Chapter 257: Body Cultivation Is Irreversible

"Within the Sacred Ground of the Ancients, spiritual energy is abundant and the Dao is clear; even those with the worst talent should inevitably break through upon entering. Who could have imagined he entered exactly as he left?"

The Purple Bamboo Meditation Pavilion in the Inner Courtyard.

Shi Junhao, He Lingxiu, Yu Shiliu, Gu Ze Tao, and others gathered here.

The Heavenly Book Academy was not empty; disciples often moved about in the Outer Courtyard, so Ji You's return was quickly noticed, spreading like wildfire until it reached the Outer Courtyard and drifted into many ears.

The uproar over Ji You, a rural self-cultivator, claiming the top spot at the Heavenly Dao Assembly had not yet subsided when another wave arose.

He Lingxiu lifted her teacup: "Ji You's talent has always been exceptional—it must be some limitation holding him back, otherwise he wouldn't be this way."

Xiao Hanyan couldn't help but raise her eyes: "You mean his body cultivation?"

"Precisely. The Qingyun Realm has long held that those who become immortals release their spiritual souls to form immortal bodies; their physical forms cannot be overly robust, or else their resonance with the Dao would be restricted. He already expended tremendous effort to advance from Mid-Comprehension to Upper-Comprehension. Now, entering the Sacred Ground, his resonance with the Dao is likely gone."

"This... doesn't that mean his Immortal Path is severed?"

The path of cultivation relies entirely on resonance with the Dao, allowing one to perceive the laws of all things and condense them within oneself.

Once resonance with the Dao is lost, the Immortal Path reaches its end.

The Heavenly Book Academy has many disciples; their cultivation speed in the lower three realms is not slow, but due to low enlightenment talent and constant barriers to Dao resonance, each step becomes a hurdle, ultimately rendering them ordinary.

Yet what silenced everyone was not this well-known conclusion—Ji You clearly did not belong to this category.

His talent was extraordinarily strong; he had locked himself in through body cultivation.

Yu Shiliu couldn't help but turn her head toward Gu Ze Tao and Wang Gaocen.

In the past half-year since the Heavenly Dao Assembly, the images of their defeats had replayed endlessly in their minds, reducing their conversations.

Yet they often visited the Scripture Library to read texts on body cultivation.

Even without speaking, they understood each other—Ji You's sweeping dominance across the realm had shaken them deeply, unconsciously stirring their own thoughts.

But so far, they had only reached the stage of understanding, not yet attempting it.

Now, hearing their senior brothers and sisters discuss it, they instantly abandoned that idea.

"Could there be a way to remove the restriction this physical form imposes on the spiritual sense?"

Several Elders in the Elder Pavilion had also heard of Ji You's return and now stood within, discussing among themselves.

Elder Fang chuckled: "Body cultivation is an irreversible process—it cannot be undone. Even a thousand years ago, others walked this path; otherwise, so many body cultivation scriptures wouldn't have been left behind. Its decline alone proves the problem."

Elder Ge couldn't help but frown slightly: "Just what is Ji You up to?"

"His background limits him."

"?"

Elder Fang picked up the teacup on the table and gently scraped the floating foam with the lid: "He forced his way here through raw talent, but unlike aristocratic youths, no one taught him what to do next."

The Elders in the Pavilion instantly understood his meaning.

With Ji You's talent, if he had been born into an aristocratic family, he would have been nurtured as a seed.

His ancestors would have crafted a meticulous cultivation plan based on their own experience—what to do at each realm, which elixirs to take, down to the precise detail.

He would never have strayed onto the path of body cultivation.

But Ji You came from the countryside, with no ancestors to guide him; perhaps he picked up this habit of body cultivation before even entering the academy as a self-cultivator.

It did enhance his combat power, allowing him to win the Heavenly Dao Assembly, but the drawbacks are now unmistakable.

At this point, Elder Fang fell silent.

That he had reached Upper-Comprehension despite physical limitations made him realize just how immense Ji You's original talent must have been.

Had he never cultivated his body, he might not have taken first place at the Heavenly Dao Assembly—but he still likely would have made the top ten. After entering the Sacred Ground and emerging, his potential might have been truly boundless.

At that moment, the four characters "self-imprisonment" surfaced in their minds.

Equally troubled were Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and the Lu sisters, sitting in the courtyard.

Since returning from the Heavenly Dao Assembly, they had basked in Ji You's glory.

Cao Jinsong, once an obscure instructor, became one of the most sought-after figures in the Outer Courtyard; the Administration Office even swapped him Ding Ang's residence for a larger one.

He didn't really want to move—he'd always believed no nest, however humble, was better than a golden or silver one.

But as the instructor of the Heavenly Dao Assembly's top-ranked disciple, the Administration Office didn't want him living too shabbily.

As for the Lu family's second daughter, after entering the Inner Courtyard, she chose the Zizai Hall, sharing the same hall as He Lingxiu; though not a direct disciple, she could still access some basic techniques.

As for Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu, they spent their days cultivating in the courtyard, free from major worries.

Only recently had the sudden celestial anomalies and the appearance of demonic seeds stirred their hearts; during that time, they had returned to Fengzhou with Xiang Kuangcheng.

But as Mu Jing had told Ji You, Fengzhou was now garrisoned by the Northern Defense Army; although demonic seeds had appeared, no major chaos had erupted.

Yet seeing Ji You return, this calm suddenly shattered.

The news that Ji You had failed to break through had circulated for half a month; back then, Cao Jinsong had scoffed—but he never imagined it was true.

In the vast courtyard, everyone stared at Ji You as he sat down, their gazes gradually freezing.

Cao Jinsong was the first to speak.

"Worthless disciple, what did you do inside the Sacred Ground of the Ancients?"

"Cultivating."

Cao Jinsong's mouth twitched involuntarily: "After half a year, why are you still at Comprehension?"

Ji You rolled up his sleeves: "I was cultivating—but I was cultivating my body."

"You went into the Sacred Ground of the Ancients to cultivate your body?"

"A true man should have a strong body."

Cao Jinsong stared at him for a long time, his gaze suddenly turning serious: "Don't joke with me. Has your physical form restricted your Dao resonance? I told you before—body cultivation is not the true path."

Ji You had anticipated this interrogation and replied calmly: "I never intended to become an immortal. Combat power is what matters most to me. Body cultivation is the easiest path for me and the fastest way to increase my strength."

Cao Jinsong frowned: "Where did you get this theory? Did someone deceive you?"

"I reached this conclusion myself. Do you know body cultivation has its own realms?"

"?"

"At first, I took up body cultivation out of necessity—but later, I realized this path may not be unfeasible."

As he spoke, Ji You clenched his fist slightly, and a surge of aura began to radiate from his body.

A wave of searing heat washed over them; everyone held their breath, their body hairs standing on end as if facing a colossal beast.

Thud!

A muffled sound echoed—the five men all reached out to grip the stone table, feeling the overwhelming pressure before them, their eyes filled with disbelief.

When Ji You had released his aura during his Fusion Dao stage, Cao Jinsong had felt pressure—but he had remained composed.

But this time, the aura made him feel utterly powerless to resist.

After a long while, the searing aura slowly receded, and the five across from him instantly relaxed.

Cao Jinsong's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Compared to last time, he could feel his disciple's aura had truly surpassed every current realm.

When he first returned to the Heavenly Book Academy, he had been arrogant, even pointing fingers at Elders in the Elder Pavilion; some Elders had secretly grown angry, yet their pressure had never been this suffocating.

Cao Jinsong calmed himself and retracted the spiritual energy he'd used to resist: "So body cultivation truly has realms, and can be continuously broken through?"

"For now, yes."

"What realm are you at now?"

Ji You clenched his fist: "I'll find an Elder to beat up in a few days—you'll see."

Ban Yangshu glanced at Ji You: "Brother, are you giving up Dao cultivation entirely and walking only this path?"

"I haven't abandoned it—I'm just choosing what to keep and what to let go."

"But the claim that a powerful body restricts Dao resonance is no lie—can you still sense the Dao now?"

Upon hearing Ban Yangshu's words, Ji You's eyes slowly glowed with a golden hue; within moments, his pupils had turned molten gold, his spiritual sense flickering like unceasing flames.

Dao resonance requires enlightenment, but relies on spiritual sense. Theoretically, no matter how strong the body, as long as the spiritual sense remains superior, the connection to the Dao will never be fully sealed.

Besides body cultivation, Ji You had spent his time in the Sacred Ground refining his spiritual sense through sword-control techniques.

He had indeed decided to walk the body cultivation path—but he had not abandoned Dao enlightenment.

At that moment, Ji You noticed a pale, slender hand reaching out to pinch his biceps.

He turned his head and saw Sister Wen's gaze fixed on him, as if testing its hardness.

No wonder the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain was so formidable—even this strength could withstand it...

Wen Zhengxin recalled her parents' opportunistic matchmaking before the Heavenly Dao Assembly and thought: If I'd married him back then, I'd be dead now...

Ji You didn't know Wen Zhengxin's thoughts were so lewd; otherwise, he'd have told her: the stubborn little brat hasn't even dared to try yet.

Lu Qingqiu's thoughts were much the same, and on the way back, her teeth clenched, her eyes glistening.

She thought: If I ever get the chance, I'll be smashed to pieces...

Lu Hanyan, the Lu family's second daughter, also felt a flicker of worry.

She thought: Whether I marry him or my sister does, I'll still be flung away...

Amid these turbulent thoughts, the two sisters' minds filled with risqué imagery—somehow, they walked back to the courtyard without realizing it.

After a long while, Lu Qingqiu came to her senses, her cheeks flushed as she looked at her sister and saw her expression equally hesitant—she knew they were thinking the same thing.

Then, a letter on the table caught their attention.

It came from Yunzhou, written by their father, asking about their cultivation progress and conditions in the Inner Courtyard.

It also mentioned the situation in Yunzhou.

Demonic seeds had appeared in Yunzhou too, but thanks to the Spirit Stone Guild, they were dealt with swiftly; patrols had been sent to encircle the mining areas near the outbreaks.

They were still investigating the origin of these demonic seeds and had no leads yet; they asked Lu Qingqiu to keep an eye out for any information in the Heavenly Book Academy.

But what most caught Lu Qingqiu's attention was her father's mention of several young talents.

Some came from Qingzhou, others from Youzhou, claiming to be scions of noble families with impressive cultivation bases, and subtly hinted that she had reached marriageable age.

Seeing this, Lu Qingqiu furrowed her brow slightly.

When her sister competed in the Autumn Duel, their father had secretly signaled to her—he likely intended for her to find a way to marry Ji You.

But their father suddenly changed his mind and suggested other suitors to her, probably because it had become known that Ji You had emerged from the Sage Sanctuary without breaking through to a new realm.

Originally, the Elder Hall had allowed Ji You to concede so that her sister could enter the Heavenly Book Academy, precisely because they believed Ji You, having emerged from the Sage Sanctuary, would be immeasurable—a view nearly universal across the world.

Now, however, everyone likely believed that Ji You, who had failed to break through even within the Sage Sanctuary, had reached the end of his cultivation path.

The Qingyun Realm was always brutally pragmatic; this never surprised anyone.

Meanwhile, in Chunhua Alley.

Ji You left Cao Jingsong's courtyard, descended along the Nishan Sacred Path, and arrived at Kuangcheng's residence.

After so long apart, Kuangcheng's face lit up upon seeing Ji You again: "Brother Ji, you're back?"

Ji You stepped in with a refreshed air: "Where's my big fat nephew? Bring him out so Uncle can see him."

"Brother Ji, you're reckless…"

"I've been gone at least seven or eight months—don't tell me you and Wei Rui haven't done anything serious?"

Kuangcheng turned and entered his bedroom, retrieving two ledgers and placing them on the table.

"After the autumn harvest, I, along with several officials from Fengzhou, established the Wulü Trading Company. We used surplus grain to aid countless civilians from the other eight provinces, recruited others to migrate to Fengzhou, and built the pasture you previously mentioned. Several counties' major markets have also been merged under unified government control."

Ji You took the ledgers and flipped through them.

Damn, he'd done nothing but real work.

He knew Kuangcheng always took such matters seriously; entrusting him with this was correct.

The only regret was that he lacked the courage to father a child with Wei Rui.

Unlike him, he had already consulted the esteemed junior master of Lingjian Mountain about having children.

Kuangcheng sat down: "Outside, everyone's saying you didn't break through—what's going on?"

Ji You looked up and answered simply: "My path differs from theirs. My realm hasn't risen, but my body is stronger."

Kuangcheng relaxed: "Then I'm relieved—your body being strong is all that matters."

After spring, the barbarian army reappeared beyond the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Kuangcheng feared war might restart, so he inquired and learned the barbarian tribe's chieftain also had a daughter—though older and more robust in build.

Still, he trusted Ji You; he'd always believed his brother's charm could win over all ages.

Enduring burdens for the people's sake was nothing to fear.

Ji You set down the ledgers: "I heard from your colleagues that many things happened in the Qingyun Realm after I entered the Sage Sanctuary."

He had always been concerned about the strange omens and the emergence of evil seeds, but rumors contained both truth and falsehood, making it hard to discern.

He came to Kuangcheng now because, as an official of the Si Xian Jian, he should possess the most reliable information.

Kuangcheng had also been waiting for him regarding this matter; upon hearing him mention it, he took a map from a brown-red cabinet and placed it before Ji You.

It was a full map of the Nine Provinces, available in any shop, but marked with numerous remote regions where evil seeds had been confirmed to appear.

Kuangcheng looked at Ji You: "I think this matter is strange."

Ji You studied the map for a long while before speaking: "You mean the evil seeds appeared suddenly, but their origin is unknown?"

"You've noticed too, right? This resembles the Qiling incident."

"It doesn't seem like a natural disaster—it looks like man-made."

Kuangcheng nodded gravely: "Everything in this world has cause and effect. I believe someone did something to cause so many evil seeds to appear in the Qingyun Realm—just like that demon from the Zheng family. Too bad Dou Yuankong went mad and can't speak; otherwise, there might have been clues."

Ji You had personally encountered these evil seeds and knew investigating them directly would yield nothing.

The only lead now was Dou Yuankong, the one rescued.

On his way back, Ji You had considered visiting Dou Yuankong, but after much thought, he decided against it.

Dou Yuankong had been like this because Ji You left the capital. Though he brought it upon himself, now reduced to this state, the Dou family surely wouldn't want to see him.

Ji You looked up: "Madness suggests a spiritual soul issue. Do you think Yu Danzong has a cure?"

Kuangcheng shook his head decisively: "Yu Danzong did send a pill master, but after prolonged treatment, he remained just as he is."

"The Dou family managed to get a pill master?"

"The other six immortal sects jointly invited him—they likely realized this wasn't simple and hoped to extract something from Dou Yuankong."

Kuangcheng pointed to the direction of Sanli County on the map: "But one thing is odd—Dou Yuankong was a nobleman's son, incapable of carrying even a sack. He had no reason to go to such a remote place as Sanli County. I've always thought he didn't go there willingly."

Ji You lifted his gaze: "That's a clue. Has the Si Xian Jian sent anyone to investigate?"

"All our personnel have been deployed to eradicate evil seeds—we're stretched too thin. But the seven immortal sects did send people; by now they should have arrived. Whether they'll uncover anything remains unknown."

After the Qiling incident, two years of calm passed, but Ji You had always suspected Zheng's ancestral elder's failed ascension wasn't the end.

Because he and Yuanchen had visited the central immortal mountain within the ruins, and the traces they found indicated more than just Zheng's ancestral elder had been there.

So if these people have lain dormant for two years without action, there must be a reason.

There's an old saying in the Qingyun Realm: "Each year the flowers look the same, and each year the people remain unchanged."

This year, last year, and the years before showed little difference—the only difference being the Heavenly Dao convened and the Sage Sanctuary opened.

Ji You recalled the strange phenomena within the Sage Sanctuary, his brow knitting slightly.

The rumors of impending chaos in the Qingyun Realm might have referred to this.

Honestly, many cultivators died in Qiling, reducing next year's tax revenue—thinking this way, it might even be a good thing.

But the problem is, under a destroyed nest, no egg remains intact.

(End of Chapter)