After Refusing Marriage to the Dao of Slaughter Patriarch (11)

At the end of the winding and twisting long pavilion and corridor. The cultivator in green with black hair smiled faintly, his eyes seemingly containing starlight.

The white-robed cultivator beside him was also handsome and slender, slightly bowing his head as if shy.

At first glance, one would only feel that they were very well-matched and intimate.

Ji Zhaixing chatted with Rong Zhou for a long while before realizing the sun was setting in the west. He had delayed the other party for quite some time, and the last bit of golden light in the sky was swallowed up, leaving only a hazy shadow. Ji Zhaixing snapped back to reality, his eyelashes drooping slightly, and said gently, "I've talked too much. I wonder which peak Daoist Rong resides on? I will see you off."

Rong Zhou's entire being was in a rather subtle, numb state. Therefore, when Ji Zhaixing asked him, he didn't think much about it and replied almost subconsciously and flatly, "Huaizhu Peak."

Then, only belatedly did he start to regret it.

Because this meant the two of them would have to walk together for another stretch of the journey.

Fortunately, along the way, Ji Zhaixing was actually quite silent.

Suddenly, a fine snow began to fall, melting on their shoulders and easily soaking their clothes.

Ji Zhaixing had his true essence protecting his body, separating him from the snowflakes, so he didn't feel anything wrong at first; but when he tilted his head slightly, he saw that almost half of Rong Zhou's body was soaked by the melting snow, his face cold and pale, looking incredibly pitiful.

It was actually a bit strange for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him to be in such a sorry state.

"Daoist Rong." Ji Zhaixing raised his hand and tugged at his sleeve, his true essence transmitting through his fingertips to block the falling snow for him. At the same time, he added, "Although you are a healer, you also need to take care of yourself."

Rong Zhou only felt a wave of warmth transferring over from the hem of his sleeve. His body trembled slightly, as if he was somewhat unaccustomed to it, and he subconsciously glanced at Ji Zhaixing.

Holding onto his sleeve, he walked slightly ahead. As he bowed his head slightly, the fine snow drifted around him, and his side profile was illuminated by the reflection of the snow, making his skin look exceptionally pale and his facial features vividly striking.

Rong Zhou stared intently at him, his gaze almost somewhat bewildered and focused.

He had thought this journey would be difficult to endure, but in fact, in just the blink of an eye, Huaizhu Peak was already right in front of them.

Ji Zhaixing let go of his sleeve, and the falling snow stopped right on cue.

"Daoist Rong," Ji Zhaixing's voice fell amidst the dense snow, sounding exceptionally gentle, "until next time."

Rong Zhou absentmindedly snapped back to his senses.

"Until next time." He pursed his lips slightly.

The person then turned and left, dressed in green, his back looking exceptionally slender.

Rong Zhou stood blankly in place for a while longer, then suddenly raised his head, looking toward a hidden corner and said, "Tan Lang."

—He knew this day would eventually come.

Just like how he once forced the girl Tan Lang liked to leave the Yushui Sect, he personally destroyed every single one of Tan Lang's blossoming affections. From suspicion to breakdown, Tan Lang gradually began to reject the people close to him.

Tan Lang walked out from the shadows, his lips tightly pursed, somewhat angry and disappointed, along with an added hint of hidden hostility.

"Rong Zhou." He questioned coldly.

The thin young man in white curled his lips slightly, a satisfied smile on his face.

Since he had been discovered, there was nothing left to hide—

"You tell me on one hand that Ji Zhaixing stole what I love, yet on the other hand you approach him," Tan Lang's gaze was somewhat complicated, as if he was flustered and exasperated. "Even if you don't like me anymore, you shouldn't shift your affections to him."

Rong Zhou's smile stiffened slightly.

"..."

......

When Ji Zhaixing led his junior brothers away from the Yushui Sect, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, a rare good weather recently.

The Hanlin Sword Trial was imminent. They rode on a high-grade magical treasure shaped like a giant boat, departing from the Yushui Sect and traveling to the territory of the Bumeng Sect.

The salty and damp wind blew over, feeling a bit cool as it landed on their cheeks. Qi Baishan stood at the bow of the giant boat, his head slightly raised, looking very high-spirited.

"Senior Brother!"

He straightened his body, then turned his head back, looking at Ji Zhaixing with some anticipation, his cheeks slightly flushed.

"It's the sea—"

Ji Zhaixing was currently inputting true essence into the magical treasure's spiritual core to control this giant boat. Hearing Qi Baishan's shout, he also had the leisure to cast a sideways glance; the blue-green seawater stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Mn." Ji Zhaixing responded gently.

Although Qi Baishan had left the sect a few times before, it was his first time seeing such a towering, magnificent, and unfathomable ocean.

This year's Hanlin Sword Trial was being held within the Bumeng Sect. It was one of the three leading sects in the cultivation world, known as the immortal sect in the sea. The sect was formed by a continuous stretch of several islands, embraced by white waves.

The Bumeng Sect's strength might not be considered the best, but it was the most well-known cultivation sect in the mortal realm, enshrined by the current Emperor. The mortal disciples they recruited every year also possessed the best bone roots.

Qi Baishan was full of longing, unaware that the Bumeng Sect disciples down below, upon looking up, were all shocked by this magnificent giant boat magical artifact, marveling at the profound foundation of the Yushui Sect.

Since the Yushui Sect had arrived, cultivators from the Bumeng Sect naturally came to receive them, clearing out a spiritual island for the giant boat to dock.

The receiving cultivator was one of the Peak Masters of the Bumeng Sect, with Foundation Establishment cultivation, greeting everyone with a smiling face.

At this time, Ji Zhaixing went to store that giant magical artifact into his Qiankun Bag, which would take some time, so he let these disciples disembark first.

As the leading senior brother, Qi Baishan restrained himself a lot at this moment. He remained unfazed by favor or disgrace, displaying quite the demeanor of a heaven-chosen genius.

His youthful heroic bearing, along with the several Yushui Sect disciples behind him who also appeared handsome, indifferent, and very well-mannered. It made people sigh in admiration upon seeing them, saying they were indeed worthy of being the number one sect in the cultivation world; the disciples they nurtured possessed an innate nobility.

Coincidentally, Peak Master Zhang, who came to welcome them, was a distant relative of Qi Baishan's main family branch, so he appeared exceptionally eager, saying: "Martial Nephew Qi."

Qi Baishan also smiled, calling him Senior.

That Peak Master Zhang sighed with emotion: "In just half a year, Martial Nephew Qi's cultivation has improved significantly again. Surely, participating in this Hanlin Sword Trial, you will definitely reap some rewards."

Qi Baishan was very modest: "You flatter me."

Peak Master Zhang then eagerly inquired: "I wonder which Elder from the Yushui Sect has come this time? Is it Lord Anfu or Elder Meng?"

The two he mentioned were both Golden Core Elders of the Yushui Sect. This Peak Master Zhang was two hundred years old, with peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, and had also reached the time when he should face his tribulation to advance to Golden Core. Naturally, he was very attentive to the visiting Golden Core seniors, hoping that if he could receive a few pointers...

Qi Baishan thought of Ji Zhaixing and felt a sense of shared honor, and the smile on his face became more sincere: "It's not either of those two elders, but Ji... Elder Ji."

Upon hearing this surname, Peak Master Zhang instantly felt a bit subtle, forcing a somewhat strained smile: "May I know this Elder Ji's full name?"

Qi Baishan replied humbly and low-key: "Naturally, it is my Senior Brother Ji, Ji Zhaixing."

Peak Master Zhang's expression sank slightly.

He knew that this Ji Zhaixing had quite a background, and the Yushui Sect Master raised him like his own biological son. If he could truly transform into a dragon upon meeting the wind and clouds, then so be it, but for someone banished back from the Upper World, even if they wanted to save face for him and build momentum, they shouldn't joke around with the Hanlin Sword Trial and the reputation of the Yushui Sect.

Of course, this was indeed also him displacing his anger at not having the chance to meet a Golden Core senior.

Before him were disciples of the Yushui Sect. Although Peak Master Zhang harbored complaints in his heart, he didn't dare to show it. He only said in a somewhat polite tone: "So it's him."

"Virtuous Nephew Qi, I still have to welcome disciples from other sects, so I won't hold you up. We'll catch up later when there's free time. I'll have my eldest disciple lead the way for you."

After all, Qi Baishan was young, and he wasn't the spoiled type who needed constant flattery. Not noticing anything amiss, he agreed.

Thus, when Ji Zhaixing shrunk the magical artifact to the size of a core and stored it into his Qiankun Bag, all he saw were his few junior brothers, with a Bumeng Sect disciple waiting by the side.

That disciple looked very honest and well-behaved, his head lowered as he just stared at the hems of people's clothes. Noticing Ji Zhaixing's arrival, he only bowed in greeting, then led the way forward without saying a word.

Such an eccentric demeanor from this disciple would inevitably invite the disgust of those mighty figures, causing discord and trouble.

But Ji Zhaixing's temperament, to some extent, was surprisingly good, so he simply let him lead the way.

The group was taken to one of the seventy-two small islands occupied by the Bumeng Sect. It was an area specifically cleared out for the Yushui disciples, exceptionally quiet, and they hadn't bumped into anyone along the way.

Having led the way, the disciple, like a silent gourd, returned without making any introductions.

Ji Zhaixing released his divine sense to briefly investigate the courtyard, then began assigning living quarters to each disciple.

With no outsiders around, Qi Baishan's taut nerves finally relaxed. He leaned close with bright eyes: "Senior Brother, I don't want to go rest yet."

He seemed to feel this reason was too unreasonable, so he thought about it again: "I'm so nervous I can't sleep, I want you to keep me company."

The other Yushui disciples also strongly hoped to be close to Senior Brother Ji. One by one, they stuck around the courtyard, not mentioning anything about going to rest.

Ji Zhaixing pondered for a moment, then said: "Then tonight I will accompany you all..."

The disciples' eyes lit up brightly.

"...To cultivate."

"..."

Ji Zhaixing smiled: "Who's first?"

Qi Baishan's lips twitched slightly, feeling a bit resentful: "Senior Brother Ji, you're bullying people."

Ji Zhaixing said: "I will suppress my cultivation realm to Qi Condensation and spar with you all."

The several disciples were all a bit surprised.

To have someone like Senior Brother Ji, who was a Golden Core Zhenjun, willing to accommodate and spar with them, even their respective masters had never been so patient.

Since Senior Brother Ji was doing his utmost for them, they absolutely couldn't let him down. Instantly, their fighting spirit surged once more.

Thus, the few junior brothers discussed the order of turns and then took turns seeking guidance from Ji Zhaixing.

The end result, naturally, was defeat.

—And a crushing defeat at that.

They swore it was absolutely not because they held reverence for Senior Brother Ji or lost their fighting spirit to his beauty, but because under his effortlessly wielded sword, they couldn't even withstand a single move before his blade was pressed against their vitals at their throats. It felt as if any slight movement would result in their death. If it wasn't Senior Brother Ji, they even felt they would have died by that sword strike today.

They hadn't expected that their normally gentle and quiet Senior Brother Ji, when wielding a sword, would have such a sharp... and fierce appearance.

They lost so fast that they hadn't even had the time to process it.

Ji Zhaixing asked: "Why do you think you lost?"

The disciples nervously reflected one by one, answering sincerely.

For example, although Senior Brother Ji had suppressed his realm, his comprehensive understanding of swordsmanship remained at the Golden Core level.

For example, their states of mind were different; Senior Brother Ji's Dao heart was perfectly clear and flawless.

Qi Baishan said it was because Senior Brother Ji seized the initiative, thus one wrong step led to a series of wrong steps.

After listening to their respective answers, Ji Zhaixing pondered briefly and said: "None of you are wrong."

"However," Ji Zhaixing's expression was calm and gentle, as if offering comfort, "just now, I suppressed my realm to the third level of Qi Condensation."

And here, even the one with the lowest cultivation was at or above the seventh level of Qi Condensation.

The junior brothers: "..."

Suddenly, they felt a deep sense of shame.