Chapter 302

Ji Yue was only a maid and knew little, remaining largely in a state of confusion.

Ji You also knew he would get nothing from her, so he rose from the pavilion and, with a rush of wind, arrived near the Yuheng Hall where the Yu Danzong's patriarch, "Wubing," lay ill.

Beneath the clear breeze, his robes fluttered as he touched the ground silently, landing in a secluded tea pavilion.

Then his eyes surged with golden radiance as he gazed down into the mountains and forests.

At this moment, the Yuheng Hall was heavily guarded, all windows and doors tightly shut, with sentries posted at both front and back gates.

But the guards were not Yu Danzong's own people—they were outsiders, neither disciples of Yu Danzong nor members of any immortal sect.

Their cultivation bases were decent, mostly at the Upper Realm of Fusion Dao.

And they all appeared to be about the same age as Cao Jingsong.

Between the Lower Three Realms and the Upper Five Realms lay a great chasm; after reaching fullness in the Lower Three Realms, each step forward was another hurdle.

At Cao Jingsong's age, reaching the Upper Realm of Fusion Dao was enough to serve as an instructor in an immortal sect.

Ji You had already considered their identities when ascending the mountain, suspecting they came from Yu Danzong's marital clans.

Lacking combat strength, Yu Danzong, as one of the immortal sects, had always lived with extreme caution, relying for millennia on marital alliances to secure its survival.

Their marriage partners were almost always gifted individuals from minor clans.

Minor clans were easier to control and unlikely to produce ambitious members who might use marital ties to seize control of the entire Yu Danzong.

These gate guards were essentially core members of families bound to Yu Danzong through marriages with its female alchemists.

At that moment, Ji You suddenly sensed a powerful aura rushing toward him and turned his head.

On the white jade staircase descending nine levels, an old man in an immortal robe floated down.

"Shang Que, Elder of the Wenda Sect, come to request an audience with the Patriarch of Yu Danzong."

"Our patriarch is resting in bed and cannot receive guests at present. We beg Elder Shang's understanding."

Before the Yuheng Hall, six young men in alchemist robes stepped forward, bowing before even halting their steps.

Shang Que frowned at the sound: "Who are you?"

"I am Hong Zhen, disciple of the patriarch. These are my fellow disciples."

Patriarch Yuan Li had six disciples, all Upper Five Realm alchemists and the main producers of the sect's annual elixir supply.

So while others might not know Hong Zhen's name, these elders certainly did.

He was one of Yuan Li's most gifted disciples, astonishingly high in elixir success rate, the foremost among the six, and many immortal sect families had once considered arranging marriages between their descendants and him.

Of them, two, Ji You realized, he had met before.

One was Wen Bin, who had been ordered to demonstrate alchemy for the Tian Shu Academy during their visit to Danshan.

The other was Yuan Bingqing, who had come to Danshan with Yuan Caiwei during the Autumn Duel four thousand years ago, carrying a message entrusted to him by Yuan Caiwei.

"So you are the patriarch's esteemed disciple."

"Elder Shang flatters me. The Shangyang Hall's Elixir Appreciation has already begun—have you seen any elixirs you favor? My master said all guests ascending today are honored guests of Yu Danzong and may take any elixir free of charge."

"I have little interest in elixirs today. Since the patriarch is indisposed, I shall leave it be—I shall return tomorrow morning."

Shang Que waved his sleeve and, as he turned away, added: "Yu Danzong's alchemy descends from the Dao of Heaven, profound and boundless. Master Yuan has long held the Sacred Artifact—his alchemical skill is celestial. He ought to have recovered fully by now."

The six disciples watched him depart, their smiles fading, brows faintly furrowed.

But shortly after Elder Shang Que left, an elder from the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion also floated down.

He said nearly the same as Shang Que—seeking an audience with Yuan Li—and Hong Zhen and the others gave the same reply: the patriarch was too ill to rise.

"Huoyu, Elder of the Shanhai Pavilion, come to request an audience with the Patriarch of Yu Danzong…"

"Chen Ke, Elder of the Chen Clan of Immortals, come to request an audience with the Patriarch of Yu Danzong…"

"Yan Jingfu, Elder of Lingjian Mountain, come to request an audience with the Patriarch of Yu Danzong…"

One wave after another arrived, all departing without pressing further after being refused…

After Shen Hour, after seeing off the Lingjian Mountain elder, the sun began its descent toward dusk.

Golden light shifted with the sun's decline, now bathing the Yuheng Hall, refracted into dazzling brilliance by its golden roof.

Seeing the visits abruptly cease, the disciples exhaled slightly, their faces showing traces of exhaustion.

Hong Zhen leaned against a corridor pillar: "Five of the Six Immortal Sects have come."

Yuan Bingqing looked up: "Only the Tian Shu Academy sent no one?"

"Yu Danzong still has some ties with the Tian Shu Academy. Even if they wished to come, they wouldn't do so openly. But five out of six is no different from all six."

As they spoke, Wen Bin suddenly received a message from a disciple, unfolded it, glanced at it, then walked over to Hong Zhen: "Not five, brother—it's all six."

Hong Zhen's eyes widened: "How?"

"A disciple just reported that Ji You arrived on the mountain this morning. He appeared at Danxia Terrace, then vanished."

"Ji You…"

Upon hearing the name, all the male disciples fell silent.

They had grown up on Danshan, treated by the patriarch like sons, and all harbored feelings for Yuan Caiwei—who wouldn't fall for the patriarch's daughter after years of daily company?

When Yu Danzong decided to take You Buyu as a son-in-law to ally with the Tian Shu Academy, they had even considered eloping with her—but he never responded.

Later, You Buyu's cultivation regressed after his visit to Wenda and Lingjian Mountain, and the marriage was abandoned.

They had breathed easier then—but then rumors began circulating about Ji You and Yuan Caiwei, unceasing for two or three years.

Yu Danzong existed in semi-seclusion; its alchemists lacked the ability to travel far.

They knew no details of the rumors and understood Ji You less than ordinary immortal sect disciples, yet a quiet ache had always lingered within them.

"No—Ji You has always been at odds with the Tian Shu Academy. Why would he come here on their behalf to demand someone?"

Yuan Bingqing spoke after a silence: "It must be that the tension of recent days has made the disciples below mistake someone."

Wen Bin looked at Yuan Bingqing: "Ji You is indeed shunned by the Tian Shu Academy, but he's not the first to represent them—he went to Lingjian Mountain to challenge their Dao, and even served as a Tian Shu Academy envoy to the Snowlands."

"That was forced upon him."

"The Sword Forest of Lingjian Mountain wasn't forced on him to break."

Hong Zhen frowned slightly: "Those without proper lineage are treated as outsiders in Qingyun. Ji You appears aloof, but to fit in, he might well have humbled himself behind the scenes."

Wen Bin now gazed down at the crowded mountain base: "This might not be a bad thing."

"What do you mean, Brother Wen?"

"Whether five or six doesn't matter—but since he came here today like the others, it proves he has no goodwill toward Yu Danzong. The rumors about him and Caiwei are likely just rumors; otherwise, he wouldn't have shown himself."

Yuan Bingqing was about to speak when her peripheral vision caught a graceful figure descending from the Yaoguang Hall: "Sister Caiwei…"

All turned to see Yuan Caiwei walking steadily down the mountain.

Several young men opened their mouths to greet her, but noticed her eyes shimmered with anticipation, her steps hurried—as if going to meet someone—and their words died in their throats.

Yu Danzong faced many pressing matters now, the greatest being the succession of the Sacred Artifact.

They all knew Yuan Chen had formally entered seclusion, and Caiwei had been guarding it without leaving his side.

In other words, unless someone she deeply wished to see had arrived, she would never leave the Yaoguang Hall.

And just now, they had learned Ji You had come to Yu Danzong.

As their gazes followed Yuan Caiwei's path, their expressions darkened.

For they realized she was heading toward his bamboo pavilion—and suddenly understood that Ji You, who had vanished after arriving, might be inside her private chambers.

Ji Yue also arrived from the direction of the Yaoguang Hall, barely keeping pace behind.

She had gone to the Yaoguang Hall after Ji You left the bamboo courtyard, thinking that as the future son-in-law, this news must be delivered to the young lady as soon as possible.