Chapter 164: I Really Can't Sense the Heavenly Tome
The annual new student admission day is always bustling. Looking down from the mountainside, one can see countless white-robed figures fluttering in the courtyard.
Some Junior Sisters, having been well-nourished since childhood, looked particularly delightful as they skipped and hopped.
Others had long legs and slender waists, with fair, rosy Faces, and loved to draw a gleaming immortal pattern on their brows, making them look exquisitely beautiful.
Ji You stood on the mountainside, observing solemnly, his Dao Heart clear.
There was no harm in looking; their plumpness was, after all, meant to be seen.
This batch of newly admitted students were all new, and didn't recognize his appearance, so there wouldn't be any rumors like 'Ji You stood on the mountainside, lewdly watching Junior Sisters,' which might then be recorded by some enthusiastic mountain travelers and spread to a certain person's ears.
However, his expression soon stiffened slightly as he looked around.
At this moment, on the Ascension White Jade Platform, a man in white robes walked over, carrying seven swords, like a peacock fanning its tail. He strolled around the Outer Courtyard with a nonchalant expression, approaching any Junior Sister with a shapely backside to strike up a conversation.
“Junior Sister, you've just entered the academy. Have you found your room yet? Do you need Senior Brother's help?'”
“Ah, you—one person, seven swords? You are—”
“Shh, Junior Sister, there's no need to say more. I came to the Outer Courtyard for a stroll, and I felt at first glance that Junior Sister was quite pleasing to my eye.”
“Bai Rulong, me!”
Seeing the Junior Sister in front of him with tearful eyes, Bai Rulong suddenly felt a chill run up his spine, but it didn't reach his head; instead, it shot towards his chest.
It wasn't his heart, but the place where he kept his money pouch.
This commotion continued until evening, as night began to slowly fall.
Many students were already sitting in the Wudao Field, attempting to sense the Heavenly Tome, when a scream emanated from the nearby dense forest.
However, the path from the Divine Dao to the Baiyu Platform was even more bustling, as various sedan chairs adorned with pearls and jade began to arrive in succession from sunset.
At this time, the restaurants in Shengjing City were bustling with noise, cups clinking and toasts exchanged, with singing and dancing illuminating the brightly lit long street.
Princess Changle of Prince Chong's Mansion, Lu Qingqiu of Yunzhou, and other noble Sect from the capital were all gathered on the second floor of Hongding Restaurant.
The second floor of the restaurant had been cleared in advance during the shenshi (3-5 PM). The original square tables were replaced with long tables, laden with countless delicacies from mountains and seas. The spiritual wine, brewed from Spiritual Plants and immortal sprouts, had not yet been unsealed, but its aroma was already subtly wafting out.
Students from Tianshu Academy, who had been invited, ascended the stairs one after another, then cupped their hands in greeting, their Faces wreathed in smiles.
“It's said that in previous years, the students were invited to Prince Chong's Mansion for dinner?”
“This year is different. It's said that this banquet is co-hosted by Young Miss Lu of Yunzhou and Princess Changle.”
“Does the Yunzhou Lu Family have an old acquaintance with Prince Chong's Mansion?”
“Not really, just some business dealings. Princess Changle initially seemed unwilling to co-host with Lu Qingqiu, but later, for some unknown reason, she agreed—”
“That's quite unusual.”
The Lu Family is far away in Yunzhou, a thousand miles from Shengjing City. Prince Chong's Mansion only has some Spirit Stone business dealings with them; they aren't Sect bound to each other.
If this banquet was for the purpose of befriending more Tianshu Academy students, but the two weren't in the same faction, it felt awkward.
Was this an olive branch from the Yunzhou Lu Family? Or should they accept the favor from Prince Chong's Mansion?
Everyone whispered among themselves, some pondering the purpose of this grand banquet, and then they saw Fang Jincheng and Puyang Xing ascend the stairs, their white robes fluttering, and thought that there was no need to overthink it.
Because whether it was accepting a favor from the Lu Family or Prince Chong's Mansion, it wasn't something they needed to consider.
After all, the protagonists of this banquet should be Fang Jincheng and Puyang Xing; they were, after all, contenders for Inner Courtyard spots.
The Puyang Family, like the Lu Family, also came from Yunzhou. The Lu Family had been making connections everywhere for business over the years, so this banquet was definitely to foster good relations with the Puyang Family through Puyang Xing.
As for Fang Jincheng, it was even more so.
He had already gathered three Mystic Lights, progressing much faster than Puyang Ye and Lu Hanyan, and had the highest chance of entering the Inner Courtyard.
Such a person, in the eyes of Prince Chong's Mansion and the Lu Family, was an unrivaled candidate for recruitment and alliance.
Of course, Lu Hanyan was also among them, but she was born into the Lu Family, so naturally, she didn't need to consider these things.
“Young Miss Lu, please take the honored seat.”
“Princess Changle is too kind, please, you first. I'll just sit nearby.”
After a period of pleasantries, Princess Changle took the main seat, while Lu Qingqiu sat to her left.
The two of them had met once before due to the Great Xia's new policy and the influx of Yao Race Spirit Stones into the Nine Provinces, so they shouldn't have been unfamiliar.
But upon seeing each other again this time, both felt a strange sense of avoidance.
At this moment, Puyang Xing and Fang Jincheng were arranged at the middle-leaning position on the opposite side of the long table, while Lu Hanyan sat side-by-side with her Elder sister.
Then came Xiang Fu, Liu Jianan, and Cong Yi, the three Disciples from Feng Province.
The hierarchical Ranks of the Qingyun World have always been clearly defined.
Commoners are inferior to officials, and officials are inferior to immortals.
Therefore, even though the three of them came from official Worldly Sect and had lived a life of luxury since childhood, they still seemed somewhat constrained in a setting filled with Worldly Family scions.
Their cultivation wasn't top-tier, and their background could be considered nonexistent, yet they were arranged in positions right next to Puyang Xing and Fang Jincheng.
After them, came the Disciples of the Condensing Essence Realm from various prefectures.
Dou Yuankong, the son of Dou Shangshu, was also among them. After taking his seat, he looked at the three highly-regarded students at the table: “Young Master Puyang, Young Master Fang, and Young Miss Lu, after entering the academy, have the three of you tried to sense the Heavenly Tome?”
“We have.”
“What were the results?”
Fang Jincheng glanced at Puyang Ye and Lu Hanyan, his lips curving slightly: “It seems I've gained some insight. It appears I have a connection with this Heavenly Tome.”
Dou Yuankong's mouth dropped open: “You gained insight on the very first day of sensing?”
“It's a bit blurry, and I can't quite grasp it yet, but as Brother Dou said, this is only the first day. I'm not in a hurry.”
Fang Jincheng had already delayed his admission by a year, and had already gathered three Mystic Lights, so his ability to comprehend was naturally incomparable to Puyang Ye and Lu Hanyan.
And there has always been a saying circulating in the Outer Courtyard of Tianshu Academy: to comprehend the Heavenly Tome is to have one foot in the door of the Inner Courtyard.
Although Tianshu Academy does not require comprehension of the Heavenly Tome to enter the Inner Courtyard, there has been no exception for thousands of years.
“Young Master Fang, are you very confident about entering the Inner Courtyard this year?”
“With my current cultivation, no one can stop me, naturally.”
Puyang Ye couldn't help but speak at this moment: “I'm quite eager to compete with Brother Fang.”
Fang Jincheng raised his wine cup, his gaze somewhat sharp as he spoke: “You should have delayed your admission. Then you could be my Junior Brother, and if you can enter the Inner Courtyard, I can even recommend you to Chang Sheng Dian to become a direct Disciple of an Elder.”
Upon hearing these words, the Worldly Family scions seated at the banquet couldn't help but discuss animatedly. These words were spoken politely, but in reality, they were utterly domineering.
Delaying admission meant telling others to avoid his sharp edge, and the latter sentence revealed the Fang Family's connections within Tianshu Academy.
Because many people present knew that Fang Jincheng's great-grandfather was currently an Elder of Chang Sheng Dian, and his two paternal cousins were also in Chang Sheng Dian, so their Foundation was actually very deep.
Everyone at the banquet couldn't help but whisper, and many turned to look at Princess Changle Zhao Yunyue and Young Miss Lu of Yunzhou.
In their opinion, an olive branch or something similar would surely be extended this time.
But surprisingly, both of them seemed a bit distracted, their gaze constantly following the stairs.
So, some people also began to look up the stairs.
Just then, footsteps echoed on the stairs, and then Ji You, dressed in white, stepped up, fixing the gazes of those present.
Silence fell upon the upper floor, with Zhao Yunyue and Lu Qingqiu at the forefront, watching him for a long time, no one speaking.
“Excuse me, I had some private matters, so I'm late.”
Ji You cupped his hands and observed left and right, then found a seat on the right side, near the Disciples from Feng Province.
He had just taken Bai Rulong to the silver exchange in the west of the city to withdraw his living expenses for the month, which was why he was a bit late. At this moment, he picked up his chopsticks.
Since he was late, should he punish himself with two dishes?
Among the people at this table, only these Worldly Family scions from the capital and this year's new students from Feng Province could recognize him.
Beyond that, many people only knew his name but not his appearance.
So, there were still some bewildered gazes at the table, now exchanging glances.
Zhao Yunyue and Lu Qingqiu at this moment held their wine cups, their red lips subtly pressed together.
Ji You had returned to Feng Province with Cao Jinsong under the guise of recruitment, and after the tax collection began, he returned to the academy and had been in the Inner Courtyard ever since, rarely coming out.
So, even Lu Qingqiu was seeing him for the first time at this moment.
A Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard Disciple, a Tong Xuan Realm expert at twenty-one years old.
He had slain an Integration Realm expert with his sword, and upon his return, he was the sole remaining local Worldly Family head in Feng Province—
As the two watched him reach for his chopsticks, their expressions couldn't help but become somewhat dazed.
Xiang Fu was also gazing at Ji You at this moment, then glanced at Zhao Yunyue and Lu Qingqiu, and couldn't help but hold her breath.
Because on the day of recruitment, she had heard Prefectural Governor Liu say that after the Tianshu Academy Autumn Tournament, many women wanted to bear his children, including the two hosts today, but none had received a response.
Just then, Lu Qingqiu leaned close to her sister's ear: “This is a Senior Brother from our sect, go offer him a toast.”
“?”
Lu Hanyan opened her mouth, looked up at Ji You, and though she didn't know why, she still stood up with her cup as per her sister's instruction: “Lu Hanyan of Yunzhou, a new student admitted this year, is Lu Qingqiu's younger sister. I greet Senior Brother here.”
“Greetings, Junior Sister.”
Ji You raised his wine cup and drank, thinking to himself that even his Junior Sister was so grown up.
Zhao Yunyue also raised her wine cup at this moment, her eyes coldly fixed on him: “Young Master, a distinguished guest whom I've invited countless times but could never meet, to encounter you here by chance today is truly Yunyue's honor. Yunyue toasts Young Master here; please, Young Master, do me the favor of accepting.”
Princess Changle, being of imperial descent, had a different Heart-Nature from a Spirit Stone Worldly Family like Lu Qingqiu.
It was as if when she sent a letter to Ji You, she only included a hairpin, whereas Lu Qingqiu dared to send a worn Bellyband to Ji You. In her bones, she was still more conservative.
Therefore, after rumors spread throughout the capital that Ji You had not responded to her, she harbored resentment in her heart.
It was precisely because of this that when she learned Lu Qingqiu was inviting Ji You to a banquet, she insisted on coming to see him.
Ji You looked up at her at this moment, hearing the sarcasm in her tone.
This sarcasm must have come from the fact that she had wanted to form an in-law relationship with him, but he hadn't replied to her letter—a femme fatale.
Ji You mercilessly disparaged himself in his Heart-Nature, but then his brow furrowed slightly, feeling that those four words weren't quite applicable.
He and this Princess Changle had only met a few times. It was illogical to say it was because he was handsome and attracted attention; rather, it was more likely because he had entered the Inner Courtyard, established a Worldly Family, cultivated a tough Physique, or perhaps it was the so-called Innate Physique that the Outer Courtyard had been spreading rumors about.
In Qingyun World, in-law relationships always seemed to be formed for profit.
What Innate Stud Holy Body… However, since this banquet was hosted by others, he shouldn't offend them. So, he raised his wine cup in return. At the same time, among the new Disciples around, except for the three from Feng Province, a hint of bewilderment appeared in everyone's eyes.
Previously, they thought Puyang Xing and Fang Jincheng were the protagonists of this banquet, but Princess Changle and the Lu Family's Young Miss seemed somewhat distracted.
It wasn't until this person arrived that first the Lu Family's Young Miss had her younger sister offer a toast, and then Princess Changle personally offered a toast, like stars surrounding the moon, causing people to be mistaken.
Everyone suddenly realized at this moment that although the protagonists of this banquet seemed to be Fang Jincheng and Puyang Xing, it was actually this person.
Therefore, whether it was co-hosting this banquet or Lu Qingqiu and Princess Changle being distracted earlier, it was all because they were waiting for this person.
“This should be an Inner Courtyard Senior Brother from our Tianshu Academy.”
“No wonder, so it’s an Inner Courtyard Senior Brother.”
The newly admitted Disciples whispered at this moment, feeling somewhat enlightened.
Given the status of the Yunzhou Lu Family and Princess Changle, adopting such a continuous toasting attitude, this must indeed be an Inner Courtyard Senior Brother.
And Fang Jincheng, listening to the whispers on both sides, couldn't help but frown slightly.
It was not uncommon for Inner Courtyard Disciples to appear at banquets of Worldly Family children; he had met several through his Family's introduction when he came to Shengjing City yesterday.
But he felt that since he was the protagonist of this banquet, this person shouldn't have stolen the show like this.
Moreover, he felt that Lu Qingqiu and Princess Changle’s actions were also inappropriate.
This Inner Courtyard Senior Brother came to the banquet, so he must have been on good terms with you on weekdays. Why would you toast each other repeatedly at such a banquet, neglecting the guests?
In stark contrast to him was Puyang Xing.
He also confirmed that this person was an Inner Courtyard Senior Brother through the attitude of the Yun Family's Eldest Young Miss and Princess Changle, but his first thought was to seize this opportunity to get to know him.
“Puyang Xing of Yunzhou, newly admitted, Junior Third Realm Completion cultivation, I greet Senior Brother here. May I know Senior Brother’s name?”
Ji You turned to look at him, his wine cup suspended in the air: “Ji You of Feng Province.”
“?”
Puyang Xing paused upon hearing this, then his pupils suddenly constricted, and his Heart-Nature trembled wildly.
And Fang Jincheng also couldn't help but widen his eyes, then suddenly straightened his back, and together with the other Disciples, looked towards this spot, their eyes filled with shock.
A Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard Disciple, this was indeed a title that would make people look up to him.
Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard Disciple Zhang San.
Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard Disciple Li Si.
No matter what the name, having such a prefix was enough to make people realize his extraordinary nature.
Because no matter which Immortal Sect, those who could enter the Inner Courtyard were all Prodigies.
But there were always some names that didn't need any prefix at all; just a single name was enough to leave people dumbfounded.
Ji You was one of them.
A self-cultivator from the countryside entering the Academy, breaking the hand bone of the Chu Family’s second son, consecutively slaying eighteen Tong Xuan Realm cultivators on Night City Mountain, killing a Dao Integration Realm cultivator across Realms with a sword, and establishing the first Worldly Family in Feng Province.
Such a name didn't need the seven characters of “Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard Disciple.”
But this seemed to be quite different from what they had imagined.
Because they thought Ji You should have been a green-faced, ape-toothed figure, ready to draw his sword at the slightest disagreement, or perhaps gloomy and ruthless, to be able to kill so many people.
But they didn't know he would be as refined as a scholar, harmless to humans and animals.
Lu Hanyan paused for a long time, then turned to look at Lu Qingqiu: “Sister?”
Lu Qingqiu looked at her: “How does the Genius you spoke of during the day compare to him?”
Lu Hanyan suddenly understood why she had to toast earlier, and immediately stood up, raising her wine cup again: “Senior Brother, please teach me how to sense the Heavenly Tome!”
As her voice fell, all the newly admitted Disciples couldn't help but widen their eyes and hold their breath, even Fang Jincheng and Puyang Xing were the same.
That's right, the Heavenly Tome, this was the goal.
Reputation, prestige, they sounded like thunder, but they had little to do with them.
And the only connection was that he was the only one who sensed the Heavenly Tome last year!
At this moment, Ji You gently raised his head and glanced at Lu Hanyan and Lu Qingqiu, thinking to himself, as expected, in this world, apart from my Brother Ru Long, there are no guests invited for nothing.
He gently put down his chopsticks: “Sensing the Heavenly Tome requires seeking it at a higher place.”
“Senior Brother, how should I seek it at a higher place, and where should I seek it? What kind of faint light is it?”
Lu Hanyan’s eyes blinked lightly, her gaze sparkling.
Everyone present was a Worldly Family Disciple, and they already knew about seeking at a higher place and seeing a faint light.
But throughout history, everyone said the same thing, yet there were no details. Lu family's Second Miss’s current inquiry was to find out the details.
Ji You was silent for a moment, then, after pondering for a long time, he spoke: “I only know that one should try to seek it at a higher place, and beyond that—I don’t know.”
“?”
As his voice fell, everyone couldn't help but be stunned.
Before Lu Hanyan could speak, Fang Jincheng had already frowned first: “Senior Brother, how could you not know?”
“I really don’t know.”
“This—”
The Disciples in the field couldn't help but look at each other, their expressions changing several times in a brief moment.
The person who sensed the Heavenly Tome says he doesn’t know how to sense the Heavenly Tome? Who could believe that?
So everyone thought about it and felt that he was just unwilling to say it out of selfishness.
And Fang Jincheng, on the other hand, let out an unceremonious sneer, having lost interest at this moment, thinking to himself that if he didn't want to say it, he should just say so, why bother playing coy.
His great-grandfather was an Elder of Tianshu Academy, so he knew some details about sensing the Heavenly Tome.
He didn't care for his guidance either.
Since things had come to this, let's eat first.
Everyone's enthusiasm suddenly diminished quite a bit, and their voices became quieter.
“The roasted goose is quite delicious—”
“The wine is good too.”
“The fried Spiritual Beans are perfectly cooked, and they’re a perfect match for this jar of Spiritual Wine—”
Lu Qingqiu stared at Ji You for a long time at this moment, her eyes somewhat strange.
Because, based on her understanding of Ji You, she didn't think Ji You was someone who would hide things.
Moreover, he had already entered the Inner Courtyard, and there was no competition between him and the Outer Courtyard Disciples, so even if he did teach, it wouldn't harm him.
Is he going to charge a fee?
At the third quarter of Hai Shi (9:45 PM), the large wine jar was empty. Outside Hongding Restaurant, thunder suddenly began to rumble.
A Disciple by the window pushed it open and saw rain falling from the sky, drifting down.
In recent days, Qingyun World had been experiencing a lot of rain, often with bright sunshine during the day, but turning cloudy as soon as night fell.
Seeing that the banquet was almost over, everyone left their seats and walked towards the outside of the restaurant.
Ji You also rose from his seat at this moment, intending to go downstairs, but before he could step out, he was called back by Lu Hanyan from behind.
“Senior Brother, wait.”
Ji You turned to look at Lu Hanyan: “What’s wrong, Junior Sister?”
Lu Hanyan pursed her lips, cupped her fists, and leaned forward: “Senior Brother has already entered the Inner Courtyard and no longer needs to compete for a spot, so regarding how to sense the Heavenly Tome, I hope Senior Brother can impart it.”
She knew that Fang Jincheng's progress in breaking through to the Tong Xuan Realm was much faster than hers, and coupled with the fact that her Family Elders still held positions in Tianshu Academy, she was naturally anxious.
At this moment, Princess Changle, Dou Yuankong, and some other children from Shengjing City also couldn't help but stop, then turned to look.
They also felt that Ji You didn't want to say it, but they didn't expect this Lu family's Second Miss to be so direct, not only bringing up old matters but also exposing the very thing Ji You didn't want to talk about.
Zhao Yunyue already held some resentment towards Ji You, and at this moment, she couldn't help but slightly raise the corner of her mouth, wanting to see how he would answer. Lu Qingqiu couldn't help but look at her sister at this moment, with a look of reproach on her Face: “Hanyan, don't you know that what you're saying is very rude?”
“But Sister—”
Lu Qingqiu interrupted her: “Even if Young Master Ji knows, why should he teach you? You're not his sister-in-law, just based on your empty words of request?”
Zhao Yunyue turned to look, staring incredulously at this Eldest Young Miss of Yunzhou, thinking to herself, why is there still a hint of secretiveness in her words?
Lu Hanyan’s eyes lit up, and she immediately understood: “If Senior Brother is willing to teach, Hanyan will certainly repay him handsomely; I will definitely not disappoint Senior Brother.”
“If I knew, I definitely wouldn’t keep it to myself.”
Ji You looked at Lu Qingqiu: “Your sister knows I like silver very much, but I haven't even mentioned silver now,
which means I really don't know.”
Lu Hanyan’s brow furrowed slightly, still not believing: “Senior Brother clearly sensed the Heavenly Tome, so how could he not know?”
Dou Yuankong usually couldn't stand Ji You, but he couldn't beat him, so at this moment, he couldn't help but chime in: “Brother Ji, it’s meaningless to be so secretive. You are all fellow Disciples, what is there that cannot be said?”
Ji You turned to look at him, a slight smile on his lips: “What, are you tired of living?”
Dou Yuankong narrowed his eyes: “No, not at all.”
“Actually, even if I told you, it wouldn’t be useful to you, because this method doesn’t apply to others. You might as well ask other Inner Courtyard Disciples.”
“Why is that?”
“Because that night, it wasn’t me who sensed the Heavenly Tome; it was the Heavenly Tome that came to sense me.”
As his voice fell, Lu Qingqiu was instantly stunned, and Lu Hanyan’s pink lips were slightly parted.
As for Zhao Yunyue, who was waiting to see how he would clumsily try to fob off the Lu Family sisters, she couldn't help but turn her head at this moment, a hint of surprise and bewilderment flashing in her eyes.
