Whether it’s Immortal Sect or Demon Sect, disciples don’t necessarily have to stay in the academy.
For example, Ran Jingri didn’t remain in the sect.
However, she maintained contact with fellow disciples, so everyone was quite familiar with Ran Jingri’s family situation and even knew some past secrets.
The girl in front of them didn’t actively reveal her identity, but the female cultivator could discern her origins from her resemblance to Ran Jingri and Li Qingxun.
Li Jingyu lowered her eyes, a strange light flashing through them.
Her thoughts turned, and after a moment, she nodded slightly and said, “Yes.”
Sensing a cold gaze from behind, Li Jingyu instinctively turned to look at Ji Yutang, seeing her lips curled in mockery and ridicule, as if saying, “Did your lie get exposed?”
The female cultivator nodded, her gaze passing over Li Jingyu and landing firmly on Ji Yutang, her eyes sparkling: “A little girl from the Ji Family?”
Before Ji Yutang could respond, she continued, “My surname is Yue, and my name is Gantang. You can call me Senior Yue.”
She also noticed the spells on the three of them and, without saying more, waved her sleeve and used a “Daluo Tianxiu” technique to take them away.
This mountain wasn’t far from Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace, so when the incident was discovered, it was Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace’s disciples who handled it.
However, they initially underestimated the demon’s cultivation level, sending only Foundation Establishment disciples, who lost their lives without any resistance.
Tu Danzhu managed to survive due to a talisman, but now her vital energy was severely depleted, damaging her foundation.
Without proper care, it might hinder her path.
As for Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu, although they didn’t suffer much, the blood curse mark on them had started to grow.
Removing it would be extremely difficult.
In Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace, Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu were not true disciples, only temporarily staying in the guest hall.
Incense burned in the hall, wisps of smoke floating, and the blood curse marks on the two of them formed a blood beast, seemingly resisting the smoke.
However, as the blood beast appeared, the plaque in the hall suddenly emitted a brilliant light, enveloping the two and temporarily suppressing the blood beast.
Ji Yutang, not practicing magic, was completely unaware of the changes in the blood curse mark on her.
She glanced at the person opposite her, no longer calling “Daoist Friend Li,” but instead pulling out a fake smile and directly calling, “Ran Guzhu.”
Previously, in the dangerous situation, everything could be postponed, but now that the crisis hanging above had been resolved, her heart became restless again.
Li Jingyu was stunned for a moment before realizing Ji Yutang was calling her.
She looked up to meet Ji Yutang’s gaze and calmly said, “Daoist Friend Ji, do you have something to say?”
“You’ve changed a bit, is this another mask?”
Ji Yutang stared at the calm-faced Li Jingyu, her heart filled with intense resentment.
It was as if she was the only one trapped in those words, bearing all the negative emotions alone.
How could such a thing be possible?
Li Jingyu lowered her head, hiding the fleeting light in her eyes, and after a while, she smiled gently and said, “Daoist Friend Ji, you’re joking.”
Ji Yutang let out a light laugh, just about to reveal past ugliness, when a sound came from outside, and she immediately fell silent.
The people of Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace knew her father and were aware of her engagement to the Ran Family, but Ran Guzhu’s scandal of fleeing the marriage was covered up, claiming she was taken as a true disciple by Taiyuan Dao Palace and would marry once her cultivation was accomplished.
In others’ eyes, she and Ran Guzhu were “fiancées.”
Entering the hall was a delicate, scholarly-dressed child, who bowed to Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu, saying, “Two Daoist friends, Palace Master Yue invites you.”
Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace has academies set up in various paths of Jiuzhou, and any cultivator who reaches the Golden Core stage must serve as a teacher for a period, so Golden Core cultivators are also called “Palace Masters.”
Ji Yutang glanced at Li Jingyu before getting up first and following the child’s steps.
Li Jingyu remained composed, her expression gentle like a spring breeze.
She naturally understood Ji Yutang’s attitude, after all, her “good sister” had done such things.
If it were her, she wouldn’t show a good face either.
Gantang Palace.
Yue Gantang sat at the head, a document spread on the table.
Since returning, she had been searching for information related to the blood curse mark and found a method to break it in the “Haoran Zhengqi Pixie Jing.”
One way was to transfer the blood curse mark to someone with higher cultivation, but this only relied on that person’s own power to suppress it, not a true solution.
The other way was to implant a “Yutian Haoran Seal” into the person with the blood curse mark, allowing the cultivator to nurture this seal, gradually erasing the blood curse mark.
If successful, the cultivator could also benefit from it.
Seeing Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu arrive, Yue Gantang explained these two methods to break the blood curse mark, waiting for them to choose.
If they didn’t want to nurture the Haoran Seal themselves, she would temporarily transfer the blood curse mark to herself.
“Does this Yutian Haoran Seal require power to nurture?”
Ji Yutang pondered for a moment, then looked up at Yue Gantang and asked.
“No.”
Yue Gantang shook her head and explained, “It nurtures the mind. This energy is called Haoran Qi in Confucian Sect, Xuanqing Qi in Daoist Sect, and Lotus Qi in Buddhist Sect. It’s not power, but a trace of Dao rhythm. Planting the Yutian Haoran Seal won’t affect your cultivation or ruin your Dao transmission. However, your cultivation is too low, so to truly erase the blood curse mark, you’ll need to attend lectures in the academy, using the academy’s righteous energy to suppress the blood curse.”
Ji Yutang nodded, “Alright.”
With her own abilities, she probably couldn’t erase the blood curse mark, and the incident made her unwilling to return home to face those who might pity or gloat.
Receiving help from Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace was naturally the best option.
Li Jingyu didn’t respond, seemingly deep in thought.
“Ran Shizhi, if you plan to return to Taiyuan Dao Palace and use Dao techniques to suppress it, I can send you back.”
Yue Gantang looked at Li Jingyu and said.
Compared to Taiyuan Dao Palace, Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace’s academy was probably more stable.
Li Jingyu thought for a moment and said, “I wish to stay in the academy.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Ji Yutang.
Seeing her expression, Yue Gantang secretly laughed, thinking she wanted to accompany Ji Yutang, and immediately agreed, “The nearest one is Bailu Academy. I’ll have someone send you there later.”
To prevent Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu from feeling lost, she added, “There aren’t many rules in the academy, so you don’t need to worry. However, it is a place of cultivation, and there will be literary and martial competitions among disciples. If you’re not confident, you can decline.”
Bailu Academy is one of Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace’s thirty-six academies, located at the foot of Bailu Mountain.
The halls are built along Mingdao Creek, and every tall pavilion has a copper bird that turns with the wind, emitting bird-like cries, with the mountain birds joining in song.
Currently, the academy is overseen by Palace Master Bai Qinglian, who wears a dark green scholar’s robe with ink fish embroidered on the hem.
Upon closer inspection, it seems the fish might come to life, leaping between the clear stream and lotus leaves.
However, this Palace Master rarely appears in public.
After the first day at Bailu Academy, Ji Yutang never saw her again.
But this was fine, as fewer supervisors meant more leisure.
Bailu Dormitory is where academy disciples reside.
There are two-person rooms and eight-person rooms, all arranged by the teachers, leaving no room for protest.
Perhaps due to Yue Gantang’s advice, Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu were assigned to a quiet two-person room, immediately drawing the envy of the academy disciples.
They say “enjoy poverty and the Dao,” and if everyone is “poor” together, there’s nothing to say.
But if someone is the lucky one, “wealthy” alone, how can others balance their minds?
However, for Ji Yutang, this wasn’t a good arrangement.
Facing “Ran Guzhu” every day, even in her dreams, she was haunted by the words “useless”!
The person before her and the past presented an incomprehensible divide, and this deceptive mask made Ji Yutang angry just thinking about it.
Yet the other party seemed unfazed, always greeting her with a smile.
Did she think a smile could erase past grievances?
Before Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu could have an internal conflict, a challenge letter arrived at the dormitory.
It was a martial challenge!
Ji Yutang: “…”
Li Jingyu, understanding, signed “Ran Guzhu” on the challenge letter, relieving Ji Yutang’s embarrassment and confusion.
“In this academy, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s a good opportunity to truly enter the Mortal Shedding Realm.”
Li Jingyu said warmly.
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together, not responding.
The current divisions only correspond to the Qi Dao, while the “True Dragon Transformation Sutra” has different names for the first three realms: “Forming Scales,” “Building Armor,” and “Forming Pearl.”
Forming Scales involves visualizing a divine dragon, causing scales to grow on the body.
In the Building Armor realm, the external appearance fully transforms into dragon armor, and upon forming the “Dragon Pearl,” one truly becomes a true dragon.
The last two realms are the same, but Ji Yutang doesn’t need to think about them now.
This Dragon Transformation Sutra requires external medicine, and according to the scripture, most of it is found in Beihai.
Ji Yutang is clearly not in a position to go there now, but visualizing the divine dragon is enough to push her into the Transcendence Realm.
The creator of the Dragon Dao probably didn’t want future disciples stuck at the first hurdle.
Only after transcending can one have a bit of ability to gather external medicine.
