Chapter 222: Arrival of the Jianzhu

The cultivators who arrived at the Garden of Sages subsequently had not stopped, already showing a trend of swarming.

So much so that the Garden of Sages, which still seemed vast to the point of emptiness in the early morning, was now full of figures everywhere, and they were everywhere among the mountains, lakes, and pavilions.

The cultivators who arrived early like Ji You were also strolling at this time, looking at these newly arrived noble families and discussing them, and there were also some who were related by marriage, paying respects to each other as they came and went.

Just at this time, Ji You, who had not yet succeeded in his venture, walked near the lake island and heard a clattering sound, so he couldn't help but turn his head to look.

Coming toward him was an army clad in iron armor, holding long knives, all of them lined up in order, appearing neatly and uniformly on the white jade stone road, marching forward with expressionless faces.

And during their march, the full-body armor plates collided with each other, clattering, conveying a trace of murderous aura, causing other cultivators to stop and watch.

There were many soldiers in Great Xia, but for those who could have such momentum, none other than the Zhenbei Army.

The sunlight at this time was still quite brilliant, and after shining on these smooth iron armors, it was reflected, making it so bright that people couldn't open their eyes.

"Sure enough, the Zhenbei Army is also coming to participate."

Ji You had heard Xiang Kuangcheng mention this matter before coming, so he didn't feel surprised.

After all, the Zhenbei Army was the only place apart from noble families and Xian Sects that allowed commoners to cultivate immortality.

And following the Zhenbei Army as they walked past, there were also dozens of carriages.

Ji You saw Prince Chong, Zhao Yunyue, and Wei Rui on these carriages.

Wei Rui waved lightly when she saw him, while Zhao Yunyue's brows were tightly furrowed, and she quickly turned her gaze back.

Ji You was already accustomed to this, feeling that this was the pressure he should bear for his appearance...

He turned his gaze to the rear, seeing a golden carriage coiled with dragons, guarded by countless Imperial Guards, and the person sitting inside was undoubtedly the Emperor of Great Xia.

The Emperor, who lived alone in the deep palace, should have nothing to do on weekdays, so it was normal to come and join in the fun.

When he watched "The Travels of Kangxi," Kangxi even went to the mines to join in the fun, moving stones to play.

Following them were the officials of the Si Xian Jian.

Watching and watching, Ji You's eyes lit up, and he discovered Xiang Kuangcheng, who was riding in a carriage with Deputy Supervisor Peng Dongyang.

Xiang Kuangcheng also saw him and couldn't help but wave to him: "Brother Ji."

Ji You looked up at him: "Are you also staying in the Garden of Sages?"

"Yes, the Si Xian Jian is responsible for this Heavenly Dao Assembly, and I will live in Taiping Garden with my colleagues. After putting down my luggage in a while, I will come to find you."

"If you can't find me, go to Rusheng Garden."

Peng Dongyang also slightly leaned and arched his hands on the moving carriage: "Welcome Young Master Ji to be a guest in Taiping Garden."

Ji You nodded, exchanged greetings with him, then watched them go far away, and then heard a burst of clamor in his ears, so he turned his head and looked back again.

At this time, a black carriage as tall as a mountain drove past on the white jade stone road, with a flag hanging high above, with the two characters "Xuanyuan" written on it.

This carriage was covered by gauze curtains, inside which was a man's figure, sitting cross-legged.

From the surrounding discussions, Ji You learned that the person sitting in this carriage was Chu Xian, the outer-surname personal disciple of the Xuanyuan Immortal Mansion.

Looking at the carriage's form and momentum, it was already comparable to the specifications of a Deputy Abbot.

This made Ji You think of the personal disciple Yuanchen, who didn't even have his own carriage and was driven by his own sister to share a carriage with the fellow disciples in the sect; clearly both were personal Holy Sons, but the face was too different.

But thinking about it, it was also normal.

The Pill Sect had no combat power and didn't want to be eye-catching in the first place, so naturally, they wouldn't choose such an eye-catching way of traveling.

At this time, He Lingxiu and others also came from Rusheng Garden, looking at this carriage, and walked to Ji You's side.

Xian Sect personal disciples were the real big shots; even they, these Immortal Hall personal disciples, had to look up, their eyes filled with complexity.

The Heavenly Tian Shuyuan had no personal disciples, so naturally, it lacked some face.

And following them, there was also a carriage of the Chen Clan Xian race, with a stone tablet embroidered on the flag dancing in the wind, which was the Holy Artifact Dao Tablet they held.

Sitting inside were the Dragon-Phoenix personal disciples who were going to participate this time, Chen Luo and Chen Xi.

He Lingxiu, Shi Junhao, and others looked at them carefully, even secretly using their spiritual sense to feel the aura emitted by this pair of sisters.

Because these two personal disciples were going to participate in the war, they were very likely to meet.

"The aura is very strong, somewhat tricky..."

"Although it's not being cowardly before the battle, I still hope not to meet these two in the early stages."

He Lingxiu nodded with a solemn gaze, then looked at Ji You: "Why is Ji Shidi Ji here?"

Ji You put away his long sword: "I intended to do some small business with no cost, but it turned out no one came."

He Lingxiu didn't care much about what he was doing, didn't think carefully about how to do business, and changed the subject: "The Qiu family has also come, and they just sent me a message saying they want to come and pay a visit tonight. Since Ji Shidi Ji has nothing to do anyway, why not go with me to see them?"

"Why is Ding Shijie bringing up old matters again?"

"Anyway, Miss Yuan is not here, and after traveling for a day, I see she is very obedient to you, so she won't stop Ji Shidi from taking a concubine."

He Lingxiu had indeed been observing his interaction with Yuan Caiwei along the way, from the start of the journey, to dining on the way, and then to parting.

To be honest, she was somewhat surprised.

Because she hadn't seen Yuan Caiwei and Ji You interact before, and always thought that with the identity of the Pill Sect's daughter, although she liked Ji You, she would probably have a kind of arrogance in her bones.

But what she didn't expect was that Yuan Caiwei was very obedient when facing him, simply saying whatever he said.

That kind of behavior didn't look like a proper wife, but rather like a concubine who didn't quarrel or make trouble.

So He Lingxiu felt that since the proper wife was so gentle and virtuous, the matter between the Qiu family and Ji You might not really be without a start.

For noble families of cultivators, reproduction has always been the top priority, especially since Ji You's noble family currently only had him, so he would definitely take a concubine, and not just one.

Most men in the world are like this; no matter how serious they are, they will follow after being persuaded a few more times.

Not to mention Ji Shidi Ji's flesh is powerful... finding a sister for the Pill Sect's daughter, she would definitely be grateful.

And the Qiu family relied on their He family; if this matter could really be accomplished, not only could they recruit someone with extraordinary talent who was very likely to enter the Responding to Heaven Realm, but they could also establish a deeper bond with the Pill Sect through the sister relationship.

The key problem is that the rumor that Ji You's constitution can pass on generations can also be verified through the Qiu family.

If it is true, He Lingxiu also wants to leave some of his things in her belly; a hundred years later, it will be another super noble family comparable to the Xian Sect, just like the stunning Chu family.

Ji You laughed after hearing her words, thinking to himself that the Pill Sect's daughter is indeed obedient, but Ding Shijie, please don't mess with me; you don't know that the big one in my family is about to come.

I am currently at risk of being poked to death; you are not playing matchmaker now, but holding the Book of Life and Death to hook my name.

He Lingxiu was not in a hurry when she saw he didn't respond.

The Heavenly Dao Assembly will last for a long time, and there will always be opportunities to bring them together; as for matters between men and women, it is always easier to talk after meeting.

She thought to herself, and then saw several cultivators walk in front of her, arching their hands and bowing.

"Fairy He."

A man with a crown like jade held a folding fan, slightly revealing a smile toward her.

He Lingxiu raised her eyes upon hearing the sound: "Young Master Xu, long time no see."

The Xu family was a marriage-allied noble family of the Shan Hai Pavilion, with a higher status than ordinary noble families.

Both noble families now had ideas to let the two become Daoist partners, but He Lingxiu was still considering this matter, because this Young Master Xu's strength was still a bit behind hers, and breaking through to the Merging Dao Realm was far off.

However, low strength also had its benefits, which was that it was easy to control.

And apart from this Young Master Xu, there were other people who also came to greet Shi Junhao, Xiao Hanyan, Chai Ze, Yu Shiliu, and others at this time.

However, as they chatted, they discovered that the uncles and elders who had gathered in Rusheng Garden just now had all come here, and then looked toward the gate tower.

"Why have all the uncles and elders come out?"

"That person from Spirit Sword Mountain has arrived."

"?"

Ji You originally felt bored and intended to leave, but before he could lift his step, he heard this sentence, so he turned his head to look in the direction of the gate tower.

The departure time of Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu was not a secret, and the arrival time could naturally be calculated.

This was the only different personal disciple, holding a Holy Artifact, actually already having no difference from the Abbot's identity.

Especially since she had just entered the Boundless Realm, being the focus of attention was inevitable.

He Lingxiu, Shi Junhao, and others looked around, finding that many people had suddenly appeared around them, and even those figures they couldn't see before had all come here, watching the direction of the Garden of Sages.

Xiang Kuangcheng and Wei Rui also came, but they didn't come for this, but to find Ji You.

However, when they came to Ji You, seeing everyone looking in one direction, the two of them couldn't help but look over.

"Brother Ji, what are you looking at?"

"The tsundere ghost has come."

"?"

At this time, the setting sun fell, and under everyone's gaze, a carriage from Lingjian Mountain finally appeared in front of the gate tower, slowly driving onto the white jade stone road.

This carriage was red throughout, covered by gauze curtains, and the wooden railings carved on it were complex and magnificent, every line smooth and vigorous.

Through the hanging gauze curtains, everyone could see a clear figure inside, and that figure was also sitting cross-legged like the previous personal disciples who had passed, the figure vague, making it impossible for people to see the full picture.

But everyone knew that the person sitting inside was the Little Jianzhu who had just broken through the realm.

As the carriage drove past on the white jade stone road, everyone's gaze moved with it, and before long, it came to the front of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan group.

Wei Rui was standing between Ji You and Xiang Kuangcheng at this time, also looking up like others.

She was not a cultivator, but she had also heard the great name of Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu, and naturally felt some curiosity in her heart, but as she watched, her beautiful eyes suddenly froze.

Because she found the shadow cast from the carriage very familiar.

The Wei family's daughter pondered for a long time, then turned her head to look at Ji You.

He Lingxiu was also looking at that figure with burning eyes at this time, her eyes revealing a trace of reverence and longing.

Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu was almost the appearance that all female cultivators in the world longed to become, with extraordinary talent, deep realm, and holding a Holy Artifact; even someone like He Lingxiu was no exception.

And Xiao Hanyan and Yu Shiliu were all the same.

As the tall carriage drove past the road, that figure gradually approached, high above, hazy and misty.

However, as she watched, He Lingxiu suddenly found that the figure who had been motionless in the carriage curtain just now suddenly turned her head, as if she was specifically looking at the direction where they were through the curtain.

Ji You was leaning on the stone railing at this time, quietly watching this scene.

It had been half a year since the New Year, and this figure had indeed become thinner; it was probably because she had no mind to eat while in seclusion charging the realm.

Now that she had finally entered the Boundless Realm, she could probably breathe a sigh of relief.

And apart from looking at that figure, he also looked at a black shadow in the corner of the carriage frame.

That was a flower pot, on which there was a wheat ear; from the shadow, one could know that this wheat ear was the same size as an ordinary wheat ear, not as exaggerated as the one Yuan Caiwei had cultivated.

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi was not as professionally matched as Yuan Caiwei; with her restless nature, it was not easy for her to raise it so robustly.

Ji You watched her drive past him, and saw that figure quietly turn her head back.

Following the carriage were the Lingjian Mountain disciples who had followed, and including the participating disciples and the accompanying disciples, there were also over a hundred.

Among them were relatively familiar faces, such as Yan Shujing and Zhuang You, who had defeated two direct disciples when asking the Dao at the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan that day.

And there were some whose beards and hair were all white, one of whom was very familiar to Ji You, which was Lingjian Mountain's Sword Dao Head Qi Zhengyang.

In addition, there was another one, a man with disheveled long hair, walking on the east side of the crowd.

He was originally holding a large sword, with a profound and unpredictable appearance, walking expressionlessly, his posture transcendent, far surpassing other disciples.

However, after seeing Ji You and Xiang Kuangcheng by the roadside, he couldn't hold it together, then coughed, and cast his gaze elsewhere.

Ji You narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself that this sand sculpture Gong Shu Chou was probably here to collect material again...

Damn it, he hadn't had a chance to settle the score with him about the tail last time.

The Lingjian Mountain disciples also lived in Rusheng Garden, so they were in the same direction as Ji You and others, but it was not only the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan people who returned, but also cultivators from other gardens, who also looked like they had come to join in the fun.

After crossing the stone tablet with "Sun Rising in the East" written on it, the Lingjian Mountain disciples who had come from afar all headed toward the west courtyard of Rusheng Garden.

The accompanying crowd stopped at the fork in the east and west courtyards, gazing at that carriage slowly stopping in front of the pavilion.

Within his line of sight, a woman dressed in bright red immortal robes, wearing a glazed immortal crown, lifted the carriage curtain at this moment, then stepped down and came to the front of the pavilion.

Everyone watched with bated breath, thinking she would walk into the pavilion without looking back, but didn't expect her to suddenly pause, then look back toward the direction where everyone was, only then stepping and disappearing behind the door.

Seeing this look back, everyone was stunned for a moment, then looked at each other, their eyes revealing a trace of confusion.

The only difference was the astonished Wei Rui and the baring-teeth Xiang Kuangcheng.

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi could use the Spirit Mirror to erase all the Heavenly Secrets related to herself, and those who had not reached the Spirit Travel Realm could not detect it at all.

This was why Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi had stayed at the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan for a whole winter, often going out to stroll and shop, but in everyone's mouth, it was still as vague as "there is a woman in Ji You's courtyard."

But what everyone didn't know was that she actually made a very bold decision.

That was that she didn't erase it for Xiang Kuangcheng and Wei Rui, but let them remember her clearly.

Xiang Kuangcheng had some psychological preparation, not like Wei Rui who was completely stunned, but recalling the moment of being the focus of everyone's attention earlier, he still couldn't help but tremble in his heart.

A good body really conquered the world, actually making such a big...

Ji You watched him calmly, signaling to take Wei Rui away, so the three of them returned to Ji You's house.

After Wei Rui sat down, she still felt somewhat shaken, and after a long silence, she spoke: "Young Master Ji, was that Sister Yan?"

Ji You nodded: "Yes..."

"Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu?"

"Hmm."

Wei Rui reached out and grabbed Xiang Kuangcheng's lapel, looking up at him.

Xiang Kuangcheng couldn't help but hold his breath, not because of Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu, but because Wei Rui was about to shrink into his arms after hearing this.

Ji You poured a pot of tea for the two of them at this time: "Don't talk nonsense, although no one will believe it even if you say it."

"Young Master Ji is too much."

"What's wrong?"

Wei Rui tugged at Xiang Kuangcheng's lapel: "It would be better not to know this kind of thing; once I know it, I want to say it out. Why did Sister Yan want me to know about this?!"

Ji You poured tea for them: "She naturally has her reasons for doing this."

At the same time, Lingjian Mountain disciples moved into the east courtyard one after another, coming and going, figures constant.

And the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan people were all gazing in the courtyard of the west courtyard, watching this scene, all holding tea and not speaking.

The relationship between Lingjian Mountain and the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan was not good; this was a well-known thing. Now living in the same garden, although not in the same area, the atmosphere was still somewhat subtle.

He Lingxiu: I don't know why this Lingjian Mountain Little Jianzhu looked at me just now.

Shi Junhao: What was the meaning of looking at me?

Xiao Hanyan: She specifically looked at me; could it be that she was analyzing my combat power?

Everyone sat at the tea table for a long time, and after that, they didn't see Lingjian Mountain's Little Jianzhu show up again, but they saw two graceful women appear in front of the beauty-leaning railing of the west courtyard small building.

"The Jianzhu still wants people to know about the Young Master's..."

Under the lamp light of the west courtyard small building, Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao had already tidied up, standing on the second floor at this time, also looking toward the opposite courtyard like the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan disciples, recalling in their minds the scene where the Jianzhu deliberately stopped and turned her head to look at those people earlier.

Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips: "It's normal to want the whole world to know after having a man she likes for the first time. Didn't she come back full of pride after biting her mouth last time?"

Ding Yao couldn't help but sigh softly: "But it's still a bit risky. There are so many cultivators in the Garden of Sages; maybe one day she will be discovered."

"It wouldn't be strange to be discovered unless the two don't meet, but do you really think the Jianzhu can endure not going to find the Young Master, not to mention..."

"Not to mention what?"

Zhuo Wanqiu lowered her voice: "Not to mention the Jianzhu likes excitement in the first place."

Ding Yao nodded, then her face changed: "Bad, I have to go back and watch the Jianzhu."

Zhuo Wanqiu turned her head in astonishment: "?"

Ding Yao's expression was serious: "There are too many gazes today, everyone is staring at the Jianzhu; I'm afraid she won't be able to help but go find the Young Master tonight."

Zhuo Wanqiu looked at her: "The Jianzhu is not a fool."

"Once a woman has someone she likes, she will likely become a fool, and the Jianzhu is no exception."

"Ding Shijie Ding, if the Jianzhu is determined to go, can you really stop her?"

"Then she has to go in the second half of the night; it's not dark yet."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 223 =====