Chapter 39: Dispatch List

The enemy attack came swiftly and departed just as quickly, leaving behind only the corpses of demonic seeds scattered across the mountain, as if deliberately arranged to create chaos—now that their purpose was fulfilled, they were casually discarded.

The disciples of the Heavenly Book Academy returned to the city on flying swords, gazing at the lanterns long since burned out as dawn approached, and at the silent capital of Shengjing, all felt a sense of unreality.

On the first day of the new year, peace and fortune should have reigned.

They had even planned to stroll together through the lantern festival, yet now what burned in their hearts was the thick fog and malevolent energy beyond the city walls.

And then came a continuous stream of further shocking news.

In addition to Yu Danzong being attacked, large numbers of demonic seeds appeared across Zhongzhou, Liangzhou, and Youzhou.

A batch of elixirs purchased by the Heavenly Book Academy for inner-quadrangle cultivation had been stolen, and the spirit mines under their control now suffered countless casualties.

It was certain that these demonic seeds were clearly controlled by someone, and somehow managed to remain outside the Ancient Ruins for extended periods.

The demonic seeds themselves were not terrifying; what was terrifying was if one or several immortal sects were orchestrating this behind the scenes, targeting other sects—then this was merely the beginning.

This was nothing new.

Over the past few years, nearly every disciple with the potential to reach the threshold of the top five realms had suffered assassinations with no traceable leads.

In recent years, the Northern Plains had frequently produced naturally born spiritual herbs, causing countless deaths; the wars between the Wu-Man and Great Xia arose from this very cause.

A century ago, the Array Master lineage had developed the Shocking Heaven Array, capable of countering the Linxian Realm, and seemed poised for rise—only to be brutally exterminated.

Yu Danzong had once endured its darkest hour of shame, when nearly all its disciples were abducted and kept in captivity, forced to brew elixirs day and night.

Lingjian Mountain once had a Master of Reflection who was lured into an Ancient Ruin and has since vanished, alive or dead; since then, Lingjian Mountain has had no contact with any other immortal sect.

Stability long endured inevitably breeds chaos.

Now, someone had truly grown tired of the silence.

The clues they currently held were fragmented, but it was certain the demonic seeds were tied to the ruins.

Thus, the Heavenly Book Academy dispatched countless disciples, starting from Shengjing, to search outward and investigate whether nearby ruins showed signs of disturbance.

Although the Disciples of the Management Hall dared not venture deep into the unknown ruins, they could still determine the origin of the disaster by examining trampled vegetation.

“Based on days of investigation by the Management Hall disciples, the problematic ruins are located in Qiling Town, Zhongzhou; Yuhe Town, Liangzhou; and Beisha Town, Youzhou.”

“The demonic seeds themselves are not terrifying, but the masterminds behind them include top-five-realm experts of Rongdao and Yingtian levels—this indicates a far greater conspiracy.”

“Some inner-quadrangle disciples have already been dispatched to seal off these three ruins; outer-quadrangle disciples must also participate.”

“This is the list we three have agreed upon.”

“Qingyuntian has lain dormant for too long; most disciples have secluded themselves in the mountains to cultivate. Now is the time they are needed.”

In the Management Hall, the three managers returned from Wanzhuo Mountain stood with their hands behind their backs, laying out the gravity of the matter.

Several instructors outside the inner quadrangle were also present, staring at the list in their hands.

It was reasonable.

Because the list consisted entirely of disciples with relatively weak family backgrounds but formidable cultivation bases.

Sending out such disciples ensured strong survival odds; if they died, no powerful clan would raise objections.

The seven immortal sects, stable for a thousand years, had always operated this way.

Cao Jingsong scrutinized the list closely, then froze—his eyes landed on a name that should not be there.

“Why is Ji You’s name on this list?”

Manager Qin turned around: “Ji You possesses extraordinary talent and cultivates both martial and spiritual paths; his sword skill is evident to all. With him, success is assured.”

Cao Jingsong frowned: “Manager Qin, this is inappropriate. Ji You is currently breaking through to the top five realms—he must remain in the Heavenly Book Academy to cultivate in peace!”

“Must one cultivate only within the Heavenly Book Academy? Inner-quadrangle disciples are summoned in times of crisis—how can outer-quadrangle disciples refuse?”

Cao Jingsong said nothing, but his expression grew colder.

Though Manager Qin’s reasoning was sound, from his perspective, he suspected this was deliberate targeting.

After all, the six months following the new year are critical for breakthroughs.

Ji You has no elixirs, no spirit stones—his only advantage is his connection to the Heavenly Book.

Now the Management Hall wants to send him out to investigate ruins; even setting aside the danger, it will inevitably delay his cultivation progress—this is obvious to everyone.

“Cao Brother, even if Ji You stays, do you truly believe he’ll enter the inner quadrangle?”

“Don’t forget, Chu He is now only one step away from the top five realms—he has the greatest chance. Why cling to a futile hope?”

The speaker sat to Cao Jingsong’s left, sporting a goatee—Ding Ang, Chu He’s instructor.

Cao Jingsong sneered at him: “You must have colluded long ago.”

“Insolent!”

Manager Qin slammed his fist on the table, glaring furiously: “I submitted this list to the inner quadrangle. Master Fei of the Wuchen Hall approved it—do you suspect Master Fei and I are secretly colluding?”

Cao Jingsong’s brow tightened: “Isn’t Master Fei still in seclusion, striving for the Linxian Realm?”

“The demonic seed crisis has thrown the realm into chaos and severely damaged our academy’s prestige, provoking Master Fei’s fury—he broke seclusion early. Do you think I’d lie to you?”

Master Fei She of the Wuchen Hall, the most advanced of the five hall masters, closest to the Linxian Realm, held the highest status among them.

The Headmaster has secluded himself for years, leaving most decisions to him.

When Ji You and others were attacked on the street, Manager Qin once sent someone to summon the sleeping Ji You for questioning—later, Master You replied with a single word: “Get out.”

Had Master Fei not spoken up this time, how would Manager Qin have dared to include Ji You on this list?

“The inner-quadrangle slots are extremely important to outer-quadrangle students—I’m sure everyone here understands that. But above all, uncovering the truth is paramount!”

“Also, I urge Instructor Cao to face reality.”

“Ji You may cultivate daily within the Heavenly Book Academy, but so far he has only condensed six dark lights. Even if he stays, can he still overtake others?”

“On the contrary, Ji You’s bravery is the finest weapon to uphold our academy’s prestige.”

“Even if he fails to enter the inner quadrangle, will our academy ever mistreat him?”

“This decision is final. Go back and inform your disciples—they must prepare in the coming days.”

Cao Jingsong remained silent for a long while, then tossed the list onto the table and turned to leave the Management Hall.

It had nothing to do with bravery or slots; Ji You’s mistake was his humble birth, his lack of family backing.

Instructor Cao had naively believed that since Ji You had connected with the Heavenly Book, even with his lowly origins, the academy would treasure him—but he was wrong.

Most people didn’t care who secured the inner-quadrangle slot; they only cared whether this matter benefited them.

The Chu family is a mighty cultivation clan, especially since Chu Xian became a disciple of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion—their prestige has only grown.

Aside from lacking control over the Dao lineage, Youzhou even refers to the Chu family as the Eighth Immortal Sect.

The seven immortal sects might ignore the Chu family, but those of us in their shadow dare not disregard their favor.

Under these circumstances, the choice was clear.

The cultivation history of Qingyuntian has always been a solid iron plate of clan alliances—never an exception.

Because those like Ji You—the exceptions—all died.

Killed in assassinations, targeted by powerful clans.

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(End of Chapter)