[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-163":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260036,4410,"Chapter 163: The Fourfold Flight of Refugees","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-163",163,"\u003Cp>On the day of tax collection, sunlight spilled from the sky, diffusing across the shivering autumn air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon the Nujiang River, immortal ships from north and south raced across its glittering, gold-armored surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the prows of these vessels, young nobles in brocade robes stood with hands clasped behind their backs, gazing at the riverbanks on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along both banks, grain carts trundled endlessly along the dilapidated, uneven road, streaming toward the estates of noble families, immortal villages, and granaries of every county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanying the carts were hundreds of ragged old farmers, bound with ropes, shuffling forward with weary, numb faces, finally herded by imperial officers to a high slope on the western bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are they doing there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those are criminals who failed to pay their full taxes—punished by local authorities and brought here for flogging.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much tax are they supposed to pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just sixty percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This land is rich and vast—plenty of fallow fields to cultivate, hard work enough to make taxes effortless. Why refuse even sixty percent? Are they not rebellious peasants?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. Farming isn’t hard. We cultivate too, and we have no leisure either—yet we labor diligently, never slackening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The immortal ship crossed the river, taking one full day and night within Sanzhou; now it reached Jingxi Ferry, where passengers boarded and disembarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young nobles aboard, bored, chattered freely about what they saw along the banks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another caravan jolted past along the road, heading in the opposite direction from the grain carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This caravan differed from the government’s grain transports—it was pulled by mules, its body worn and patched repeatedly, each repair barely holding before another patch was nailed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those traveling with it were mostly ragged commoners; strong men led the way, while women, children, and elders followed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had clearly traveled far—their dark faces stood out only by their pale lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their carts carried no grain or valuables, only a jumble of belongings: clay basins, broken pottery, farming tools, livestock, even tattered quilts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had this caravan passed than another approached in the same direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This second caravan was somewhat more prosperous—their beasts were horses, and their travelers wore noticeably better clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the last few individuals, whose garments bore simple embroidery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some noble youths speculated eagerly: the first caravan must be an entire village relocating, while this one clearly came from a respected city’s landed gentry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet opinions diverged on where they were headed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chatter, a few older men in white robes approached and spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re heading north—to Fengzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fengzhou? The farthest northeastern corner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Since this year’s tax collection, we’ve seen three or four such caravans daily, all bound for Fengzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, both caravans were halted by imperial officers beside the roadside Yi  station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burly man with a knife, clad in black robes and a thick beard, blocked their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a middle-aged man with a cloth-wrapped head emerged from the second caravan, offering a bundle—the officers let them pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first caravan, benefiting from their passage, was also allowed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the noble youths on the ship exchanged glances: “Fengzhou is a wasteland where not even birds defecate. A village relocating makes sense—but that second caravan? A common landowner? They’re abandoning their land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is strange. Does Fengzhou not collect taxes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It does—but barely. Compared to the other eight provinces, it’s negligible. For centuries, the sole purpose of migration has been survival—wherever one can live, that’s where one goes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a sedan chair appeared on the road, followed by countless government office runners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the chair reached the roadside tea pavilion, the five-foot-tall county magistrate burst out, yanking open the curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slapped the bearded man’s face hard—four, five times—echoing across the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those on the ship leaned forward to watch: the vital checkpoint between Zhongzhou and Fengzhou was immediately sealed; spiked wooden barriers were erected across the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All scattered commoners arriving afterward were driven back by officers wielding long blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even wealthy travelers who produced their usual “gifts” were kicked to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five-foot-tall magistrate stood to the side, face cold, his eyelid twitching as he fought to suppress his rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial court had issued no explicit decree forbidding the people of the Nine Provinces to wander, yet such chaos had never occurred before—because every province was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after this year’s tax collection, he noticed entire villages and clans in Jiyang County beginning to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know what had happened in Fengzhou in these few days—but he was no fool like his subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demanding bribes on the road might bring short-term gain, but if his people left, where would he collect his tax quota?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhongzhou is thick with noble clans—if they angered the immortals, it would mean losing their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he did not wait for imperial laws or decrees—he rushed here to set up the checkpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a sudden gust swept across the river, howling through both banks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the Jiyang County Magistrate and his officers knelt instantly, bowing in reverence to the immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark light rose from beneath the immortal ship’s hull, converged at its prow, then surged forward into swift travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day and night later, some noble youths aboard had departed, others joined—finally, the remainder arrived at Shengjing, the capital of Daxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shengjing, the city buzzed with excitement over Tian Shu Academy’s new admissions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carriages from every corner of heaven and earth converged here, clogging the main avenues; roadside inns blazed with lanterns, filled with the murmur of flutes and lutes, and dancing courtesans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless noble families in the capital hosted banquets, inviting the incoming Tian Shu Academy students—until the breeze circling the city reeked of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many of this year’s Tian Shu entrants have reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last year, the Lu family of Yunzhou sent one; this year, it’s Lu Qingqiu’s younger sister, Lu Hanyan. Their family is odd—their cultivation talent seems concentrated in the women.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s the third?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The third is from Zhongzhou’s native Fang family—their third son reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms last year, but the Fangs delayed his admission, reportedly to avoid drawing the attention of Chu He.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chu He…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the wine pavilion, when someone mentioned that name again, all present grimaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That name had once blazed brilliantly—but since autumn began, few dared speak it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the third?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The third is also from Yunzhou—Puyang’s heir, from an ancient surname clan. But the Puyang family’s prestige has declined in recent years. Still, achieving the peak of the Lower Three Realms under the age of twenty is impressive. The young lord’s given name is Xing, clearly embodying the Puyang family’s hope for revival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, some Jingcheng nobles lifted their cups, but their interest waned—these three all came from immortal clans, and that made them seem less remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon, sunlight bathed the capital as countless sedan chairs headed toward Tian Shu Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, high-ranking officials and imperial relatives delighted in courting these exceptional prodigies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this year, the fallen Wei Li did not come; Prince Chong arrived alone, yet his enthusiasm seemed low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when he reached Baiyu Terrace—he seemed to recall something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Tian Shu Academy admission ceremony began; the noble youths, now clad in Tian Shu robes, surged onto the White Jade Terrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front stood three: Lu Hanyan of Yunzhou, Puyang Xing of Yunzhou, and Fang Jincheng of Zhongzhou—all in white robes, swords at their waists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them stood cultivators from other provinces, all at the Refining Essence stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their posture, their bearing—made everyone feel disoriented, as if the first year of Tai Chu had been a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, many noticed that glances on the high terrace kept drifting to the far end—the southeast corner of Baiyu Terrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood another group of young disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight in total, male and female, dressed and adorned far less lavishly than those within, their expressions tense and timid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they were all from Fengzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of these eight, only three had sufficient cultivation: Xiang Fu, daughter of the governor of Dan Shui; Liu Jian’an, son of the Fengzhou Inspector; and Cong Yi, daughter of the governor of Guiyun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest mostly came from families with soldiers in the army, securing their spots through Daxia’s patronage—some barely at Microillumination, the worst not even awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Shu Academy, despite its title as Daxia’s Sacred Sect, still accepted such students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in past years, these disciples drew little attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew the Lower Three Realms and Upper Five Realms were entirely different realms—breaking through required mountains of elixirs and spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, cultivation was a game reserved for noble clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet unexpectedly, these Fengzhou disciples suddenly realized all eyes on the terrace were fixed upon them—even the five Hall Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are they staring at us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re not staring at us…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fu murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the admission ceremony ended, the outer courtyard of Tian Shu Academy quickly came alive with autumn’s energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Hanyan, dressed in a fine-silk snow-trimmed gown, had just left Baiyu Terrace when she saw Lu Qingqiu approaching with a group of sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hanyan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu glanced at her: “You’ve reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Hanyan nodded: “I thought I’d miss it, but Father finally secured a spirit core from a mine to help me solidify it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lu Qingqiu pressed her lips together, then patted her sister’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Lu family’s wealth in Yunzhou came from spirit mines, their cultivation talent ranked only middling-to-high among the Nine Provinces’ noble clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past years, only she and her sister showed promise—and thus bore the family’s hopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For if one of them entered the Inner Court of one of the Seven Immortal Sects—or married well—it would greatly elevate the family’s standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had failed to fulfill that duty—now it rested on her sister’s shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the man who had been standing on the stage, Pu Yangxing, stepped forward and bowed to Lu Qingqiu: “Pu Yangxing, greetings, Senior Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Junior Brother Pu Yang, welcome to the academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Senior Sister. I came merely to pay my respects—I’ll take my leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pu Yangxing bowed again in farewell, then turned toward the Enlightenment Grounds, where he encountered Fang Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two locked eyes—cold, piercing. The atmosphere was far from the harmony he’d shown Lu Qingqiu; instead, a clear tension simmered between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the struggle for the Inner Academy this year had already begun the moment they entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Enlightenment Grounds, four Disciples of the Administration Hall were sweeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was autumn now, and fallen leaves were plentiful; with new disciples having just arrived, they needed to clean regularly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll settle down in a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When first entering, everyone’s like this—early to bed, early to rise, coming here to meditate, studying hard, cultivating fiercely, each convinced they’re a child of heaven, destined to outshine all others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then someone surges ahead, leaving everyone else shattered—until they quiet down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Administration Hall disciple murmured, Pu Yangxing and Fang Jincheng had already sat down and slipped into meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu gazed at the Enlightenment Grounds and whispered softly: “The Pu family has lain dormant for a while—rumor says their bloodline’s cultivation talent has grown increasingly scarce. Yet now they’ve produced a full-cultivation disciple under twenty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Siyi looked at him and whispered: “This man seems to want to ally with your Lu family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s natural. The Pu family is now in decline—rumor says even several collateral branches face exclusion from all sides. They need alliances everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Sister, Pu Yangxing and Fang Jincheng both seem like my rivals,” Lu Hanyan couldn’t help whispering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu turned to her: “What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father told me before he left: you must enter the Inner Academy. So I’ve studied Pu Yangxing and Fang Jincheng. Fang Jincheng has shown extraordinary talent since childhood—he should’ve entered with you. Now they say he’s already condensed three Profound Lights. And Pu Yangxing is no less a genius.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Genius… what good is genius…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu and the two women murmured, then turned their gaze toward the depths of Nishan—the vast, golden-hued forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chu He entered the academy, hailed as the second son of the Chu family, he was called the genius among geniuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, everyone learned: what they called genius was merely the threshold to meet that person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu turned to her: “Tonight, I’ll invite him. You’ll meet a true genius.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Siyi glanced at Lu Qingqiu: “Will he come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Free food? He won’t miss it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Hanyan couldn’t help speaking up: “But the Princess of Chong Wangfu  invited me to a banquet tonight…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu turned to her sister, a faint cold smile on her lips: “Zhao Yunyue? No matter. We’ll eat together at Hongding Pavilion—I’ll treat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the eldest Miss Lu took her sister back to the dormitory, wrote a letter, and sent it to the Administration Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outer Academy disciples couldn’t enter the Inner Academy; they relied on the Administration Hall to deliver messages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple assigned to deliver mail happened to have a letter for Ji You, so he took his token, entered the mountain, and crossed the vast golden forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, to the west of the six Inner Academy peaks, in a lush violet bamboo grove brimming with spiritual energy, a man with sharp brows and starlit eyes sat cross-legged, long immersed in meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some disciples from the Five Great Halls resting nearby couldn’t help glancing over, watching the surging aura and flowing spiritual light around him, whispering among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From appearance, they thought him refined like a scholar—soft, unthreatening, almost scholarly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none forgot he was the man who slew eighteen Tongxuan cultivators, slaying upward from a lower realm to cut through Yecheng Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, he was now the youngest patriarch in Qingyun’s realm—even though he remained alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard because of him, Fengzhou’s tax tribute this year was only one-tenth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Now that the Ji family is registered, Fengzhou has no other immortal sects or clans—tax tribute is entirely decided by him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who came to Fengzhou to establish immortal estates probably never imagined it would suddenly produce such a rustic private cultivator—bypassing quotas to enter the academy, slaying Chu He, and founding a clan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget the immortal estates—even you and I, fellow students of the Heavenly Book Academy, who could’ve foreseen this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One-tenth tax tribute—he dares act so boldly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Saying he dares is misleading.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t keep all that one-tenth for himself—he distributed it among the incoming estates. He’s clearly cautious. But the distribution isn’t equal—no one knows the criteria. My cousin in Fengzhou asked, but wouldn’t say…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leaving Fengzhou and tax tribute aside, Ji You’s aura has grown increasingly profound…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the murmurs, Ji You slowly opened his eyes—golden light receding, his aura settling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled gently, glanced around, and saw the whispers fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d returned from Fengzhou five days ago. Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and Bai RuLong had returned with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also returned to the capital: Kuangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Pei remained at Fengxian Estate to awaken Qiu Ru’s spirit. Old Qiu had been stationed at He Zhang’s mansion, overseeing tax collection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the imperial share, the immortal sect’s portion this year was only one-tenth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half went to cover expenses, half saved for next year’s land reclamation and sowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these days, he’d focused on three things: first, reading the Dao Canon in the Library, studying the ancient sages’ insights into the Dao’s principles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, attending lectures in the Hall, where Inner Academy instructors explained Dao comprehension, application, and theoretical analysis of the principles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the outer academy’s laissez-faire cultivation, this was the true depth of the Seven Immortal Sects’ Inner Academies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His third task: entering the Void Mountain to directly observe the evolution of the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after five visits, he’d never seen Yan Shuyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew she was breaking through—she’d said she wouldn’t emerge until reaching Wujiang Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mindset mirrored his own: both seeking greater strength to withstand the unseen tides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even knowing she was in seclusion, Ji You still felt unease after so many days without seeing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, an Administration Hall disciple entered the Violet Bamboo Grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Junior Brother Ji, your letters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You reached out and received two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One from the Outer Academy. One from Nanhua City at the foot of Lingjian Mountain—signed Ding Wanqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior overseer of Lingjian Mountain couldn’t risk being seen frequently writing to a Heavenly Book Academy disciple, so letters were always sent by Ding Yao or Zhuo Wanqiu when they descended to Nanhua City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lingjian Sword he received before the Autumn Duel arrived the same way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letters signed Ding Wanqiu were from Ding Yao. Those signed Zhuo Yao were from Zhuo Wanqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You unfolded the letter and read the opening: “Bold unknown man, etc.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior overseer of Lingjian Mountain was truly a tsundere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bold unknown man, I’m in the critical phase of breaking through—cannot interrupt. Behave yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breaking through differs from meditation. I must purge distractions, purify my Dao heart, and cannot send my spiritual sense into the Mirror—so before breakthrough, I won’t come to the Void Mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After breakthrough, I’ll travel. If I happen to pass through Shengjing, I’ll drop by, chat briefly, then vanish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You read this and thought: I understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Translation: “When I break through, I’ll come find you on purpose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held the letter, a faint smile on his lips, then kept reading—until his breath slowly stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I happen to travel through Shengjing, I want to see what Yuan Caimei has seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior overseer’s letter ended as abruptly as her personality: one sentence—don’t disturb me during breakthrough, prepare what I want to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s lips trembled slightly—he wondered why she still cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See what Yuan Caimei saw?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, his cultivation must now focus on refining his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then opened Lu Qingqiu’s letter. Its content was brief: tonight at Xūshí, a banquet at Hongding Pavilion, inviting a few friends and this year’s new Inner Academy disciples—asked him to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Ji You, the message read six words\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You tucked the letter away, then turned to look, his gaze sweeping toward the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the disciples in the grove sat cross-legged in meditation, spiritual light rippling around them, their expressions serene and at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet seeing this, Ji You’s brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, most disciples who entered the Inner Court of the Heavenly Book Academy were like him—those who had sensed the Heavenly Book—and every day in the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, disciples could be seen cultivating by means of the Heavenly Book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From start to finish, the only fellow disciple he had ever seen in Xuwu Mountain was Yan Shuyi—and no one else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This doubt had long festered in his heart, but earlier, while stationed in the Outer Court, he rarely recalled it, so he never delved too deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now he could confirm: the Heavenly Book he had sensed was unlike most others’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What comforted Ji You was that he had once asked Ban Yangshu about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ban Yangshu said the Heavenly Book contained only a boundless, formless void, vast and infinite, concealing the laws of heaven and earth—nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roughly the same…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You couldn’t help muttering under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: it was just a mountain added, some tangled, chaotic heavenly laws, and one arrogant immortal lady with delicate pink feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already reached the Tongxuan Realm—what could he do? He couldn’t admit now that he’d gone off track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever. His spiritual energy was shattered anyway—might as well muddle through. What else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You rose and headed down the mountain, his solitary figure passing through ten thousand acres of forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3335,"2026-06-19T15:28:39.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","16787e37a60846a2608acdc6f6732ab09ea99df56ccaffde1cf3cc5ae3452cc3","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-164","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-162",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]