Chapter 50: Dan Chen Zi
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
As celestial light surged mightily from the Qiling Mountain, piercing the heavens, many secrets once concealed were now laid bare.
The Seven Great Immortal Sects, along with noble clans from various regions, could no longer suppress their intrigue. In mere moments, this phenomenon rippled through the Azure Clouds Dominion, setting off waves of unrest. The ruins of Qiling had become the focus of countless cultivators’ attention.
As the rumors spread, whispers about the secrets within the ruins grew more detailed and alarming:
“It is said that the killing Qi within the ruins of Qiling has already begun spilling over from the Central Prefecture, creeping toward the outer regions. This Qi not only suppresses the flow of spiritual essence but also severs the resonance between heaven and man, making cultivation impossible.”
“And Ji You…?”
In the Field of Enlightenment at the Heavenly Script Academy, Lu Qing Qiu, Qian Yun Xiao, and others discussed the matter fervently. Their clans had dispatched people to the ruins, gleaning bits and pieces of information. Recently, this topic had dominated every conversation.
Without the Heavenly Tome, Ji You had already lost his advantage in cultivation. Now, upon hearing that the killing Qi obstructed cultivation altogether, even more shook their heads at his plight.
While the crowd’s chatter buzzed on, a sudden gale arose in the Field of Enlightenment. Celestial light howled and spiraled upward, breaking through the clouds. In a matter of moments, streaks of lightning began flashing through the sky.
All eyes turned toward the center, where Chu He, immersed in Dao enlightenment, was now levitating. Not long after, a faint but imposing aura radiated outward. Then, with a deafening roar, brilliance erupted from Chu He’s body. A ninth beam of spiritual light condensed before his forehead, swiftly merging into the space between his brows.
Witnessing this, everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Chu He had broken through into the Mystic Enlightenment Stage!
Before long, a streak of celestial light shot out from the misty depths of the Inner Court, landing in the Field of Enlightenment. The newcomer was a middle-aged man of imposing stature, clad in a black robe embroidered with gold. His gaze fell on Chu He, and he nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing this, everyone was reminded of the night Ji You had sensed the Heavenly Tome. Back then, the Hall Masters of both the Freedom Hall and the Auspicious Hall had descended, shattering the hearts of countless disciples.
Now, the man before them exuded an aura even more formidable than Zuo Qiu Yang and You Ying Qiu, as though he had touched upon the profound mysteries sought by all. This was none other than Fei She, Hall Master of the Hall of Purity, a cultivator at the threshold of the Boundless Martial Stage.
All the disciples present rose and bowed in respect.
Chu He, now fully stabilized in his new realm, carried an aura that was distinctly different, possessing the ethereal quality of one who had reached the Infinite Arts Stage.
“The Chu family’s talent has directly alarmed the Hall of Purity. Are they going to declare him a direct disciple?”
“Chu He hasn’t even entered the Inner Court yet. Isn’t this against the rules?”
“Well, there have been precedents in the Heavenly Script Academy’s history where disciples became direct disciples of Hall Masters upon entering the Inner Court. But those were all prodigies of unparalleled brilliance.”
“If Chu He doesn’t count as brilliant, then what about Ji You? He sensed the Heavenly Tome, but he’s nowhere near Chu He’s speed!”
Cao Jin Song also arrived upon hearing the news. Standing on the stone bridge, he gazed at Chu He, whose presence had transformed, with a somber expression. He had also heard about the difficulty of cultivating within the ruins and knew that Chu He’s entry into the Inner Court was now inevitable.
Watching Instructor Ma and other teachers exchanging congratulations, Cao Jin Song felt an oppressive weight in his chest.
Pei Ru Yi, also present in the Field of Enlightenment, approached Cao Jin Song and clasped her hands in greeting.
“Instructor, I’m heading to Qiling tomorrow.”
“You’re going too?”
Pei Ru Yi nodded. “It seems something has emerged in the ruins.”
Cao Jin Song fell silent for a moment before speaking. “Wait here.”
“Instructor?”
Cao Jin Song waved her off and headed toward a few fellow instructors he was close with. Moments later, Pei Ru Yi saw him return, a faint smile on his face as he handed her a pouch filled with silver coins.
“When Ji You left, I gave him one of these. This one is for you.”
“This… isn’t proper. Since when do instructors hand out money to students?”
Cao Jin Song’s expression turned stern. “Unknown lands are fraught with danger, and the killing Qi will suppress spiritual essence. Use this to buy more spirit stones and pills. If you encounter Ji You, help each other. If not, prioritize staying alive.”
Pei Ru Yi stared at the money in her hand. “We will return safely.”
“If you do, and Ji You refuses to return, tell them he died inside.”
“?”
Pei Ru Yi was puzzled. “Why would he refuse to return?”
Cao Jin Song sighed. “He has no sense of belonging to the Immortal Sect. If not for the Qiu family’s young girl, he’d have become a bandit in the mountains. In fact, he’s been proving that with his actions.”
“But the Seven Great Immortal Sects are ruthless toward defectors. Unless he dies, there’s no escape for him.”
“Even if he returns, if he can’t enter the Inner Court, what’s the point?”
“Honestly, I regret bringing him to the Heavenly Script Academy. A wandering rogue cultivator from the countryside was never meant for this place.”
Having said this, Cao Jin Song looked toward the radiant Chu He in the Field of Enlightenment.
Meanwhile, in the third room on the second floor of the relay station in Beisha Town, Ji You’s golden spiritual consciousness soared skyward, struggling against the constraints of the place. Sweat drenched his brow. With each refinement of his spiritual senses, the distant darkness above became clearer. Yet, unlike his experience in the Field of Enlightenment at the Heavenly Script Academy, breaking through the limits of his spiritual senses here brought no sense of ease or freedom. Instead, a creeping, sinister pressure loomed ever closer.
After a long while, Ji You opened his eyes, exhaling softly, his mind heavy with dizziness. Yuan Chen, still in the room, looked at him in shock.
For reasons unknown, he felt that Ji You’s aura had grown more immense than before. Even meeting his gaze caused a sharp pain in Yuan Chen’s eyes.
“They said… you can’t cultivate here. How are you doing it?”
“I’m not cultivating. I’m only training my spiritual senses, which doesn’t advance my realm.”
Yuan Chen seemed to ponder this. “What’s the use of training spiritual senses?”
Ji You avoided the question. After a long rest, he said, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the Red Mountain Mine. Then you can leave with the miners.”
“Leave? You’re really not going into the mountains?”
Ji You remained silent, torn with indecision. This place rendered cultivation impossible. Even if he managed to leave, he might never enter the Inner Court. The best course was to rescue the miners and then disappear, taking Old Qiu’s family to live a hidden life in the mountains.
The plan was simple: claim that he had discovered a mysterious artifact while rescuing the miners, one that the Immortal Sects sought. He would then secretly leave with it, only to be ambushed and nearly killed. Many years later, after recovering from his injuries, he would establish a mountain stronghold.
Perfect.
Ji You pulled out a rope he had acquired from the town. “Tomorrow, before we set out, we’ll tie this around our waists. I’ll fight in front, and you’ll follow behind.”
“Follow to do what?”
“Pick up my spent swords. They cost money.”
Yuan Chen’s lips twitched at this, thinking, [I’ve never seen such a peculiar cultivator.]
But as he considered the suggestion of tying their waists together, he couldn’t help but purse his lips. “Does this make us life-and-death companions?”
“You planning to pay me extra?”
Yuan Chen didn’t offer more money but clasped his hands solemnly. “If we’re life-and-death companions, I’ll be honest with you, Brother Ji. I’m a disciple of the Pill Sect, with the Daoist title Dan Chen Zi. The convoy you saw on the Thousand Marks Mountain that night was under my elder sister’s protection. I’m here searching for her.”
Ji You blinked in surprise. “The Pill Sect? Then why are you so weak?”
Yuan Chen extended his palm, revealing a swirl of brilliant colors. “The Pill Dao differs from the Heavenly Dao. We do not practice killing techniques. Our art is passed down through the Immortal Cauldron. I may not kill, but with me here, you won’t die.”
Ji You stared at him for a long while, thinking, [So, you’re a healer.]
“Why are you so sure your sister was brought here?”
“Not long ago, a person drenched in killing Qi, like some malignant being, came to our sect seeking modifications to a pill formula. He offered an astronomical price. My sister immediately recognized it as involving human refinement and refused.”
“He was so strange that our sect sent people to tail him. He eventually arrived here. Later, our sect’s convoy was ambushed on the Thousand Marks Mountain, and my sister vanished.”