The author of this article

Chapter 245 Return
A gentle breeze rustles through the clear autumn sky.

The Tiandao Society in the Sage's Garden continues, and the arena competition is in full swing.

At that moment, sword and saber lights flashed continuously, and the roar of magic filled the sky.

Bayan, who had broken through to a higher level just before the competition, failed to defend his title and was defeated by Zhu Yao with two wins. He was stripped of his title, his iron sword was bent, and he almost lost an arm. He left the stage in regret.

Normally, if someone at the Upper Profound Realm defeats someone at the Initial Fusion Realm, it would inevitably cause a huge uproar. Zhu Yao, the newly promoted prodigy of the Dao Seeking Sect, might even become famous throughout the world because of it.

But the truth is that this battle did not cause much of a stir.

The reason for this is, of course, that there had been a similar one before.

Bayan, who came from a minor family, had no inherited magical techniques. He relied solely on the strength brought by his cultivation level, which was incomparable to Yan Hao and other disciples of the Immortal Sect who had inherited the Immortal Sect's legacy and possessed countless sword skills.

Zhu Yao, on the other hand, not only came from a family with a thousand-year history, but was also highly regarded by the Daoist sect, putting him on a completely different level.

Therefore, this similar "Tongxuan defeats Rongdao" was actually far less thrilling than the previous battle, and the strength that the two showed in that battle was within everyone's acceptable range.

In addition, another contestant who broke through to the next level, Hao Feng, challenged Zhuang Zixin, the younger brother of Zhuang You, a disciple of Lingjian Mountain.

It's clear that his fighting philosophy was similar to Bayan's, aiming to overcome skill with simplicity through bold and unrestrained attacks. However, things didn't go as planned, and the duel ultimately ended in his failure to win the title.

The last one, You Bai, shared a similar fate with the previous two, being blasted off the stage by a disciple of the Dao Asking Sect using a clever technique.

Thus, all three of the contestants from humble backgrounds who were about to break through to the next level stopped here.

For minor clans to rise to prominence, there has only been one way for centuries: one member must first experience a rapid increase in cultivation, thereby elevating the clan's status and acquiring more resources.

Both Bayan and You Hao were chosen by their families to play important roles in the family's revival.

But compared to the immortal sects and ancient families, they are still just minor figures who will be forgotten after being seen.

"These battles were very interesting."

What does it mean?

"It directly showed everyone how terrifying the disciples of immortal sects and the disciples of ancient families were, and it also showed Qingyun Tianxia a fact: cultivators without the inheritance of magic techniques, even if they are a small realm higher than others, will ultimately be unable to pose a threat to these disciples of powerful families."

"That sounds rather despairing."

"It is indeed poignant to talk about it on its own, but who hasn't gone through this? This is the true foundation of the Immortal Sect and those ancient families."

As they chatted, the crowd of onlookers suddenly remembered a figure, and their discussion abruptly stopped.

This kind of situation has happened before at the Heavenly Dao Gathering, where it's common for immortal sects and ancient families to boast about themselves. But this time, when they were repeating similar conversations, they seemed unable to continue.

Indeed, the direct descendants of immortal sects and the scions of thousand-year-old aristocratic families seem insurmountable, but there is one person in this year's Heavenly Dao Assembly who inspires despair.

That person's background wasn't even that of a minor aristocratic family; he was merely a rural private cultivator who was exceptionally admitted to the Heavenly Academy.

At this moment, in front of the Sage Garden, in the city of Zhongxing, the wheels of carriages rumbled.

The rows of carriages attracted countless cultivators in the city, as well as some ragged women and children, and emaciated kids, who also received unprecedented stares from the immortals.

The members of the Heavenly Academy were also in the city at this time, drinking their wine in a restaurant without saying a word.

After Xiao Hanyan won the third round with her magical artifact, she was ultimately eliminated from the arena by Jiang Chenfeng of the Dao Asking Sect.

Meanwhile, Shi Junhao, who was chosen as the defender, also happened to meet the old man named Lin Hong.

After a fierce battle, this candidate for temple master ultimately lost to his opponent due to a single misstep.

Only He Lingxiu, Chai Ze, and Yu Shiliu remain, and their opponents are not to be underestimated.

So the atmosphere between them wasn't very good, and they didn't have much to say to each other. So when the carriage drove by, they couldn't help but subconsciously turn their heads away.

"What does this do?"

"They're heading towards Fengzhou."

"Fengzhou?"

The owners of the restaurants and teahouses were used to this and explained to the customers, "The autumn harvest has begun in Fengzhou. They have hired carriages from several nearby cities to harvest wheat. Judging from this, this year should be a bumper harvest."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators in the teahouse and tavern couldn't help but exchange glances.

Actually, this wasn't the first time they'd heard the words "harvesting wheat."

Since defeating Yan Hao in the arena, Ji You has disappeared without a trace. Although this is a small matter, it is still enough to arouse people's curiosity.

Then news began to circulate that Ji You had taken advantage of his free time to go home and harvest wheat.

When they heard those words, everyone felt extremely conflicted.

It felt like he was waiting to harvest wheat, and when he got bored, he joined a Heavenly Way Gathering.

Some of them recalled that when he established his family in Fengzhou Prefecture, he had said, when faced with questions from outsiders about how much tax he wanted, that he wanted all the children in his family to grow up and that those who left home could return home no matter how late it was.

Then people discovered that farming seemed to be more important to Ji You than spiritual practice.

What's puzzling is that he's incredibly strong.

At this time, Ji You and his party were traveling across Fengzhou, inspecting the repaired official roads and exploring preparations for the autumn harvest.

They knocked and banged along the way, asking around as they went, heading north.

Along the way, they discovered that some other foreign fairy estates had quietly been abandoned, leaving only empty houses.

Upon inquiry, nearby villagers told them that these "immortals" (a type of sage) usually left very quickly within a short period of time.

It was a place where immortals resided, and mortals dared not enter. Therefore, no one knew how these immortals left, which path they took, or where they went.

After Ji You established his family in Zhongzhou, it became difficult for outside immortal estates to survive, so it was not surprising that they wanted to move away. However, the number of people moving away was even greater than last year, which truly surprised Ji You.

In fact, after the grain production in Fengzhou improved, these migrant farmers might not have fared too badly if they had worked hard. Who knew that these people couldn't endure any hardship at all...

Afterwards, the group passed through Yuyang County and, after discussion, decided to stay there for a few days.

Everyone missed their hometown, which they hadn't visited in a long time, especially Qiu Ru, who headed straight for the three mud houses outside the city as soon as she got off the bus.

Life was tough back then, but for a child like Qiu Ru, it was inevitable to feel nostalgic for her childhood home.

Kuang Cheng and Wei Rui exchanged a glance and walked towards the Kuang family's old house without saying a word.

As for Yan Shuyi, he simply muttered that he was just taking a casual stroll, and then followed Ji You back to the Ji family's old house.

Because it was harvest time, there were quite a few people in Yuyang County. When the neighbors saw Ji You return to the old house with a stunningly beautiful woman, they talked about it among themselves.

"So, he brought his wife back?"

"It seems so..."

"She was accompanied by two maids, who looked like young ladies from wealthy families."

“She’s not just from a wealthy family, she must be a young lady from an immortal family. Look at what she’s wearing on her head. I’ve seen that thing before, it’s about the size of a fingernail. It’s said to be a spirit stone. She was even caught and interrogated by Fengxian Manor back then.”

"No wonder, his temperament is truly extraordinary. He looks even more noble than the immortal master of Fengxian Manor."

Paifang Street hasn't changed much over the years. As people gathered at the street entrance, they couldn't help but glance at the Fang residence not far away.

Back then, everyone knew about the Fang family's annulment of the engagement. Later, Ji You's exceptional entry into the Heavenly Academy and the establishment of his aristocratic family caused quite a stir. Now, two years have passed, and it's hard not to feel that things have changed.

Yan Shu followed behind Ji You with her eyes straight ahead, aloof and dignified, but her eyes kept glancing around out of the corner of her eye.

Her ears never missed what those people said; it sounded rather amusing.

Because in the past, when people talked about her, they would say that she was the next leader of Lingjian Mountain, the wielder of the sacred artifact, etc. This was the first time that someone had talked about her, saying that she was someone's wife or something.

These people are so foolish. They've only met him a few times, yet they've mistaken him for his wife.

Yan Shuyi did not take her anger out on their careless remarks; she smiled and felt that she was very magnanimous.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu were also looking around, observing the place where Ji You had grown up, and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

They had seen many elegant fairy-tale villas and many blessed lands full of ethereal beauty, but this was the first time they had ever been to such a barren place covered in yellow earth.

They also found it hard to believe that their appraiser's husband was born here.

At this moment, Ji You had already arrived at the front of the Ji family's old house, and took out the key given to him by Qiu Zhong to unlock the door.

I had imagined it would be a lush, overgrown courtyard, but it turned out to be extremely clean, with hardly any dust and no cobwebs as I had expected.

Yan Shuyi followed him inside, looked around the room where Ji You had lived for many years, and couldn't help but ask, "What will Fengzhou become in the future, as you envisioned it?"

"It's unclear how far it will go, but it will definitely get better and better, so that the elderly can have a place to end their days, the able-bodied can have a place to use their talents, the young can grow up, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, and disabled can all be cared for."

"And what about your future?"

"I don't have any big ambitions. I just want to become stronger so that I won't be at a loss when I encounter problems, and then I can marry whoever I want and have as many children as I want."

Yan Shu also followed Ji You along this journey and saw the new look of Fengzhou. He was very curious about what this place would become in the future.

At the same time, she was also very curious about what Ji You wanted to do in the future, whether it was to establish a family that would last for a thousand years, or to retire to the mountains and forests.

When she heard that she could have as many children as she wanted, her eyes became wary, and she couldn't help but punch him.

She really didn't dare to be the first to try, because the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain was not only afraid of the dark but also afraid of pain.

Ji You rubbed her slightly sore shoulder and turned to look at the noble and aloof little appraiser, who looked terrified of being bullied. She found it very cute and couldn't help but pinch her snow-white cheek.

Seeing this, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu exchanged a glance, then casually walked out, cleverly closing the door behind them. Seeing how "sensible" the two maids were, Yan Shu couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Ji You also narrowed her eyes.

Actually, he just wanted to pinch her cheek and didn't intend to do anything further.

But since everyone's already gone, it would seem disrespectful not to do anything and let their kindness go to waste...

There were no lights on in the house, making the environment somewhat dim.

Yan Shuyi muttered "lecher" to herself, and after a while she gently opened her arms to the embrace that came towards her, her red lips slightly parted.

The arrogant ghost's kissing skills were already incredibly smooth, and the kiss between the two was as natural as greeting each other. However, there was still a sword aura of defense in the tsk-tsk sound, making Ji You hesitant to move.

Actually, he didn't say he absolutely had to have the baby. Besides, he can't beat the arrogant girl right now, so whether or not to have the baby is ultimately her decision.

Her vigilance only suggests that she was secretly thinking about something herself.

As for the question she had asked earlier, concerning Fengzhou and herself, Ji You hadn't really thought much about it.

One person's strength cannot change the world, and Ji You understood this from the very beginning.

So his initial thought was simple: he just wanted to have a full meal. But what happened next was completely unexpected.

Fengzhou is getting better now; the people can finally eat, and the children on the streets are no longer emaciated.

It would be good if things continued like this day after day, provided, of course, that no disasters occur in the future...

As Ji You was thinking, she suddenly felt a soft, bouncy mass in her palm that she couldn't hold, round and flat. Then she felt a sharp pain at the corner of her mouth, and a sweet, metallic taste filled her mouth.

This time, Yan Shuyi really bit down, her teeth sinking deep into his lip, and she didn't let go. At the same time, her whole body was filled with fierce sword intent, her eyes were extremely cold, but her cheeks were flushed red, and she couldn't help but punch him twice...

Injuries will always hurt, and cultivators are no exception.

Ji You squatted down and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the delicate and soft little apprentice into his arms. After she was settled, he slapped her plump buttocks.

The little appraiser shuddered, then immediately opened his eyes with a fierce yet adorable look, his pearly white teeth involuntarily clenching a little harder.

You scoundrel, you're not even as strong as me, yet you dare to mess with anything...

The smacking sounds continued into the night. The Kuang family hosted a banquet at their home and invited them to attend.

Yan Shuyi and Ji You parted their lips, breathing softly, and gazed at each other for a long time before tidying their clothes and leaving, walking past Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, no one knew that the little appraiser's buttocks and round body were feeling quite hot.

Cao Jingsong and his group came from the Fang residence. They were unwilling to go to Ji You's house because they were certain that Ji You's house had nothing. In comparison, the Fang residence was extremely hospitable.

When they reached Paifang Street, they saw Ji You, Yan Shuyi, Ding Yao, and Zhuo Wanqiu walking towards them.

However, their gazes were mainly focused on Ji You's lips, and as they looked at the bleeding wound, they stopped and gently held their breath.

Last winter, a girl stayed in Ji You's courtyard for more than half a month.

After leaving, Ji You had two bite marks on the corners of her mouth.

At the time, they didn't know who the woman was, and they wondered why a girl of Yuan Caiwei's status would allow another woman to stay overnight in Ji You's courtyard.

Now it seems there is an answer, gradually becoming clear amidst the fog of mystery.

At this moment, the four of them couldn't help but glance at the slightly cold-eyed Master of Lingjian Mountain.

This aloof and reserved appraiser is actually having quite a fling with his rebellious disciple in private...

Preparations for the autumn harvest then proceeded step by step, and more cultivators joined the joint harvesting team to obtain the magical artifact, the Crescent Moon Blade, than last year.

At this point, there were only a few days left until the final.

To avoid suspicion, the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain returned from Fengzhou on the seventh day. Before leaving, he kept looking out the carriage window and reread what he had seen on his way there.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu could tell at a glance that the young appraiser was somewhat reluctant to leave, but this was hidden by his aloofness. They were also somewhat surprised that the appraiser had developed a sense of belonging to Fengzhou so quickly.

This is not surprising, after all, her home on Lingjian Mountain was just a mountain to her.

At the strange man's house, Qiu Ru was running around every day, calling her "sister," and Old Qiu would subtly suggest that having a baby would make things more lively, making it much more vibrant than before.

Moreover, her sense of belonging didn't just come after she arrived; she actually had it even before she came. After all, last winter in Shengjing, she almost got into a fight with a merchant who said something bad about Fengzhou.

After Yan Shuyi and his party returned, Ji You returned the next day, and the carriage returned to Xianxian Garden in one day.

At that time, his boots and the corners of his clothes were still covered with mud that had not yet dried, truly giving him the appearance of someone who had just come down to earth. This made the self-proclaimed sages in the Sage Garden feel quite bewildered.

[After finishing the farm work, I'm coming back to participate in the Heavenly Dao Tournament finals.]

Another thing that bothered people was the wound on the corner of his mouth; they thought to themselves that they had never heard of anything in the field that could bite.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ji You stepped back into the courtyard. Before she could even sit down properly, she heard her brother-in-law's voice ring out in the courtyard.

Then, a figure trotted happily into his house.

"Brother-in-law, it's been a long time!"

Yuan Chen ran into the house and, after catching his breath, noticed the wound on Ji You's lip. He instinctively looked away.

The young appraiser is truly a womanizer.

Actually, judging by the days, Ji You knew they should have returned by now, so he wasn't too surprised to see him: "The Holy Land of the Sages has opened?"

Yuan Chen nodded: "My sister and I came back yesterday, and only after we arrived did we hear that you had gone home."

Where are you staying now?

"Living in the garden next door."

Upon hearing this, Ji You looked towards the door and asked, "Where's your older sister? Didn't she come back with you?"

Yuan Chen turned around and pointed to the small building across the street: "I was invited to visit by Sister Xiao Jianzhu."

Yan Shu also knew the date of Ji You's return. The jealous girl seized the opportunity perfectly and immediately called Yuan Caiwei away to watch over her personally.

After Yuan Chen finished speaking, he added, "I came here just to let you know. I'll be going back in a bit."

Ji You looked at him with some surprise: "Aren't you most afraid of your two older sisters running into each other? Why did you take the initiative to go back?"

"I'm not going to hang out with them. I've made a new friend who writes fiction. He's so charming. I was late this time and missed several of your duels, brother-in-law. He told me all about them."

"You and Gongshu Chou really do seem to be able to piss in the same pot..."

"Huh, how did brother-in-law know that person's name was Gongshu Chou?"

"That son of a bitch is a repeat offender."

Yuan Caiwei was sitting on the second floor of the small building opposite, looking at Yan Shuyi.

Since their parting in Shengjing, another autumn has passed in the blink of an eye. The two sisters had not seen each other for a long time. When they looked at each other, the image of their childhood sworn sisterhood and vowing to be sisters for life could not help but appear in their minds.

Yan Shuyi was speechless, wondering who would have thought the sisters would do such a thing.

Ji You was chatting with Yuan Chen when she suddenly felt a surge of sword energy rising from the opposite side.

Ha, this arrogant brat is too afraid to try it himself, yet he stubbornly prevents others from doing so. Is there no law anymore?

Yuan Chen left quickly, rushing off to listen to Gongshu Chou's second part about his brother-in-law's duel.

No sooner had he left than visitors arrived at Rusheng Academy. Leading them were Cao Jingsong and his three companions who had gone to the inn to rest, followed by Bai Rulong, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, and the Lu sisters who had come from Tianshu Academy to watch Ji You's competition.

Lu Hanyan recounted how the autumn battle at Tianshu Academy resulted in both sides suffering heavy losses, and how she and Fang Jincheng ended up entering the inner courtyard to cultivate together.

Hearing this, Ji You nodded, thinking to himself that these old guys had at least done something decent. Then he looked at Immortal Emperor Rulong and asked, "And you, why did you only arrive at this time?"

"Something happened at my home."

"?"

“My aunt and my younger brother are missing, and my father is in seclusion, so I can only stay here a little longer.”

Ji You was taken aback upon hearing the voice: "How could it be lost?"

Bai Rulong raised his eyes: "I don't know what happened either, and my family can't explain it either, but it's nothing serious."

The concubine Bai Rulong mentioned was his father's second wife, while his younger brother Bai Sihou was born to the concubine.

Upon returning home, he was told by his family that his younger brother and aunt had gone missing, and his father was in seclusion and had not come out to meet them. The atmosphere at home was quite strange.

Although Bai Rulong was never really valued because of his aunt and younger brother, and harbored some resentment, they were still family.

Bai Rulong led several of his family members to search for it, but they couldn't find it no matter how hard they looked. Feeling that they had done their duty, they gave up.

On the way here, Cao Jingsong and the other three had already heard him mention this matter, but they felt that something was off about what he said. So they looked up at Ji You and saw that Ji You also couldn't help but frown slightly, with a strange feeling constantly flashing through his mind.

"Brother Ji, have you seen any pretty girls in the Heavenly Dao these past few days?"

Bai Rulong's words at that moment brought everyone back to their senses.

Upon hearing this, Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, and the other three couldn't help but glance at the small building across the street, thinking to themselves, "Look? What are you looking at?"

Sure enough, Ji You shook his head like a true gentleman, saying that the most beautiful woman was right across from him, and he hadn't seen anyone else.

(End of this chapter)