Chapter 144: Sacrifice the Sword

The Sword Grove’s fourth level has four guardian swords, but among these four, there is no distinction of strength or weakness—only differing sword intents, and [Little Heavy Mountain] is the heaviest of them all.

Wild winds churned atop the platform, seven swords hurtled forth, carrying a crushing, oppressive intent.

Ji You’s body moved like a dragon, stepping in sync with the swords; his massive frame caused countless female cultivators from the Heavenly Book Academy to widen their eyes, unable to tear their gaze from his flesh.

Instructor Cao said to forget the Inner Court, forget the aristocratic clans—just enjoy yourself.

Ji You felt he was enjoying himself immensely.

Because fighting a person, whether in will or sword intent, always stirred greater fervor than merely slashing empty air in the Sword Grove.

“Chu He, come—witness my [Seven Heavy Mountains].”

“?!”

In the deep pit, Chu He’s eyes widened, feeling the oncoming force, his eyes splitting with fear; he immediately surged upward, pushing the [Heavenly Chaos Art] to its peak, like a hurricane swirling.

This swirling did not expand outward, but inward—as if twisting into a massive shell.

The purple-red aura of the [Heavenly Chaos Art] spiraled diagonally to shield his body; Chu He switched to gripping his sword with both hands.

Hum!

Seven hard-hitting, oppressive swords slashed down; the white jade platform trembled.

Many disciples of low cultivation, like Fang Ruoyao, felt their eardrums ache, their eyes too pained to open.

On the platform, the aura of the [Heavenly Chaos Art] suddenly scattered under crushing pressure; the purple-red energy could not expand at all.

Clang! A resonant shudder.

In everyone’s view, the seven swords rained down on Chu He like a clang of metal, the crushing airwave surging forward, choking all who felt it.

At that moment, the white jade around Chu He cracked into a spiderweb of fissures; he sank deep into the pit, buried to his waist, his arms covered in crimson beads of blood.

These beads of blood did not spurt from wounds on his palms—they were caused by the crushing weight of sword power slamming down, colliding with repulsive force, forcing stress through his arms.

Thus, as blood surged wildly with nowhere to escape, it seeped directly through his unbroken skin to the outside.

Force is mutual.

This was the sword of nine-year compulsory education.

With a thunderous crash, Ji You rebounded, hovering midair, chest exposed, head raised, his sword intent boiling endlessly, the aura of the seven spirit swords piercing straight into the clouds.

At this moment, everyone held their breath, crushed by the weight of those seven swords.

Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, Bai Rulong, Lu Qingqiu, Fang Ruoyao—all were dazed.

Flashing before their eyes were Ji You’s daily laughter, curses, and banter.

Like when Ji You, starving on Yuyang Street, took odd jobs at a noodle shop, mocked relentlessly by former classmates.

Or when they came empty-handed to his courtyard for tea, and Ji You, ever complaining about expensive tea, acted as if facing mortal peril.

Or when he wandered the streets during his quest for the Dao, always inventing excuses to swindle silver from Lord Bai Rulong.

And on that rainy day before the Autumn Duel, he’d looked miserable, saying he couldn’t afford a sword and begged them to chip in.

Too vivid a person always seems weaker than cold, detached ones—but only now did they truly see Ji You.

A peerless swordsman Ji You.

In the brief silence, the crowd snapped back to reality, seeing chaotic torrents of art energy surging from the pit.

Then came a long, agonizing scream, laced with fury and roaring.

This voice no longer resembled Chu He’s—it was the roar of a beast, devoid of all emotion, pure intent to kill.

Hum! The violent airflow erupted from the pit.

From within the purple-red art energy, a strand of pitch-black, like night itself, began seeping outward from within the chaotic aura.

Because the [Seven Heavy Mountains] had crushed down, the immense stress had disrupted the art energy—so few noticed this change.

Only the Chu family patriarch noticed; he clenched his fist, trembling, tea cups on the table splashing water everywhere.

Meanwhile, Ji You, bare-chested and soaring, raised his sword toward heaven, golden light blazing in his eyes, muscles swelling, the seven blades slashing down fiercely.

“Is it [Little Heavy Mountain]?”

“No—it’s [New Willow Color]!”

“No, not even [New Willow Color]…”

Disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain were sword cultivators, most sensitive to sword aura.

Yet now, facing Ji You’s seven descending swords, they hesitated long, unable to determine its nature.

Because the swords, arranged like a dragon, had altered their aura entirely—yet still carried the majestic, mountain-like might, slashing toward Chu He, wrapped in chaotic art energy.

Time seemed to freeze; even the noise vanished.

The seven swords plunged deep into the encircling [Heavenly Chaos Art], and even the aura that bent sword paths now seemed to solidify.

Because sword Dao is one of heaven’s laws—but within one realm, two opposing laws cannot coexist.

Just as a powerful enough art can influence sword Dao, a powerful enough sword Dao can sever art.

In everyone’s sight, the seven heavy swords, after a moment of stalemate with the [Heavenly Chaos Art], sliced straight through—the notion of “growing stronger” was instantly shattered!

But worse still, the crushing sword aura did not vanish in the collision with the art.

Because Ji You’s sword heart was always: where the sword points, forward without retreat.

Boom!

Chu He’s iron sword shattered; his body flew backward, blood spraying through the air.

At this moment, Ji You sheathed his sword and landed, standing proudly atop the white jade platform, aura swirling around him, sword intent sharp, crisp, and clean.

Force is mutual—so holding [Seven Heavy Mountains] drained him greatly.

His clearly defined chest and abdomen rose and fell with each breath, radiating heat; beads of sweat clung to his smooth, even muscles, sliding down in the sunlight, refracting a jade-like luster.

Around the white jade platform, silence reigned.

Among the imperial clan, Prince Chong and Wei Li wore strange expressions; Princess Changle couldn’t help biting her full red lips, her bright eyes wide.

Among neighboring sect representatives, aside from Spirit Sword Mountain disciples, who were ecstatic and scribbling furiously, all others from other sects stared in shock.

Last autumn, seven immortal sects, excluding Yu Danzong, took in eleven disciples who had reached the peak of the lower three realms, all under twenty.

Yet among these eleven, few could be remembered by full name.

Chu He was one—he came from Chu Family of Youzhou, naturally under the spotlight.

But Ji You, with no aristocratic background, had become famous across the land through impossible feats; now standing beneath brilliant sunlight, surrounded by vibrant sword aura, his reputation reached its zenith.

Yet the most silent were the Inner Court disciples who had come with He Lingxiu.

Like Wang Yue and Fang Linchao, who once followed You Buyu.

They knew Ji You had shattered Spirit Sword Mountain’s Sword Grove—but at the time, You Buyu was severely wounded; they had no chance to think, nor had they seen the mountain’s burst of sword aura.

So like the crowd watching in the courtyard, this was their first clear glimpse of Ji You’s sword.

When [Seven Heavy Mountains] came down, though not aimed at them, humans naturally feel empathy.

Now they wondered: if they had stood in Chu He’s place, could they have withstood those seven swords?

Each had a different answer, but one thing was certain—even a Fusion Dao cultivator might have little chance against [Seven Heavy Mountains].

And this was only [Seven Heavy Mountains].

Beyond this sword, Ji You possessed [Return and Go], and just now, hidden within [Little Heavy Mountain], the razor-sharp [New Willow Color].

This sword went west—to the mist-shrouded cliffs above ten thousand acres of forest.

The Inner Court’s several Hall Masters also fell silent, recalling the sword art just witnessed; they remained quiet for a long while until Master Chaihu of the Longevity Hall spoke softly.

“The [Heavenly Chaos Art] has a brief half-hour alternation—timing is hard to grasp; only the fastest sword can thrust through during that window.”

“But that was never Ji You’s target, because it’s meaningless.”

“As Chu He said earlier, one sword every half-hour—Ji You would be at absolute disadvantage.”

“But if the gap is hard to find, then the repulsive force must be immense—and that repulsive force, born of the art, becomes the perfect place to land a sword.”

“Because if heavy enough, repulsive force won’t protect its master—it will hurt him instead.”

“I’ve long sought to understand the law of force fields, seeking to amplify force’s effect amid multiple arts—but I must say, even I never imagined this kind of battle.”

“Perhaps everyone has grown too accustomed to repulsive force shielding.”

“Sacrificing the sword’s sharpness, breaking art with force—remarkable…”

Chaihu’s voice echoed atop the mountain, making the other Hall Masters’ expressions grow complex.

Over the years, the Seven Immortal Sects have had many gifted disciples—but none as astonishingly rebellious as Ji You.

Never mind his strange, powerful body, or whether his Dao heart is truly clear—his battle awareness alone already far surpasses ordinary cultivators.

This awareness transcends realm.

Higher-realm cultivators may “see” more in battle, but not everyone is suited for combat.

At this moment, a loud cheer erupted from below the mountain; several looked down to see Spirit Sword Mountain disciples already in a frenzy.

Seeing this, they suddenly felt disoriented.

This didn’t feel like watching the Heavenly Book Academy’s Autumn Duel—it felt like Spirit Sword Mountain had just defeated the Heavenly Book Academy.

Because after all, Ji You used Spirit Sword Mountain’s sword Dao.

As a Heavenly Book Academy disciple, Ji You’s strikes should have showcased his sect’s prestige.

Now they wondered: if he had defeated Chu He using Heavenly Book Academy’s art techniques instead of Spirit Sword Mountain’s sword Dao, what scene would that have created?

(End of Chapter)