[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-74":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2259947,4410,"Chapter 74: Borrowing the Heavenly Book (On Sale Tonight—Requesting First Subscription)","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>Vast crimson light stained the night, and a massive wave of demonic seeds surged out of the ruin with gushing malevolent energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You led the Yu Danzong siblings away from Hongshan Mine, traveling westward toward Ningcheng Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This county lay in the northwestern part of Zhongzhou, untouched by malevolent energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding civilians, aided by Da Xia soldiers, were all evacuating toward Ningcheng County—an observation that surprised Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such a critical moment, everyone cared only about the ruin; the fact that the Da Xia court responded with such speed indicated that its earlier “rectification of officialdom” was beginning to bear fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked ahead through the crowd and saw a black banner embroidered with a python hanging from the lead carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the emblem of the Si Xian Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, I thought I’d never see you again—how did you escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There… there were immortals who saved us…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortals… are there still such immortals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They claimed to be the Zhengxin Immortal, the Ruyi Divine Maiden, the Yangshu Heavenly Sovereign, and the Rulong Immortal Emperor—no one knew what they were chanting as they charged through…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes yes, that’s exactly what happened to us too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You blended into the crowd, gazing at the inscriptions carved on the roadside walls: “The greatest of immortals serve life and the people,” his gaze slowly growing distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanchen too stared at those characters, listening to the clamor around him, and suddenly understood what it meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long after, the crowd arrived at Ningcheng County, where the streets were packed with refugees, all staring at the distant sky now crimson as if dripping blood, watching a bloated, worm-like figure soaring through the blood-red glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath its fat body, golden spiritual light surged continuously from the Qiling Mountain Range toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worm grew stronger with each surge, radiating an even more terrifying aura, as if ready to tear the heavens apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The townsfolk knew nothing of this; seeing the spectacle, they immediately knelt like a tidal wave, filled with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You also watched this scene, then suddenly felt a gaze land on him—he turned his head, expression slightly startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him stood a teahouse, and on the second floor, a long table: on the east side sat a woman wearing a flower hairpin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side sat an old man—an old man strikingly familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pondering for a long while, Ji You realized this was the old physician who had examined his body at the Tian Shu Academy after the demonic seed attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man now waved at him, offering a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Yingqiu also watched the boy, her eyes unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon was about to ascend, yet she could not fathom why her master insisted on meeting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going up to see an acquaintance—you haven’t paid yet, don’t run off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You turned to Yuanchen and suddenly noticed someone was missing: “Hey, where’s your sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanchen pointed toward a spot in the city: “She said she’s going to get you some silver notes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go watch over her—don’t let her slip away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You climbed the teahouse stairs, blinked at the old man: “It really is you—what a coincidence, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man chuckled, stroking his long beard: “I was summoned by the Si Xian Jian—to treat the wounded, and to prevent plague from too many corpses, by taking early precautions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, come, boy, sit down and have tea with me—I have some matters to discuss with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You had met the old physician only once, hardly a close acquaintance, but since their last conversation had been pleasant, he accepted without refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Yingqiu poured him tea, said nothing, and sat quietly beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man studied him for a long while: “Long time no see—you’ve grown stronger?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stronger? Not really—just weathered from sleeping under the open sky and eating wherever I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I say you’ve grown much stronger. If nothing changes, you’ll outlive the headmaster of your Tian Shu Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Yingqiu nearly spat out her tea, coughed, and fumbled a handkerchief from her sleeve to frantically wipe her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You knew the old man was referring to his previous letter home: “Your insight is… still remarkable, but there probably won’t be any chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why won’t there be a chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You thought: I don’t plan to return to Tian Shu Academy—I’m going to become a bandit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This idea had only existed in his imagination, still needing logical refinement—but now, no longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Caimei carried the Ling Xi Dan; when I collect payment, I’ll take one pill. Then, once I find Wen Zhengxin and the others, I’ll swallow it and lie down on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, the world will lose one immortal youth determined to outlive the headmaster—and gain one brilliant, legendary bandit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this thought could never be spoken—it was his secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ji You silent, the old man chuckled: “You don’t want to return to Tian Shu Academy, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, don’t slander me—Tian Shu Academy is a warm harbor in my heart; the people there are interesting and speak beautifully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You sipped his tea calmly, thinking: Is my bandit ambition really that obvious? That can’t be right…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man set down his teacup: “Everyone has their own path. Becoming a private cultivator might bring a better life—I once knew a cultivator like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You suddenly became interested: “And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He left his immortal sect, couldn’t farm, and couldn’t wake up early—so he lived the carefree life of a cloud and crane, eating today’s meal without knowing where tomorrow’s would come from. When starving, he climbed the mountains to become a bandit, only to find he couldn’t rob immortal sects, so he robbed poor villagers instead. Then he married a woman not much different from himself, and the cycle repeated with the next generation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man continued: “The woman was decent—couldn’t wield a sword, wasn’t arrogant or moody, gentle and virtuous, and adored quietness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Yingqiu sipped her tea and noticed Ji You’s face turning increasingly green—she nearly choked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since her master had descended the mountain specifically to see him, she’d sensed her master held a deep fondness for this boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now seeing her master practically writing “Leaving Tian Shu Academy means starving” on his face, she was certain of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon in the distant sky was growing stronger by the moment, yet in her master’s eyes, it mattered less than convincing him to stay—she simply couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the old man pulled a gold ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table: “Back to the matter at hand—I have something to ask. Could you allow me to use it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A small object—it won’t cost you anything. Here’s the rent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stared at the gold ingot on the table, fell silent for a long while, then spoke seriously: “Use it. Do as you please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Yingqiu didn’t know what her master intended to borrow, but moments later her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Ji You uttered “do as you please,” the Tian Shu within the jade casket suddenly erupted with overwhelming energy, as if an immortal Dao had awoken from slumber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared, stunned for a long time, then couldn’t help but gaze at Ji You in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, as the Tian Shu awakened, thunder cracked across the void, and a violet lightning bolt descended from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(On sale tonight at 0:00, requesting first subscription or2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1269,"2026-06-19T15:28:39.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","42fb932cf5909c70313ccd156cb155da9a6d971e5898a4668a8c6e89c21cb244","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-75","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-73",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]