Chapter 392

“Ji You is attempting another breakthrough again?”

“Yes, reportedly the spiritual energy in Zhongzhou has thinned considerably because of it.”

“So extreme? What kind of breakthrough is he attempting?”

“He follows the body refinement path; he already had boundless combat power before. Now he’s likely pushing toward his next major realm…”

“So that means boundless realm combat power?”

The news of the demon clans entering the capital drew countless eyes, but Ji You’s sudden return to the capital during his seclusion naturally sparked speculation long ago.

And now the rumors coming from Zhongzhou confirm that Ji You is indeed preparing for a major milestone in his cultivation.

Remember, Ji You has been in the Heavenly Book Academy for only six years since entering as a self-taught cultivator from the countryside.

To immortals with long lifespans, this time is but a fleeting white horse passing a crevice—utterly insignificant—but it truly revealed how a man with no background rose to fame.

In six years, he had already subdued the Boundless. Who knows how far he’ll have advanced in another six?

Meanwhile, in the Desireless Hall of the Heavenly Book Academy, a celebration was being held for Shi Junhao’s formal adoption as a direct disciple.

Years ago, when he and Xiao Hanyan joined the envoy mission to the Western Regions, the promise was that whoever reached the Yingtian Realm first would be taken as a direct disciple.

Later, Xiao Hanyan earned a ranking at the Immortal Gathering and entered the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, only to die in the Chu family’s scheme—this opportunity naturally fell to Shi Junhao.

In truth, Shi Junhao had already reached the Yingtian Realm during the barbarian demon invasion, but due to the many events that followed, the formal ceremony had been delayed until now.

Yet even as the direct disciple ceremony unfolded, everyone kept talking about Ji You’s impending breakthrough.

As disciples of the Heavenly Book Academy, many had looked back six years and felt they’d made no progress, yet they had witnessed firsthand how the reclusive, antisocial Ji You had surged ahead alone.

After the brief wine banquet ended, Shi Junhao gathered with He Lingxiu and Chai Ze—the other two direct disciples—at a tea pavilion atop Yunwu Peak, their expressions distant as they held their cups.

For disciples of the immortal sects, the Hall Direct Disciple ranks just below the Sacred Direct Disciple.

A hundred years from now, they may well become the Hall Masters, rulers over their own domains of wind and rain.

Especially since You Buyu had been injured, fallen in realm, and left the Academy, and now the new Patriarch You Yingqiu has no direct disciple—each of them might one day compete for the position of Patriarch.

Such a prestigious status, among the countless disciples of the Heavenly Book Academy, is already the pinnacle; in the past, it would have drawn endless congratulations and feasts.

Yet the person least like a Heavenly Book Academy disciple has now made the title of Hall Direct Disciple seem almost worthless.

Because everyone knows that even if You Buyu had never fallen or left, and had become the Sacred Direct Disciple, the top disciple among all would still be the one now attempting his breakthrough.

Meanwhile, countless noble families were heading toward the Sacred Ground of the Ancients, stepping over withered leaves into the deep forest.

Some came from Liangzhou, others from Qingzhou, even some from Yuzhou, converging with the Zhongzhou noble families who had arrived earlier.

Beyond these noble families approaching from the mountains, three women had just landed in the valley beside Dongshan, drifting gently down through empty space.

The woman in the center slowly lifted her head, revealing a face of peerless beauty, gazing at the surging spiritual current, her eyelashes trembling faintly.

“So many people.”

“They’ve all come to watch the husband break through, right?”

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu whispered to each other, then turned to look at their mistress.

They’d agreed the husband was merely a concubine, and she needn’t tell him she was pregnant—but he hadn’t guessed it in his letter, and their mistress couldn’t resist rushing over herself—such hypocrisy.

Still, they understood: such a monumental event as bearing an heir, their mistress naturally wanted the husband to know as soon as possible.

But given her mistress’s nature, even if the husband found out, she’d still say the little Heavenly Book Academy disciple had “done well” and deserved a reward.

Amid the chirping crickets, Yan Shuyi snapped back to attention, saw their expressions, and knew they were gossiping about her again—she narrowed her eyes slightly.

In an instant, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu straightened their postures, eyes fixed on their noses, noses on their lips, lips on their hearts—like professional, dutiful maids who never gossiped about their young lady.

“Eh, Mistress Ah-jie?!”

“?”

The three turned at the voice and saw Xiang Yuanchen walking over, face alight with delight.

The Little Mistress of Lingjian Mountain had chosen to land in the valley to avoid crowds, and this spot was extremely close to the Sacred Ground’s restoration site.

Xiang Yuanchen had been in seclusion for a long time; he’d finally stepped out for some air, only to run into another Ah-jie.

Yan Shuyi glanced at him sidelong: “Have you succeeded in awakening the Sacred Artifact?”

Xiang Yuanchen’s bright smile froze instantly on his face.

Since his brother-in-law entered seclusion, no one could suppress his own Ah-jie—so Xiang Yuanchen hadn’t dared read a single novel in a whole day. But upon seeing Mistress Ah-jie had arrived, he was overjoyed.

He knew that besides his brother-in-law, only Mistress Ah-jie could suppress his own Ah-jie.

Yet the Yu Danzong direct disciple hadn’t expected both Ah-jies to speak in identical tones.

“I’ve already awakened it, but it’s still unstable.”

“Where’s Caiwei?”

“She’s in the bamboo house to the east. Father said that since the brother-in-law needs to break through, the restoration work will pause for a few days to ensure even spiritual energy flow. I’ll take Mistress Ah-jie to find her.”

Xiang Yuanchen’s mind raced: now that Mistress Ah-jie had arrived, his own Ah-jie wouldn’t dare misbehave or keep watching him—he could slip out this afternoon to read his novels.

So he fixed her with a hopeful gaze, hoping she’d go meet his own Ah-jie.

Yan Shuyi had come here solely to wait for the scoundrel’s emergence; with nothing urgent, she nodded in agreement, and the four of them headed toward the temporary bamboo courtyard on the slope.

“Ah-jie, Mistress Ah-jie is here!”

“Mistress Ah-jie?”

Yuan Caimei was copying elixir formulas in the bamboo courtyard, turned at the sound, and saw her brother pushing open the door while Yan Shuyi followed behind into the yard.

Seeing this, the daughter of the Yu Danzong set down her brush and rose—then her gaze suddenly locked onto the other woman’s lower abdomen.

Yan Shuyi noticed her stare and subtly lifted her belly a little.

Mistress Ah-jie has such auspicious pregnancy energy, Yuan Caimei thought inwardly, her eyes flickering with envy…

“From yesterday until now, it’s been a full day—has he still been absorbing spiritual energy?”

“Yes, there’s still no sign of stopping.”

On the eastern slope, He Ye, Zuoqiu Jingyun, and several familiar noble family patriarchs stared at the magnificent surging spiritual energy, whispering among themselves.

After a day and night of absorption, spiritual energy across Zhongzhou had clearly thinned; had it not been for the leaking spiritual energy from the Sacred Ground, a vacuum might have formed.

Such an immense volume of spiritual energy was truly unprecedented, explaining why Ji You could slay Chu Xian despite being surrounded by malevolent energy.

Yet even after absorbing to this extent, the man showed no sign of reaching his limit—and this left the crowd stunned, wondering what terrifying combat power such a monumental breakthrough would unlock.

The afternoon sun dipped westward; the sky gradually darkened.

As they waited, the crowd sensed moisture in the air, looked up, and saw dark clouds gathering—they knew rain was coming.

At that moment, the spiritual energy swirling around the Sacred Ground began to stagnate; the river-like flow drawn by his absorption began to fade and disperse in all directions.

BOOM!!!

Before anyone could react, a searing heat erupted violently from Dongshan, instantly unleashing endless gales that swept into the forest, bending countless ancient trees to the ground.

Countless immortal sect disciples were thrown back by the sudden force, scrambling to channel spiritual energy to stabilize themselves against the storm.

The explosion of this searing heat was so sudden that the air cracked with a deafening report, and the energy surged straight into the heavens, piercing through the thick, leaden clouds far above.

BOOM—!

Perhaps because of that heat’s ascent, the thunderclouds above burst open with a thick bolt of violet lightning, stretching across the sky.

With a roaring rush, a torrential downpour was suddenly hurled upon the earth.

Inside the cave, Ji You had ignited the flame seed with his mind—and the moment the seed fell, his inner blue spiritual lake ignited into roaring flames.

Then the flickering fire surged outward, igniting the spiritual currents throughout his limbs and bones.

Matter in heaven and earth never vanishes—it merely transforms from one form to another—so the burning of spiritual energy generated immense force.

This force immediately began crashing within his body, gradually forming a barrier of qi.

In previous breakthrough attempts, Ji You had always blasted this force outward—the roaring, dragon-and-tiger-like hum had come from that.

But now, when he tried to repeat the same method, the final, constraining pressure struck suddenly, wrapping him tightly like a giant hand gripping him.

They say cultivators comprehend the Dao by following heaven’s will—perhaps intense body refinement is a defiance of heaven itself.