Chapter 71: The Yu Danzong

Crossing from the rear of the ridge, ahead lay an ancient battlefield at the edge of the ruins.

Countless massive flying swords lay shattered here, and many desiccated skeletons were pinned to the broken stone walls.

This was a place they had never seen on their way in.

In fact, since entering the mountain, the Immortal Sect disciples had taken only the direct path and understood less than one-thousandth of the Qiling Ruins.

Ban Yangshu had said the ruins were vast beyond measure—and he wasn’t exaggerating.

Yet Ji You did not pause; he suppressed the banditish thought of “collecting antiques to get rich” and pressed forward, muttering under his breath, “Money and goods exchanged.”

“Brother-in-law, it feels like someone’s following us.”

“I felt it too. Don’t turn around. Keep going. I’ll speak when we reach the mine entrance.”

The immortal affinity in the mountains had stirred the world, drawing countless seekers of the Dao.

But due to fierce conflicts, many low-realm cultivators, though ambitious, dared not venture deep, so they lingered near the entrance.

At this moment, the three following them were middle-aged cultivators.

Two men were Tongxuan, and the woman, with her supple figure and refined aura, had reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms.

With such ordinary talent, they could not possibly come from an Immortal Sect—they must be from a noble family.

Logically, all three were likely those who had cultivated in vain, and upon seeing the celestial light here, sought to risk everything for a chance.

And from the fresh blood already staining their clothes, it was clear their method of seeking immortal affinity was to stalk lone cultivators and kill them for their belongings.

“Brother-in-law, they’re catching up.”

“Go ahead. Wait for me at the mine entrance. I’ll talk to them.”

“?”

Ji You stopped, turned around, and began gathering spiritual energy slowly.

His principle upon entering the mountain was to avoid conflict whenever possible—to move fast and leave fast—but this time, he couldn’t.

He didn’t know whether the miners inside the mine had escaped. If even one was left behind, it might become a great disaster.

The three cultivators behind him immediately halted, sneered, and drew their swords—only to see a vast surge of spiritual energy erupt, followed by seven spirit swords bursting from the forest.

Zhum—

Amidst the clear, ringing sword hum, a tide of blades roared through the air like coiling dragons.

The three cultivators widened their eyes, raised their swords to block, and were instantly flung back by the sword qi—only to see their opponent had already drawn his bow, arrows like a storm of frosty light raining down…

Meanwhile, the Yu Danzong siblings did not stop, running straight to the entrance of the mine tunnel.

Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Caimei refined another Qi-Replenishing Pill, restoring her energy, though fragments of her memory still remained hazy.

At that moment, she noticed her hands.

Her hands were slender and porcelain-white, but now faint patterns traced across them, like jade.

Xuan Jade Hand…

This was the state after using the Xuan Jade Hand without full recovery—proof she had once cultivated it.

As she pondered, her brother’s mumbled voice reached her ear, indistinct but clearly expressing worry for Brother-in-Law.

Yuan Caimei couldn’t help turning: “Yuan Chen, listen—don’t ever call him ‘Brother-in-Law’ lightly.”

Yuan Chen stood at the mine entrance, pouting: “The family has issued you a final ultimatum: find a husband. Brother-in-Law is the perfect candidate. He’s a rural private cultivator, no noble background, yet his combat power is astonishing—perfect as a Yu Danzong son-in-law.”

“When did this become your business to worry about?”

“I know you have high standards, but Brother-in-Law truly is exceptional. I can’t say exactly why, but I feel he’ll one day stand alone atop the Nine Provinces.”

Yuan Caimei glanced at him: “Stand alone atop the Nine Provinces? Even the Chu family dares not claim that. You’ve been poisoned by folk novels.”

Yu Danzong itself possesses no combat prowess, yet its alchemy lineage can be passed on only by its own.

To ensure this lineage endures, the Qingyun Heavenly Rules long ago forbade any cultivator from harming Yu Danzong disciples.

But rules… are merely rules—they cannot quell the greed of petty villains.

Like this ambush.

Thus, for a hundred years, every woman who inherited the Yu Danzong lineage has chosen the most talented youth from minor families and taken them as son-in-laws to reside on Dan Mountain.

First, minor families are easier to control and harbor less ambition.

Second, great families would never let anyone become a son-in-law, nor would they ever attach themselves to Yu Danzong—thus failing the goal of building a tower from scattered sand through marital alliances.

Hence, selecting a capable youth without deep background, then enhancing him with Yu Danzong elixirs—this is one of Yu Danzong’s methods to endure in Qingyun.

“The ‘minor noble families’ Yu Danzong speaks of must have at least ten Upper Five Realm cultivators—vastly different from rural private cultivators.”

“Moreover, Peak Lower Three Realm is not even among my criteria for a husband.”

“I don’t know what kind of spell you’ve been under, or what promises he made you—but drop this idea.”

Yu Danzong is one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects of this age; Yuan Caimei is the eldest daughter of Yu Danzong—she could never choose a husband who hasn’t even entered the Upper Five Realm.

It’s heart, Yuan Chen whispered silently.

No spell—he saw heart.

Yu Danzong lies between Liangzhou and Youzhou, and through methods like gifting elixirs, healing the wounded, and forming marital ties, it has indeed won over minor families in both regions.

But what then, after your sister vanished?

Though those families sent disciples to search, none dared enter the ruins.

Later, when the celestial light surged, they finally dared enter—but only to seek immortality, even abandoning him outright in Beisha Town.

Thus, before vested interests, such seemingly solid ties are utterly unreliable.

But Brother-in-Law is different. Though he kept repeating “money and goods exchanged,” he’s shown me many times he’s trustworthy.

Like when we entered Hongshan Mine, like the people he saved along the way, like the stories he told of Immortal Sect young masters.

If unreliable, even a Linxian cultivator is worth less than a Peak Lower Three Realm.

As the next direct disciple of Yu Danzong, Yuan Chen is no naive fool—he believes Ji You will be the perfect match for his sister, ensuring her lifelong peace.

But before he could decide how to voice his thoughts, his sister’s voice sounded again in his ear.

“When you brought him into the mountain, what elixirs did you promise him?”

“A thousand taels of gold.”

“Only silver? So cheap?”

Yuan Caimei froze for a moment, thinking: rural private cultivators truly are rural private cultivators: “Does he know you’re a direct disciple of Yu Danzong?”

Yuan Chen recalled: “His senior brother guessed it, but he probably doesn’t know.”

“Give him two thousand taels. He risked his life for you—don’t shortchange him.”

Yuan Chen heard his sister’s meaning: money and goods exchanged, then part ways—no more talk of marriage.

But Yuan Caimei had one unspoken thought: if he returns.

Though Yu Danzong doesn’t cultivate martial arts, it has its own method of observing aura—so she knew the opposite side had two Tongxuan and one Peak Lower Three Realm, just like him.

Go talk to them…?

Judging by their blood-soaked state, they’d long since decided to kill.

Yuan Caimei thought this man could travel back and forth with her brother—beyond his naivety, his fortune was terrifyingly great.

Just as she pondered, footsteps suddenly emerged from the forest. Ji You walked forward calmly, long sword on his back, white robes fluttering, three money bags clenched in his hand.

(End of Chapter)