Chapter 104: Both the Sword and the Man Are on My Mind
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
The demon clan’s silver spear had yet to pierce the divine path of Cinnabar Mountain, but Ji You had already descended gracefully under the gaze of the masses.
As Zuo Qiu Yang had predicted, the demon clan’s actions were nothing more than a probe. Before a clear decision was made, they had no intention of completely severing ties with the human Immortal Sects.
Thus, the party from Heavenly Script Academy rode their spirit swords southward. By dawn, they reached Yong Prefecture, the only region along the Raging River that could not be accessed by celestial ships. They switched to carriages at a relay station and continued their journey toward Qian’an County, situated on the border of Yong Prefecture and Ling Prefecture. From there, a half-day’s ride westward would bring them to the shore of the Mystic Sea, where the Spirit Sword Mountain Sect’s training grounds were located.
Unlike their earlier trek to the Pill Sect, the atmosphere among the disciples of Heavenly Script Academy was markedly somber. You Bu Yu and He Ling Xiu, in particular, felt the mounting pressure and extended their daily cultivation routines. They bore the weight of the academy’s reputation and had only one path forward—to secure victory during the Dao Debate and return in triumph.
But as Zuo Qiu Yang had reminded them, the direct disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain should not be underestimated. The one from Heavenly Sword Peak, Zhuang You, carried an unfamiliar surname, yet his status as a direct disciple spoke volumes about his innate talent. As for the disciple of Mystic Sword Peak, Yan Shu Jing, though not renowned, was certainly not ordinary.
Before leaving the academy, the bold declarations made by You Bu Yu and He Ling Xiu had been intended to bolster morale. Now that Spirit Sword Mountain was within reach, both knew they could not afford any carelessness.
“So many disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain…”
“Do not stare or speak unnecessarily. Rest at the relay station tonight. We continue tomorrow without causing trouble.”
Qian’an County was under the jurisdiction of Ling Prefecture, home to numerous Spirit Sword Mountain disciples. When they noticed the Heavenly Script Academy robes, their expressions turned unfriendly. The hum of sword qi was palpable during several close encounters, though nothing escalated. It was no surprise; after all, one could hardly expect a warm reception when on the verge of challenging another’s sect.
Several times, tensions nearly flared, but the Heavenly Script Academy group always chose to withdraw. They knew well that drawing their swords now would be tantamount to personal dueling. Should Spirit Sword Mountain find even a shred of justification, neither direct nor outer disciples of the academy would make it back.
Under the watchful eyes of Spirit Sword Mountain disciples and other sect wanderers, the party reached a modest relay station in Qian’an County and settled for the night.
At the third quarter of the Shen hour, the sun dipped westward. Early summer at the Yong-Ling border offered a comfortable climate. Ji You sat cross-legged on his bed, continuing his Micro Radiance Cultivation. As the glow within him intensified, his physique underwent ceaseless refinement. Waves of golden luminescence surged within his body, stirring his qi and blood to roil endlessly.
This marked his tenth session of Micro Radiance. The tremors within him had grown fiercer than before. When the spiritual energy surged through his limbs and bones, even his very soul seemed to resonate, while the searing pain of spiritual fire tempering his body drew muffled groans from his lips.
[Indeed, my vitality is growing stronger,] he thought.
In the relay station’s covered corridor, He Ling Xiu crossed her arms as she sensed the pervasive aura emanating from the simple room across from her. Her brows furrowed slightly.
Having been cultivating in her own room earlier, she had stepped out for a breath of fresh air, only to immediately detect Ji You’s presence. The strength she referred to wasn’t about cultivation stages but an inexplicable sensation—like comparing steel to cotton. Even without spiritual insight, one instinctively knew which was tougher.
She felt as if something mighty and surging was swelling within that room, its scorching aura wafting through the cracks of the window and brushing against her face. Most vexing of all were the occasional muffled groans, which made her cheeks flush and left her uncomfortably restless.
If Ji You hadn’t spoken up alone, He Ling Xiu would have almost doubted there was more than one person in his room. The surge of Qi lingered for a long while, only subsiding when You Bu Yu returned from outside, his long sword still radiating sharpness.
He had set his sights on challenging the strongest Direct Disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain, an act bold enough to prove his courage, though it left him burdened with immense pressure. The calm composure he had displayed on Cinnabar Mountain was now nowhere to be found. Overwhelmed by stray thoughts after arriving at the relay station, he ventured beyond the city to a secluded spot to refine his Dao techniques, returning only now.
“Junior Sister, what are you looking at?” he asked.
“Ah, just bored, admiring the scenery,” she replied.
Standing still, You Bu Yu sighed, “We’re nearing Spirit Sword Mountain, but my mind feels increasingly unsettled.”
Turning to face him, He Ling Xiu remarked, “I’ve noticed, Senior Brother You, that your thoughts have been all over the place recently. But you must not let fear overtake you before the fight.”
“Not fear,” You Bu Yu countered. “Anyone capable of reaching the Dao Fusion Stage at our age has their pride. But sometimes, pride itself becomes a burden.”
He Ling Xiu nodded thoughtfully, just as the door of the small house across from them opened.
Ji You stepped out, the whirlwinds surrounding him now calm. His face carried a peculiar expression—it was clear his Tenth Micro-Illumination had hit a bottleneck. Although he had known enlightenment had its hurdles, requiring a century of persistence to grasp, he never expected his Body Refinement to also encounter a bottleneck.
[Is it… too rigid?] he pondered, his thoughts briefly drifting before snapping back to the present. His gaze fell on He Ling Xiu, whose aura radiated freedom, and the gloomy-faced You Bu Yu standing under the corridor.
Their eyes met, and You Bu Yu shot him a glance before retreating to his room. He had come to Cinnabar Mountain as a Direct Disciple of the Hall Master, intending to leave a favorable impression and exhibit his exceptional skills. Yet now his mind was consumed by the image of Yuan Cai Wei standing beside Ji You.
[Why is it, in Yuan Cai Wei’s eyes, that I—a Direct Disciple of the Inner Court Hall Master—am less than an Outer Court Disciple like him?] This question tormented him.
[Does he possess some extraordinary talent?] The thought left him agitated, his mounting frustration amplified by the nearing proximity of Spirit Sword Mountain. However, their journey there had drawn widespread attention, sparking discussions everywhere they went. Striking Ji You would be unthinkable under such circumstances. As a Direct Disciple, his honor wouldn’t allow an Outer Court Disciple to disturb his Dao heart.
In truth, he had hoped the Demon Guard from Cinnabar Mountain would challenge him during their descent, but no such thing happened.
Ji You stood in the doorway, smirking slightly as he heard the door slam shut with a heavy “clang.”
[You Bu Yu’s attitude on this journey is like I stole his wife or something,] Ji You mused. [And I’m the one who feels wronged here. If You Bu Yu hadn’t interfered and insisted on going to the Pill Sect, my dignity wouldn’t have been compromised. Now, the closer we get to Spirit Sword Mountain, the guiltier I feel, working tirelessly to refine my body.]
[That body was meant for Spirit Sword Mountain’s Mirror Master to see first. What if she finds out someone else saw it?]
As Ji You brooded, He Ling Xiu’s gentle voice broke through his thoughts. She approached gracefully, her delicate tone carrying to his ears.
“Junior Brother Ji, were you meditating in your room just now?”
Ji You turned to her. “Indeed. Does Senior Sister have guidance to offer?”
Her gaze lingered on his chest, sensing the surging vitality within him. A slight frown formed between her brows. Most disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy pursued pure Daoist cultivation, avoiding excessive body refinement in the lower three stages to prevent physical constraints on their Spiritual Consciousness.
Even the Spirit Sword Sect, known for its dedication to sword cultivation, ultimately blends the Dao into the sword. Yet Ji You’s commanding aura seemed to arise not from cultivation, but rather from something innate to his very being. Cultivators lose the opportunity to temper their bodies after forming their Spiritual Essence, leaving He Ling Xiu puzzled over how Ji You had cultivated such a presence.
[Could it be some special pill he consumed?]
Her curiosity barely satisfied, she shook her head and redirected her thoughts. “There’s nothing specific I wanted to discuss. I was just curious. This journey to the Spirit Sword Sect is for You Bu Yu and me to seek the Dao. Yet, as we approach Spirit Sword Mountain, why does it seem that the closer we get, the more you, Junior Brother, seem as though you are preparing for war?”
“Is that so?”
“Definitely. Since we descended from the Pill Sect’s mountain, I’ve noticed that you’ve spent every waking moment in rigorous cultivation. You’re more nervous than I am, and I’m the one about to draw my sword!”
Ji You glanced at her but kept his thoughts to himself. [The two of you only need to deal with the direct disciples of Sword Peak. I, on the other hand, must face the Spirit Sword Sect’s notoriously fierce yet deceptively adorable Mirror Master.]
She was unaware of the incident at the medicinal pool, but Ji You could already imagine her sharp-edged remarks, questioning why he lingered so long at the Pill Sect—whether he had been too reluctant to leave its comforts.
[Women’s intuition is always terrifying, and I’m not good at lying…] He sighed inwardly. [While that girl wouldn’t use her sword against me, if she strikes with her full strength using her Heaven Resonance Stage feet, I doubt I could endure it.]
He silently cursed You Bu Yu for his predicament. He had originally planned to use his combination of sincere affection and stunning looks to charm Yan Shu Yi into sharing her innate life sword technique with him, idol-drama style. But now, his confidence was shaken.
He finally sighed and spoke aloud, “For one, I once nearly killed a Dao Fusion cultivator from the Spirit Sword Sect. And for another, the Autumn Battle is fast approaching. Chu He has been summoned back to the Chu Clan for their inheritance ceremony. That alone keeps my heart unsettled.”
“Chu He…” He Ling Xiu nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging his concerns.
Although Ji You had no intention of drawing his sword during this trip, he wasn’t entirely free from his own dilemmas. Despite his extraordinary talent, which guaranteed him a place in any given year, fate had dealt him a poor hand by aligning his journey with Chu He’s.
Seeing He Ling Xiu fall into her own contemplation, Ji You refrained from interrupting her. He clasped his hands in farewell and left the relay station, heading into the bustling city.
Unlike remote regions like Yuyang County, Qian’an County was vibrant and lively, situated at the crossroads between Yong Prefecture and Ling Prefecture. It was a key thoroughfare connecting the Mountain and Sea Pavilion to the Spirit Sword Sect.
Wen Zheng Xin, Ban Yang Shu, Pei Ru Yi, and Bai Ru Long were waiting for him, having arranged to share an evening meal. Once gathered, they selected a tavern, and Bai Ru Long—under Ji You’s relentless persuasion—begrudgingly agreed to treat them all.
As the Immortal Emperor Ru Long, Bai Ru Long wasn’t one to fret over expenses, particularly since he wouldn’t be drawing his sword for this excursion. For him, this was little more than a vacation. In contrast, Wen Zheng Xin, Pei Ru Yi, and Ban Yang Shu harbored faint unease about the possible outcomes and their broader implications.
Ji You, however, remained introspective. His thoughts strayed not only to the fierce Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Sect but also to the essence of their sword cultivation itself.
“Brother Ji, look outside! There’s a rather well-rounded lady by the window!” Bai Ru Long exclaimed, nudging him playfully.
“No, I won’t look,” Ji You replied with unyielding righteousness.
“…?”
Bai Ru Long stared at him, baffled. Even Wen Zheng Xin couldn’t resist raising an eyebrow. [This Junior Brother Ji offered to scrub my back while at the Pill Sect. Why is he suddenly so restrained today?]