Chapter 156: The Resolve to Shatter All Obstacles

Ji You returned to Fengzhou with the Tian Shu Academy's enrollment instructor, and many people knew about this.

But now, heading straight for Fengzhou Prefecture, he truly caught everyone off guard.

As a result, not only did foreign immortal estates in Fengzhou take notice, but even outside clans and immortal estates could not help but pay attention to this news.

Because Fengzhou might establish its first clan—a matter worthy of being recorded in the annals of Qingyun.

In the Tian Shu Academy, the Administration Hall, Outer Court, and Inner Court had all been discussing it these past days.

They shared Cao Jinsong's thought: they had assumed Ji You would wait several years, find one or more Dao companions, then establish his clan.

At that point, his lineage would be endless—continuously, ceaselessly reproducing.

The Ji family would eventually stand firm in Fengzhou, but no one expected him to attempt establishing a clan alone, right now.

This act was tantamount to positioning himself directly against the existing immortal estates in Fengzhou—undeniably confrontational.

Lang Hetong, head of the Administration Hall, was currently playing Go with Qin Rong; upon hearing the news, he looked up: "It seems he's after this year's tax stipend."

"It's certainly for the tax stipend. Ji You came from the countryside; his thinking differs entirely from ours, who were born into clans. To him, some things cannot wait."

"Do you recall how the ancient historical text describing the extinction of the primordial clans portrayed our human race?"

Qin Rong gently stroked his long beard, his eyes flashing with cold light: "The oppressed inherently carry the resolve to shatter all barriers—even at the cost of death."

Lang Hetong placed a stone: "But Ji You's journey won't be easy…"

"Indeed, especially since the Tian Shu Academy also has several immortal estates in Fengzhou."

"Should we approve his registry application or not?"

Qin Rong rolled up his sleeve: "It's already been approved and sent to Fengzhou Prefecture."

Lang Hetong looked at him: "That's not like you."

"No one paid me to block Ji You. Why should I add another obstacle?"

Meanwhile, Tian Shu Academy disciples were buzzing with talk—in the Enlightenment Ground, the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, everywhere.

Some said Ji You was a pauper, obsessed with the tax stipend; he didn't even consider that Fengzhou already had so many foreign immortal sects—even if weak, their numbers could be deadly. Dying for wealth was foolish.

But what most recalled was the rumor that Ji You had entered the Tian Shu Academy to save a rural girl.

People like Lu Qingqiu, the young lady of Yunzhou, naturally knew this; she sat stunned for a long while, realizing that from the very beginning, his stance had always differed from that of clan disciples like herself.

Clan disciples cultivated to become immortals.

But what Ji You truly sought had never been understood by many.

"I heard Fengzhou might erupt in conflict because of Brother Ji. Will the Tian Shu Academy intervene?"

"No."

"Why not? Even if he establishes a clan, he still relies on the Tian Shu Academy. And with his constitution, once his lineage begins to multiply endlessly over the next century, it will ensure the Academy's dominance for a hundred years."

Bai Ru Long and Qian Yunxiao sat in the Outer Court's pavilion, facing Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin.

Hearing their questions, Ban Yangshu couldn't help but shake his head: "Most immortal estates in Fengzhou rely on clans or immortal sects. How can you know who's allied with whom? Who's married to whom? The relationships are tangled beyond unraveling."

"So, aside from Cao Instructor and Pei Sister, both from Fengzhou, no one will help him."

Wen Zhengxin, upon hearing this, looked up and added: "Brother Bai, do you know of the Bai Lang Immortal Estate in Fengzhou?"

Bai Ru Long paused, a flicker of confusion in his eyes: "I've never heard of it."

"It's an estate founded by a collateral branch of your Bai family. It's been operating in Fengzhou for years and falls under the Tian Shu Academy's jurisdiction."

"?"

The nine provinces' clans had multiplied wildly, their populations growing without end, and the people's exploitation intensified—but there was always a breaking point.

When the suffering masses of a province could no longer sustain the vast clan households, invasion and expansion became the only option.

Yet because the Seven Immortal Sects stood evenly balanced in this world, though undercurrents churned, the surface remained peaceful—so Fengzhou's vast lands had never seen major conflict.

But now, its true master had returned.

The outsiders had become the unreasonable party, yet refused to leave—so they grew furious.

Wen Zhengxin gazed at the gloomy sky: "We agreed that once Brother Ji establishes his clan, we'd join as benefactors—but only if he actually establishes it."

Though Bai Ru Long's heart was clear, he wasn't foolish; a single hint made him understand.

Before Ji You established his clan, Fengzhou was open to all—countless people would block him.

But if he broke through this barrier and truly founded his clan, then Fengzhou would be under his rule; former enemies would become allies worth cultivating.

Wen Zhengxin noticed Bai Ru Long's furrowed brow and spoke: "Actually, we needn't worry too much. The strongest foreign immortal estate lords in Fengzhou are no higher than the Fusion Dao realm. Brother Ji's sword art is peerless, and with Pei Sister and Cao Instructor beside him, there won't be major problems."

After long thought, Bai Ru Long asked: "Won't masters above the Fusion Dao realm come to Fengzhou and intervene?"

"Ji You establishing a clan complies with Qingyun's immortal laws—laws jointly established by the Seven Immortal Sects, with many clauses. No one dares openly tear them apart; otherwise, the laws become a joke and lose all deterrent power."

Wen Zhengxin added: "Compared to Ji You establishing a clan in Fengzhou, the Qingyun Immortal Laws matter far more to the Seven Immortal Sects."

Ban Yangshu found the current topic too grim and spoke up: "Talking about this now is bad luck. Let's discuss what happens after Brother Ji establishes his clan? He said he'd invite us to join as benefactors—how much will he pay?"

Bai Ru Long looked at him strangely: "?"

"What? He won't pay? That's true—given Brother Ji's nature, once something's in his pocket, no one can make him give it up."

"No, before he left, Brother Ji told me that becoming a benefactor means paying the clan your benefactor fee."

"????"

Bai Ru Long explained Ji You's version of the benefactor principle, then looked up: "Do you think we should go see?"

Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin exchanged glances: "Fengzhou's affairs must be settled by Fengzhou people alone. We can't get involved in the conflict."

They were clan disciples close to Ji You, bound by clan chains, yet their stance was unclear.

They chose not to go because, given their personalities, they might truly be tempted to join the fray.

But though they stayed away, many from all directions were eager to watch—and rushed toward Fengzhou.

At the same time, envoys from Youzhou and Yunzhou began converging on Fengzhou.

In just two days, tea houses and taverns in Yecheng were filled with cultivators.

They gathered in Yecheng, not Fengzhou Prefecture, because Yecheng lay on Ji You's inevitable path to the Prefecture—backed by mountains, surrounded by treacherous terrain.

If conflict erupted, Yecheng's every direction offered ideal battlegrounds.

And as expected, the ten strongest immortal estates in Fengzhou had quietly entered the city.

The people of Fengzhou had never seen so many immortals; they didn't know what was happening, nor that this concerned them—only that their unease grew heavier, and they fled en masse.

"Where is Ji You?"

"He's coming soon."

"I hope they'll retreat when faced with difficulty."

"If they were going to retreat, they wouldn't have come this far…"

Amid the murmurs, the sun rose higher. In everyone's sight, a carriage slowly appeared, inching closer until it entered Yecheng.

Then Ji You and his companions stepped down from the carriage, appearing before all eyes.

Establishing a clan within Fengzhou was legal and legitimate; even if someone intended to strike, they wouldn't do so in broad daylight.

The three entered a roadside inn, their expressions grave.

"The aura here is thick—almost as dense as on Autumn Duel day."

Ji You turned his head toward the window: "There are many onlookers, but few will truly strike. If they dared make such a commotion, we'd have been ambushed on the way here. They still respect the Qingyun Immortal Laws."

Cao Jinsong glanced at him: "What's your plan?"

"After leaving Yecheng, we must cross a mountain range—that's where the clash will likely happen. I'm deciding whether to go now or wait for nightfall."

"Yecheng is backed by mountains with complex terrain. If you know the land, it might work—but if you're unfamiliar with the mountains, traveling at night could trap you."

Pei Ruyi opened her eyes slightly: "I can sense about five Fusion Dao cultivators—likely the estate lords here."

Cao Jinsong looked at Ji You: "That's quite a gathering. Even when you were besieged at Qiling, there were only three Fusion Dao cultivators."

Ji You pondered a moment: "Let's rest here for now. Adjust our state."

"Stay the night?"

"Stay the night."

(End of Chapter)