[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-209":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},2260082,4410,"Chapter 209: Tian Dao Hui Preliminary Selection","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-209",209,"\u003Cp>His physical form had merged with the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, his strength surged dramatically—that was the first thought that surfaced in Ji You’s drained spiritual sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the phrase “hating heaven has no handle, hating earth has no ring” spoken during his Tongxuan breakthrough was an exaggeration, then this time it was nearly true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt that if his current self stood atop the envoy’s carriage, that warrior king’s punch would no longer have nearly killed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, when Ji You clenched his fist just now, he sensed his bones had hardened like iron, and his joints emitted a taut, responsive feedback with every movement—even without spiritual energy, he believed he could pierce through all things with a single finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond these, there was his spiritual soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, during body refining, only his physical form trembled under the spiritual flame; now, even his spiritual soul was affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sensation of heaven and earth opening bright did not enhance his five senses, but it made his spiritual soul feel a hot stream pouring over it, perfectly fused with his physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, he could clearly control the operation of each qi orifice and precisely track the flow of blood within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that the human spirit and soul were not inherently aligned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You couldn’t help murmuring, suddenly recalling someone once telling him that humans controlled less than one-tenth of their own bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether internal organs, blood, or bones, humans could not consciously control or adjust them—but now, Ji You’s spiritual soul had begun to form a faint connection with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body was automatically integrating more tightly, pushing itself toward a stronger form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another point: the previous soreness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty-second micro-illumination had been far weaker and less arduous than today’s twenty-third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the soreness left by the twenty-second micro-illumination had taken nearly eight hours to vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after this higher-intensity micro-illumination, he could clearly sense the soreness receding like a tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This indicated that increased physical strength also brought faster recovery and greater resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You panted heavily, sweat beads continuously falling to the ground, producing a steady sizzling sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Qingyun Tianxia, most cultivators were pure Dao cultivators; even though Lingjian Mountain primarily focused on sword Dao, they did not attempt to master the Four Symbols, celestial forces, or physical power, yet they were still considered a branch of Dao cultivation, never pushing body refining as hard as he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, he too had been influenced by this trend, always treating Dao cultivation as primary and body refining as secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, switching to prioritize body refining, abandoning Dao cultivation, and focusing solely on spiritual sense—where would he end up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he had already decided, there was no need to overthink it—so long as there was a path, he would walk it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as when he first arrived in Qingyun Tianxia, he had walked dozens of steps before suddenly finding clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, Sister Wen has arrived—right at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his perception now sharpened, he could even discern the silhouette of Sister Wen standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t stand up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his breathing gradually calmed, Ji You felt a wave of exhaustion surge through his limbs and bones, and he sank into deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes again, it was the second day, the hour of Wei—afternoon sunlight blazed brightly, beams streaming through the window lattices, one falling across Ji You’s face, illuminating his sword-browed, star-eyed visage and waking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sleep was longer than previous ones, which wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he hadn’t continued his spiritual sense flight yesterday, the trembling of his spiritual soul had still drained him greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You sat up on the bed, sat there dazed for a long while before realizing he was covered by a quilt, and that his sweat-soaked clothes from yesterday had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right—he had sensed Sister Wen coming yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose from bed, walked into the main hall, and saw Wen Zhengxin eating porridge inside, along with Ban Yangshu and Cao Jingsong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong, though an outer courtyard instructor, could enter the inner courtyard—he simply rarely chose to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Ji You emerge, the three raised their heads together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you all here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong’s beard trembled: “Your Sister Wen sent word that you were lying unconscious, burning up in your room—we rushed over immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You sat on the chair: “I was just refining my body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin looked at him: “Finished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finished. Did you return last night, Sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin nodded, her gaze toward him suddenly growing more complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had changed his clothes after returning, but that wasn’t much—she was grown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key issue was that Cao Jingsong and Ban Yangshu had only come today after receiving her message; only she had felt the overwhelming pressure that had surged last night, as if a mountain had collapsed before her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her younger brother remained at Tongxuan realm, his aura fully contained, showing no abnormality—indistinguishable from any other Tongxuan cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You opened his mouth: “I was too exhausted last night—I sensed you returning, but I couldn’t open my eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin glanced at him: “Who taught you this body refining technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I figured it out myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the three exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long observing him, they had already sensed the extraordinary nature of Ji You’s body refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such rapid growth could not possibly come from any ordinary body refining technique in Qingyun Tianxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those techniques were nowhere near as powerful as Ji You’s current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Tongxuan realm, he already displayed such terrifying potential—Cao Jingsong couldn’t imagine how strong he’d become upon reaching Rongdao realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stretched wide under the sunlight streaming through the door, feeling refreshed and invigorated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin cleared her throat: “You… only practice this at night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You turned his head: “There’s no distinction between day and night—each session drains me completely, exhausting my spiritual sense. Practicing at night lets me sleep right after, and I can resume normal activities the next day. Why do you ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. I just suddenly think you should go back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin’s ears turned red: “You’ve been eating and drinking for free here all day, and at night you make all sorts of strange noises. When I returned this time, everyone on the road gave me strange looks—I don’t want to offend the daughter of Yu Danzong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You immediately defended himself: “That’s not true, Sister—I washed your clothes too, so I’m not just freeloading.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin said, “Get out, get out—I won’t say whether that was washing clothes or satisfying your own whims.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your mindset may be strange, but it seems mostly healed now—you’re not staying here another day, not even if you beg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My courtyard is a lone woman’s residence—every day your soft moans echo through it. What will people say about me if this gets out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way here, people praised her, saying she was truly strong, truly patient—she hadn’t understood at first, but later realized what they meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, every day after training, Ji You collapsed, drenched in sweat—should a sister change his clothes or not? If she did, should she look or not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong and Ban Yangshu exchanged glances, thinking: What strange noises?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Zhengxin didn’t explain to them—she simply ushered all three out of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong stood at the gate, staring at Ji You: “What did your Sister Wen mean by ‘strange noises’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You mimicked two sounds: “When refining the body, there’s a tearing pain—I can’t help crying out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can understand why your Sister Wen kicked you out…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You make that kind of noise, and she still let you stay this long—Sister Zhengxin truly went above and beyond.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You rubbed his stomach after hearing this: “Instructor, I’m hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong narrowed his eyes: “I don’t have money to take you to a restaurant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for a restaurant—Xianshanfang is fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong thought for a moment: Xianshanfang is the academy’s cafeteria—I can afford that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what he hadn’t anticipated was Ji You’s appetite—it completely shattered his understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another serving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s already the fifth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stared at the five empty plates: “Still not full.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong glanced at him, his mouth twitching: “Wretched disciple, tell me honestly—are you cultivating your Five Viscera Temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s how body refining works.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You went back for another serving, then lowered his head to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body now required enormous caloric intake—that’s why his temperature kept rising—but human energy doesn’t appear from nowhere; the best solution is food intake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong watched him and couldn’t help speaking: “There’s news in the academy these days—the Tian Dao Hui’s timing should be finalized soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked up: “No wonder Sister Wen has been in seclusion so long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Sister Wen has her own plans—but you should consider yours too. Spend these days reflecting inward and seeking your Dao. After winning the Tian Dao Hui, go to the Ancestors’ Awakening Grounds to break through. With your talent, when you emerge, you’ll likely stand at the threshold of Yingtian realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jingsong’s face softened with warmth: “My Fengzhou will have an Yingtian realm powerhouse—I never dared dream of such a thing in the past fifty years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s chopsticks paused. He fell silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Cao Jingsong ran off—faster than a rabbit, his bulky body suddenly displaying astonishing lightness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t due to any urgent matter—only because Ji You told him he was still half-full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Old Cao transform into a wind-like old boy, Ji You smacked his lips, handed his tray to the window, then turned toward the Sword Grove, planning to test his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having crossed the next threshold in body refining, some benefits were clearly perceptible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his actual combat power remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You descended the mountain and entered the Sword Grove, where he saw Lu Hanyan practicing sword forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second Miss Lu had already mastered the basic sword stances; Ji You had arranged for her to practice linked sequences the past few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he himself had once done—he had connected the movements of point, slash, thrust, flick, lift, strike, intercept, chop, wipe, cut, cloud, and hook, mastered them thoroughly, then combined them with spiritual energy to form sword techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ji You arrive, Lu Hanyan halted her sword and glanced furtively at the wooden sword standing beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big sister asked her yesterday what it felt like to be spanked by Ji You, and she replied that strict masters produce outstanding students; if she had done something wrong, it was right for Brother Ji to discipline her, and she wouldn’t be angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big sister’s gaze clearly doubted her, so Lu Hanyan immediately shot back, “Big sister doesn’t think I like it, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Lu Hanyan truly believed she liked this strict method of instruction; she felt Brother Ji taught her with great seriousness, and she couldn’t possibly be angry with him over it—there was nothing else to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after several later instances, she realized she seemed to like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You saw her gaze and couldn’t help but think of the four characters: [Forbidden Teacher-Student].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your sword heart is restless, your sword intent unstable—because you just defeated Fang Jincheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hanyan knows her fault; please, Brother, punish me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came today to test my fists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Test your fists?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, test my fists. Train well, and we’ll see each other later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Hanyan watched Ji You stride into the depths of the forest, feeling half-confused—but hearing the words “later,” she obediently picked up her sword and began chaining together her previous sword forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet just as she raised her iron sword, a massive gust of wind suddenly roared from deep within the bamboo grove, wave after wave, its powerful aura pressing down so hard that her iron sword could barely lift—her eyes widened gradually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others among the disciples training in the Sword Grove also turned in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fist power was strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surge of qi made the Shaking Mountain Fist truly take on the momentum of shaking mountains—movement like thunder, even possessing a force that could crush decay and uproot rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just punching the air was truly unsatisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You adopted a fist stance and struck hard, not using any spiritual energy—just the fist wind forced the emerald bamboos ahead to bend repeatedly; his surrounding aura roared like a tiger and dragon’s cry, only gradually subsiding once the fist wind dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Need to continue body refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awakening the Dao depends on opportunity, but body refinement requires only effort and perseverance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty-fifth time, the twenty-sixth time—he wanted to see when the next threshold of body refinement would appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You ended his fist form, stepped back, and walked toward Lu Hanyan’s sword-practicing spot. He watched for a long while, then reached out, gripped the wooden sword, and—whack—struck her rear end. Lu Hanyan’s slender body trembled; she had held back before, but now she couldn’t help but let out a soft whimper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You trained well. Here’s your reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grain Rain festival has just passed; tea smoke drifts faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the start of Xiazhi, the heat begins to rise, and the midday sun often blazes too fiercely to look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ripple caused by Lu Hanyan’s unexpected defeat of Fang Jincheng under Ji You’s guidance had already settled; no one spoke of it specially, and with many in seclusion, the place felt quieter than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on a certain cloudless early summer day, a brilliant golden light suddenly shot into the sky, instantly scattering the vast clouds, causing countless disciples to look up—watching as identical golden inscriptions rained down in all directions, humming continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it flew away, golden mist sparkled in the sky, scattering with the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the entire inner courtyard buzzed with chatter; from dawn until afternoon, voices rushed from mouth to mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An edict from the Heavenly Book Academy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—it’s a joint edict from the Seven Immortal Sects.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The date for the Dao Assembly has been set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao Assembly’s date was jointly decided by the Seven Immortal Sects based on the condition of the ancient sages’ enlightenment sites; cultivators across Qingyun had long awaited this moment—and now the result was finally revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three months from now, the Dao Assembly will be held. The edict contained only these dozen or so characters, then scattered with the wind across the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this matter had little to do with the outer courtyard, it still drew immense attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the inner courtyard disciples cared most—and they knew the most details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, this Dao Assembly grants each Immortal Sect fifteen slots, each century-old clan five, and each qualified Immortal Estate one additional slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This has been the Dao Assembly’s standard practice for years; if the number weren’t limited, so many cultivators would need to fight one by one—even until next year, they’d never finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once slots were capped, the question became: who within each sect or clan would be chosen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after the edict appeared, the Heavenly Book Academy’s Administrative Hall and Elder Council began deliberating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone proposed the slots be decided by nomination—meaning the senior leaders would vote to select the fifteen individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Yan, chief elder of the Bucephalus Hall, was among the representatives and proposed that combat strength alone shouldn’t be the criterion; instead, they should select disciples who best embodied the Heavenly Book Academy’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Fang speaks wisely—but what kind of disciple truly embodies the Heavenly Book Academy’s path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally, those who cultivate pure Dao arts through spellcraft. Those who rely on body refinement to forcibly boost combat power—those who violate the Dao—sending them would only bring shame upon our academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the heads of the Administrative Hall on the right exchanged glances, thinking: if only pure Dao cultivators may compete, Elder Fang might as well just name Ji You outright as ineligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He isn’t a pure Dao cultivator—he refines both body and sword. This is clearly aimed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the three couldn’t help but recall Ji You teaching Lu Hanyan sword art and beating Fang Jincheng into the dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Elder Fang had said nothing—only calmly remarked that private duels were forbidden in the academy, and since both were first-time offenders, it wouldn’t happen again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, some even praised Elder Fang for his broad-mindedness, noble character, and impartiality—only now did they realize he’d been waiting for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most cruelly, Elder Fang wasn’t waiting for Lu Hanyan—he was waiting for Ji You, standing behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet most elders supported Elder Fang’s proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Dao Assembly slots were extremely precious—each represented a chance to enter the ancient sages’ enlightenment sites and awaken the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone couldn’t compete and a slot opened up, everyone naturally hoped it would be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had been Chu He instead of Ji You who entered the inner courtyard, they’d never do this—after all, Chu He’s back was a thousand-year clan, hailed as the Eighth Immortal Sect, whose depth and status were unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ji You had no one backing him, and he acted so recklessly; to everyone, it was better he not compete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What right does a country bumpkin private cultivator have to occupy an Immortal Sect slot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, nomination favored them directly—it added another Tongxuan slot, giving their own disciples or family nephews a chance to compete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was: the Dao Assembly was for the outside world, not for internal politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Rong spoke up: “The Dao Assembly is a contest between the Seven Immortal Sects and the world’s clans. The competitors must have sufficient win rates—this concerns our academy’s prestige. Nomination is inappropriate; it risks misjudgment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Yan glanced at him: “I disagree, Qin Director. Even excluding body refiners and sword cultivators, our academy still has countless prodigies—do you think we’d lose to disciples from other sects or clans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all—but since the goal is to win the Dao Assembly, why not first hold a tournament within the academy? The victor naturally earns the slot—wouldn’t that be better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That method is fine, but what if someone wins through unorthodox means?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Rong looked up: “A thousand years ago, the Seven Sages were as close as brothers—what is there to call ‘unorthodox’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Yan’s face darkened: “Then just don’t compete at all. If we’re all one family, just hand the slots to others—it’d save us effort, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Hetong and Ji Jingyao glanced at him: “Qin, why are you defending Ji You so fiercely today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is for the academy’s prestige—not for anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Rong turned to them: “Twenty-five years, five Dao Assemblies—I’ve handled them all. Do you know our Heavenly Book Academy, honored as a Sacred Sect, has always ranked third in win rate? Must we let the world think this ‘Sacred Sect’ title is a joke?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Hetong looked at him: “We’re merely executors—how can you override Elder Fang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care who competes—but the disciples we send must be the strongest. Otherwise, we’ll become a laughingstock.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In past years, we never sent the so-called strongest—only those closest to us. My Administrative Hall is beneath the Elder Council; the final decision rests with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Rong knew this well—and couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet just as Elder Fang was about to make the final decision, footsteps suddenly sounded at the meeting hall’s door…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao Assembly edict shimmered for a full day; the announcement of the Heavenly Book Academy’s preliminary selection rules was posted on two notice boards: one beside the Awakening Ground’s west side, and one beside the inner courtyard’s Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove’s south side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early the next morning, countless students gathered around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Dao Assembly preliminary will be held as a tournament challenge: students may register for three days; after the deadline, total numbers will be tallied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For each realm—Tongxuan, Rongdao, Yingtian, Wujiang—a separate arena will be set up, with matches proceeding in sequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student matches are for Tongxuan and Rongdao; the elder matches are for Yingtian and Wujiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Student matches are public, held on the Ascension White Jade Platform; elder matches occur within the inner courtyard and are not open to the public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contestants may choose whether to become arena champions; anyone who survives five rounds earns a Dao Assembly slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A tournament? I thought the slots were chosen by inner courtyard elders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the Left Qiu Hall Master personally intervened, so they adopted nomination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In past Dao Assemblies, our academy mostly chose slots by nomination, but our results were always poor—setting up a tournament isn’t surprising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard other clans are doing the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shengjing, talk of the Dao Assembly preliminaries swirled everywhere; many capital clans hoped their sponsored or allied disciples would win, so they debated endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chong Prince’s mansion even held a banquet, inviting all disciples they sponsored or associated with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So on registration day, the Administrative Hall was flooded with applicants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet most students showed little enthusiasm for becoming the first-round arena champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the first to step forward must be highly skilled and utterly confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So most waited to observe others’ strength—or hoped to wait until the obviously powerful had claimed their slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ji You left the inner courtyard and went to the Administrative Hall—his purpose, naturally, was to register and become the first arena defender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After refining his body, he’d only been punching air—he truly needed a real fight. This suited him perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ji You had always known many in the academy disliked him, and the Dao Assembly slots were so precious they wouldn’t be easy to win—someone might try to block him in the preliminaries. Yet surprisingly, the Administrative Hall approved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Registration is naturally allowed. The Heavenly Book Academy always upholds fairness and justice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You glanced outside at these words and saw the sun hadn’t risen in the west—he thought: that’s a bold boast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Qin paid no mind to his small gestures, instead gazing at the scroll and murmuring: “You may register and defend the arena—but the Elder Council has a condition you must accept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it wouldn’t be simple. What’s the condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Contestants represent the Heavenly Book Academy’s prestige. You must display our disciples’ demeanor—not glorify another sect’s ways.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3716,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e596ba22494df895bac6c0d17e8fbb67d7f7389556bce3d3c6cb50fc83949f39","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-210","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-208",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]