Chu He of the Seven Mystic Lights

Ji You resumed his daily cultivation, causing the Dao Comprehension Ground to gradually fill with more people.

Lu Qingqiu, Lou Siyi, and Bai Rulong, the five who had gifted him swords that day, also arrived at the Dao Comprehension Ground to continue their diligent cultivation.

However, seeing him constantly entering and exiting a state of Dao comprehension, everyone was filled with confusion.

Why was this Dao cultivator's practice so… captivating?

"Yan Shuyi, if you kick me again, I'm going to yell!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

At the foot of Void Mountain, Ji You, with a look of feigned submission, dodged onto a nearby black stone, facing the frosty, cold-faced Fairy with a look of indignation.

Beautiful women really do hinder one's cultivation!

Five days had passed since the attack, and he had only just managed to gather his sixth mystic light, with the rest being rewards.

Ji You didn't quite understand; they had seemingly made up.

Moreover, for the past five days, the two of them had continued to coordinate their cultivation times with their usual tacit understanding, occasionally chatting as well.

Why did this little demoness have such a temper when he mentioned a woman gifting him a treasured sword?

Ji You's soul returned, and he turned to Bai Rulong beside him, "Let me ask you, what does it mean when a woman gifts a man a sword?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Rulong hadn't even reacted before Lu Qingqiu, Lou Siyi, and Sun Zhiqiao behind them blushed furiously.

"Legend has it that during the chaotic times of ancient history, two human sages, a man and a woman, exchanged their swords during a battle they knew they would die in. They died embracing each other, their souls returning to the Heavenly Dao. Thus, an exchange of swords between opposite sexes later came to signify the desire to form a Dao Companion bond." Bai Rulong explained, "If a man accepts a sword gifted by a woman, the two can form a friendship of dual cultivation."

Ji You's mouth fell open. Damn it!

He thought he understood this world well enough, but at this moment, he realized he had only been here for three years.

Master Chen of Yuyang County was an old bachelor, and his collection of books certainly wouldn't contain such love stories.

Therefore, the world he had learned from him was actually filtered.

This led to him being completely unaware of legends and stories that normal people would know.

Lu Qingqiu was currently looking at Ji You, unable to help but ponder how she would refuse to dual cultivate with him if he misunderstood her intentions in gifting him the sword.

He wasn't from a noble family, just a rogue cultivator from the countryside; she would never choose him.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from the back of the Dao Comprehension Ground, accompanied by sounds of people getting up and shifting.

"It's Chu He..."

"Chu He is out?"

Ji You and the others also looked over, finding that Chu He, who had been secretive and reclusive since the night he comprehended the Heavenly Tome, had appeared among the crowd.

He wore a brocade pear blossom robe, his hair crown was neat, and he entered the Dao Comprehension Ground with a slightly cold gaze.

A person couldn't hide in their room forever, and the people in the Outer Court had anticipated his appearance.

However, in their speculations, Chu He should have appeared dejected and unkempt, not as elegant and poised as he was now.

"Brother Chu, are you coming out to cultivate?"

"Just came out of seclusion, out for some fresh air."

Chu He said expressionlessly, then sat down on the ground, tidying his robe.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the second son of the Chu family slowly closed his eyes and entered a state of Dao comprehension, and at that moment, gasps of astonishment spread throughout the Dao Comprehension Ground.

This was because seven mystic lights were shining on Chu He's forehead.

Lu Qingqiu was the most astonished. Looking at Chu He, who had seven mystic lights on his forehead, her eyes were filled with disbelief.

One had to know that before Ji You comprehended the Heavenly Tome, their realm advancements had been almost identical.

And after Ji You comprehended the Heavenly Tome, Chu He had gone into hiding due to the unbearable blow, refusing to see anyone, yet Lu Qingqiu had been diligently striving to break through.

Now, she had only gathered the third mystic light, while Chu He had seven, even more than Ji You, who had comprehended the Heavenly Tome.

"So Chu He wasn't disheartened and defeated; he was in seclusion all along!"

"Without comprehending the Heavenly Tome, he's the first to approach the threshold of the upper five realms. I simply can't believe it!"

"This is the talent of the Chu family; it's truly terrifying."

"I thought Ji You entering the Inner Court was a done deal, but I didn't expect such a twist!"

Chu He's appearance, having condensed seven mystic lights, surpassing Ji You who had comprehended the Heavenly Tome, this news quickly spread throughout the Outer Court.

The entire Outer Court was in an uproar, like cold water being poured into hot oil.

During these days from autumn to winter, everyone had accepted the narrative of a fallen genius and the counterattack of a rogue cultivator, but they never expected the story to have so many twists and turns.

This matter even shocked the Outer Court instructors, who rushed to the Dao Comprehension Ground.

Indeed, Chu He was in a state of Dao comprehension, the seven mystic lights on his forehead shining brightly, even showing a faint trace of the eighth!

"Did he comprehend the Heavenly Tome?"

"No, there's no sign of heavenly light here."

"This doesn't make sense. How could he be faster than Ji You, who sensed the Heavenly Tome?"

Cao Jinsong and the other instructors stood at the edge of Bishui Lake, watching the scene unfold with deep confusion.

Sensing the Heavenly Tome was incredibly difficult, though occasionally disciples managed it.

But never before had a disciple who hadn't sensed the Heavenly Tome surpassed one who had in terms of breakthrough speed.

Could the Chu family truly be as unbeatable in cultivation talent as the rumors claimed?

Meanwhile, in a secluded, deserted room, Du Zhu from Liangzhou listened to the commotion outside, his fists clenching slightly.

He was also a well-known progeny of a noble family from Liangzhou. Before reaching twenty years old, he had already achieved the Nirvana Realm, just one step away from the Perfection of the Lower Three Realms.

But after arriving at the Celestial Academy, all his glory had been overshadowed by Chu He and Ji You. He had gone from a universally acclaimed genius to an insignificant figure no one paid attention to.

Was he content?

No, he was not content.

Du Zhu lowered his head and looked at a letter in his hand.

The letter was from his father, who earnestly told Du Zhu that the Du family's honor rested entirely on him.

Accompanying the letter was a brocade box. When opened, it revealed ten crimson pills, along with a note detailing how to take them.

Du Zhu picked out one of the pills. After a long silence, he swallowed it.

As the pill dissolved in his stomach, he felt a wild force surge through his limbs and bones, as if trying to break free from his crown, only to then surge back!

To achieve Perfection of the Lower Three Realms, one needed to fully condense their internal spiritual essence.

Du Zhu's spiritual essence was still milky and had been unable to solidify. But as that energy poured in, his spiritual essence instantly condensed.

At this moment, he finally understood the sorrow woven into his father's letter.

These pills, capable of directly advancing one's cultivation, numbered ten. They must have cost the family fortune to acquire.

His father had placed the entire family's strength on him. He was the Du family's sole hope, and he represented their honor.