Chapter 124: Is Ji You

“Huh? Isn’t that Yan Shimei, the direct disciple of Xuanjian Peak?!”

“Yan Shimei floated bare-chested into the air to sing for you? You’re dreaming—that voice was clearly a man’s!”

“All disciples in the sect came to watch the battle today—who else could be left on the mountain?”

“Huang Hui is still on the mountain—he said he didn’t want to watch, so he went into the Sword Forest this morning!”

“Huang Hui is only at the Tongxuan realm—he couldn’t even withstand [Willow’s New Hue]. How could he have shattered the third layer in half a day? Are you hallucinating?”

“Oh right, there’s also Gongshu Senior Brother—he said watching battles against peers offered him no real benefit, so he didn’t come to watch yesterday.”

“How could we have forgotten him? So it’s Gongshu Senior Brother! Wonderful!”

“Gongshu Senior Brother? That can’t be right—such a captivating physique doesn’t look like his, and the voice isn’t either…”

Clouds from Tianjian Peak drifted over, veiling the figure, yet could not silence the murmurs of the Lingjian Peak disciples on Wangjian Terrace.

The clamor rose and fell, its scope even wider than when Zhuang You had just severed You Buyu with a single sword.

Yet strangely, several high-realm disciples and a few Elders on the high platform all wore grim expressions.

They seemed to have seen something—but chose not to speak.

Several young disciples tried climbing the mountain to investigate, but were immediately driven back by the Tianjian Peak Elder who arrived first.

This reaction instantly puzzled many—breaking the Sword Forest for the first time should be a cause for celebration, so why hide it?

Yes, if Gongshu Chou surpassed the direct disciple of Xuanjian Peak, it might cost them some face—but it should please Tianjian Peak perfectly.

Then why keep it secret?

The Lingjian Peak disciples continued whispering, while the disciples from Wenda Sect and Shanhai Pavilion began murmuring among themselves as well.

Meanwhile, atop Tianjian Peak—where everyone stared but could not pierce the veil—

Six of the seven swords encircling like a dragon had already shattered, scattered along the rugged mountain path behind the Sword Forest; only the one still held in hand remained straight.

Yet even though the blade remained straight, its edge was rolled and unusable.

What a disaster…

Ji You muttered softly, then felt a hot stream coursing down his arm—he realized his shoulder had been ripped open by sword qi.

Blood now dripped from his gripping hand, falling drop by drop along the blade’s length, mixing with the dust on the cliff to form beads.

[Si Wu Xie] was truly the strongest killing technique in the Sword Forest—pure, its sword intent containing only the thought of severing all.

Had he not infused his final strike with the sword intents of [Little Heavy Mountain], [Willow’s New Hue], and [Return Home], even his body, hardened by ten rounds of Weizhao, might not have withstood this blow.

Yet despite the hardship, he had endured it.

Too bad time was short—he couldn’t slowly refine that purest killing sword, [Si Wu Xie].

First, master these three swords. Later, when I’ve made them famous, I’ll accuse Lingjian Peak of stealing them from me—and force them to teach me the rest…

Damn, am I not a genius?

Yan Ye, Yan Qingchi, and Yan Shujing had long since chased through the forest and now stood atop the high cliff, the half-sung, unevenly phrased improvised melody still echoing in their ears, their gazes frozen.

Over the years, Lingjian Peak had taken in countless disciples, each with different talents.

Some had strong bones, some exceptional Dao nature, some were slow but pure.

Yet in every generation, a few were deeply favored, often praised by sect elders who said sword and youth were perfectly matched, that their spirit and aura resembled sword qi itself.

In truth, this phrase had originally been spoken by the ancient ancestor who loved swords, to praise a direct sword disciple’s crystal-clear sword heart; later generations had borrowed it often.

But many had thought it exaggerated—how could anyone’s spirit and aura truly resemble sword qi?

Until now, watching this Tianshu Academy student shatter [Si Wu Xie] and sing aloud in the empty heavens—

They finally understood why sword and youth were so perfectly matched, and what true youthful vigor and a crystal-clear sword heart truly meant.

[Junior Ji You comes to bring shame to Tianshu Academy.]

[The world says he was born a Lingjian Peak disciple.]

[He was born too late, and in the wrong place.]

[I’ve watched swords until now—but I’ve never tried forcing my way through.]

Gazing at his full, powerful back and the lingering heat of his aura, the three still heard the earlier words echoing in their ears.

Then suddenly, a woman’s Lingjian Peak sword robe fluttered down from the distant sky, draping over his shoulders, its wind-tossed fabric releasing a soothing, fragrant scent.

“?”

“Whose robe…?”

The clear lines of his body were now hidden, causing Yan Ye and Yan Shujing—both women—to instinctively frown, their expressions turning sharply hostile.

At that exact moment, a powerful aura erupted from deep within Tianjian Peak, instantly silencing the howling mountain winds.

Before Ji You could react, he was slapped midair, swept away, and yanked into a mansion hidden within the deep mountain mist.

Immediately after, a graceful female shadow soared after him, wearing a crystal-immortal crown—but she was too late.

Watching this, Yan Ye suddenly snapped back to awareness, her expression turning grave.

Tianshu Academy came to Lingjian Peak to challenge—two battles, two losses. This should have boosted Lingjian Peak’s prestige.

Yet at this very moment, a Tianshu Academy disciple shattered the Sword Forest before even the Xuanjian Peak direct disciple could!

Most crucially, that Tianshu Academy disciple was only at the Tongxuan realm…

Now, the disciples of Wenda Sect and Shanhai Pavilion were all below the mountain. This stage had been built by Tianjian Peak for themselves—but now an unexpected drama had unfolded.

Meanwhile, outside the second layer of the forest, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, Ban Yangshu, and Bai RuLong were suddenly forced back onto the mountain path by Lingjian Peak Elders wielding swords.

These Elders had no intent to kill—only to prevent them from approaching further.

The four stared in disbelief, unsure what had happened, but unwilling to leave without finding Ji You, so they waited.

More people now passed the Sword Forest—but none entered; instead, they circled around toward the rear mountain.

Watching the constant flow of figures, Ding Yao and Huang Hui could only look around helplessly.

“That swordlight just now?”

“Someone must have shattered the Sword Forest—the sword qi leaked out.”

Ding Yao watched the Elders brush past her, her eyes blinking slightly: “Who’s in the fourth layer?”

Huang Hui crossed his arms: “Your Xuanjian Peak direct disciple—Yan Shujing.”

“No wonder so many climbed up—it’s good news! But I wonder how things are below. I heard Brother Zhuang’s sword chant stopped—probably won, right?”

The sword chant on Wangjian Terrace had indeed ceased. Ding Yao didn’t know the outcome, wanted to check—but dared not leave.

She had been assigned by the Mirror Master to serve Ji You personally; the Mirror Master had already come by, so she couldn’t descend on her own.

Yet based on the first battle, Zhuang You defeating You Buyu was all but certain.

But seeing the hurried figures rushing past and the furrowed brows, Ding Yao muttered to herself—was something amiss in the battle below?

No sooner had she spoken than a Yan Elder from Xuanjian Peak climbed the mountain—he had been seated atop Wangjian Terrace moments ago, instantly catching Ding Yao’s attention.

“Elder Yan, what was the result of the challenge below?”

Tianshu Academy has lost. The direct disciple of the Hall Master has fallen into a coma and has been carried back to the Academy.

“So we truly won…”

Ding Yao instantly exhaled, a smile tugging at her lips.

But if Lingjian Peak won both battles, why did the Elders’ faces show no joy—only strange unease?

She pondered, glancing aside, and soon heard a rustling of footsteps emerging from the forest.

Since the first challenge ended at noon, this was the first time someone had exited the forest—not entered it.

Ding Yao looked up and saw Yan Shujing step out, followed by Gongshu Chou, lost in thought.

“Ding Yao of Xuanjian Peak, pays respects to Second Miss. Have you seen Elder Yan Ye?”

Yan Shujing snapped back, glancing at her: “The Sword Forest has been shattered. All Tianjian Peak Elders have gone to Elder Qi’s mansion. You don’t need to wait—go down the mountain.”

Ding Yao froze, staring at her in confusion.

“I didn’t shatter it. It was Ji You from Tianshu Academy.”

Yan Shujing knew what he was wondering, spoke softly, then turned and descended without pause.

Ding Yao stood rooted, her mind buzzing for a long while before she turned, stunned, to Gongshu Chou: “Second Miss just said… who shattered the Sword Forest?”

“Ji You.”

Gongshu Chou stood with hands behind his back: “The man who dueled me for several rounds, evenly matched—he surpassed Yan Shimei, unleashed seven swords at once, and shattered the Sword Forest.”

Before Ding Yao could react, Gongshu Chou descended—and saw Zhuo Wanqiu speaking with four Tianshu Academy disciples, their expressions uncertain.

Then Zhuo Wanqiu climbed up, bowed to him, holding a man’s long robe and many healing elixirs.

“Has the Master not emerged yet?” Zhuo Wanqiu asked Ding Yao.

Ding Yao was still stunned by Gongshu Chou’s words, instinctively turning to him: “What are you doing here?”

Zhuo Wanqiu lifted the items in her hands: “The Master told me earlier today he would break the Sword Forest with his sword, and might get injured—he asked me to prepare some things.”

“Break the Sword Forest? He’s only Tongxuan realm—he used sixteen swords to pass [Little Heavy Mountain]. Didn’t you see?”

“After eating sweet potatoes and returning, the Mirror Master told me: others used eight swords to catch [Little Heavy Mountain]; the Master might have used sixteen to secretly learn it.”

Ding Yao fell silent, her mind filled with the image of Ji You moving between the mountains and valleys over these past days.

He never spoke of the Sword Forest. Every morning he climbed up with his sword, returned to roast sweet potatoes for the Mirror Master.

Everyone assumed Tianshu Academy’s honor rested on He Lingxiu and You Buyu—Ji You was just a lawless country cultivator.

Others mocked him for using sixteen swords—he never replied.

Yet in the end, He Lingxiu and You Buyu both lost—and he alone upheld the name Tianshu Academy.

Though Ding Yao knew that Ji You’s talent, anywhere, would make him a star, every thought of her Mirror Master made her secretly belittle him.

Because she believed that among all men, unless one could inherit the Dao legacy, no matter how brilliant, he could never match her Mirror Master.

She also thought Ji You was full of sweet talk, that her Mirror Master had merely been seduced by his looks.

But at this moment, Ji You, using his Tongxuan Realm, shattered the Sword Forest, causing her to begin questioning whether her prejudices had been right or wrong.

"Earlier in the ruins, he loved acting on his own—why then is he so concerned about Tian Shu Academy’s reputation now?"

"The Young Master said Tian Shu Academy is too weak; if its reputation falls any further, even the mountain estate under Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion can’t hold it together, and he’ll truly be forced to become a bandit. And if it gets that ugly, the two sects will become eternal enemies—he’ll never be able to set foot on Ling Jian Mountain again."

(End of Chapter)