Affairs Management Courtyard

Beneath the clouds and mist of Mount Ni, in a secluded square building outside the Inner Court.

Qin Rong, Lang Hetong, and Ji Jingyao, the Celestial Academy's three chief administrators, sat before their desks. Their broad sleeves hung beside their wooden chairs as they listened to the disciples' report with an imposing calm.

After a long while, the report ended, and the three looked at one another.

"There are no Ancient Ruins anywhere around Shengjing. How could evil spawn possibly appear? It makes no sense at all. And how could those mindless ghostly things be mixed in with cultivators?"

Qin Rong's brow was tightly furrowed, his eyes full of disbelief.

Lang Hetong could not help but speak as well. "A Dao Integration Realm cultivator acted, yet not a single person was killed or injured. That is quite strange too."

Ji Jingyao looked at them and spoke after a moment. "Of the eight people attacked this time, three emerged completely unscathed, while two suffered only superficial injuries. Bring them here and question them."

"That was precisely my intention." Qin Rong nodded.

The instant Lu Qingqiu, Lou Siyi, and Sun Zhiqiao entered the battle, Ji You had rescued them.

Bai Rulong and Qian Yunxiao had had their throats crushed by the evil spawn, but they were unharmed as well. Thus, beneath the gazes of countless Outer Court disciples, they were invited to the Affairs Hall on the mountain.

They could not explain why the evil spawn had appeared, but as for why there had been no casualties, there was plenty to say.

"Ji You cultivates both martial arts and the Dao, and his swordsmanship is astonishing..."

"He did this, then this, and then this..."

"After the second sword was plucked away, that evil spawn fell into the disadvantage. Then the third sword was even more unexpected..."

"Senior Brother Ban and Senior Brother Ji were hanging by a thread at the time. It was that third sword that interrupted the opponent's Lightning Law..."

Bai Rulong acted out the scene on the spot, copying the gourd as he drew the ladle.

Lu Qingqiu described what she had seen while gesturing along with Bai Rulong, recounting the entire scene in full and leaving the three administrators silent.

"The immortal sects of today stand in majesty over the world, bringing peace to all under heaven for a thousand years. Even Dao Discussion Gatherings such as the Snow-Boiling Gathering and the Immortal Roaming Gathering emphasize stopping at the right point. Before this incident, even I believed martial techniques were beneath notice."

Qin Rong rolled up his sleeve. "Until this moment, when that Outer Court disciple who cultivates both martial arts and the Dao used an extreme battle to control the field and told everyone why martial techniques exist."

Lang Hetong opened his mouth after hearing this. "Martial Dao."

"What?"

"It was once called the Martial Dao."

Ji Jingyao did not join their discussion. Instead, after frowning slightly, he said, "Ji You... I feel as though I have heard that name somewhere before."

Hearing this, Qin Rong also found it familiar. "I believe I have heard it before as well."

Lang Hetong burst into laughter. "Isn't this Ji You the one who beat a member of the Chu Household by a step and became the first to sense the Heavenly Book?"

"That student from the countryside?!"

"Precisely."

Qin Rong and Ji Jingyao exchanged a glance, surprise in their eyes.

A dual cultivator of martial arts and the Dao had sensed the Heavenly Book, then used his sword to control the battlefield across realms and save his fellow cultivators. It was simply inconceivable.

Stroking his long beard, Lang Hetong said, "Though this battle has been clarified, who that Dao Integration Realm cultivator was, why he attacked the disciples, and why evil spawn appeared in Shengjing City—those are the most important questions."

Qin Rong nodded. "Indeed. The disciples searching the city have yet to send back any news. Let us first question the three disciples who participated."

"Qirui is currently injured and cannot get up yet, so there is no need to summon him."

Ji Jingyao spoke.

The Ji Household of Qingzhou was also a prominent Aristocratic Clan, and Ji Qirui was Ji Jingyao's own nephew.

Qin Rong also said, "Ban Yangshu's injuries are not light either. We can question him later."

He was not related to Ban Yangshu, but he had long-standing ties with the Ban Household, so he spoke on his behalf as well.

Cultivation in the Qingyun World had always been a legacy in which earlier cultivators guided later cultivators.

However, the "later" in "later cultivators" did not mean those who came afterward, but rather descendants. Many people misunderstood this.

"Then... summon that Outer Court disciple."

"Mm. He fought the evil spawn and tested that Dao Integration Realm cultivator's Lightning Law. He must know details that we do not."

Bai Rulong and Qian Yunxiao immediately grew anxious. Ji You was the father who had saved their dog lives. "Honored administrators, Ji You expended too much Divine Sense and is currently asleep. He is not suited for questioning."

Lu Qingqiu and the other two women stepped forward as well. "Three honored administrators, why not wait until he wakes before questioning him?"

"A Celestial Academy disciple was attacked in Shengjing, and cultivators throughout the world have heard of it. If we do not investigate quickly, it will damage the sect's prestige."

Qin Rong lifted his teacup. "Besides, depleted Divine Sense is not an injury. A few simple questions will do no harm."

Ji Jingyao nodded as well and looked at a disciple beside him. "Go to the Outer Court and summon Ji You for questioning."

"Yes, Administrator!"

The Affairs Management Courtyard stood apart from both the Inner Court and Outer Court. Its purpose was to preserve the sacred sect's prestige, and its actions were rather aggressive.

In their eyes, Ji You was merely an Outer Court disciple with low status and no Aristocratic Clan background. Naturally, they would not give the matter much consideration.

Even if Ji You entered the Inner Court in the future, he would not affect the Affairs Management Courtyard unless he became a personal disciple of one of the Five Halls.

Moreover, the Inner Court had only five halls. The personal disciple position of Jixiang Hall had already been decided, while the other Inner Court disciples all had their eyes on the remaining position. Ji You had no chance.

Everything they did began from the sacred sect's prestige and followed normal procedures. Though they appeared cold and lacking in human feeling, no one could fault them for it.

Seeing this, Lu Qingqiu, Bai Rulong, and the others felt displeased, but they also knew they had no voice in the matter.

Perhaps this was the humility of being born into a poor household. Even someone like Ji You, who had become an immortal cultivator, would still encounter injustice without an Aristocratic Clan background.

Yet at that moment, the disciple who had gone to summon Ji You hurried back alone.

"Three honored administrator-masters, I was unable to invite him."

Qin Rong noticed that he was filthy all over, as if he had rolled around somewhere. His brow creased. "He refused to come?"

The disciple hesitated for a long while before saying, "I heard he is sleeping in a meditation chamber at the Jade Garden of Bingshui Lake. This disciple did not enter."

"Someone stopped you?"

"It was Hall Master You of the Inner Court's Jixiang Hall. She was sitting outside Ji You's meditation chamber. When she saw this disciple come to summon him, Hall Master You told this disciple to get lost."

Qin Rong fell silent for a moment after hearing this. "Then... let him rest properly. We can ask him once he wakes."

Ji Jingyao was also silent for a while. "In truth, that was precisely my intention."

Lu Qingqiu, Bai Rulong, and the others were equally astonished. They did not understand why Ji You's mere expenditure of Divine Sense had drawn a visit from an Inner Court Hall Master.

But before the five could think further, they were sent back.

Within the Affairs Management Courtyard, Qin Rong pondered for a long time. "Could Ji You be a disciple Hall Master You favors?"

Lang Hetong shook his head. "Do not forget that Jixiang Hall already has a personal disciple."

With no one disturbing him, Ji You slept for two days. When he opened his eyes again, it was already noon.

After waking, he felt refreshed and clear-headed, which immediately puzzled him.

During this past period, in order to observe the Heavenly Book, he had desperately squeezed the potential of his Divine Sense. Every morning when he woke, he would feel the heavy dizziness of a hangover. This time was clearly different.

Just as Ji You was wondering about it, an old man came in from the outer room carrying a bowl of water.

The old man wore a white robe, but it looked somewhat loose and sloppy, more like sleepwear than ordinary clothing.

Seeing Ji You awake, the old man walked over, took hold of his wrist, and lightly felt his pulse.

"So he's a doctor..."

"?"

Ji You froze for a moment, then swiftly pulled his wrist from the old man's hand.

His spiritual essence was shattered.

He did not know whether doctors in this world could discover anything, but it was better to be cautious.

The old man paused slightly, then stroked his beard and laughed. "Is your mind still clear?"

"More or less. I don't feel anything wrong."

"Then there is nothing serious."

After hearing that, Ji You nodded. "How is the academy now? Have those three from yesterday been caught?"

The old man stroked his long beard and squinted at him. "I am only a doctor. How would I know such things?"

"True enough."

"Come, drink some water."

The old man stood, brought over the water from the table, then looked at the letter Ji You had written to Old Qiu but had not yet sealed. "Did you write this letter?"

Ji You took a sip of water. It tasted somewhat sweet. "Yes, it's to let my family know I'm safe."

Kuang Cheng became the top scholar and hopes I become the sect master. I asked around—the sect master has not taken a personal disciple, but he has lived for more than three hundred years. I might not outlast him...

Seeing that line, the old man could not help smacking his lips.