Chapter 314: Ji You Appears

Like the Garden of the Ancients, Rihua County also has a fairy estate.

But unlike the former, its interior is not divided into smaller gardens; instead, pavilions surround it on all four sides, with a vast white jade altar at the center.

At dawn, the Tian Shu Academy and the Great Xia Imperial Court arrived together.

Upon entering Rihua County, they saw numerous cultivators in the county seat, tea houses and taverns buzzing with noise, voices of discussion filling the air.

Along the streets, established merchants like Qionghua Pavilion, Chunri Hall, and Zhujian Pavilion had all set up stalls.

Magical artifacts, weapons, spirit stones—countless in number.

Yet the group did not linger on the streets; they headed straight for the estate.

Just like the bustling scene outside, the fairy garden was filled with finely dressed figures, exchanging bows and laughter as they came and went, lively beyond measure.

The Tian Shu Academy's carriages led, the Great Xia Imperial Court's followed, and under the gaze of these onlookers, they drove straight into the estate.

Along the central path, countless people pulled back their curtains to stare, observing the massive altar surrounded by spectator stands for a long while, then circled to the eastern side.

As the rumble of wheels slowed, the carriages lined up in sequence and halted ahead.

The first three carriages pulled back their curtains first: from the right carriage and the central one, Zuoqiu Yang, Master of Zizai Hall, and You Yingqiu, Master of Jixiang Hall, stepped down in turn; from the left carriage, the young emperor in bright yellow robes leaned out.

Then came the second row: Prince Chong and Wei Li appeared, followed by the Director of the Tian Shu Academy's Affairs Hall.

After exchanging pleasantries, the group entered the main hall.

The rest gathered their belongings, passed through the blooming gardens and the Listening Water Pavilion, and entered the residential courtyards within.

Following closely after the Tian Shu Academy was the Shanhai Pavilion, located closer to this place.

Riding the lead palanquin were Deputy Headmaster Huo Jin and his direct disciple, Sacred Disciple Huo Xingzhong.

Next came Deputy Headmaster Shang Xingkong of Wenda Sect and his direct disciple Shang Xiyao.

Then came the Chen Clan, Xuan Yuan Fairy Mansion, and finally Lingjian Mountain—all with major figures present.

Tall palanquins arrived one after another, radiating thick aura and shimmering with mysterious light, drawing countless gazes.

Cao Jingsong had already unpacked and joined Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, Lu Qingqiu, Lu Hanyan, Xiang Fu, and Cong Yi at the eastern pavilion to watch.

As those palanquins, wreathed in mysterious light, passed before them, all seven felt a crushing pressure rushing toward them like a mountain tide.

In ordinary times, seeing these would have merely filled them with awe and reverence for the immortal sects' might.

But now, witnessing this grandeur, their hearts grew heavy, their eyes sharpening.

Because the colossal force Ji You had offended was precisely this kind of power.

"As usual, today and tomorrow are rest days; aside from drawing lots before evening, there's no need to be overly tense."

"Matches within the same realm test endurance and intellect; rest is crucial."

"Relax when you should; don't burden your Dao heart too heavily—just ensure good rest the night before combat."

After a long silence, Cao Jingsong couldn't help speaking, urging the three competitors to calm their minds and fight with all their strength.

Everyone listened carefully and nodded obediently, yet none mentioned the heavy matter weighing on their hearts.

With immortal sects arriving and clans gathered here, with so many ears around, some things simply couldn't be spoken aloud.

In the evening, everyone went to draw lots, then returned to prepare and rest.

On the second day, as all immortal sects and clans arrived, the number of people coming and going began to increase.

Those arriving from the east were clans friendly with or subordinate to the Tian Shu Academy.

The He family of Zhongzhou, the Zuoqiu family, the Qiu family, the Huang family, the Guo family of Liangzhou, and the Sun family appeared in turn.

They exchanged greetings from south to north, and gradually, some began visiting their secluded courtyard.

In ordinary times, Lu Qingqiu, ever eager to make connections, would have been flooded with visitors—especially since his sister had entered the inner court and reached Tongxuan Mid-Stage.

But in reality, not a single person came to visit her; instead, Prince Chong and Princess Changle's quarters were packed with guests.

In the spacious hall, Prince Chong ordered servants to serve tea; the rich aroma drifted gradually into the courtyard.

In truth, Prince Chong was merely a prince of Great Xia, with low cultivation; his only talent was making money—he shouldn't have drawn so many immortal clans.

Especially the Guo family of Liangzhou and the Long family of Yongzhou; their ties were minimal, at best mere acquaintances who nodded in passing.

Yet they came here because since Xin Yuan, many rumors had spread through Shengjing, stirring their interest.

"I heard recently the Five Immortal Sects went to question Tian Shu Academy?"

"Correct, Lord Guo. That day, the Five Immortal Sects arrived with their immortal banners; everyone in Shengjing saw it."

Prince Chong, holding his teacup, answered the clans' inquiries frankly.

Hearing this, the clan lords exchanged glances.

When they first heard the news, they had doubted it—because the Seven Immortal Sects had maintained outward harmony for a thousand years.

Aside from Shanhai Pavilion accusing the Chen Clan and Tian Shu Academy having minor disputes with Lingjian Mountain, there had been little open conflict.

Now, five sects simultaneously confronting one? Such a thing seemed inconceivable.

But now, hearing confirmation from eyewitnesses, their doubts vanished.

Guo Huai, elder of the Guo family, glanced sidelong: "After leaving Tian Shu Academy, the Five Sects reportedly searched Shengjing all night, hunting someone connected to Ji You?"

Prince Chong nodded: "Ji You had a close friend named Kuangcheng, his childhood companion, both from Yuyang County. He passed the imperial exams in Taiwu Year Two, served half a year as a compiler, then joined the Immortal Surveillance Office during the New Policy. That night, the sects were searching for him."

"So it's true some sect disciples went to Fengzhou?"

"Yes. After searching Shengjing, they went to Fengzhou—but by the time they arrived, Ji Zhai was already empty."

The Long family head stroked his beard: "It seems Ji You truly committed a grave crime."

Guo Huai nodded: "Immortal sect disciples spend years in rigorous cultivation, seeking clarity of Dao heart; they rarely act. Ji You's deeds must be horrifying."

They cared so deeply and came to verify because when spirit stones ceased flowing, they too went to Tian Shu Academy—only to be brushed off with "Let it go," forced to go north themselves and lose face before the world, their resentment still simmering.

Now hearing this news, they felt a sense of vindication.

"Perhaps he harmed Yu Danzong."

"?"

The Sun family head spoke: "Yu Danzong's mountain closure is suspicious. Ji You had a secret affair with the daughter of that sect—there are countless threads linking them."

He Long, elder of the He family, snorted: "I've always said these country cultivators don't know their place. With decent talent, they crave attention. I warned Tian Shu Academy not to take him in—now look what happened."

The He family was related by marriage to the Zuoqiu family and had close ties to Tian Shu Academy.

The Five Sects questioning Tian Shu Academy had no major consequences at the sect level—but it still affected them.

The He family had several young relatives engaged to families in Zhongzhou.

After this incident, half the engagements were broken.

Even several branch lines of the He family's businesses suffered collateral damage—naturally, He Long was furious.

Prince Chong couldn't help speaking: "No need to be so enraged. Since he offended the Five Sects, Ji You will never show his face again—out of sight, out of mind."

Guo Huai nodded: "True enough. Over the years, Qingyun has seen constant disasters, and it seems he's tied to every one. This boy truly is a calamity."

He Long frowned: "But among Tian Shu Academy's participants in this Immortal Tour, some are closely tied to him."

"That only proves the sects have broad minds."

"Indeed. Tian Shu Academy allowing them to participate is the sects preserving each other's face…"

The Immortal Tour's schedule mirrored the Heavenly Dao Assembly: the second rest day's evening featured the Gathering Immortal Banquet.

But Rihua Fairy Garden wasn't as vast as the Garden of the Ancients; there was no inner or outer venue—everyone was seated on the central altar. As soon as dusk fell, immortal tables filled the space.

With clans gathered, guests took their seats under the glowing lanterns of the altar.

Then, the great figures of the immortal sects emerged, radiating mystery and aloofness.

Though there was no inner/outer division, Qingyun had long held that the east was superior, so the eastern side was more lavish than the west.

The Six Immortal Sects each occupied one of six large round tables, arranged in a row.

Tian Shu Academy's table: Zuoqiu Yang and You Yingqiu sat at the head; on either side were the six accompanying Elders and the three Hall Masters.

Lingjian Mountain's table: Headmaster Yan Zhong and Minor Mirror Master sat at the head; around them were three Peak Masters and several Chief Elders.

The other sects' seating followed roughly the same order.

Both eastern and western domains occupied the same altar, with no barriers or screens between them—but to the western clans, the two sides seemed divided by an abyss.

No matter how great Qingyun's clans, they were merely millennia-old families, utterly incomparable to immortal sects.

Even the so-called Eighth Immortal Sect, the Chu family, ultimately lacked the power of a Sacred Artifact.

After gazing upward for a long while, the estate's maids emerged from the Moon Gate, dozens lining both sides like a long dragon, bearing exquisite delicacies.

Seeing this, the western clan youths snapped back to reality, and the wine tables erupted in clinking cups.

Amidst it all, the name Ji You faintly surfaced in the western side's conversations.