Ever since entering the Celestial Academy, everything had been going well...
I had thought it would be difficult to make close friends in such a short time, but after robbing a few of them, we immediately became much more familiar...
Kuang Cheng had become the top scholar and hoped I would become the headmaster. I asked around; the headmaster had never taken a personal disciple, but he had lived for over three hundred years. I might not outlast him...
That was that. Live well, and find time to go back home.
After replying to Old Qiu's letter, Ji You left Jade Garden of Bingshui Lake and met up with Lu Qingqiu and the others.
There were not merely six people. Ban Yangshu and another Outer Court disciple had come as well, a man named Ji Qirui. His family had been old friends with Lu Qingqiu's, and he also had some connections with the Celestial Academy's stewards.
He had never met Ji You before, but he had heard of the commotion Ji You had caused in the Outer Court, and his eyes were full of curiosity.
"So this is the one who studied the Heavenly Book?"
"That's right."
Ban Yangshu nodded and looked intently at Ji You.
He had heard two days ago that Ji You neither took pills nor used spirit stones, yet had already condensed five strands of Mystic Light. He could not help but marvel.
Even after entering the Inner Court, he was still stuck at the Profound Heaven Upper Realm, unable to integrate with the Dao. Yet Ji You possessed such great perseverance; perhaps he might travel farther than Ban Yangshu himself.
A lone rural cultivator was truly about to defy heaven all the way.
Amid a few casual exchanges, the group rode on spiritual energy and arrived at Hong Ding Tower in the eastern district.
This tower was quite famous in the capital and boasted itself as the greatest tower under heaven. Only descendants of immortal sects and imperial relatives were qualified to enter.
From the proprietor to the attendants, all were cultivators of the Lower Three Realms. Such cultivation might amount to little in the Celestial Academy, but among common folk, it was already impressive.
Once they took their seats, singing courtesans played and sang while dancers whirled gracefully through the hall, a feast for the eyes.
Bai Rulong and Qian Yunxiao were thrilled. They thought they had come to the right place—one's Dao heart was clearest precisely when watching this sort of thing!
For some reason, though, Ji You saw an image in his mind of a fair jade foot, fragrant enough to fill the air, viciously kicking him. The women before him suddenly seemed somewhat like gaudy powder and common rouge.
This was bad. Could it be that he had some extraordinary preference?
Ji You could not help draining the wine in his cup, finding it somewhat stimulating.
Ban Yangshu had been observing him throughout the meal and could not help sighing softly at this moment.
Before even ascending to immortality, he was already free of distracting thoughts. He did not even deign to look at feminine charms. No wonder he had been able to sense the Heavenly Book.
Such a lucid Dao heart also proved that this young man was indeed extraordinary.
Once the dishes had all arrived, the banquet formally began. As the host, Lu Qingqiu delivered a number of polished pleasantries.
Her family dealt in spirit mines and wished to befriend people of outstanding talent, especially someone like Ban Yangshu.
Although the Ban family of Youzhou was also an Aristocratic Clan, it had actually been in decline for a long time. If Ban Yangshu failed to advance further, he would have to leave the academy on his own. Even if he returned home, he would achieve nothing, so naturally he would choose to join another power.
The Profound Heaven Upper Realm might be nothing in the Celestial Academy, but outside, it still made one a peerless expert.
Lu Qingqiu's voice was lovely, soft and gentle, melodious and lingering like a spring breeze brushing across one's face. Everyone at the table beamed with delight as they listened.
Only after listening for quite some time did Ji You's heart suddenly skip a beat.
This was bad. It seemed I really didn't like the gentle type...
Besides the social pleasantries, Lu Qingqiu also asked about something Bai Rulong, Qian Yunxiao, and the others were intensely curious about: what exactly was the Inner Court like?
At this, a trace of pride appeared on Ban Yangshu's face.
"The Inner Court is divided into five halls: Zizai, Jixiang, Changsheng, Buchen, and Wuyu. I belong to Zizai Hall, as does Brother Ji."
"The Inner Court also has instructors whose Dao arts are profound, but personal disciples can be taught directly by the hall masters."
"At present, Zizai Hall and Jixiang Hall already have personal disciples, so they are relatively peaceful. The other three great halls, however, are constantly fighting over spots, much like the Outer Court."
"Last year's junior brother was quite ambitious after entering the Inner Court. He chose Changsheng Hall and declared that he would seize a personal disciple slot. This year..."
Ban Yangshu looked at Ji You, thinking that this year's Inner Court spot was likely none other than his.
Ah, Junior Brother Ji was truly focused and absorbed while eating.
Ji Qirui was more concerned with something else. Raising his cup toward Ji You, he said, "Junior Brother Ji, I heard quite a few things about you in the Inner Court. I heard that not only did you comprehend the Heavenly Book, but you also cultivate both the martial path and the Dao?"
Whenever tales of Ji You circulated through the Celestial Academy, they always came with two phrases: lone rural cultivator and dual martial-Dao cultivation.
The contrast was used to prove that his talent truly was exceptional.
It was much like saying: although he went to internet cafés every day, he still ranked first in the grade every single time. Wasn't that infuriating?
Ji You looked up at those words and replied, "That's right. I know a little about fists and kicks."
"But martial arts are ultimately a minor path. With talent as outstanding as yours, why waste your time on them?"
"It's a personal hobby."
After hearing this, Ban Yangshu said, "Pure Dao cultivators are mostly found in the north, while there are quite a few dual martial-Dao cultivators in the south. The Sword in Spirit Sword Mountain's name was changed because its previous headmaster was a sword fanatic."
Lu Qingqiu, Bai Rulong, Qian Yunxiao, and the others listened carefully and nodded again and again, though inwardly they agreed more with Ji Qirui's view.
There were many small kingdoms in the south, and conflicts were frequent. Martial training had therefore been passed down for a thousand years.
But custom was custom. No matter what, martial arts were ultimately of no help to Dao cultivation.
Senior Brother Ban was famous in the Inner Court for knowing how to speak. He always said things people liked to hear.
As time passed, the dishes at the banquet gradually dwindled, while the night beyond the window deepened further and further.
Those who had originally been unfamiliar with one another were now chatting merrily. Even Ji You spoke up from time to time. During this, Lu Qingqiu invited them to visit the Yunzhou Lu Family, and they all readily agreed.
That was Lu Qingqiu's purpose in hosting the banquet.
If she failed to enter the Inner Court, she would not remain in the Celestial Academy for long. Still, inviting some people home would count as a gain regardless.
The drums atop the city walls struck the third watch, and the group left the restaurant.
By then, the sky outside had become incomparably deep. There was not a soul to be seen in the city, save for a few cultivators wrapped in spiritual energy against the cold passing along the streets.
Shengjing was the center of the mortal world. Envoys dispatched by the Seven Great Immortal Sects often came and went within the city, exempt from the curfew, so it was nothing unusual.
However, when they reached Yong'an Gate, Ban Yangshu and Ji Qirui abruptly stopped and could not help looking around.
Then Ji You also furrowed his brow and looked toward the darkness where no lamps shone.
For some reason, they had just sensed an aura brimming with malice wandering nearby, only for it to swiftly vanish.
Lu Qingqiu had condensed only two strands of Mystic Light. Naturally, she was inferior to Ji You in matters of "Profound Heaven" and had noticed nothing.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. Perhaps..."
Just as Ji You was about to answer, his body acted before thought. He suddenly raised his hand and shoved Lu Qingqiu, who stood before him, away.
Then he swiftly leaned back, retreating a full zhang amid surging air currents beneath his feet.
In that instant, a pair of scarlet eyes emerged from the night. The newcomer was wreathed in Killing Intent and overflowing with evil energy. Moving as swiftly as lightning, it clawed downward with hooked fingers.
Seeing the two evade, the baleful shadow sprang forward and seized Bai Rulong and Qian Yunxiao directly.
"An evil spawn?"
"How could an evil spawn appear in Shengjing?"
Ban Yangshu and Ji Qirui were horrified. They immediately drew their swords and rushed forward, their blades ringing loudly as they slashed across the evil spawn.
Just as they were about to cut it down, a muffled boom came from the darkness on the other side. The two instinctively turned, only to see a streak of white lightning strike in an instant, sounding as though it could split a mountain.
"Dao Integration Realm?!"
"Fall back! Don't meet it head-on!"
Ban Yangshu grabbed Ji Qirui and retreated. A charred scorch mark instantly appeared on the ground, and the paving stones where they had stood exploded into fragments with a Bang!
Yet after unleashing that Lightning Law, the opponent did not stop. Lightning gathered in its palm again as it stepped through wild gusts and crashing waves, sweeping its hand forward.
Ban Yangshu and Ji Qirui flipped aside to evade, then struck out with horizontal punches, their fist intent fierce as mighty wind and thunder.
But their opponent was still one realm above them. It directly blocked with a backhand, then clenched its fist and attacked, smashing across both their shoulders like an iron hammer crashing down.
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