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Chapter 313 A Journey to the Immortal Realm
After the battle at Danzong, the five major immortal sects returned in disarray. Everyone was searching for Ji You and his entourage, intending to kill them as soon as possible, but they could not find a trace of him.

It was assumed that he had gone into hiding out of fear of the power of the Immortal Sects, and that the five major Immortal Sects had not launched a full-scale attack to kill him due to the current importance of the ruins.

Unexpectedly, he wandered around the vicinity of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion like a ghost.

No one knew his purpose, but some were alarmed by his audacity and fearlessness.

In the dense forest at the edge of the Tianchi ruins, Huo Shun's eyes were gloomy.

The residual force of that palm strike had dissipated, but the disciple following behind him noticed that the bulging veins on his hands were still swollen and had not subsided, and even his wrists were somewhat swollen and red.

Back then, the Heavenly Academy took in a rural private cultivator who had reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms, and the five major immortal sects had all heard about it.

But they only heard about it as anecdotes; they didn't even remember the name and forgot about it, not taking it too seriously.

But no one could have imagined that when they actually met him in person, he would be such an imposing figure.

"Second Young Master, should we send men to hunt them down?"

Huo Xingyun pondered for a moment: "The Dao Fruit is of utmost importance. We must not create any unnecessary complications. It is not surprising that he was curious about what the Five Great Immortal Sects were planning after his bloody battle at the Dan Sect. We should strengthen the defenses. If he comes again, we will make sure he does not return."

It's difficult to kill someone at the Boundless Realm, and he doesn't currently have that many people with such high levels of skill.

Besides, that person was capable of killing five Boundless Realm cultivators in succession; sending people to pursue him would not be wise...

High in the sky, Ji You flew away, leaving the ruins of Tianchi.

He had a clear understanding of the situation here. Since there was still some time before the Immortal Tour, he flew towards the direction of Broken Soul Mountain in Yuzhou.

Yuzhou is located northwest of Lingzhou, and it is the only major prefecture that Ji You did not pass through.

This place is significantly different from other states, both in terms of architectural style and folk culture.

It is said that this is because the Qin family, the former royal family that established the country here, once relied on the remnants of the Qin dynasty and were most deeply influenced by its aesthetics.

As for Broken Soul Mountain, it is a dangerous place in the north-central part of Yuzhou, with many natural barriers and complex terrain.

Similar to the Tianchi Ruins, on the day the ruins opened, the Daoist Sect also dispatched countless people to seal off the mountains and forests, forming layers upon layers of defense that made them impenetrable.

Ji You used his physical strength to leap over the chasm, concealing his aura to the extreme before approaching the target location.

Looking through the gaps in the trees, the dark mountains were nestled in the vast wilderness, and figures came and went in the dimly lit mountain passes.

In the following days, Ji You kept spying on it and vaguely noticed a problem.

Although the Dao Asking Sect and the Mountain and Sea Pavilion handled the ruins in similar ways, the number of people entering and leaving the Heavenly Pool Ruins was increasing, while the number of people entering and leaving the Broken Soul Mountain Ruins was decreasing.

There were a hundred people on the first day, but only a few dozen remained on the second day.

Five days later, a young man dressed in fine clothes and an old man arrived at Broken Soul Mountain. After being greeted by the disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, they silently entered the ruins.

When they came out again, their expressions were extremely solemn.

Upon witnessing this scene, Ji You, hidden atop the treacherous mountain, had a deep look in his eyes, which gradually became thoughtful...

Meanwhile, at the Nishan Heavenly Academy, the normally deserted Ascension Jade Platform was now packed with people, and the clash of swords was constantly rising and falling.

Just like on the eve of the Heavenly Dao Gathering, the outside world, completely unaware of the situation, was conducting the preliminary rounds of the Immortal Tournament.

Although the Heavenly Dao Festival does not grant divine feedback to everyone and is less attractive than the Holy Land of the Sages, the scale of the Immortal Tour is larger than that of the Heavenly Dao Festival.

The reason is that the Heavenly Dao Society needs to consider the capacity of the sacred land of the ancestors to withstand it. After all, that place cannot withstand too much intense energy, so the entire battle is mainly based on the two realms of Tongxuan and Rongdao.

However, the Heavenly Dao Festival does not restrict cultivation level or age, and has more slots than the Heavenly Dao Assembly, resulting in a larger number of participants.

Even among those who have reached the peak of the lower three realms, quite a few are eager to make their move.

Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin had been trying to break through to the next realm for almost a year, but they still hadn't crossed the threshold. At this time, they interrupted their cultivation and came to the outer courtyard on a spring morning, deciding to participate in the competition as participants in the Fusion Realm.

This line of thinking is the same as that of those who broke through to higher realms during the Heavenly Dao Conference.

Without breaking through to the next realm, one can fight with peak power and naturally have a greater chance of winning among those of the same realm.

"This year's Tongxuan Realm showdown started very quickly; three matches have already taken place as soon as the announcement was released."

"With Junior Brother Ji absent, the battles at the Profound Realm will naturally proceed more quickly."

As they talked, they couldn't help but think of the previous Heavenly Dao Assembly preliminary rounds.

Back then, Ji You was restricted from using the swordsmanship of Lingjian Mountain, yet he still dominated the entire realm, suppressing everyone and making no one dare to step onto the stage to fight. Now, that grand occasion is gone, and the appeal of the Tongxuan Realm battle is not even as interesting as the pure physical confrontation between the lower three realms at their peak.

As the two were discussing, they saw Cao Jingsong walking towards them from the shore of Biyue Lake, and their eyes widened in surprise.

"Wasn't Instructor Cao about to break through to a higher realm? Why did he suddenly emerge from seclusion?"

After Cao Jingsong stopped, he frowned slightly: "I'm worried about Ji You. My Dao heart is in turmoil, and I need to slow down my breakthrough. Have you received any news from him in the past few days?"

Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin both shook their heads after hearing this: "We haven't received any news from him since he left Shengjing in Xinyuan."

"What trouble have he gotten himself into this time that has prompted the five major immortal sects to join forces in pursuing him?"

"Although Junior Brother Ji is a bit eccentric, he never acts blindly. I suppose there are some things he will only do if he has to. Besides, Junior Brother's combat strength is amazing. Even the five great immortal sects might not be able to capture him."

Wen Zhengxin spoke softly, hoping to comfort the uneasy Instructor Cao.

However, since Ji Youping was not seen, these words of comfort had little effect on Cao Jingsong.

The five major immortal sects have all come to demand an explanation; could it be that he went to their mountain gate to rob them and charge them a toll...?

After a long silence, the three raised their heads and looked towards the arena, trying to distract themselves from their unease by watching the match. However, they found that the disciples who were preparing to participate were also watching them.

The time was familiar, the scene was familiar, and they all recalled the time when Ji You suppressed the entire Tongxuan Academy.

But this time, they felt that Ji You was probably not going to be able to participate in the Immortal Tour.

With the five major immortal sects joining forces to hunt him down, even the elders of the Elders' Pavilion would be terrified. How could he possibly dare to show his face again?

During the New Year's Eve celebrations, many people saw him strolling around teahouses, markets, and lantern festivals, thinking that it might be his last public appearance.

After all, having offended the Immortal Sect, even with exceptional talent, one can only hide from now on and never be able to face anyone again.

Just then, the winner was decided on the stage again, the loser left the stage, and then a figure slowly walked onto the stage, looking dashing and unrestrained.

Seeing this, Cao Jingsong and the other two couldn't help but narrow their eyes: "Fang Jincheng..."

Fang Jincheng, who had come up on stage, was also looking at them, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

After the five major immortal sects joined forces to inquire about the mountain, and after they found Kuang Cheng and Wei Rui, this elder's grandson emerged from the mountain abyss.

He had a certain understanding of Ji You's strength, but in his view, no matter how strong a person was, they would have to bow down in front of the Immortal Sect.

Now that the five major immortal sects are enraged, Ji You is in dire need of protection himself, so he naturally no longer needs to hide.

Fang Jincheng swung his sword backhand and engaged the disciple on the stage in battle...

Subsequently, he won a match and fought alongside elders and virtuous grandsons such as Yu Shiliu and Wang Gaocen.

The number of places available for the Immortal Tour is much greater than that for the Heavenly Dao Association. These elders and their descendants naturally don't need to compete for them. They have already agreed that no one will meet with another, and they will each take their own place, just like they did with the Heavenly Dao Association.

However, things don't always go as planned.

Just a few days after the battle in the Tongxuan realm, Lu Hanyan, who had been in seclusion, emerged from her seclusion. She had reached the middle Tongxuan realm and participated in the arena competition, facing off against Fang Jincheng.

At the same time, Xiao Hanyan, who was in seclusion, also emerged from seclusion like Lu Hanyan. She had not yet crossed the threshold of the Yingtian Realm, and just like she had done at the Heavenly Dao Assembly, she was defending the arena as a Rongdao Upper Realm cultivator.

As for He Lingxiu, Shi Junhao, Chai Ze, and others, they did not participate in the competition.

They and Xiao Hanyan have found an opportunity, but opportunities to break through to a higher realm are always hard to come by. For them, the feedback given by the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice may not be more important than the opportunity itself.

In the following days, the preliminary rounds of the Youxian Tournament intensified, attracting many spectators.

Yu Shiliu, Wang Gaocen, and Gu Zetao won five consecutive matches and secured their spots in the Immortal Tournament.

Meanwhile, Pan Bin, the grandson of Elder Pan of the Elder Council, who was not selected back then because Ji You suppressed the Tongxuan Realm, finally got his wish.

Xiang Fu, who just entered the inner academy last year, Lu Da, who withdrew from the preliminary rounds of the Heavenly Dao Society, and Pu Yangxing, who once competed with Lu Hanyan, have all secured their spots.

The results for the Fusion Realm were quickly announced, and Xiao Hanyan naturally didn't need to ask any further questions. Besides her, Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin also achieved consecutive victories and competed as Fusion Realm cultivators.

In addition, Cong Yi, the daughter of the Prefect of Guiyun County in Fengzhou, reached the perfection of the lower three realms this year and also obtained a spot in the same realm.

"The Tian Shu Academy is doing well; Ban Yangshu, Pu Yangxing... are all here."

"Over at Lingjian Mountain, Liu Junchi and Cheng Peng lived up to expectations and stood out from the crowd."

"In addition, the Zhang and Liu families, who are on good terms with the Chongwang Mansion, have also obtained the quota for participating in the battle at the lower three realms of perfection in the Mountain and Sea Pavilion."

The preliminary rounds of the Heavenly Academy are nearing their end, and the spring air is gradually taking on a hint of early summer.

In the afternoon at the restaurant, the young masters of the Qinxian Sect were sitting with Zhao Yunyue, exchanging news about the cultivators they had befriended and supported over the years who had obtained their spots. The atmosphere was very harmonious.

In their view, the investment they made back then is now growing stronger, which is the best thing ever.

Even though the Immortal Clan is currently being suppressed by the Immortal Supervisory Bureau to the point of being unable to raise their heads, as these people grow, it is destined that this situation of being restrained will not last long.

Chang Yutang, son of the Minister of Rites, held a wine cup and looked at Zhao Yunyue, who had a cold and aloof expression, while uttering auspicious words.

After Dou Yuankong's incident, his father, Minister Dou, lost interest in court politics. The Minister of Rites became Prince Chong's right-hand man and was seen by Prince Chong as the candidate to take over the future Directorate of Immortals.

Actually, this is quite appropriate, because before the establishment of the Directorate of Immortals, the Ministry of Rites was always responsible for matters concerning immortals.

"I saw the Prince at the Peach Blossom Festival in Yunhe County yesterday. He was in high spirits and seemed to be in a good mood."

"Father has indeed been quite content these past few days."

"But is it related to the fact that the children we support are gradually showing their talents?"

"There is some connection, isn't there?"

Zhao Yunyue responded and then drank the contents of her cup.

Father has indeed been in a good mood lately, but this mood actually began before the preliminary rounds of the Immortal Tour.

So even though Princess Chang Le gave this answer, she knew in her heart that it wasn't true.

The reason why the King was in a good mood was actually related to the Five Great Immortal Sects' Asking Mountain Heaven Academy.

Over the years, she had always known that her father had a knot in his heart: that he had not provided for Ji You back then.

When Qiu Dou entered the inner courtyard, he took the top spot in the Heavenly Dao Society, which frightened Elder Fang into silence. After cutting off the supply of spirit stones, no one dared to provoke him, and he regretted it deeply.

In his father's eyes, if he had abandoned Chuhe and devoted himself to supporting him, Chuhe would have been able to seize not only the Imperial Academy but even the throne.

It wasn't until the Five Great Immortal Sects, including the Mountain Heaven Academy, came looking for Kuang Cheng with murderous intent that the father's knot in his heart suddenly loosened. He was repeatedly relieved that he hadn't befriended Ji You, so that he wouldn't be implicated like Kuang Cheng and Wei Rui.

In fact, Zhao Yunyue had similar thoughts and was glad that she had not cultivated with Ji You.

If she were truly taken as a concubine, then the murderous sect members in the night would not be looking for Wei Rui, but for her.

Just then, a series of loud crashing sounds of cups breaking came from Hongdinglou.

Everyone leaned forward to look out through the openwork doors and windows of the private room.

Through the open wooden door opposite, Fang Jincheng smashed wine cups and bowls with a fierce expression, frightening the servants serving him who were standing nearby into trembling.

In the battle of the Immortal Tournament, Fang Jincheng won four consecutive battles and was only one step away from the spot. However, he was defeated by Lu Hanyan with two swords and lost in a very embarrassing way.

As a result, everyone at the Heavenly Academy laughed at him.

For two years, he competed with Lu Hanyan for the inner court qualification, secretly injuring people with the help of magic weapons. In the end, he entered the inner court with her. This matter has been controversial and made the disciples in the court feel that the elders' pavilion was too biased, and they didn't even bother to pretend.

Now that Fang Jincheng is so pathetic, many people naturally feel relieved.

Just as Zhao Yunyue was pondering whether to go over and offer some words of comfort, the door to the east private room was suddenly pushed open.

Lu Qingqiu and Lu Hanyan had just finished their meal and walked out of the door with Cong Yi, Xiang Fu and others. They glanced at Fang Jincheng and then walked towards the stairs.

As they walked along the connecting corridor, Zhao Yunyue stared at it for a long time.

After the five major immortal sects came to Shengjing, everyone knew that Ji You had angered the immortal sects. Fortunately, the Yunzhou Spirit Stone Merchant Guild usually made offerings to the immortal sects, which prevented the Lu sisters from being implicated.

However, Lu Qingqiu had to stay in the Heavenly Academy from then on and rarely appeared in public.

Zhao Yunyue didn't know if Lu Qingqiu regretted giving herself to Ji You that day.

The Lu sisters then left Hongding Tower, bid farewell to Xiang Fu and Cong Yi, and then turned to go to an inn in the city.

Lu Hanyan broke through her cultivation realm and participated in the preliminary selection of the Immortal Tour. Such a major event naturally brought Lu Xiong and his wife to Shengjing. They sent a message while they were eating, asking them to come to the inn to meet them.

However, when the two sisters arrived at the inn, they found two young men sitting in front of their parents, chatting happily.

Upon seeing the two sisters arrive, Lu Xiong immediately stood up and introduced them to each other.

Upon seeing this, the two sisters immediately understood their father's intentions and knew that this was yet another blind date.

Lu Hanyan stared intently throughout, remaining silent and full of resistance.

Lu Qingqiu had a better grasp of the big picture than her sister and was always quick-witted. She spoke with the two of them calmly and without making them lose face.

As dusk approached, the two young masters bowed and left, and only then did Lu Qingqiu put away her smile.

"My parents clearly said they would never mention this matter again, but they always change their minds like a weather vane."

“There are some things your sister doesn’t understand, but you’re not incapable of understanding them. You should know that we’re doing this for your own good.”

Mrs. Lu said something earnestly, then looked at her husband with a worried expression.

Not long after the five major immortal sects visited the Tian Shu Academy, distinguished guests from other immortal sects in Yunzhou also came to visit, their manner aggressive.

Only then did they realize that Ji You had somehow offended the five major immortal sects.

The whole world was talking about how their two daughters had been taken in by Ji You, and their family was naturally implicated.

Fortunately, the Spirit Stone Merchant Guild regularly made offerings to the Immortal Sect, and had given them many spirit cores from various mines. This act of goodwill prevented them from getting into trouble.

The problem is that if it happens again, they won't be able to handle it.

Back when the snowstorm hit the three states and the supply of spirit stones was suspended, they heard that Ji You had forced Elder Fang to his wits' end, which is why he tacitly agreed that both of his daughters had lost their virginity to him.

But things are different now. Having offended five major immortal sects in one fell swoop, what use is Ji You's extraordinary talent and strong combat power?

The Lu family managed to escape one disaster thanks to their years of savings, but they did not want to suffer a second one. So the couple discussed it for a long time and decided that even if they had to use a spirit mine as a dowry, they should marry off their daughter as soon as possible and sever ties with her.

Lu Qingqiu naturally knew that her parents had something in mind. She and her sister made a few perfunctory remarks, saying that they were not satisfied with the two of them, and then left the inn.

"Sister, what exactly did Senior Brother do? Why was he targeted by the Immortal Sect?"

"To offend the five major immortal sects at the same time must be no small matter, so it makes no sense that my parents' attitude has changed."

Lu Qingqiu looked at her younger sister, her mood also becoming somewhat heavy.

Those are immortal sects, and there are five of them...

Their Lu family was merely a newly promoted century-old aristocratic family, inferior even to other aristocratic families. They never dared to oppose the Immortal Sect that ruled the entire Qingyun.

Even just thinking about it is terrifying.

The following morning, a notice regarding the number of participants in the Immortal Tour was posted by the Dean of Affairs.

Meanwhile, news of certain members of various powerful families being about to participate in the Heavenly Dao Assembly continued to circulate, and the atmosphere gradually became more heated.

Unlike the Heavenly Dao Assembly, which was held at the Taigu Dao Temple, the Youxian Assembly was held in Rihua County in the southeast of Liangzhou.

Legend has it that when the seven great sages pacified the world and the human race was revived, they determined that this place was the Central Plains and held the first Heavenly Sacrifice here. It is a place with a long history.

From the day of departure, the official road leading to Rihua County was constantly filled with dust and sand, and the imperial carriages sped along continuously.

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)