Chapter 99: Demon Race Enters the Capital

Over the years, the Seven Great Sects have operated independently, yet they have never lacked contact with one another.

Forums such as the Heavenly Dao Assembly and the Wandering Immortal Assembly are frequently held, and during leisure time, cultivators often visit other sects to pay respects.

When the Young Inspector of Spirit Sword Mountain first descended the mountain, he once went to the Chen Clan as Sect Master and received the honor of having their mountain-protection array deactivated.

But asking the Dao differs slightly from these practices.

Asking the Dao conveys no friendly intent; it resembles more of a provocation.

Since it is a provocation, there is no need to send advance notice—simply dispatch disciples directly, and there is no need to fear the other side closing their gates, for refusal would be a public admission of fear, and no immortal sect can afford to lose face, so they must accept the challenge.

“The Heavenly Sword Peak’s direct disciple is Zhuang You, mid-stage Fusion Dao. The Dark Sword Peak’s direct disciple is Yan Shujing, early-stage Fusion Dao.”

“These two are roughly evenly matched with us; before fighting, we truly cannot determine who will win, but since we are the ones initiating the challenge, we must win, not lose.”

“If we lose, the Sacred Academy’s title will truly become a joke.”

In the inner courtyard of the Sacred Academy, within a white marble pavilion west of the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, a man and a woman sat facing each other.

On the west side sat He Lingxiu, direct disciple of the Free Palace, relaying her master’s words to Yu Buyu, direct disciple of the Auspicious Palace seated opposite.

Yu Buyu picked up a spirit jujube from the tray and swallowed it, then spoke without expression: “The early-stage one isn’t worth my effort—I’ll take Zhuang You.”

“Yu Senior Brother is truly confident.”

“I simply want to kill, so I’m looking for someone to take my sword.”

Yu Buyu had been in an unusually foul mood these past days, his killing intent extremely heavy.

The Auspicious Palace disciples pretended not to notice, but everyone knew the source of his killing intent.

He Lingxiu smiled faintly and did not refuse: “Then I’ll take the early-stage one, Yan Shujing—it’s a lucky break for me.”

Yu Buyu nodded, then added: “On our way from Shengjing to Lingzhou, we’ll pass through Yongzhou—come with me to the Dan Sect and meet Miss Yuan.”

He Lingxiu was startled: “I thought you were merely obeying your elders’ orders—I didn’t realize Senior Brother Yu truly favored that eldest daughter of the Dan Sect.”

Yu Buyu gave a light laugh: “Miss Yuan Caiwei is beautiful, a top-tier fifth-rank alchemist, and perfectly matched to me in status. With elder support, why wouldn’t I like her?”

“Senior Brother Yu is truly thoughtful, but…”

Before He Lingxiu could finish, Yu Buyu raised his hand to stop her.

“A debt of life can blind the eyes. It’s my own fault for being too low-key—I’ve never cultivated an aura of dominance within the academy, so people have underestimated me. When I arrive at Dan Mountain as a direct disciple of the Palace Master, Miss Yuan will finally understand my standing.”

“That’s true. We’ve sat in quiet contemplation on Green Mountain without ever fighting, so the Dan Sect doesn’t realize how rare we truly are.”

He Lingxiu raised her brow proudly and set her teacup gently on the stone table.

At their age, reaching the Fusion Dao realm is already a once-in-ten-thousand talent, and only those on the same path understand the true value of such cultivation.

The Dan Sect cultivates alchemy, not the Dao, so they likely cannot yet grasp the honor this cultivation represents.

Thinking of this, He Lingxiu suddenly remembered another woman on Spirit Sword Mountain, of even higher status.

“I wonder if we’ll meet the legendary Young Inspector during our visit to Spirit Sword Mountain.”

Yu Buyu lifted his gaze, thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

The Young Inspector of Spirit Sword Mountain is a direct disciple of the sect—and one who wields a Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact. Externally, she is already regarded as a Sect Master-level figure.

We are going to ask the Dao; if she personally appears, it would be too much of an honor to the Sacred Academy.

But if Spirit Sword Mountain truly honored us so greatly, they wouldn’t have allowed us to come asking the Dao in the first place.

Within half a day, news that the Sacred Academy would send Palace Master direct disciples to Spirit Sword Mountain to ask the Dao reached Shengjing beyond Ni Mountain.

The sect’s external envoys stationed in Shengjing quickly learned of it and immediately transmitted the news to their respective sects.

The detail of this transmission was so precise it even included the names and identities of the dispatched disciples.

This was not because their intelligence network was exceptionally sharp, but because the Sacred Academy deliberately made it so.

For a provocation, one must make a grand spectacle.

Spirit Sword Mountain soon learned of it through Bai Xi, the Shengjing envoy, and the list was copied into two copies—one sent to the Sect Master’s Palace on Heavenly Sword Peak, the other to the Cloud Top Celestial Palace on Dark Sword Peak.

“Come to ask the Dao?”

“Heh, how bold.”

“The Seven Immortal Sects haven’t fought in a hundred years—does the Sacred Academy truly believe itself number one?”

Inside the Cloud Top Celestial Palace, Yan Shuyi reclined lazily on a phoenix bed draped in red silk, her slender white legs crossed. Her furious rage made her porcelain skin glow, her voice dripping with icy malice.

The two maids guarding the palace exchanged glances, thinking: the Young Inspector is truly furious this time.

But not long after, they heard a cheerful humming from within the red gauze curtains, leaving them momentarily bewildered.

At this moment, Ji You was packing his belongings, having sneezed several times, then placed all his essentials into his storage gourd.

He had previously said he wanted to go to Spirit Sword Mountain to learn swordplay, but Yan Shuyi had warned him he’d be beaten and thrown off before even setting foot on the mountain—yet now the opportunity had arrived so suddenly, his desire to observe the sword arts was already stirring.

But Instructor Cao harbored quiet concerns about Ji You accompanying them.

He felt Ji You was different from Pei Ruyi: Pei Ruyi was the one injured by Spirit Sword Mountain disciples, and she accompanied the two direct disciples of the inner courtyard to seek justice.

But Ji You was the one who injured Spirit Sword Mountain disciples—even nearly killing one of their Fusion Dao disciples.

His presence at Spirit Sword Mountain, regardless of intent, would appear to outsiders as flaunting his strength.

Cao Jinsong feared that Ji You’s careless demeanor in joining the challenge would provoke hostility and resentment from Spirit Sword Mountain disciples.

Yet Ji You clearly had great confidence, even faintly smiling—though no one knew why.

After packing everything, Ji You descended the mountain. In late spring, the temperature in Shengjing had begun to rise, the entire city awash in tender green.

Kuangcheng, upon hearing he was going to Spirit Sword Mountain, blinked in surprise: “Didn’t you just return? Why are you leaving again?”

“I can’t stay still on the mountain. A little travel is good. The current situation among the immortal sects is complicated—I need to strengthen my power quickly.”

“I see…”

Ji You held his teacup, watching him, his brow slightly furrowed: “Why do you seem distracted?”

After long thought, Kuangcheng looked up at him: “Ji Brother, I’m being promoted—but I don’t yet know what post I’ll fill.”

“In less than a year? You’re being promoted already?”

“I’m currently in a idle post, but I’m a Top Graduate. Many of Wei Xiang’s personal immortal faction members have fallen, and the court is short on personnel—it must be filled.”

Ji You set down his teacup: “But I see no joy in you—only deep unease.”

Kuangcheng fell silent for a long while, then sighed: “Ji Brother, did you know… Wei Rui is actually Wei Li’s granddaughter.”

Scholars raised on classical texts had always pursued only official rank, but upon meeting a beloved woman, they realized even the path of scholar and beauty was exceedingly difficult.

Kuangcheng had always suspected Wei Rui was a daughter of a Shengjing aristocratic family, yet he could not stop himself from being drawn to her.

First love is always sudden and uncontrollable.

But yesterday, on his way home from the Divine Inspectorate, he saw Wei Rui riding in the same carriage as the Princess of Chong Wangfu , then inquired—and learned this unbearable truth.

“Even an ordinary person could deduce the connection from her surname alone. You’re a Top Graduate—honestly, you’ve been blinded by beauty.”

Kuangcheng blinked: “Ji Brother, did you already know?”

Ji You nodded: “I suspected she was connected to Wei Li, but I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s better you found out yourself.”

“Who’d have thought a bad bamboo could produce good shoots…”

“Do scholars always insult so sharply? Is your tongue dipped in poison?”

Kuangcheng clenched his fingers: “Wei Rui has a kind heart—she’s a good girl. It’s just unfortunate she was born into the Wei family. I’m with the Divine Inspectorate—we investigate these immortal faction members—I can no longer associate with her.”

Ji You clicked his tongue, finding it hard to judge Kuangcheng’s decision—after all, emotion is between two people; outsiders cannot interfere.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted in the city, and countless civilians looked upward.

Both their thoughts were interrupted; they turned to look outside, and at once, merchants along the street began fleeing in panic.

As the two puzzled over the noise, a vast black shadow suddenly descended toward Shengjing.

As a cultivator, Ji You’s senses were sharp—he gazed far into the sky and saw over a dozen strange beasts, tethered by reins, walking through the air.

These beasts were covered in scales, bore twin horns on their heads, resembled tigers in form, yet had massive wings behind them, blotting out the sky.

Ji You focused his spirit and saw several figures seated atop the beasts—also bearing horns, some with fine scales along their necks, gleaming in the sunlight.

“They’re the demon race.”

As the beasts soared above Changsheng Street, Kuangcheng gazed upward and murmured: “So this is what the demon race looks like.”

Ji You turned to him: “How do you know they’re demons?”

“The Divine Inspectorate received word two days ago that the demon race wished to establish trade with humans and would send an envoy to Shengjing to negotiate with Great Xia. I just remembered—these beings are clearly not human, yet they dare enter the capital openly—they must be demons.”

The claim of trade was the demon race’s public excuse, but according to Yan Shuyi, they had learned human Dao traditions were faltering and were beginning to stir in the Nine Provinces.

Great Xia had been weakened to the brink under the pressure of the Seven Immortal Sects; the demon race’s arrival in the Nine Provinces and their entry into Shengjing clearly signaled a probe.

“What a troubled autumn.”

Kuangcheng, upon hearing this, lowered his gaze: “Ji Brother, did you hear General Zhenbei returned to the Northern Plains yesterday?”

Ji You froze: “Are the Northern Plains going to war again?”

“I’m puzzled too. The barbarians were just defeated half a year ago and retreated to the Ten Thousand Mountains—they should have needed years to recover, yet they’re returning so soon. It’s baffling.”

As Kuangcheng spoke, he glanced out the window again, then suddenly widened his eyes: “Ji Brother…”

Beneath a clear blue sky, the soaring beast suddenly plummeted—and directly beneath it stood a small child, staring up in stunned silence.

The next instant, a gust of energy erupted from the tavern, and Ji You vanished from his spot, reappearing on the main street.

All objects appear larger up close and smaller from afar; now, as the beast descended, it was truly a colossal mass.

(End of Chapter)