Chapter 166: How Many Children Do You Want?

The myriad methods and paths of the world are infinitely profound, beyond human comprehension.

Yet if one grasps even one or two of them, they may attain power that moves heaven and earth.

Friction generates electricity, accumulating into thunder; air currents form wind; condensed qi transforms into rain.

Thus, the higher one's realm, the more they can shake the world—until a mere gesture summons a breeze circling the fingers, while hundreds of miles away, wind and clouds shift abruptly.

In deep meditation, Ji You's mind was empty of all external things, his Dao-heart clear and bright, as he began guiding spiritual energy to collide, testing endlessly; the qi waves around him rose and fell.

"Spiritual energy seems to be a universal element, transformable at the cultivator's will, sustaining different techniques."

"This is why everyone believes spiritual energy conceals the power of heaven and earth."

"If you ignite fire, spiritual energy becomes fuel; if you freeze, it becomes water… but the key to human mastery of techniques lies in how the laws are summoned."

Ji You murmured silently, suddenly understanding what spiritual energy meant in this world where cultivation was possible.

This elemental qi is the foundation upon which cultivators rely to harness the power of heaven.

Spiritual sense is inherently attuned to the Dao, unbound by reality; within this world, whatever he thinks, he receives—hence cultivation emphasizes meditation and sudden enlightenment.

Yet what spiritual sense imagines remains merely an illusion.

One must use spiritual sense to observe the Dao, shatter the barriers between thought and reality, use spiritual energy as the base and techniques as the conduit, transforming mental intentions into tangible forms until all methods are embodied.

Ji You of the Tongxuan Realm began to grasp a shallow understanding of cultivation.

Thus, the qi waves around him rolled violently.

Hm?

A fragrant breeze?

Who is waving food in front of me?

Ji You murmured silently, continuing within meditation to shape spiritual energy into forms within his subconscious—wind and thunder roared, waves never ceased.

At this moment, the celestial phenomena summoned by his mind collided constantly, forming a growing force before him, thickening and surging.

But after several celestial phenomena appeared, the flow of their elements became wildly chaotic.

Soon they influenced and attracted each other, and with a sudden muffled boom, the tangled, illusory celestial forms collapsed.

Ji You fell silent for a long while, then slowly opened his eyes.

Enlightenment, it seems, cannot be rushed.

When he opened his eyes, his gaze was calm and still, yet now his pupils trembled slightly, and he soon froze in shock.

"?"

Yan Shuyi sat sideways on a high rock beside him, lost in thought, exquisitely beautiful yet cold and elegant, her brow tinged with restless impatience.

Her snow-white leg rested on the rock's edge; due to the height difference, her delicate jade feet swung back and forth before him, ten plump, lustrous toes like blooming petals, translucent and gleaming.

Ji You held his breath, finally understanding why he had sensed the aroma of food…

Yan Shuyi also sensed the contraction of Ji You's qi waves; her feet instantly stopped swaying, her slender waist straightened involuntarily, her eyes narrowed, her demeanor turning stern and commanding like an ice goddess, yet pink mist rose uncontrollably around her.

"You broke through so quickly?" Ji You asked, startled.

Yan Shuyi did not turn to look at him; she gazed straight ahead, coldly replying: "Not yet."

Her voice was soft, three words with two and a half of them sounding like a sigh.

Ji You stared at her for a long time: "Didn't you say you wouldn't leave until you broke through?"

"My Dao-heart won't settle—I keep feeling something moving outside the door, go out to check, find nothing, return and finally calm down, then hear movement again. I don't know what's wrong, so I came in to clear my mind, and didn't expect to meet you."

Breaking through in seclusion had always been easy for Yan Shuyi since childhood.

But recently, it had become increasingly difficult.

She felt someone disturbed her; her first suspicion was Ding Yao, whom she scolded at length for wandering around the hall, but Ding Yao felt innocent, convinced she was being framed by someone else.

Ji You regarded her thoughtfully: "When did this symptom start?"

Yan Shuyi fell silent for a moment, as if realizing something: "About seven days ago."

Seven days ago, Qingyun Realm began collecting taxes and tributes, and Ji You returned to the Heavenly Book Academy around then—this was no secret.

So it wasn't the wind moving, nor the clouds—it was her heart stirring.

He had been in Fengzhou, unable to come to Xuwu Mountain to seek enlightenment; to Yan Shuyi, he was as unreachable as if she could kick him but couldn't.

But since learning he had returned to the Heavenly Book Academy, her inner state had changed entirely.

She wanted to see him, yet had previously written a bold letter declaring she wouldn't.

Her little mouth was stubborn, so she insisted it was Ding Yao running around outside her hall, disturbing her peace.

But in truth, she simply missed the handsome man, longing endlessly to come and sigh over him.

Ji You, like a master physician, instantly saw the root of her ailment.

A beauty who brings disaster…

With such extraordinary looks, she had made the Little Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain unable to focus on enlightenment, slowing her cultivation, potentially sparking internal strife within Spirit Sword Mountain, destabilizing even the Seven Immortal Sects, and indirectly altering the fate of the realm.

Though Ji You often criticized himself with the phrase "beauty who brings disaster," he now deeply understood the power of those four characters.

Damn it, this ordinary Ji Bochang!

Merely by his appearance, he could stir the realm into chaos.

Seeing Ji You silent, Yan Shuyi didn't want him to think her heart was disturbed by him, so she immediately changed the subject, asking about the Autumn Duel at the Heavenly Book Academy.

Chu He had inherited his family's ancestral 【Heavenly Art】, his body brimming with mysterious defenses, his fist and sword power terrifying.

What puzzled Yan Shuyi was that even so, he could only make Ji You's broad, massive, smooth-as-jade, sweat-drenched body turn red.

She had known since Spirit Sword Mountain that this stranger's body was formidable, but never how he trained.

Ji You didn't notice Yan Shuyi's question; instead, he frowned at her: "What smooth, broad, sweat-covered, hot body? Weren't you in seclusion? How do you know so clearly?"

Yan Shuyi froze, then held her breath, her eyes glancing away.

She had been in seclusion, yes—but she'd sent her best painters and scribes to observe. Now, portraits of the stranger with his bare chest still hid beneath her pillow.

But she wouldn't tell him.

The Little Mirror Master's gaze darted, her voice cool: "I heard it from someone else."

"Who? How detailed?"

"I said it was someone else!"

Ji You slowly raised his head, gazing above Yan Shuyi's head.

Since opening his eyes, he'd noticed pink vapor rising from her body, denser than ever before.

Though she wouldn't admit it, after so long apart, she must have missed him deeply.

But now the pink vapor shifted—first turning pale yellow, then thickening into smoke like a yellow dragon, filling him with awe.

Ji You recalled the fiery glances of the female cultivators when Chu He shattered his white robe on the White Jade Platform, exposing his chest, and turned to the Little Mirror Master.

"Did you sneak over to watch me?!"

"I didn't!"

Annoyed by his question, Yan Shuyi lifted her gleaming jade foot to kick him, but feared it would reveal her embarrassment and prove she lied—so her raised foot hesitated, then settled gently into his lap.

Ji You glanced at it and stopped asking.

She'd offered her foot as a bribe—clearly meant to silence him.

"A bit cold."

Yan Shuyi, her feet being toyed with, blushed despite her icy face: "They've always been like this."

Ji You pinched twice, then Yan Shuyi suddenly spoke: "You haven't told me about your body yet."

"Next time you happen to be traveling through Shengjing and cross paths with me, I'll tell you."

"Then tell me about Fengzhou."

"Fengzhou?"

"The clan you founded."

Ji You began recounting their journey from Shengjing to Fengzhou, then from Yuyang County to Fengzhou Prefecture.

The key event was the Night City Mountain battle, but Ji You glossed over it, mainly describing his fortress and introducing the few people currently there.

Old Qiu's family, the teacher Master Chen, and the children he protected.

He also mentioned the Crescent Blade and the combined harvester.

Yan Shuyi listened closely, images slowly forming in her mind—she wanted to go.

"When I founded my clan, Cao Jingsong told me: to grow a clan, first ally with outsiders, second, constantly increase population. He said the most vital point for a clan's longevity is unbroken descendants, so he advised me to immediately find a woman and start producing heirs."

"?"

Yan Shuyi turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Ji You sat up straight, utterly unashamed—after all, it was Cao Jingsong who said it; he was merely repeating: "I think Old Cao's advice makes sense."

The Little Mirror Master fell silent for a long while, then spoke: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Nothing. Just sharing. I once thought one person with one sword could conquer the world, but gradually realized one person's strength is limited. It seems only an ever-proliferating family can stand firm."

Ji You didn't dare let the Yan Kingdom map be too short, so he continued laying groundwork, feigning contemplation—but found Yan Shuyi merely watching him, silent.

Her gaze pulsed with sword intent.

After long silence, Ji You suddenly spoke: "What do you think?"

Yan Shuyi held her breath: "What do I think?"

"Unbroken descendants."

"I don't understand."

Ji You swallowed: "I mean… how many children do you want to have?"

As the words fell, all laws and paths on the mountain grew agitated; the pink-and-yellow vapor suddenly turned cold.

Seeing this, Ji You knew it was over—the Yan Kingdom map was simply too short.

Then, from the cliff above, a ferocious qi surge roared toward him.

"I didn't say I'd bear anyone's child—I just asked about your future plans!"

Ji You slammed his palm and flew backward, only to see Yan Shuyi lunging through the howl, her delicate white hand striking with ten-thousand-tael force, like a mountain splitting down—his entire body was crushed beneath it.

The Ying Tian realm—even without sword arts or spellcraft—its palm power filled Ji You with profound terror.

Amid the surging qi waves, Ji You braced against the blow, then used its momentum to shoot sideways.

Yan Shuyi blinked lightly, and the cold aura around her began shifting again into pink.

Strange man. Somewhat formidable.

They all arrived here via spiritual sense; though they didn't know why they could take form in this space, one thing was certain—physical strength meant nothing here.

Only after landing that palm did Yan Shuyi realize his spiritual sense was also extraordinarily strong.

Even comparable to the Fusion Dao realm.

"Stop. I won't fight you anymore—I can't beat you."

Yan Shuyi instantly halted, scowling at him: "Little Tong Xuan realm cultivator."

Ji You rose from the dust: "I'm leaving."

"Where to?"

"Back to cultivate. I can't keep losing to you forever."

Hearing this, Yan Shuyi's aura suddenly turned icy again—colder and whiter than before.

Ji You wondered what now—can't I even leave?

Then she flew toward him, palm slicing like wind, her drifting figure truly like a celestial immortal descending.

Moments later, the aura on Xuwu Mountain gradually calmed, no longer churning as before, instead falling utterly still.

At this moment, Ji You held Yan Shuyi's slender waist, gazing down at the immortal in his arms, her eyes gently closed, breathing even.

It wasn't that she wouldn't let him go—it was that she resented him for not embracing her this time.

This little master of Lingjian Mountain was absurdly prideful—she had things to say but wouldn't say them outright, preferring instead to pretend she'd attack him, then "accidentally" fall into his arms.

But… did she touch him?

Ji You recalled that sudden palm—fierce at first, then abruptly shifting course—as if brushing twice against his chest.

Yan Shuyi was only feigning sleep; one tiny slit of her eye remained open, then drifted to her own lower abdomen.

This stranger she'd met only thrice dared to ask her for endless life—so audacious he might as well be seeking death.

Her heart brimmed with killing intent, yet her foot resting on the cliff's edge unconsciously curled inward.

After a long while, Yan Shuyi suddenly sat upright: "I feel my Dao heart has calmed. I'm returning to break through. Don't disturb me again—if I don't reach Wujiang, I won't come back."

"Women in this world truly are fickle…"

Yan Shuyi tapped her toe lightly and vanished from Xuwu Mountain, returning instantly to her chambers at Lingjian Mountain.

Forgot to ask him what Yuan Caiwei had seen…

The little master suddenly remembered the thing she'd been muttering about for ages—felt a bit foolish.

Meanwhile, Ji You had already resumed his Dao contemplation, his aura surging continuously.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, gaze slightly stunned.

Damned it—distractions don't vanish; they just relocate…

In the following days, Ji You often came to Xuwu Mountain to contemplate Dao, but never saw the prideful immortal again—he knew that after their meeting, her Dao heart had finally settled.

He felt Yan Shuyi was much like himself—shouldering burdens, striving to grow stronger, always feeling time was insufficient.

Next time they met, it would truly have to wait until he broke through.

He stood, walking down the mountain.

At the outer courtyard's contemplation ground, Fang Jincheng, Puyang Xing, Lu Hanyan, and other disciples were all in deep meditation, their fronts piled with elixir bottles and dimmed spirit stones.

Around them stood countless others, including inner courtyard disciples, brows furrowed.

This scene drew even more attention than when Ji You had contemplated the Heavenly Book.

The reason? Fang Jincheng.

The Fang family was a major clan in Qingyun Realm, though not as famed as the Chu family.

But the Chu family had long been bound to the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, their roots in the Heavenly Book Academy far shallower than the Fangs'.

So when everyone was contemplating the Heavenly Book, Chu He had merely leveraged Prince Chong's connections to gain guidance from Ban Yangshu—but Fang Jincheng was different.

Since entering the academy, inner courtyard students had frequently visited the outer courtyard to personally instruct him.

Though the Dao was mysterious, only to be felt, not spoken—oral transmission inevitably introduced distortions—it still offered a direction to strive toward.

Thus, within half a month, six inner courtyard disciples had shared their experiences in exhaustive detail with Fang Jincheng.

Yet even so, Fang Jincheng still hadn't contemplated the Heavenly Book.

Both inner and outer courtyard knew: on the day he entered, Fang Jincheng had boasted he'd seen a faint glow upon first contemplating the Heavenly Book, leaving everyone astonished.

For in the past hundred years, the fastest from entry to contemplating the Heavenly Book had been Ji You.

At the time, all had said Fang Jincheng might surpass Ji You—implying even greater future achievements.

But as time passed, people realized it was just empty talk.

Now, Fang Jincheng's face was grim.

He knew he benefited from ancestral favor, receiving guidance from many inner courtyard seniors—he'd assumed contemplating the Heavenly Book would be easy, yet it turned out like this.

Meanwhile, Puyang Xing, who'd chosen to bypass the Heavenly Book and directly break through, had already gathered his first Xuan Light, and Lu Hanyan was swiftly following.

"Could Fang Jincheng's cultivation base be nothing but elixir-fueled, with truly feeble talent?"

"That shouldn't be—it's how he reached full completion of the Lower Three Realms. Perhaps he's just not destined for the Heavenly Book."

"But didn't no one contemplate the Heavenly Book in Taiwu Year Two and Taiwu Year One?"

"There was that?"

"Yes—Disciple Pan from Taiwu Year Two broke through to Tong Xuan by his own strength."

"And Disciple Liu—he never sensed the Heavenly Book either, and he entered the next year. That year's cohort failed to reach Tong Xuan, but Liu was already mid-Tong Xuan."

"I heard the Dao Stele of the Chen Clan also went unawakened for two consecutive years."

"What about the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion?"

"Their Patriarch has been in seclusion for years, using the Xuan Yuan Pearl to commune with the Immortal Realm and attempt ascension—he can't sense anything."

"Do you think the Dao's fortune is truly fading? Otherwise, why the demon clans…"

"Nonsense—it's just lack of talent. Otherwise, why could Ji You sense the Heavenly Book? He may be a lousy person, but his talent is undeniable…"

Ji You watched for a while, then couldn't help shaking his head.

These past days, Changsheng Hall's attitude toward him had softened somewhat; many inner courtyard disciples even came to bring him spirit wine.

All of it implied they hoped he'd guide Fang Jincheng.

But everyone said contemplating the Heavenly Book meant seeing a faint glow, then chasing it—yet what Ji You saw was a sky of stars rushing toward him. How could he explain that?

So Ji You decided not to meddle—let the outer and inner courtyards say what they will.

Aristocratic youths were all the same—feasting on the people's blood and sweat, chasing the elusive Immortal Dao. If there were fewer of them, and lower in realm, it might not be bad for the world.

Before all eyes, Ji You stepped away from the Divine Path off Nishan, heading for Shengjing.

At the You hour, as the sun set, in a remote courtyard at the back of Chunhua Alley.

In the kitchen at the southeast corner, smoke and steam filled the air, the pot bubbling as dozens of plump, white dumplings rose and sank in the water.

Kuangcheng walked to the stove, rolled up his sleeves, and carried the steaming dumplings into the main chamber.

Ji You sat inside, taking the dumplings as they were offered.

Today was the Moon Worship Festival, a traditional Qingyun Realm holiday, equal in status to New Year's Day—deeply cherished by common folk.

Since dusk, the streets had been lined with lanterns, glowing brilliantly.

Last year on this day, Kuangcheng had been studying furiously at Chunhua Station, preparing for the imperial examination, with no time for the festival. Today, he'd specially boiled dumplings to celebrate with Ji You.

"After tax collection, refugees from Yunzhou and Zhongzhou have been migrating to Fengzhou. Rumor says several counties in Danshui Prefecture have gained many new residents—all with families in tow."

Ji You picked up his chopsticks: "For millennia, no matter where, common folk endure hardship just to survive."

Kuangcheng nodded: "According to Qingyun Immortal Law, you can legally reduce Fengzhou's taxes—but you can't protect people from other provinces. If all commoners fled here for survival, it'd be ideal… but…"

"But local offices have secretly issued bans, forbidding their subjects from fleeing?"

"You're right, Ji Brother…"

Ji You dipped a dumpling into vinegar: "It's natural. If their subjects flee to Fengzhou, officials fear they won't meet next year's tax quotas. To save their heads, they must enforce strict bans."

Kuangcheng understood this, yet still sighed with regret: "It's a pity not all commoners can flee to Fengzhou."

"Hah, you're dreaming. If everyone fled here, it'd be me who'd die."

"You once said: 'Since ancient times, all men must die; let loyalty illuminate history.'"

Ji You glanced at him, thinking: this scholar really is easily brainwashed.

Kuangcheng turned, opened a cabinet, and took out a jar of wine, then looked at Ji You: "I went to the Orphanage today, brought food for the children. On the way back, I bought this wine—it's brewed from grain, nowhere near the fine wines served at Jingcheng aristocratic banquets."

"Stop blabbing—just bring the wine."

"This wine costs only two taels. I worried you wouldn't like it…"

Ji You took the jar, tore off the seal: "Don't be silly. This wine tastes better—clean. Those aristocratic banquet wines look clear, but I always think they're the color of blood."

Kuangcheng placed two wine bowls down, looked up, puzzled: "Then why do you still go?"

"I wasn't used to it either. But then I thought—if I refuse, won't they just profit? At least when we're full and drunk, we can still do something about it."

"So you can think of it that way…"

Ji You pointed at the dumplings: "Eat quickly, then the two of us lonely souls will go see the lanterns together."

Kuang Cheng paused: "Uh, I've already made plans with Miss Wei."

(Everyone, happy Lantern Festival! My wife and I are off to release lanterns!)

(End of Chapter)