Chapter 122: News Spreads
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
For the unremarkable disciples, their vision and spiritual sense were rather limited. At best, they might sneak a glance at a maiden’s embroidered undergarment or check for a mole on her collarbone. However, for those of higher cultivation realms, piercing through such veils of mystery required no great effort—and they could easily discern the figure behind the feat.
That person was Ji You.
Thus, after everyone departed from the Sword Gazing Platform, many fell into a contemplative silence. This was especially true for some of the disciples from Spirit Sword Mountain, who spoke barely a word.
Before long, someone could no longer restrain themselves and revealed what they had seen: Ji You breaking through the Sword Forest.
The low-realm disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain were entirely skeptical. Yet when they observed the expressions of their senior brothers and sisters of higher cultivation, an involuntary chill crept into their hearts.
Soon after, someone encountered Yan Shu Jing and asked if she had broken through the Sword Forest. Her answer was a shake of the head.
Another person inquired with Gong Shu Chou, and his reply was the same.
In the Sword Forest, there had been only three participants. With the other two options eliminated, only one answer remained.
“Some disciples went to the Sword Forest this afternoon. Ji You wasn’t there, but he hasn’t descended the mountain either. It’s said he might be at Elder Qi’s place.”
“Senior Brother Chen saw it clearly earlier but didn’t dare to say anything. Now it all makes sense why the elders of Spirit Sword Mountain looked so unpleasant.”
“It’s impossible. He’s only in the Mystic Enlightenment Stage. Back when he crossed the Little Overlapping Mountain, he needed sixteen sword strikes. How could it possibly be him?”
“I heard they say you can break through the Sword Forest by either receiving swords or comprehending them.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, some who passed the Second Layer Forest with Ji You mentioned that his sword technique seemed very much like Little Overlapping Mountain. They said while others were intercepting the swords, he was learning them, which made him slower.”
“?”
By the afternoon, rumors solidified, corroborated by various pieces of evidence: it was Ji You who had broken through the Sword Forest.
As a result, disciples across the mountain, whether from Spirit Sword Mountain, Dao Seeking Sect, or Mountain and Sea Pavilion, wore complex and bewildered expressions.
The Heavenly Script Academy had already lost both matches against Spirit Sword Mountain, leaving the latter basking in triumph. Yet, who would have thought that the very Sword Forest on Spirit Sword Mountain’s domain had been conquered by a disciple from the Heavenly Script Academy?
What’s more, this breakthrough coincided perfectly with You Bu Yu’s defeat in the final match, making the situation all the more convoluted.
No one could say for certain whether the Heavenly Script Academy had won face or lost it. After all, Spirit Sword Mountain was renowned worldwide for its Sword Dao, yet a Heavenly Script Academy disciple had indirectly outperformed a direct disciple of Mystic Sword Peak in Sword Dao.
Initially, Spirit Sword Mountain planned to trumpet the Heavenly Script Academy’s losses far and wide. But in light of this unexpected turn, they suddenly grew quiet.
Still, not everyone believed the rumors. One such person was Min Cheng, who strode grimly toward the Sword Forest, refusing to utter a word. Despite mounting testimonies about Ji You, he stubbornly refused to believe Ji You had breached the forest and intended to confirm it for himself.
Meanwhile, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wan Qiu lingered nearby, watching as Min Cheng approached.
“Junior Sister Ding, why are you here?”
“Oh, Senior Brother Min, I was just wandering the mountain with Junior Sister Zhuo since we had nothing else to do.”
Min Cheng turned toward the tranquil and verdant Sword Forest, remaining silent for a long moment before speaking. “I heard an amusing rumor down the mountain. Have you heard of it, Junior Sister Ding?”
Ding Yao was briefly startled and looked up at him. “What rumor has Senior Brother heard?”
“Someone from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, in the Dao Fusion Stage, claimed to have seen Ji You breaking through your Spirit Sword Mountain’s Sword Forest.”
“Oh, that. I’ve heard about it too…”
At this, Min Cheng gripped his sword tightly. “Do you know which layer he’s reached? I’ll go in myself to take a look. We’re of similar cultivation levels. If he could reach a certain point, so can I.”
Ding Yao glanced at him and replied, “He should be at Elder Qi’s place by now.”
Upon hearing those words, Min Cheng fell silent for a moment. His smile froze on his face before he turned and descended the mountain.
On Spirit Sword Mountain, very few people had spoken directly with Ji You. Min Cheng was one of the few. When those bizarre, discordant singing tones echoed from the mountain peak earlier, he had sensed a trace of familiarity but refused to believe it. However, Ding Yao’s words just now had solidified the truth.
Ding Yao was a disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain and had a personal grudge against Ji You. Logically, she should have been even more resistant to this conclusion than he was. Yet, her statement proved it was indeed fact.
During the three days of Asking the Dao at the Heavenly Script Academy, Ji You had remained on the fringes of the event, often rebuked by his peers for his lack of decorum. Yet he had shattered the Sword Forest of Spirit Sword Mountain with a single strike, leaving the sect in a profoundly strange atmosphere.
Many theories about his feat had reached Min Cheng’s ears as he ascended the mountain. Some claimed that after exchanging sixteen strikes with Little Overlapping Mountain, he grasped the essence of Elder Qi’s sword dao—a level of clarity in sword heart that the masses could not fathom.
The Son of the Demon Emperor had not left either, watching the direction of the Sword Forest with an amused expression. From the moment Ji You soared into the air, Ye Han had recognized him, now reflecting on the encounter with humor. That day in the streets of the Capital, he had thought Ji You an ordinary cultivator—perhaps a misjudgment of human strength. Only now did he realize he had casually crossed paths with a truly remarkable figure.
Meanwhile, Min Cheng silently made his way down Mystic Sword Peak, heading toward the courtyard prepared by Spirit Sword Mountain. On his path, he passed the gate of You Bu Yu’s small courtyard. After the Sword Gazing Platform was destroyed, the disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy had carried You Bu Yu back to his quarters, where he had not emerged since. Having lost both matches of Asking the Dao, they were too ashamed to face anyone.
He Ling Xiu stood in the courtyard, her brow furrowed deeply. After taking a Tranquil Spirit Pill, her condition had stabilized, and her breathing was calm. But after learning of You Bu Yu’s defeat in the second match, she had prepared to lead her disciples down the mountain. However, You Bu Yu’s injuries were far worse than she had anticipated, leaving him unconscious and unable to travel.
The clamor outside their courtyard kept their hearts on edge. Ever since their loss in the first match, some disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect or Spirit Sword Mountain had feigned casual strolls nearby, using the opportunity to make cutting remarks full of mockery.
The disciples within feared the possibility that someone might directly storm their quarters to humiliate them further. Unable to comprehend how You Bu Yu had been defeated so easily, they had no choice but to accept it, sealing their spiritual senses to block out the maddening rumors.
Strangely, despite the frequent footsteps outside, no one had barged in to taunt them directly.
Suddenly, a muffled groan echoed from within the room, drawing the disciples’ immediate attention. You Bu Yu stirred, slowly opening his eyes as he lay on the bed. He coughed up a thick glob of blood and gasped sharply.
“Senior Brother, you’re awake! How are you feeling?”
“Down the mountain, immediately!” You Bu Yu clutched his chest, his expression twisting in pain as he forced out his words with gritted teeth.
His injuries were caused by a direct breach of his body by Sword Qi, despite using Infinite Arts Protection. Zhuang You’s Sword Qi was leagues beyond that of Yan Shu Jing, leaving his wounds severe and unbearable. Furthermore, the rampaging Spiritual Qi within him amplified his suffering.
He Ling Xiu couldn’t help but frown tightly. “In your current condition, you’re unfit to travel.”
“Should we remain here and continue losing face?” You Bu Yu snapped. “Wang Yue, pack our things!”
“Senior Brother, Ji You hasn’t returned yet,” Wang Yue interjected. “And neither have Pei Ru Yi and the others who went to search for him.”
Frustrated, You Bu Yu slammed his fist against the bedside. “Still no sign of him? Does he truly believe that just because he survived the Sword Forest, Spirit Sword Mountain will teach him their ways? He’s even disregarding his dignity at this point!”
He Ling Xiu’s frown deepened, her gaze drifting anxiously toward the courtyard. Upon waking, she had learned from others that the Tranquil Spirit Pill she consumed was secured by Ji You through a plea to Spirit Sword Mountain. She felt a sense of gratitude toward him for this. Yet even so, she couldn’t comprehend why Ji You, already in a shameful situation, had chosen to remain in the Sword Forest and not return.
As harsh as You Bu Yu’s words were, they weren’t without reason. He had fought and lost for the sake of the Heavenly Script Academy, but Ji You appeared to act purely for personal gain. It seemed Ji You did not regard himself as a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy, nor did he care about its reputation. Should Spirit Sword Mountain choose to teach him, he might very well betray the academy and pledge allegiance to them instead.
At that moment, a knock at the door shattered the tense atmosphere, putting everyone on alert. When the door was opened, revealing Pei Ru Yi and her group of four, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room.
“Where is Ji You? It’s so late, and he still hasn’t returned from the Sword Forest. Has he truly decided to become a disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain?” someone demanded.
Pei Ru Yi’s reply was concise. “The Sword Forest has been broken.”
He Ling Xiu blinked in surprise. “What does that have to do with my question?”
“It was done with Junior Brother Ji’s sword.”
“What?”
Silence fell across the courtyard as her words sank in. Frowns and sharp gazes turned into expressions of shock. The room grew so quiet that even a falling leaf would have been heard. All eyes turned to Pei Ru Yi, seeking confirmation.
Wang Yue slammed his hand on the table. “Is this a time for jokes?”
Wen Zheng Xin gestured toward the door. “The news has spread everywhere. Go and ask anyone outside.”
“How could he possibly break through the Sword Forest when even Yan Shu Jing was trapped there for days?” another queried incredulously.
Pei Ru Yi explained further. “During the second round of questioning, Junior Brother Ji had already advanced to the third layer of the forest. Some claim that he had planned this beforehand, intending to break through the Sword Forest should Senior Brother You fail, thus regaining a shred of dignity for the Heavenly Script Academy.”
These accounts were initially heard from Zhuo Wan Qiu while they waited on the mountain path. At first, they didn’t believe her and stayed on the path, watching for any sign of Ji You. Only when more and more people began discussing the matter did they realize it was true, prompting their hurried return.
Ban Yang Shu couldn’t help but add, “Spirit Sword Mountain’s atmosphere feels strange now. It’s as if they’ve decided not to publicize our Dao Inquiry visit at all.”
Hearing this, You Bu Yu fell silent, lying back on the bed with a pensive expression. The others exchanged complicated glances, their gazes falling away in different directions. Two consecutive defeats had stripped them of their honor. None of them had expected that Ji You would be the one to restore even a fragment of their pride.
“Didn’t he take sixteen strikes to block the first layer’s test?” someone muttered.
“If he had managed to block it in one strike, do you think Spirit Sword Mountain would have let him continue? Don’t be foolish!” Immortal Emperor Ru Long scornfully chimed in, inwardly gloating that he understood Ji You better than anyone else.
Hearing this, Wang Yue was momentarily stunned but then pressed his lips together, refraining from further comment.