As evening approached, Ji You returned to the Inner Courtyard from Cao Jinsong's small courtyard.
The battle with Liu Qichen was much more satisfying than the one with Wu Zhen. He could clearly feel the power erupting from within his body, so strong that it startled even himself.
It's true that the Human Race is inherently weak, but their potential is actually no worse than the other two races.
The accumulation and progression of one's own strength should not be underestimated.
However, the difference between these two battles wasn't due to a large disparity in strength between Liu Qichen and Wu Zhen. The bigger reason was that the magical robe was indeed powerful.
So he didn't lie; it was indeed a good item.
If Liu Qichen had worn a few more layers, Ji You would probably have had a harder time.
But, the price of that clothing was truly exorbitant.
Ji You took out the envelope from his embrace again, counting the silver notes inside with a gasp.
He had previously asked Qionghua Pavilion to prepare some defensive Magical Artifacts, saying he would help them with promotion for mutual benefit. However, he hadn't fully understood the price when negotiating. Now, looking at the silver notes in his hand and realizing this was only fifty percent of the premium, he was stunned by the pricing of the magical robe.
This thing, as expected, wasn't something a poor person like him could afford.
Ji You put the silver notes into his storage gourd, then entered his room. He didn't plan to continue high-intensity Body Refining for a while, but rather intended to rest.
It wasn't because he encountered a Bottleneck or anything else; it was mainly because after several half-full lunches, Cao Instructor's monthly salary was used up...
It wasn't even mid-month yet, and he felt a bit worried for Cao Jinsong.
He hasn't worked hard for so many years, and his monthly salary has always been so little. How will he get through the coming days? Ji You sighed a few times lying on the bed, then pulled up the covers. He always fell asleep quickly; closing his eyes meant a deep slumber.
But under the same moonlight, many people began to toss and turn sleeplessly because of today's competition.
The battle between Liu Qichen and Ji You had no flashy magical technique clashes, just simple, solid sword strikes, one after another.
However, the discussion sparked by this battle far exceeded Shi Junhao's five matches.
So, after the large group of Disciples who went to watch returned from the Ascension White Jade Platform, they all huddled in their rooms,
leaning against the wall, sitting cross-legged on prayer mats, quietly conversing with fellow Cultivators in their rooms.
Some said that Ji You's three simple straight sword strikes, raising and lowering, raising and lowering, didn't even use sword moves.
Others said that he didn't use Spirit Origin the moment he stepped into the Void Realm.
There were thousands of eyes on the scene, and someone always caught such details. So, during the discussions, details from various angles began to be filled in.
And the more complete the details, the more profound the silence.
Ji You was already an anomaly; both his background and his conduct were extremely unconventional.
And now, the two Tianshu Academy preliminaries made him seem even more out of place among the teachers and students in the entire academy.
In the past, Worldly Family Disciples would scoff at such an anomaly, but with the display of strength, this anomaly became a very distinct uniqueness.
The three sword strikes aimed at Liu Qichen were too powerful, and what was even more terrifying was that he hadn't even used the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao yet.
“However, there are still three matches.”
“?”
“After Wu Zhen and Liu Qichen successively lost, Ji You still has three matches before securing a spot in the Tiandao Conference. The Elder Council doesn't know who they will arrange to go on stage.”
“They must be stronger than Liu Qichen. The next three matches should be even more exciting.”
In fact, by this point, even the dullest Disciple had sensed the academy's attitude towards Ji You.
Because whether it was restricting his use of sword Dao, or selecting opponents with extraordinary combat power for Ji You, or preparing Medicinal Pills and magical robes for those people, these seemingly reasonable actions all pointed to one problem.
They clearly did not intend to let Ji You get a spot in the Tiandao Conference, wanting to defeat him before the preliminaries.
So, there are still three matches.
The Disciples discussed until late into the night, and finally realized that there were still three matches.
In their opinion, the Elder Council should exert all its strength in the next three matches to make it difficult for Ji You to win. In the previous match, a magical robe capable of blocking Ji You appeared, so in the next match, an offensive Magical Artifact capable of harming someone in the Rongdao Realm might appear, which would put Ji You in danger.
Cultivators in Qingyun World have always had a blind trust in identity and Realm. This is a subconscious habit passed down from the Human Race's Legacy for thousands of years.
The Elders of an immortal sect hold noble positions, and in their eyes, they are naturally omnipotent. Especially since they couldn't understand Ji You's sword strikes, they felt that no matter how strong Ji You was, how could he use his arm to twist a thigh.
However, they felt that Ji You indeed possessed some Aura.
Because a direct Disciple candidate like Shi Junhao only faced opponents of the same Realm, but Ji You was different; he was facing an entire Elder Council.
This feeling was as if there was a huge chessboard in the Void Realm, with countless Elders arrayed on the left side, and on the right, Ji You, holding a long sword, seemingly disdainful of everything.
The next morning, Ji You woke up from his room and silently looked at the crowing rooster.
His dream last night was lively; this was probably one of the effects of Body Refining. The strength of his body amplified many impulses.
Yan Shuyi looked very powerful, twisting her hips and kicking her legs with bared fangs and brandished claws, but in reality, she was not durable at all, merely a trivial Master Jian.
Yuan Caiwei was more reserved and couldn't let loose much, but she surprisingly kept up with the speed.
The Rebellious Disciple Lu Hanyan also appeared, probably because of frequent contact in recent days, leading to frequent appearances in dreams, but she didn't get in line and was placed at the bottom.
Ji You opened the doors and windows, ventilated the room, and let out a long breath, then saw the Disciples on the mountain starting to walk down.
Not long after, as the sun rose higher, the Ascension White Jade Platform opened for competition again.
But it wasn't a Tong Xuan Realm arena match, but a Rongdao Realm competition.
Shi Junhao, who had secured a spot in the Tiandao Conference, left the venue, and Xiao Hanyan took over as the defender.
Then, two days, two matches, two victories.
This was not surprising, as Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao, being direct Disciple candidates, were naturally distinctly different from others.
If there were no surprises, Xiao Hanyan would likely win five consecutive matches, then Chai Ze would come to defend the arena.
At that time, He Lingxiu, a direct Disciple of Zizai Hall, would probably emerge as a Rongdao Upper Realm Cultivator to contend for the last spot. There shouldn't be any other surprises.
So, thinking about it carefully, this kind of competition was actually no different from a selection process. Therefore, the real surprises would still be in the Tong Xuan Realm.
Thinking of this, all the Outer Courtyard Disciples on the scene turned their heads to look southeast.
Ever since Ji You defended the Tong Xuan Realm arena, the Outer Courtyard Disciples' mindset had been this way. No matter how exciting the Rongdao Realm competition was, what they kept in mind was the next Tong Xuan Realm match.
“Today, it seems no Elder came.”
“They should be studying countermeasures and selecting the next Tong Xuan Realm Cultivator to challenge Ji You.”
However, even though the Elders weren't present, the Inner Courtyard Tong Xuan Realm Cultivators who were preparing to compete for spots were there.
These Inner Courtyard Tong Xuan Realm Cultivators outwardly appeared calm and composed, nodding indifferently when someone greeted them, acting aloof and superior.
But almost everyone in the Outer Courtyard could tell that they were already very anxious inside.
For example, Pan Bin, the grandson of Elder Pan of the Elder Council; Wang Gaocen, the grandson of Elder Wang of the Elder Council; Yu Shiliu, the grandniece of Elder Yu; and Gu Zetao, the grandson of Elder Shi.
These four were originally the predetermined holders of the spots.
Just like Shi Junhao, Xiao Hanyan, Chai Ze, and He Lingxiu in the Rongdao Realm.
However, the Tong Xuan Realm spots were still entirely suppressed by Ji You alone with his sword, not even a single one could be released.
And for the Tong Xuan Realm preliminaries to proceed, the most important issue was to force Ji You off the arena.
“The next one to go on stage should be Lu Da from the Inner Courtyard. He's been stuck in the Tong Xuan Realm for eight years, and it's said that he's touched upon some thresholds these past few days. He should be considered the strongest among the Inner Courtyard Tong Xuan Realm Cultivators.”
“Strongest?”
“Aside from Ji You.”
“The Lu family lives not far from my family. I've heard of this Senior Brother. He should be capable of achieving a Rank in the Tiandao Conference. Facing Ji You is truly a risky move; I don't think he would be willing to go on stage.”
“Oh, what do you know? Is it up to him whether he goes on stage? Haven't you noticed that Pan Bin, Wang Gaocen, Yu Shiliu, and Gu Zetao are all waiting? No matter how strong Lu Da is, he's just a stepping stone for the Elder Council to pave the way for their descendants. He wouldn't dare to win against those four, but he still has some chance against Ji You.”
“It wouldn't be that excessive, would it?”
“You underestimate the intricate relationships involved.”
After Xiao Hanyan's second match ended, some Disciples who hadn't left the arena yet whispered to each other, most of them guessing that Lu Da from the Inner Courtyard would challenge Ji You.
The rules of Qingyun World were like this: resources were fixed and would not increase simply because someone appeared.
And what you gained would inevitably be what others lost.
It wouldn't be like in plays, where if a Disciple showed good talent, the spot meant for one's own grandson would be given to him,
or one's granddaughter would be married to him. There would only be suppression and exclusion.
Because the growth of outsiders would eventually be accompanied by an increasing appetite that would be difficult to control.
One day, it would grow to affect oneself.
Amidst the discussions, someone suddenly turned to look at the mountain path southwest of the Ascension White Jade Platform. A figure was emerging from the vast forest of the Inner Courtyard, then entered the Master's Courtyard.
That figure was Lu Da from the Inner Courtyard.
Seeing this scene, some Outer Courtyard students who had guessed correctly in advance immediately showed an expression of, “You see, just as I expected.”
So, early the next morning, some people started arriving at the Ascension White Jade Platform in advance.
Lu Hanyan, a proactive person who constantly thought about seeing Senior Brother Ji, couldn't even make it to the first row.
Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, and Bai Rulong also arrived, greeted the Lu sisters, and then stayed in the spots the two sisters had reserved in advance.
During Xiao Hanyan's two matches, the Elders of the Elder Council did not appear.
This was mainly because the Rongdao Realm spots were more or less pre-booked. Even as Elders, how could they extend their influence to the position of direct Disciple?
But since today was a Tong Xuan Realm competition, everyone thought they should have come.
However, to everyone's surprise, the Elder Council did not appear. Only the Inner Courtyard Tong Xuan Realm Cultivators who came daily were present, their expressions looking very complex.
“Why aren't the Elder Council members here?”
“Perhaps… there's something going on in the academy?”
“They came for the first two matches.”
“Whether they come or not doesn't matter. Elders can't personally participate in the battle.”
Lu Hanyan's gaze was also surveying the surroundings at this time, noticing that Princess Changle Zhao Yunyue was still standing in her previous spot, but Fang Jincheng was nowhere to be seen.
However, before she could think further, Ji You arrived with his sword, stepping onto the Ascension White Jade Platform.
He wore a white Young Master's robe, with a sword tied at his waist, and stood at the same spot as the previous two times.
Just then, a strange clamor suddenly erupted from the crowd. Everyone looked towards Ji You's position.
It was a slender man, also wearing a Young Master's robe, his hair neatly tied in a topknot. He walked step by step onto the stage and stood opposite Ji You.
But many who had seen Lu Da knew that he was a tall and burly man, completely different from this gaunt figure.
Lu Qingqiu blinked, then spoke with some uncertainty: “It's a Tong Xuan Realm Senior Brother from the Outer Courtyard, named Liu something—”
“Liu what?”
“I’m not sure. His presence is very low, and he doesn’t like to move around much on weekdays. It’s said he’s from the same Worldly Family as Liu Qichen, much older than him, but his talent is a bit worse. I’ve only met him by chance once.”
“?”
Cao Jinsong and the others turned their gazes in confusion, suddenly realizing that two more people were following the Disciple surnamed Liu, but they did not go onto the stage.
Instead, they stood guard below the stage.
Subsequently, a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard, holding a gong, stepped onto the stage and struck it loudly.
Just as everyone held their breath, thinking, “I’d like to see what’s going on,” the Disciple surnamed Liu suddenly cupped his hands forward and bowed deeply.
He was already thin and gaunt, and when he bowed, he looked like a bending bamboo.
However, what most people were discussing at this moment was his politeness, because two Tong Xuan Realm arena matches had already been fought, and this was the first time someone had been so polite, bowing before making a move.
So, someone below the stage said that he must have some tricks up his sleeve, because to be so calm and collected in front of Ji You, he was either overestimating himself or truly had some strength.
Since the person was chosen by the Elder Council, the result was certainly the latter.
But the next second, the voice of the Disciple surnamed Liu suddenly appeared, instantly causing an uproar on the scene.
“Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji), I concede.”
Ji You looked at him, his brow slightly furrowed.
He woke up this morning, and before he even had time to brew tea, he heard someone knocking. Opening the door, he found a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard who delivered three challenge letters in one go, all from people whose names he had never heard of.
In fact, from that moment on, he already had a slight premonition.
He had no right to choose his own opponents, but there was nothing he could do about the other party’s actions.
It was just that out of five defending matches, he could only fight two, and they were two insignificant matches, which made him feel like he had suffered a great loss.
At this moment, the scene outside was already in an uproar. Everyone looked at this scene in astonishment, seemingly unable to react, but soon saw the second person step onto the stage.
This person was short, but stronger than the previous one.
As the Disciple from the Master's Courtyard struck the gong, he immediately bowed and then walked off the Baiyu Platform himself.
Then came the third person, a female Disciple from the Outer Courtyard, who walked gracefully and bowed forward after the gong sounded.
Everyone looked at this scene, their eyes full of astonishment, thinking, “Is this how the five matches ended?”
Where was the Elder Council’s anger? Where was Senior Brother Lu Da?
At this moment, even Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, and Bai Rulong couldn't help but widen their mouths, as if they hadn't anticipated this.
The three Master-in-charge of the Master's Courtyard were also watching this scene at this moment, their expressions looking very complex.
“Did those Elder just give up?”
“They couldn't drag it out anymore. Disciples with low Realm were afraid of death and didn't dare to go, and those with higher Realm didn't want to lose to Ji You in the pre-selection. With Ji You guarding here, it's likely that no spots will be generated until the Tiandao Conference begins.
Then our Tianshu Academy will truly become a laughingstock.”
Lang Hetong couldn't help but open his mouth: “They actually accepted it?”
Qin Rong glanced at him: “Unless they find an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator to challenge the arena, otherwise Ji You will definitely take this spot. However, if they really do that, then the Elder Council will have completely lost face, and it's not even certain if they can win.”
“Why?”
“The Magical Artifact was broken. The Magical Artifact that could block an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator was cut open by Ji You.”
“?”
Ji You watched the three people descend the stage one after another, then expressionlessly walked off the Ascension White Jade Platform.
Although he had expected it, he still found it uninteresting, as if it were given for free.
Cao Jinsong watched him walk off the stage and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, “Why did the Elder Council suddenly change their attitude?”
Hearing this question, the Lu family sisters, as well as Ban Yangshu, also looked at Ji You in confusion.
“They can’t find anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because when I sparred with Liu Qichen last time, I destroyed his Magical Artifact. In the Tong Xuan Realm, they probably can’t find anyone who can spar with me. They are reluctant to send out those grandsons, fearing they’ll be defeated by me, so conceding is the best outcome.”
Cao Jinsong opened his mouth: “That Magical Artifact that could block an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator, you destroyed it?”
Ji You nodded: “Although it was destroyed after blocking one of my sword strikes, it could protect its owner’s life. It’s truly a beautiful Magical Artifact. Cao Instructor, are you interested in buying one?”
“?!””
Cao Jinsong looked at him in a daze, and most of the others had similar expressions.
This is not something that can be explained by mere jokes; it’s about you, a Tong Xuan Realm Cultivator, destroying a Magical Artifact that could even block an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator. This simply defies common sense.
After a long silence, Ban Yangshu spoke: “Where does Junior Brother’s combat power truly come from?”
Ji You looked up at him: “Senior Brother should know.”
“Is it truly Body Refining? You — this is too profound. Do you think I, your Senior Brother, can also learn it? We’re not outsiders, after all.”
Cao Jinsong glanced at Ban Yangshu, then turned to Ji You: “Rebellious Disciple, teach this old man first!”
“It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just not possible. This Cultivation Technique requires Innate abundance, without loss or leakage, pure Yang and without flaws, to ensure sufficient Qi and strength. Therefore, only a virgin body can Cultivate it.”
Ji You opened his mouth and spouted nonsense.
There was no other way; those who wanted to Cultivate like this needed to split their Spirit Origin, and among those who were still alive after their Spirit Origin split, he only knew himself at the moment. He didn't want Cao Jinsong and Ban Yangshu to put themselves in danger because of this.
However, as soon as he spoke, Ji You paused slightly.
Because he found that Cao Jinsong and Ban Yangshu’s expectations hadn’t diminished at all, and neither had Bai Rulong’s. The only two with different expressions were the Lu family sisters, who looked at him with some astonishment.
Seeing this scene, Ji You couldn't help but curse himself for being useless.
“A virgin body can indeed Cultivate it, but it needs to be practiced from the age of five.”
“Then why are you talking so much? Why didn’t you just say five years old directly?!”
“Hehe, I also didn’t expect you to still be a virgin now, damn it—”
Ji You cursed under his breath, then looked up towards the Inner Courtyard Elder Council, silent for a long time.
After Body Refining, he had also been training his Divine Thought, especially after his physical body seemed to have reached the Integration Dao Realm.
The compatibility between spirit and body was higher, allowing him to see further.
At this moment, in his line of sight, several Elder of the Elder Council were looking at him, their expressions extremely ugly.
What wonderful expressions, he loved to watch them, and he would continue to watch.
Ji You regained his composure, then followed Cao Jinsong and the others as they left the Ascension White Jade Platform.
At this moment, on the Inner Courtyard cliff, all the Elder were silent and speechless.
In the following days, Xiao Hanyan fought the remaining three opponents one by one.
The Outer Courtyard students still came to watch the matches every day, occasionally letting out exclamations of admiration for the profoundness of the techniques.
In addition, the subsequent Tong Xuan Realm matches, as everyone had previously predicted, saw Wang Gaocen, the grandson of Elder Wang of the Elder Council, take over as the defending champion after Ji You.
However, the matches he defended were less entertaining than Ji You's.
It was only by watching such battles that they now recalled those previous sword strikes and realized how incredibly absurd they were.
But some of the details still left them utterly perplexed.
Why were there three consecutive concessions at the end, without even a try?
The Elder Council, with all its arrogance, giving up so readily, surely there must be a reason.
The end of that match left everyone feeling as if the anticipated great battle had only produced a tiny spark, leaving them at a loss.
There was also the Elder who never showed up during that 'battle' with the three bows, Fang Jincheng who was always pacing at the sidelines but wasn't there that time, and the complex gazes of those Tong Xuan Realm Disciples towards Ji You; everything seemed so mysterious.
Some said the Elder Council saw Ji You's strength and felt he could take the top spot, so they softened.
Others said someone from the Celestial Book Palace mediated, preventing the confrontation between the Elder and the students.
That's how it is with unanswered questions; various theories are the norm.
It wasn’t until the Lesser Heat season, when the cattails rustled in the small pond and the lotuses filled the courtyard with fragrance after the rain, that a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard brought up the matter at a banquet hosted by a Worldly Family in the capital.
“Senior Brother Lu Da went to the Master's Courtyard that day not to challenge Ji You.”
“He—was going to withdraw from the competition.”
“The Lu family is also a small Worldly Family, always relying on the Elder Council. It’s impossible for him to get a spot from those descendants of the Elder Council, and he didn’t want to face Ji You, so he could only withdraw.”
Zhao Yunyue, dressed in luxurious clothes, frowned slightly after hearing this: “Why couldn’t he face Ji You?”
The Disciple from the Master's Courtyard spoke upon hearing the question: “Of course, it’s because he couldn’t win. That Magical Artifact was cut into a footcloth. Are they going to send an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator to fight on a Tong Xuan Realm arena? That would be too shameful, and if they lost—”
“Anyway, Senior Brother Lu Da said that he was about to reach the threshold of the Integration Dao Realm, and he didn't want his Dao Heart to be shattered by a single sword strike,
Hahahaha.”
The Disciple from the Master's Courtyard laughed for a while, then suddenly realized that the dozens of people in front of him were not laughing with him. Instead, they had all stopped moving, and their eyes were gradually widening.
That Ji You’s combat power was extraordinary was known to all. To be honest, everyone felt that even if Lu Da had gone on stage, he might not have truly been able to defeat Ji You.
But Ji You shattering a Magical Artifact that could block an Integration Dao Realm Cultivator with one sword strike, that was a different concept. The Disciple from the Master's Courtyard’s heart trembled, and he suddenly realized that he might have said too much.
But words spoken were like water spilled, hard to take back, so in an instant, it spread throughout the Tianshu Academy, causing a hush.
For thousands of years, Qingyun World has always been strictly hierarchical, with the small fearing the large, and the low fearing the high.
But at this moment, they realized that Ji You had defied his superiors, pressing them with his sword, and ultimately, the high and mighty Elder Council had bowed and retreated a step.
And the most deeply affected were, in fact, the students who entered the academy at the same time as Ji You.
They entered the academy with Ji You, usually taking Medicinal Pills and Cultivating with Spirit Origin stones. For a long time before the Autumn Tournament, they had viewed Ji You, this self-taught Cultivator from the countryside, as a joke. Even after he sensed the Celestial Book, some still felt he was just an interlude in their long Cultivation journey.
At that time, no one thought that in the future, he would be able to shake the Elder Council, a person who could suppress the entire Realm. Such a person was simply not on the same level as their current selves.
“I’ve never seen anyone like Senior Brother Ji. Sister, when you were rescued, you should have immediately brought him home.”
Lu Qingqiu also heard about the incident at the banquet. Hearing that he scared Lu Da so much that he didn't dare to go on stage, she sighed for a long time and then glanced at her sister: “Bring him home to spank his sister-in-law’s butt every day?”
Lu Hanyan’s cheeks flushed slightly: “A strict teacher produces outstanding Disciples, that’s all.”
“Is it that comfortable? I’d like to learn the Sword Dao too—”
“No, no, Sister, don’t overthink it. It’s not comfortable at all. You’ll know without even trying.”
Lu Qingqiu looked at the wariness in Lu Hanyan’s eyes: “These sisters don’t seem to be biological—”
Lu Hanyan picked up her teacup and took a small sip: “Now that I think about it, I still feel Sister is useless. You’ve known him for so long and still can’t marry him.”
“Even if you had married him back then, he would have been mine, not yours.”
“Sister has always liked to share good things with me since we were little.”
“?”
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