Chapter 248: Xianxian Holy Land
“Brother Fang has now entered the Inner Courtyard; he is quite different from us now—”
“Needless to say, Brother Fang will surely become a Prodigy in the future. I only hope he doesn’t forget us friends.”
Outside Tianshu Academy, on a slightly misty autumn morning.
Fang Jincheng had been cultivating in the Inner Courtyard for many days. Today, with nothing to do, he came out for a stroll and, walking, found himself in the Outer Courtyard.
Hearing everyone’s discussions about him, he couldn’t help but stand with his hands behind his back, revealing a profound and inscrutable appearance.
There was a world of difference in status between Inner Courtyard Disciples and Outer Courtyard Disciples. In Fang Jincheng’s view, he and these familiar Outer Courtyard fellow cultivators were no longer on the same level, and a slight sense of distance was appropriate.
However, the discussions quickly included some voices he didn’t want to hear, causing him to frown slightly.
“This year, Tianshu Academy has been quite innovative, recruiting Brother Fang and the Lu family's Second Miss into the Inner Courtyard together. It is said to be related to Senior Brother Ji You? Is this true?”
Fang Jincheng frowned, a hint of viciousness flashing in his eyes: “How could such a major matter as an Inner Courtyard quota be related to him? Where did you hear that?”
The speaker was Liu Jianan, the son of the Feng Province Governor, who was often affectionately called “beloved Disciple” by Cao Jinsong due to his frequent gifts.
Hearing Fang Jincheng’s sharp tone, Liu Jianan couldn’t help but shrink his neck: “There seems to be some rumor outside—”
“The reason Lu Hanyan could enter the Inner Courtyard is that my great-grandfather cherished her talent. That Ji You is merely a rural rogue cultivator; how could he possess such great power? You should not speak such words again, lest you become a laughingstock.”
“So that’s how it is.”
At this, the crowd surrounding Fang Jincheng couldn’t help but exchange glances.
For thousands of years, Tianshu Academy’s Inner Courtyard had only recruited one Disciple each year, with no exceptions. But this year, they exceptionally accepted two. This abnormality had long been a topic of much discussion in the Outer Courtyard, with various rumors spreading.
The most widely spread rumor was the one related to Ji You.
The rumor claimed that although the Autumn Tournament ended in a mutual defeat, and Fang Jincheng secretly used a Magical Artifact, making it seem like Lu Hanyan had a better chance of winning, because the Fang Family was deeply entrenched in Tianshu Academy, the one ultimately selected was still Fang Jincheng.
However, the reason for the final decision to admit both of them was that Lu Hanyan received Ji You’s protection.
Yet, despite how widely this theory spread, not many people believed it.
Ji You was just an Inner Courtyard Disciple; he hadn’t even entered the Immortal Hall himself. How could he protect Lu Hanyan in front of those important figures in the Inner Courtyard, or even influence the result of the Autumn Tournament?
Moreover, he was currently in Central Province, participating in the Heavenly Dao Conference. Even if Lu Hanyan were his beloved concubine, and he genuinely intended to cause trouble, he would still be beyond his reach regarding matters at Tianshu Academy.
In everyone’s view, Ji You had caused quite a stir over the years, and whenever something strange happened at Tianshu Academy, everyone habitually thought of him. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that such a rumor was created.
However, even fewer people believed Fang Jincheng’s explanation.
Regarding the Heavenly Dao Conference pre-selection, the Elder Council almost monopolized all the slots for their own descendants. Cherishing talent? That was nonexistent.
The only talent they cherished was that which originated from their own Bloodline.
Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard suddenly ran over, his hurried steps and smiling face attracting everyone’s attention.
“Ji You won!”
“Won what?”
“Naturally, the Heavenly Dao Conference! It’s said he has already departed for the Xianxian Holy Land!”
As his words fell, the scene fell silent for a moment, followed by a clamor.
The Heavenly Dao Conference was a gathering of the entire Qingyun World, and only the top ten could enter the Xianxian Holy Land. This meant that within the Tong Xuan Realm, Ji You’s combat prowess had reached the top ten.
Thinking of this, Fang Jincheng’s face instantly turned quite ugly.
The Master's Courtyard Disciple who had arrived here took another breath, and the subsequent words truly made everyone feel a surge of disgust, their scalps tightening.
“Our Tianshu Academy hasn’t had a top ranker in many years. This year, we finally had a moment of glory. How fortunate!”
“What did you say?”
“The top ranker! Senior Brother Ji has already obtained the jade token from the deepest part of the Xianxian Holy Land. It’s already spread outside. Some say that with his Aptitude, when he emerges from this Tong Xuan Realm, he might already be in the Sky Soaring Realm, perhaps becoming the youngest Elder of Tianshu Academy. Others say that at this rate, he might even become the Chief Elder before he turns thirty.”
“?”
As his words fell, the crowd surrounding Fang Jincheng fell into a daze.
The Bloodlines of the Seven Great Immortal Sects were present, countless Worldly Family Disciples gathered, and in the Heavenly Dao Conference battle, Ji You was the top ranker in the Tong Xuan Realm, his combat power ranked first in the world. As they processed the information brought by the Master's Courtyard Disciple, everyone looked at Fang Jincheng.
They suddenly began to understand why some would think that Lu Hanyan entered the Inner Courtyard under Ji You’s protection. After the Autumn Tournament was visiting day, which was a rule of Tianshu Academy.
Xiang Fu, daughter of the Dan Shui County Governor, and Cong Yi, daughter of the Guiyun Commandery Governor, had already departed yesterday and had now returned to Feng Province.
After a year of cultivation at Tianshu Academy, the two girls had gradually come to feel the cruelty of this world.
Especially after seeing Fang Jincheng secretly use a Magical Artifact to blast Lu Hanyan off the stage, and yet he could still enter the Inner Courtyard for cultivation afterward, they felt even more strongly that for those of humble birth, it was extremely difficult to change their fate through their own efforts.
At this moment, they were sitting in a carriage, already close to Dan Shui County, and before their eyes, golden wheat fields stretching for thousands of miles gradually appeared.
Just then, the eyes of the two girls suddenly widened, and they began to use their Divine Thought to look.
In those vast wheat fields, countless cultivators were holding sickles, diligently harvesting, without complaint of hardship or fatigue, one crop after another, neatly gathering the wheat ears.
This was not strange, as it had been the same last year, but what was strange was that this year, there were quite a few cultivators participating in the joint harvest.
Among them was an old man with white hair and beard, whom Xiang Fu recognized as the Master of Graystone Immortal Villa.
This Graystone Immortal Villa had a close relationship with the Sunset Glow Immortal Villa where she was fostered back then, and she had seen him a few times in her childhood. In her impression, he was a dignified and humorless person.
And at this moment, the Master of Graystone Immortal Villa was in the wheat field, holding a sickle, sweating profusely, his expression serious and meticulous, yet without the slightest complaint.
“Master, this old man is over a hundred years old; I am truly a bit tired.”
“Nonsense, keep working. Our Third Brigade must come in first this year.”
“?”
Xiang Fu and Cong Yi exchanged glances, feeling strange in their hearts.
These external Immortal Villas in Feng Province were not willingly participating in the joint harvest before, and even among those who did, figures like Masters and Elders would not appear.
But this year’s autumn harvest, the more they were Masters and Elders, the more diligently they worked in the fields.
And Xiang Fu’s doubts continued all the way, finally getting an answer from her father, the Dan Shui County Governor.
“Your Senior Brother Ji, he took the top Rank at the Heavenly Dao Conference.”
“The Bloodlines of the Seven Great Immortal Sects, sons of ancient Worldly Families, over three hundred and sixty people, not a single one could block his Sword Qi.”
“He has already gone to the Xianxian Holy Land. No one knows how strong he will be after emerging from there. You think those Masters are harvesting wheat to exchange for tax contributions, but they are merely exchanging for your Senior Brother’s goodwill.”
At the Cloud Province Ling Shi Merchant Association, dozens of Worldly Families were currently gathered in the main hall, holding a Worldly Family meeting regarding Spirit Stone mining,
deciding to reduce next year’s mining output.
After the snowy region demon stone entered Kyushu, their Spirit Stone sales plummeted, and now they had a significant inventory. If they continued mining at the previous output, it would lead to an accumulation of goods.
Spirit Stones, once mined and separated from the Spirit Core, naturally begin to lose their refined Spiritual Qi through volatilization, making inventory accumulation an unacceptable situation.
They were well aware that the cause of this situation lay in Feng Province.
There was a newly constructed official road there, and carriages laden with demon stones sped along it daily. If they could destroy that road, it would likely alleviate the current situation.
In fact, days ago, someone had proposed secretly sending people to cut off that official road in Feng Province and kill a few chickens to scare the monkeys, letting them know that the Ling Shi Merchant Association was not to be trifled with.
However, as this meeting was about to conclude today, no one brought up that proposal again. Instead, many advocated for reducing mining output.
The proposal to reduce mining output was quickly passed unanimously, and countless Spirit Stone Worldly Families returned, preparing to decrease their own quotas.
Ding Mao, the Vice President of the Ling Shi Merchant Association, saw everyone off and stood in silence for a while, looking into the distance.
Back then, when they brought people to negotiate with the Immortal Supervisory Office, they met that rural rogue cultivator and couldn't help but comment on his youthful arrogance and ignorance of the world’s vastness.
Now, that person had become the top ranker in the Tong Xuan Realm, invincible in his Realm, an existence about to enter the Xianxian Holy Land for cultivation.
Under such circumstances, even the Elder Council of Tianshu Academy dared not offend him, let alone the Ling Shi Merchant Association.
Ding Mao then turned and returned to his residence, where he saw his son, Ding Shaojie, sitting silently alone at the tea table in the leisurely courtyard, watching for a long time without speaking.
His son and Lu Qingqiu were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, and from a young age, he believed he would surely marry her. Therefore, upon hearing that Lu Qingqiu wanted to become Dao Companion with Ji You, he developed a deep hatred for the name Ji You, constantly cursing and grumbling.
But as news of the Heavenly Dao Conference arrived, his son had been silent for a long time.
Even Ding Mao himself was somewhat dazed. A rural rogue cultivator, from Feng Province, had defeated countless Immortal Sect Bloodlines and even influenced the decisions of Tianshu Academy’s Elder Council.
That Lu family's Second Miss, who had only learned Sword Qi from him for a few days, was actually protected and admitted into the Immortal Sect’s Inner Courtyard simply because of his name. “Two Clan Chiefs, you have suffered.”
“Your Highness, you exaggerate. Eating wind and drinking snow is nothing; for the Yao Race, we do not feel it is bitter.”
Before the Cold Prison gate on the Twin Peaks of the Snow Region, the Demon Emperor Prince Night Chill bowed his hands and slowly saluted the Scale Clan leader and the Fang Clan Chieftain, who had been imprisoned for a year and were now somewhat emaciated.
Originally, the Scale Clan and Fang Clan had launched a night raid to probe the Human Race, intending to make the Alliance between the Yao Race and the Barbarian Race the only option. After their plot was exposed, they were imprisoned here.
However, that incident was merely a show for the Human Race envoy. The Demon Emperor had no intention of keeping them locked up for too long.
Moreover, the Yao Race’s desire to re-enter Kyushu remained unchanged; they were merely waiting for the right moment. And once the time came, these two Elders would be indispensable generals.
The Scale Clan leader, now unbound, couldn’t help but ask: “Princess Feng Yang, does she have any thoughts on our release?”
Night Chill shook his head: “Although Feng Yang doesn’t wish to see war, her heart is ultimately soft. This release of the two Clan Chiefs is due to her pleading with my Imperial Father.”
“Your Highness is benevolent.”
“Feng Yang has always been like this since childhood. However, Night Chill still wishes to ask the two Clan Chiefs to be more cautious in their actions hereafter.”
The Fang Clan Chieftain frowned slightly: “Actually, our plan last time was quite meticulous. We never expected it to be exposed by a small figure. That young Human Race individual is said to be a rural rogue cultivator, who came to our Snow Region because he was ostracized by the Human Race Immortal Sects. Such a major matter being ruined in his hands truly makes one feel it’s not worth it.”
Night Chill listened in silence for a long time, then softly said, "The Human Race Heavenly Dao Conference has ended. The person you mentioned defeated countless Human Race Prodigies, becoming the top of the Tong Xuan Realm list, with the strongest combat power in the world among those of the same Realm."
The Fang Clan Chieftain and Scale Clan leader were imprisoned in the Cold Prison by the Demon Emperor. Without leaders, the Disciples of both clans naturally had to investigate the matter thoroughly.
After investigation, they learned that the night raid plan was exposed entirely because a Human Race named Ji You had planned it all in advance.
At the same time, they also found out that this Ji You was not some noble Immortal Sect descendant among the Human Race; on the contrary, he was from a rural village where cultivation was forbidden.
In fact, there are strict Ranks within the Yao Race as well, otherwise Demon Emperor City would not be divided into Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard, so they could understand the hierarchy among the Human Race.
Knowing that Ji You was an insignificant rural private cultivator, the two Clan Chiefs found it difficult to accept.
This feeling was as if the clan's mighty cavalry was ready to go, but was ultimately stopped by an ant.
Because if such a major event were to be ruined by an Immortal Sect Bloodline, they could still accept it, but to be ruined by an insignificant person,
it made them seem somewhat foolish.
Until they heard the Demon Prince's words, the Fang Clan Chieftain and Scale Clan leader were stunned.
Surprise and astonishment flickered in their eyes for a long time, and then what welled up from their depths was a sense of solemnity.
Night Chill did not notice the solemnity in their eyes. He pressed his hands on his knees and thought to himself, it's a good thing Feng Yang doesn't know about this.
After the night raid was exposed, his Imperial Father handed over the trade matter to Feng Yang, and then he heard that his younger sister had collected many picture books from the Human Race.
In fact, Night Chill felt relieved knowing this would happen.
His younger sister was an anti-war faction and had always opposed the Yao Race re-entering the Nine Provinces. Now that she was finally interested in the Nine Provinces, she would inevitably gradually realize how bitter the Snow Region was.
But then he discovered that all the picture books his younger sister collected came from one of the Nine Provinces, and it was the most barren one.
This made Night Chill unable to understand. After much searching, he finally found out that Ji You was from Feng Province.
As an Elder brother, he felt at the time as if his own precious jade cabbage was actively trying to be rooted by a wild boar, and he couldn't stop it.
So, when the news about the Heavenly Dao Conference arrived a few days ago, he immediately ordered a blockade of the information, not letting his younger sister know a single bit.
At this moment, the carriage passed through the central long street of Demon Emperor City's Inner Courtyard. Night Chill couldn't help but lift the curtain and look at a small white-domed building.
That was his younger sister Feng Yang's medical hall. As his gaze followed upward, Night Chill saw his younger sister looking at something with a serious expression,
and he couldn't help but feel relieved.
【Heavenly Dao Conference Volume 3: A Single Sword Strike Against Yan Hao (Part 2)】
Raging Sword Qi howled across the sky, and the scorching physique made one's Divine Soul tremble.
“That's right, I am a rural private cultivator, but that is not my dark history; it is the path I came from!”
Clang!
Blood flowed incessantly, and countless people's eyes widened. “How could this be?!”
“He's just a rural private cultivator, how could he have journeyed with a sword, unstoppable, defeating so many Human Race Prodigies?!”
After striking Yan Hao with his sword, Ji You suddenly disappeared from Xianxian Garden. No one knew where he went. “How could he wander around during such a grand event? Where did Ji You go? Does anyone know where Ji You went?”
“He returned to Feng Province. He said the wheat in the fields was ripe, and he had to rush back to harvest it.”
“Yes, he was like someone who had been waiting to go home to harvest wheat, and just happened to come and participate in a Heavenly Dao Conference.” On the white small building, Princess Feng Yang's gaze continuously scanned the lines of text, and the skirt at the back of her hips gradually lifted into a crease.
The Heavenly Dao Conference was already a globally watched event, so its spread was extremely fast, and its impact was also very profound.
Within a day, news about the rural private cultivator taking the top spot and heading to Xianxian Holy Land was already widespread.
At this moment, in a desolate mountain range on the north side of Central Province, bordering Feng Province.
Countless carriages swept across the sky, Flying Swords traversed the Void Realm, and carriages driven by Spiritual Artifacts headed towards the dense mountain forest. From a distance, dense vegetation covered the area completely, with mist and nitrogen boxes, making it look uninhabited. However, cultivators who came could already feel the rich Spiritual Qi hidden deep within these mountains.
“Xianxian Holy Land, why is it so remote?”
“You don't even know this?”
“Could there be a secret within?”
“It's not exactly a secret, but when our Human Race rebelled against the Lasting Peace Race, we encountered an ambush by the Lasting Peace Race. Our clansmen could only follow the Xianxian to this desolate mountain to take refuge. Afterward, the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact descended, and the Heavenly Dao Law changed this place, making it a treasure land.”
“So that's how it is.”
Ji You was currently with Cao Jinsong and others, accompanied by the Yuan Family sisters. They were riding a Flying Sword controlled by the Master's Courtyard, soaring over the mountains.
These past few days, there has been much discussion around them. Most people are focused on how far he will go after entering Xianxian Holy Land, but no one knows that he is stuck at the threshold of the Rongdao Realm.
However, Realm and Aura are just for show.
He doesn't seek Ascension, so he doesn't have much desire for the Integration Dao Realm. His only desire is combat power.
As long as his combat power can continuously increase, those Immortal Villas in Feng Province will behave themselves, and the future will get better and better. He can marry whoever he wants and have as many children as he wants.
Yan Shuyi was currently riding, flying at the rear of the Tianshu Academy's Flying Sword. As she knelt, her beautiful hips lightly pressed against her feet, and her ten plump, smooth toes resembled blooming lotus stamens.
The cultivators who came with her all thought she was there to send off her own Disciple, but no one knew that the person she most wanted to send off was the stranger she had kissed last night.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu served in the carriage, their peripheral vision alert to Master Jian, then they exchanged glances.
For some reason, Master Jian had been a little nervous since returning from the young master-in-Law's room last night. She had been sulking since waking up this morning, looking fierce.
They knew that Master Jian's mood must be related to the young master-in-Law, but they didn't know the specific details.
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the Flying Sword shuttling through the mountain forest not far away.
That was the Tianshu Academy's Flying Sword. The young master-in-Law, his Instructor with the large chest, and the Dan Sect sister were sitting cross-legged on the sword.
In their sight, the young master-in-Law was distracted, and the Instructor with the large chest next to him handed him a watermelon.
Perhaps he was too lazy to draw his sword, the two saw the young master-in-Law raise his fist and 'break the melon' with his Qi.
With a 'pa' sound, the fresh melon burst open, revealing its reddish flesh.
Perhaps due to too much force, the clear juice splattered, making it wet everywhere.
Just then, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu suddenly heard a 'dang' sound from behind. Turning around, they saw the tea tray that should have been in Master Jian's hand slip to the ground, and their Master Jian looked nervous, her body began to roar with Sword Qi, and her eyes became fierce and predatory.
Cui'er quickly came to tidy up, helping the tea tray up and wiping away the tea with an embroidered handkerchief.
Her gaze swept over Master Jian's two round objects, and she paused slightly, unable to help but imagine a pair of large hands kneading them, and couldn't help but bite her thin lips.
She had been observing Master Jian all morning, her words and actions, trying to quietly find out who was so bold, but she found nothing.
Master Jian was majestic and cold, just a glance could make one shiver. Who would dare to knead her like that?
However, she didn't find Master Jian's lover, but she did find the person Master Jian disliked, who was this year's top of the Tong Xuan Realm list, the man from Tianshu Academy named Ji You.
Because every time someone mentioned him, Master Jian would look furious.
Cui'er could understand Master Jian's reaction, because their Lingjian Mountain could have had two Tong Xuan Realm Disciples enter Xianxian Holy Land, but because of this person, Senior Brother Yan Hao lost his qualification, so it was appropriate for Master Jian to dislike this person.
Seemingly sensing the Sword Qi, Ji You turned to look at the imperial carriage and met Yan Shuyi's sharp gaze.
He scared her yesterday, he didn't expect this Instructor to still hold a grudge.
The Flying Sword and carriage slowly descended a short while later, finally stopping in a desolate mountain forest covered with fallen leaves.
Looking up, between two low peaks, golden Mystic Light condensed into a circular archway. A vast Aura stirred up ripples all around.
This was the entrance to Xianxian Holy Land.
Over the past hundred years, countless people have entered and exited here, creating countless Prodigies.
The five Palace Masters of Tianshu Academy, and the chief Elders of various Sects, all had entered this place.
After Ji You descended from the Spiritual Sword, he bid farewell to the Yuan Family sisters, then looked at the little Master Jian behind him, and saw that Yan Shuyi still looked wary.
After discussing last night about wanting to be fruitful, the little Master Jian was a little afraid of him coming out.
“My dear Disciple, after you enter, remember to cultivate diligently.”
“I'll do my best.”
After Ji You finished speaking, he saw someone already impatiently walking in.
First were the two direct Disciples of the Chen Clan, then Chai Ze, followed by Li Yunlang, Zhuang You, and Zhuang Zixin.
Watching these people walk past him, Ji You suddenly reached into his embrace and took out a letter.
After kissing Yuan Caiwei last night, a girl came along in the night and handed him a letter. He thought it was another invitation for Dual Cultivation, so he didn't pay attention.
After returning to his room and kissing the little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain, kneading her roundness, he didn't pay much attention, and he casually placed this item on the tea table.
And he only noticed it properly this morning.
This was not actually a letter, but a very thickly folded missing person's notice. It had twelve portraits drawn on it, all of them Young Masters from Worldly Families or Immortal Sects who had successively disappeared within a year.
Among them, several were from the Li Family, Zhuang Family, and Zhu Family.
The first time Ji You saw these portraits, Cao Jinsong was also present. After looking at them, he looked at him with some confusion and said, “How did you also encounter this?”
At the time, Ji You was quite surprised, and then he heard Cao Jinsong talk about the events in the commandery city.
It was said that the girl who delivered the letter was an outside concubine raised by the second son of the Li Family, an ordinary person without cultivation. She had been searching for her lover for half a year, and came here to try her luck because there were many cultivators at the Heavenly Dao Conference.
During this time, she met several other people looking for someone, so they gathered together, but they didn't find any clues.
Ji You felt that cultivators were quite indifferent; they didn't react much when their family members went missing. But at the same time, he found it strange and didn't know if those people were truly missing or something else, just like Bai Rulong's missing Disciple, which made him feel concerned.
After much thought, Ji You came back to his senses, then waved goodbye to the back and stepped into the Mystic Light door.
(Please vote for monthly tickets)
