Chapter 204: Sword Pressure
“It’s noon. How about we grab a quick meal in the city before heading back?”
“No, Brother Ji. I haven’t been back for many days, and I, Kuang, still have some matters to attend to. Let’s reschedule for next time.”
After the busy farming season in Feng Province ended, Ji You and Kuang Cheng returned to Shengjing City before the Qingming Festival.
The spring here was flowing with springs, and the radiant sunlight illuminated the glazed treasure roofs of Shengjing City, making them sparkle brightly. It was prosperous, splendid, and full of vitality. At the same time, a gentle breeze swept through the streets and alleys in the spring, soft and lingering on the face, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance of new vegetation.
As soon as Ji You landed on Yong’an Avenue, he felt a hollowness in his stomach.
But Kuang Shusheng politely declined Ji You’s invitation to eat, insisting on returning first.
“Brother Ji’s Fairies are not in Shengjing City, but my Miss Rui’er is just around the corner.”
Although Ji You couldn’t hear Kuang Cheng’s thoughts, he could somewhat see the longing in his eyes: “You ungrateful scoundrel.”
“Brother Ji, when you went shopping with Fairy Yan for the first time in Shengjing City, you almost didn’t recognize me either.”
Ji You jumped out of the carriage, thinking, “How can you compare to me? You are a true gentleman, and I am just a bandit.”
“If we return to Feng Province next time, you can bring Miss Wei along. When passing by Guiyun Commandery, we can take a stroll around Xiangshui Lake. Do you know the legend of Xiangshui Lake? It is said that if two people walk around the lake and happen to meet under the thousand-year-old ancient locust tree by the lake, they can be together for all eternity.”
“Of course I know.”
“Little Shusheng, you know quite a lot.”
Kuang Cheng unnaturally looked to the side, thinking to himself, “It’s not just me who knows this legend; now even the Yaozu Gongzhu is about to know it.”
The two then parted ways, but Ji You did not return directly to Tianshu Academy; instead, he walked towards Chang Sheng Avenue.
The peddlers and porters in the city had all changed into short shirts at this time, carrying their loads and walking on the bustling streets, brushing past the young servants from restaurants and tea houses who were soliciting customers on the street.
Ji You walked to the middle of Chang Street, then entered the Shengjing Post Station.
Last time he returned from the Snow Region, he didn’t bring any gifts, but this time from Feng Province, he didn’t forget.
He prepared some soil from Feng Province, as well as the seeds left over from this spring’s plowing, and small flower pots fired in local kilns. These were divided into three portions, to be sent to Yan Shuyi and the Yuan family siblings.
If these seeds are carefully nurtured after planting, they should grow into wheat ears unique to Feng Province, making for a very interesting small potted landscape.
Yan Shuyi was very interested in Feng Province. When she was wintering in Tianshu Academy, besides kissing him, what she loved to talk about most was Feng Province.
She asked him about the local climate, temperature, and seasonal changes, as well as how much snow there was in Feng Province during winter, and where Yinma Bridge and Xiangzi Lake were located.
Although she repeatedly emphasized that she was just “casually asking,” it was clear she was seriously considering living in Feng Province.
Yuan Caiwei was the same; even if she didn’t ask, she always listened with exceptional seriousness.
So, this small gesture would be very heartwarming for them.
Amazing, I really am a warm-hearted man.
Ji You’s mouth curved slightly as he filled out the mailing address, paid the silver, and left.
He had spent too much time in the fields recently, and at this moment, he was not only covered in dust but also had mud on his boots and the hem of his clothes.
The Tianshu Academy Disciples along the way watched him approach, walking as if on a divine path, and their expressions were strange when their eyes met.
“The rustic private cultivator is back.”
“Covered in mud and sand like this, he really does look like a rustic private cultivator.”
The three Master-in-charge of the Master's Courtyard watched him walk up Ni Mountain, his robes fluttering as he circled Bi Shui Lake, and their casual conversation naturally turned to Ji You.
Whether it was the farming in Feng Province or the common people, in the eyes of the Immortal Sect, they were the least important things to care about.
Some cultivators couldn't even distinguish between wheat seedlings and chives, and didn't even know which crops grew on trees and which grew in the ground.
However, the Master's Courtyard had to handle taxes every year, so they naturally knew a bit more.
Qin Rong had also heard a lot from the Disciples traveling outside the courtyard during this period, and he roughly estimated the current situation in Feng Province.
Since Great Xia changed the transportation route for the Yao Race merchant caravans, Feng Province was now the largest material exchange hub for the Yao Race, and the crops of Feng Province were precisely what the Snow Region lacked. The acquisition prices offered by the Yao Race were also extremely high.
Therefore, Feng Province’s tax tribute this year would certainly be extremely abundant, though others had probably not yet noticed this point.
Thinking of this, Qin Rong once again recalled his identity as a rustic private cultivator.
If he hadn't broken the rules and entered Tianshu Academy after cultivating to Junior Third Realm Completion, he might really be tilling the land with his face to the yellow earth and his back to the sky at this moment.
It was because of that accident that so many things changed.
Chu River, who should have entered the Inner Courtyard that year, couldn't enter, and Feng Province gained its only Cultivation Worldly Family.
“Is the matter in Feng Province over?”
“It’s over. Except for the farmers who chose to plant special crops, the entire province has entered the agricultural off-season.” Ji You circled Bi Shui Lake and sat down in Cao Jinsong’s courtyard: “Cultivators are truly useful. The land is tilled quickly, well, and straight. Even cattle and horses would call it professional.”
Cao Jinsong couldn’t help but click his tongue: “Only you dare to treat cultivators like cattle and horses.”
“It’s not really treating them like servants, but rather telling them that people should live with some meaning in this world. What’s the point of cultivating while sitting idly for decades, even if they Ascend? In this world, they are merely useless people.”
Xiang Fu, the daughter of the Dan Shui County Prefect, and Cong Yi, the daughter of the Guiyun Commandery Prefect, were both in Cao Jinsong’s courtyard. Since Ji You entered the courtyard, they had been listening quietly from the side, their eyes fixed on him.
As cultivators from Feng Province, they knew the matters of Feng Province very well.
After Ji You arrived in Feng Province, he investigated the stone materials and imprisoned many people, right in Xiang Fu’s father’s Dan Shui County. Among them, there seemed to be Worldly Family Disciples who had not yet been released.
They used to dislike attending Immortal Sect banquets, always feeling like outsiders who couldn't integrate.
But in recent days, because of Ji You’s matters, those Immortal Sect Disciples instead had to listen to them talk eloquently at the banquets.
Among them, Xiang Fu felt it the most deeply.
She had been fostered in Luoyue Mountain Villa since childhood, and it was normal for her to have a closeness to the foreign Immortal Villa in Feng Province that had been cultivated since childhood.
When Cao Jinsong first went to Feng Province to recruit her into the academy, she was dissatisfied because Ji You wanted to take away the residence of Luoyue Mountain Villa.
She said that he was brazenly occupying it, yet still spoke with grandiloquence.
But it wasn't until she entered Tianshu Academy, truly understood the relationship between Worldly Family, Immortal Villa, and tax tribute, and heard many things, expanding her horizons beyond a single corner, that she understood what Ji You was truly doing.
Cao Jinsong still had some questions, but he paused, looking at Xiang Fu and Cong Yi. The two exchanged glances and immediately bid farewell, understanding the hint.
He waved his sleeve to close the door, then looked at Ji You: “I thought you would encounter an assassination attempt by a Worldly Family after leaving Tianshu Academy.”
Ji You raised his eyes: “Some private cultivators did come, mixed in with the migrating common people from the border, but I eventually took them in.”
“You’re really brave.”
“What good can one mere Profound Connection Realm like me do for Feng Province? If it weren’t for the qingyun immortal rules, I’d be nothing but dust now.”
Cao Jinsong looked at him: “You don’t need to think so far ahead.”
Ji You drank his tea and then picked up a pastry, stuffing it into his mouth: “It’s always better to do more than less; better than nothing. Besides, those private cultivators are mostly from poor backgrounds, so they are generally more reliable than the Disciples of those Immortal Villas.”
Cao Jinsong nodded silently after hearing this, then remembered another matter: “Before New Year, you were afraid that the Immortal Villa would cause trouble,
afraid that the joint cultivation would not proceed. Now, because of the Spirit Stone and Medicinal Pill matters, one hurdle has been overcome, and the Integration Dao matter doesn’t need to be so urgent. The Tiandao Conference can also be more stable.”
After returning from the Snow Region, Ji You had been constantly thinking about the cultivation matter, anticipating that those Immortal Villas would not cooperate easily.
These outsiders, who had been benefiting from Feng Province’s tax tribute for so many years, gained the upper hand after a year of poverty. How could they be content?
At that time, Ji You held the belief that if he could gain even a little strength, he would continue to break through Realms, not even caring much about the rules of the Tiandao Conference.
Now that this hurdle had passed, Cao Jinsong felt that as long as Ji You didn't run around recklessly, there could be a moment of peace, at least until the tax collection.
He was now an Inner Courtyard Disciple, and even if the Master's Courtyard wanted to dispatch him, they would need his consent.
The previous time they sent him to the Snow Region, it was for Feng Province, and such a thing should not happen again.
However, in the eyes of Ji You, the rustic private cultivator, if he could become stronger, he still had to continue becoming stronger, just not too demanding of himself.
Old Cao was right; at least there could be a moment of peace before the tax collection.
As long as the people from Lingjian Mountain didn't come to kill him because he bit their Master Jian's mouth, he would be fine.
Cao Jinsong glanced at him at this moment: “Do you have any clue about the opportunity to establish your Dao?”
Ji You shook his head: “I haven’t seriously tried yet. There were guests in the courtyard those few days, so it was delayed.”
“Just say women, not guests. That sounds better.”
“They really were guests.”
Cao Jinsong chuckled: “Are your guests entertained with mouths? Bitten as if pierced by nails. Why haven't I entertained such guests?”
Ji You’s mouth had healed before he left Tianshu Academy, but he had met quite a few people before leaving.
He had even heard people from Tianshu Academy discussing this, saying he was playing it really exciting.
Cao Jinsong now retracted his eye-roll: “Finding the opportunity to establish your Dao is still something you can do. This kind of thing can be fast or slow.
It’s more secure to prepare early, and besides, the process of establishing your Dao is the process of eliminating distracting thoughts, which is also beneficial for the clarity of your Dao Heart.”
“I plan to do Body Refining first.”
“Still Body Refining?”
“A man should do Body Refining.”
After leaving Cao Jinsong’s small courtyard, Ji You returned to the Inner Courtyard.
After spring, there were a few light rains, making the room very damp. He opened the window for ventilation, then took out the quilt to sunbathe.
He then cleaned the room, lay down on the bed, and had a peaceful sleep.
During his time in Feng Province, although he appeared calm and collected, his nerves were actually taut.
Especially with so many rogue cultivators staying with him, it was not advisable to lack vigilance.
So, every time there was news of rogue cultivators entering the border, he and Pei Ruyi took turns standing guard. Now that he could finally sleep soundly, he slept until the next day, then woke up and began Body Refining.
As the spiritual fire within his body ignited, his scorching aura gradually filled the room.
In fact, this seventeenth instance of Mystic Light had begun when he was in Feng Province, and now it was almost at the point where the spiritual fire was about to break through his Physical Body's surface.
The improvement in Physical Body strength would not affect his Realm, which was a good thing for the Tiandao Conference, where participants competed within the same Realm.
To be honest, Ji You still didn't know the specific rules of the Tiandao Conference, only that it was a competition between those of the same Realm...
During this time, Shengjing City experienced continuous rain for several days.
When the rain finally lessened, Lu Qingqiu's message was sent to the Inner Courtyard by the Master's Courtyard, inviting him to a banquet at Hongding Restaurant.
Having obtained the Ju Xuan Pill, Lu Hanyan's cultivation path became much smoother. She had already gathered five streams of Mystic Light, and the sixth was manifesting, far surpassing Puyang Xing, who only had three streams, and rapidly approaching Fang Jincheng, who remained at six streams of Mystic Light.
Following this trend, Lu Hanyan had a high chance of entering the Inner Courtyard.
The Yunzhou Lu Family, established on Spirit Stones, did not have deep roots within the Immortal Sect and genuinely hoped their Family members could enter the Inner Courtyard.
Lu Qingqiu had come for this very reason last year, but upon seeing Chu River, she realized her timing was off.
However, it wasn't until the very end that she realized Chu River's timing was also off, because they both encountered Ji You, a rogue cultivator who entered the Inner Courtyard and left everyone else in the dust.
And Lu Hanyan's high probability of entering the Inner Courtyard this time was ultimately thanks to Ji You.
"That person is Ji You."
"Ji You? Who is he?"
"Does Cousin not know?"
"I have been in seclusion for a long time and only recently came out early because of the Tiandao Conference. I haven't heard the name Ji You before. Besides, when has there ever been a Worldly Family named Ji in the Qingyun World?"
On the second floor of Hongding Restaurant, Fang Jincheng was drinking with his cousin, Fang Zhiheng.
His cousin was also a master of the Dao of the Sword, having visited Lingjian Mountain many times. He wielded a good sword, and it was said that even Elder Yan Ye of Tianjian Peak praised him highly.
However, his cousin was usually unrestrained and had a wild personality, so he had not entered any Immortal Sect, once proclaiming he would forge his own Dao of the Sword.
He came to Shengjing this time at the Family's request to impart some knowledge to Fang Jincheng.
Lu Qingqiu refining the Ju Xuan Pill truly put immense pressure on him.
Matters of Realm could not be rushed for now, but Fang Jincheng's combat strength still had room for improvement. After all, Tongxuan was merely the threshold to the Inner Courtyard.
The Autumn Tournament ultimately judged combat strength.
Therefore, Fang Jincheng wanted to learn his cousin's Dao of the Sword, which was similar to how Chu River was pressured by Ji You to return home to preach the Dao. Furthermore,
A significant part of this decision was also because Ji You had successfully entered the Inner Courtyard with his Dao of the Sword.
At this moment, Fang Jincheng looked across and told his cousin about Ji You selling Medicinal Pills to Lu Hanyan, and the past incident where he refused to teach him how to sense the Heavenly Book.
Fang Zhiheng turned his head after hearing this, looking arrogantly across through the carved screen.
Lu Qingqiu was always generous with her spending, always hosting grand banquets. This was also why Ji You liked attending her banquets. However, this time, he often heard Lu Hanyan find an excuse to call him Senior Brother Ji.
"Hanyan greets Senior Brother Ji."
"Senior Brother Ji, drink. Hanyan will pour you wine."
"Thank you for the Medicinal Pill, Senior Brother Ji. Hanyan will not disappoint Senior Brother Ji's expectations."
Lu Hanyan's demeanor was gentle, her eyes moist and sparkling. The way she called him Senior Brother Ji was very sweet.
It sounded like a soft, purring kitten, making Ji You somewhat restless.
In fact, the title of Senior Brother itself carried a certain aura, especially since Ji You was at the height of his fame when Lu Hanyan entered the Inner Courtyard, having defeated Chu River and killed the Integration Dao cultivator at night, which was enough to make her admire him.
And that Ju Xuan Pill, which his Elder sister had bought for her, was ultimately attributed by her to Ji You's expectations.
The Lu Family's Bloodline was quite good. Lu Hanyan, like Lu Qingqiu, had long legs and a slender waist, and her features carried Demonic Qi. She usually maintained a cold demeanor towards others, but when she acted sweetly, it was truly incredibly alluring.
There were also many male Disciples from Tianshu Academy at the same table, some of whom harbored feelings for Miss Lu Er.
After all, Miss Lu Er was also a renowned beauty in the academy, noble and aloof, exuding the aura of a Young Miss.
But they had never heard Miss Lu Er use such a voice before.
Ji You raised his head and looked at Lu Qingqiu, thinking, "What's up with your sister?" And Lu Qingqiu glanced at him, thinking, "My sister's taste is sometimes truly the same."
Just then, Ji You suddenly felt a gust of wind.
A resonating sharp sword suddenly struck, instantly blowing over several empty bowls and plates, rattling the screen on the left side, and then the chill of the Dao Sword hung before him.
To his left and slightly behind him, Fang Zhiheng stood proudly, his Sword Intent surging.
"Inner Courtyard's Ji You, I hear you are also a master of the Dao of the Sword?"
"??"
In the afternoon Wudao Field, the breeze was slightly cool, and the sun gradually set lower.
The Lu Family sisters and their group were the first to return to Tianshu Academy, arriving at the Wudao Field, followed by the Fang Family brothers.
With only half a year left until the Autumn Tournament, both Lu Hanyan and Fang Jincheng still had a long way to go to reach Tongxuan, so they cherished their time even more, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
"The competition of the Dao of the Sword is essentially a competition of Sword Intent. My Sword Intent is incredibly powerful; many opponents are so suppressed that they can't even draw their swords, which is not uncommon."
"Just now, he said he didn't bring a sword or something; he must have sensed the gap in Sword Intent between him and me. His Dao Heart is quite keen."
Fang Zhiheng looked at Lu Qingqiu at this moment, feeling pleased.
Lu Qingqiu glanced at him and then nodded slightly, revealing a polite, faint smile.
Just now at Hongding Restaurant, this person left the adjacent table and suddenly drew his sword without even speaking, showing no manners at all, which truly startled them.
However, it must be said that although this person kept muttering, his soaring Sword Intent was indeed very strong, which could not be denied. The last time Lu Qingqiu saw Ji You's sword, it was only as strong as Fang Zhiheng's today. "Didn't you come at noon? Why are you only here now?"
"Someone invited me to eat. I ate halfway and then ran into a lunatic."
"Have you been doing Body Refining these past few days?"
"I started training in Feng Province and just finished last night."
Cao Jinsong had never heard of such a Body Refining method lasting half a month. Just hearing it made him feel scared, thinking, "If you train like this, aren't you risking your life? You almost didn't make it to Tongxuan last time."
But Ji You always felt that his body had undergone a qualitative leap, not just in strength, but his overall power had also increased.
"Your Body Refining method actually enhances your strength?"
"Yes, the feeling has been quite clear after these few sessions. It shouldn't be an illusion."
Cao Jinsong frowned slightly, showing an expression of disbelief.
Seeing this, Ji You, sitting on the stone stool, put down his teacup, then straightened his back slightly and slowly raised his arms.
Surging Spiritual Qi began to churn between his hands, making his clothes flutter continuously and producing a rustling sound.
As Cao Jinsong watched intently, a heavy Sword Qi, like a majestic mountain, suddenly unleashed, soaring into the sky above the Instructor's Courtyard, causing the falling rain in the small courtyard to abruptly stop, the wind to fall silent, and visible ripples to continuously appear in the air, wave after wave, producing muffled thuds as if unable to bear the weight.
【Dao Sword Xiao Chong Shan】
At this moment, Ji You stood with his sword raised, his Qi suddenly becoming vigorous, with a hint of boiling intensity. The gigantic sword light gradually hovered in the air towards the sky. Lu Qingqiu was currently staring at her sister's Dao comprehension, and in her line of sight, a drawn long sword was swaying back and forth, while from the side, Fang Zhiheng's continuous explanation of the sword's inscriptions could be heard.
It was clear that he was proud of his Dao of the Sword.
Lu Qingqiu, hailing from a Worldly Family of Spirit Stones, possessed excellent social skills. Even if she found something noisy, she wouldn't show it on her face; instead, she would respond politely.
Fang Zhiheng was currently explaining how to cultivate the Dao of the Sword, causing Fang Jincheng, who was sitting cross-legged, to frown slightly.
Lu Hanyan and Puyang Xing were also his opponents, and he feared his cousin would say too much, allowing them to learn from it.
At this moment, Lu Qingqiu intended to respond with a word of admiration, but just as the words reached her lips, her scalp suddenly tingled. Immediately after, a powerful Sword Intent pressure roared forth, surging like a tide. Everyone in the Wudao Field instantly looked up in shock.
Before them, a gigantic Dao Sword resonated throughout the sky, causing the willow leaves by the lake to tremble. The air was pushed outwards, rippling with tremors like water. A heavy pressure instantly settled upon their shoulders.
"What a powerful sword."
"It's the Dao Sword Xiao Chong Shan."
"Oh, it's Ji You's sword—"
Upon hearing the surrounding Disciples' discussions, a sudden clanging sound of metal rang out from the Wudao Field. The Lu Family sisters, Fang Jincheng, and others turned to look, only to see Fang Zhiheng's long sword trembling uncontrollably in his hand, as if it had a will of its own,
and with a clang, it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
【Powerful Sword Intent can suppress a Dao Sword, preventing it from being drawn】
Meanwhile, in the Outer Courtyard's corridor, the Master's Courtyard, and the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, countless gazes converged from all directions.
Ji You had entered the Profound Connection Realm before the New Year. The overflowing Qi at that time was so hot that even the surrounding snow melted. People thought he was strong then, but they didn't know how strong.
Now, seeing this sword suspended in the air, it made people unable to help but stare in a daze.
