Chapter 132: The Shift in the Situation

In early May, after Xiaoman, the rooster’s crow had not yet faded when dawn broke, and the frogs’ calls had just scattered when rain returned.

During this time, the barbarians continued probing beyond Han Tie Pass, causing frequent warfare across the Northern Plains and chaos among all paths.

The one and only divine general of Great Xia who entered the Dao through martial cultivation and slaughter now sat guard at Han Tie Pass for over half a year, preventing countless hidden barbarian elites from crossing that gate.

Meanwhile, the demon clans entering Jiuzhou began increasing steadily, engaging in trade and commerce, causing spirit stone prices to temporarily drop.

But as the presence of these unwelcome guests grew, conflicts began occurring frequently.

To the human race, the spirit stones flowing in from the snowlands were of extremely high quality, and the rare ores mined from the Ten Thousand Mountains were also ideal for forging magical artifacts and spirit weapons.

Yet they welcomed only the demon clans’ goods—not the demon clans themselves.

These conflicts always ended with the demon clans retreating, as if bowing under someone else’s eaves—but this did not erase the resentment in the hearts of Jiuzhou’s aristocratic families and immortal estates.

“Do not be blinded by their silence. The demon clans’ current restraint and hibernation conceal greater designs.”

“Need you say it? They seek to seize our race’s destiny—no different from the barbarians, merely using different methods.”

“A few days ago, the spirit stones shipped from Yunzhou to the southern three states seemed to have stalled due to the demon clans’ merchant caravans entering Yudu…”

“The demon clans’ spirit stones are still of extremely high quality—that much cannot be denied.”

“Speaking of the southern three sects, have you heard about what happened at Lingjian Mountain?”

“Didn’t the news of Tianshu Academy’s dual defeats at Wenda already spread a few days ago? But Lingjian Mountain didn’t publicize it—apparently because Tianshu’s disciples broke through their Sword Forest.”

“That’s no secret anymore. I’m talking about something else.”

“Something else? What else could have happened at Lingjian Mountain?”

“Qi Zhengyang of Tianjian Peak…”

Although Tianshu Academy did not publicize its dual defeats at Wenda, the incident could not be hidden, since both Shanhai Pavilion and Wenda Sect were present on the mountain that day.

Yet the two major immortal sects in opposition seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement, maintaining perfect silence.

The best way to suppress the spread and impact of an event is for neither side to acknowledge it.

Thus, under this atmosphere, an event seemingly less remarkable than Tianshu Academy’s dual defeats became the one that all cultivators spoke of when discussing Lingjian Mountain.

That was: seven days after the Tianshu disciples departed Lingjian Mountain, Qi Zhengyang’s daughter, Qi Rong, formally became a disciple under Yan Jingxiang, the master of Xuanjian Peak.

Like Yan Shujing, Qi Rong was taken in as a direct disciple of Xuanjian Peak.

But everyone knew that Xuanjian Peak had not gained merely a direct disciple—it had gained Qi Zhengyang himself, the peerless sword intent.

After all, experts who had reached the pinnacle of the top five realms possessed the power to move mountains and fill seas—capable of being regarded as the foundation of an immortal sect.

Lingjian Mountain publicly had only five such experts: one from Jianjian Peak, one from Xuanjian Peak, and three from Tianjian Peak.

Now, Qi Zhengyang’s act of sending his daughter to Xuanjian Peak seemed to subtly shift the balance of power.

Though Yan Jingxiang, master of Xuanjian Peak, was delighted by Qi Zhengyang’s move, he could not fathom its reason.

One thing he could understand: after Qi’s eldest son died in the ruins, this Elder Qi likely did not blame Chen Shixian’s clan or the utterly annihilated Zheng family—but instead blamed Tianjian Peak.

What he could not understand was: who had convinced him to join Xuanjian Peak?

“This is not something that can be decided on a whim. Qi Zhengyang’s status ensures this act will have massive repercussions—it could not have been impulsive, nor could it have occurred without prior consultation.”

“There must have been a catalyst.”

“That catalyst must have conveyed goodwill to Qi Zhengyang and brought sword intent to Xuanjian Peak—only then could both sides understand each other silently; otherwise, it would be like a barber’s pole with only one end hot.”

“Yet after the ruins, Qi Zhengyang never met anyone from Xuanjian Peak.”

In his youth, Qi Zhengyang entered the mountain as the eldest son of the Qi family, then secluded himself deep within, devoted to sword cultivation, rarely seeing visitors except for a few elders of Tianjian Peak.

Yan Jingxiang had once wished to befriend him but never had the chance.

As for his daughter, as the current Mirror Master, she was constantly watched by Tianjian Peak’s people—naturally, she had no opportunity to meet Qi Zhengyang.

Thus, this event left many puzzled.

After Qi Rong entered Xuanjian Peak, Lingjian Mountain’s current sect leader, Yan Zhong, and countless elders began reviewing Qi Zhengyang’s visitor records.

“These are all elders of our Tianjian Peak—when did any outsider ever visit?”

“Then, do any of you elders suspect that someone among Tianjian Peak has long favored Xuanjian Peak? My niece, after all, is the rightful heir of Lingjian Mountain.”

“Master, I believe such suspicions should not be lightly raised at this time.”

“But there must have been a catalyst for this to make sense. You must know, when Qi Rong entered Xuanjian Peak, I saw Yan Jingxiang’s expression—I’m certain he knew nothing of the details beforehand.”

Yan Qingchi and Yan Ye were also in the Sword Pavilion of Tianjian Peak, listening to the senior elders speak one after another, unable to interject.

They were elders only because of their bloodline and seniority, handling only mundane affairs within the sect.

Regarding major conflicts between the two peaks, they naturally had little say.

Yet now, both held a copy of Qi Zhengyang’s visitor list, staring at one line, their brows slightly furrowed.

【Tianshu Academy disciple, entered Qi Zhengyang’s residence after breaking the Sword Forest, then was slashed out by a single sword】

Ji You—the only outsider on the list.

Yan Ye and Yan Qingchi wore grave expressions, yet dared not dwell on it or speak aloud.

For they knew: if this suspicion were voiced, it would invite ridicule.

A Tianshu Academy disciple of Tongxuan realm—low in cultivation, low in status—even with a clear sword heart, how could he possibly be involved in such a major internal struggle within Lingjian Mountain?

Soon after, temperatures began rising steadily, and midsummer arrived in an instant.

In Tianshu Academy’s Bi Shui Lake, lotus leaves stretched endlessly green, lotus flowers blushed crimson beneath the sun.

After morning meal, students emerged from their dormitories, stepping into the dawn light on the outer courtyard’s Baiyu Terrace—some heading to the Enlightenment Grounds, but most to the Trial Sword Forest.

Among those heading to the Trial Sword Forest, some came because of the rural cultivator who had once displayed astonishing power.

But the larger group came because of Tianshu Academy’s dual defeats at Wenda.

For sometimes envy of strength cannot motivate—but fear of death can.

Thus, many began wavering in their pursuit of pure Dao cultivation, and Instructor Wang became the most tireless model in Tianshu Academy, though his monthly stipend remained unchanged.

“Look, that fellow Cao is here again…”

“Mm, he comes every day.”

“Instructor Cao’s chest—makes even me feel ashamed…”

A group of female cultivators passing by Bi Shui Lake now gazed toward the Baiyu Terrace, where a male instructor with an unusually prominent chest strolled, smiling and waving at them.

He indeed came daily to stroll, proudly waving to all around, spending half a day at it.

The female cultivators glanced at their own chests, felt deep shame, and hurried away.

Yet beneath the morning light, Lu Qingqiu, Lou Siyi, Sun Qiaozhi, and Fang Ruoyao, who followed them, glanced once longer before heading toward the Trial Sword Forest.

“Instructor Wang, I want to learn swordplay.”

“Really? I want to quit…”

Sword cultivation consumes immense physical strength; for female cultivators who had never heavily trained their bodies, wielding swords remained a strenuous task.

Thus, from dawn until noon, many women with rounded hips were drenched in sweat, their fine silk robes revealing faint glimmers of pale skin beneath the sunlight.

But Instructor Wang had no time to admire—he could only stare in despair, cursing someone’s ancestors.

After noon, the sun began its descent. Lu Qingqiu and the others emerged from the Trial Sword Forest, washed up, and headed for the Immortal Dining Hall.

But before reaching the door, their steps halted, and they stood on the mountain path east of the Instructor’s Building, staring ahead.

Later students who followed also stopped, their expressions and gazes identical to theirs.

Not far ahead, on the north side of Bi Shui Lake, a man with a jade-like face and sword-like brows stood at the academy gate, as if stepping out for air, stretching lazily and gazing around.

With every gesture, his aura radiated thick and scorching, his essence and spirit sharp as a blade.

The season had passed Mangzhong; over half a month had passed since Tianshu Academy’s return from Wenda.

Though neither sect had publicly revealed details, rumors had steadily spread, causing Tianshu Academy’s students to swing wildly in emotion over these past weeks.

First came He Lingxiu’s defeat—when news reached Tianshu, countless students fell into gloom.

Then came You Buyu’s defeat—making the students even less able to accept it.

For those two days, even aristocratic students from the capital rarely invited Tianshu students to banquets; some even lowered their profiles when encountering disciples of other sects in the city.

Such was the nature of sect prestige: Tianshu Academy had marched forth to Wenda with soaring morale, only to be defeated twice—now its disciples could not hold their heads high.

Even several of Tianshu Academy’s mountain estates grew quieter in the northern three states.

But only two days later, another rumor arrived, leaving Tianshu Academy’s students stunned for a long while, their scalps prickling.

【Ji You, before even Xuanjian Peak’s direct disciple, shattered the Sword Forest with seven swords.】

This event occurred on the same day as You Buyu’s defeat, but initially only spread as rumor.

Tianshu Academy’s couriers in Lingzhou dared not report it directly until a masked Lingjian Mountain disciple publicly proclaimed it, giving them the courage to send word.

At first, no one believed it—but Lingjian Mountain’s unexpectedly silent response seemed to silently confirm it.

Inherited physique, peerless sword intent…

After that night, countless female cultivators in Tianshu Academy lay awake.

Yet after Ji You returned, he immediately entered seclusion—until now, no one had seen this legendary man.

Now that he had reappeared, his aura had changed entirely—sharp, profound.

The outer courtyard disciples of Tianshu Academy now held the same spotlight as the inner courtyard’s direct disciples.

“Every time, it’s so unexpected—and I never got to see it with my own eyes. If I’d known, I should’ve gone to Wenda myself…”

Lu Qingqiu whispered softly, voicing the sentiment of countless fellow cultivators and senior sisters.

Tianshu Academy’s dual defeats were a regret in their hearts—but failing to witness Ji You’s sword that shattered the Sword Forest was an even deeper regret.

Lingjian Mountain often said sword and youth suit each other best; to women, perhaps such a scene stirred the heart as much as a man seeing a woman whose gauze barely concealed her form.

(End of Chapter)