Chapter 302: This Calamity is Unavoidable
Wu Yue was just a maid; she didn't know much and was mostly confused.
Ji You knew he couldn't get any information from her, so he rose from the small building and, with a whoosh, arrived near the Jade Balance Hall, where the Dan Sect's Sect Master was 'ill'.
Under the clear breeze, his clothes fluttered. Ji You's feet touched the ground, and he silently landed in a secluded tea pavilion.
Then, a golden glow surged from his eyes as he looked down towards the mountain forest.
The Jade Balance Hall was heavily guarded at this time, with doors and windows tightly shut, and both front and back entrances were manned.
However, the guards were not members of the Dan Sect themselves, but rather those who were neither Dan Sect Disciples nor Immortal Sect members.
Their cultivation was decent, most of them being Integration Realm Upper Realm.
Moreover, they all looked to be around the same age as Cao Jinsong.
There was a significant barrier between the Lower Three Realms and the Upper Five Realms, and after Lower Three Realms Completion, it was a step-by-step climb.
At Cao Jinsong's age, being able to cultivate to the Integration Realm Upper Realm meant one could be an Instructor in an Immortal Sect.
When Ji You ascended the mountain, he had pondered the identities of these people, guessing they should come from the Dan Sect's in-law Sect.
Because of its lack of combat power, the Dan Sect, as one of the Immortal Sects, had always lived with extreme caution and prudence, constantly relying on intermarriage for self-preservation over thousands of years.
And their marriage partners were generally exceptionally talented individuals from minor Sect.
Minor Sect were easy to control, preventing a situation where ambition might lead them to use their in-law status to control the entire Dan Sect.
And those who were guarding the door were essentially the core members of the Sect the Dan Sect had cultivated over the years through the marriages of its female alchemists.
Just then, Ji You suddenly felt a powerful aura whistling towards him, so he turned to look.
On the nine-tiered white jade steps, an old man in an immortal robe floated down gracefully.
"Elder Shang Zha of Asked the Dao Sect requests an audience with the Dan Sect's Sect Master Immortal Master."
"Our Sect Master is currently resting in bed and cannot receive guests at this time. Please forgive Elder Shang."
In front of the Jade Balance Hall, six young men in Dan robes stepped forward to greet him, already cupping their hands in refusal before they even stopped.
Shang Zha frowned upon hearing this: "Who are you?"
"I am Hong Zhen, a Disciple under the Sect Master Immortal Master. These are my Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."
Dan Sect's Sect Master Yuan Li had six Disciples, all Upper Five Realms Alchemists, and they were the main force behind the annual Medicinal Pill supply.
So perhaps others didn't know Hong Zhen's name, but these Elders were not unfamiliar with him.
This was a highly talented Disciple under Yuan Li, with astonishing pill-forming rates, the foremost of the six. Many Immortal Sect Sect had entertained the thought of arranging marriages between their younger generations and him.
And among them, Ji You recognized two people he had met before.
One was Wen Bin, who was tasked with demonstrating Alchemy to Tianshu Academy when they were guests on Dan Mountain.
The other was Yuan Bingqing, who came to Dan Mountain with Dan Yangzi due to You Buyu's matter during the Autumn Tournament four thousand years ago and was entrusted by Yuan Caiwei to deliver a letter to him.
"So it's the Sect Master's esteemed Disciples."
"Elder Shang is too kind. The Pill Appreciation Gathering at Kaiyang Hall has already begun, hasn't it? Has Elder seen any Medicinal Pills he fancies? Master said that all guests who ascended the mountain today are esteemed guests of our Dan Sect and can receive them for free."
"I have little interest in Medicinal Pills on this trip. However, since the Dan Sect's Sect Master is inconvenient to meet guests, then so be it. I will come again tomorrow morning."
Shang Quan waved his sleeve and said as he turned to leave, "The Dan Sect's Alchemy Legacy originates from the Heavenly Dao, with infinite mysteries. Immortal Master Yuan has controlled the Sacred Artifact for many years, and his Alchemy is heaven-defying. He should be fully recovered overnight."
The six Disciples watched him leave, their smiles fading, and their brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.
However, not long after Elder Shang Quan of Asked the Dao Sect left, an Elder from Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion also arrived gracefully.
What he said was almost identical to what Shang Zha had said; he also sought an audience with Yuan Li, and Hong Zhen and the others' reply was still that the Sect Master was ill and unable to rise.
"Elder Huo Yu of Mountain and Sea Pavilion requests an audience with the Dan Sect's Sect Master Immortal Master—"
"Elder Chen Ke of Chen Clan requests an audience with the Dan Sect's Sect Master Immortal Master—"
"Elder Yan Jingfu of Lingjian Mountain requests an audience with the Dan Sect's Sect Master Immortal Master—"
Wave after wave of people arrived consecutively, all leaving gracefully after failing to get an audience, without forcing the issue. After the Shen hour, having seen off the Elder from Lingjian Mountain, the sun had already begun to set towards dusk.
The golden light shifted as the sun descended, now enveloping the Jade Balance Hall, reflecting a brilliant radiance from its golden treasure roof.
Seeing that these visits suddenly stopped, everyone couldn't help but sigh in relief, a hint of weariness appearing on their Faces.
Hong Zhen, a Disciple under Yuan Li, leaned against a pillar: "Five of the six great Immortal Sects have come."
Yuan Bingqing looked up after hearing this: "Only Tianshu Academy didn't send anyone?"
"Our Dan Sect and Tianshu Academy do have some friendship after all. Even if they wanted to come, they wouldn't do so openly like this. However, five out of six coming is no different from all five coming."
During their conversation, Wen Bin suddenly received a Disciple's message. After unfolding and reading it, he walked towards Hong Zhen and said, "Not five, Senior Brother, all six great Immortal Sects have come."
Hong Zhen's eyes widened: "How could that be?"
"A Disciple just came to report that Ji You of Tianshu Academy also arrived on the mountain this morning. He showed himself at Danxia Terrace and then disappeared."
"Ji You—"
Upon hearing this name, all the male Disciples, including Hong Zhen, fell silent.
They had grown up on Dan Mountain since childhood, treated like his own children by the Sect Master, and in fact, all harbored feelings for Yuan Caiwei. After all, who wouldn't like the Sect Master's Young Miss with whom they spent every day?
So when the Dan Sect decided to recruit You Buyu as a son-in-law, intending to form a marriage alliance with Tianshu Academy, they even expressed the idea of eloping with her, but she did not respond.
Later, because You Buyu's cultivation fell due to asking the Dao at Lingjian Mountain, the marriage fell through.
They were originally relieved, but who knew that rumors about Ji You and Yuan Caiwei then began, never ceasing for two or three years.
The Dan Sect was in a semi-reclusive state, and the alchemists on the mountain were unable to travel widely.
They were unclear about the details of the rumors, and even their understanding of Ji You was not as good as that of ordinary Immortal Sect Disciples, but the hidden pain in their hearts had always faintly persisted.
"No, the relationship between Ji You and Tianshu Academy is not good, so why would he represent Tianshu Academy to come to our Dan Sect to demand someone?"
Yuan Bingqing spoke up amidst the silence: "It must be that we've been too tense these past few days, causing the Disciples down the mountain to mistake him."
Wen Bin looked at Yuan Bingqing upon hearing this: "It's true that Ji You is ostracized by Tianshu Academy, but this isn't the first time he's represented Tianshu Academy. Don't forget he went to Lingjian Mountain to ask the Dao, and even served as an envoy to the Snow Region as a Tianshu Academy Disciple."
"He was forced to go."
"The Sword Forest of Lingjian Mountain was not broken by others forcing him."
Hong Zhen's brows furrowed upon hearing this: "People of insufficient background are treated as anomalies in the Qingyun World. Ji You appears aloof on the outside, but to integrate, it's not impossible for him to secretly butter up others."
Wen Bin looked down at the bustling mountain below: "This might not be a bad thing."
"What do you mean, Junior Brother Wen?"
"Five or six makes no difference now. But since he came here today like the other Immortal Sect members, it means he has no goodwill towards our Dan Sect, and the rumors with Caiwei are probably just rumors; otherwise, he shouldn't have shown himself."
Yuan Bingqing was about to say something when her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a leaping figure descending from the high Yaoguang Hall: "Senior Sister Caiwei—"
Everyone looked over upon hearing this and saw Yuan Caiwei gracefully descending the mountain.
Several young men wanted to greet her, but they noticed Yuan Caiwei's eyes were bright, her steps hurried, and her eyes filled with anticipation, as if she were going to meet someone, and the words in their mouths were suddenly swallowed back.
The Dan Sect was facing many major issues recently, the biggest of which was the Sacred Artifact Legacy.
They all knew that Yuan Chen had officially entered seclusion, and Junior Sister Caiwei was strictly guarding him, never leaving his side.
In other words, unless someone she really wanted to see had arrived, she would not easily come out of Yaoguang Hall.
Coincidentally, they had just learned that Ji You had come to the Dan Sect.
And as their gazes shifted with Yuan Caiwei's steps, their expressions gradually turned grim.
Because when they realized Yuan Caiwei was heading towards her own bamboo building, they suddenly realized that Ji You, who had disappeared after ascending the mountain, might be in her boudoir.
Wu Yue also came from the direction of Yaoguang Hall at this time, barely keeping up behind her.
She had gone to Yaoguang Hall after Ji You left the bamboo building courtyard, thinking that since he was the Young Master, this news should be conveyed to the Young Miss as soon as possible.
Just as she ran closer, she saw everyone looking at her, so she bowed slightly.
As Yuan Caiwei's personal maid, Wu Yue actually knew that several of the Senior Brothers had always harbored feelings for her Young Miss.
After all, the Medicinal Pills and essential oils they refined were all sent out through her hands.
But Wu Yue felt a little sorry for them, thinking they probably didn't know that their Young Miss had already been taken by the newly arrived Young Master.
This wasn't her, a maid, fabricating stories; rather, she had noticed that ever since the Young Miss returned from Shengjing, she had secretly taken many Medicinal Pills for nourishing the mother and child, seemingly to ensure a pregnancy.
It was only later, after confirming there was no movement, that she stopped.
Wu Yue bowed, then turned and headed towards the bamboo building. Ji You had already left the tea pavilion on the isolated peak next to the Jade Balance Hall at noon, first returning to the vicinity of Danxia Peak and circling once.
There were many Sect Disciples down the mountain, even more than in the morning.
He also discovered a few acquaintances, such as Yan Ye and Yan Qingchi, who hailed from Xuanjian Peak of Lingjian Mountain and were originally responsible for guarding the Sword Forest.
Additionally, there were two Elders, one from the Huo Family and one from the Shang Family, both of whom had accompanied him on a mission to the Snow Region.
However, the difference between these people and when they met in the morning was that they were not at Danxia Peak, but had gone to Tianshu Hall.
The reason was that Dan Sect had a sudden idea and held a Medicinal Pill appreciation event at Tianshu Hall, inviting the Immortal Sect Disciples to come and appreciate them.
Dan Sect’s Medicinal Pills had always been priceless and highly sought after, and the Medicinal Pills brought out at the appreciation event were all rare treasures from within the Sect, but Ji You found that those Immortal Sect members were somewhat distracted during the appreciation process, as if their true purpose was not there.
Ji You then left Danxia Peak and returned to Yuan Caiwei’s bamboo building courtyard.
Some things don't need to be observed for too long; a general idea can be formed.
The Dan Sect Master was not ill; he was feigning illness to avoid meeting people.
As for those Immortal Sect Elders, they also knew he was feigning illness, so they came in turns, forcing him to show himself.
Something was indeed going to happen to Dan Sect, and it was likely a disaster.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have summoned all their in-law Sect to the mountain, taking precautionary measures.
Currently, the Immortal Sect’s politeness was merely a facade; the real storm seemed to be gathering.
Just then, the courtyard gate of the bamboo building courtyard was suddenly pushed open. Ji You heard the sound and looked up, seeing Yuan Caiwei pushing the door and entering the courtyard.
She wore a blue silk dress embroidered with intertwining peonies; as she walked, her skirt swayed like waves, and a jade hairpin was diagonally inserted into her hair, making her skin appear as fair as fresh snow. Her beautiful eyes lit up when she saw Ji You.
She had just been in Yaoguang Hall, and when Wu Yue mentioned that the Young Master had arrived, she was momentarily dazed, seemingly not realizing what “Young Master” implied.
It wasn’t until Yuan Chen asked, “My brother-in-law is here?” that she realized Ji You had arrived at Dan Mountain, and she rushed over.
However, the moment she truly saw Ji You, Yuan Caiwei suddenly felt a bit more flustered.
Her interactions with Ji You were not as intimate as Yan Shuyi’s with him; usually, they were strictly polite, somewhat similar to Kuangcheng and Wei Rui, with their most intimate act being a “lip friendship.”
As a result, the New Year suddenly got a powerful kick, the kind of forceful shot without any forewarning.
Yet, in Yuan Caiwei's original imagination, this matter should have unfolded naturally after mutual promises, vows of eternal love, and softly calling him “husband.”
As a result, the order was reversed; for example, titles and affection hadn't caught up. The daughter of Dan Sect was somewhat at a loss.
"Young Master, long time no see—"
Yuan Caiwei muttered, then quickly looked at Wu Yue: "That—Yue’er, quickly go make tea."
Wu Yue immediately went into the room to get the tea set, but she couldn't help but feel a little confused.
She had been taking pregnancy-stabilizing medicine a while ago, so why was she still calling him “Young Master” so formally? It sounded more like friends than Dao Companion.
She picked up the tweezers, put tea leaves into the teapot, and then heard the casual chatter in the courtyard begin.
"How is Yuan Chen’s matter of receiving the Sacred Artifact progressing recently?"
"Progress is slow, but there’s some progress after all, and Father is relieved."
"That’s good—"
Ji You murmured to himself, suddenly also feeling quite strange, with a sense of not knowing what attitude to adopt.
If he were too intimate, it would seem a bit improper.
If he treated her as a gentleman, yet he felt that he had clearly made her bloom overnight, and she had cried out.
As Ji You thought, his gaze involuntarily shifted to her lower abdomen.
Yuan Caiwei noticed his gaze, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks: "Not pregnant—"
"I’m not in a hurry for you to get pregnant immediately either—"
The two, who had been addressing each other as Young Master and Young Miss with polite formality since entering the courtyard, suddenly started discussing whether she was pregnant or not, which made the atmosphere slightly ambiguous.
But then, Wu Yue, who had gone to make tea, came out of the room with a clatter, carrying the tea and diluting the atmosphere.
Yuan Caiwei suddenly came to her senses at this moment, and with a bewildered look, she asked, "I forgot to ask, why did Young Master suddenly come to Dan Sect?"
Ji You placed his teacup on the table and said, "After the New Year, I've been searching for places with abundant Spiritual Qi to cultivate. Along the way, I received a message from Yan Shuyi saying that Dan Sect was in trouble, so I rushed over. As soon as I entered the mountain, I saw many Immortal Sect members. What exactly happened?"
Yuan Caiwei’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she said, "Six days ago, our Dan Sect successively received letters from other Immortal Sects, saying that they had found a unique and rare treasure."
Ji You understood a little: "They want you to help them refine Medicinal Pills?"
"That’s right. They sent messages saying they would send it for us to research and refine Medicinal Pills. And they did arrive as scheduled, but they didn't bring any medicinal materials, claiming the materials were uniquely precious and couldn't be easily taken out of their Sect."
"?"
"To put it plainly, their real purpose is to take away the alchemists from the mountain."
Ji You paused slightly: "Isn’t that a taboo for your Dan Sect?"
Yuan Caiwei nodded: "Our Dan Sect went through a dark period of being enslaved and confined by other Immortal Sects. Since then, we have always been cautious.
My ancestors also painstakingly wrote the rule that Immortal Sects are not allowed to forcibly borrow alchemists into the qingyun immortal rules, but the problem is that all the Immortal Sects have come now."
The qingyun immortal rules were jointly formulated by the Immortal Sects, with the aim of mutual restraint and maintaining stability.
However, although these immortal rules restrained all sides and kept the Qingyun World stable for several centuries, no matter how fair they were, their core was ultimately a tool for the rulers.
Whatever the ruling class needed, the immortal rules would change accordingly.
In other words, if all the Immortal Sects in the Qingyun World spoke with one voice, then every word they uttered could be a new immortal rule.
And the old immortal rules would then become meaningless.
Just like now, when the Immortal Sects needed a stable source of Medicinal Pills, they would formulate rules forbidding the confinement of alchemists.
But when the Immortal Sects needed alchemists, that rule became obsolete.
It’s just a pity that Dan Sect didn’t expect their attitude to change so quickly. They didn’t activate the mountain protection array, and after the people arrived, they found that these people couldn’t be asked to leave.
After a long period of thought, Ji You spoke: "I'm quite curious, what kind of medicinal material is so precious that it can mobilize all the Immortal Sects, and they're even willing to tear up the immortal rules they themselves formulated?"
Yuan Caiwei pursed her lips: "I also didn't understand, so I went to ask Father, but Father didn't explain clearly. He only told Yuan Chen and me to enter Yaoguang Hall and stay under the protection of the Sacred Artifact, not leaving for a short time."
"And then your father feigned illness to buy time?"
"Yes, Father invited all of Dan Sect’s in-law Sect up to Dan Mountain, then claimed to be ill and refused to see anyone. In reality, he didn’t want to provoke the Immortal Sects’ wrath,
Nor did he want the Sect’s Disciples to be taken away."
Ji You listened, then looked at Yuan Caiwei: "Dan Sect is on good terms with Tianshu Academy. Have you sought help from Tianshu Academy?"
Yuan Caiwei’s eyes drooped: "Actually, we sent a letter to Tianshu Academy immediately, but no news has come back. I suppose even a Sacred Sect wouldn’t want to be enemies with the five united Immortal Sects, would they? Their not sending anyone is already out of consideration for our good relationship."
"But this won't do. Those Immortal Sect Disciples don't have that much patience. If they are determined to do it, your father will eventually have to come forward."
"Actually, Father has already decided to meet them tomorrow—"
After all the matters were revealed, the bamboo building courtyard fell silent.
This calamity for Dan Sect was truly difficult to overcome.
Because since Yuan Li feigned illness to delay and summoned his in-law Sect to the mountain, he likely intended to refuse.
However, refusal might be the worst outcome for Dan Sect.
