[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-290":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260163,4410,"Chapter 290: Uncle, Save Me!","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-290",290,"\u003Cp>The Shengjing relay station has been unusually busy these past few days, as gifts and goods constantly circulate across the Qingyun Realm in accordance with social custom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You, clad in white robes, emerged from the Wu Li Trading House along the morning mist, waited in line for a long time, and finally retrieved his goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhong had sent several jars of wine, all brewed by farmers in Fengzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inventorying everything, Ji You waved his hand and stored them inside his storage gourd, then made his way to Kuangcheng’s residence, where he found Kuangcheng brushing ink across a scroll, composing a New Year couplet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stood aside and glanced at it, seeing a perfectly balanced couplet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the pine-windowed study, reading history, one always bears the world’s joys and sorrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the plum grove, brewing tea, one never forgets the rise and fall of the state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You knew this was Kuangcheng’s own inscription.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current life was far better than before, a world apart from his days in Yuyang County, and this couplet was meant to remind himself not to forget vigilance in times of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng paused his brush and looked up: “Brother Ji is here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You nodded: “Well written. If you leave the Spirit Supervision Office, you could still make a living selling calligraphy and paintings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flattered by your praise, Brother Ji. Shall I write one for you too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead. Choose any subject—appearance, talent, whatever. But no sages or virtuous men. I’m not worthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng picked up his brush again, pondered for a long while, then carefully wrote two lines of bold characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three wives, four concubines, the back courtyard full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many sons and daughters clustering at the knees, bustling and lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stared in silence for a long while, then looked up at Kuangcheng, sensing mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving here yesterday, he’d kissed the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain until dusk, nearly lifting her half a head off the ground, then Yan Shuyi had simply said, “It’s late,” and left without caring whether he slept or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many daughters, many sons clustering at the knees, bustling and lively—hmph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You pulled out the wine from his storage gourd: “From Old Qiu. I saved you two jars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I live alone—two jars are too much…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not too much. Goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To go cultivate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the wine, Ji You stepped out gracefully and returned to the Wu Li Trading House.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop’s clerks had been given leave days ago; the courtyard was empty. He lit a brazier in the tea pavilion, then sat cross-legged into meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his Dao heart and began drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You had previously guessed that spiritual energy was a universal substance capable of taking any form, and now, due to the weather, the energy drawn into his body carried a chilling coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As this spiritual energy flowed through his shattered spiritual core, it instantly ignited into roaring flames under his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The searing flames burned through every inch of his body, causing him to tremble violently, pain sinking deep into his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His last major physical breakthrough occurred in the Sage’s Sacred Ground, where spiritual energy was dense and his body improved at an astonishing pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since returning, the external spiritual energy was insufficient to sustain such intense combustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Body refinement was no easier than Dao comprehension. During his several breakthroughs in the Sage’s Sacred Ground, he’d felt the process lengthen: first the Third Gate, then the Fifth, the Seventh, and now likely the Ninth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fifth and Seventh Gates, aided by the Sage’s Sacred Ground, hadn’t consumed much time, but the Ninth Gate now progressed excruciatingly slowly—he’d only just touched the first surge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why he couldn’t defeat Yan Shuyi; if measured by Dao comprehension realms, he hadn’t even completed the Initial Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You clenched his fists, his qi surging violently, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi arrived with Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu to mooch dinner, once again observing his cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Young Master cultivates longer than before—it’s already the hour of Si.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The New Year’s approaching. I’ve seen many Tian Shu Academy disciples pause their cultivation to visit friends. Why has the Young Master suddenly become diligent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu’s chatter, the cold, aloof Little Master clenched her fists, recalling how he’d tried to carry her back to her room yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy wants to beat me so I’ll bear his children…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the New Year drawing near, Shengjing grew increasingly lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every household hung paper lanterns; the East and West Markets began arranging stalls for the Lantern Festival, and booths piled high with winter-brewed liquor appeared along the main streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Little Master, who loved bustle, grew restless but didn’t speak up—instead, she had Ding Yao pout and beg Ji You to take them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the bustling East and West Markets, vendors struggled to sell their wares amid the surging crowds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You led the three veiled girls through the long street, bought some pretty but useless trinkets, then climbed to the second floor of Zui Xian Pavilion and secured a private booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi could erase their traces with her Spirit Mirror to avoid exposure and commotion, but private conversation was still inconvenient—so a private booth was better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, you got what you paid for: though expensive, the second-floor booth offered a far wider view than the crowded main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether singing, dancing, or instrumental performance, all could be seen clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seating themselves and ordering tea and pastries, before the food arrived, Yuanchen rushed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He downed a cup of tea, grabbed a green bean cake, then dashed back down, weaving through the packed front hall to reach the stage below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d memorized the performance schedules of every tea house and tavern in Shengjing—he knew the storytelling session was about to begin, and he sat at the front for maximum impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You had been too busy cultivating to pay attention to Yuanchen lately, and seeing him rush about so frantically, he asked: “What’s Yuanchen up to these days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi set down her teacup and looked at him: “Yuanchen’s struggling to control the Sacred Artifact, so I gave him a thread of its primordial essence—he’s spent these past days refining it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Primordial essence of a Sacred Artifact?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Used for testing. If the Sacred Artifact doesn’t reject it, he can wield it. From what I’ve observed these past days, Yuanchen isn’t being rejected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You opened his mouth: “Then why has he been struggling so much on Danshan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi’s expression turned stern: “Perhaps Yuanchen simply hasn’t tried hard enough—so Yuan Caiwei is furious, and he’s been suffering lately, forced to sneak out just to listen to stories.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will giving him a thread of primordial essence affect you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi sensed concern and deliberately cooled her gaze: “A mere Tian Shu Academy disciple, how bold of you to meddle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked at Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu: “Turn your heads. Don’t ruin your Little Master’s image of cold aloofness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Little Master: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu didn’t dare delay—they immediately turned away, thinking their lofty Little Master was about to get her bottom slapped again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, as their thoughts arose, a sharp “crack” echoed behind them, followed by the whistle of sword qi flipping their robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they turned back, their Little Master was glaring at him with murderous intent. They pouted inwardly—she only scared people with her aura; she’d never actually strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Yan Shuyi, whose sword qi had howled for ages, was fed a pastry, and she softly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to know, I’ll tell you. More or less primordial essence doesn’t matter much, but it’s linked to my Spirit Mirror—if someone with ill intent took it, trouble might follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Yuan Caiwei ask you for it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s overly anxious, so I came up with this solution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like despite your daily squabbles, you two are actually quite close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the words faded, silence fell over the booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stared at Yan Shuyi’s fierce expression and thought: I spoke too soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, “sisters” meant sisters. Now, in Yan Shuyi’s eyes, “sisters” meant women trying to steal men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the moody ghost’s jealousy hadn’t lessened, she’d still risked giving Yuanchen a thread of primordial essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Partly because she was proud, certain no one could surpass her, and partly because of her connection to the Yuan siblings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, he also felt Yuan Caiwei was elusive—she only showed up for dinner, always smelling of work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the Little Master thought he’d stepped on her sister-sensitive toes, he decided not to ask further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, a commotion erupted downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or four men in black robes with topknots descended from the second floor, clearing a path through the crowd toward the front stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoving occurred frequently, drawing murmurs of discontent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then several noble young lords and ladies in lavish robes descended, holding cups brimming with spiritual energy, approaching Yuanchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the New Year approaching, many noble families visited Nishan Tian Shu Academy, and those who’d come earlier for the Immortal Viewing and Snow Viewing Gatherings made cultivators visible everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who came down now included several young lords of the Zhu family from Liangzhou, Miss Xu of Qingzhou, affiliated with Shanhai Pavilion, the son-in-law of the Miao family from Yuzhou, and young members of the old imperial Li clan.\u003C\u002Fp>",1598,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7d73fa06578062ea3481d317153850d4c8dbbee9b3ccf96c1cd7001dc2cf2d2c","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-291","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-289",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]