Chapter 385: The Nine Gates of the Physical Body

The letter informing the Yu Danzong’s arrival at the Sacred Ground of the Ancients, and the commencement of repairing its cracks, quickly reached Shengjing.

This allowed the major immortal sects to breathe a little easier, relieved by the smooth progress, now waiting only for the Sacred Ground to be restored before entering to investigate why its fortune was draining.

The Dao Discourse Assembly also concluded smoothly two days later, at which point the immortal sects and noble families all began packing their belongings, preparing to return home.

The early summer sunlight was brilliant, yet a northerly breeze carried coolness, preventing any oppressive heat.

The junior overseer of Lingjian Mountain sat atop the departing carriage, cold and haughty, as if indifferent to all, only bidding farewell to Yuan Caimei.

The arrival of the Yuan siblings had kept the back courtyard of Wu Lü Trading House lively for a long time; what Ji You had never anticipated was that when there were two, they could sleep together—but when it became three, he was utterly alone…

Yan Shuyi even forbade him from entering the house for dinner, her expression brimming with suspicion, leaving Ji You with not the slightest advantage—only during card games could he simultaneously touch both pairs of feet, often met with relentless kicks from the colder pair.

Thus, for these two days, only Yuan Chen beamed with delight, spending his time listening to storytellers at teahouses and keeping company with the unwanted brother-in-law, feeling utterly wonderful.

“Brother-in-law, Overseer Sister has left. We’re also setting off for the Sacred Ground of the Ancients. We won’t know when we’ll meet again.”

“No need to wait for next time—I’ll see you off.”

“Really?”

“Though the distance from Shengjing to the Sacred Ground of the Ancients isn’t far, you two have no cultivation—your safety isn’t guaranteed. I must ensure you arrive safely, then find a suitable place for you to continue your breakthrough.”

As Ji You spoke, he waved toward the carriage ahead—only to receive a cold, haughty glare from Yan Shuyi.

Next time I see you, I’ll spank your ass, Ji You muttered under his breath, eyes half-lidded.

Yan Shuyi, a Wujiang cultivator, naturally heard the whisper; her gaze instantly turned predatory, yet beneath that coldness, a faint trace of reluctance slipped through.

Soon after, the disciples of the immortal sects set off, and noble families likewise departed the capital; the junior overseer’s carriage once again soared through the sky.

Lingzhou was no close distance from Shengjing; even with magical artifacts on her carriage, it still took a full three days.

At that time, Lingjian Mountain’s disciples were still reeling from the news returning from Shengjing; after verifying from all sides, its truth was confirmed, yet many still could not comprehend it.

Especially after years of subtle influence, many Lingjian Mountain disciples had assumed the overseer would marry a direct disciple of the Wenda Sect, and some had even taken spouses from Wenda Sect themselves—this sudden shift left them utterly disoriented.

This was exactly as Ding Yao had once said: once the overseer’s marriage surpassed everyone’s imagination, it would inevitably stir unrest among the disciples.

Could Ji You possibly become a son-in-law? What then of Yuan Caimei of the Yu Danzong?

If he didn’t become a son-in-law, would their overseer be taking the Lingjian outside in marriage? Then whose surname would her bloodline bear, and could she even qualify to inherit Lingjian Mountain’s future legacy?

The most critical question was that many Lingjian Mountain disciples believed if Lingjian Mountain could ally with Wenda Sect, it would surely become the most influential force in Qingyun—but what could Ji You, a rustic self-cultivator, possibly offer?

“That Ji You slaughtered Xianzhuang, abolished tax levies, cut off spirit stone supplies, secretly destroyed the thousand-year pact between Great Xia and the immortal sects—and he did all this with no backing. If he truly ties himself to Lingjian Mountain’s great ship, won’t he drag us into war with the entire world?”

“He must have bewitched the overseer with sweet words!”

“The overseer is foolish…”

The people of Tianjian Peak, who had lost their mountain peak and now resided on flat ground, also heard the rumors, watching with a spectator’s amusement.

As Lingjian Mountain’s spiritual symbol, the overseer was to marry a disciple of the rustic Tianshu Academy—unless she resolved this matter properly, she would inevitably lose the people’s trust amid criticism.

Because previously, disciples had believed everything the overseer did was right—but now many had begun to think she was wrong.

And the noble families allied with Lingjian Mountain, upon learning of this, would surely fear Yan Shuyi might help Ji You completely abolish tax levies, inevitably causing growing rifts with Xuanjian Peak—this was unquestionable.

Instead of choosing Shang Xiyao, the future master of the Sacred Artifact, she chose a rustic Tianshu Academy disciple—this made Tianjian Peak feel as if they sat at home and joy fell from the heavens.

Confused, questioned, Yan Shuyi returned to the mountain facing such gazes without a word, following the mountain path toward Xuanjian Peak.

At that moment on Xuanjian Peak, Yan Jingxiang stood beside the mountain path with his wife and direct kin, their faces grim as they watched their daughter return.

He naturally knew Ji You’s talent was high—but no matter how high, how could he compare to Shang Xiyao, who would one day hold the Sacred Artifact and control an immortal sect? Even a three-year-old could calculate that—he couldn’t understand why his daughter had been deceived.

Yet facing such questioning glances, Yan Shuyi said nothing in explanation; instead, she gently lifted her gaze and walked step by step toward Yun Ding Tian Que.

She had never wanted to be the overseer—but countless others had forced her into the role; as overseer, the first thing she had learned was that she need not explain her heart to anyone.

Yet when she reached the summit and gazed upon the palace where she had lived for twenty years, she felt a sudden confusion.

Because she did not know when, if ever, she could shed this heavy burden—when she could stop worrying that her decisions would affect others, and simply live the life she loved in that small village in Fengzhou.

After the Dao Discourse Assembly, Qingyun fell instantly silent—but the impact of what had transpired did not cease.

Especially the incident of the Yu Danzong’s siege caused countless people to return home and immediately enter seclusion to break through their realms.

Because the Yu Danzong’s ordeal had taught them a simple yet deadly truth: weakness was the original sin.

In addition, the direct disciples of the Shanhai Pavilion, Wenda Sect, and Chen Shixian Clan all successively announced their seclusion, declaring they would not emerge until they held the Sacred Artifact.

Though they publicly gave no reason for their urgent seclusion, many knew they had likely been provoked.

Provoked by the two fingers that pierced the chest, provoked by the junior overseer’s gaze, provoked by the image eternally guarding the mountain peaks.

Yet several other events did occur during this time, drawing some attention.

First, the Shanhai Pavilion sent disciples to pay homage at the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, where they stayed for half a month.

For a thousand years, southern immortal sects had never been close to northern ones—this was the first time a southern sect had actively visited a northern sect.

Some said it was because the junior overseer’s union with Ji You had disrupted the southern sects’ existing order, leaving Shanhai Pavilion with many thoughts.

Others claimed Shanhai Pavilion’s direct disciple, Holy Son Huo Xingzhong, wished to court the Chen Shixian Clan, and this visit was merely a signal.

Additionally, the autumn duels of the major immortal sects began earlier than ever before.

The joint malice of the thousand-year noble families had caused countless deaths, severely weakening the immortal sects; this year, they opened their gates widely, increasing the number of inner courtyard admissions from one to five.

Greater opportunity naturally led to fiercer competition, making this year’s autumn duels particularly noteworthy, as several promising young prodigies gradually entered public view.

Some commoner youths, admitted through military merit, rose unexpectedly and achieved impressive results.

Riding the momentum of the autumn duels, elders of each sect were also widely recruiting direct disciples for their own use—even some non-clan elders of immortal sects began taking second and third direct disciples.

This was actually to accumulate strength for their own noble families; strictly speaking, it was forbidden by the immortal sects—but since everyone did it, no one bothered to single them out.

Aside from these two matters, humanity, as previously planned, dispatched another envoy mission to Yunzhou, even bringing a large quantity of gifts.

The Si Xian Jian believed that even if they still couldn’t enter the city, accepting the gifts would suffice.

Because the barbarians also had suspicions; stirring such suspicion was the best way to dismantle the barbarian-ape alliance.

Yet unexpectedly, the ape clan not only accepted humanity’s gifts, but actually opened their city gates to receive the human envoy—leaving everyone astonished.

However, what happened to the human envoy after entering Yunzhou remained unknown even to those in Qingzhou.

Additionally, there was another matter—though few discussed it, many actually paid close attention: he had vanished.

After the Dao Discourse Assembly ended, someone saw him see off the Yuan siblings, then he never appeared again.

Meanwhile, Yu Shiliu and Gu Ze Tao led the one hundred twenty disciples of the Tianshu Academy toward the border of Zhongzhou.