Heavenly Tome Comes to See Me First

The passage of time in cultivation is swift, with fallen leaves blanketing the mountains like a fleeting white steed.

The nine-day-and-six-night Imperial Examination concluded without much fanfare.

After all, the progeny of noble families sought the immortal path; only those from humble backgrounds participated in the Imperial Examination, ultimately becoming mere servants to Immortals even if they achieved official positions and promotions.

Ji You didn't disturb Kuang Cheng, as the latter needed a good sleep after such a long ordeal.

According to Ji You, a nine-day-and-six-night exam was more taxing than cultivating immortality itself. Those who succeeded weren't necessarily the most talented, but they certainly had the best stamina.

As for himself, he followed his routine daily, practicing martial arts first, then comprehending the Dao.

After mastering his swordsmanship, he learned spear techniques, saber skills, and fist arts.

During this time, many people had already given up on sensing the Heavenly Tome, focusing their attention entirely on Chu He and Lu Qingqiu.

Although they hadn't sensed the Heavenly Tome either, Chu He had already condensed his second mystic light, and Lu Qingqiu showed faint traces of a second one.

Only Ji You had nothing.

These past few days, everyone knew that the longer he persisted, the more pain he endured.

His effort was commendable, but his complete lack of progress made many in the courtyard lose interest in him.

As a rogue cultivator, it was only natural for him to blend in with the crowd now.

"I'm not sleeping tonight."

"?"

"Hiss..."

"There's still a master?"

Chu He suddenly opened his eyes in the Dao Comprehension Ground and asked his attendant to bring him more spirit herbs, placing them before him: "Just now, I saw a trace of light."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then erupted in shock. Even Ban Yangshu, who had come to visit, couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Because everyone present knew that the precursor to sensing the Heavenly Tome was seeing a trace of light.

Chu He had announced his withdrawal days ago, and now, unexpectedly, the situation had taken a turn.

If he truly sensed the Heavenly Tome, his cultivation speed would far surpass Lu Qingqiu's, and the Inner Court spot this year would undoubtedly be his!

It was said that the Chu family possessed extraordinary cultivation talent. Chu Xian had reached perfection at fourteen, entered the upper five realms at fifteen, and was immediately taken as a personal disciple by the Xuan Yuan Sect Master, proving this point.

Although Chu He was a few years behind his elder brother, his talent was still terrifyingly immense.

"Having seen the trace of light, can you pursue it?"

Seeing that it was Ban Yangshu who asked, Chu He shook his head: "I was already exhausted at the time and had no strength left..."

Ban Yangshu patted his shoulder: "Don't be too hard on yourself. You only took nine days; that's already extraordinary talent."

"How many days did Senior Brother take?"

"A little over five months."

Chu He was slightly taken aback: "How could that be?"

Ban Yangshu chuckled and shook his head: "I meant it took me five months to truly connect with the Heavenly Tome. But with you seeing the light in two days, two months should be enough. The Chu family's talent is truly formidable."

Hearing this, Chu He felt deeply satisfied, then chose to take a pill and continue, working through the night.

He didn't believe anyone in the Outer Court could surpass him; he didn't even hold Ban Yangshu, who patiently guided him, in high regard.

Ban Yangshu had been in the Inner Court for six years but had only reached the upper stage of Profound Comprehension, failing to even break through to the Dao Integration Realm, the second stage of the upper five realms.

The world said that anyone who could enter the upper five realms was exceptionally gifted, but that was the world's opinion.

He, however, was surnamed Chu!

Ever since the Chu family rose to prominence, they had all entered the upper five realms, and each generation did so faster than the last!

His brother was already a personal disciple of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion; what he saw for himself was naturally a spot as a personal disciple of the Celestial Academy!

Lu Qingqiu felt a sense of urgency and increased her spiritual stone expenditure.

But there was one person more anxious than Lu Qingqiu: Cao Jinsong.

As the hour of Shen approached the day of Cold Dew, an autumn rain fell, striking the protective spiritual light of the Celestial Academy and causing ripples, but unable to reach the ground.

As soon as Ji You returned from practicing martial arts, Instructor Cao caught him: "Ji You, Ji You, what exactly are you doing, you scoundrel?"

"What's wrong, Instructor Cao?"

"What time is it? You still spend four hours every day practicing martial arts, and then go to comprehend the Dao. I see your effort, but I told you before, martial arts are ultimately a minor path!"

Ji You sized him up: "A few days ago, when I said I was hungry, you ignored me. Why are you so concerned today?"

Cao Jinsong choked for a moment, stammering for a long time: "This is my path as a teacher!"

"I don't believe you."

"Alright, I admit it. Instructor Ding and Instructor Ma and I bet a hundred spirit stones each, wagering that the student I recruited would be the first to enter the Inner Court. But with Chu He already having two mystic lights, why are you still so lax?"

Ji You's eyebrows shot up. He hadn't expected Old Cao to be a gambler: "Who gave you the courage for this?"

Cao Jinsong straightened his back and gazed at the vast, boundless night sky: "Naturally, it was the one who, in a single day, achieved two realms, reached perfection in one night, like a tiger descending the mountain, swallowing the world with its might, peerless in the world!"

Ji You's expression also turned serious as he heard this. He looked up at the night sky like the other person, "Split half of the spirit stones with me."

"Are you a bandit?"

"A fierce bandit."

Cao Jinsong was about to haggle with him, but before he could even open his mouth, he froze slightly. After a moment of thought, his eyes widened, "You want me to give you half? Could it be that you've already seen the faint light in the primordial darkness?"

Ji You sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Something like that..."

Hearing the "something like that," Instructor Cao felt a surge of joy, but after the joy, he frowned again.

For some reason, he saw a hint of fear and hesitation in Ji You's expression.

He knew that on that day in Yuyang County, Ji You had dared to risk his life to reach perfection right after breaking through his realm. He was utterly fearless. He had never imagined seeing fear on Ji You's face.

However, he believed that although Ji You was a bit of a rogue, he never bragged. Just like how he had said he would reach perfection overnight that day, and he truly did.

Everyone in the courtyard said Ji You was just making up the numbers. Chu He even forbade anyone from comparing themselves to Ji You, as if it were an insult.

But only Instructor Cao blindly believed in him.

His talent was by no means something Chu He could catch up to.

At dusk, due to Instructor Cao's urging, Ji You arrived at the Dao Comprehension Ground earlier than usual.

The crowd, who hadn't paid much attention before, looked up at the sky and couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

"He seems to have come a bit early today?"

"Perhaps he heard that Chu He saw traces of light and is finally getting nervous."

"What's the use of being nervous? Chu He is already more than a step ahead of him."

Some people whispered, constantly speculating about why Ji You's usual unwavering time for Dao comprehension had suddenly moved up by two ke.

However, more people didn't even lift their eyelids, as their expectations were entirely focused on the second young master of the Chu family.

Just then, Ji You walked into the center of the field. He first sat down on the ground, then tidied his robes, and then closed his eyes tightly. He sent his spiritual sense soaring towards the sky, his brow furrowing and then relaxing.

He saw it...

But it was different from the faint light Instructor Cao had mentioned.

At this moment, Ji You's spiritual sense reached the heavens, and he saw countless brilliant shooting stars streaking across the primordial darkness, one after another, stretching across the sky, continuous and flashing with trails.

Instructor Cao had asked him if he saw a wisp of faint light, and he had said "something like that."

It was indeed "something like that," just off by a few hundred stars.

In fact, he had seen this scene on the sixth day.

But at that moment, he suddenly felt a moment of disorientation and didn't dare to chase after the light.

Instructor Cao had seen his fear and hesitation, and this fear and hesitation stemmed from this, or rather, from something he had always been unable to understand.

That matter had made him stop his impulse to chase the light, and even sent a chill down his spine.

Ji You suddenly retracted his spiritual sense at this moment, opened his eyes, and couldn't help but look up at the blood-red scar in the sky with his naked eyes.

"Have you heard of Heaven's Demise?"

"I always thought that phrase meant the sky had died."

"But if the sky is dead, then what exactly is this Heavenly Tome of yours?"

Boom—!

Just as Ji You finished reciting the last sentence in his heart, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a powerful wave of energy suddenly erupted from his body, overturning the few people nearby.

At the same time, the spiritual light above the Dao Comprehension Ground blazed, constantly changing, like churning seas, and finally entered his heavenly spirit.

A mysterious spectrum of light descended from above, enveloping his entire body, and constantly surged, shining brightly.

This time, the Heavenly Tome didn't wait for him to sense it; it came to sense him.