The matter of the Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain going to the Chen Clan to ask about the mountain was a major event for the Qingyun World, and it quickly spread in all directions.
Naturally, some would ponder over the intricacies of the situation.
Especially for Asked the Dao Sect, whose direct Disciples had publicly offered congratulations but failed to meet her. The fact that she then appeared at the Chen Clan made their situation somewhat awkward.
Meanwhile, on a massive Flying Sword heading towards Central Province, a group of Tianshu Academy Disciples bound for the ruins were also discussing this matter.
Only Ji You, sitting at the front of the sword, was cultivating his Divine Thought and did not participate.
“Brother Ji, do you know the Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain?”
“It is said that she possesses heavenly beauty, astonishing cultivation talent, and has already been confirmed as Lingjian Mountain’s next Master-in-charge.”
Bai Rulong sat at the tail of the Flying Sword, unable to resist looking at Ji You, who carried seven long swords.
This eldest son of the Bai Family seemed to have had his Luck stolen by his second brother. After refusing the Medicinal Pill sent from home, he was included in the list to explore the ruins, perhaps due to being out of favor with the Family or for some other reason.
However, he clearly had no chance of securing a spot in the Inner Courtyard, so being able to go out and explore wasn't something he particularly resisted.
As for the potential dangers...
No matter, simply protect Brother Ji in front of him.
Ji You slightly opened his eyes at this moment. Hearing the question about whether he had heard of Yan Shuyi, he subtly shook his head but couldn't help but rub the green jade gourd at his waist.
He didn't know how powerful the Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain was; he only knew she liked to kick people, and her feet were quite fair and tender.
At the same time, the surrounding Disciples couldn't help but turn their heads, and their whispered topic shifted to Chu River and Du Zhu.
When they departed, they had seen Chu River and Du Zhu standing side by side before the mountain gate, with faint smiles.
Behind them stood entirely sons of Worldly Families with prominent backgrounds.
However, the originally designated sole candidate for the Inner Courtyard had now been expelled from Tianshu Academy, facing an uncertain future just like these fallen Worldly Family sons.
In everyone's eyes, even if they returned safely, Ji You had already lost his chance to enter the Inner Courtyard.
Just as they were discussing, Ban Yangshu, who was sitting at the front, suddenly stood up.
He had made no progress in the Inner Courtyard for many years, so he naturally became one of the names on the list.
At this moment, his expression was serious as he continuously looked down below the Flying Sword.
The Outer Courtyard Disciples behind him couldn't help but lean forward, and even Ji You couldn't resist looking, his expression instantly becoming solemn.
The Qiling Mountains are located in the southeastern part of Central Province. Due to the presence of ruins and Evil Seeds, no towns were initially established there.
However, with the excavation of the Hongshan Mine nearby, towns began to be built by miners, protected by Tianshu Academy Disciples, and some collateral branches of Worldly Families also settled there.
The ancient ruins were filled with Evil Qi, but it generally only surrounded Qiling Mountain.
But at this moment, the Evil Qi from the ancient ruins had spread throughout the mountains and forests, and even the previously established resting point in their sight had become a hazy gray.
Ban Yangshu did not dare to rashly order the Flying Sword to land. Instead, he lit a communication incense stick to contact the first batch of Inner Courtyard Disciples who had arrived.
Soon, as the communication incense dissipated, a soft female voice emanated from it.
“Ban Yangshu?”
“Junior Sister Wen, where are you now? Why is the Evil Qi here so terrifying?”
“You may land at the designated spot.”
As the smoke from the communication incense cleared, Ban Yangshu directed the Disciple maneuvering the Flying Sword with Spirit Origin to descend.
As the Flying Sword continuously approached the ground, a silent town appeared before everyone, and looking up again, the sky was dim.
A group of over ten people stepped into the town, encountering the Tianshu Academy Disciples and Master's Courtyard Disciples who had arrived earlier, and found that everyone's expressions were extremely solemn.
Among them, standing at the very front was the Inner Courtyard female Disciple Wen Zhengxin, who was also the leader of this operation.
Although she entered the academy later than Ban Yangshu, her cultivation talent was exceptionally fast, and she had now entered the Rongdao Realm. She originally had hopes of contending for the direct Disciple position of Zizai Hall, but the Wen Family was only a small Worldly Family.
“Junior Sister Wen, what happened?”
“Try circulating your Spirit Origin.”
Ban Yangshu was slightly startled, then circulated his Spirit Origin, only to find the Spirit Origin within his body trembling wildly, but the efficiency of Spirit Origin absorption was extremely slow, which greatly surprised him.
Wen Zhengxin glanced at him: “The Evil Qi here suppresses the circulation of Spirit Origin.”
Upon hearing this, the Disciples behind Ban Yangshu instantly began to murmur.
Suppress Spirit Origin? Ji You looked around, slightly stunned, his expression gradually becoming thoughtful.
Just then, Wen Zhengxin spoke again: “It’s not just that Evil Qi can suppress Spirit Origin; it’s also very difficult to achieve a connection between Heaven and man here.”
The so-called connection between Heaven and man is the academic term for Divine Thought soaring to the heavens.
In other words, within the range of Evil Qi, cultivators find it very difficult to sense the Heavenly Dao, thus making cultivation exceptionally arduous.
After trying, Ban Yangshu only felt dizzy and his face grew even paler: “The Master's Courtyard Disciples came to investigate three times before, why was this never mentioned?”
“What do you think?”
“...”
Upon hearing this, the faces of the Disciples who had just arrived here gradually turned pale.
Everyone in the Qingyun World knew that Immortal Sects were most ruthless, but when they came, they held a faint hope.
However, what they didn't expect was to be dispatched to such a dreadful place where even cultivation could not be continued.
Just then, they saw another group of people pouring into the small town, dressed in gray Daoist robes with a small pagoda embroidered on their chests—these were the Disciples of the Chen Clan.
In addition, there were several teams of people in plain clothes. Although it was impossible to distinguish where they came from, their Spirit Origin fluctuations were clearly perceptible.
Ban Yangshu frowned tightly, looking at Wen Zhengxin: “We didn’t come here to investigate Evil Seeds. Does Tianshu Academy have another purpose?”
Wen Zhengxin glanced at him: “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask. Just follow me into the mountain tomorrow. After clarifying the situation inside, a Hall Master will come to take over, and we can then retreat with our mission accomplished.”
“Is there something the Immortal Sect wants in the mountain? Is the Chen Clan also here for that?”
“Knowing too much will not benefit you.”
Wen Zhengxin still had the pride of an Inner Courtyard seed. After speaking, she headed towards the inn in the small town.
The remaining Disciples then turned to look at the Qiling Mountains in the distance, stretching as far as the eye could see, pressing down on them like a looming presence, and an involuntary chill ran through them.
Just from such a distance, the Evil Qi was already so dense; who knew what it would be like to actually enter the mountain.
At this moment, everyone's hearts were filled with resistance.
They came to the Immortal Sect to learn and cultivate, having paid their tribute, a fair exchange of money for goods. Why should they risk their lives in such a place?
Yet, despite this, no one dared to say, “I won’t go,” and then leave with a flick of their sleeve.
Because they were not alone; what they represented was the relationship between their Family Legacy and the Immortal Sect that governed this world.
Ji You turned to Ban Yangshu at this moment: “Senior Brother, you all go back to the inn first, I’m going out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“Hongshan Mine.”
Ban Yangshu frowned upon hearing this: “The Hongshan Mine is right on the edge of the Qiling Mountains. There are already Evil Seeds constantly roaming there. You are only a Junior Third Realm Completion; what are you going there for?”
Ji You held his sword in his arms: “I didn’t come for your mission. I’m going there to do something a Junior Third Realm Completion can do.”
“Are you going to rescue the miners trapped in the mine?”
“Yes.”
Ban Yangshu looked at him: “Do you know anyone in the mine?”
Ji You weighed the sword in his hand: “I actually do.”
“You’re from Feng Province; who would you know in Central Province?”
“I know the father of a child, the husband of a wife, and the son of an old man.”
Ji You grinned, shouldered his sword, and walked towards the Hongshan Mine.
After leaving Yuyang County, he entered Tianshu Academy and discussed with Kuang Cheng, one aiming for supreme power in the court, the other to be the Master-in-charge of a Saint Sect, and then make this world a better place.
But it was too slow.
He lived in the academy, cultivating Dao daily, engaging in occasional robberies, living an increasingly easy life, yet he seemed to have lost his goal.
The position of Master-in-charge was too far away for him; he didn't even know if he could endure until then. Should he do nothing in the meantime?
Until Tianshu Academy sent him to Central Province.
He suddenly felt that even if his Realm was low, there were still things he could do.
He once learned a text that spoke of many small fish stranded on the beach after the tide receded, struggling in puddles, awaiting death.
Then a little boy kept picking them up and throwing them back into the sea.
A passerby saw this and laughed, saying, “You can’t save all the fish, who would care?”
The boy said, “This one cares, this one cares, and this one cares too…”
He often saw people online say that education has a lag, but eventually, it will hit you right between the eyes.