In the mountain forest deep within the ruins, Tianshu Academy Disciples arrived one after another, their steps faltering.
They continued until they reached an ancient, ruined wall, where everyone finally stopped. The injured began to heal, while the uninjured started to stand guard and light a bonfire.
At this moment, Ji You sat cross-legged on the collapsed wall, closing his eyes to recover.
The Spiritual Qi in the ruins was relatively abundant, but the Evil Qi suppressed the Spirit Origin, making it difficult to circulate.
But at this moment, Ji You's body began to faintly glow with Spirit Origin, and countless scattered Spiritual Qi started to circulate around him, gradually becoming denser.
Seeing this, Wen Zhengxin, who was treating Pei Ruyi's wounds, looked up at Ban Yangshu.
"Is this the Disciple you left in Beisha Town?"
"Yes, Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) from the Outer Courtyard."
Wen Zhengxin frowned slightly: "On the day of the Winter Solstice, someone said that you and Junior Brother Ji were attacked by a Rongdao Realm cultivator on the street and saved by a Junior Third Realm Completion. Was that not a rumor?"
Ban Yangshu shook his head after hearing this: "Based on the situation that day, it can indeed be said that way."
"When did a Junior Third Realm Completion become so strong..."
Wen Zhengxin recalled the long sword flying everywhere and the Junior Brother covered in Sword Qi, still feeling a thrill.
She had heard rumors about the Winter Solstice incident in the Inner Courtyard.
But at that time, she only thought it was an exaggeration and didn't take it to heart.
It wasn't until she saw it with her own eyes that she understood the true value of this Junior Third Realm Completion, which even the Inner Courtyard was discussing.
"The Ji surname, which Worldly Family is it from?"
Wen Zhengxin continuously infused Pei Ruyi with Spiritual Qi, asking casually.
"There is no such Worldly Family. Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) is a rural self-cultivator from a remote county in Feng Province."
"?"
Wen Zhengxin was slightly stunned, finding it even more unbelievable.
Ban Yangshu was also infusing Pei Ruyi with Spiritual Qi and added: "It is said that Junior Brother was once a self-cultivator. Later, because a young girl in his family was valued by the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion and was to be used for refining Medicinal Pills, he had no choice but to break through to Junior Third Realm Completion and entered Tianshu Academy."
"Forced to break through?"
"He said he was just cultivating casually at the time and didn't want to enter Tianshu Academy at all."
Ban Yangshu spoke expressionlessly, then looked up and saw Wen Zhengxin staring at Ji You, already stunned.
He smiled and said nothing.
In fact, ever since Ji You sensed the Sky Soaring, he had been quite interested in this Junior Brother and had heard many rumors when he paid attention.
The matters of self-cultivators breaking through and the young girl being used for refining Medicinal Pills were all heard from rumors in the Outer Courtyard. At that time, his expression was exactly the same as Wen Zhengxin's.
Others might have been more concerned about Ji You's identity as a self-cultivator, but Ban Yangshu always felt there was something unclear.
That was, when did Ji You start cultivating Immortals?
He was not like Chu River, who had been the focus of attention since he awakened his Spirit Origin at the age of eight, so this matter had always been a mystery.
And in the rumors, the Ji Family of Yuyang County, Feng Province, had suffered the retribution of a passing Immortal cultivator three years ago.
At that time, some of the Ji Family died, and some fled. It is said that Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) also accidentally entered the deep mountains during his escape and was finally rescued and lay in a medical hall for a month.
Ban Yangshu felt that Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) at that time might not have been an Immortal cultivator...
There are two reasons.
Based on his understanding of Ji You, he would even save unfamiliar miners. If he had cultivation at that time, he would have fought to the death to kill someone.
Second, if he was truly an Immortal cultivator and had undergone Body Tempering with Spiritual Qi, even if he got lost in the mountains, he would not be so weak as to have to lie in a medical hall for a full month.
But if that were true, it would mean that Ji You only took less than three years from awakening his Spirit Origin to Junior Third Realm Completion.
The Outer Courtyard all said that the Chu Family's talent was terrifying, but in front of someone who reached Junior Third Realm Completion in less than three years, what was the Chu Family's so-called terrifying talent?
Let alone Chu River, who awakened his Spirit Origin at the age of eight, even his elder brother Chu Xian couldn't do it.
In this Qingyun World, only the Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain could compete with him.
This thought had always been hidden in Ban Yangshu's heart and had never been spoken, because it was too shocking.
But in fact, from that moment on, he felt that Ji You seemed to be in a different Immortal Dao system than them, especially in this counterattack.
Although no one mentioned it, everyone knew that his Spirit Origin seemed to be more powerful than that of a Rongdao Realm cultivator.
It's a pity he wasn't a Worldly Family child.
If he had been born into the Chu Family, the Qingyun World might truly have produced a figure who would amaze the ages.
Just then, Pei Ruyi suddenly opened her eyes, but as she did, a trace of blood also spilled from the corner of her mouth.
The person used a heavy sword, and the Qi could penetrate the body, so she was severely injured.
"Escaped?"
Pei Ruyi looked around and spoke in a weak voice.
Wen Zhengxin looked at her and nodded: "Yes, we escaped."
"I can't feel the Spiritual Qi anymore..."
"It's okay, it's because of the Evil Qi. You'll be fine once we get out. I'll arrange for Disciples to send you out tomorrow."
Pei Ruyi closed her eyes: "That person's Qi injured my Spirit Origin."
Wen Zhengxin gritted her teeth, not speaking, her eyes already welling up with tears.
Before Ji You arrived, they had been entangled with Lingjian Mountain and Asked the Dao Sect for a long time, and Pei Ruyi, with her profound power, single-handedly held back a Rongdao Realm cultivator.
If she hadn't consumed most of the opponent's Spiritual Qi, Ji You might not have been able to defeat Gongshu Chou.
But this battle also caused the opponent's Qi to shatter her Spirit Origin.
Pei Ruyi closed her eyes and softly said: "When I first entered the academy, you used to mock me every day for trying too hard."
"I'll never laugh at you again."
Pei Ruyi opened her eyes and touched her face: "People of every era will encounter someone who stands out. You have always been ahead of me."
Wen Zhengxin's eyes were filled with tears: "Actually, that year in the Outer Courtyard, although I laughed at you, I was always afraid of being caught up by you."
"But you are ultimately someone I can't catch up to, so how could you end up in this dreadful place?"
"I competed for the Zizai Hall direct Disciple, I lost, and that person put me on the list."
Pei Ruyi looked at her: "You didn't beat her?"
Wen Zhengxin shook her head: "Her Worldly Family is much larger than my Wen Family."
"How terrible, this world, Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) is also like this..."
"Stop talking, rest first. I'll send someone to take you out tomorrow."
Ban Yangshu also spoke up: "Dan Sect has Dan Masters who can repair Spirit Origin. This is not a big deal."
As the words fell, the three fell silent simultaneously.
Dan Masters from the Dan Sect, people without connections couldn't even meet them, let alone invite them for healing.
But just then, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded.
Yuan Chen, who had been standing guard beside Ji You, stepped forward: "Why don't I try?"
"?"
"I'm a Dan Master."
Ban Yangshu looked at him: "But repairing Spirit Origin requires a Fifth Grade Dan Master."
Yuan Chen said nothing more, took out a brown Medicinal Pill and fed it into Pei Ruyi's mouth, then sat down on the ground, holding his breath, and colorful light suddenly burst forth from his body.
Then, countless tiny Qi rushed into Pei Ruyi's Dantian.
And in places they couldn't see, a surging vitality was constantly sweeping through Pei Ruyi's Spirit Origin, rapidly healing the cracks on it.
Seeing this, Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu were greatly startled.
Because this person was too young, and such a Fifth Grade Dan Master could only be a direct Disciple of the Dan Sect.
But along the way, they had clearly seen this person helping Ji You, bringing water and massaging his back, and thought he was just a servant.
"You are... Dan Chenzi?"
Yuan Chen nodded.
Ban Yangshu glanced at Ji You in the distance: "How did you end up with Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji)?"
"He promised to help me go into the mountains to save my sister, so I promised my sister to him."
Wen Zhengxin was slightly stunned and looked at Ban Yangshu.
Ban Yangshu pursed his lips: "I don't know, but Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) has saved many people since he came here. I told him to stay in Beisha Town as a liaison, but it was actually because he wanted to go to Hongshan Mine to save the trapped miners."
Wen Zhengxin looked bewildered after hearing this, as if she had never seen such an Immortal Sect Disciple.
Just as she was bewildered, a series of chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded from deep within the dense forest, alerting the Tianshu Academy Disciples.
So everyone drew their swords and looked in the direction of the sound.
Before long, dozens of people approached, all looking panicked. They saw the drawn swords and dared not advance further, instead finding a spot not too far or too close to them and sitting down.
Their attire was not uniform; some wore Immortal robes, others wore common clothes, but most were of low Realm.
"Don't be nervous, those were all people my brother-in-law saved casually on the way, and some are their companions who have been following us for a long time."
"Why did Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji) save them?"
"He always lectures me, telling me not to meddle in other people's business or cause extra trouble after coming in, but he couldn't help himself. He also said that these people were clearly forced to come in and shouldn't die in someone else's Immortal fate."
Yuan Chen healed Pei Ruyi and said: "He is actually very conflicted. He always says he doesn't like Immortal Sects or Immortal Sect Disciples."
(Many people have asked, so I'll just say, this book will probably be put on shelves next week. As for the specifics, I don't know how Qidian will arrange it. Also, please support with continued reading and monthly votes... orz)