Chapter 95: Spiritual Qi Tempering Revisited
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
In the radiant late spring, Ji You decided to enter secluded cultivation. However, he did not confine himself to his chamber, shutting himself off entirely from the world. Instead, he traversed constantly between the Field of Enlightenment, the Sword Testing Forest, and his own dwelling.
Save for the occasional fleeting distraction when a female disciple passed by without wearing a dudou, Ji You truly achieved clarity of the Dao. During this time, he comprehended the principles of Wind Movement and Thunder Movement.
These were among the simplest and most foundational techniques comprehensible at the Mystic Enlightenment Stage, as both were perceivable by the human senses and possessed considerable offensive potential. However, the Mystic Enlightenment Stage only allowed one to understand laws without altering them.
For instance, upon mastering Wind Dance, a sword would ride the wind—but the wind’s direction could not be freely altered by one’s will. Still, with summer drawing near, Ji You now knew where to find the coolest breezes.
In the tranquil courtyard of Ningcheng County, Ji You’s golden eyes sparkled as he observed tender leaves unfurling and trembling gently in the wind, his gaze reflecting peace and contentment.
“Brother Ji, your lunch is here!”
“Mhm, leave it on the stone table. I’ll eat it later.”
Bai Ru Long and Qian Yun Xiao placed the meals they had retrieved from the Immortal Banquet Hall onto the table, then sat down on low stools just outside the courtyard, continuing their own meditations for Dao clarity.
The Heavenly Script Academy was still abuzz with rumors about Ji You’s hereditary physique, turning his residence into something of a tourist attraction. Ji You, who had cultivated through a bandit’s upbringing, couldn’t let such an opportunity go to waste. He began charging admission tokens for entry. Consequently, Bai Ru Long and Qian Yun Xiao became his unpaid errand boys—even footing the bill for the meals themselves.
Lu Qing Qiu, Lou Si Yi, and Sun Qiao Zhi also visited the courtyard a few times, sharing tea with Ji You. During one such visit, they gifted him three swords—each of higher quality than the last batch, their worth nearly rivaling that of Chu He’s weapon. Despite their familiarity with Ji You, the trio refrained from overtly expressing their desires for a child with him. Nevertheless, Ji You could still sense the jealous gazes of countless fellow disciples.
Just a few days ago, a senior sister, meticulously dressed, had shown up uninvited. Her Dao partner, however, soon pursued her to Ji You’s courtyard and dragged her away.
“To be honest, I’ve never been much valued within my family,” Bai Ru Long remarked as he watched Ji You in the courtyard. “If not for my meager cultivation talent, the Heavenly Script Academy would never have accepted me. Even so, I’ve never dreamed of joining the Inner Court or ascending to immortality. That’s why, despite your legendary reputation, Brother Ji, I’ve never really envied you.”
Qian Yun Xiao looked up. “Now you envy him. I get it.”
Aside from frequent visits by female disciples, Ji You also received a letter from the Pill Sect, signed by Yuan Cai Wei. She expressed deep regret for the series of events her departure had triggered. Regarding her engagement to You Bu Yu, she explained it was purely for maintaining ties between their sects, as the Pill Sect’s strength could not compare to the other six great Immortal Sects. She assured Ji You that she never intended to harm him. Yuan Cai Wei further mentioned that since parting at the Heavenly Script Academy, Yuan Chen had grown disinterested in alchemy, spending his days lost in romantic tales. She requested Ji You, as Yuan Chen’s “dear brother-in-law,” to advise him.
Her exact words were: “Yuan Chen listens to no one, continually reminiscing about your adventures in the ruins. Ji Gongzi, as his brother-in-law, could you speak to him?”
[Ah, she’s definitely infatuated with me,] Ji You mused.
It’s rare for women to pen such explicit hints in their letters. Each word in a letter is typically carefully chosen. For her to address him as ‘brother-in-law’ meant she likely intended it.
To top it off, she even inquired about his so-called “genetic physique.”
“Ah, I’m nothing but a beauty who brings ruin,” Ji You muttered as he ate, occasionally slamming the table in mock indignation. His eyes scanned the letter with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
After finishing his meal, the sun had begun its descent. Ji You left the Elegant Garden by Azure Lake and visited the city’s relay station to send Yan Shu Yi a banknote worth a thousand taels of silver—ostensibly to buy her a sword. He knew as the Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain, Yan Shu Yi had no shortage of swords. Yet he still made the gesture, subtly testing the waters. He had to follow through on his promises, considering she had once spent lavishly to prepare him for a trip to the ruins, urging him not to die.
[At least I’m someone who keeps my word. That’s more than I can say for someone like Kuang Cheng,] Ji You thought with some satisfaction.
After completing these errands, Ji You returned to the Heavenly Script Academy and entered the Sword Testing Forest. Unable to further refine his swordsmanship for now, he focused on the spear, practicing relentlessly through the afternoon:
“First thrust, the brow. Second thrust, the heart. Third thrust, the brow. Fourth thrust, the heart….” By the eighth thrust, his target alternated between brow and heart seamlessly.
Instructor Wang, tea cup in hand, watched in growing alarm from the sidelines.
“Ji You, stop practicing…”
“Pay me, and I’ll stop.”
“What?”
Ji You gripped his spear tightly, sweeping through the bamboo forest with sharp, decisive movements. Each thrust and flick of the weapon sent his blood surging and his spiritual energy howling like the wind.
At his current level, exhaustion was an unlikely adversary, yet he pushed himself until sweat streamed down his body, and his apertures felt completely unblocked. The sight of his intense training drew fiery gazes from the disciples practicing swordsmanship nearby. Their admiration was unmistakable, silently pleading, Instructor, teach me that!
Instructor Wang caught this fervor in their eyes, a reflection of their longing. “Cao Jin Song,” he remarked casually to the other man standing beside him, “Ji You has been especially diligent lately. The upcoming duel with Chu He must still unsettle him.”
Cao Jin Song shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re mistaken. Ji You has never truly regarded Chu He as an opponent. His diligence stems from his natural hardworking nature. Even when tasked with venturing into the ancient ruins, he seized every opportunity to comprehend the Heavenly Tome. Though…” He hesitated before chuckling. “Perhaps his resolve weakens when beauty is involved.”
Instructor Wang raised an eyebrow. “The foundation of the Chu Clan runs deeper than you’d expect. Plus, they have the backing of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace. Do you really think someone like Chu He can be dismissed so easily?”
Cao Jin Song considered this, his expression thoughtful. “Your comment reminds me… I’ve always been curious about the Chu Clan’s intentions.”
“The Chu Clan lacks a formal lineage. It’s impossible for them to commit entirely to the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace. Even with Chu Xian as their prominent direct disciple, he isn’t of the palace’s bloodline. Whether he can claim the Xuan Yuan Pearl is still uncertain. This uncertainty is why the Chu Clan is pushing to secure Chu He a spot in the Inner Court, hedging their bets.”
Cao Jin Song’s eyes narrowed as he studied Instructor Wang. “Have you heard any news?”
Instructor Wang slung a wooden practice sword over his back. “An Inner Court Hall Master has decided to take Chu He as a personal disciple. This is no mere contest for an Inner Court slot. The Chu Clan will pull out all the stops for this.”
“Ah, so that’s the reason for their urgency. No wonder they brought him back to their ancestral home.”
Instructor Wang nodded. “So don’t assume Ji You’s higher cultivation stage ensures a flawless victory. Chu He’s an anomaly. If Ji You were to join the Inner Court next year, avoiding a direct clash, he wouldn’t need to strain himself so much now.”
Cao Jin Song frowned, creases forming on his forehead. “Who do you think will win?”
“Ji You possesses extraordinary talent, a profound mastery of martial arts, and a natural affinity for spiritual energy… but I’d wager on Chu He.”
“Short-sighted,” Cao Jin Song snorted.
Instructor Wang laughed lightly. “Rumors around the academy suggest Ji You’s physique is so exceptional that it could be passed down. Even if he doesn’t enter the Inner Court, he could establish his own illustrious clan. Conquering the world doesn’t always require fists; a good physique can also open doors.”
Cao Jin Song’s face abruptly changed. “Ji You’s almost done training. I’ll head out before he comes asking for the silver notes I borrowed.”
“?”
Once Cao Jin Song departed, Ji You emerged from the forest, drenched in sweat. Tossing his spear aside, he returned to his quarters to wash up. Afterward, he began contemplating the circulation of spiritual energy.
His battle against Sun Bin on the White Jade Terrace of Ascension had been his first time experiencing spiritual energy saturating his body—every limb, every bone. The subsequent reflection on that encounter had sparked new insights.
In the Lower Three Stages, cultivators focus on tempering their bodies. At this level, spiritual energy has yet to condense into a core. Instead, it spreads through the spiritual sea, refining the mortal form. However, there’s a saying in the Azure Clouds Dominion: A mortal body should not be overly strong.
Ascension supposedly requires shedding the mortal shell. After the soul ascends to the Immortal Realm, it forms an immortal body. Excessively resilient mortal flesh might make this process exceedingly difficult, as it becomes hard to break free from the physical constraints.
Upon reaching perfection in the Lower Three Stages, cultivators lose the opportunity to use spiritual energy for body tempering as their energy solidifies into a core. Yet Ji You’s core was shattered, granting him the rare chance to continue refining his body with spiritual energy.
He wasn’t particularly interested in ascension anyway. Just like the time his family tried to send him abroad and he flatly refused.
[Let’s try subtle tempering again…]
[Ugh, am I just experimenting recklessly? Could this actually kill me?]
Drying his hair, Ji You sat cross-legged on a bamboo cushion, deep in thought before closing his eyes. With a deliberate breath, he opened all his apertures. Spiritual energy from Azure Lake converged toward him, surging into his broken core and flooding out like water through breached dams, cleansing his meridians anew.
As the energy accumulated, he noticed faint spiritual radiance emerging within his internal vision. Heat rose through his limbs, swelling and surging. Yet as he persisted with his subtle tempering, an uncontrollable tremor began to spread through his body.
Through his internal vision, Ji You observed the spiritual energy flowing like an ocean tide. He silently commanded it, and the energy ignited, burning fiercely. Spiritual radiance illuminated his body, spilling outward and flickering like flames.
“Ji You, your meal,” a voice called out.
“Thank you,” he replied.
Today, Bai Ru Long had brought his food instead of Qian Yun Xiao. “Ji You,” Bai asked hesitantly, “why have you been… groaning so much in your quarters lately?”
Ji You gave him a sharp look. “I’ve been training.”
“Oh… Oh, I see.”
After sending Bai Ru Long away, Ji You finished his meal and resumed his practice. Once again, he ignited the spiritual flame and endured the pain of tempering.
The results validated his approach. He could indeed use subtle tempering to refine his body, though the process grew increasingly excruciating with each session. It felt like breaking and rebuilding himself anew every time, each cycle accompanied by intense tremors.
Although there were drawbacks, Ji You felt undeniably stronger than ever! At this rate, even if he couldn’t conquer the world through sheer power, he might still capture the hearts of those noble young ladies with this robust physique!
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps outside the courtyard walls broke the calm, followed by a series of loud knocks at the gate.
Suppressing his aura, Ji You rose to answer the door. Standing there were Pei Ru Yi, Ban Yang Shu, and Wen Zheng Xin.
Their eyes met, and the three visitors looked at him with surprise, scrutinizing him closely. They could sense that his vitality had grown far more vigorous since their last meeting, as if it were a mighty river surging through his veins.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sisters, what brings you here today?” Ji You asked casually.
“Have you heard about the matter of the Heavenly Script Academy holding Spirit Sword Mountain accountable?” Wen Zheng Xin asked directly.
Ji You poured tea for the trio, responding, “I’ve heard a little about it.”
Wen Zheng Xin stared at him and continued, “Spirit Sword Mountain hasn’t responded to the accusations. Their silence implies they look down on our Heavenly Script Academy. So, the Steward’s Office has arranged for a team of disciples to go and demand an explanation.”
Ji You paused mid-pour, his gaze lifting slightly.
When he had discussed this with Yan Shu Yi earlier, they had agreed that, given the distance between the two sects, outright conflict was unlikely. Instead, a challenge of strength—duels between disciples—seemed the most plausible outcome.
Pei Ru Yi interjected, “The ones heading there are the personal disciples of the inner court’s two Hall Masters: You Bu Yu and He Ling Xiu. Their opponents will be direct disciples from Heavenly Sword Peak and Mystic Sword Peak.”
“They’re planning to fight Spirit Sword Mountain’s Mirror Master? Have they gone mad?” Ji You asked in disbelief.
“No,” Wen Zheng Xin clarified. “The Mirror Master is a sect master’s direct disciple. She only faces other sect master-level disciples. Since our academy lacks such a figure, it falls to You Bu Yu and He Ling Xiu to duel the peak’s direct disciples.”
Ban Yang Shu sat down on a stone bench and added, “The Steward’s Office decreed that those of us who were ambushed back then must also go. As people directly involved, we can’t remain silent in the face of such humiliation. Junior Brother, will you join us?”
Wen Zheng Xin glanced at Ban Yang Shu and said, “I advise against it. After all, your sword caused Spirit Sword Mountain and the Dao Seeking Sect to lose face that day. This journey could end badly for you.”
“I’ll go,” Ji You declared without hesitation.
Pei Ru Yi looked startled. “You’re going?”
Ji You nodded, explaining, “I’ve just broken through my limits. Old Cao advised me not to rush into things and instead stabilize my cultivation. This seems like the perfect opportunity to observe Spirit Sword Mountain’s swordsmanship.”
At this, Ban Yang Shu, Wen Zheng Xin, and Pei Ru Yi exchanged glances. Ban Yang Shu quipped, “You’re not planning to leave and never come back, are you?”
“What makes you say that?” Ji You asked, amused.
Ban Yang Shu smirked. “Compared to a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy, you’ve always seemed more like a disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain. After all, for sword cultivators of Azure Clouds Dominion, Spirit Sword Mountain is the ultimate sacred ground.”
“Why does everyone think I’m going to run off?” Ji You asked with mock exasperation.
“Weren’t you about to leave last time?” Ban Yang Shu reminded him.
“I did want to learn swordsmanship at Spirit Sword Mountain,” Ji You admitted candidly.
Ban Yang Shu shot him a knowing look. [This Junior Brother really doesn’t consider himself an outsider.]