# File lib/asciidoctor/reader.rb, line 321
  def skip_blank_lines
    return if empty?

    num_skipped = 0
    # optimized code for shortest execution path
    while (next_line = peek_line)
      if next_line.empty?
        shift
        num_skipped += 1
      else
        return num_skipped
      end
    end
  end