“Did you see that? An announcement just went up, saying that Ji You will be the first to defend the arena in the Tong Xuan Realm.”
“He’s that confident?”
“If he’s not confident, then who can be?”
“But Ji You shouldn’t have such a flamboyant personality. When a Senior Brother in the Tong Xuan Realm, who was about to leave the academy, challenged him, he declined several times before finally making a move.”
The entire afternoon after the announcement was posted, everyone was discussing this matter.
Meanwhile, in Cao Jinsong’s small courtyard, the subject of the discussion sat on a stone bench facing east, with Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and Bai Rulong seated around him.
Behind Ji You stood two women, both tall and gracefully built.
The one on the left had a hint of Demonic Qi in her brows and appeared more composed, while the other was somewhat youthful but adorned with jade hairpins and tinkling pendants, exuding an air of wealth. They were Lu Hanyan and Lu Qingqiu, the two sisters.
Perhaps it was from learning swordsmanship in the Sword Forest, but Lu Hanyan had become a bit clingy. Even when not in the Sword Forest, she would follow him whenever she saw him in the Outer Courtyard.
As Ji You put it, she was ultimately broken.
Perhaps the more arrogant a woman, the more she desires to be conquered. Ji You’s wooden sword struck her backside, but it seemed to have also struck her heart.
Of course, this also had to do with Ji You’s soft heart, giving her what she wanted.
Facts have proven that such strict teachers cannot produce outstanding Disciples; instead, they are prone to producing Rebellious Disciples.
It was late afternoon, with the setting sun. The osmanthus trees in the courtyard had many flower buds, but they were all still unopened, so their fragrance was not apparent. Only the scent of tea filled the air.
Lu Hanyan was pouring water for Ji You from a teapot, behaving so obediently, unlike a Young Miss, more like a little maid. As she poured, her eyes gently blinked, listening to the voices of Cao Jinsong and Ji (Master) continuously echoing in the courtyard.
“You voluntarily signed up to defend the arena?”
“I haven’t made a move since returning from the Snow Region. For some time now, I’ve wanted to test my actual combat strength. I heard that those who make the first move are confident in themselves, which suits me perfectly.”
Ji You lightly opened his mouth: “Five matches are enough to secure a spot, not too difficult.”
Cao Jinsong, holding his teacup, looked at him with sharp eyes: “You say that so easily. Indeed, five matches are not many, and it’s a sure thing for you. But why do I hear that the Elder Council forbids you from using Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao in the arena competition?”
“Oh, the news spread so fast?”
“Is that really true?”
After a moment of silence, Ji You nodded: “The Elder Council originally intended to disqualify me directly.
It was You Dianzhu (Hall Master You) and Zuoqiu Hall Lord from the Inner Courtyard who intervened, and only then did they back down, allowing me to compete for a spot,
but forbidding me from being a flag-waver for Lingjian Mountain.”
Cao Jinsong’s face immediately flushed: “Why?!”
“The Elder Council’s meaning is that the Heavenly Dao Conference should originally have Disciples who can better represent Tianshu Academy participate. I don’t count. Now, they can let me participate, but at the very least, I shouldn’t display Lingjian Mountain’s Sect prestige.”
“You agreed?”
Ji You nodded: “It’s just for the preliminaries right now, so I thought about it and agreed. It’s just not using the Spiritual Sword Mountain Dao Sword. Once I get the spot, how can they control me?”
He truly thought that way.
First, get a spot in the Heavenly Dao Conference. Once at the Heavenly Dao Conference, the Elder Council of Tianshu Academy, no matter how arrogant, couldn’t control anything.
At that time, he would definitely use the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao, otherwise, that girl Yan Shu would probably have an opinion if she knew.
Why not use the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao?
Do you think my Lingjian Mountain is bad?
If that were the case, then she shouldn’t even think about having children with him. He’d probably have to coax her for a while, telling her it was the old fogeys in the Elder Council who did it, not allowing him to use his wife’s Family’s sword or something.
Then she would pretend to be cold and blush, and then be kissed until she was breathless.
Hearing that Ji You had temporarily compromised to secure a spot, Cao Jinsong’s anger still hadn’t subsided: “This Elder Council is going too far. Everyone knows that the Dao of the sword is your most relied-upon skill, and they actually restricted even that. Why didn’t the Inner Courtyard teach you spells back then? Truly shameless.”
Ban Yangshu couldn’t help but nod after hearing this: “The Immortal Master has been governing by non-interference for over two hundred years, leading to the proliferation of factions within the Sect. The Elder Council has been acting this way for many years, but such obvious targeting is really going too far. Senior Sister, do you think what I said is correct?”
Wen Zhengxin took a sip of tea after hearing this, then turned to look at Lu Hanyan: “While there are reasons related to their conduct, ultimately, the true reason lies with Miss Lu Er, doesn’t it?”
Lu Hanyan, who had been listening without speaking, couldn’t help but raise her eyes when she heard this: “Me?”
“Although there are countless Elders in the Elder Council, only a few have the most say. One of them is Fang Yan, who is Fang Jincheng’s great-grandfather. Junior Brother taught you the Dao of the sword, but you made a move privately, defeating Fang Jincheng before the Autumn Tournament. Did you ever consider that Elder Fang would surely target Junior Brother and obstruct him at the Heavenly Dao Conference?”
Zhengxin Fairy has always been clear about her likes and dislikes, and she doesn’t hold back when speaking.
Just like when she previously disliked Ji You’s grunting as too dirty and kicked him out of the courtyard for it, she always spoke her mind directly. Upon hearing Wen Zhengxin expose the matter, everyone hesitated to speak, their expressions varied.
This targeting was too obvious, and Fang Yan was the one leading it. It wasn’t hard to guess why.
They had also thought of this point long ago, but just hadn’t said it out loud.
Upon hearing this, Lu Hanyan was slightly stunned.
Although she was a Young Miss of a Worldly Family, she was not an Inner Courtyard Disciple, and her Family had not taken root in Tianshu Academy. Otherwise, the Lu Family would not have gone to such lengths over the years, sending both sisters in succession, hoping they would enter the Inner Courtyard.
Their knowledge of the Spirit Stone industry was good, but they had no channels to obtain information about the Inner Courtyard’s internal affairs and factional disputes.
When Elder Fang arrived at the Sword Forest and saw Fang Jincheng lying on the ground, he only said that both parties were first-time offenders,
and that it wouldn't happen again. Lu Hanyan thought the matter had passed peacefully.
But it wasn't until Wen Zhengxin's words fell that Lu Hanyan realized this rule, which strongly restricted Ji You, actually originated from herself.
She also felt that Ji You’s greatest reliance was the Sword Dao he learned from Lingjian Mountain. If his strongest means were restricted, then the matter of the Heavenly Dao Conference would be in suspense, so she instantly looked at Ji You.
“So this whole thing is because of me—”
Lu Hanyan looked at Ji You apologetically: “Please punish me, Senior Brother.”
Ji You turned to look at her: “Should you be punished for learning swordsmanship from me?”
Lu Hanyan lowered her head and whispered, “When Fang Jincheng insulted me in the Sword Forest, I shouldn’t have acted on a momentary impulse. Instead, I should have waited until the Autumn Tournament to compete with him. If that were the case, then the Fang Family wouldn’t have obstructed the Heavenly Dao Conference preliminaries.”
“Nonsense, what kind of logic is that?”
Ji You picked up his teacup: “The Dao of the sword takes a direct path, following the Dao of clarity of the Dao Heart. If you can’t make a move when insulted, then what’s the point of learning swordsmanship? Might as well go home and farm.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Hanyan was slightly stunned.
Ji You’s gaze met hers: “This matter actually has little to do with you, because I am inherently an anomaly in the Inner Courtyard. Even without the Fang Jincheng incident, they wouldn’t have let me get the spot so easily. From entering the academy until now, everything I’ve gained has been cut out with my own hands. What wrong have you done?”
Although his tone was rather heavy and low, Lu Hanyan was stunned for a long time after hearing it, and her eyes became even more lustrous than before.
When Senior Sister Wen spoke about her just now, everyone looked at him with their peripheral vision. She thought she would be blamed, but unexpectedly, she was comforted instead.
Lu Qingqiu was also looking at Ji You at this moment, her red lips involuntarily pursed slightly.
Some things are clear to onlookers, but confusing to those involved.
Lu Hanyan, who was dueling with Fang Jincheng, was the participant, while Lu Qingqiu, who was watching the battle, was the onlooker.
That day, she was in the Sword Forest and knew that Ji You had always been there.
He must have known then that this matter would anger the Elder Council and be detrimental to his participation in the Heavenly Dao Conference. If he truly cared, given his combat strength, his younger sister and Fang Jincheng wouldn’t even finish fighting before he subdued them, and there would be no victory or defeat.
But he just stood by and watched until Fang Jincheng fell to the ground, with a sharp sword held to his throat, without saying a word, even praising her for her good swordsmanship.
In other words, he didn't care.
That’s right, Ji You never cared about these things.
Otherwise, his Worldly Family in Feng Province would not have been established, nor would he have reclaimed the tax revenue from all the common people in the entire province.
It was just as he said: from the moment he entered the academy until now, what he obtained was never charity from those people, but rather something he cut out with sword after sword.
Nearly half of the tea in the Instructor’s Courtyard had been drunk, but Cao Jinsong’s brow was still furrowed.
“Since things are already this way, then be prepared. You must be even more cautious if you can’t use your sword. Don’t be overconfident.”
Ji You raised his eyes: “I never intended to use a sword in the first place. Don’t ask me why I’m so confident; they haven’t even looked at who my Instructor is.”
“That’s true.”
Cao Jinsong muttered, appearing nonchalant, but his chest quickly puffed up as if inflated, causing the stone table to rattle.
Ji You mimicked him, puffing out his chest: “Then please, Instructor, bestow a sword.”
Cao Jinsong’s chest immediately deflated, and a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes: “What bestowal of a sword? Do you want to duel me again?”
“No, I mean bestow money to buy a sword, abbreviated as ‘bestow sword’.”
“??”
“My swords were all shattered in the Snow Region, leaving only forty-something sword hilts. I can’t really go defend the arena unarmed.”
“Rebellious Disciple!”
Cao Jinsong gritted his teeth and pulled out his money pouch.
Bai Rulong instantly held his breath, silently put down his teacup, his smile undiminished, but his feet had already begun to subtly shift towards the left.
His position was very close to the door; with a slight lean, he could step out, then raise a cloud of dust and disappear into the Outer Courtyard.
But just as his backside left the stone stool and his left hand was about to touch the doorknob, a hand firmly patted his shoulder, sending a chill down his spine.
Seeing the three counting silver over there, Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu exchanged glances, their brows furrowed in worry.
Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) is very strong, there's no doubt about that, but now that his strongest methods are restricted, no one can say for sure what level his combat power can still reach.
The most crucial thing is that while the Elder Council was clearly targeting Ji You, the words they spoke were truly unassailable.
Because the Heavenly Dao Conference is indeed for external display; although there's no talk of Immortal Sect competition, every time the Heavenly Dao Conference is held, the world always uses it to create rankings.
Therefore, it is reasonable not to allow Tianshu Academy Disciples to win using Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao.
But the more this is the case, the more it is a move to attack the Dao Heart.
The two looked up and found Lu Qingqiu pulling out silver from her embrace, muttering that it started with her and she had to buy a sword for Ji You.
Lu Hanyan also pulled money from her storage gourd, taking out large chunks of gold, not losing to her sister, and in a blink of an eye, a small mountain of money had piled up next to Ji You.
Ban Yangshu looked at this scene: "*Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) has so many romantic troubles."
Wen Zhengxin pursed his lips: "*Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) is worthy of it."
"?"
As dusk approached, everyone dispersed from the leisurely courtyard.
The two sisters then came to the Wudao Field, only to find that many Disciples were still gathered around the bulletin board, murmuring about Ji You's name.
The fact that Ji You cannot use Sword Dao when defending the arena would not be so openly written on the bulletin board.
So these people still didn't know; they just looked at the Tong Xuan Realm section on the bulletin board and couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle, thinking, 'Who the hell can win this?'
However, the Lu Family sisters knew very well that the Elder Council of the Inner Courtyard would soon fan the flames, spreading this unwritten rule, which only targeted Ji You, making it a well-known secret.
Because only in this way would their actions have meaning.
Sure enough, before long, the news that Ji You had agreed not to use Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao when defending the arena first spread within the Inner Courtyard.
"The Elder Council's restriction is truly ruthless. Not letting him use the Spiritual Sword Mountain's sword is clearly a targeted move, yet it's justifiable. It's truly a brilliant scheme."
"Shi (Senior Brother) feels, if Ji You loses his Sword Dao, how much winning chance does he have left?"
In the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest of the Inner Courtyard, Shi Junhao, Xiao Hanyan, and Chai Hu sat together in the pavilion, the air filled with the fragrance of tea.
They were all in the Rongdao Realm, and during this time, they had been busy improving their combat power based on their Realm, having come into contact with Sword Dao and refined their techniques, just waiting for the start of the arena defense competition.
Their relationships were relatively good, and they were the strongest Rongdao Realm cultivators in the Inner Courtyard, all of them seeded contestants for this Heavenly Dao Conference.
Coupled with He Lingxiu, who was currently in secluded cultivation, the four had already agreed to each defend five matches and secure their spots, ensuring they wouldn't encounter each other before the Heavenly Dao Conference.
So they now had leisure, and couldn't help but talk about Ji You's restriction from using a sword during his arena defense, and just like everyone else in the courtyard, they also felt that Sword Dao was Ji You's greatest reliance. If he even lost that, wouldn't his Tong Xuan Realm just be an ordinary Tong Xuan Realm?
As for Body Refining, Ji You's physique could defeat a Barbarian Soldier King, but in their eyes, it couldn't fully compensate for the loss of being unable to use Sword Dao.
What one stone stirs up is often a thousand layers of surging waves.
The news quickly spread to the capital as dusk fell, and Worldly Family Disciples like Princess Changle couldn't help but show a look of schadenfreude.
Zhao Yunyue had been in a bad mood for the past few days, mainly due to Ji You teaching Lu Hanyan Sword Dao.
When Ji You had entered the Inner Courtyard by cutting down Chu River with his sword, she and Lu Qingqiu had sent personal items together, hoping to form a Dao Companion relationship with him.
Later, both were rejected. Although Zhao Yunyue harbored resentment, knowing that Lu Qingqiu also didn't get her wish, she actually felt a little better.
But Ji You had gone down the mountain for half a month straight, personally guiding Lu Hanyan in Sword Dao, which made her think that Lu Qingqiu must have been taken in by Ji You.
Perhaps, this matter was also related to the snowy region demon stone.
Ji You now governed Feng Province, and the Immortal Supervisorate had already changed the transportation route of the snowy region demon stone to Feng Province.
If the two Families intermarried, the Ling Shi Merchant Association could still control most of the Spirit Stone.
The position of main wife would definitely be reserved for the daughter of the Dan Sect, there was no doubt about that, but it was not impossible for the Lu Family to marry Lu Qingqiu to him as a concubine in order to control the Spirit Stone of Qingyun World.
But in that case, wouldn't she be the only one left unchosen?
She didn't necessarily have to have Ji You, but she extremely disliked the feeling of being picked out like merchandise, and it was even harder for her to believe that she was the one left over.
The thought of Lu Qingqiu naked and sweating profusely, panting beneath Ji You, watching his powerful chest move closer and further, filled her with indignation.
So, upon hearing the news that Ji You couldn't use a sword, her joy was more than just a little.
The Elder Council was extremely satisfied with the speed of this unwritten rule's dissemination, so they specially dispatched Disciples to repeatedly inquire with the Master's Courtyard for news, wanting to see how many people, after knowing that Ji You couldn't use Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao, were eager to make a move.
A day later, Shengjing was once again clear and sunny.
The Elder Council Disciple came for the fifth time, but the news he brought was not as they had expected.
Everyone knew that Ji You couldn't use a sword when defending the arena, which was true, but the Tong Xuan Realm cultivators in both the Inner and Outer Courtyards did not excitedly begin to challenge the arena; instead, there was complete silence.
It felt as if Ji You stood alone on the arena, even if he was unarmed, as if bound by chains, but the crowd below, with swords drawn and bows strung, still dared not be the first to step forward.
"Brother Wu, you've been immersed in the Tong Xuan Realm for many years, and your cultivation is already incredibly profound. Now that the opportunity of this Heavenly Dao Conference is before you, aren't you going to try?"
"Let's wait a bit longer."
"Why wait longer?"
"Although Ji You cannot use the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao, he still has a skill in controlling swords. Against someone who can catch a sword, I only have a slight chance of winning; it's not very stable. It's better to let someone else try first. Some arrogant ones pursue the first victory, but for me, it's meaningless."
And seeing such a reaction from the Disciples in the courtyard, the faces of the various Elders in the Elder Council couldn't help but turn ugly.
Because they hadn't expected Ji You's name to command such awe.
"He's not even using Sword Dao, and people are still afraid of him?"
Fang Yan's face was gloomy, and his powerful voice shook the teacups in the Elder Council, making them clatter.
He had been in the Rongdao Realm for many years, and in terms of age and combat power, it was not an exaggeration to say he was half a step into the Divine Travel Realm.
A small Tong Xuan Realm like Ji You was nothing more than an ant in his eyes, but due to the courtyard rules, he couldn't directly attack Ji You. He could only restrict him from using his sword, yet he didn't expect that even this wouldn't go as he wished.
Elder Ge, who had once gone to the Snow Region with Ji You, interjected upon hearing this: "Even if Ji You doesn't use the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao, his inherent combat power is not something an ordinary Tong Xuan Realm can compare to. It's not strange for the Disciples in the courtyard to be cautious."
"Useless, all of them are useless. With such timid Dao Heart, how can they aspire to the Great Dao?"
"Let's wait a bit longer, Elder Fang. Someone will eventually grow impatient."
The three Master-in-charge of the Master's Courtyard had also waited for a day in the Master's Courtyard, and had not seen anyone come to register for a challenge, their expressions also complex and hard to describe.
Ji You had a reputation, in Tianshu Academy, in Shengjing, and even in Great Xia; he even had a formidable reputation.
Especially in the Barbarian Wilderness, where his forty-nine swords blocked a punch from the Barbarian Soldier King, this was even more so.
But they truly hadn't expected that even after he promised not to use a sword, no one dared to compete with him.
This was no longer just a reputation; it should be considered prestige.
Just the two words "Ji You" displayed on the bulletin board had already suppressed all the Tong Xuan Realm cultivators in the entire arena competition, making them dare not act rashly.
"Brother Qin, when do you think this Tong Xuan Realm battle will begin?"
"Hard to say."
Qin Rong held his teacup and looked at the sunlight streaming in from the window, staring at the dust constantly drifting in the light, and reached out to steady the corner of the sandalwood table: "Everything is difficult at the beginning. Ji You's combat power has always been unfathomable, so it's normal for the Disciples to be cautious."
Lang Hetong raised his eyes: "It can't be dragged on forever, what do you think, Brother Ji?"
Ji Jingyao rotated two iron balls in his left hand, and shook his head upon hearing the question.
He didn't know, or rather, he couldn't predict—
No one had come to challenge the arena yet.
Ji You had ordered a sword at Qionghua Pavilion a few days ago, and now came to pick it up, sighing inwardly.
He knew that if he traveled day and night for these two days, it would be enough for him to wander around Lingjian Mountain, visit Yuan Chen at the Dan Sect along the way, and also see his Elder sister.
He directly put the sword into his storage gourd, then looked at the few defensive artifacts on the shelf.
Just then, two figures walked into Qionghua Pavilion.
Ji You felt a familiar sensation, so he turned his head to look.
One looked like a scholar, dressed in a Confucian robe, and the other wore a purple cloud-patterned silk dress, like a Young Miss,
her steps graceful.
The man was still chatting and laughing with the woman as they walked, but his gaze was very open. The woman's expression was docile, her laughter soft, and she occasionally turned her head to gaze at the scholar beside her.
Feeling Ji You's gaze, both of them turned to look at him, their faces filled with confusion.
Unable to comprehend, the two exchanged glances, shook their heads, and then walked away into the distance with a hint of impropriety.
Ji You: "..."
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