Chapter 145: Extraordinary Bearing, Indifferent Expression
“My goodness, this Disciple is extraordinary—”
Below the Baiyu Platform, Cao Jinsong looked at Ji You on the stage and couldn't help but murmur.
Actually, Cao Instructor hadn't dared to watch the initial matches; he had just turned his head to listen to the discussions around him.
It wasn't until Ji You successfully made his first sword strike, piercing through Chu River's clothes, that he nervously turned his head.
Chu River's Huantian Technique was too strong; this was something he had already confirmed when he saw the opponent's sword strike Du Zhu.
So he had prepared a white flag long ago to throw into the arena to surrender, but he hadn't told Ji You,
only advising him not to bear too much burden and to enjoy his swordplay.
In his opinion, things like the Inner Courtyard and Worldly Family were all less important than life.
Because if one lost their life, they would lose everything.
Was the common private cultivator only fighting Chu River? No, it was the You Prefecture Chu Family, which had a thousand years of heritage.
So, was throwing a white flag shameful? No, not at all.
But even he, an Instructor, hadn't expected that the “this Disciple is extraordinary” he had brought from Yuyang County
had grown to such an extent in just one year.
Cao Jinsong came back to his senses and looked in the direction where Chu River had fallen.
The second son of the Chu Family had resisted seven sword strikes with the Qi energy of the Huantian Technique, then was sent flying by another seven sword strikes. He was covered in blood but still stubbornly stood up, standing blankly.
Meanwhile, the Chu Family members had already left their seats, especially the old servant who followed Chu River. He came directly in front of his young master with a furrowed brow, leading him back to the Chu Family's seating area.
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but look at each other.
They had witnessed the power of the Seven Chong Mountain with their own eyes, but they hadn't expected Chu River to be fine, apart from being covered in blood.
At this moment, Ji You stood in the arena with his sword, slowly closing his eyes to recover, and inhaling as Spiritual Qi continuously diffused into his limbs and bones.
“There are two more matches. How will Chu River fight?”
“How can we presume to guess the profound heritage of the Chu Family? Chu River must have more tricks up his sleeve; it’s impossible for him to use everything in the first match.”
“To fight like this in just the first match, plus his hidden moves, are we really cultivating the same immortal Dao?”
“Of course not. Which of their skills do you know?”
“So strong, someone will die—”
Amidst the discussions, everyone who had recovered became even more eager for the next two matches.
However, Wen Zhengxin and others felt a hint of worry, truly fearing that Chu River might reveal more incredible techniques.
Because they knew that the sword Dao Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) learned on Lingjian Mountain only included Xiao Chong Shan, Willow Color New, and Gui Qu Lai.
In the first match, he had used all three sword strikes to defeat Chu River, but if the opponent still had other trump cards, Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) would be put on the defensive.
However, to everyone's surprise, after a long time, Ji You suddenly opened his eyes, the golden light in his pupils faded, and then he stood up and walked off the stage, coming before the three Masters-in-charge.
“Standing seven feet tall on the high platform, he slowly descended, looking around with tiger-like eyes, his expression indifferent.
From a distance, he has an extraordinary bearing, then walks with the steps of a Dragon and Tiger, stopping in front of the three Masters-in-charge of the Master's Courtyard—
Looking at his back, his muscles and bones are strong and healthy, his Qi and blood are like a rainbow, concealing great power—”
The Disciple of Lingjian Mountain wrote continuously, filling the entire page.
To his right, another Disciple held a charcoal pencil and sketched, quickly capturing seven or eight tenths of the main figures' expressions in this scene.
Then the two handed their manuscripts and paintings to a female Disciple behind them, whose hands were already holding a thick stack of praises from today.
Princess Changle of the Prince Chong's Mansion was standing in front of that female Disciple at this moment, staring at the manuscripts and paintings for a long time: “Excuse me, what is your name, young lady?”
“Zhuo Wanqiu, Inner Courtyard Disciple of Xuanjian Peak.”
“Miss Zhuo, actually, I also studied at Lingjian Mountain, but because I am a royal relative, I can only cultivate in Shengjing. Strictly speaking, we are of the same origin.”
Zhuo Wanqiu held the paintings and manuscripts and glanced at him: “I know you are Princess Changle. Please speak directly.”
Princess Changle showed a faint smile, her eyes lowered, and said: “Could you allow me to find a painter to copy these paintings and manuscripts?”
Upon hearing this, some women from royal Sect and representatives from other sects looked over.
They hadn't understood why the Disciples of Lingjian Mountain were writing and drawing here earlier. Now, looking at the flowing words and the naked swordsman depicted on the paper, they felt a bit of regret.
That scene just now should have been preserved forever, so they immediately began to respond to Princess Changle.
Zhuo Wanqiu shook her head upon hearing this, refusing outright: “No.”
Princess Changle frowned slightly, but still patiently said: “Money is not an issue, Spirit Stones are also acceptable. Just leave a copy.”
“This is a secret of my Lingjian Mountain. Not to mention leaving a copy, you can't even look at it one more time.”
“Ji You is a Disciple of Tianshu Academy, and today is the Autumn Tournament of Tianshu Academy’s Outer Courtyard. How did this become a secret of Lingjian Mountain?”
“This, you don't need to know.”
Zhuo Wanqiu thought to herself, this is not a secret of my Lingjian Mountain; it is a secret of my Young Master Jian.
Before coming, Young Master Jian specifically instructed that once the painting was done, it should be brought back immediately, and no one should be allowed to see it.
You are already fortunate to have seen my Young Master's body in person; if you still want to keep it, aren't you truly afraid of the swords of my Lingjian Mountain?
Just at this moment, a rustling sound of footsteps came from the mountain path.
Zhuo Wanqiu looked up and saw He Lingxiu walking over with a serious expression.
The matter of Tianshu Academy going to Lingjian Mountain to seek the Dao was not too long ago, and the antagonism between the two sects had not truly eased.
For example, regarding this visit to Tianshu Academy to observe the battle, the Disciples of the Master's Courtyard also gave them a rather unfavorable position at Lingjian Mountain.
He Lingxiu had failed in seeking the Dao at Lingjian Mountain earlier, and she must still harbor resentment, which made Zhuo Wanqiu feel a hint of vigilance.
However, what she didn't expect was that this direct Disciple of Zizai Hall of Tianshu Academy showed no hostility, but instead let her gaze fall on the manuscript in her hand.
“I have already ordered Disciples to go down the mountain to find a painter. I will have this copied later.”
“?”
“This Tianshu Academy Autumn Tournament exceeded everyone's expectations. I should keep a record for the academy. After all, this is a matter of my Tianshu Academy, and Ji You is also my Junior Brother. I don't need the original draft, but I want a copy, otherwise you can forget about taking it away.”
Zhuo Wanqiu listened to He Lingxiu's righteous words and couldn't help but look at the manuscript and painting in her hand.
She didn't believe anything about records, because even if they were truly needed, it should be the Master's Courtyard that made the decision, not a direct Disciple of an Inner Courtyard Hall Master.
In the end, it was because Young Master Jian's things were too tempting.
Master Jian, Master Jian, don't blame me. Blame Young Master for being a femme fatale—
At the same time, the Baiyu Platform was in an uproar.
Countless cultivators were taking advantage of this time to discuss the previous battle and await the start of the second match.
However, at this moment, everyone suddenly noticed that after Ji You conversed with the three Masters-in-charge, he put away his long sword and floated away. With Sword Qi surging, he truly walked with the steps of a Dragon and Tiger, leaving a silhouette against the brilliant sunlight.
At the same time, Cao Jinsong, who was below the Baiyu Platform, felt his chest inflate rapidly as if it were filled with air.
Seeing this, all the Disciples who were waiting for the second match couldn't help but show a hint of confusion, while Ban Yangshu,
Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and others exchanged glances, then followed.
The direction Ji You went was his residence, Bishui Lake Garden—
On the seventh day after the beginning of autumn, there was another light rain, bringing a touch of coolness to Shengjing, where the summer heat was gradually fading.
The Disciples of the Master's Courtyard came to the Baiyu Platform, bringing a cart of sand and earth with craftsmen from Shengjing to re-lay the bricks.
Many Disciples passing by couldn't help but stop and watch, their eyes filled with unclear meaning.
Because yesterday, right here, they had witnessed the incredibly spirited Seven Swords.
However, the second and third matches, which they had originally imagined, ended without starting, and then everyone dispersed.
Ji You returned to Bishui Lake Garden, while the Chu Family left by carriage on the same day. No one knew whether this Autumn Tournament had actually ended, nor why a matter of such widespread attention in the academy had suddenly come to a halt.
“Is the Master's Courtyard going to let Chu River recover from his injuries and then come back to fight?”
“Can they do that?”
“The Master's Courtyard is already biased. If they really made such a shameless move, I wouldn't be surprised at all.”
In the corridor adjacent to Bi Shui Lake, many Disciples had various opinions about the battle that suddenly ended yesterday, and the most reliable speculation was that the Autumn Tournament was suspended for Chu River to go home and recover from his injuries.
This conjecture was based on the Master's Courtyard's past conduct.
Otherwise, why not decide the outcome on the same day and announce the winner?
It should be known that Chu River immediately got up after being struck off the Baiyu Platform, clearly still able to continue fighting. Why was it suddenly suspended?
At this moment, on the mountain path, Lu Qingqiu was holding an oil-paper umbrella and heading towards the Instructor's Courtyard.
After the Autumn Tournament came the autumn recruitment, which was the enrollment of new students.
She had a younger sister at home who had already decided to enter Tianshu Academy this year. She came this time to find Ma Zhiyuan, the Instructor in charge of Yunzhou recruitment, for her sister's enrollment.
Pushing open the door and entering the Instructor's building, she saw Ma Zhiyuan at his desk, holding a green onion in his left hand and half a pancake in his right.
“Instructor Ma, why are you only eating this?”
Ma Zhiyuan looked up at her: “Nothing, I've lost some money these past two days—”
Lu Qingqiu said “oh” and then explained her sister's situation, inviting him to the Yunzhou Lu Family. In fact, the Lu Family had already informed Ma Zhiyuan about this, and Lu Qingqiu's sister's cultivation was indeed good, with enough talent to enter the academy.
After they settled the recruitment matter, Lu Qingqiu was about to leave, but before she left, she couldn't help but stop and turn back: “Instructor, what happened to the Autumn Tournament? Is it still going to be held?”
Ma Zhiyuan looked up at her: “No, Ji You has already won. He'll probably enter the Inner Courtyard before the autumn recruitment.”
Lu Qingqiu's red lips parted slightly, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes: “But why wasn't the second match held?”
“Because it couldn't be held.”
The Autumn Tournament's Ring Match was indeed a best-of-three system, but it didn't rule out exceptional circumstances.
For example, Du Zhu, who was struck off the stage by Chu River's sword, voluntarily ended his challenge, so the second match was not held.
Ma Zhiyuan took a bite of his pancake: “The academy says Ji You's Physique can be passed down, and while I don't know if that's true, the strength he's shown is enough to explain everything. Qingqiu, you should really consider it.
You shouldn't miss out on someone like him.”
“But, he—why did he win?”
“Because both of Chu River's arm bones were completely broken.”
(The New Year is approaching, so I'm wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance, and then asking for monthly votes—or2)