Chapter 215: Settled
The second battle of the third round in the Tong Xuan Realm saw Yu Shiliu successfully defend her position.
Her body swirled with Qi currents, and her swordplay was as light as a startled swan. With a flick of her elegant longsword, she directly knocked her opponent out of the arena.
Unlike Ji You's simple and crude sword strikes, Yu Shiliu had clearly begun to dabble in the Legacy of spell arts.
Though not yet in the Rongdao Realm, her Divine Might wasn't prominent, but the subtle beauty of her moves was exceptionally captivating.
Coupled with her graceful figure, she drew countless gazes.
The following day, the Rongdao Realm also reached its final match of the third round.
Chai Ze's opponent was named Feng Chunqiu, a tall and burly man with an imposing Aura. A straight-bladed long saber gleamed with dazzling Mystic Light.
Each swing of his saber was augmented by a Mystic Art, stirring up layers of wind and waves, making spectators below the platform feel a surging pressure that kicked up dust around the Baiyu Platform.
Chai Ze was still young, having entered the Inner Courtyard directly due to being the Master-in-charge's nephew. He appeared somewhat like a frail scholar.
In his first two battles, Chai Ze still lacked combat experience, appearing a bit clumsy in his responses.
However, relying on a profound finger technique, he consistently overpowered his opponents, causing the ground to tremble violently, compensating for his lack of combat awareness with absolute strength.
By the fifth match, his performance was effortless.
Buzz!
A subtle tremor sounded as Chai Ze flicked his finger like the wind, suddenly shooting out a finger light that swiftly disappeared into the air, becoming invisible.
Most of the Disciples from the Outer Courtyard looked puzzled, not understanding what happened, only feeling a wave of pressure wash over them.
However, Feng Chunqiu, who had been fiercely attacking with his saber, found his saber momentum instantly suppressed.
Then, Chai Ze's figure whistled forward, both palms striking out, and the powerful force forcefully pushed back Feng Chunqiu's fierce offensive.
Feng Chunqiu attacked again, but Chai Ze pierced out with another finger. This finger strike was astonishingly powerful, causing the iron saber in Feng Chunqiu's hand to tremble wildly, forcing him to switch from offense to defense.
Chai Ze then swiftly attacked with a single-handed mountain-splitting motion, his palm enveloped in a radiant glow, directly striking the iron saber with a resounding clang, causing Feng Chunqiu's Qi and blood to churn.
After several clashes, Feng Chunqiu narrowly lost, gasping for breath with a strong hint of unwillingness.
But seeing the effortless expression on his opponent's face, he finally sighed softly and turned to leave.
In fact, this Feng Chunqiu was not an unknown figure; he had once amazed the Outer Courtyard.
Many, especially the Disciples of the Master's Courtyard, remembered that his speed in sensing the Heavenly Book far surpassed previous Seniors, and he had even placed in the Sky Soaring Immortal Gathering held by the three southern Sects.
Wu Zhen, who was the first to challenge Ji You, was his contemporary.
Just as Wen Zhengxin was to Pei Ruyi, Feng Chunqiu was also the Prodigy Wu Zhen looked up to, but unfortunately, he still lost.
With five victories, Chai Ze effortlessly secured a spot. Yu Shiliu also completed a winning streak in the subsequent three matches, defeating three Inner Courtyard Disciples with a cold and arrogant demeanor amidst cheers.
The battles were largely without major scares but undeniably conclusive, causing the Elders' Council's grim expressions to gradually improve after many days.
The last defender in the Rongdao Realm was He Lingxiu. Compared to her performance in the Lingjian Mountain competition, her body-enhancing techniques were significantly more complex and profound.
Although she had just entered the Upper Rongdao Realm, her Aura was quite similar to Chai Ze's. In terms of pure Aura, she was actually more astonishing than Shi Junhao and Xiao Hanyan.
Moreover, she was extremely popular, with half again as many Disciples watching her matches as others, mostly men.
The first Disciple to fall to her was named Song Qian, an Inner Courtyard Rongdao Realm cultivator.
Following him were You Hanliu and Wei Wan.
In truth, they were also firmly remembered by some Outer Courtyard Disciples, but unfortunately, they were nothing in front of a direct Disciple.
And in the fourth match, Zhengxin Fairy took the stage.
Both of them used Dao swords. After the gong sounded, torrents of Spiritual Qi instantly collided, and two graceful figures constantly clashed amidst the fierce winds and waves.
Wen Zhengxin also followed the path of body-enhancing techniques, and her Aura was very profound, causing He Lingxiu to show an unusual solemnity.
After several exchanges, the two fought back and forth, with the constant clanging of metal.
But as the battle progressed, some differences slowly began to emerge.
Zhengxin Fairy's body-enhancing techniques were far less powerful and complex than He Lingxiu's, and multiple defenses proved ineffective.
And He Lingxiu's accompanying spell arts already far surpassed what Chu River had used previously, appearing even more magnificent in Aura.
Amidst a continuous cacophony, Zhengxin Fairy continuously unleashed Spiritual Qi on the Ascension White Jade Platform, repeatedly applying powerful Qi force, accompanied by thunder and fire, yet still unable to pierce through the wind dance encircling He Lingxiu.
He Lingxiu, on the other hand, pressed forward relentlessly, her attacks growing swifter. Her Dao sword, wreathed in radiant light, pressed down with terrifying force. With a soft hum, a purple lightning storm suddenly erupted brilliantly, and the sounds of collision ceased abruptly.
Wen Zhengxin gazed deeply at He Lingxiu, wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead, and pursed her pink lips as she gasped for breath.
Cai Dongchen, who subsequently challenged the stage, faced a similar outcome to Zhengxin Fairy. After several unsuccessful attacks, he was forcefully driven off the stage by He Lingxiu's overwhelming power.
Although this direct Disciple of Zizai Hall had just broken through, her combat strength was indeed extraordinary. At the same time, news of the Heavenly Dao Conference preliminaries also spread from countless Worldly Families and Immortal Sects in the Qingyun World, and the names of those who obtained spots were widely circulated.
Some Sect wanderers and Worldly Family wanderers specifically collected and exchanged information across the nine provinces, spreading the news far and wide.
The Worldly Families had fewer spots, and even with careful decisions, their results came out faster than the Immortal Sects.
So, even before the Tianshu Academy's results were finalized, the other participants had already sparked a wave of discussion, so much so that even low-level individuals like tea house and tavern owners, having heard enough, could recount several stories.
After all, anyone who could participate in the Heavenly Dao Conference preliminaries, whether victor or vanquished, would not be an unknown figure.
“Zhengxin Fairy fought very strongly in that previous battle; there’s no shame in losing.”
“Of course, if I could also obtain the resources available to a direct Disciple, I would certainly not have lost today. So, strictly speaking, I still won that match.”
Wen Zhengxin was currently sitting in a restaurant in Shengjing City, showing no signs of dejection from her failed challenge. Instead, she had a sense of sudden enlightenment.
She had anticipated this outcome; this battle was merely for her peace of mind.
Moreover, she wasn't the only one whose extraordinary talent had been constrained by her background. Ban Yangshu nodded upon hearing this: “Thinking that way, it does make sense.”
Cao Jinsong, holding the menu, flipped through it continuously, then, after much deliberation, pointed to two dishes. He then closed the menu and looked at the waiter.
The waiter took the menu and paused: “So many of you—only two dishes?”
“No, we don't want these two. We want all the rest.”
“?”
Ji You was sitting next to him, his eyes constantly flashing with Killing Intent.
However, because he had previously promised Senior Sister Wen that he would treat her to a meal if he lost, he had to endure it, his teeth clashing together with a hospitable “ge ai” sound.
Also sharing the meal were Kuang Cheng, Wei Rui, and Bai Rulong and the Lu family sisters.
Hearing that Ji You, who only takes and never gives, was treating, Ru Long Immortal Emperor rushed over without even looking at his butt, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Ji You secretly cursed their lack of ambition for such behavior.
Wen Zhengxin turned to Ji You: “Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji), only you are left now. You must get first place and go see what that Sage Dao Proving Ground looks like, then come back and tell us.”
“And if I lose, do you guys have to treat me to a meal too?”
Lu Hanyan straightened her back, the word 'treat' about to escape her lips, but she was stopped by the gazes of the others around her.
Ji You had a peculiar way of thinking; throwing a few broken silver coins on the road could lure him away. He might genuinely lose on purpose just to get a free meal. At that point, it would be better to just sell the spot.
Cao Jinsong put on a stern Instructor's expression: “This is just the beginning. You'd best not be arrogant. Know that the Seven Great Immortal Sects produce countless talented individuals and Prodigies. You must be cautious.”
Ban Yangshu glanced at Cao Jinsong: “With Junior Brother Ji's strength, he doesn't need to be overly cautious.”
“It's still better to be cautious. Who knows what kind of monsters might appear from other Immortal Sects or Worldly Families?”
“No matter how monstrous, they probably won't be as monstrous as Junior Brother.”
Hearing this, Cao Jinsong pondered for a long time, and finally had to nod in agreement.
He had once said in Yuyang County that Ji You was extraordinary, believing he could enter the Inner Courtyard, but now he hadn't expected him to reach this stage.
For a private cultivator from the countryside to establish a foothold in the Immortal Realm, which is dominated by Worldly Families, has been rare throughout history.
Cao Jinsong looked at his troublesome Disciple and found that he had been silently drinking alone, not participating in the previous topic at all. He couldn't help but frown, "You've already secured a spot in the Heavenly Dao Conference, what's still bothering you?"
Ji You sighed, "Cao Instructor, don't ask too many questions. No one will understand this kind of thing if I say it out loud."
Kuang Cheng stared at Ji You for a long time, and after much thought, he couldn't help but open his mouth, "He probably thinks he doesn't have to pay if he gets drunk. Brother Ji is always like this, full of little tricks."
"?"
During the Great Heat solar term, there was no rain in the entire Shengjing City; it was sunny almost every day.
Only in the evening would the heat slightly abate.
During this period, He Lingxiu won five matches, securing the last Rongdao Realm spot, while Gu Zetao obtained the last Tong Xuan Realm spot.
The Ascension White Jade Platform in the Tianshu Academy's Outer Courtyard was shattered beyond recognition, with dense, spiderweb-like cracks extending from the center to the edges, and two deep pits within it.
One was formed by a foot, and the other by a sword.
Without the booming sounds of combat and the flashes of Mystic Light from clashing techniques, the Outer Courtyard Disciples felt somewhat unaccustomed.
Some felt regret, while others felt they hadn't had enough.
Subsequently, the Disciples from the Master's Courtyard brought in new white jade stones from outside, cleared the previous broken bricks, filled the pits, and began repaving.
The three Masters-in-charge from the Master's Courtyard compiled the continuous days of competition into a report, submitted it to the Inner Courtyard, and after receiving a reply, dispatched Disciples to transcribe it. On a bright, sunny afternoon, they posted it on the bulletin board.
Despite having witnessed the entire process and already knowing the outcomes, this announcement still attracted many onlookers.
Seeing the names on the list, all of whom were of high status and extraordinary Worldly Family backgrounds, many people felt a sense of bewilderment, wondering if it was truly fair.
The results on the list were determined by one battle after another, each witnessed by them personally, but when these names were listed side by side, they couldn't help but murmur.
The unequal distribution of resources in Qingyun World was something some young students experienced firsthand for the first time.
Especially some Outer Courtyard Disciples from small Worldly Families, and those students who had entered the academy from Feng Province through allocated spots.
They stood before the bulletin board, recalling how they had excitedly followed the events for so many days, and now suddenly realized that this matter might have no bearing on them, neither now nor in the future.
Because behind every name on that list, there was a force they could not hope to associate with.
Until their eyes continued to wander, and they saw the last name in the Tong Xuan Realm section.
This was the first defender of the Tong Xuan Realm, but he was placed last, inverted. They weren't sure where this stubbornness came from, but it suddenly made the list seem much more agreeable.
Especially for the Disciples from Feng Province who had entered the academy through allocated spots, it was as if they saw a ray of light, reflected in their eyes—
Along with it, the figure in white robes, with his Dao sword rising and falling, was also reflected.
At this time, some students had already begun transcribing the list from the bulletin board, intending to send it home to report the news.
Thus, within two days of the list's announcement, countless bustling heads could be seen in front of the Shengjing City postal station.
The line filled the entire long street, and even the threshold was nearly worn out.
The postal official in charge, looking at the crowd before him, felt a headache, muttering about Immortals being slow and Immortals being forgiving, then busily handled the letters.
The Worldly Families in the capital were the first to receive the list of participants. A copy was placed in the pavilion of Prince Chong's Mansion.
The Immortal Supervisory Department also had a copy.
At this moment, Chong Wang felt an increasing sense of loss, as if he had lost something, which made him extremely irritated.
Some people's entire lives could be predicted from their Worldly Family background; this had always been a very accurate standard for judging people in Qingyun World.
Because there are many things in this world, such as Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, and opportunities, that do not go to those with stronger talent, but rather to those with stronger backgrounds.
However, he encountered an exception.
Back then, Tianshu Academy had three Junior Third Realm Completion Disciples: the Lu family's young miss, the Chu family's young master, and the last one he considered an interlude. But he never expected this interlude to be so prolonged.
At the same time, the Lu family sisters also sent a letter home.
They didn't need to queue at the postal station because the Ling Shi Merchant Association had established many private postal stations in Qingyun World. There were as many as three in Shengjing City alone, all for the convenience of Spirit Stone transportation.
This letter was quickly delivered to the main hall of the Ling Shi Merchant Association. The Lu family patriarch and the Ding family patriarch already knew about this list.
The Lu family had been promoted to a Centennial Worldly Family a few years ago and had already secured a spot for the Heavenly Dao Conference, but no matter how they chose, they always felt they couldn't present anyone suitable.
When their Lu family's list was placed alongside this Immortal Sect list, the vast difference became even more apparent.
And what concerned them most was the name Ji You.
In Qingyun World, business and cultivation have always been separate.
Immortal authority is always the highest and will not change.
When they first met that rural rogue cultivator in the Immortal Supervisory Department, everyone's identity was closer to that of merchants. In their confrontation, Ji You seemed like an ignorant junior in their eyes.
But upon seeing this list, they realized he was a ruthless individual.
The hierarchy of power within the Immortal Sects was intricate and complex.
The Elder Council and the five great halls, with countless Worldly Families rooted there, all schemed for these fifteen spots, yet one was still forcibly taken by someone.
Besides them, the three major external Immortal Villas from Feng Province also received the news.
Because the matter involved the Elder Council's reputation, Tianshu Academy did not allow anyone to speak carelessly.
So many people only knew the result, but not the specific twists and turns of the process involving forbidden swords, drawing swords, magic robes, and conceding.
But these cultivators who couldn't stay in their original places knew best that the distribution of resources in Qingyun World never depended on personal strength.
And the Heavenly Dao Conference participation quota was also a resource.
Because unlike other Immortal gatherings that only offer a nominal title, the Heavenly Dao Conference has actual benefits. After all, the winners can enter the Sage's Dao-Proving Ground and listen to the clearest Heavenly sounds.
For those from the Feng Province Immortal Villa, they didn't even have the qualifications to observe the conference, let alone participate.
Yet, a rural rogue cultivator from Feng Province managed to secure a spot under the watchful eyes of countless people, which made many feel ashamed.
As the stars and moon rotated, night turned into morning.
Ji You woke up early to wash, then went to the Immortal Meal Workshop, where he demonstrated the severe consequences of Body Refining to everyone having breakfast, and incidentally, once again hurt his wallet.
Next month was a long way off, Cao Instructor temporarily couldn't get a new monthly salary, so he couldn't give it to his Disciple.
Rulong Immortal Emperor was home visiting relatives and couldn't be seen for the time being.
He hadn't found new clients yet and felt like he was eating himself into poverty.
Lu Hanyan wanted to support him, but Ji You was afraid of being indebted, and if she really wanted to pursue him, he would find it hard to refuse.
Ji You returned after eating. Before he even reached his small courtyard, he saw Wen Siyuan from the Master's Courtyard waiting for him on the path, summoning him to Qingfeng Hall for a discussion.
Although it was called a discussion, in Ji You's opinion, it should be an explanation about the Heavenly Dao Conference.
Because in recent days, various Immortal Sects and Worldly Families had competed for the participation spots, and those of the same Realm had the potential to become opponents.
Ji You saw Wen Siyuan off, then changed his clothes and stepped out, walking along the mountain path towards the back of the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, crossing a patch of lush green grass, and heading towards Qingfeng Hall.
He was not the only one summoned there; He Lingxiu and the other seven quota winners were also present. The six Elders who had experienced it once or multiple times before did not need to come.
The seven people were chatting idly, discussing the opponents they had encountered on the stage earlier, conversing cheerfully and nonchalantly, already possessing the ethereal, Daoist Aura of their Seniors.
Ji You walked in, listening to their discussions, and saw the smiles on everyone's faces freeze, and they stopped talking.
Many profound techniques had appeared in the Heavenly Dao Conference preliminaries, astounding the Disciple onlookers. Although they maintained a profound expression, deep down, they were greatly satisfied.
Before achieving Immortal Ascension, cultivators would also be troubled by the seven emotions and six desires, unable to escape the mundane; this was natural.
But no matter who it was, or what technique they used that day, whether it was flamboyant or grand, none of it was as shocking as the simple four swords left by Ji You.
Therefore, discussing the previous battles in front of him made everyone feel a bit uncomfortable, as if they couldn't quite speak.
"Senior Brother, over here."
He Lingxiu raised her hand and waved twice at him.