Martial Dao Dual Cultivation

After the entrance ceremony ended, everyone dispersed.

Some familiar students paired up, planning to visit places like White Jade Platform, Dao Comprehension Field, and Azure Water Lake first, to get acquainted with the place they would be living in from now on.

Ji You also left White Jade Platform and returned to a small courtyard by Azure Water Lake.

The courtyard wasn't large, with white walls and black tiles. In the center stood a small osmanthus tree, with a stone table and stone benches beneath it. Behind it was a black brick-built room. It looked square and neat. Inside, there were tables, chairs, and benches placed against the walls, a four-cornered brazier in the corner, and an empty bed frame and a long table in the inner room.

This was specially prepared by the Celestial Academy for those under twenty years old who had achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms. It was a standalone courtyard, so they didn't have to cram into the male dorms with a bunch of people.

Cao Jinsong had just returned to the Steward's Office to report and rushed to White Jade Platform, only to find the ceremony had already ended. He then hurried to Ji You's courtyard.

"Did you receive any invitations? How many? Which one have you decided on? Take them out, and I'll give you some advice as your instructor."

Ji You, who was cleaning, opened his mouth expressionlessly, "I received a whole lot of nothing."

Cao Jinsong was stunned. He thought to himself, Who is this 'Nothing' from a noble family in the capital? They even have a compound surname.

But soon, the smile on his face gradually disappeared as he understood what 'nothing' meant.

Are all these noble families in the capital blind? Can't they see such an extraordinary individual?

But after calming down, he could understand.

In previous years, if someone under twenty with Perfection of the Lower Three Realms was admitted, they would indeed be eagerly sought after by the royal family and high-ranking officials in the capital for patronage.

However, Ji You, a rogue cultivator from the countryside, was an exception because he had no family background.

To advance from the Lower Three Realms to the Upper Five Realms, unless one could sense the Heavenly Dao, it would require countless elixirs, spiritual medicines, and spirit stones to achieve success, which was akin to a bottomless pit of expenses.

The noble families in the capital always preferred to add splendor to an already brilliant situation; no one was willing to offer help in times of need.

If they were to spend all their wealth on patronage, and the breakthrough failed, or if they couldn't advance further after breaking through, it would be a significant loss.

The Lower Three Realms and the Upper Five Realms were completely different stages: one focused on cultivating the body, the other on refining techniques.

If it were Cao Jinsong, and he hadn't witnessed Ji You breaking through two realms in a single day in Yuyang County, he might not have had the courage to make such a gamble.

However, Ji You was not discouraged because he himself had never expected to be patronized.

He had witnessed it firsthand in Yuyang County; those patrons' hands were stained with blood.

But how would he live?

Ji You put his hands on his hips and thought, If I were to become a fierce bandit in the mountains, I could at least rob the rich to help the poor. Who can I rob now? Is there anyone I can rob?

Cao Jinsong suddenly stood up, "Young man, don't be discouraged. As they say, the boat will reach its destination naturally. How about this, I'll take you on a tour of the academy grounds first, and while we're at it, I'll tell you about the Celestial Academy's legacy."

"And while we're at it, treat me to dinner, and lend me two taels of silver to buy study supplies."

"?"

Ji You looked at him, "You know I come from a poor background. If I starve to death, you'll be embarrassed too, Instructor."

Cao Jinsong's eyelids twitched. Although this young man is extraordinary, why does it feel like I've taken on a demanding father?

Ji You didn't give him a chance to refuse. He pushed Cao Jinsong out the door, and they followed a route, visiting the Dao Comprehension Field, White Jade Platform, Azure Water Lake, and Sword Testing Forest.

He had already been to White Jade Platform today; it was the place where disciples were gathered and ceremonies were held.

Dao Comprehension Field was the largest building in the Outer Court, paved with spirit stones. It was circular and stood in the most open area of this world, used for comprehending the Heavenly Dao.

Azure Water Lake was a scenic lake, but it was said that the sect leader had left a divine ability within the lake that could gather spiritual energy from all directions to supply the disciples in the Dao Comprehension Field.

As for Sword Testing Forest, it was a bamboo forest, deep and quiet, with many incomplete stone tablets, ancient and desolate. It was a place for Martial Dao cultivation.

However, Sword Testing Forest had been abandoned for a long time and was usually deserted. Even the instructors assigned to it were usually idle all day.

Ji You followed Cao Jinsong to the entrance of Sword Testing Forest and looked at the crooked door plaque on the archway, puzzled, "Why is the Martial Dao not valued?"

"Because the Martial Dao does not help with the improvement of one's realm, so it is considered a minor path that wastes time."

Cao Jinsong stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the door plaque. "You'll understand when you reach the Upper Five Realms. A cultivator whose realm is one level higher than yours can make you stumble with a wave of their hand using Dao techniques. How can martial skills compare?"

Hearing this, Ji You understood somewhat.

Within the same realm, a martial artist with refined skills might have extraordinary combat power, but no matter how refined, they couldn't reach the level of defeating enemies across realms.

The most crucial point was that honing martial skills also required a lot of time.

Therefore, most cultivators did not practice martial skills and only pursued pure Dao cultivation, using the laws of the Heavenly Dao and relying on the vastness of their spiritual energy to suppress opponents by realm.

For example, even if your martial skills reached the pinnacle, if the other party was one realm higher than you, they could make you stumble with a mere wave of their hand.

After pondering for a long time, Ji You asked, "Are there no exceptions?"

"Exceptions... do exist."

Cao Jinsong stroked his long beard. "Some soldiers in the army, having experienced countless battles and tempered by the aura of killing, can enter Dao through martial arts. Great Xia's Divine General Ye Sheng achieved Perfection of the Upper Five Realms this way."

"Enter Dao through martial arts..."

Ji You muttered the four words, then turned to look at the deep Sword Testing Forest.

Perhaps, he should give it a try.

His Spirit Core was currently unusual, and he didn't know if he could break through to the Upper Five Realms through conventional means. Being a pure Dao cultivator carried risks.

Secondly, his Dao cultivation was actually very fast, so he had enough time to practice martial arts.

On the way, Pei Ruyi had used her own experiences to encourage them, saying that Celestial Academy disciples typically practiced for six hours a day, while she practiced for nine, which was why she became the top disciple of the Outer Court.

She also told Fang Ruoyao that talent wasn't that important, and that sometimes human effort could overcome heaven, which made Fang Ruoyao's blood boil with excitement.

At the time, Ji You had remained silent for a long time, not daring to say that he had already reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms by practicing only two hours a day.

As for the third, and most important point.

If his Spirit Core truly couldn't break through after exploding, and he was expelled from the Celestial Academy, Qiu Ru and the other children would be in danger.

Fengxian Mountain Villa hadn't been capturing people for alchemy for just a day or two. Without the identity of a Celestial Academy disciple, they would truly have no protection.

At that point, he would have to become an outlaw, entering the Dao through banditry, and he would need martial skills to protect himself. After all, any bit of strength was worth gaining.

While Ji You was thinking, he led Instructor Cao to Immortal Cuisine House for a meal. After eating, he extorted two taels of silver and took a brief tour of Shengjing city, buying some necessary items.

Shengjing was extremely prosperous, not like Yuyang County where a few streets could cover the entire area. Every alleyway was more bustling than the Ji Family's Archway Street.

Passing by Chunhua Tower, he could even see some women who didn't dress properly, waving their handkerchiefs below.

Any man who passed by and was dressed luxuriously would enter, becoming a dandy.

"?"

"Truly, people's hearts are yellow."

Ji You admired them for a long time, unmoved even when one of the girls, in the wind, flung her handkerchief in front of him, its scent of perfume filling his nostrils.

Poverty makes me noble.

He returned to the Celestial Academy with his purchases. On the way, he encountered the highly regarded prodigies of the Outer Court, Chu He and Lu Qingqiu.

The two were on their way to Prince Chong's Mansion for a banquet. Seeing Ji You, who had also reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before the age of twenty, approaching them, they completely ignored him.

Everyone in the academy said that this year's competition for the Inner Court would involve these three, but for them, it was actually only two.

This country bumpkin rogue cultivator, who couldn't afford elixirs or spirit stones, was merely an interlude to add some amusement.

Afterward, the two arrived at Prince Chong's Mansion and saw that the main hall was already filled with delicacies.

To entertain them, Prince Chong had even invited two Inner Court disciples.

According to him, these two Inner Court disciples were both supported by him and could provide guidance for their cultivation in the future, displaying an academic patron's demeanor.

"The Inner Court spot next year, shouldn't it be decided between Young Master Chu and Miss Lu?"

Chu He cupped his hands at the table and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, the one who can enter the Inner Court next year will undoubtedly be me."

Lu Qingqiu sneered upon hearing this, "Brother Chu, don't let the wind blow your tongue away."

"Since I dare to say it, it's because I have this confidence. If Miss Lu has any objections, why not try it in the Dao Comprehension Arena?"

Listening to their sharp exchanges, Ban Yangshu, a disciple of the Inner Court, couldn't help but be surprised, "Your Highness Prince Chong, I heard that the Outer Court also accepted someone who reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before the age of twenty this year? Is that just a rumor?"

Prince Chong raised his wine cup, "He's a country bumpkin rogue cultivator with no aristocratic background and has never interacted with cultivators. He probably doesn't know that the upper five realms require a pile of spirit medicines."

"No wonder Prince Chong didn't choose him..."

"Come, come, come! I have an order, everyone present tonight must not leave without getting drunk!"