Chapter 347: Demon Emperor Observes the Heavens

Afternoon sun set westward, its fading glow painting the dim autumn day in brilliant gold.

Instructor Cao packed his belongings and, with others’ help, moved into the inner courtyard.

Ji You helped too, sitting in his wheelchair, carrying a soup spoon to deliver his new courtyard, and using this as an excuse to force Old Cao to host a banquet at Hongding Tower to celebrate.

“Worthless disciple!”

“I’ve hoarded three months’ salary—don’t tell me you expect me to move things for free. When else would you invite me?”

“?”

In the days that followed, Ji You kept to himself within the Heavenly Book Academy, focusing entirely on healing.

His body had always been strong, and with Dan Yangzi’s multiple tonic herbs, his physical depletion was quickly replenished.

Added to that, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu attended him closely, sometimes pushing him out for walks, sometimes chatting idly—his days weren’t dull at all.

The only thing needing slow nourishment were his withered meridians.

During this time, Kuang Shusheng returned from the plague zone, bringing Wei Rui to visit Ji You.

Since self-healing patients appeared in Qibao County, other patients mysteriously began recovering too; by a few days ago, the epidemic there had been fully cleared, so they hurried back to Shengjing.

Since Ji You’s springtime outdoor body cultivation and the incident at Yu Danzong, they hadn’t seen each other for over half a year, so they chatted at length.

“The Junior Mistress is terrifyingly majestic on the mountain—nothing like the adorable girl she is before Ji Young Master.”

“Really?”

“Truly—every disciple on the mountain looks up to her; she feels even more solemn than our Great Xia Emperor.”

Wei Rui strongly affirmed her admiration for the Junior Mistress.

She adored Yan Shuyi so much, yet couldn’t understand why such a cold, aloof woman always rubbed her belly when idle, like she wanted to bear babies.

Hearing Wei Rui’s words, Ji You faintly imagined her peerless presence, a flicker of longing stirring in his heart.

Actually, Ding Yao had already written a letter yesterday, sending word of Ji You’s awakening to Lingjian Mountain; by the calendar, it would arrive in two or three days.

But now, within the Qingyun Realm, internal and external crises abound—she was tied to sect affairs and couldn’t leave, while he still needed to rest; when they’d meet remained uncertain.

Another letter of safety had been sent to Yu Danzong, but the sect still hadn’t lifted its mountain closure.

Ji You now looked at Kuangcheng: “Where do you live after returning to the capital?”

“I live in the Mu Tisi household.”

The Chu family’s ancestral patriarch came to Shengjing and fought the Heavenly Book Academy’s headmaster, shattering the entire Chunhua Alley.

Kuang Shusheng had barely become a government official, assigned a small official residence, only to be homeless again after a few years.

“You can’t keep living in someone else’s home—not only is it an inconvenience, but it’s also inconvenient for you and Wei Rui to meet privately.”

“Ji Brother, you’re reckless!”

Kuangcheng and Wei Rui’s cheeks flushed instantly.

Ji You’s lips twitched as he stared at Kuangcheng, thinking: You two shared a month together on Lingjian Mountain—calling it “meeting privately” is still reckless? My own two are already studying how to have babies.

“After the snow disaster before the New Year, I donated most of my savings—I’m truly broke. Repairing a house can wait; besides, Mu Tisi is still unmarried and lives alone too.”

Kuangcheng knew Ji You was about to mention Shengsheng Buxi, so he immediately steered the topic back to housing.

“I offered to lend it to him, but he refused.”

Hearing his description, Wei Rui lifted her eyes to Ji You and said.

Kuangcheng pressed his lips: “How could I use Rui’er’s money to repair my own house?”

Ji You, hearing this, lifted his teacup: “No need to borrow—Fengzhou’s grain is nearly gone; the cultivated spirit seedlings have been harvested twice; our warehouse still holds some Snowland Demon Stones. The realm is in ruins, and silver is everywhere to be made.”

“With chaos erupting everywhere, making money is secondary—grain must be sold,” Kuangcheng replied.

“Then this task falls to you. Think of ways in the coming days to circulate the grain and spirit seedlings, and use this chance to sign labor agreements with common folk, relocating them to Fengzhou. Once my injury improves, we’ll launch a major operation.”

“That’s excellent.”

Kuangcheng had always been restless—he loved meddling in affairs in Yuyang County, and now entrusted with responsibility, he was already thinking.

So he didn’t stay long, leaving with Wei Rui to ponder thoroughly.

Soon after, the Jixiang Hall welcomed two visitors—the Lu sisters, returned from a thousand li away in Yunzhou.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had already entered the rear hall, avoiding meeting them.

During the New Year last year, they’d been ordered by their Junior Mistress to meet the Lu sisters, asking whether the sisters’ service was true, and whether it hurt—now wasn’t the time to meet.

The two sisters soon entered the hall: the elder wore a plain white flowing immortal robe, the younger a pale yellow ruqun embroidered with intertwined branches, gliding in gracefully.

It was clear their return hadn’t been easy—their handsome faces bore exhaustion and pallor, lending them a delicate beauty.

“Senior Brother!”

“Back already?”

Lu Hanyan nodded obediently: “We arrived today.”

“It was Sister Zhengxin who sent word,” Lu Qingqiu explained. “When we heard Ji Young Master had awakened, we rushed back.”

“How is your relationship with Sister Wen now?”

Ji You’s expression shifted slightly at Lu Qingqiu’s address of Wen Zhengxin.

Earlier, Lu Hanyan and Fang Jincheng had secretly fought in the bamboo grove, prompting Elder Fang to intervene covertly—he’d repeatedly sabotaged Ji You and even barred him from using sword arts in the Heavenly Dao Preliminary.

So Wen Zhengxin had disliked them, seeing the Lu family as purely mercantile, clearly using them—and held a poor impression of the sisters.

Though later events had eased tensions, their relationship still remained colder than with others.

But the day Ji You woke, Wen Zhengxin had mentioned the Lu sisters with unmistakable warmth, dropping their surname and calling Qingqiu by name alone—something that had puzzled Ji You then.

“Our bond improved during the campaign.”

At the question, Lu Qingqiu whispered softly.

Like Yuan Caimei, Lu Qingqiu came from a family of means, cultured and composed, yet with a cold pride—yet now, her lovely face flushed faintly pink.

Ji You recalled the three women charging forward relentlessly during the campaign and thought: I understand.

Sister Wen and Elder Sister Lu must have both realized the other was pretending Lu Hanyan was beaten on the buttocks—bound by a shared secret, they’d grown close.

Elder sister, younger sister…

So they’ve already reorganized the family hierarchy in the back courtyard without telling me, right?

Ji You remembered Yuan Caimei, who’d always wanted to call Yan Shuyi “sister,” and thought: Women are all the same.

The worst part? It’s not just Lu Qingqiu and Lu Hanyan—now even the ever-serious Sister Wen has joined in, becoming the eldest among them.

Too familiar already. Even if I’m healed, you can’t just do this—you should’ve told me.

“How is Yunzhou now?”

Ji You sighed at the fickleness of human hearts, murmured a few times, then remembered his most pressing concern.

Lu Qingqiu replied: “Currently, You and Yun provinces are engulfed in war—the Barbarian-Demon Alliance has pushed to the Rege Plain and now camps along the upper reaches of Nujiang River.”

“Half?”

“Yes. So this return to the capital isn’t just us sisters—our parents and others from the Spirit Stone Guild came too. We rented a house in Xicheng to wait out the storm.”

The Rege Plain spans You and Yun provinces, deep in their heartlands; since the Barbarian and Demon tribes have reached there, half the territory has been seized, naturally affecting Yunzhou’s largest mine.

The Lu family was a century-old clan, and their Spirit Stone Guild wasn’t weak—but against the Barbarian and Demon tribes, their strength was still too small, with no chance to resist, forced to retreat from Yunzhou first.

Fortunately, Lu Hanyan remained an inner disciple of the Heavenly Book Academy, which still bore responsibility to protect her family.

“Worthless disciple!”

“?”

As Ji You conversed with the Lu sisters, Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, and Wen Zhengxin—who visited daily—entered the hall.

Seeing the sisters had returned, Wen Zhengxin went to greet them warmly, their sisterly bond evident.

After much talk, she approached Ji You, gazing at him coolly, formally asking after his health—only to find his eyes studying her.

In the following days, the Heavenly Book Academy grew slightly quieter, while northern war reports arrived frequently.

The Barbarian and Demon tribes, having reached the Rege Plain, began systematically plundering occupied lands and constructing layered defensive works stretching east to west, completely dismantling the western section of the Northern Wall.

Even thousands of li away, human soldiers guarding the upper Nujiang could still see the dust clouds rising from the collapsed Northern Wall.

Yet now, they gradually slowed their offensive pace.

This matched Zuoyangyang’s prediction—they had stormed forward fiercely, yet still feared the power of the Sacred Artifacts.

“Huh—”

North of the Northern Wall, where the wilderness met the snowfields.

In the biting wind, several massive, mountain-high demonic beasts, their wings blotting out the sky, swept across the endless frozen land, stirring vast snowstorms as they flew north.

Upon their broad backs rode Ye Han, the Demon Prince who had commanded the army to breach You and Yun provinces days ago, and Lin Dou, the young heir of the Scale Clan.

Soon, the demonic beasts landed in the snow-covered Demon Emperor City, and the two walked side by side into the Demon Emperor Palace.

The deep palace was silent and solemn; the Demon Emperor sat upon his throne, his immense, majestic form radiating profound, mysterious pressure.

Sensing their entry, the Demon Emperor slowly opened his eyes, revealing twin golden vertical pupils.

“How stands the war in You and Yun provinces?”

“Your Majesty, the campaign proceeds smoothly—the western section of the Northern Wall has been dismantled. Though human immortal sects and clans sent forces to resist, slowing our southern advance, I’m confident I’ll fully seize Yun Province before next spring.”

The Demon Emperor nodded: “You’ve done well.”

Ye Han bowed: “Thank Your Majesty’s praise, but I believe our people shouldn’t be content with You Province alone.”

“What do you propose?”

“Though the Barbarians now ally with us, they surely won’t wish to share even an inch of land with us. We must remember the lesson of a thousand years ago—when we merely served as their tools. To grow and multiply, we need more land and resources.”

The Demon Emperor half-opened his eyes: “You mean continue south from You Province, and seize Qing Province?”

Ye Han nodded: “Qing Province is vast, bordering You and Yun provinces—we must not let the Barbarians claim it first.”

“What do you think, Lin Dou?” the Demon Emperor asked.

The class gaps among the demon race are not as insurmountable as those among humans, so the young leaders of the five clans—Scales, Teeth, Fur, Claws, and Feathers—are not much inferior in status to the demon royal princes.

Especially Lin Dou, who is considered a heavenly prodigy even among the demon race, naturally holds considerable influence.

Upon hearing the demon Emperor’s question, Lin Dou immediately spoke: “According to the intelligence gathered, after the great calamity among humans, the Chen clan leader entered seclusion and has not been seen since. I believe he may no longer be alive; Qingzhou may be taken.”

“The Chen clan leader is not dead.”

“?”

The demon Emperor gazed with his vast eyes toward the snowstorm beyond the palace: “He is indeed severely wounded, but his aura still lingers.”

Lin Dou’s eyes hardened: “Is there any chance he can recover?”

“Like the Xuan Yuan Sect’s Patriarch, he has been preparing for transcendence for many years. His physical body has long withered and lost its vitality; it can no longer heal wounds, and is merely clinging to life.”

“Even so, in his wounded state, he must be extremely weak—perhaps unable to wield the Sacred Artifact. This is an excellent opportunity.”

The demon Emperor shook his head slightly: “Our smooth passage across the Northern Frontier depends heavily on timing—we took advantage of the human sects being reeling from the great calamity and unable to react. But now those immortal sects have stabilized. Even setting aside the Chen clan leader, the other Patriarchs are surely watching our movements.”