Chapter 275: If the Sword Breaks the Elder Pavilion

Following the successive return of the disciples from the various major Xian Sects, matters concerning the Dongping Mountain Range gradually began to circulate.

However, the major Xian Sects seemed to have unified their stance, conveniently claiming that they had discovered a rare, thousand-year-old heavenly treasure in the Dongping Mountain Range—a spiritual sprout that had taken form, making it difficult to capture.

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

Because in the eyes of the major Xian Sects, if the power of the Evil Seed could truly overturn the existing methods of cultivation, it should not be known to more people until that power was firmly in their own hands.

Especially for some of the larger aristocratic families; if they were to obtain this method, they might harbor other intentions.

On the other hand, disciples with backgrounds like Fang Jincheng, while curious about the matter, were unable to uncover the real truth.

This was not a matter of precaution, but rather out of consideration for the stability of their Dao hearts.

In the eyes of their elders, if they were to let them know that there existed a power in this world that could allow one to continuously cross realms and push combat strength straight to the peak, then the sitting in meditation deep in the mountains would become extremely unbearable for them.

Coveting shortcuts and loathing arduous cultivation—this is human nature, and it cannot be avoided.

As for the news of the Barbarian race appearing in the mountains, it was naturally sealed off as well.

Therefore, except for the high-level figures of the Xian Sects, everyone else still felt that the world was very stable, unaware that it was already in a state of teetering on the brink of collapse.

After Ji You returned to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, he did not make any noise about this matter either.

His original intention was to seek stability in this world, so he naturally understood that the fewer people who knew about this, the better.

Therefore, when Cao Jingsong asked him if he had gone to the Dongping Mountain Range, he also conveniently said that he had indeed gone to search for the spiritual sprout.

And Cao Jingsong did not have the slightest suspicion.

The main reason was that Ji You's persona of being greedy for money was too deeply ingrained in people's hearts; he would even snatch silver held in one's hand, so how could he let go of a spiritual treasure growing in the mountains?

So, when they were heading to the Snow Region, the words Zuo Qiuyang said to He Lingxiu were correct.

An overly obvious weakness is sometimes not necessarily a weakness, but can be a very good cover.

However, when Cao Jingsong and the others lamented the danger of the situation, noting that even Elder Fang had returned injured, and marveled that Ji You could escape unscathed, truly being a Child of Fortune, Ji You did not shirk the responsibility.

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

"……?"

"He tried to snatch it from me! He's a professional, yet he still tried to snatch it!"

Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, and the others were silent for a long while: "You... you snatched it?"

Ji You shook his head after hearing this: "There were Spirit Travel Realm experts on the scene, so naturally I couldn't snatch it, I just settled for second best and snatched Elder Fang's money bag."

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

Back when they returned from the Sages' Holy Land, they had felt Ji You's spirit, but no matter what, they could never have imagined that Ji You could defeat Elder Fang of the Boundless Realm.

"You wicked disciple, you really dare to snatch from anyone! Aren't you afraid he'll make things difficult for your master?!"

"Even if I didn't beat him up, hasn't he made things difficult for the two of us enough already?"

Cao Jingsong pondered for a long while: "That's true... Sigh, since you've already beaten him, so be it. At least you snatched a money bag, so it's not a total loss."

Ji You suddenly shook his head: "Actually, I only found out later that I lost out big time."

"Lost out on what?"

"Lost out on a child."

"?"

While Ji You was chatting with Cao Jingsong and the others, a letter from Xiang Kuangcheng was delivered into his hands.

Back when the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan sent people to inquire whether it was Ji You who killed people in the Dongping Mountain Range, Xiang Kuangcheng had also received inquiries.

He had been racking his brains the whole time, and upon receiving the news of Ji You's return, he couldn't help but ask to meet him.

And when facing Xiang Kuangcheng, Ji You revealed a little more.

On one hand, it was because Xiang Kuangcheng was a cautious person who knew the gravity of the situation.

On the other hand, Ji You needed Xiang Kuangcheng to borrow the power of the Immortal Inspection Bureau to monitor the Dongping Mountain Range area, and he also needed to understand the movements of those Xian Sects.

The old fogies in the Xian Sects were already on the verge of death, yet they had been stirred up by the Bu family to desire life; he did not believe that the death of Bu Qirong would make them face the outcome of death calmly once again.

And when Xiang Kuangcheng heard about this, he was unable to speak for a long time, his face turning pale bit by bit.

Because like Ji You, he knew about the incident where Qing Wa encountered a batch of infants being transported out of Qiling, and naturally understood why Ji You had to risk his life to kill Bu Qirong.

He gripped his teacup, rotating it absentmindedly several times, but his mind could never find peace.

Fengzhou had developed extremely well in these past few years. During the days Ji You was away, he had been managing the autumn harvest on his behalf, and he knew that this year's grain production had doubled again.

The Wulu Trading Firm had saved many people, and it had also saved many children.

Kuang Shusheng Xiang was actually like Tie Niu, a farmer from Central Province, feeling that life was getting better and better, never expecting to hear of such a disaster.

"There are some things that are beyond our ability to manage; we can only resolve some disasters as much as possible. So, Old Xiang, I only need you to help me keep an eye on the news and not intervene too deeply, because the role of a person while alive is the greatest."

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at him: "When Brother Ji went to Dongping Mountain, was it also because you knew you would definitely survive that you went to do it?"

Ji You put down his teacup: "Of course. Who would dare to do something that costs them their life? And there's no money to be made."

"But Brother Ji said that before you went, you didn't know that Fairy Yan would appear in the Dongping Mountain Range in time, so Brother Ji didn't think you would survive either."

Ji You's smile faded: "You scholar, you listen quite carefully. But that's different; that was my own fault..."

After returning from Xiang Kuangcheng's place, Ji You returned to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan.

He tidied up the small courtyard he hadn't lived in for a long time and washed the clothes he had changed into in the Dongping Mountain Range.

And among those clothes, he also saw the tender green bellyband of the tsundere ghost, as well as a fragrant sock rolled up inside.

This must have been when she slept in the same bed that night; she had tossed it onto his clothes, and he had accidentally brought it back.

Who could have imagined that the Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain, who was famous for her cold beauty, would toss her clothes around randomly in private...

Ji You soaked the bellyband in water, scrubbed it clean for her, intending to put it on her himself when she came next time, then raised his head to look in the direction of the back mountain.

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

"Reporting to the Qin Zhangshi, Elder Fang is recuperating from his injuries."

"What about the others in the Elder Pavilion?"

"They are studying the documents brought back from Qingzhou, discussing them in the hall every day, but disciples are not allowed to enter, so I am not clear on what they are discussing."

The cold wind of late autumn blew into the Qin Zhangshi's Courtyard, carrying deep yellow fallen leaves, tearing at the banners standing in the courtyard until they snapped loudly.

In the main hall facing south, the disciple from the Qin Zhangshi's Pavilion who had just returned from the back mountain reported the results of his observations.

This disciple was named Sun Dong; he was not at the core of the Qin Zhangshi's Courtyard and had not participated in the Dongping Mountain Range matter, having remained in the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan all along.

Because a large number of people had been transferred away from the Qin Zhangshi's Courtyard, all the work that should have been done by others fell to him, which also tired him out so much that he wanted to quit every day.

He had thought that things would get better after the Qin Zhangshi and other colleagues returned, but for some reason, he felt that the atmosphere in the courtyard had become even more tense.

This feeling was as if the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan was about to face a great battle.

Especially Qin Zhang and Qin Zhangshi Lang, who wore solemn expressions every day; although they didn't lose their temper, it still had an impact on disciples like them.

This disciple pondered for a moment and couldn't help but raise his head.

Within his line of sight, Qin Zhang, Qin Zhangshi Ji, and Qin Zhangshi Lang were all holding their respective teacups, and Qin Zhang and Qin Zhangshi Ji nodded slightly after hearing his report.

Just at this moment, Wen Siyuan also walked over from the courtyard filled with autumn wind: "Qin Zhangshi, I have returned."

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

"He has been staying in the courtyard, sunning his quilts, then drinking tea with Cao Jingsong and the others. During this time, he also went down the mountain once to meet that Xiang Kuangcheng from the Immortal Inspection Bureau."

Wen Siyuan actually felt the same as the disciple just now, feeling that ever since Elder Fang and Ji You returned to the sect, the atmosphere in the Qin Zhangshi's Courtyard had been very tense.

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

The students in the courtyard were all guessing now, saying that Ji You must have been sent to the Dongping Mountain Range; in fact, he thought so too.

But he didn't know what had happened in the Dongping Mountain Range that would make the atmosphere become like this.

Moreover, the Qin Zhangshi's Pavilion had always held great power; if the Qin Zhangshi really had any questions and couldn't interrogate Elder Fang, they could also call Ji You to inquire, so why be so cautiously observant?

"Fortunately, Elder Fang didn't become muddled because he was injured by Ji You. Otherwise, if an incident occurred where a disciple of our academy used the sword path of Lingjian Mountain to slash and break the Elder Pavilion of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, let alone the prestige of the Holy Sect, we would be afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the whole world."

Qin Rong put down his teacup, a trace of relief showing in his eyes.

Ji Jingyao also relaxed: "It seems that our Heavenly Tian Shuyuan can still be stable for a few more days."

Elder Fang had always been the type to hold a grudge and would never let those who offended him off easily.

Ji You had cut off his hope of extending his lifespan and had even drawn his sword against him; in the eyes of the Qin Zhangshi's Courtyard, Elder Fang should have been itching to grind him to dust.

Although Ji You's combat strength was no longer something the Elder Pavilion could easily move against, there were still others around Ji You.

For example, Lu Hanyan, Lu Qingqiu, Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, and Bai Rulong.

Most crucially, there was also a scholar in the capital who was his sworn friend.

For a Xian Sect to want to kill a mortal, it was simply too easy, even if he was an official of the Great Xia.

In the eyes of Qin Rong and Ji Jingyao, Ji You must have also anticipated the risks here, which was why he rested in Anyuan City for only a very short time and hurried back to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan on the same day as Elder Fang, guarding against exactly this point.

Most crucially, Ji You was never one to let things slide.

Back when he was an envoy to the Snow Region, he dared to exhaust himself to lift forty-nine mountains and fight the Barbarian Soldier King head-on with only the combat strength of the Profound Understanding Realm.

If Elder Fang really made a move, they had no doubt that Ji You would dare to hold his sword and kill his way to the back mountain.

Fortunately, five days had passed, and there had been no news from the Elder Pavilion; the possibility of them making a move was likely not high.

Qin Rong came back to his senses at this time, looked at the stunned Wen Siyuan and Sun Dong, and waved his hand to dismiss them.

Ji You's combat strength was different from the Bu family's incarnation as an Evil Seed, and there was no need to deliberately hide it; it was just that it was better to have fewer people present when gossiping about others behind their backs.

And at this time, Wen Siyuan and Sun Dong walked outside, looking at the Elder Pavilion in the distance, their eyes somewhat dazed.

At this moment, Lang Hetong was also looking in the direction of the Elder Pavilion.

He had not witnessed the events of the Dongping Mountain Range; in fact, when Qin Rong and Ji Jingyao said that Ji You's combat strength had reached the Boundless Realm and he had defeated Elder Fang, he did not believe it.

But seeing that the Elder Pavilion really had no reaction, he had to believe it.

However, the fact that the Elder Pavilion had never done anything and Ji You was still fine made the other disciples in the academy feel disappointed and somewhat puzzled.

Back when everyone from the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan returned, everyone noticed the look Elder Fang gave Ji You and guessed that Ji You had offended Elder Fang again.

They had originally thought there would be a good show to watch, but their expectations were dashed.

The most unhappy among them was undoubtedly Fang Jincheng.

Just a few days before everyone returned, Lu Hanyan had gone into seclusion, saying she was going to charge into the Profound Understanding Realm.

Although it was only a breakthrough of a minor realm and not that surprising, if there was a comparison, it was completely different.

Because he hadn't even touched the threshold of a minor realm yet, and if Lu Hanyan really broke through, the matter of his great-grandfather entering the academy would truly be confirmed.

Fang Jincheng had actually been looking forward to his great-grandfather doing something big to Ji You, not only to vent his anger but perhaps even to destroy Lu Hanyan's Dao heart; who knew that the reality was completely different from what he had thought.

"Perhaps it's just that Elder Fang is broad-minded and disdains to be angry with a Profound Understanding disciple."

"Impossible!"

"?"

Fang Jincheng quickly reacted and said viciously: "I didn't say my great-grandfather is narrow-minded; I'm saying that Ji You is like a clown, so eyesore right in front of us, how could my great-grandfather keep him?" ===== CHAPTER 276 =====