Chapter 136: The Duel of Late Autumn
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
“Chu He has returned. His aura is incredibly strong.”
“I heard that he was personally trained by Chu Xian, a direct disciple of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace. The foundation of the Chu Clan is truly formidable.”
“But how strong is incredibly strong? Is he as powerful as Ji You?”
“It feels almost the same, but who can say for sure…”
It was no secret that Chu He would return to the Heavenly Script Academy before autumn to participate in the Autumn Duel. Yet, the aura he exuded upon his return was vastly different from when he left—profound, unfathomable, and shocking.
No one knew what he had experienced in the Chu Clan, but the phrase ‘worthy of the Chu Clan’ once again became a topic of discussion.
Ji You, however, had never met Chu He before and had no way to gauge his strength. Not that he cared much; he remained focused on tempering his body in seclusion. In contrast, Ban Yang Shu and the others brought news of Chu He’s return daily, sitting in the courtyard and debating endlessly. The most infuriating part? They never brought any gifts but always helped themselves to his tea.
“My father has arrived as well.”
“Your father?” Bai Ru Long had just returned from outside. He sat down, taking a sip of tea.
The Bai Clan Patriarch, Bai Zheng Ze, had lost his wife early on and later remarried. He had little concern for his eldest son, Bai Ru Long, and rarely even sent letters.
Besides, Bai Ru Long had wasted much of his cultivation time watching female disciples wield swords in the Sword Testing Forest. Because of this, he had yet to reach the Mystic Enlightenment Stage and naturally had no intention of competing in the Autumn Duel. So, he was quite perplexed as to why his father had come to the academy.
It wasn’t just his father. The Du Clan Patriarch, Du Zhu’s father, had also arrived. Du Zhu had surged forward in cultivation over the past half-year, even managing to break into the Initial Mystic Enlightenment Stage. However, compared to Chu He and Ji You, his chances of entering the Inner Court were slim.
Bai Ru Long couldn’t understand why there was so much excitement. With his strained relationship with his father, he decided to escape the commotion and find peace elsewhere.
Meanwhile, in another courtyard within the Elegant Garden by Azure Lake, Lu Qing Qiu and several fellow sisters were also discussing the matter.
They had seen Chu He the previous day and could indeed sense his overwhelming power. Yet, they had also felt a similar presence from Ji You.
“Who do you think will enter the Inner Court—Ji You or Chu He?”
“I still think Ji You has the advantage.”
“But Chu He returned with immense confidence. That has to mean something.”
As the discussion continued, they all turned to Lu Qing Qiu, who had been quietly sipping her tea. “Qing Qiu, what do you think?”
Lu Qing Qiu sighed softly, shaking her head. “I don’t know…”
Ji You had demonstrated extraordinary talent ever since joining the academy, proving himself to be nearly unrivaled. However, facing the legacy of the Chu Clan was akin to facing an immeasurable force.
People trusted in Ji You’s innate genius, while they believed in the might of Chu He’s aristocratic lineage.
Yet, deep inside, Lu Qing Qiu hoped that Ji You would lose.
If Chu He lost, he would return to his clan without issue. But if Ji You failed, he had no great clan to fall back on, presenting a golden opportunity for the Lu Clan.
Regardless of whether the rumors about Ji You’s inherited physique were true, his sheer ability alone was enough for the major clans to welcome him with open arms.
“To be fair,” Lou Si Yi suddenly remarked, “none of us have actually seen them fight. We’ve never witnessed Ji You’s swordplay, nor the Chu Clan’s Arcane Techniques. Judging based on aura alone is unreliable.”
Sun Qiao Zhi lifted her gaze. “How has Ji You reacted to this?”
“I saw him at the Immortal Banquet Hall at noon,” Lou Si Yi replied. “He didn’t seem worried at all.”
Lou Si Yi then turned to Lu Qing Qiu. “You’ll be participating in the Autumn Duel as well, won’t you?”
Lu Qing Qiu smiled. “It’s just a routine exchange, nothing like what they’ll be facing.”
“What a shame. You were so close to reaching Mystic Enlightenment…”
“There’s no shame in it. Everyone has their own limits, and no one is exempt.”
Lu Qing Qiu’s Celestial Radiance was nearly fully condensed, yet she still lacked the final step to break through to the Mystic Enlightenment Stage. It wasn’t as simple as she had once imagined.
Watching Ji You, she had thought realm-breaking was effortless, as natural as breathing. But attempting it herself made her realize how truly difficult it was.
Her instructor often spoke of “enlightenment,” yet to this day, she had not experienced it.
Of all those present, Fang Ruo Yao understood the struggle best.
She had spent a long time in the academy before she even succeeded in Awakening her Spirit, and even now, she remained stuck in the Minor Illumination Stage, unable to advance.
Recalling their time in Yuyang County last year, she remembered how Ji You had already secretly achieved Peak Lower Three Stages, while she had never even considered the possibility of him entering the Inner Court.
As the discussions continued, the day of the Autumn Duel finally arrived.
It was the beginning of autumn, yet the lingering summer heat had yet to fade. By midday, the air was still oppressively warm.
Upon the White Jade Terrace, duels took place from dawn till dusk. Swords clashed, and blades shimmered under the sun as the academy’s departing disciples engaged in combat.
“Senior Brother Cao Wei has won.”
“Senior Sister Qiao Rong has lost…”
Such news spread through the academy daily. Unlike the three duels required for entry into the Inner Court, the battles among departing disciples were usually decided in a single match. As such, those who came to watch were mostly Outer Court Disciples, with little attention from others. Unless someone sought a Dao Companion before leaving, these matches were often more captivating than the grand duels on the White Jade Terrace. Bai Ru Long, for one, found them thrilling.
At the same time, word of battles within the Inner Court often surfaced, but since Outer Court Disciples were barred from entering, they could not witness these clashes firsthand.
Ban Yang Shu had come to spectate a few of the Outer Court duels and found himself stunned. He had seen Ji You wield his sword at every stage of cultivation, and though he assumed the other disciples of the Outer Court would not be too far behind, he now understood the stark difference between them.
On the third day at Si Hour, as the sun rose high in the sky, the air carried both the lingering summer heat and the crispness of autumn. Bai Ru Long and Qian Yun Xiao arrived at the White Jade Terrace, where they saw Lu Qing Qiu step onto the platform, wielding an elegant longsword. She was facing a senior sister from the Outer Court.
This match followed a ring defense format—victory meant continued defense, while defeat meant relinquishing the stage to the next contender. The moment Lu Qing Qiu set foot on the terrace, her spiritual qi surged as she advanced upon her opponent, her sword dancing like the wind.
She had trained diligently in the Sword Testing Forest under Instructor Wang, mastering the art of the blade. Her opponent, of a similar cultivation level, met her strike-for-strike, the clashing of steel ringing out as spiritual energy whipped through the air. For a time, they seemed evenly matched.
However, just as the senior sister infused her blade with spiritual qi, a sudden hum echoed from the corner of the terrace. A second sword shot through the air, intercepting the attack in an instant.
The next moment, Lu Qing Qiu’s swordlight surged like a crashing wave, cutting forward in tandem with her flying sword, drawing gasps from the spectators.
“It feels like Lu Qing Qiu is deliberately emulating Brother Ji’s combat style,” Qian Yun Xiao murmured in surprise, his mouth slightly agape.
Bai Ru Long did not immediately respond but continued to observe. After a few more sword exchanges, he suddenly spoke, recognition flashing in his eyes. “That’s it! This is the very sword technique Brother Ji used to save us when we were ambushed in the streets.”
“It seems that Brother Ji’s swordplay has left an indelible mark on Miss Lu’s heart.”
Not far away, Lou Si Yi overheard them and thought to herself, [Not just Lu Qing Qiu…]
Ever since their time in the Sword Forest, both she and Sun Qiao Zhi had also sought Instructor Wang to teach them this style. That one strike had been unforgettable.
As the sun began its descent at Wei Hour, Lu Qing Qiu, now drenched in sweat, finally withdrew from the stage after conceding to a Mystic Enlightenment Stage senior sister.
“How was my last strike?” she asked, turning to Bai Ru Long and Qian Yun Xiao.
The two immediately applauded. “It looked incredibly familiar.”
Lu Qing Qiu smiled faintly. “How is Young Master Ji these days?”
“The same as always—meditating in his room. He rarely visits the Field of Enlightenment anymore.”
“Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Autumn Duel for entry into the Inner Court…”
She spoke softly, but as she glanced toward the edge of the White Jade Terrace, she caught sight of a lone figure—Chu He.
His gaze was cold as he watched the dueling stage, his mind clearly preoccupied with the battles of the coming day.
Lu Qing Qiu approached him with a light step. “Young Master Chu, what brings you outside today?”
“Grew tired of staying indoors,” Chu He replied, his tone indifferent. “I happened to see your swordplay just now. It bears some resemblance to Ji You’s. Such flashy techniques may look interesting, but they are ultimately meaningless.”
Lu Qing Qiu arched a brow. “You sound quite confident.”
Chu He’s expression remained unchanged. “Do you truly believe the Chu Clan holds an empty reputation?”
Since returning from his family estate, he had felt a strength surging within him, as though he could shoulder the heavens themselves. Whenever he thought of Ji You, his battle spirit roared, his killing intent nearly impossible to suppress.
Both his elder brother and father had assured him that in the current cultivation world, none could defeat him unless they had reached the Dao Fusion Stage. Even then, it would be near impossible to kill him outright.
His entry into the Inner Court would be swift, and soon, he would become a Direct Disciple of the Hall Master. Ji You was nothing more than a passing name in his journey, even if that name had echoed in his ears for far too long.
Lu Qing Qiu studied him carefully, her brow slightly furrowed.
She could not discern Chu He’s precise cultivation level, but she could feel the vastness of his aura. The Lu Clan was renowned in its own right, though it could not compare to the Chu Clan. Still, their families were acquainted.
She knew the Chu Clan possessed many profound and mysterious techniques, but she had never heard of any that could elevate someone’s battle aura to such overwhelming heights within a mere two months.