Chapter 275: If the Sword Breaks the Elder

As disciples from major immortal sects gradually returned, news of Dongping Mountain began to spread.

Yet all major sects seemed to have unified their story, conveniently claiming they had discovered a millennium-rare celestial treasure in the Dongping Mountains—a spiritual sprout that had taken form and proved impossible to capture.

In truth, this cover-up was no different from precaution.

For the major immortal sects, if the demonic seed's power truly could overturn existing cultivation methods, it was better that fewer people knew about it before they secured it for themselves.

Especially among large clans—if they obtained this method, they might develop dangerous ambitions.

On the other hand, disciples like Fang Jincheng, despite their connections, could not uncover the truth either.

This was not out of precaution, but for the sake of stabilizing their dao hearts.

To their elders, if these disciples learned that a force existed capable of letting one leap across realms and instantly reach peak combat power, their meditative seclusion in remote mountains would become unbearable.

Chasing shortcuts and despising arduous cultivation—this is human nature, unavoidable.

As for rumors of barbarians appearing in the mountains, they too were suppressed.

Thus, aside from the immortal sects' high-ups, everyone else still believed the world remained stable, unaware it was already teetering on collapse.

After returning to the Heavenly Book Academy, Ji You made no public mention of the matter.

His intention had always been to preserve the world's peace, and he understood well that the fewer who knew, the better.

So when Cao Jinsong asked if he had gone to the Dongping Mountains, Ji You readily admitted he had indeed gone to seek the spiritual sprout.

And Cao Jinsong had not the slightest doubt.

Mostly because Ji You's reputation as a greedy man was too deeply ingrained—he would snatch silver from his own hands, so how could he possibly let a spiritual treasure growing in the mountains slip away?

Thus, the words Zuoyang Yang had spoken to He Lingxiu before heading to the Snowlands were correct.

An overly obvious weakness is sometimes not a weakness at all, but an excellent disguise.

Yet when Cao Jinsong and others lamented the perilous situation—how even Elder Fang had returned wounded, and how Ji You's survival was clearly the result of divine fortune—Ji You did not deflect blame.

"That bastard Elder Fang? I beat him up."

"...?"

"He was trying to snatch it from me—he's a professional, is he?!"

Cao Jinsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, and the others fell silent for a long while: "You... actually got it?"

Ji You shook his head: "There were Shenyou cultivators present—I couldn't take it. But I settled for snatching Elder Fang's money pouch instead."

After a moment of silence, Cao Jinsong held his breath.

After returning from the Sage's Sacred Ground, they had sensed Ji You's aura, but they never imagined he could defeat Elder Fang of the Wujiang realm.

"You unruly disciple, you dare rob anyone? Don't you fear he'll make life hell for your master?!"

"Even if I hadn't beaten him, hasn't he already made our lives hell enough?"

Cao Jinsong pondered for a while: "That's true... sigh, well, you beat him, and you stole his money pouch—doesn't count as a loss."

Ji You suddenly shook his head: "Actually, I only realized later—I lost big."

"Lost what?"

"Lost a child."

"?"

While Ji You chatted idly with Cao Jinsong and the others, a letter from Kuangcheng arrived in his hands.

When the Heavenly Book Academy sent word to investigate whether Ji You had killed people in the Dongping Mountains, Kuangcheng had also received inquiries.

He had been exhausting himself with worry; upon hearing Ji You had returned, he could not resist inviting him to meet.

In front of Kuangcheng, Ji You revealed slightly more.

One reason was Kuangcheng's cautious nature—he understood gravity and consequence.

Another reason was that Ji You needed Kuangcheng to use the Imperial Spirit Surveillance's resources to monitor the Dongping Mountains and track the immortal sects' movements.

The old men in the sects were meant to die soon, yet the Bu family had stirred their desire to live—he did not believe Bu Qirong's death would make them accept death with calmness again.

When Kuangcheng heard this, he remained silent for a long time, his face slowly paling.

Because, like Ji You, he knew about the infants taken from Qiling—so he understood why Ji You had risked everything to kill Bu Qirong.

He gripped his teacup, absently spinning it several times, yet his mind could not settle.

Fengzhou had flourished greatly these past years; while Ji You was away, Kuangcheng had overseen the autumn harvest and knew this year's grain yield had doubled again.

The Wulü Trading House had saved many lives—and many children.

Scholar Kuang, like the farmer Tie Niu in Zhongzhou, had felt life was improving—never expecting to hear of such a horror.

"Some things are beyond our power to control—we can only try to mitigate disasters. So, old Kuang, I only ask you to watch for news, don't get too involved. After all, the greatest purpose of being alive is to live."

Kuangcheng looked at him: "When you went to Dongping Mountain, did you go only because you knew you'd survive?"

Ji You set down his teacup: "Of course. Who dares risk their life for nothing?"

"But Ji Brother, you once said you didn't know Yan Xianzi would appear in the Dongping Mountains at the right moment—so you didn't expect to survive."

Ji You's smile faded: "You're a bookish scholar, aren't you? You listen too closely. But that's different—it was my own fault..."

After leaving Kuangcheng, Ji You returned to the Heavenly Book Academy.

He tidied his long-neglected courtyard and washed the clothes he'd changed into during the Dongping Mountains expedition.

Among those clothes, he found the little green bellyband of the sullen ghost, and a single perfumed silk sock rolled inside.

It must have been that night, when they shared a bed, that she carelessly tossed it onto his clothes—and he accidentally brought it back.

Who could have imagined the famed icy beauty, the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain, would discard her undergarments so carelessly when alone?

Ji You soaked the bellyband in water, washed it clean, and planned to return it to her in person the next time she came—then he looked toward the back mountain.

"What has Elder Fang been doing these past few days?"

"Reporting to the Director, Elder Fang is recuperating."

"What about the others in the Elder's Pavilion?"

"They're studying the documents brought back from Qingzhou, discussing them daily in the hall—but disciples aren't allowed inside, so we don't know what they're debating."

The cold autumn wind blew into the Director's courtyard, carrying golden fallen leaves that tugged fiercely at the banners standing in the yard.

Inside the main hall, facing south and north, a disciple from the Director's Pavilion reported his observations after returning from the back mountain.

This disciple's name was Sun Dong—he was not part of the Director's Pavilion's core, had not participated in the Dongping Mountain affair, and had remained in the Heavenly Book Academy all along.

Because many Director's Pavilion members had been reassigned, all their duties now fell to him, leaving him exhausted and ready to quit every day.

He had expected things to improve once the Director and colleagues returned, yet somehow, the atmosphere in the courtyard had grown even tenser.

It felt as if the Heavenly Book Academy were about to face a great war.

Especially Qin Rong and Lang Zhengshi—each day their gazes were heavy; though they never lost their temper, their demeanor still affected the disciples.

The disciple paused, then raised his head.

In his line of sight, Directors Qin, Ji, and Lang each held their teacups; Qin and Ji both gave slight nods after hearing his report.

At that moment, Wen Siyuan stepped into the courtyard, filled with autumn wind: "Director, I'm back."

"What has Ji You been doing these past few days?"

"He's stayed in his courtyard, aired his quilts, drank tea with Cao Jinsong and the others, and once went down the mountain to meet Kuangcheng of the Imperial Spirit Surveillance."

Wen Siyuan felt the same as the previous disciple—since Elder Fang and Ji You returned, the Director's Pavilion had been tense.

And this tension seemed to stem from Ji You and Elder Fang.

The students in the courtyard were all speculating that Ji You had been sent to the Dongping Mountains—he thought so too.

But he didn't know what had happened there to create such an atmosphere.

And the Director's Pavilion held great authority—if the Directors had questions, they could question Elder Fang directly, or summon Ji You for interrogation—why such cautious surveillance?

"Fortunately, Elder Fang hasn't lost his mind from being wounded by Ji You—if one of our disciples used Lingjian Mountain's sword art to cut through the Elder's Pavilion, not only would the Sacred Sect's prestige be shattered—we'd become a laughingstock across the world."

Qin Rong set down his teacup, a flicker of relief in his eyes.

Ji Jingyao also exhaled softly: "It seems our Heavenly Book Academy can still enjoy a period of peace."

Elder Fang had always been vengeful—he never let anyone who offended him go unpunished.

Ji You had destroyed his hope of extending his lifespan and drawn his sword against him—in the Director's Pavilion's view, Elder Fang must have wanted to grind him into dust.

Though Ji You's combat power was no longer easily subdued by the Elder's Pavilion, he had allies.

Like Lu Hanyan, Lu Qingqiu, Cao Jinsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, Bai Ruilong.

Most crucially, in the capital there was his sworn brother, a scholar.

For an immortal sect to kill a mortal was effortless—even if he were an official of Great Xia.

To Qin Rong and Ji Jingyao, Ji You must have foreseen this risk, which is why he rested only briefly in Anyuan City before rushing back to the Heavenly Book Academy with Elder Fang on the same day—precisely to guard against this.

Most importantly, Ji You had never been the type to seek peace.

When he once went on a mission to the Snowlands, as a Tongxuan cultivator, he had drained himself to raise forty-nine mountain peaks and stood firm against the barbarian warlord.

If Elder Fang made any move, they had no doubt Ji You would draw his sword and march straight to the back mountain.

Fortunately, five days passed without any word from the Elder's Pavilion—the likelihood of action was now slim.

Qin Rong snapped back to reality, glanced at the stunned Wen Siyuan and Sun Dong, and waved them away.

Ji You's combat power and the Bu family's demonic seed affair were different—he didn't need to hide it, but fewer witnesses were better when whispering about others.

As Wen Siyuan and Sun Dong stepped outside, they gazed toward the distant Elder's Pavilion, their eyes dazed.

At that moment, Lang Hetong was also staring toward the Elder's Pavilion.

He had never witnessed the events in the Dongping Mountains—in fact, when Qin Rong and Ji Jingyao told him Ji You had reached Wujiang and defeated Elder Fang, he hadn't believed it.

But seeing the Elder's Pavilion remain utterly silent, he had no choice but to believe.

Yet since the Elder's Pavilion had done nothing and Ji You remained unharmed, other disciples felt disappointed—and puzzled.

When the Heavenly Book Academy disciples returned, everyone had noticed Elder Fang's gaze toward Ji You, and guessed Ji You had offended him again.

They had expected something entertaining to unfold, but their hopes were dashed.

The most displeased among them was Fang Jincheng.

A few days before everyone returned, Lu Hanyan entered seclusion, claiming she was preparing to break through to the Tongxuan Realm.

Although this was merely a minor realm breakthrough and not particularly astonishing, when compared to others, it became entirely different.

Because he himself had yet to even touch the threshold of a minor realm, while if Lu Hanyan truly broke through, his own failure—due to his great-grandfather's hospitalization—would be fully confirmed.

Fang Jincheng had always hoped his great-grandfather would deliver a crushing blow to Ji You—not only for revenge, but perhaps even shattering Lu Hanyan's Dao heart—yet the reality was nothing like he imagined.

"Perhaps Elder Fang simply has a broad mind and deems it beneath him to quarrel with a Tongxuan disciple."

"Impossible!"

"?"

Fang Jincheng quickly recovered, snarling: "I'm not saying my great-grandfather has a narrow mind—I'm saying Ji You is a clown, an eyesore right before us. How could my great-grandfather possibly keep him?"