Chapter 118: Three Steps, Three Glances Back

After noon in early summer, the temperature rose, but the mountain wind on Spirit Sword Mountain remained crisp and cool.

The eighth [Willow’s New Green] fell, slicing Ji You straight through the air; he immediately raised his sword again, as if unaware of fatigue.

Beneath this fierce sword qi, the emerald bamboos around trembled violently, and the entire sword grove echoed with a rustling sound.

Then, the ninth [Willow’s New Green] rose with a hum, its blade-light pressing down as if ready to fully swallow Ji You.

But immediately beneath the blade, a dull sword intent rose, clanging as it blocked it.

Amid the clash of sword qi, another figure walked forward from the third grove.

He wore a deep blue robe, with a long sword tied at his waist.

The mountain was unusually busy today, for disciples of the Heavenly Book Academy had come to Spirit Sword Mountain to seek the Dao; nearly all fellow cultivators had gone to watch, but he had not.

Because the very mention of “Heavenly Book Academy” felt like an insult to him.

Gongshu Chou frowned as he walked into the second grove, suddenly hearing a sharp sword cry, then sensing the piercing sword qi of [Willow’s New Green].

He knew someone was breaking through the second grove, turned his head—and instantly furrowed his brow at the sight of the white figure.

“Ji You…”

Gongshu Chou murmured softly, halting in place.

During the siege of the ruins against the Heavenly Book Academy, his spiritual essence had been suppressed by malevolent qi; he had nearly been pierced through the heart by Ji You, then merely at the peak of the lower three realms—so he could never forget this man.

After returning to the mountain, he consumed vast quantities of elixirs; his wounds had fully healed, but the scar on his chest remained, just like the scar on his heart.

Gongshu Chou watched Ji You absorbed in sword cultivation, seemingly unaware of his arrival, and unconsciously gripped his own sword.

The lingering sword intent, the suppressed killing intent within him, surged uncontrollably at this moment.

Yet after long contemplation, Gongshu Chou did not draw his blade; he withdrew his gaze and turned toward the grove’s edge.

He had indeed nearly died in Ji You’s hands—a great humiliation for a Dao-Integration cultivator.

But had it not been for that thrust, he would have remained in the ruins, continuing to seek immortal fortune, only to be refined into a replenishment pill by the Zheng family’s ancestor, becoming another’s immortal fortune.

So was that thrust a grudge or a blessing? Gongshu Chou could not untangle it.

The humiliation must be repaid—it concerns his Dao heart—but at least this time, he could choose not to kill him.

Not killing is a favor; once that favor is repaid, only the grudge remains.

Gongshu Chou turned to leave, but had taken only a few steps when he suddenly halted, turning back sharply to gaze at Ji You, his eyes momentarily stunned.

“The Heavenly Book Academy arrived at dawn yesterday and were settled by noon.”

“How could he have reached [Willow’s New Green] so quickly?”

Gongshu Chou recalled the Heavenly Book Academy disciples’ arrival time, his expression turning surprised.

From noon yesterday until now had been less than a full day—yet Ji You had already blithely reached [Willow’s New Green]?

He had heard Ji You had now entered the Penetrating Mystery realm; he assumed passing the first grove would be no challenge.

But the second grove’s killing intent was stronger than the first’s, its sword qi far more formidable—it had trapped many Spirit Sword Mountain disciples; some unstable cultivators were still stuck in the grove’s heart yesterday, never even seeing what [Willow’s New Green] looked like.

Yesterday, someone clearly said he used sixteen strikes to pass [Minor Mountain], yet overnight he’d already reached [Willow’s New Green]?

“Truly no wonder he wounded me…”

Gongshu Chou pondered long, thinking: though fast, it was not unreasonable.

For had he been ordinary, no different from other cultivators, how could a Dao-Integration like himself have been wounded by him?

Back in the ruins, he had sensed the man’s spiritual energy was exceptionally thick; his relentless advance here was not unbelievable.

At that moment, Gongshu Chou heard a sharp whoosh—he looked up to see Ji You’s figure fly backward from the raging sword qi, landing on the ground.

Then, as if unwilling to yield, he charged again, slashing at the reformed sword qi.

Gongshu Chou couldn’t help shaking his head: “Even if he’s strong, at his realm, this is his limit.”

The second grove was already the limit of the Penetrating Mystery realm; no cultivator at this level had ever withstood [Willow’s New Green].

Even if Ji You was gifted, reaching the third grove would surely take considerable time.

But sadly, the quest for the Dao had already begun; even fighting for two days and nights would not be enough.

Gongshu Chou prepared to leave for the third time, but after a few steps, he halted again, turning back—his eyes now glowed with sudden light.

Strange.

He hadn’t paid close attention before, but now he noticed Ji You’s sword intent was constantly changing.

If anyone in this world knew Ji You’s sword best, it was Gongshu Chou—this familiarity surpassed even Wang Xin’an, Ji You’s sword master.

Because Gongshu Chou had truly dueled Ji You, even fought to the edge of life and death.

Yet now, watching his sword, he found both the qi and intent utterly different: much familiar, yet laced with unfamiliarity—profoundly mysterious…

He furrowed his brow, silently observing as Ji You was repeatedly flung back, growing impatient.

The sword intent was indeed growing more mysterious, yet its power showed no increase.

On several occasions, it had even weakened significantly; he nearly took a slash to the shoulder—if Ji You hadn’t reacted swiftly, he’d already be bleeding through the grove.

Several times, the sword forms shifted along with the intent, becoming wildly complex and unstable, yet the next strike would be impossibly clean.

Gongshu Chou could not fathom it, then turned and left.

Hum—

Soon after Gongshu Chou departed, a crisp sword wind dispersed; Ji You sheathed his blade, stepped back, spiritual energy radiating from beneath his feet.

At this moment, the eighteenth [Willow’s New Green] dissolved among the bamboos; the once howling sword grove fell utterly silent.

Ji You brushed bamboo leaves from his body, then raised his sword—his figure vanished into a glow of light.

The sun soon began its descent, slowly shifting.

Meanwhile, the sword cries from the Immortal Gazing Terrace never ceased, mingled with the thunder of myriad arts, echoing loudly in the valley between the three peaks—from dawn until the afternoon.

Ji You, having entered the third sword grove, now emerged and walked down the mountain.

The swords in the second grove were fierce, draining him greatly.

He was tired, slightly hungry, his condition far from optimal.

The swords in the third grove were even stronger—definitely not something a Penetrating Mystery cultivator could brute-force; he needed rest, and needed to assimilate.

At this moment, Gongshu Chou, who had gone down to find food, returned toward the sword grove—and met Ji You on the mountain path; their gazes locked, the air stiffening.

“After taking pills in the grove, put away the vial. Don’t litter carelessly (in my home).”

“?”

Gongshu Chou blinked, then saw Ji You frown—what did he mean?

This is Spirit Sword Mountain, not your Heavenly Book Academy!

Ji You then brushed past him, descending the path with a faint frown, thinking: Gongshu Chou seems to harbor no killing intent toward me—strange indeed.

Ji You sheathed his sword and walked down the Xuan Sword Peak, hearing sharp sword cries echoing around the mountains.

He paused halfway up the slope, golden light flickering in his eyes, his spiritual sense surging.

Where his gaze fell, He Lingxiu was surrounded by aura of arts, lightning and fire interweaving, dueling fiercely with Yan Shujing before him.

Yan Shujing of the Xuan Sword Peak struck with sword motions like startled swans, her clean, decisive sword intent ringing through the nine heavens.

Penetrating Mystery disciples might still discern the details, but those below the peak of the lower three realms could only catch fleeting afterimages.

Suddenly, light and sword qi clashed repeatedly, blades trembling against blades.

One wielded a ruthless sword path, her sword heart crystal clear.

The other mastered profound Dao arts, often accompanied by swirling winds, ghostly and elusive, with thunder arts interlaced along her blade.

Then came a thunderous crash—He Lingxiu slashed forward, lightning roaring within the blade-light; the fierce aura was clearly audible even halfway up the slope, overwhelming in might.

But this was not sword cultivation—it was art.

Ban Yangshu had once told him: the Heavenly Book Academy’s pure Dao cultivators commonly used He Lingxiu’s current technique, [All Arts Upon the Body].

Chu He’s family had taken him away to transmit teachings—likely something similar.

Yet now Ji You frowned slightly, sensing something amiss.

Ji You was Penetrating Mystery—he could not discern the superiority between higher realms, but he could sense sword qi.

Yesterday in the grove, he had briefly seen Yan Shujing; when she first emerged, her sword qi was at its peak—her strongest state.

Yet now, her sword intent was several degrees weaker than yesterday’s.

Meaning: she had not yet unleashed her full power.

At that moment, footsteps sounded on the path—Zhuo Wanqiu stepped forward, softly calling, “Young Master.”

She and Ding Yao represented the Xuan Sword Peak, overseeing this quest for the Dao, but were also ordered to personally attend Ji You; they took turns—today Zhuo Wanqiu, tomorrow Ding Yao.

While Ji You trained in the grove, she had guarded the Sword Gazing Terrace; now, timing her arrival, she came to meet him.

“Which round is this?”

“Third. One win, one loss.”

As they spoke, a surging sword intent suddenly erupted.

Yan Shujing lightly tapped her toe; violent sword qi surged skyward, blade-light like moonlight cleaving the heavens.

The Immortal Gazing Terrace fell silent for five breaths; all sound ceased instantly.

At the platform’s edge, He Lingxiu’s lips dripped blood, eyes filled with fury and unwillingness.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Book Academy disciples’ eyes flashed disbelief; all froze, unable to accept the outcome.

They had traveled thousands of miles from the north, crossing Zhongzhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou, to restore the Heavenly Book Academy’s honor.

Yet they never imagined their first duel in the quest would end in defeat.

“The Great Xia Sacred Sect is truly weak…”

“This isn’t even Jing’er’s full strength—this girl’s been holding back.”

On the platform, the Inner Chamber Head of the Mountain Sea Pavilion, the Heavenly Book Academy’s personal Dao Guardian, and the elders of Spirit Sword Mountain all stroked their beards with faint smiles, their mockery unhidden.

On the other side of the platform, the demon emperor’s son, whose eyes glowed with blue demonic pupils, snapped his folding fan shut, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Before his father granted him entry into the Nine Provinces, he had been warned to be wary of the Seven Immortal Sects, especially the Heavenly Book Academy.

But in today’s battle, he saw nothing in the Heavenly Book Academy worth their caution—at least not in terms of combat strength.

Yet the performance of Spirit Sword Mountain had somewhat surprised him.

Had he not feared the human race accusing the demon race of arrogance, he would have sent a few to test Yan Shujing’s sword.

(End of Chapter)