Chapter 107: I Care for Both the Sword and the Person

The Yaozu ’s silver spear never pierced the Dan Mountain Divine Path before Ji You floated down the mountain before all eyes.

As Zuqiu Yang had said, the Yaozu ’s mission this time was merely a probe.

Before making a final decision, they did not wish to break ties with the human immortal sects.

Thus, the Tian Shu Academy group rode their spirit swords southward, arriving in Yongzhou after a night’s journey.

This was the only state along the Nu River they had not yet crossed, and they could not take an immortal ship there.

So they changed carriages at the post station and continued toward Gan’an County, on the border between Yongzhou and Lingzhou.

Further west lay the shore of the Xuan Sea—the domain of Lingjian Mountain. If traveling by carriage from Gan’an County, it would take only half a day to reach.

Unlike the half-journey to Danzong, the atmosphere among the Tian Shu Academy disciples now grew slightly tense.

Especially You Buyu and He Lingxiu, who increasingly felt pressure, extending their daily cultivation hours.

They bore the prestige of the Tian Shu Academy, representing its honor; their only choice was to seek the Dao and win, returning in triumph.

But as Zuqiu Yang had said, Lingjian Mountain’s direct disciples were not to be underestimated.

The direct disciple of Tianjian Peak was named Zhuang You—he did not bear the Yan surname, yet an outsider achieving this status spoke volumes of his talent.

As for Yan Shujing of Xuanjian Peak, though little known, she was certainly no ordinary person.

Their bold words before departure were meant to project Qishi , but now that they had arrived, Lingjian Mountain was within reach.

At this moment, neither You Buyu nor He Lingxiu dared to be careless.

“So many Lingjian Mountain disciples…”

“Don’t stare, don’t speak. Rest at the post station. Continue tomorrow. Don’t stir up trouble.”

“...”

Gan’an County fell under Lingzhou’s jurisdiction, and Lingjian Mountain had many disciples. Seeing the group in Tian Shu Academy immortal robes, they glared with ill will.

Especially during several close encounters, the hum of sword qi was clearly audible.

This was not surprising—after all, you were coming to challenge their mountain gate; why would they offer you a kind face?

Several times they nearly clashed head-on, but Tian Shu Academy always withdrew.

For they all knew: drawing a sword now would be private combat. If Lingjian Mountain claimed moral superiority, whether direct disciple or outsider, they would never return.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Lingjian Mountain disciples and travelers from other sects, they checked into a post station in Gan’an County.

At the third watch of the evening, the sun set.

The temperature on the Yong-Ling border in early summer was still pleasant; Ji You sat on his bed, continuing micro-illumination, relentlessly refining his body until his inner radiance blazed and his blood surged.

This was his tenth micro-illumination; the tremors within him were stronger than before.

Especially when spiritual energy struck his limbs and bones, even his soul quaked, and the pain of spirit fire refining his flesh caused him to involuntarily groan.

“Indeed, my aura grows stronger.”

“What sect’s method is Ji You cultivating?”

In the corridor of the post station, He Lingxiu crossed her arms, sensing the aura constantly radiating from the opposite humble room, her brow furrowing.

She had just been cultivating in her room; stepping out for air, she easily sensed Ji You’s aura.

When she said “strong,” she did not mean cultivation level, but the sensation itself.

It was like steel versus cotton—neither had cultivation base, yet one could still feel which was harder.

He Lingxiu felt something surging, swelling, Pengpai within that room; the hot, humid aura even seeped through the window cracks and slapped her face.

Most troubling were the muffled groans from inside—making her blush and feel restless.

Had Ji You not been the only one making those sounds, she might have suspected someone else was in his room.

The aura persisted for a long time, until You Buyu returned from outside, his long sword still radiating sharpness.

He was to face Lingjian Mountain’s strongest direct disciple; he had put on a bold front, but the pressure was immense—his earlier calm on Dan Mountain had vanished.

With too many distractions, after settling at the post station, he went outside to find a quiet place to refine his Dao, and only now returned.

“Sister, what are you looking at?”

“Uh, nothing. Just admiring the view.”

You Buyu stood still: “We’re about to reach Lingjian Mountain, and my mind grows ever more unsettled.”

He Lingxiu turned to him: “I’ve noticed your distractions have increased these past days, but don’t let fear strike before battle.”

“Fear before battle? Not quite. Those who reach the Fusion Dao realm at our age have pride—but pride can also be pressure.”

He Lingxiu nodded, then saw the small room across from them open its door.

Ji You stepped out, the storms around him calmed.

His tenth micro-illumination had not ended—because… he seemed to have hit a bottleneck, his expression strange.

He knew enlightenment had bottlenecks—without true insight, even a hundred years of effort yielded nothing—but he never imagined body refinement had bottlenecks too.

Was he just too rigid?

Ji You snapped back to awareness and saw He Lingxiu, radiating great freedom, and You Buyu, face dark, standing in the corridor.

They locked eyes; You Buyu shot him a glare, then turned and reentered his room.

On the Danzong trip, he had led the group as a Hall Master’s direct disciple to win favor, aiming to showcase his superiority—but now his mind held only the image of Yuan Caiwei pressed close to Ji You.

Even now, he couldn’t understand why, in Yuan Caiwei’s eyes, a Hall Master’s direct disciple was inferior to an outsider.

Did he truly possess some rare talent?

This made You Buyu extremely agitated; combined with the looming proximity of Lingjian Mountain, his killing intent grew heavy.

But they had come to Lingjian Mountain to seek the Dao, under countless eyes; every step drew gossip. Under these conditions, he could not strike Ji You.

Otherwise, as a Hall Master’s direct disciple, how could he tolerate an outsider disturbing his Dao heart?

In truth, when they descended Dan Mountain yesterday, he had desperately hoped the Yaozu guard would strike him with his spear—unfortunately, he didn’t.

Ji You stood outside the door, hearing the heavy “clank” as the door shut, his lips curling slightly.

You Buyu had treated him this way the whole journey—as if Ji You had stolen his wife.

He was the one wronged.

If You Buyu hadn’t dragged them to Danzong, would his pure body have been seen by others? Now, the closer they got to Lingjian Mountain, the more guilty he felt, frantically refining his flesh.

That body was meant for Lingjian Mountain’s young examiner to see first—if she found out someone else had seen it first, what would happen?

At that moment, He Lingxiu suddenly stepped forward, her soft, melodious voice sounding in his ear.

“Brother Ji, were you cultivating in your room just now?”

Ji You turned to He Lingxiu: “Yes. What advice do you have, Sister?”

He Lingxiu studied him, her gaze settling on his chest, listening to the surging blood, her brow slightly furrowing.

Most Tian Shu Academy disciples followed pure Dao cultivation, avoiding excessive body refinement in the lower realms to prevent physical limits from hindering spiritual perception.

Even Lingjian Mountain, which cultivated sword Dao, fused Dao into the sword.

But Ji You’s entire aura seemed not from cultivation, but radiating from his very being.

After forming a spirit core, cultivators lost the chance to refine their bodies; she didn’t know how Ji You had achieved such an aura.

Had he taken some elixir?

He Lingxiu was deeply curious, but quickly regained composure: “No advice. I’m just curious—why, when it’s you and You Buyu who will face Lingjian Mountain, are you the one training harder than ever as we draw closer?”

“Am I?”

“Of course. Since leaving Danzong, I’ve seen you devote every moment to cultivation—more anxious than I, who will soon draw my sword.”

Ji You glanced at her, thinking: You two face only sword peak direct disciples; I face Lingjian Mountain’s fierce, adorable young examiner.

She doesn’t know about the medicinal pool yet, but she’ll surely make some sarcastic remark about why I stayed so long at Danzong—whether I was reluctant to leave.

Women’s intuition is always terrifying, and I’m terrible at lying…

She won’t dare cut me with her sword, but if she uses her full power to kick me with her foot, I doubt I can withstand it.

It’s all You Buyu’s fault.

I originally planned to use my deep, loving gaze and perfect looks to coax Yan Shuyi into a sigh, then, like a drama heroine, disregard sect rules and pass on my life-sword technique to her.

Now? I’m utterly shaken.

Ji You sighed: “One reason is I nearly killed a Fusion Dao disciple of Lingjian Mountain; another is the Autumn Duel is approaching, and Chu He has been taken back to the Chu family to transmit their teachings—I’m always on edge.”

“Chu He…”

He Lingxiu nodded, thinking: That makes sense.

Ji You’s journey required no sword draw—he was merely a companion—but outside this role, he faced his own looming crisis.

Honestly, with his talent, he would have entered the Inner Court in any year; fate was just cruel, landing him in Chu He’s path.

Seeing her lost in thought, Ji You did not disturb her, then bowed and left the post station, walking into town.

Gan’an County differed from remote Yuyang County—it had no vast wilderness, but was instead bustling, for it lay at the junction of Yongzhou and Lingzhou, and was the mandatory route between Shanhai Pavilion and Lingjian Mountain.

Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, Pei Ruyi, and Bai Ru long waited for him, having agreed to dine together.

Later, the group found a tavern; Bai Ru Long, forced by Ji You, volunteered to pay.

Bai Ru Long had a large heart—he knew he wouldn’t draw his sword, so he came purely to enjoy himself.

Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and Ban Yangshu subtly worried about the potential consequences of victory or defeat.

As for Ji You, he was deeper still—he not only thought of Lingjian Mountain’s young examiner, but also of Lingjian Mountain’s sword Dao.

“Brother Ji, look—there’s a woman outside with a round, plump rear.”

“No. I won’t look.”

“?”

Ji You’s face was stern, eyes straight ahead, leaving Bai Ru Long baffled.

Wen Zhengxin couldn’t help glancing up, eyebrow slightly raised, thinking: Brother Ji was just saying at Danzong he’d wash me—why is he so proper today?

(End of chapter)