Chapter 204: Sword Pressure

"It happens to be noon. Shall we have a simple meal in the city before returning?"

"No, Brother Ji. Having not returned for many days, Kuang has some matters that need to be handled. Let's make an appointment for next time."

After the busy farming season in Fengzhou, Ji You and Xiang Kuangcheng returned to Shengjing before Qingming.

Here, the spring sun was bright, and the light was spread everywhere. The beautiful spring light made the glazed treasures of Shengjing City shine brilliantly, prosperous and splendid, full of vitality. At the same time, a breeze passed through the streets and alleys under this spring day, soft and long on the face, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance of new vegetation.

As soon as he landed from Yong'an Avenue, Ji You felt a void in his stomach.

But Kuang the Kuang Shusheng declined Ji You's invitation to eat, insisting on returning first.

Brother Ji's fairies are not in Shengjing, but my Miss Rui is close at hand...

Although Ji You couldn't hear Xiang Kuangcheng's inner voice, he could see the longing in his eyes: "You person who forgets righteousness for beauty."

"The time Brother Ji went shopping with Zhengxin Xianzi Yan, who was visiting Shengjing for the first time, it seemed like you almost didn't recognize me either."

Ji You spat at him and jumped off the carriage, thinking to himself that you can't compare to me; you are a noble gentleman, while I am just a fierce bandit.

"Next time you return to Fengzhou, you can bring Miss Wei along. When passing through Guiyun County, go around Xiangshui Lake. Do you know the legend of Xiangshui Lake? It is said that if two people walk around the lake and happen to meet under the thousand-year-old locust tree by the lake, the two can never be separated for generations."

"Naturally, I know it."

"Little scholar, you know quite a lot."

Xiang Kuangcheng looked to the side unnaturally, thinking to himself that not only do I know this legend, but now even the Demon Princess is about to know it...

The two then separated, but Ji You didn't go directly back to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, but walked toward the direction of Changsheng Avenue.

The peddlers in the city had already changed into short shirts, pulling loads and carrying poles, walking on the bustling streets, brushing shoulders with the waiters soliciting customers at the street corners of taverns and teahouses.

Ji You walked to the middle of the long street, then walked into the Shengjing Post Station.

He hadn't brought gifts when returning from the Snow Region last time, but this time he hadn't forgotten when coming from Fengzhou.

He prepared some soil from Fengzhou, as well as seeds left over from this spring plowing, and small flower pots fired in local kilns, divided into three portions, to be sent to Yan Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi and the Yuan siblings respectively.

As long as these seeds are carefully cared for after planting, they should be able to grow wheat ears unique to Fengzhou, which is also quite an interesting little bonsai.

Yan Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi is quite interested in Fengzhou. When she was hiding from the winter at the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, besides kissing him, what she loved to talk about most was Fengzhou.

She asked him about the local climate, temperature, and seasonal changes, and also asked how big the snow was in Fengzhou in winter, and where Yinma Bridge and Xiangzi Lake were.

Although she emphasized many times that she was just "asking casually," she looked like she was seriously considering living in Fengzhou.

Yuan Yuan Caiwei is the same. Although she doesn't ask, she listens extra carefully every time.

So this kind of small intention will be very heartwarming for them.

Amazing, I really am a big warm man.

Ji You raised the corners of his mouth, filled in the mailing address, and left after paying the silver.

He had been in the fields too many times recently. At this moment, not only was he dusty, but even his boots and the corners of his clothes were covered in mud.

Heavenly Tian Shuyuan disciples along the way looked at him stepping on the divine path, their expressions strange as they looked at each other.

"The rustic private cultivator is back."

"Covered in mud and sand like this, he really looks like a rustic private cultivator..."

The three abbots of the Qin Zhangshi Yuan looked at him walking up Ningshan, circling around Bishui Lake with fluttering sleeves, and the topic of their chat naturally turned to Ji You.

Whether it is Fengzhou's farming or the commoners, in the eyes of the Chu Xian Sect, they are the things least worth caring about.

Some cultivators can't even distinguish wheat seedlings from chives, and don't even know which crops grow on trees and which grow in the ground.

However, the Qin Zhangshi Yuan has to deal with tax offerings every year, so naturally, they have to be clear about some things.

Qin Rong had also heard a lot of situations from disciples walking outside the academy during this period and roughly estimated the current situation in Fengzhou.

Because Great Xia changed the transportation route of the demon merchant caravan, Fengzhou is now the largest material exchange place for the demon race, and Fengzhou's crops happen to be what the Snow Region lacks. The acquisition price offered by the demon race is also extremely high.

So Fengzhou's tax offerings this year must be extremely abundant, but others probably haven't noticed this point yet.

Thinking of this, Qin Rong thought again of his identity as a rustic private cultivator.

If he hadn't cultivated to the perfection of the Lower Three Realms and broken the rules to enter the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, perhaps he would really be farming facing the yellow earth and backing the sky in the fields at this time.

It was because of that accident that many things changed.

Chu He, who should have entered the inner courtyard back then, failed to enter, while Fengzhou had the only cultivation family.

"Is the Fengzhou matter over?"

"Over. Except for farmers who chose to plant special crops, the whole prefecture has entered the slack farming season." Ji You circled Bishui Lake and came to sit in Cao Cao Jingsong's courtyard: "Cultivators are truly easy to use. The land is plowed fast, well, and straight. Oxen and horses would call it professional if they saw it."

Cao Cao Jingsong couldn't help but smack his lips: "Only you would dare to treat cultivators like oxen and horses."

"It cannot be considered as using them, but telling them that since people live in the world, they should live with some meaning. Even if they fly up after sitting and cultivating for decades, what is it? In this world, they are just useless people."

Xiang Fu, the daughter of the Danshui County Magistrate, and Cong Yi, the daughter of the Guiyun County Magistrate, were both in Cao Cao Jingsong's courtyard. Ever since Ji You entered the courtyard, they had been listening quietly from the side, their eyes staying on him.

As cultivators from Fengzhou, they knew very clearly about the Fengzhou matter.

After Ji You arrived in Fengzhou, he checked the stone materials and closed many people, right in the Danshui County of Xiang Fu's father. Among them, it seemed there were also children of noble families, who still hadn't come out even now.

They didn't like attending the banquets of the immortal sects before, always feeling like they were marginal figures who couldn't blend in.

But in the last few days, because of Ji You's matter, those immortal sect disciples had to listen to them talking freely at the banquet.

Among them, the one who felt the deepest was Xiang Fu.

She had been fostered in the Luoyue Manor since she was a child, and had a closeness to the foreign immortal manors in Fengzhou that had been cultivated since childhood. This is a very normal thing.

When Cao Cao Jingsong went to Fengzhou to recruit her into the academy, she had once been dissatisfied because Ji You wanted to take the residence of Luoyue Manor, saying he was thick-skinned and forcibly occupying it, yet still speaking in a high-sounding way.

But until entering the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, truly understanding the relationship between noble families, immortal manors, and tax offerings, and hearing many things, her vision was no longer limited to one corner, and she understood what Ji You was doing.

Cao Cao Jingsong still had some questions to ask, but stopped when the words reached his lips. Looking at Xiang Fu and Cong Yi, the two looked at each other and immediately said goodbye tactfully.

He waved his sleeves to close the door, then looked at Ji You: "I thought you would encounter an assassination by a noble family after leaving the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan."

Ji You raised his eyes: "Some private cultivators came, mixed in with the commoners migrating from the border, but in the end, they were all taken in by me."

"You are really bold."

"The Fengzhou matter, what use is a broken Eighteen Tongxuan like me? If it weren't for the Qingyun Immortal Rules, I wouldn't even have slag left now."

Cao Cao Jingsong looked at him: "There is no need to consider things so far away."

Ji You drank tea and stuffed a piece of pastry into his mouth: "Doing more is much better than doing less. It's better than nothing. Besides, those private cultivators are basically from poor backgrounds, always more reliable than the disciples of those immortal manors."

Cao Cao Jingsong nodded silently after hearing this, then remembered another thing: "Before the New Year, you were afraid that the immortal manors would cause trouble and that the joint reclamation wouldn't be able to continue. Now, because of the spirit stones and elixirs, you've passed a hurdle. The Rongdao matter is not that urgent, and the Tiandao Assembly can be more stable."

When he returned from the Snow Region, Ji You had been thinking about the reclamation, concluding that those immortal manors wouldn't be so cooperative.

Foreigners who had eaten Fengzhou's tax offerings for so many years, after experiencing the poverty of the past year, had mastered the initiative. How could they be content?

At that time, Ji You held the idea that being stronger by one point was one point, intending to continuously charge realms, not even caring much about the rules of the Tiandao Assembly.

Now that this hurdle has passed, Cao Cao Jingsong felt that as long as Ji You didn't run around, there would be a moment of peace at least until the tax collection.

He is an inner courtyard disciple now. Even if the Qin Zhangshi Yuan wants to dispatch him, they need his consent.

The previous time he was sent to the Snow Region, it was for Fengzhou. There shouldn't be such things again.

However, in the eyes of this rustic private cultivator Ji You, if he can become stronger, he should continue to become stronger, just not being too harsh on himself.

Old Cao's words are right. At the very least, there can be a moment of peace before the tax collection.

As long as the people of Lingjian Mountain don't come over to stab him to death because he bit their Xiao Jianzhu's mouth, it will be fine.

Cao Cao Jingsong looked at him at this time: "Do you have any clues about the opportunity to determine the Dao?"

Ji You shook his head: "I haven't tried it seriously yet. There were guests in the academy those few days, so it was delayed."

"If it's a woman, just say it's a woman. Calling it a guest sounds nice."

"It really is a guest."

Cao Cao Jingsong chuckled: "Your guests are all entertained with your mouth? Bitten like you're wearing nails. How come I've never entertained such guests?"

Ji You's mouth was fine before leaving the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, but he had seen quite a few people before leaving.

He had also heard people in the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan discuss this matter, saying that he played really excitingly and so on.

Cao Cao Jingsong took back his eye-roll at this time: "Finding the opportunity to determine the Dao is still something that can be done. This kind of thing has fast and slow. Preparing early is more secure. Besides, the process of determining the Dao is the process of eliminating distracting thoughts, which is also good for your Dao heart."

"I plan to practice body refinement first."

"Still body refinement?"

"A man should practice body refinement."

After leaving Cao Cao Jingsong's small courtyard, Ji You returned to the inner courtyard.

After spring, there were a few light rains, so the dampness in the room was extremely heavy. He opened the window for ventilation, then carried the quilt out to dry.

Then he cleaned the room, lay down on the bed, and had a sound sleep.

During these days in Fengzhou, although he looked calm and relaxed, his nerves were actually tense.

Especially taking in so many private cultivators, it wouldn't work without some vigilance.

So every time there was news of private cultivators entering the border, he and Pei Pei Ruyi took turns keeping watch. Only now did he get a good sleep, so he slept until the next day, got up, and started body refinement.

As the spiritual fire in his body was ignited, his scorching spirit gradually filled the room.

Actually, this seventeenth spiritual light dim illumination, he had started since Fengzhou, and at this time, it was almost at the point where the spiritual fire was about to break through the body surface.

The improvement of physical strength will not affect the realm, which is a good thing for the Tiandao Assembly where people of the same realm compete.

To tell the truth, Ji You still doesn't know the specific rules of the Tiandao Assembly until now, only knowing that it is a fight between people of the same realm...

Here, it rained continuously in Shengjing City for several days.

After the rain eased slightly, Lu Lu Qingqiu's message was sent to the inner courtyard by the Qin Zhangshi Yuan, inviting him to a banquet at Hongding Tower.

Lu Lu Hanyan, who obtained the Juxuan Pill, had a much smoother cultivation path. She had already gathered five spiritual lights, and the sixth was taking shape, far exceeding Pu Pu Yangxing, who only had three spiritual lights, and approaching Fang Fang Jincheng, who stayed at six profound lights.

According to this trend, Lu Lu Hanyan's chance of entering the inner courtyard is very high.

The Lu family of Yunzhou established their family with spirit stones and had a shallow foundation within the Chu Xian Sect. In fact, they very much hoped that their family disciples could enter the inner courtyard.

Lu Lu Qingqiu came for this last year, but realized she came at the wrong time when she saw Chu He.

However, it wasn't until the end that she knew Chu He also came at the wrong time, because they both encountered Ji You, the private cultivator who entered the academy, who was far ahead of everyone.

And Lu Lu Hanyan's high possibility of entering the inner courtyard this time is ultimately to thank Ji You.

"That person is Ji You."

"Ji You? Who?"

"Cousin doesn't know?"

"I have been in seclusion for a long time and only came out early because of the Tiandao Assembly. I haven't heard of the name Ji You. Besides, when has there ever been a Ji noble family in the Qingyun world?"

On the second floor of Hongding Tower, Fang Fang Jincheng was drinking with his cousin Fang Fang Zhiheng.

This cousin of his was also a sword master, having visited Lingjian Mountain many times to pay respects, and was good at using a sword. It is said that even Elder Yan Ye of Tianjian Peak praised him endlessly.

However, the cousin was unrestrained on weekdays and didn't enter any Chu Xian Sect, having once declared that he would walk out of his own sword path.

He came to Shengjing this time entrusted by the family to teach Fang Fang Jincheng a thing or two.

Lu Lu Qingqiu refining the Juxuan Pill really put great pressure on him.

Realm matters cannot be rushed for the time being, but Fang Fang Jincheng's combat power still has room for improvement. After all, Eighteen Tongxuan is only the threshold of the inner courtyard, and what is finally seen in the Autumn Fight is combat power.

So Fang Fang Jincheng wants to learn his cousin's sword path. This is the same as Chu He being squeezed by Ji You to go home to pass on the Dao. Besides, a considerable part of the reason for this move is that Ji You also successfully entered the inner courtyard with the sword path.

At this time, Fang Fang Jincheng looked opposite and told his cousin about Ji You selling the elixir to Lu Lu Hanyan, and the past events of not teaching him how to sense the Heavenly Book.

After hearing this, Fang Fang Zhiheng turned his head and looked coldly at the opposite side through the hollow screen.

Lu Lu Qingqiu has always been generous in her actions, and every time it is a big banquet, which is also the reason why Ji You likes to attend her banquets. It's just that this time, he often heard Lu Lu Hanyan find an excuse to call him Brother Ji.

"Lu Hanyan has met Brother Ji."

"Brother Ji, drink. Lu Hanyan will pour wine for you."

"Thank you, Brother Ji, for the elixir. Lu Hanyan will definitely not let down Brother Ji's expectations."

Lu Lu Hanyan's movements were gentle, her eyes moist, and the three words "Brother Ji" were called very "clamped."

It sounded simply like a kitten with a milky voice, so "clamped" that Ji You felt a bit uneasy.

Actually, the identity of "Senior Brother" itself carries some halo, especially since Ji You was in full swing when Lu Lu Hanyan entered the academy because he had defeated Chu He and killed a Rongdao at night, enough to make her admire him.

And that Juxuan Pill was clearly bought for her by her sister, but in the end, it was attributed to Ji You's expectations by her.

The Lu family's bloodline is quite good. Lu Lu Hanyan and Lu Lu Qingqiu have long legs and thin waists, and their features carry a demonic aura. On weekdays, they also have a cold style toward others, but when they "clamp," it is truly incomparably seductive.

There were also many male disciples of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan at the banquet, some of whom also had thoughts about the Second Miss Lu.

After all, the Second Miss Lu is also a beauty ranked in the academy, noble and cold, full of the temperament of a daughter of a wealthy family.

But like this kind of voice, they had never heard the Second Miss Lu use it on weekdays.

Ji You raised his head to look at Lu Lu Qingqiu, thinking to himself, what's wrong with your sister? And Lu Lu Qingqiu glanced at him, thinking to herself that her sister's taste is sometimes truly the same.

Just at this moment, Ji You suddenly felt a wave of wind.

A sharp sword with a ringing sound suddenly attacked, instantly blowing over several empty bowls and plates, shaking the screen on the left, and then the chill of the Dao sword hung in front of him.

On the left side and behind, Fang Fang Zhiheng stood proudly, his sword intent surging.

"Inner courtyard Ji You, I heard you are also a sword master?"

"?"

"..."

In the afternoon, the Enlightenment Field, the breeze was slightly cold, and the sun gradually fell into the lower rotation.

The Lu sisters' group returned to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan first and came to the Enlightenment Field, while the Fang brothers followed.

There were only six months left until the Autumn Fight, but whether it was Lu Lu Hanyan or Fang Fang Jincheng, there was still a long distance from Eighteen Tongxuan, so they cherished time even more, sitting cross-legged on the ground at this time.

"The sword path struggle is actually a sword intent struggle. My sword intent is incomparably fierce. Many opponents will be suppressed to the point where they can't even draw their swords. It's not rare."

"Just now he said he didn't bring a sword or something, he should have sensed the sword intent gap between him and me. His sword heart is quite sharp."

Fang Fang Zhiheng looked at Lu Lu Qingqiu at this time, feeling happy in his heart.

Lu Lu Qingqiu glanced at him and nodded gently, showing a polite, shallow smile.

Just now at Hongding Tower, this person walked away from the side table and suddenly drew his sword without waiting to speak. He didn't understand etiquette at all, which truly gave them a fright.

However, it must be said that although this person has been muttering, that soaring sword intent is indeed very strong. This is undeniable.

The last time Lu Lu Qingqiu saw Ji You's sword, it was only as strong as Fang Fang Zhiheng's today...

"Not coming over at noon? Why come now?"

"Someone invited me to eat, and I met a lunatic halfway through."

"Have you been practicing body refinement these past few days?"

"Started since Fengzhou, just finished last night."

Cao Cao Jingsong had never heard of this kind of body refinement method for half a month. Just hearing it made him feel scared, thinking to himself, you practice like this, don't you want your life? The last Eighteen Tongxuan almost didn't succeed.

But Ji You always felt that his body had a qualitative leap, not just strength, but the strength of his whole body had improved.

"Your body refinement method actually enhances your strength?"

"Hmm, after practicing these few times, the feeling is quite obvious. It shouldn't be an illusion."

Cao Cao Jingsong frowned, showing an expression of disbelief.

Seeing this, Ji You, who was sitting on a stone stool, put down his teacup, then straightened his back slightly, and raised his arms slowly upward.

Surging spiritual energy began to surge between his hands, blowing his clothes to flutter constantly, making a hunting sound.

Just at the moment Cao Cao Jingsong was looking carefully, a heavy sword intent like a mountain was suddenly released, suddenly soaring into the sky within the Teaching Tian Shuyuan, pressing the falling rain in the small courtyard to stop suddenly, the wind sound became quiet, and ripples visible to the naked eye constantly appeared in the air, ripples after ripples, as if they couldn't bear the weight and constantly made muffled sounds.

【Dao Sword · Little Zhongshan】

Ji You at this time was lifting his sword, his energy suddenly flourishing, faintly having a boiling intention, and the huge sword light gradually hovered in the sky.

Lu Lu Qingqiu was staring at her sister's enlightenment at this time. In her vision, there was a drawn long sword shaking back and forth, and what rang in her ears was the sound of Fang Fang Zhiheng explaining the inscriptions on the sword body, endless.

It can be seen that he is indeed proud of his sword path.

Lu Lu Qingqiu was born in a spirit stone family and had first-class social skills. Even if she felt a bit noisy, she wouldn't show it on her face, but would respond politely instead.

Fang Fang Zhiheng was already talking about how the sword path should be practiced, which made Fang Fang Jincheng, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, frown slightly.

Lu Lu Hanyan and Pu Pu Yangxing were both his opponents. He was afraid that his cousin would say too much, and instead let the other party learn it.

At this time, Lu Lu Qingqiu intended to respond to show admiration, but just as the words reached her lips, her scalp suddenly went numb. Immediately after, a powerful sword intent pressure whistled over, surging like a tide. Everyone in the Enlightenment Field looked up in horror.

Before their eyes, a huge Dao sword was ringing in the sky, pressing the willow leaves by the lake to tremble. The air was squeezed to the surroundings, shaking out trembling fluctuations like water, and a heavy pressure instantly penetrated both shoulders.

"Such a strong sword."

"It's the Dao Sword Little Zhongshan."

"Oh, it's Ji You's sword..."

Hearing the discussion of the disciples around, a harsh sound of metal and iron trembling suddenly came from the Enlightenment Field. The Lu sisters, Fang Fang Jincheng, and others turned their heads to look, and saw the long sword in Fang Fang Zhiheng's hand trembling constantly, as if it were completely out of control, and it fell to the ground with a *clang*.

【Sword intent is fierce enough to suppress the Dao sword so it cannot be drawn】

Here, the outer courtyard corridor, the Qin Zhangshi Yuan, the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, countless gazes looked from all directions.

Ji You entered the Upper Eighteen Tongxuan Realm before the New Year. At that time, the spirit he overflowed was so hot that even the surrounding snow was roasted away. At that time, some people felt he was strong, but didn't know how strong.

Now seeing this sword in the sky, it made people unable to help but be stunned.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 205 =====