Chapter 23: Yujing City in the Sky-Part 1

Yujing Sect, the main peak of a mountain with five side peaks, is divided between the sect master and the elders. After the passing of Elder Bai, the main peak is temporarily governed by five elders in rotation, and it is currently Shen Yushu’s turn.

After Shen’s siblings and the young disciples landed, the stewards, who had already heard the commotion, surrounded them, asking what had happened and why these disciples had gone straight into the mountain gate.

While Shen’s siblings discussed matters with the stewards, the newly arrived disciples looked around with envy and admiration.

With cranes soaring and clouds as their guide, one could feel abundant spiritual energy just by standing here.

Some well-meaning individuals introduced the unsuspecting disciples: “Yujing sect is suspended in the sky. Legend has it that there was a battle between immortals and demons a thousand years ago, and there were also traitors within the sect. In order to ensure the longevity of the Yujing sect, Patriarch Qingmu altered the geomancy, lifting Mount Yujing from the ground. Since then, this has been the true—Yujing City in the Sky.”

The disciples exclaimed in excitement, “Oh!”

Moving mountains and changing landscapes are truly worthy of the legendary immortals!

Li Bu, who had just stepped on the tail end of the white feathers, heard people boasting about the Yujing sect as soon as he came out and couldn’t help but sneer: How much of these rumors are true?

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Hua Shi, who had seemed terrifying in his eyes, was now within five steps of him. He felt stiff and cold all over, not knowing how he had come here in such a daze.

He was still a mortal, unlike these cultivators with their various abilities.

Amidst Chen Da’s panic, he only recognized one familiar face.

As soon as Chen Da approached, he heard the conversation between Ti Ying and Jiang Xuehe—

Jiang Xuehe was indeed skilled. While others were still figuring out the way, he had already obtained a bowl of water from one of the stewards and was coaxing the distressed Ti Ying to drink.

Ti Ying leaned weakly against her senior brother, crying and causing a scene before finally calming down. She felt exhausted after all the commotion.

Ti Ying drank the water dazedly, her face pale, her lips moistened by the water, and her hair sticking to her cheeks, a bit disheveled.

Some excited disciples recognized her as one of the two women who had fought earlier. After some emotional fluctuations, they wanted to come over and make friends. Regardless of how much trouble the young girl had caused them, she had indeed fought equally with Hua Shi, and they had benefited from the situation, skipping many trials and coming directly to the Yujing sect.

Jiang Xuehe subtly shifted his body and led his junior sister to a secluded place. Those disciples couldn’t come over for a while.

Ti Ying looked up at her senior brother, but all she saw was a hazy blur.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Do I have an incurable disease?”

Chen Da perked up his ears and followed nervously: “Even cultivators can get incurable diseases when they come here. Shouldn’t I, as a mortal, be more careful?”

He heard Jiang Xuehe comfortingly say, “You’re just flying this high for the first time, feeling a bit dizzy. Once you learn how to control the wind after entering the Yujing sect, you won’t feel dizzy anymore.”

Chen Da: …Some people still get dizzy from flying? And, immortal Jiang, how do you know? Are you always watching your junior sister so closely?

Ti Ying was really convinced by Jiang Xuehe.

With full confidence, she nodded, and when her senior brother wanted to feed her water again, she turned her head away and said, “No need!”

Seeing the curious looks around her, Ti Ying blushed suddenly and was a little annoyed. “Don’t treat me like a child; everyone is laughing at me!”

Ti Ying looked at the disciples around her; apart from Hua Shi, who was holding onto the iron ring tightly, and the girl with the blindfold, others also smiled curiously at her.

Especially a boy with a baby face who seemed to be focused on her, smiling genuinely.

But little did they know Ti Ying was not an easy person to please.

When someone smiled at her so freely, she thought there was something wrong with him.

She snorted and turned her face away to look at others.

Li Bu: …So childish.

Jiang Xuehe saw that Ti Ying seemed to have recovered a bit and stopped crying, so he slowly stopped offering her water. He noticed a unique gaze in the surrounding crowd…

Jiang Xuehe looked up.

Through the hood and the distance, he saw Li Bu.

Li Bu’s slightly stiff smile blossomed again, full of provocation.

Jiang Xuehe stared at Li Bu, then suddenly heard Ti Ying whispering softly, “So handsome.”

Jiang Xuehe: Huh?

Ti Ying hid behind an ancient tree, staring at the Shen siblings who had brought them up.

Ti Ying: “Is that an immortal?”

She pointed at Shen Xingchuan.

Shen Xingchuan was busy discussing matters with the troubled stewards, paying no attention to these disciples. His aloofness and indifference exuded a cold and sharp sword aura, making everyone around him, except for Shen Yushu, the stewards, and those who were talking to him, tremble with fear.

Jiang Xuehe replied to Ti Ying, “There are no immortals in this world.”

Ti Ying pouted, “If it doesn’t hurt little Ying, don’t worry about it!”

Jiang Xuehe was taken aback for a moment before suppressing a smile. “This is Elder Shen, the current number one swordsman in the world.”

Ti Ying turned her head skeptically and asked, “How do you know?”

Is her senior brother omnipotent?

Jiang Xuehe replied softly, “Elder Shen’s cultivation is exceptional. He handles everything with a single sword stroke, is fair-minded, upright, and cares for the younger generation. When I was young, I used to regard him as a saint. When I entered cultivation, I also hoped that one day I could become someone like Elder Shen.”

Ti Ying suddenly realized, “He’s that amazing? Then, is it difficult to ask him to be a master? Does he have disciples?”

Jiang Xuehe shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Chen Da, like a flatterer, followed this sibling pair.

Jiang Xuehe glanced at him without saying anything, while Ti Ying stared in surprise, not understanding how a mortal like Chen Da ended up here, but it didn’t matter.

Ti Ying continued to watch Shen Xingchuan.

Jiang Xuehe waited for her for a while, gradually furrowing his brows.

He took a step to block Ti Ying’s view.

Jiang Xuehe leaned down and asked softly, “Are you curious?”

Ti Ying nodded eagerly, “Mm-hmm!”

Now Jiang Xuehe was curious. “What are you curious about?”

Ti Ying’s cheeks turned red.

She said to her senior brother, “I’ve read stories where masters are very noble and proud, as if they’re not humans; they are so beautiful. But I don’t understand… An old man is just an old man, right? Masters are usually old; with almost all their teeth missing, how can they be handsome?”

She was very naive. “Only the senior brother… the senior brother in my dreams is handsome!”

Jiang Xuehe was startled. She dreamed of him?

Ti Ying’s dark eyes sparkled with fragments of light, flickering intermittently. “The stories in the books are true. There really are handsome and young masters…”

Jiang Xuehe recalled the phrase “the senior brother in my dreams,” lowered his head, patiently brushed away the stray hair sticking to her face, and his fingers inadvertently brushed against her fair skin.

His emotions were in turmoil, but he heard Ti Ying’s matter-of-fact remark, “No wonder disciples admire their master and want to have children with him. I understand now!”

Jiang Xuehe felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

In the “Ying’s Upbringing Manual,” he silently made a note: check Ying’s books.

What does she know to say something like “having children”?…

—

Soon, the stewards came over and informed the anxious disciples:

Firstly, the Yujing Sect has no restrictions on accepting disciples. Cultivators can choose to join or not, and they can also exchange their unique techniques for merits in the sect. Those brought here today by Elder Shen, due to his oversight in not scrutinizing them properly, will at worst become outer disciples. Those unwilling to join the Yujing Sect can wait for representatives from other major sects to arrive and participate in their selection trials.

Secondly, those who have passed the trial of the Jade Token can all enter the inner sect. However, the selection process for the inner sect is extremely strict. Even after entering the inner sect, those who aspire to become the personal disciples of the five elders still need to compete. The competition is divided into two categories: literary and martial. Outstanding disciples are ranked and then choose their masters. Both disciple and master must mutually agree for the disciple to be recognized as a personal disciple.

Thirdly, starting tomorrow, young cultivators or mortals who did not have the opportunity today will continue to participate in the trials at the foot of the mountain. The Yujing Sect treats everyone equally and records the achievements of all participants. When representatives from other sects arrive, they will have the opportunity to select disciples from these records.

Fourthly, the four major sects will hold joint trials, where disciples from each sect will compete against each other. This is a friendly competition, not a life-or-death battle.

After the stewards finished announcing, the disciples who came up the mountain today all breathed a sigh of relief.

Ti Ying paid attention to Shen Xingchuan. As everyone went to line up for their accommodations, she also hid behind a tree without moving. Her senior brother and Chen Da were both with her.

Jiang Xuehe contemplated: Exchanging unique techniques for merits in other sects… Has the Yujing Sect really reached such an unrestricted level?

Ti Ying then saw Shen Xingchuan walking towards their direction…

Ti Ying was pleasantly surprised.

Shen Xingchuan was intercepted by Hua Shi: “Elder!”

Shen Xingchuan paused and looked at Hua Shi.

Hua Shi plucked up her courage: “You ruined what my father gave me…”

Shen Xingchuan said faintly, “You privately fought with disciples who have not yet entered the sect, causing harm to civilians. I won’t punish you because you haven’t joined the sect yet. Otherwise…”

Hua Shi hesitated, and there were also stewards who were oblivious: “Miss Hua, will you finally choose a master this year?”

Hua Shi immediately retorted: “What’s it to you?”

She shouted after Shen Xingchuan’s back: “I have a reason! I’m investigating the death of Suan Yu… The person you imprisoned isn’t the real Suan Yu, you…”

A gust of wind came, sealing her mouth.

The other disciples looked at her in confusion.

Hua Shi sneered and turned her head away: The truth will be revealed eventually.

—

Hearing what Hua Shi shouted, Chen Da turned pale.

Shen Xingchuan’s footsteps paused, and he looked in Ti Ying’s direction.

After being interrupted by Hua Shi, Elder Shen hesitated and glanced over here before walking away…

Ti Ying followed Elder Shen’s gaze and found him looking at Jiang Xuehe.

Jiang Xuehe was contemplating taking Ti Ying to register, reaching out for Ti Ying’s hand.

Ti Ying: “Hmph!”

She shook off his hand, her skirt fluttering and her black hair brushing her forehead, and she ran away alone.

Jiang Xuehe was puzzled for a moment, thinking: …She’s really willful and agile.

Ti Ying felt a sensitive twinge of jealousy.

She suspected that her limelight hadn’t been noticed by Elder Shen.

She suspected that Elder Shen thought her senior brother was more outstanding.

She had always had a fiery temper, but when she looked up at her senior brother, he was so wonderful that she felt embarrassed to get angry with him, so she could only sulk alone.

After cooling down, Ti Ying would naturally regret it, but that would take a while.

—

During the time Ti Ying ran off, Jiang Xuehe saw that there were too many people in line, so he decided to go back to the accommodation arranged by the stewards for male disciples first, and when there were fewer people, he would come back to register.

He wanted to wait for a moment until his junior sister calmed down, then he would go and coax her.

Following him, Chen Da was taken to the disciples’ accommodations. After that, Jiang Xuehe walked on the lush path, holding the jade token, ready to find his junior sister.

At the corner of the road, beside the green bamboo forest, Li Bu stood with his arms crossed, smiling and looking at him.

The mountain breeze brushed by, and the spring water flowed quietly. Jiang Xuehe paused for a moment.

His gaze remained straight ahead.

As he and Li Bu were about to pass each other, Jiang Xuehe heard Li Bu’s chilling whisper: “You made me lose my brother; I’ll make you lose your sister too.”

The wind lifted his cloak.

Jiang Xuehe raised his eyes with a serene, spring-like expression. He smiled casually. “A threat, huh?”

Li Bu was momentarily distracted by his elegance and amiability.

In the next moment,.

The killing intent struck like entwining vines!

His technique failed, and Li Bu suddenly fell backward, crashing onto a bamboo pole.

First, the technique was suppressed, then a thin, pale hand grabbed his neck.

Li Bu struggled to breathe, seeing Jiang Xuehe draw closer, refined and gentle. “Threatening me?”

The wind lifted the hood, revealing the text on the young man’s neck floating due to the killing intent, with scars and bloodstains, and the curse beginning to inflict pain all over his body, tormenting his soul. Any slight movement would attract the attention of the Yujing sect.

But Jiang Xuehe paid it no mind.

He was gentle and refined, with dignified manners; the force he exerted on Li Bu’s neck tightened bit by bit.

Jiang Xuehe murmured softly, “The spring is bright and clear, as is the way of heaven. How about you go first and die?”

—

This is the true elegance of Ye Sha.