Chapter 230

Ji You was much slower than Yan Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi; upon returning to the courtyard at this time, he heard a burst of string and bamboo music constantly sounding from the easternmost part of the east courtyard.

It was a private banquet.

The Immortal Gathering Banquet in the Sages Garden is nothing more than a public banquet for many cultivation families to meet or make contact, but in reality, very few people eat at the Immortal Gathering Banquet.

According to Brother Gongshu Chou, who was still a green youth fifteen years ago, the real places for drinking and making merry are the private banquets held by major families.

He He Lingxiu and the others should have all gone to attend private banquets, so much so that there wasn't a single light in the residence, as quiet as if no one was staying there.

Ji You returned to his residence at this time, opened the window, and looked out.

Today's moonlight is exceptionally bright, so much so that the courtyard is very illuminated.

He stood in front of the window gazing at the small building opposite, and before long, he saw a woman wearing a bright red nightgown flash by, and then the Little Xiao Jianzhu appeared in front of the second-floor window.

Her long hair was still wet, her beautiful face had the water-tenderness of a lotus emerging from water, and she gave Ji You a murderous look that made the bamboo facing her rustle, then turned into the room and picked up a small porcelain basin to hide in the corner.

This girl, she was fine when she went back, so how did she get provoked again?

Ji You stood in front of the window and pondered for a long time, remembering that it shouldn't be these few days, so he turned around in confusion and entered the room, flicking his finger to ignite the oil lamp.

As the candlelight flickered and ignited, the night color beside the desk was dispelled by half, and it was precisely by the dim light that Ji You noticed a document placed on his table.

He was slightly startled, then walked to the desk and reached out to pick up the document; after unfolding it, he discovered it was the list for the Profound Understanding Realm duels at this Heavenly Dao Assembly.

Wen Wen Siyuan is specifically responsible for Ji You's duels, so this document should have been sent by him.

Only the destitute have the habit of not locking the door when going out. Moreover, facing the powerful strength of cultivators, even locking the door doesn't have much significance. Wen Wen Siyuan should have seen that he wasn't there, so he left this document on the table.

Ji You carefully examined this document by the lamp, his eyes constantly wandering over the unfolded paper, and before long, he had finished reading the entire content of the document.

Actually, the content of this list isn't much; it's mainly that the names make one's eyes dazzled, and summarized, there are probably only two key points.

First is the tournament format of the Heavenly Dao Assembly, which adopts a six-into-one method.

There are many cultivators participating in the Profound Understanding Realm duels; adding the Immortal Sects and families together, there are a total of three hundred and sixty people, divided into sixty groups, with six people per group.

Within the group, a two-into-one method is adopted, with opponents decided by drawing lots; the three winners enter the second round within the group to continue two-into-one, where someone will have a bye and will have a substitute duel at the end.

Afterward, the one who wins at the end among these ten people will have a winner's duel with the other fifty-nine people for the two-into-one within the assembly.

The second key point is about Ji You's own duel; his first match is arranged for the day after tomorrow, and the person he is dueling against is named Tang Tang Jingming, a cultivator from a Central Province family who doesn't have much of a reputation.

Additionally, he specifically looked at the others in the same group; basically, there was no one particularly outstanding, and certainly no one specifically introduced by Ding Yao.

And his key sleep-inducing target, Yan Hao, was divided into another ten-person group.

Because the group ranking is higher, there happens to be a duel for Yan Hao tomorrow morning.

The tournament format for the Merging with the Dao Realm is roughly similar to that of the Profound Understanding Realm, basically following this process.

Ji You finished reading the document in his hand, then closed it and placed it on the desk, deciding to start cultivating.

But it wasn't to deal with opponents, mainly to be able to marry whoever he wanted, not afraid at all of anyone knowing.

However, just as he had set up his meditation cushion and decided to enter meditation to introspect, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded in the courtyard on the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan side.

Ji You opened his eyes slightly and heard the footsteps slowly approaching.

Before long, a burst of "bang bang bang" knocking sounded; Ji You got up from the bed, then opened the door from inside the room, and looking up, he saw He He Lingxiu standing outside his door.

"Ding Shijie He, it's so late, is something the matter?"

"I am hosting a small banquet at the Water Pavilion in the garden with a few private friends and other fellow disciples. Seeing that Ji Shidi returned early, I specifically came to ask if you would like to come and have a drink together."

As He He Lingxiu spoke, she pointed to the Listening Fragrance Water Pavilion to the east of the east courtyard; that was the place Ji You saw when he first entered the courtyard.

Ji You looked at He He Lingxiu at this time and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

He He Lingxiu also couldn't help but look at him with a half-smile: "What is Ji Shidi laughing at?"

"Miss Qiu is also there, right? I am laughing at Ding Shijie's truly great perseverance."

"Ji Shidi is truly intelligent. Alright, then I won't hide it from you; Miss Qiu is indeed also a guest at the Water Pavilion."

Actually, He He Lingxiu originally wanted to let Ji You and Miss Qiu, Qiu Hanyue, meet at the Immortal Gathering Banquet; in a situation with many people, the two wouldn't be too constrained, but after she found Qiu Hanyue, she couldn't find Ji You when she turned back to look for him.

She even asked Shi Shi Junhao and Xiao Lu Hanyan to specifically keep an eye on Ji You for her, little knowing that Ji You was dining in the private courtyard where idlers are forbidden at that time.

So He He Lingxiu planned to let the two meet at the private banquet, which is why she came draped in the night.

Earlier, when they were sitting in the courtyard, Yu Yu Shiliu had once speculated treasonously about the relationship between Ji You and the Little Xiao Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain; He He Lingxiu felt that what she said made some sense, but she didn't believe it.

Because the two people with a difference of clouds and mud in status being arranged together like this was truly too outrageous.

But the boasting that Brother Gongshu Chou did for Ji You only strengthened He He Lingxiu's intention to win over Ji You.

Qiu Hanyue is still considered a beauty, small and lovely; He He Lingxiu felt that with Ji You's reputation of having a mountain of fiancées, it couldn't be a case of no wind, no waves, thinking that he just kept his mouth shut tightly, but would accept it once he saw the person.

Ji You leaned against the door frame at this time, looking at He He Lingxiu with his arms crossed: "With Ding Shijie He recommending with such determination, that Miss Qiu must be a very good woman, but I, Ji Shidi, truly don't have this thought."

"Ji Shidi is truly stubborn..."

"I know Ding Shijie has good intentions. If you need my help with anything in the future, I will definitely not refuse."

Actually, for men in the Qingyun world, the position of the main wife indeed needs to be carefully considered, because this concerns the future of the family and the continuation of the main bloodline.

But many people have never had concerns about taking concubines, because it is just each taking what they need.

Just like her father, who has eight concubines, but only two or three actually live in his courtyard day and night.

He He Lingxiu really doesn't understand why Ji You is biting his teeth so tightly, when Yuan Yuan Caiwei is clearly so well-behaved.

She was thinking when she suddenly heard a burst of splashing water sound from the opposite courtyard, so she turned her head to take a look, and by the time she turned back, Ji You was already standing very straight.

He He Lingxiu didn't pay much attention and sighed: "Ji Shidi is truly stubborn; I really haven't seen anyone so cautious about just taking a concubine."

"This is a matter of life and death for me."

"?"

Ji You raised his eyes slightly and saw a beautiful figure flash by pitter-pattering.

He He Lingxiu actually has a temper too; having been refused so many times, she felt she couldn't save face, so she turned and left without saying anything more.

Following the night, she returned to the Listening Fragrance Water Pavilion; just after sitting down, she discovered that one person was missing from the table, and after a closer look, she realized that it was Qiu Hanyue who had left.

Her brow couldn't help but furrow, and finally, she picked up her wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

At this moment, she suddenly frowned and looked toward the distance, and Shi Shi Junhao, Xiao Lu Hanyan, Chai Ze, and the remaining Profound Understanding Realm cultivators also noticed the anomaly at the same time and looked in all directions.

Also looking up at this moment was Ji You, who was standing in front of his residence.

At that time, his eyes were filled with rich gold, constantly looking into the distance under the night, capturing the flow of spiritual energy.

Someone is attempting to break through their realm, and not just one person.

After the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan decided on the quota for participating in the Heavenly Dao Assembly, Qin Zhangshi Qin of the Management Tian Shuyuan specifically gathered them together; besides talking about some matters that needed extra attention, he also talked about another matter that made everyone frown.

He said that after the list is issued, even if someone breaks through their realm during the entire duel period, they will continue to duel according to the existing list.

So many people, in order to increase their winning percentage, will not break through when they should, but will desperately suppress their cultivation base before the match, until after the list is issued, to quickly charge the realm.

Don't look at it as just a difference of one step, but after breaking through the Profound Understanding Realm, it is Merging with the Dao; these are two completely different realms, and the difference in strength can be said to be worlds apart.

And just tonight, quite a few people have already started to impatiently charge their realms in secret.

Because of the Dao practiced, the techniques passed down, and their own aptitude, the combat power of cultivators in the same realm already differs, and now if a portion of them successfully breaks through, it will bring even more unpredictable variables to the duels of the Heavenly Dao Assembly.

Ji You withdrew his gaze, the golden light in his eyes also began to fade, then he returned to his residence, closed the doors and windows, and started body refinement.

The next morning, there was no rising red sun, nor was there morning light falling; instead, there were continuous gusts of wind, making the window lattices rattle.

Ji You opened his eyes from the bed at this time, surrounded by a pile of mosquito corpses.

These mosquitoes should have been attracted by his body temperature, and then trapped by the aura around him; they couldn't bite in, and couldn't escape, and were stifled to death.

He got up from the bed and heard a burst of noisy sounds, so he looked out and found that He He Lingxiu, Xiao Lu Hanyan, and the others had also gotten up and gone out, and were walking toward the outside of Rusheng Garden.

Some of them were participating in today's duels, while others had people they were concerned about participating in duels, and they all had to rush to the competition venue at this moment.

Ji You closed the window, then took a bath; after washing up and tying his hair crown, he also pushed the door and went out after breakfast.

Ji You didn't have a duel today, but his specially concerned sleep-inducing target did.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Zhuo Wanqiu both suggested he should be cautious, and Ji You didn't want to be too arrogant, so he should watch if he should watch, at least to have a count in his heart.

Ji the Bandit thought of Yan Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi at this time and couldn't help but look toward the opposite side.

He had slept for about two hours after body refinement last night, and had a slightly dream; it was Yan Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi's one-woman show, a bit miserable.

He actually has quite good control over lust, but it was probably because the kissing in the bamboo forest was a bit excessive, which induced the dream.

But it doesn't matter, anyway, no one knows.

Ji You stepped out, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he felt a cool breeze hitting his face.

There are few opportunities to feel cool in summer, which means it should rain today.

Ji You looked up and could already see dark clouds gathering in the sky.

Should Instructor Cao and the others have come today?

He felt sorry for the silver; it was understandable that they didn't come the past two days, but the Heavenly Dao Assembly was about to start, so they shouldn't delay any further.

There was also the Long Long Xiandi; the family disciples participating had already come, and he had caught a glimpse of a few at yesterday's Immortal Gathering Banquet, but neither he nor the head of the Bai family had come; he didn't know what matter had delayed them.

Ji You closed his clothes slightly and stepped into the courtyard.

At this time, two young women were sitting in the courtyard, right at the stone table where they usually drank tea and chatted; one was wearing a water-blue wide-sleeved immortal dress, and the other was wearing a flower-scattered smoke gauze shirt, both seventeen or eighteen years old, looking still a bit immature.

Seeing these two, Ji You felt a bit confused.

Because those living in Rusheng Garden were either Heavenly Tian Shuyuan disciples or Lingjian Mountain disciples, and he had never seen these two women before, and today the competition had already started, so there shouldn't be anyone coming to visit.

And as Ji You came into the courtyard, the two young women couldn't help but stand up, and after hesitating for a moment, they walked toward him.

Seeing this scene, Ji You understood that these two were looking for him.

But Ji You didn't recognize them, felt very strange about the appearance of the two, and was very sure they were strangers he had never seen before.

Because of the precedent of Fang Ruoming and Fang Fang Ruoyao, Ji You also searched for people he knew in his mind and found that there were no familiar facial features.

Just at this moment, the two women walked to his front and stood still, and then the woman wearing the water-blue wide-sleeved immortal dress spoke.

"Are you Ji You?"

"Yes, may I ask who the young lady is?"

"I am Qiu Hanyue."

Hearing this name, Ji You instantly understood; this was the Miss Qiu that He He Lingxiu had been wanting to introduce to him.

Immortal Gathering Banquet, Rusheng Garden private banquet, he hadn't intended to meet this Miss Qiu, and last night he had also spoken firmly to He He Lingxiu, thinking there shouldn't be any interaction in the future, but after turning around and around, he finally met her after all.

Ji You came back to his senses: "I don't know what matter Miss Qiu has come to find me for?"

"Ji You, I don't want to marry you."

Qiu Hanyue looked at him, her voice speaking a bit coldly: "I don't want to marry into Fengzhou, and I don't want others to say that I married a wild private cultivator. Can you let me go?"

This Miss Qiu is a proper young lady of an immortal sect; although the Qiu family is not powerful, she has also been well-fed and well-clothed since childhood, and those who grew up with her were also descendants of immortal sect noble families.

So in her world, she had always believed that she would eventually marry a descendant of a similar immortal sect.

It doesn't have to be a child of destiny with top-tier talent, it doesn't have to be a figure who stirs up wind and rain, but as long as he is good-looking and the family background is equal, that would be fine for her.

But what she didn't expect was that some time ago, the fairy from the He family came to their house to arrange a marriage for her.

The Qiu family was originally attached to the He family and the Master Zuoqiu family, so her father agreed happily on the spot.

She was actually old enough, just at the age of first love, and in her heart, she was vaguely looking forward to it.

But what she didn't expect was that the fairy from the He family wanted her to marry a wild private cultivator from Fengzhou who had no family background before, a descendant of a fallen landlord family in the mortal world.

She didn't want to marry into the poor and remote Fengzhou, and even less did she want to be discussed behind her back by others later.

Do you know? Miss Qiu married into Fengzhou.

Miss Qiu's husband is a wild private cultivator from Fengzhou.

A woman marrying far away is already a thing that makes people feel uneasy, let alone marrying like this.

If she heard those childhood playmates discuss her like that in the future, Qiu Hanyue felt she definitely couldn't stand it.

So last night, when she received the invitation from the He fairy to attend the banquet, and learned halfway through that she was going to find Ji You to come over, she ran away without a word.

As a result, after returning, she learned that her father was furious at this time and punished her by kneeling for half the night, telling her to go and apologize to the He fairy.

Her heart was in a mess; she came to Rusheng Garden early this morning and happened to run into the He fairy who was about to go to the competition, but found that the other party didn't even look at her and left gracefully with a dark face.

Actually, the He fairy's anger was partly because Ji You really didn't give face, not entirely because she had left without permission.

In He He Lingxiu's view, meeting wasn't the same as marrying immediately, but Ji You didn't even agree to this request, which was truly not giving her face.

This is actually a very normal thought; if it were someone else, they would think the same, feeling that Ji You was a bit too heartless.

But where would she know that there was a jealous person living on the opposite floor, and one who couldn't be beaten by anyone.

But for Qiu Hanyue, she didn't know the twists and turns; what she thought was that last night He He Lingxiu invited Ji You over, but found that she had run away without a word, which was why she was so furious.

She knew the situation of the Qiu family, and also knew that the He family, as a high-level family, must not be offended.

But she just looked down on Fengzhou, just didn't want to marry into that poor and remote place that was said to be hated by people and ghosts, and even less did she want to have no face to return home to visit friends in the future.

So Qiu Hanyue came up with a plan, deciding to bypass He He Lingxiu and go directly to Ji You to persuade him to let her go.

Because she didn't know what kind of person Ji You was, or what his temper and disposition were, she also called her close friend Huang Rou, who was also a young lady of a family, to come and bolster her courage.

After all, in this Qingyun world, it is not uncommon for people to have the idea of forming a marriage, only to have the other party demand things.

At this moment, Qiu Hanyue looked at Ji You, hoping to use the most determined attitude and the worst tone to make him give up his interest in her.

And Ji You also knew now that He He Lingxiu wasn't just forcing him, but even playing both sides, playing better than him, the bandit.

"I can understand Miss Qiu's thoughts."

"No, you don't understand."

Qiu Hanyue looked at him: "Your background is different from ours; you are not in the family relationships, so you don't know how hard this is for me to accept."

Ji You heard the sound and spoke: "This matter will definitely not happen, because I clearly refused Ding Shijie He last night and also spoke firmly. Miss Qiu, rest assured, I will definitely not marry you."

"?"

Qiu Hanyue heard the sound and was slightly startled, feeling a bit caught off guard.

She and Ji You had never met, so naturally, she didn't know what thoughts he had in his heart.

But since she knew the other party wanted to marry her, the first thought was that the other party was interested in her, which is not strange.

Miss Qiu is a beauty and has great confidence in herself, so she hadn't expected that Ji You would have this attitude.

Women have always been like this; even if it is a man they don't know, hearing him say "I will definitely not marry you" to them, they will still feel a bit unhappy in their hearts.

Because in Miss Qiu's view, it should be that she looks down on the other party's family background, not that the other party looks down on her.

But even if she was unhappy, this result also met Miss Qiu's long-held wish, so her heart settled slightly, and that trace of disgust was easily covered by joy.

"Then shall we agree on this?"

"Agreed. Miss Qiu, rest assured. If there is nothing else, let's stop here."

"Okay..."

Watching Ji You walk away, Miss Qiu instantly revealed a smile: "Great, Rou'er, I don't have to marry a wild private cultivator."

Huang Rou nodded: "Didn't expect him to be quite easy to talk to."

"Probably also because my sentence about him being a wild private cultivator really hurt him; this is what I thought about how to say before I came, that is the thing he is most unable to show off."

"Since it's already over, don't think about it anymore. Let's go?"

"Mm."

Miss Qiu got what she wanted and left Rusheng Garden with her sister.

(End of chapter)