After Qiu Ru's incident, Kuang Cheng had consulted the "qingyun immortal rules" and found what he believed to be the key to breaking the deadlock: Fang Ruoyao, who had become a Disciple of Tianshu Academy.
What Ji You saw was different from him.
What he saw was a Junior Third Realm Completion, not yet crowned, entering the Immortal Registry on his own.
He was not the real Young Master Ji, and he didn't know much about Fang Ruoyao, but from the fact that she came to break off the engagement while he was bedridden, this Young Miss Fang was not a trustworthy person.
Since she was not trustworthy, it was better to do it himself.
So no matter how much the outside world stirred, he remained unmoved, closing his doors and focusing on cultivation.
At this moment, the empty courtyard was covered with chrysanthemum leaves, and everyone was silent, until a scholar named Guo Zixing turned his head and spoke tremblingly.
Although his words were not very coherent, just a few words made everyone shiver.
"Private... private cultivation...?"
"Isn't it a capital offense for commoners to cultivate Immortality privately...?"
It was this sentence that made Fang Ruoyao's eyelids lift slightly, waking her from her shock.
That's right, it was a capital offense for commoners to cultivate Immortality privately; this was a strict law of the Great Xia, and no matter how overwhelming his Immortal Qi, he couldn't escape it, but she was different; she was a legitimate Immortal cultivator chosen by Tianshu Academy.
The status and position of the two of them were truly worlds apart!
Upon hearing this, Kuang Cheng pondered for a moment, then silently gripped a white porcelain bottle placed on the table, his hand trembling slightly.
Looking at Ji You again, he had already entered the front hall of the Yamen with quick steps.
But just as he stepped in, a fierce Fist Intent suddenly assailed his face, followed by a rough and cold countenance.
"?"
Ji You didn't have time to speak; his expression instantly turned serious, and a burst of Spiritual Qi erupted around his body as he swiftly retreated close to the ground, the Qi wave instantly sweeping away the potted plants at the door.
Sneak attack?!
The Fist Intent followed, and seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Young Master Ji immediately raised his arm to meet it, striking with a thunderous punch, using offense as defense, with the momentum of a collapsing mountain.
Thus, as fists collided, Qi waves churned, and the porcelain bottle placed in the hall seemed to be unable to bear the weight, instantly shattering into countless fine cracks from its belly.
In fact, this punch was not entirely without reason.
Because in the previous conversation in the front hall, Cao Jinsong was a bit anxious to protect the Qiu Family girl, and his words were quite sharp, leading people to misunderstand that he was bullying others by relying on his power.
Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion ranked second in the Qingyun World, and the head guard commander, Bao Yongsheng, naturally wasn't too afraid of the name of Tianshu Academy.
Especially since the qingyun immortal rules stated that no one was allowed to interfere in the affairs of other sects without permission, Cao Jinsong couldn't explain the connection and only put on airs, which naturally made the atmosphere in the front hall quite tense.
Just then, Ji You appeared.
When he first made a move to repel the yamen runners at the county office gate, he didn't know how to control his Qi, which gave people a murderous feeling, like throwing firewood into a pile of cotton, igniting on contact, inevitably making people think someone harbored ill intentions.
At this moment, after their fists collided, Ji You retreated three steps, unable to help but grimace and shake his hand.
Bao Yongsheng also retreated three steps, suppressing his surging Qi and blood, then formed his fingers into a claw again, striking directly at Ji You's throat, the sound of the Qi wave like a tiger's roar and a Dragon's cry as he swung his hand.
Ji You had no actual combat experience; he merely swung his arm horizontally and struck based on instinct, directly confronting the formidable tiger-claw attack that was like wind and thunder, then retreated again, borrowing the force, his body enveloped in a surging tide of Spiritual Qi.
The people who had followed from the corridor were now dumbfounded, as if they had been stunned.
It was their first time witnessing the divine power of an Immortal.
What was even more bewildering was that one of the Immortals whose Immortal Qi was boiling was Ji You...
After a long while, Jia Sicong, Dong Wei, and others regained their senses and saw that several Young Misses in the courtyard were biting their lips, looking distracted, and felt a slight pang in their hearts, thinking, "At least he had a splendid moment before he died!"
But what happened next left them utterly speechless.
Because the guard commander, who had been punching like a collapsing mountain, suddenly stopped and looked at Ji You with suspicion, seemingly surprised.
"You, so young, Junior Third Realm Completion?"
"Not just Junior Third Realm Completion."
Cao Jinsong widened his eyes and stood up, "Moreover, he hasn't even reached his coming of age..."
Ji You frowned, "Isn't that my line?"
My cultivation, which feels so stealthy, has never been exposed; even when cultivating, I cover the windows with dark curtains. Not even the Qiu Family knows, let alone others.
However, this saves me the trouble of explaining, but since it wasn't me who put on the act, it always feels a bit lacking...
Cao Jinsong had no idea what he was thinking, only staring intently at Ji You.
It's done, it's really done...
Entering Ninghua Upper Realm in one day, and then reaching Perfection at night, even using one hour as ten hours would be miles apart!
But the moment Ji You entered the hall, he had already sensed the difference.
He just said it, and it happened.
Bao Yongsheng was now looking at Cao Jinsong, then at Qiu Ru, and then at Ji You, suddenly frowning.
One must also ascertain the identity of the person used for refining Medicinal Pills, especially since the girl's Spiritual Qi was so abundant. If she wasn't Innate, then there must be an Immortal behind her, and not investigating clearly could easily lead to trouble.
And being so young, and related to the Qiu Family's matter, there was only one person who fit both criteria.
"This, could it be Young Master Ji?"
"I am Ji You. Today, I came out of seclusion after comprehending the Dao and happened to hear rumors about my little sister. I didn't quite understand, so I specifically... came here to observe."
Upon hearing this, Commander Bao's expression changed dramatically.
At this moment, Cao Jinsong also stood up and walked into the hall, standing with his hands behind his back: "Indeed, he is the new student I have taken in at Tianshu Academy. Commander Bao, do you truly believe that I, Cao, would interfere in the affairs of another sect without any reason?"
Pei Ruyi: "?"
Ji You: "?"
Bao Yongsheng, of course, didn't believe what the old dog said, but no matter what, he couldn't take the girl today.
Junior Third Realm Completion is not an extraordinary Realm; it might allow one to show off in the mortal world, but in the Immortal Realm, it's merely the end of the preparatory course, just entering the proper path.
There are seven or eight people with such a Realm in their Fengxian Mountain Manor alone, so it's not rare.
But the preciousness of this Young Master Ji lies in the prerequisite condition of not yet reaching his coming of age.
The Seven Great Immortal Sects of Qingyun World once had a consensus: anyone who could achieve Junior Third Realm Completion before coming of age would surely enter the Upper Five Realms in the future.
Although Fengxian Mountain Manor inherited the Xuan Yuan Dao tradition, it was ultimately not the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion. Offending a promising Upper Five Realms for a supplementary Medicinal Pill was not a wise move.
After much deliberation, Bao Yongsheng looked at Ji You: "For the past few days, there have been rumors in Yuyang County that I was going to use the girl for refining Medicinal Pills, but I never said such a thing. Today, I came to clear up the misunderstanding, but I didn't expect Young Master Ji to arrive before I could even speak."
Cao Jinsong frowned, "You old fox."
Ji You remained silent for a while before suddenly smiling, "Misunderstandings do happen frequently."
"Oh?"
"Commander Bao might not know, but that day when I was begging for food at a restaurant, I met an old friend. I thought he was there to mock me, but he unexpectedly treated me to ten baskets of fresh dumplings very generously."
Jia Sicong: "?"
Commander Bao smiled brightly: "Since it's a misunderstanding, it's good that it's cleared up now. However, Young Master Ji doesn't necessarily have to join Tianshu Academy, does he?"
Ji You glanced at Cao Jinsong: "What does Commander Bao mean by that?"
"I just observed that Young Master's strength is fierce and his Spiritual Qi is vast, which is very suitable for the Dao tradition of my Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion."
"Is that so? But even so, the Immortal Elder of Tianshu Academy once promised me that after entering the academy, he would impart the best Immortal Arts, bestow the most valuable Magical Artifacts, give me High-Grade Spirit Stones, and even arrange for the most beautiful Senior Sister to accompany me in my studies. I'm truly in a bit of a dilemma."
Cao Jinsong "?"
Bao Yongsheng gritted his teeth: "What you hear is not as good as what you get. Young Master, don't worry, I will go back and ask the Villa Master for instructions. He recently acquired a fine Spirit Sword."
With that, the five people from Fengxian Mountain Manor stood up, not even bothering to lead their horses, and left the Yamen, covering ten zhang with each step.
Seeing this, Ji You was deep in thought.
He didn't have other Immortal cultivators around him, so he didn't have much understanding of his own value, but seeing the other party's haste, he suddenly began to understand.
And witnessing this scene, Kuang Cheng, who was in the crowd, suddenly relaxed, slowly releasing the vase in his hand.
In contrast, the other farewell-givers were all tense, finding it incredibly strange.
Wasn't it a capital offense for commoners to cultivate Immortality privately? But they felt as if... someone was about to get rich?
"Young Master...?"
Qiu Zhong had been protecting his daughter the whole time, and seeing the Immortal who wanted to take his daughter away flee, he trembled as he uttered a question.
Ji You turned to him: "This matter is settled."
"This... what exactly happened?"
"The scholar next door told me that a Disciple of Tianshu Academy could save her, so I stayed up all night and became a Disciple of Tianshu Academy."
Dong Wei, Jia Sicong, Fang Ruoyao, and others watching at the door, after hearing this, their lips trembled slightly.
And Cao Jinsong immediately stood up, speaking in surprise: "Young Master Ji, is what you said true? Are you sure you want to be a Disciple of my Tianshu Academy?"
"I will not enter the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, after all, I don't like to eat people. However, this student has just broken through, and there seems to be Spiritual Qi running wild in my body. Can I go back to regulate my breathing first and then follow you to Shengjing in a few days?"
"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!"
Cao Jinsong stood with his hands behind his back, full of heroic spirit: "Come closer, I will personally cleanse your Spirit Origin with Spiritual Qi!"
Ji You was silent for a moment: "When I drank tea this morning, I sat a pot of water, and I was in a hurry when I came, so I don't think I extinguished the fire yet."
Upon hearing this, Cao Jinsong's expression remained calm, but his heart was filled with unparalleled shock.
Not only did he break through a Realm overnight, but he even had time to drink tea? It seemed this child's talent and Heart-Nature were both extraordinary.
Ji You then smiled and cupped his hands in farewell to Cao Jinsong, turning to leave, but an untimely trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, which he quickly wiped away with the back of his hand.
Qiu Ru, being small, looked up and saw the bright red corner of his mouth and the bloodstains between his teeth, and couldn't help but widen her eyes.
Seeing this, Ji You forced a smile and shook his head at her, then calmly led the father and daughter out of the main gate of the county office, his vision already starting to spin.