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Chapter 215 Settlement
In the second battle of the third round of the Tongxuan Realm, Yu Shiliu's defense of the arena ended.

A swirling current of energy coursed around him, and with a graceful flick of his sword, he sent his opponent flying.

Unlike Ji You's simple and brutal sword strikes, Yu Shiliu has clearly begun to learn about the inheritance of magic. Although she has not yet reached the level of Dao integration and her divine power is not prominent, the mystery in her moves is extremely entertaining.

In addition, her good figure attracted a lot of attention.

The following day, the Rongdao Realm also reached the final match of the third round.

Chai Ze's opponent was named Feng Chunqiu, who was tall and strong, with an imposing presence, and whose straight-bladed longsword shone with a dazzling mystical light.

Every swing of his longsword was imbued with mystical power, stirring up layers of wind and waves, making the spectators below feel an overwhelming pressure, causing dust to billow around the white jade platform.

Chai Ze was still young, and as the nephew of the Palace Master, he was allowed to enter the inner courtyard directly. He looked somewhat like a weak scholar.

In the first two battles, Chai Zeshang lacked combat experience and his response was somewhat clumsy.

However, relying on a mysterious finger technique, he dominated the entire arena, causing the ground to tremble violently, and made up for his lack of combat awareness with absolute strength.

By the fifth game, he was already playing with complete ease.

hum!
A slight tremor sounded, and Chai Ze flicked his finger like the wind, suddenly shooting out a beam of light that quickly disappeared into the air.

Many of the outer disciples looked puzzled upon seeing this scene, not understanding what was going on, but only feeling a wave of pressure washing over them.

Feng Chunqiu, who was launching a fierce attack with his sword, had his sword momentum instantly suppressed.

Then, Chai Ze's figure whistled through the air as he unleashed both palms, his powerful force forcing Feng Chunqiu's fierce attack back.

Feng Chunqiu attacked again, but Chai Ze pierced through with another finger. This finger was incredibly powerful, causing the iron sword in Feng Chunqiu's hand to tremble violently, forcing him to switch from offense to defense.

Chai Ze then launched a swift attack with the force of splitting a mountain with one hand, his palm filled with light and radiance, directly striking the iron knife with a clang, causing Feng Chunqiu's blood to surge.

After several clashes, Feng Chunqiu narrowly lost, his panting revealing a strong sense of resentment.

But seeing the other person's composed expression, he finally sighed softly and turned to leave.

In fact, Feng Chunqiu was no nobody; he had once amazed the students of the outer academy.

Many people, especially the disciples of the Hall of State, remember that his speed in sensing the Heavenly Book far surpassed that of his predecessors, and he even won a prize at the Immortal Tour Gathering held by the Three Southern Sects.

Wu Zhen, who was the first to challenge Ji You, was a contemporary of his.

Just as Wen Zhengxin was to Pei Ruyi, Feng Chunqiu was also the most unattainable genius in Wu Zhen's eyes, but unfortunately he still lost in the end.

After five successful rounds, Chai Zeyun easily secured his spot.

Yu Shiliu then achieved a winning streak in the next three matches, defeating three disciples from the inner courtyard with an arrogant demeanor amidst the cracking of whips.

The battle was thrilling but ultimately harmless, and its outcome was undeniably impressive, causing the Elders' Council's previously greenish expression to gradually improve.

The last defender of the Fusion Realm was He Lingxiu. Compared to the battle at Spirit Sword Mountain, her "All Techniques" were significantly more complex and profound.

Although he had just entered the upper realm of the Fusion Dao, the aura he exuded was quite similar to that of Chai Ze. In terms of aura alone, he was actually more amazing than Shi Junhao and Xiao Hanyan.

Moreover, she was quite popular, attracting half as many disciples watching as others, mostly men.

The first to fall to him was a disciple named Song Qian, who was at the Fusion Realm in the Inner Court.

Then came You Hanliu and Wei Wan.

In fact, they were all firmly remembered by some disciples of the outer academy, but unfortunately, they were nothing in front of the direct disciples.

The fourth stop featured the Fairy of Righteous Heart.

Both wielded Dao swords. After the gong sounded, the surging spiritual energy collided instantly, and the two slender figures clashed repeatedly amidst the raging wind and waves.

Wen Zhengxin also followed the path of "possessing all kinds of magic," and his aura was very powerful, causing He Lingxiu to show a solemn expression unlike any other.

After several exchanges, the two fought evenly, with the sounds of their weapons clashing constantly.

However, as the battle progressed, some differences began to emerge.

The various spells cast upon Zhengxin Fairy were far less powerful and complex than He Lingxiu's, and her repeated attempts to resist them were ineffective.

He Lingxiu's magic, which moved with her body, far surpassed that of Chu He's original technique, and appeared to be even more magnificent.

Amidst the clanging sounds, Fairy Zhengxin continuously channeled her spiritual energy across the Ascension Jade Platform, unleashing powerful bursts of energy that, accompanied by thunder and fire, could not sever the swirling wind that surrounded her.

He Lingxiu pressed forward relentlessly, her attacks becoming increasingly swift. The Dao sword, shrouded in rosy light, pressed down with terrifying force, and with a hum, a burst of purple lightning suddenly blazed, abruptly ending the collision.

Wen Zhengxin gave He Lingxiu a deep look, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and pressed her pink lips together as she breathed heavily.

Cai Dongchen, who then challenged the champion, had a similar experience to Zhengxin Fairy. After several unsuccessful attacks, he was forcefully knocked off the stage by He Lingxiu.

Although this disciple of the Freedom Hall has only recently broken through to the next realm, his combat strength is truly extraordinary...

At the same time, news about the Heavenly Dao Assembly preliminary selection also came from countless families and immortal sects in Qingyun Tianxia, ​​and the names of those who won the quota were spread one by one.

Some outsiders and members of aristocratic families traveled around Kyushu to collect information, exchange it, and spread the news far and wide.

The aristocratic families have fewer slots, so even with the most careful decisions, the results are still faster than those from the immortal sects.

So even before the results of the competition at the Heavenly Academy were announced, the other contestants had already sparked a wave of discussion. Even the owners of teahouses and taverns, who were at the bottom of society, had heard a lot about them and could tell a few stories about them.

After all, those who can participate in the Heavenly Dao Assembly preliminary rounds, whether they are losers or winners, are not unknown figures.

"Fairy Zhengxin fought very hard in her previous battle, so it's not a pity that she lost."

"That's for sure. If I could also get the resources that the direct disciples could get, I would definitely not have lost today. So strictly speaking, I still won that fight."

Wen Zhengxin was sitting in a restaurant in Shengjing City. Instead of feeling frustrated after failing to win the challenge, he felt a sense of enlightenment.

She had anticipated this outcome; this battle was merely a matter of seeking satisfaction.

Moreover, he wasn't the only one among those with extraordinary talent who ultimately became trapped because of their background or connections.

Ban Yangshu nodded upon hearing this: "If that's the case, then it makes sense."

Cao Jingsong held the menu in his hand, flipping through it continuously. After hesitating for a long time, he pointed to two dishes, then closed the menu and looked at the waiter.

The waiter took the menu and paused for a moment: "So many of you... only two dishes?"

"No, I want everything except these two."

"?"

Ji You was sitting next to him, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

However, since he had promised Senior Sister Wen that he would treat her to a meal if he lost, he had no choice but to endure it, making a hospitable "crunching" sound as his teeth chattered.

Also dining at the same table were Kuang Cheng, Wei Rui, Bai Rulong, and the Lu sisters.

I heard that Ji You's kind of invitations only take money and never give it back, so even the Dragon Immortal Emperor came without even looking at the backside, since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ji You cursed them inwardly for their cowardly behavior.

Wen Zhengxin then turned to Ji You and said, "Junior Brother Ji, now only you are left. You must come back with the top spot on the list and see what the place where the sages proved their Dao is like. Come back and tell us about it."

"If I lose, do you guys have to treat me to dinner?"

Lu Hanyan straightened up, and the word "please" was about to slip out, but she was stopped by the gazes of the people around her.

Ji You has a peculiar way of thinking. You could lure him away with just a few pieces of silver thrown on the street. He might actually lose on purpose just to get a free meal. In that case, we might as well just sell the spot.

Cao Jingsong adopted a strict teacher's expression: "This is just the beginning. You'd better not be arrogant. You should know that the Seven Immortal Sects are full of talented people and countless geniuses. You must be cautious."

Ban Yangshu glanced at Cao Jingsong: "With Junior Brother Ji's strength, there's no need to be too cautious."

"It's best to be cautious. Who knows what kind of monsters might emerge from other immortal sects or aristocratic families?"

"Even the most monstrous beings are probably not as monstrous as my junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Cao Jingsong pondered for a long time before finally nodding in agreement.

He had once said in Yuyang County that Ji You was extraordinary and thought he could enter the inner court, but now he never expected that he could reach this point.

For a hermit cultivator from the countryside to gain a foothold in the world of cultivation, where powerful families abound, is a rare feat throughout history. Cao Jingsong looked at his wayward disciple and noticed that he had been silently drinking in silence, not participating in the previous conversation at all. He frowned and asked, "You've already secured a spot in the Heavenly Dao Association, is there anything else troubling you?"

Ji You sighed: "Teacher, don't ask any more questions. No one will understand if you talk about this."

Kuang Cheng stared at Ji You for a long time, and after thinking for a while, he couldn't help but open his mouth: "He probably thinks that if he's drunk, he doesn't have to pay. Brother Ji is always like this, full of clever tricks."

"?"

During the Great Heat solar term, there was no rain in the entire city of Shengjing, and the sun shone brightly almost every day.

Only in the evening does the heat subside slightly.

During this period, He Lingxiu won five matches and secured the last spot in the Fusion Realm, while Gu Zetao took the last spot in the Profound Realm.

The Ascension Jade Platform in the outer courtyard of the Heavenly Academy was shattered beyond recognition, with countless spiderweb-like cracks extending from the center to the edges, including two deep pits.

One was trampled out, the other was slashed out by a sword.

Without the thunderous roar of battle and the bursts of light from clashing spells, the outer disciples were somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Some felt regret, while others felt there was still more to say.

Subsequently, the disciples of the head of the academy brought in new white jade stones from outside, cleared away the previous broken bricks, filled the pits, and began to repave the site.

The three heads of the academy compiled a case file detailing the competition that had lasted for several days and submitted it to the inner academy. After receiving a reply, they sent their disciples to make a copy, which was then posted on the bulletin board on a sunny afternoon.

Despite having witnessed the entire event and already knowing the outcome, the announcement still attracted a considerable number of onlookers.

Looking at the list filled with names of people of high status and extraordinary family background, many people were somewhat bewildered, wondering if it was truly fair.

The results on the list were the result of battle after battle, each one witnessed by them, but when these names were listed side by side, they still couldn't help but have some reservations.

The uneven distribution of resources at Qingyun Tianxia is a firsthand experience for some young students.

Especially the outer disciples of some small aristocratic families, as well as those students who entered the academy from Fengzhou through quotas.

Standing in front of the bulletin board, they recalled how many days they had joined in the excitement, and suddenly realized that this matter might actually have nothing to do with them, whether now or in the future.

Because behind each name on this list lies a power that they cannot reach.

Their gaze continued to wander until they saw the last name in the Profound Realm section.

This was the first challenger to defend the title in the Tongxuan Realm, but he was placed last. They didn't know where this stubbornness came from, but suddenly the list seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

Especially for those children from Fengzhou who were admitted through the quota system, it was as if they saw a ray of light reflected in their eyes...

Along with the reflection, there was also the figure in white robes, his sword rising and falling.

At this time, some students had already begun copying the list from the bulletin board, intending to send it home to report the news.

In the two days following the announcement of the list, countless crowds could be seen in front of the Shengjing Post Office, filling the entire long street, and even the threshold was almost trampled.

The postal official looked at the person in front of him, feeling a headache coming on. He muttered, "Immortals, please don't be in such a hurry, please forgive me," and then hurriedly began to process the letters.

The prominent families in the capital were among the first to receive the list of participants. One copy was displayed in the pavilion in the back garden of the Prince Chong's mansion, and another was held by the Directorate of Immortals.

At this moment, King Chong felt increasingly like he was losing something, which made him very irritable.

Some people's entire lives can be glimpsed from their family background, which has always been Qingyun Tianxia's standard for judging people, and it is very accurate.

Because there are many things in this world, such as elixirs, spirit stones, and opportunities, that are not given to someone based on their talent, but rather on their background.

However, he encountered an exception.

Back then, the Heavenly Academy had three students who had reached the lower three realms of perfection: the daughter of the Lu family, the young master of the Chu family, and the last one was just a side story to him. But he never expected that this side story would last so long.

At the same time, the Lu sisters also sent a letter home.

They didn't need to queue at the post station because the Spirit Stone Merchant Guild had set up many private post stations in Qingyun Tianxia, ​​including at least three in Shengjing alone, all for the convenience of transporting spirit stones.

The letter was quickly delivered to the main hall of the Spirit Stone Chamber of Commerce, where the heads of the Lu and Ding families were already aware of the list.

The Lu family had been promoted to a century-old family a few years ago and already had a spot to participate in the Heavenly Dao Assembly, but after looking around, they always felt that they were not good enough.

When their Lu family's list is placed side by side with this immortal sect's list, the difference becomes even more obvious.

What they cared about most was the name Ji You.

In Qingyun Tianxia, ​​business and cultivation have always been separate.

The celestial authority will always be the highest, and that will never change.

When Ji You first met that rural private cultivator at the Sixianjian, everyone's identity was closer to that of a merchant. Amidst their sharp exchanges, Ji You seemed like an ignorant and arrogant junior in their eyes.

But upon seeing this list, they realized this person was ruthless.

Within the Immortal Sect, the power hierarchy is layered and complex.

The Elders' Pavilion and the Five Great Halls were filled with countless powerful families vying for these fifteen spots, yet one was still forcibly taken away.

Besides them, the three major outside immortal estates in Fengzhou have also received the news.

Because the matter involved the reputation of the Elders' Pavilion, the Heavenly Academy would not allow anyone to spread rumors.

Therefore, many people only know the result, but do not know the specific details of the twists and turns involved, such as the prohibition of swords, drawing swords, wearing robes, and admitting defeat.

But these cultivators who couldn't stay in their native lands knew best that the allocation of resources in the Azure Cloud World never considered individual strength.

The number of places available for the Tiandao Society is also a resource.

Unlike other immortal gatherings that only offer empty titles, the Heavenly Dao Gathering has real benefits. After all, the winners can enter the place where the sages proved their Dao and listen to the clearest heavenly sounds.

For these people from Fengzhou Xianzhuang, they didn't even have the qualifications to watch the event, let alone participate.

But the fact that a rural private cultivator from Fengzhou managed to secure a spot under the watchful eyes of countless people is something that many find surreal.

As the stars and moon revolve, night gives way to dawn.

Ji You got up early to wash up, then went to the Immortal Cuisine Restaurant to show the others the serious consequences of body tempering, and incidentally damaged her wallet once again.

With next month nowhere in sight, Instructor Cao is temporarily unable to receive his new monthly salary and therefore cannot give it to his apprentice.

For example, the Immortal Emperor Long is visiting his family and will not be seen for the time being.

He hasn't found any new clients yet and feels like he's about to bankrupt himself.

Lu Hanyan wanted to support him, but Ji You was afraid that if she ate his food, she would feel indebted to him, and if he really wanted to become her disciple, she would find it difficult to refuse.

When Ji You returned from his meal, before he even got back to his courtyard, he saw Wen Siyuan, the head of the academy, waiting for him on the only way, summoning him to Qingfeng Hall for a meeting.

Although it was called a meeting, Ji You thought it should be an explanation of the Heavenly Way Society.

In recent days, various immortal sects and aristocratic families have been vying for the competition slots, and those of the same cultivation level are all potential rivals.

Ji You saw Wen Siyuan off, then changed his clothes and stepped out of the house. He walked along the mountain path towards the back of the Zizhu Zen Forest, passed through a lush green field, and headed towards Qingfeng Hall.

He wasn't the only one summoned here; there were also seven other recipients, including He Lingxiu. The six elders who had previously participated once or multiple times were not required to attend.

The seven were chatting casually, discussing their opponents on the stage earlier. They spoke with ease and composure, already displaying the refined and dignified demeanor of their elders.

Ji You walked in, listening to the commotion, and saw that everyone's smiles froze and they stopped talking.

Many mysterious techniques appeared during the Heavenly Dao Assembly preliminary selection, which amazed the onlookers. Although they wore inscrutable expressions, they were actually very satisfied deep down.

Before becoming an immortal, cultivators are also bound by the seven emotions and six desires, and cannot escape worldly concerns; this is only natural.

But no matter who it was or what kind of magic they used that day, whether it was magnificent or grand, none of them were as awe-inspiring as the simple four swords left behind by Ji You.

Therefore, everyone felt somewhat uncomfortable discussing the previous battle in front of him, as if they were unable to speak.

"Junior brother, over here."

He Lingxiu then raised her hand and waved it at him twice.

(End of this chapter)