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Chapter 375 The Shattered Human Race's Fortune

The fifth day's Qingyun Dao Debate was specifically set up for Ji You, so there was only one finger technique duel, and no further duels were arranged.

Now that the three major immortal sects have withdrawn, there is naturally no need for them to stay any longer.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the young appraiser waved his immortal robe and disappeared from the arena with a few steps, leaving only a ripple of spiritual energy dissipating in the air.

She cultivates the purest Taoist arts, and her technique of shrinking the earth without bounds is flawless.

After that, the group from Lingjian Mountain departed.

Seeing this, Zuo Qiuyang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Today's situation is truly extremely dangerous. It's safe to say that if the young master hadn't intervened, a war might have actually broken out. And once the war started, it's not up to them to decide when it would end.

"Ji You is going to Wannian County to pick up someone. Should we send someone to accompany him?"

"No need. Since there's no battle yet, there's little point in them making a move. Let's go back to the courtyard and talk about it later."

"Yes……"

Qin Rong nodded upon hearing this, and before leaving, he involuntarily turned his head to look in the direction where Lingjian Mountain had departed.

The group then roared back to the mountain, while the elders who had accompanied them returned to the Elders' Pavilion.

They removed their robes and magical implements, and took out the spirit stones and other items from their storage gourds, handing them over to their disciples for safekeeping. This was prepared in advance, knowing that they might make a move.

After all, they were facing coercion from the three major immortal sects, so no amount of preparation was too much.

After they put their things away, brewed some tea, and sat down, they unconsciously fell into a daze and deep thought.

"Today's events are truly perilous."

"Yes, we almost went to war. This is something that has never happened in the thousands of years of human history..."

"Fortunately, Spirit Sword Mountain intervened, otherwise today's events would have been truly unmanageable."

"Yes, that's the young appraiser of Spirit Sword Mountain and Ji You..."

At this point, the room fell silent, the group of white-haired elders unsure how to continue the discussion.

Yes, the three-on-one situation was indeed dangerous, and the appearance of Lingjian Mountain was truly unexpected. But what they found most unbelievable was the behavior of the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain towards Ji You.

Did Lord Zuoqiu know beforehand? Is that why he was so forceful?

But how could these two people...?

Meanwhile, teahouses, taverns, inns, and residences across the country were almost completely full.

This scene is actually the same as the one a few days ago. After all, the winners and losers after the debate, and the insights gained from the techniques, always need to be discussed.

But today, the atmosphere between the two of them was far less enthusiastic; in fact, it could be described as somber.

Because so many things happened today, and they were all too unexpected.

First, Ji You killed someone with two fingers, and then there was the attitude that the Heavenly Academy showed towards the Three Sects Alliance.

If these things happened on any other day, they would definitely be enough for people to talk about from morning till night.

But the moment the young appraiser appeared, everything else faded away.

Whether it was the two-finger murder or the attitude of the Heavenly Academy, none of that matters anymore. The only important thing is the relationship between her and Ji You.

He was chosen as a master by the spirit mirror when he was a child, and is now the youngest person in the Boundless Realm of Qingyun, and the next generation leader of the Spirit Sword Mountain.

Her in-laws have always been a major topic of discussion in Qingyun Tianxia, ​​because who she likes could very well change the landscape of the world.

Some say she will ultimately choose Shang Xiyao, who is also a disciple of hers, because given the weakness of Xuanjian Peak, it is the best choice.

However, as Tianjian Peak weakened, such claims gradually diminished.

Later, some people said that such a proud woman might have already decided in her heart that she would never marry.

But from beginning to end, no one thought about Ji You.

The two were from the south and the north, one from humble beginnings yet arrogant, the other of noble birth yet aloof from the world. No one would have imagined that they would have a relationship.

Just like the raging Nu River, it shouldn't be preoccupied with a small fish in a stream outside Shengjing City.

"This must be a misunderstanding. She is the young master of Lingjian Mountain, not some ordinary woman."

"Talking about Daoist partners or finding a son-in-law is simply laughable."

"Let me ask you all, apart from the time when the Heavenly Academy went to Spirit Sword Mountain to seek the Dao, Ji You has never had any contact with Spirit Sword Mountain. Even if he did, why would he be noticed by the Junior Master?"

Inside the Shengjing Teahouse, Fang Jincheng shook his head repeatedly as he spoke.

His words seemed to be a way of proving himself to others, yet also like he was trying to convince himself not to believe it.

This view naturally garnered a lot of support, with most of the people upstairs agreeing.

Upon hearing this, Yu Shiliu opened his mouth and said, "When Fengzhou raised grain prices, Lingjian Mountain was the first to accept the price."

"That doesn't prove anything."

"His clothes are in the young appraiser's storage gourd; she can take them out at will. Only a Daoist partner could do that, not to mention her discerning eye..."

"In my opinion, this is nothing more than a tactic to stop the war. It can only be said that the young master is far-sighted and easily perceived the key to breaking the deadlock."

Amid the argument, a group of people hurried along the long street toward the Chongwang residence.

Those were all members of the prestigious families of Lingzhou. The head of the Zeng family was walking at the very front. They bowed and scraped all the way, filled with trepidation.

These prominent families who drove along the long street were mostly involved in pushing for the tax increase, their original intention being to exploit Fengzhou.

But after what happened today, everything changed.

Just as Ma Xiang and He Ye felt impending doom because of the three major immortal sects' confrontation with the Heavenly Academy, these aristocratic families who depended on the Spirit Sword Mountain also needed to figure out their positions.

So the first thing they need to figure out is this relationship that has never been known to anyone before.

Because the whole city was asking about this relationship, the Zeng family's trip to the residence of the young master of Lingjian Mountain immediately attracted a huge amount of attention.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, they were received at the Chongwang West Residence.

At that moment, the young appraiser had just returned to the small building and was drinking tea. His face was expressionless, neither sad nor happy, which made people feel a little uneasy.

"Master Jianzhu."

"What brings you here, Patriarch Zeng?"

"I was foolish and ignorant before, and short-sighted like a frog at the bottom of a well. That's why I was misled and persuaded by the Fang family to participate in the tax increase. I offended Young Master Ji, and I beg Your Excellency to forgive me."

The Zeng family patriarch was also highly skilled in the art of language, asking very clever questions.

On the one hand, he explained that he had participated in the increase of taxes without knowing it, and on the other hand, he used this matter to test the relationship between the judge and Ji You.

Because if offending Ji You could truly be redeemed by asking the judge, that in itself implies a strained relationship between the two.

Otherwise, why would the judge forgive Ji You and the others?

As a result, the other prominent families also chimed in, pleading with the judge to atone for his sins.

However, the young appraiser's response did not unfold as they had anticipated.

"How come you've all learned to gossip?"

"As long as one acts uprightly and sits properly in this world, why should one worry about one's position?"

"The reason why Patriarch Zeng's cultivation has been unable to improve over the years and he has been stuck at a bottleneck is probably because he has been too calculating."

Inside the main building of the small courtyard, Yan Shuyi's face was icy cold, and his tightly furrowed brows showed his anger, making the Zeng family head feel uneasy.

They were then asked to leave the courtyard and surrounded by everyone who was concerned about the matter, who also wanted to know how the young appraiser would explain it.

After the heads of various families in Lingzhou recounted the young master's rebuke, countless people fell into deep thought.

Because hearing this talk is like hearing a lecture; it doesn't explain anything.

However, the head of the Zeng family remained silent throughout, only turning the teacup in his hand as he pondered deeply.

The appraiser's answer was indeed ambiguous and its meaning was unclear, but that in itself was the meaning.

Because the appraiser hates nothing more than others gossiping about her relationships with others; otherwise, she wouldn't have left the mountain so readily when the Holy Son of the Daoist Sect made his high-profile arrival.

Therefore, if the two are not really as everyone misunderstands, she should not be ambiguous, but should give a stern explanation.

So that wasn't just making excuses, that was tacit agreement.

Assuming everyone's guess is correct, I'm just asking everyone not to spread it too much...

The Zeng family patriarch's heart trembled uncontrollably, and the half-cup of tea in his hand rippled involuntarily.

Not long after the Zeng family paid their respects, another group of prominent families from Lingzhou, led by the Hua family, also hurriedly came to pay their respects.

Undoubtedly, they also wanted to confirm the relationship between the two in order to know what they should do.

"It seems that the Zeng family head has already angered the young appraiser when he went there. The Hua family may not even be able to see him this time and will be sent back."

"It is indeed difficult to have an audience when one is angry."

As the group of people watched the Hua family and other prominent families from Lingzhou walk towards the courtyard, they couldn't help but shake their heads slightly.

To their surprise, the Hua family and other prominent families were also invited in.

After they came out of the courtyard, they were naturally bombarded with questions. Their account of the audience was the same as that of the Zeng family, and the young appraiser's reply was exactly the same.

Just as they were lost in thought, the head of the Hua family couldn't help but exchange a glance with the head of the Zeng family.

Like the Zeng family patriarch, he felt that the appraiser was tacitly acknowledging the matter...

In fact, as time goes by, others will also be able to understand this principle.

If it's not true, you can simply deny it with a furious outburst. Why ask people to stop spreading it? This cover-up is not generous at all.

The only possibility is that the young appraiser has acknowledged that she and Ji You are Daoist partners.

As a result, the taverns and teahouses gradually fell silent, and countless people looked dazed, unsure of what to say.

Fang Jincheng, who had been indignant just moments before, sat down, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cave upon hearing the news that the young appraiser did not deny.

However, what these cultivators couldn't understand was that in the following hour or so, there were still many people going to the Chongwang West Residence to pay their respects, and everyone who returned said that the Master was very angry.

But when the next person came to pay their respects, they were all smoothly ushered in, which was somewhat puzzling.

"Please take care, Patriarch Li."

"Thank you for leading the way, fairies. Please don't see me off."

The head of the Li family, who had just finished his audience with the emperor, bowed to the back of his head and then hurriedly left the courtyard with his disciples.

Watching him leave, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu couldn't help but exchange a glance: "The appraiser is doing this on purpose. She likes people asking her if she is the first wife."

"Everyone in the world is talking about the son-in-law and Yuan Caiwei. The appraiser has long wanted others to know that she is the eldest."

"Why doesn't the appraiser just say it clearly?" "The appraiser likes to be asked questions. If he explains it clearly once and for all, no one will ask him anymore. Besides, the appraiser is naturally stubborn."

"Tsk..."

The two stood in the courtyard, chirping crickets silently for a while, then looked up into the house.

The young appraiser who had just been speaking coldly was now swinging his toes, peeling pumpkin seeds and putting them in his mouth, his eyes shining.

However, when someone else came to visit, she immediately reverted to her aloof demeanor.

After a day of hustle and bustle, the sun began to set in the west, and dusk gradually fell.

As the last patriarch of a noble family who had come to pay his respects departed, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu immediately felt a scorching heat approaching, so they turned to look at the sky.

Ji You landed in the courtyard with Kuang Cheng, then gently released her grip on the scholar's shoulder.

Kuang Shusheng was indeed taken to Wannian County, but he was not mistreated; he was simply placed under house arrest.

This is probably because Ji You killed five immortal sect elders in Danshan, making many people know that he really dares to draw his sword.

When he arrived in Wannian County, the disciples of the Daodao Sect who were guarding the area had already left, and only the door to Kuangcheng was still locked.

At this moment, as the two entered the courtyard, some hidden divine senses came toward this place, but they were quickly blocked by a ray of light and could only leave helplessly.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu came over upon seeing this: "Young Master Kuang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I was just invited for a cup of tea."

After answering Ding Yao's question, Kuang Cheng looked at Ji You and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Ji, for causing you trouble."

Ji You patted his shoulder: "In short, this trouble is my fault, so what do you have to apologize for? Luckily you're alright, otherwise I would have been so sad that I couldn't eat for three days."

"Only three days?"

"Three days is a long time. Old Cao's accident only lasted two days, maybe even less..."

After Ji You finished speaking, he looked up and saw the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain.

She was standing at the door, looking at him with a cold and arrogant expression.

"How is the situation in the capital?"

"Everyone who needs to know knows, but because of the identity of the appraiser, some people still can't believe it, although there are clearly more people coming to pay their respects," Ding Yao answered truthfully.

After hearing this, Ji You looked at Ding Yao and said, "There are clothes in my storage gourd."

"The appraiser did it on purpose; she wanted others to know."

As they spoke, the two turned to look towards the hall.

The young appraiser clearly heard the two say that she did it on purpose, and her aloof eyes narrowed slightly.

Ji You entrusted Kuang Cheng to the two of them, and then walked towards Yan Shuyi.

Seeing him approaching, Yan Shuyi turned around slightly and walked into the hall with her aloof demeanor unchanged.

"If I dress up in public, it will be difficult for me to marry someone else in the future."

"It's just a misunderstanding, merely a temporary measure to help you get out of this mess. We can explain it to others later. However, there are also smart people in this world who know that you are just a lowly disciple of the Heavenly Academy. Even after what happened today, they still don't believe it and have already guessed that you and I have no connection."

Yan Shuyi sat opposite him at the tea ceremony, speaking in a cool and aloof tone.

After hearing this, Ji You glanced at her, then leaned down and kissed her hard lips.

The young appraiser was stunned by the sudden kiss, and a hint of murderous intent appeared on his face after their lips were separated.

However, when the stranger attacked her a second time, she couldn't help but stick out her tongue again.

Ji You was well aware of the consequences of Yan Shuyi's actions.

The Dao Asking Sect had always wanted to form a marriage alliance with them, but this scene in front of everyone undoubtedly hurt the Dao Asking Sect's pride and put them on the opposite side.

The balance of power among the three southern factions may not exist in the future.

Furthermore, having a private affair with a hermit cultivator in the countryside will certainly affect her supreme image within the sect.

But she still stepped in at the end.

The young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain is known for her rationality, which shows how difficult it was for her to make this decision.

In fact, Ji You felt guilty because he probably subconsciously felt that no matter how bad the situation was, Yan Shuyi would not abandon him, which is why he was so tough.

So even if it wasn't intentional, he unconsciously used her today, and she knew she would be used but still willingly entered into the situation, making him feel even more indebted.

"I am truly sorry for what happened today."

"This is my own decision, it just so happens to be at the right time. This way, the people on the mountain can't bother me with marriage proposals anymore. You need to be strong and remember to be a good shield."

Yan Shuyi finished speaking with her lips pursed, and suddenly saw his apologetic look in his eyes. She couldn't help but lower her head and peck him on the lips.

Ji You couldn't help but reach out and embrace her waist, pulling her into his arms. At the same time, he captured her tongue with his own. He saw a pair of snow-white feet pressed under her plump buttocks, slightly curled up, with five round toes huddled together.

As the sun began to set, discussions continued in the restaurants of the capital.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain, there was a constant clapping and clicking sound coming from the hall.

"that……"

"?"

"Let me see the artifacts from the sacred site of the ancient sages."

Upon hearing this, Ji You picked her up and waved his hand, releasing a beam of spiritual light.

In an instant, the room was filled with an ethereal aura.

Amidst the swaying celestial aura, a bright celestial light, like a swimming fish, continuously moved, spreading a majestic aura and a dignified Daoist charm.

Upon seeing this item, Yan Shu, who was sitting in Ji You's arms, frowned slightly, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

What are your plans to do with this?

"I need to go to the Heavenly Academy first to ask Zuo Qiuyang for his opinion. He must have something to say to me in his letter, but we haven't been able to meet because of our discussion on the Dao."

"The Heavenly Academy still retains some of the majesty of the Holy Sect today, and their attitude towards you seems to have changed quite a bit. It might be worth listening to their opinions."

"..."

Zuo Qiuyang had been in the Zizai Hall since returning to the Tianshu Academy. He knew that Ji You would come to find him, so he sat quietly and observed the sky until evening.

As the sky turned a deep blue, the evening breeze died down, and the waiting figure finally appeared.

As Ji You strode over the mountain, Zuo Qiuyang's expression became complicated.

Everyone in the courtyard always said that he was Manshan's fiancée, but he really didn't expect that he could find his fiancée on the southernmost Lingjian Mountain.

However, before he could say anything, Ji You released the immortal spirit from his bosom.

Zuo Qiuyang snapped back to reality, his gaze drawn to it, and stared at it for a long time.

After observing it for about half a cup of tea's time, the Palace Master of Zizai Palace couldn't help but softly ask, "What are your guesses about this item?"

"There are many guesses: spiritual treasures, immortal destiny, but my intuition tells me... it should be the destiny of the human race."

"..."

"..."

"To be precise, this is a fragment of destiny, which is why it has the effect of benefiting the group. Destiny is inherently related to cause and effect, and those whose causes and effects are interconnected will naturally be affected by it."

Zuo Qiuyang remained silent for a long time before speaking: "This proves that the testimonies of the Du and Bai families are not false."

After the ancient families joined forces to commit calamities, the major immortal sects joined forces to capture the prisoners and interrogate them for a long time.

When asked how they managed to get the Celestial Affinity of the Ruins accepted by the Heavenly Dao, they said it was by entering the sacred land of the ancient sages, severing the human race's destiny, and causing the Heavenly Dao to lose its ability to monitor the world.

Few people in this world know the complete confession; the higher-ups of the Immortal Sect know it, and Ji You knows it too.

Therefore, at the moment the sacred site of the sages cracked open, they all vaguely guessed that this object was related to destiny.

Luck is the destiny of humankind, and without a doubt, those who are blessed by this luck will be favored.

Therefore, all the immortal sects wanted to hold it in their hands, but as some people gained fortune, others lost it, and the human race's fortune was no longer balanced.

To give a simple example, this fortune will soon create an incomparably powerful family, but at the same time, a plague will ravage the world.

The ebb and flow of things is inevitable, which is why Ji You was unwilling to hand it over.

"Since fragments of the ancient sage's fortune are flowing out of the sacred site, this may only be the beginning."

"Indeed, this is only a wisp of fortune. In the future, there may be more loss of fortune, and then the human race will suffer a great calamity."

As Zuo Qiuyang spoke, he looked at Ji You and said, "So I would like to ask you to make a trip to the Dan Sect."

Ji You reached out and withdrew the aura: "Please ask them to restore the sacred site of the ancient sages?"

“Indeed, only the Pill Sect in this world can do this, but the Pill Sect has closed its mountain. Perhaps only you can enter. We must repair the sacred ground as soon as possible and find out what happened inside.”

"But back then, the five major immortal sects went on a killing spree in Dan Mountain for the sake of immortal opportunities. Do you think they would have agreed to that?"

"This matter concerns the fate of the sect, and it is naturally closely related to the Dan Sect. Sect Leader Yuan is aware of the implications."

Ji You took out a note he had written before coming from his bosom: "Have other immortal sects sign it, and with the Heavenly Academy as guarantor, I'm willing to give it a try."

After reading the post, Zuo Qiuyang looked up at him and said, "I thought you would make some demands, but I thought it would be taxes. I didn't expect... Alright, give me some time. You can set off for the Pill Sect after it's done."

"Then it's settled." Ji You didn't waste any more words, agreed, and got up to leave.

"Ji You".

"?"

"Can the young appraiser, Yuan Caiwei, and the other women... get along well?"

Zuo Qiuyang only confirmed today that there was true love between him and the young master of Lingjian Mountain, but according to rumors, Ji You has quite a few fiancées.

Leaving aside those in the courtyard, the story of Yuan Caiwei from the Dan Sect has been circulating for many years.

He simply couldn't imagine how the young appraiser's personality would allow them to get along, which is why he asked the question.

The two sisters are doing well, and as for the other women... it's still just a rumor for now.

Ji You silently recited this in her heart, then couldn't help but glance at him, thinking to herself, "Palace Master, your Dao heart is as unpredictable as the Bagua."

After watching Ji You leave, Zuo Qiuyang stood with his hands behind his back on the cliff, his eyes gazing intently in the direction of the sacred site of the ancient sages.

The Chu family and others were greedy, not insane. They severed the human race's fortune to seize the sacred artifact, so they must have known how to regain the fortune after they succeeded.

He has already sent people to re-interrogate those people, and now the most important thing is to open the sacred site of the ancients and see what is inside.

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)