As the New Year approached, days grew longer and nights shorter.
This was a very auspicious and important festival in Qingyun World, signifying the beginning of the cycle of four seasons, where all things would gradually revive from this moment.
At this time every year, Shengjing City would be adorned with lanterns and hold both lantern festivals and temple fairs.
The common folk would also prepare Spring Prayer Feasts and draw Spring Prayer Talismans, hoping for an early return of spring and the melting of ice and snow.
At this moment, in the most bustling Apricot Blossom Alley of Shengjing, a team of Mountain and Sea Pavilion Disciples hurried past, their expressions urgent.
The leader was Qiu Ni, who had once spent an ounce of silver to practice swordsmanship at Tianshu Academy. He was currently holding a portrait, asking around the neighborhood and merchants if they had seen the people in the picture.
They had lost five Disciples yesterday and had found no trace of them after searching for a day and a night.
Meanwhile, on the Apricot Blossom Tower nearby, a group of Tianshu Academy Outer Courtyard Disciples were sitting and drinking, discussing recent events in the academy.
"Chu River has already condensed his seventh Mystic Light yesterday, only two steps away from breaking through."
"Not just Chu River, but also Du Zhu, do you remember Du Zhu?"
"That Ninghua Upper Realm from Liang Province?"
"Exactly, he seemed to have suddenly comprehended the Dao. A month ago, he suddenly reached Junior Third Realm Completion, and then he took leave to visit relatives outside the city. Unexpectedly, he had already gathered two Mystic Light upon his return."
Hearing this news, several Tianshu Academy Disciples who were unaware of the details exchanged glances, looking incredulous.
Chu River's sudden breakthrough, from being utterly dejected to having seven Mystic Light, was still considered reasonable in the Disciples' minds.
After all, the Chu Family's talent was known throughout the world.
And although Ji You was a private cultivator from the countryside and shouldn't have been highly regarded, he had sensed the Heavenly Book and had cultivated step by step under everyone's watchful eyes, so there was nothing more to say.
Especially recently, he had used three swords to control two battlefields, saving two Inner Courtyard Senior Brother under a Rongdao Realm cultivator, and his prestige had been quite high during this period.
However, Du Zhu was initially an unnoticed character, but now he had suddenly come from behind, which was truly astonishing.
"I originally thought Ji You's entry into the Inner Courtyard was a sure thing, but I didn't expect it to be so full of twists and turns."
"Cultivating Immortality is indeed profound and mysterious."
"Ji You is not from a Worldly Family. If he really surpasses us and enters the Inner Courtyard, wouldn't that be a slap in everyone's face?"
The Disciples present discussed animatedly, and at the same time, couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the Xihe Tower opposite.
Lu Qingqiu was hosting again today, inviting some classmates to drink, and Ji You was among them.
She had originally wanted to invite Chu River and Du Zhu, but ever since their breakthroughs, these two had become somewhat unapproachable, going nowhere except to comprehend the Dao.
"Chu River has now gathered seven Mystic Light, and is on the verge of entering the Upper Five Realms. What does Ji Gongzi think?"
"As long as he doesn't snatch my Sect Master position."
"What?"
Lu Qingqiu thought he was finding joy in hardship and smiled, then frowned slightly.
She had thought she had befriended a promising Inner Courtyard Disciple, but Chu River and Du Zhu were coming on strong.
Qian Yunxiao picked up a chopstick of food and suddenly looked at Bai Rulong: "Ru Long, why are you so silent today?"
Bai Rulong frowned deeply: "A few days ago, my family sent a Spirit Pill for cultivation, telling me to take it, and also saying that the Bai Family's honor rested on me and so on. I don't know what to do."
Lu Qingqiu had been taking Medicinal Pill since she was young and didn't think much of it: "Taking Medicinal Pill is quite normal."
"But I always feel there's something wrong with it."
"What could be wrong with a Medicinal Pill?"
Bai Rulong crossed his arms: "Ever since my mother died, my father has favored the second branch, and all family resources have been given to my second younger brother. If there truly were any Spirit Pill for cultivation, how would it end up in my hands?"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly remembered the scene on the day the sword was delivered.
When they were speculating about the attacker's identity, Bai Rulong had mentioned this second younger brother.
He believed that the attack was arranged by his second younger brother, Bai Si Hu, with the aim of crippling him to prevent him from inheriting the family fortune.
"All medicine has some toxicity, it's better to take less Medicinal Pill to avoid harming your body."
Ji You cleared the plate in front of him: "Although there's no evidence to show the harm of Medicinal Pill, those who enter the Upper Five Realms by this method generally stop at the Tong Xuan Realm and make no further progress. Look at me, I never take Medicinal Pill."
Bai Rulong was stunned for a moment: "Isn't that because you're poor?"
"That was just my disguise."
Ji You was a little angry and reached out to take the untouched ginseng soup in front of him.
Lou Siyi suddenly remembered something at this moment and looked up: "Speaking of breakthroughs, the Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain seems to have broken through the day before yesterday."
"Five years from Tong Xuan to Rongdao, and now after only three and a half years in Rongdao, she has broken through again?"
"Yes, Sky Soaring Initial Realm at twenty-two years old, the top direct Disciple of this generation. I wonder if she has condensed a Dharma Aspect."
Lou Siyi said with some admiration: "It is said that when she broke through the day before yesterday, something very interesting happened."
Lu Qingqiu loved gossip and looked up after hearing this: "What interesting thing?"
"The direct Disciple of Asked the Dao Sect has been fond of that Master Jian for many years. Upon hearing of her breakthrough, he grandly went to congratulate her, bringing countless congratulatory gifts, but he didn't see her."
"Why didn't he see her?"
"The Sect Master of Lingjian Mountain said she left the mountain on the night of her breakthrough and is currently not on the mountain. She also doesn't know where she went, but everyone thinks that's an excuse."
"Lingjian Mountain is the largest Sect in the South, almost equal in status to Tianshu Academy. Asked the Dao Sect has always wanted to be on good terms with Lingjian Mountain, but they were too eager, so it's no wonder she didn't meet them."
Just as the few were chatting, a fierce gust of wind suddenly swept from afar, causing the city's lanterns to sway continuously.
Everyone stopped drinking. Before they could realize what had happened, they saw that the waist tags in their arms all emitted a trace of golden Mystic Light.
They were stunned at first, and then saw the Tianshu Academy Disciples sitting opposite them rushing back.
"It's Tianshu Academy's call to assembly!"
"I've never seen the call to assembly light up before; I thought it was just an ordinary waist tag."
"Something abnormal must be demonic; it seems something is going to happen tonight."
The few exchanged glances, then put down their chopsticks and returned to Ni Mountain along the twilight.
Indeed, at this time, the Ascension White Jade Platform had gathered a large number of Disciples.
And in front of them were the three Master-in-charge of the Master's Courtyard, their faces solemn, their fists clenched, and then they spoke calmly.
Every New Year's Day, Dan Sect would escort a large quantity of Spirit Pill to supply the various Sects, and tonight, they were attacked at Wanzhuo Mountain outside the city.
Dan Sect primarily cultivates the Dao of alchemy, and their combat strength is generally not strong.
However, the higher the quality of the Spirit Pill, the worse its stability and the easier it is to be damaged. Therefore, each time pills are delivered, there must be at least five alchemists protecting them.
Cultivators in this world are extremely dependent on Medicinal Pill, so this matter is no small affair.
Because the incident happened too suddenly, they had no choice but to use the call to assembly.
At this moment, as the three Master-in-charge brought their two fingers together, a huge Flying Sword whistled from the sky and landed on the Baiyu Platform.
(The next chapter is too difficult to write, so it will be an hour or so late. Please give me your monthly votes and continued reading.)