, and no one would dare say a word!

With the rules set, even William Harper’s own grandfather Thomas Harper and aunt Grace Harper had to accept this fact, and could only use subtle means to secure some benefits for William Harper.

“Brother Chang Kong, come over here too!

Before we came, Father said that the secret manuals and techniques on the eastern corner bookshelf of this floor are the truly useful ones, so hurry up and come!”

After standing in the eastern corner, Little Lily Harper cutely waved at William Harper, her petite body squeezing closer to Julia Harper, trying to make more room for William Harper.

Suddenly, the collateral sons of the Ji family in the eastern corner all shot murderous glares at William Harper.

They stared coldly at William Harper, clearly meaning that if he dared to accept, they would join forces to get rid of him.

They didn’t dare say anything to Little Lily Harper, so they could only threaten William Harper with their eyes.

The Ji family sons were already burly and tall. In order to make room for Julia Harper and Little Lily Harper, several big men were already pressed tightly together. If William Harper were to squeeze in as well, they wouldn’t just be pressed together—they’d have to hug each other!

Just imagining a few broad-shouldered, burly young men hugging each other so intimately made them shudder!