Chapter 341: A Season of Troubles

Humans have self-healing abilities, especially Ji You, whose body naturally brims with vital energy.

As long as the meridians are stretched open, that vital energy can slowly heal his injuries.

This was also a primary focus of early treatment, for his current state was fragile enough to shatter at the slightest touch—he could only rely on his own vital energy to repair gradually, until a stable condition allowed other methods to be tried.

This confirmed Master You’s words: the process might take countless days, and patience was the most crucial thing.

During this time, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu led the Lingjian Mountain disciples to the Heavenly Book Academy, using the pretext of discussing the handling of the Descendant Clan to enter the inner courtyard.

At first, the officials of the Administration Hall truly believed they had come for legitimate business, but once inside the inner courtyard, they insisted on seeing Ji You.

Especially Ding and Zhuo, who demanded to stay by his side without leaving.

You Yingqiu did not refuse their request, and remembering her master’s remarks about the oddity, she chatted with them a little longer.

The junior lord of Lingjian Mountain, without the Spirit Mirror in hand, was no stronger than a Mid-Level Boundless cultivator, yet he held the sect’s grounds against Linxian’s assault—this was indeed suspicious.

“They say the junior lord of Lingjian Mountain was unharmed and is managing affairs at Lingjian Mountain, and will come in person once things stabilize.”

“So he’s still alive.”

“Who did Master say…?”

“An old friend with terrible drinking habits.”

The old man muttered softly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, and slipped down the mountain to buy a flask of wine while You Yingqiu wasn’t looking.

Yu Danzong remains under mountain lockdown.

The Six Qingyun Sects once allowed Yu Danzong to rebuild, but on the condition that its alchemists not cultivate, and they jointly used great magical power to restrict the Great Furnace—this indirectly helped them survive a disaster.

Though still under lockdown, their vigilance has lessened somewhat; they descend from time to time to procure supplies and collect letters.

Yuan Caimei, after a delay of several days, received her sister’s message and insisted on descending, but her father Yuan Li blocked her.

“This seems like the demon cultists failed, but the balance has been shattered—Qingyun is no longer what it was. Prolonged strife and chaos will follow. You lack worldly experience and will bring trouble to Yu Danzong. Besides, if you leave the mountain, your younger brother’s mind will fly away.”

“Father, Ji You saved our entire sect.”

“I know that well, which is why I’ve already sent Elder Danyangzi down. His alchemical skill surpasses yours—you can rest easy.”

After receiving the Lord’s decree, Danyangzi left Danshan and traveled via secret paths to the Heavenly Book Academy to examine Ji You.

His conclusion matched that of the two Hall Masters.

Ji You had been drained to emptiness, his body extremely weak; the best approach was to use his own vital energy to nourish himself by stretching open the meridians.

For both elixirs and external aids were external forces, and external forces would only worsen his current burden.

The best method was to let his own vital energy repair his body to a stable foundation, then administer elixirs and techniques.

From then on, Jixiang Hall had a steady stream of visitors.

Cao Jinsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, and the Lu sisters came to visit at times arranged by You Yingqiu.

Also present were Kuangcheng and Wei Rui.

They had returned to Shengjing with Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, for Kuangcheng had always been restless, and hearing of Ji You’s grave injury made him even more agitated.

Yan Shu also felt that Ji You had, in effect, protected the legacies of the Six Immortal Sects—at least on the surface, they could no longer target him, so returning now was a good opportunity.

Besides these visitors, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu resided permanently in the rear hall of Jixiang Hall, taking turns to guard him.

Elder Danyangzi of Yu Danzong lived in the Immortal Guest Garden within the inner courtyard, visiting periodically.

There was also an old physician who came to Jixiang Hall every evening to treat Ji You; whenever this happened, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu would grow drowsy, though no one knew why.

Additionally, the Heavenly Book Academy prepared a memorial for the victims of this catastrophe.

All the Elders, disciples from inside and outside the courtyard, and those who perished here were displayed as portraits on the right side of the Ascension White Jade Terrace.

But the events here were far from settled.

The Linxian demons had indeed died, but many matters remained unclear.

Their entire plan, the hidden details, and whether others had been involved.

These matters naturally left traces, for after Ji You severed the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, the Six Immortal Sects’ top-tier cultivators captured many survivors.

They were first imprisoned in Risheng County, suppressed by sacred artifacts, then transferred to the Special Prison of the Immortal Surveillance Bureau, specially constructed and linked to a grand array.

Each of the Six Immortal Sects stationed personnel around the prison, guarding them strictly and interrogating them relentlessly.

After the Great Heat, a light rain fell gently upon Qingyun.

Bai Ru long, accompanied by Mu Jing, Chief of the Immortal Surveillance Bureau, walked through the deep corridors of the prison.

To connect with the grand array, the prison was built underground, pitch-dark with no natural light, illuminated only by oil lamps, giving the impression of suffocating oppression to those who walked within.

Soon, Bai Ru long was led to a solitary cell deep inside.

By the dim candlelight, he saw his father inside the cage.

Bai Zhengze, head of the Bai family, looked utterly disheveled.

In the ruins battle, his clothing had been torn to shreds, filthy and ragged; prolonged confinement had pushed his spirit to its limit.

Seeing this, Bai Ru long did not know what emotion to show, so he remained numb and silent.

Bai Zhengze, too, recognized his son by the candlelight, stared at him for a long while, then spoke: “Why have you come here?”

“I want to ask you, Father—how did things come to this?”

“Do you think I was wrong?”

Bai Ru long looked at him: “I can’t think you were right.”

Bai Zhengze sneered: “There is no right or wrong in this world—only victory and defeat. We lost, so we are wrong. Had we won, history would not have written it this way.”

“Then how would it have been written?”

“Naturally: the Bai family rules the Central Province, surpassing the Immortal Sects, with tributes pouring in from all directions.”

Bai Ru long, eyes red, stared fiercely at him: “Is power truly that important?”

Bai Zhengze narrowed his eyes: “Without power, you remain forever at the bottom. No matter how hard you strive, you stay beneath others, forced to bow and smile before millennia-old clans. What I did was for the family’s honor. You must understand—opportunities to overturn this world are rare. It’s worth the gamble.”

“If our family had a blood feud with others, I could understand. But Father, was this merely for desire?”

“Our family has no blood feud with others, yet we’ve steadily declined at the bottom of the Immortal world. I’ve cultivated for countless years and still cannot break through—I can only endure the slow decay of my lifespan. You’re still young—you can’t yet understand this torment.”

Bai Ru long stared at him without expression: “So you turned your own family into fuel for your breakthrough—even your own son?”

Bai Zhengze’s face darkened suddenly: “Had we won this battle, those people would have been enshrined in the ancestral hall, worshipped by generations of Bai descendants. Your younger brother, Shihu, would have been placed in the foremost row, revered as a heroic spirit.”

“But Father, you originally chose me, didn’t you?”

As his words faded, the cell fell into silence—as if the candle flame and the air itself had frozen.

Bai Ru long gazed at his father, who stared back, and whispered: “When I first entered the Heavenly Book Academy, I received your elixir—I was deeply moved. But now I realize—it was something that could turn me into a monster.”

Bai Zhengze suddenly laughed: “Correct. Because of your laziness, I later had to choose Shihu—and spare you, this useless thing.”

“But you chose Shihu—and killed Second Mother. That proves you didn’t truly care for them. Anyone in your eyes is expendable.”

“Those who achieve great things cannot be bound by petty sentiments.”

Bai Ru long suddenly exhaled, then slowly rose and walked toward the cell’s exit.

In truth, he understood nothing of great worldly affairs—he truly was useless, lacked strong convictions, and was easily swayed.

So aside from their murders and alchemical atrocities, the killing of infants, he could somewhat comprehend his father’s hunger for strength and upward struggle.

Yet from his own emotions, he found no justification to convince himself.