Chapter 177 - 172: A Sky Beyond the Sky

Chapter 177: Chapter 172: A Sky Beyond the Sky

Half an hour later, the On-Duty Disciple from the Affairs Hall set foot on the mountain path of Celestial Stone Peak.

Celestial Stone Peak was not the tallest among the peaks of the Panshi Sect, but it was renowned for its treacherous terrain.

The mountain path snaked upward, flanked by jagged black rocks. A few gnarled old pines grew stubbornly from the crevices, their needles rustling softly in the morning breeze.

At the end of the path, a solitary courtyard sat on the edge of a cliff. Its walls, built from unpolished, rough-hewn stones, blended seamlessly with the mountain, looking as if they had grown straight out of the rock.

No flowers or bamboo grew before the courtyard gate, only a single bluestone slab, pitted and uneven from the wind and rain. Faint marks from blades and swords could be seen upon its surface.

The On-Duty Disciple walked up to the gate, took a deep breath, raised his hand, and struck the door knocker.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Three muffled sounds echoed through the empty mountain valley.

A moment later, the courtyard gate opened from within, revealing a burly figure.

The man was exceedingly tall, a full head taller than an average person. With the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, his shoulders were as broad as a door panel. Standing there, he looked like a moving stone wall.

He wore a short, charcoal-gray robe with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing two gnarled forearms. Veins bulged on his arms like coiled serpents—a clear sign of long-term Body Forging practice.

Ji Wanting.

Ninety-ninth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking, Late Stage Refining Organ Realm, and just half a step from the peak.

Among the Inner Sect Disciples of the Panshi Sect, his name resounded like thunder. He disliked socializing and rarely walked about the Sect, but his strength was like Celestial Stone Peak itself—even if you didn’t look up, you knew how high it stood.

The Affairs Hall disciple bowed slightly and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Ji, Senior Brother Chen Yue has issued a challenge to you. Please respond within ten days."

Hearing this, Ji Wanting’s eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle glint flashing in their depths.

Chen Yue. He knew the name.

Few in the Inner Sect hadn’t heard of Chen Yue recently, especially since Ji Wanting himself was a nominal member of the Mutual Aid Association.

It was quite the coincidence.

Ji Wanting had been part of the Mutual Aid Association back when it was just a loose, small group.

Later, as the Mutual Aid Association gradually grew, Ji Wanting retreated from the forefront to the background, no longer participating in its daily affairs.

He hadn’t been active in the association for a long time and didn’t participate in decision-making, but they still sent a share of resources to him on time every month.

For someone like Ji Wanting, who was on the verge of breaking through to the peak of the Refining Organ Realm, these resources were better than nothing, but not by much.

Still, there was no harm in accepting them, so he never refused. He had no reason to.

The Mutual Aid Association tacitly accepted this arrangement. They needed a prodigy from the Cyan Cloud Ranking like Ji Wanting on their roster.

When Ji Wanting had previously heard about Chen Yue cornering Lin Junshi, he hadn’t felt much of anything.

Lin Junshi was in the Refining Organ Realm, and Chen Yue was in the Marrow Refining Realm. For a Refining Organ Realm cultivator to be forced into an impossible situation by someone in the Marrow Refining Realm might have seemed like a huge deal to others.

But in Ji Wanting’s eyes, it was merely a case of a weakling encountering a newcomer who didn’t play by the rules.

Lin Junshi’s helplessness was his own problem; it had nothing to do with how strong Chen Yue was.

’Why would I, a dignified cultivator at the Late Stage Refining Organ Realm—soon to reach its peak—go and pick a fight with a Marrow Refining Realm disciple just to stand up for the Mutual Aid Association?’

Even if this Marrow Refining Realm disciple was extraordinary, even if he could kill a Marrow Refining Realm cultivator while in the Bone Forging Realm, and defeat a Refining Organ Realm cultivator while in the Marrow Refining Realm, so what?

’The Marrow Refining Realm is still the Marrow Refining Realm, and he’s no Cheng Fengjun!’

He just hadn’t expected that while he had no intention of seeking out Chen Yue, Chen Yue would be the one to challenge him first.

Ji Wanting’s gaze lingered on the Affairs Hall disciple’s face for a moment before he gave a slight nod.

"I understand. I will accept the challenge in five days."

The On-Duty Disciple nodded, cupped his hands toward Ji Wanting, and turned to leave.

He needed to return, record the matter, and announce the challenge as per the Sect’s regulations.

Every challenge for a spot on the Cyan Cloud Ranking was publicly announced; this was a rule of the Panshi Sect.

This wasn’t for the disciples’ entertainment, but to allow them to observe duels between experts and see the gap between themselves and others.

They were to understand that there was always a higher mountain to climb and a stronger person to face, and thus use their shame as motivation to grow stronger.

The On-Duty Disciple hurried down the mountain path of Celestial Stone Peak, crossed a stone bridge, passed the foot of Dan Peak, went around the Hidden Skills Pavilion, and returned to the Affairs Hall.

He recorded the news of Ji Wanting’s acceptance into a Jade and noted on the challenge record that the duel would take place in five days.

Half an hour later, news of Chen Yue’s challenge to Ji Wanting began to spread throughout the Panshi Sect.

It passed from mouth to mouth and from ear to ear, spreading like wildfire, unstoppable.

Some whispered about it, some discussed it openly. Some slammed their tables in the dining hall, debating with flying spittle, while others on the Training Ground exchanged opinions with their fellow disciples as they practiced their punches.

In an instant, the eyes of many disciples were once again fixed on Chen Yue.

His name had reached their ears multiple times over the past half-month.

Slaying Jiang Linkuo on the Death Stage, defeating Cheng Fengjun in Panshi Lane—every time his name came up, it was tied to some jaw-dropping event.

And this time, he was challenging the Cyan Cloud Ranking.

Every one of the hundred people on the ranking was a Refining Organ Realm expert, each possessing rich combat experience and immense strength.

A Marrow Refining Realm disciple challenging the Cyan Cloud Ranking was not unheard of in the history of the Panshi Sect, but every time it happened, it drew immense attention and discussion.

Some were excited, some were curious, some were disdainful, and some watched on with cold detachment.

The excited wanted to see a good show, the curious wanted to know just how strong Chen Yue truly was, and the disdainful felt he was just another reckless fool who overestimated his own abilities.

Those watching with detachment were simply waiting for the outcome. Regardless of the result, it would be nothing more than a topic of conversation for them.

Not long after the Affairs Hall disciple left, Ji Wanting’s courtyard gate was knocked on again.

After three muffled thuds, before Ji Wanting could even get up to open the gate, a familiar voice came from outside.

"Senior Brother Ji, it’s me, Lin Junshi."

Ji Wanting’s brow twitched slightly. He set down his teacup, stood up, walked to the gate, and slid the bolt open.

Two people stood outside the gate.

Lin Junshi stood in front, dressed in a sharp, dark-colored martial arts uniform. He looked neat and tidy, and seemed to be in a good mood.

Zhao Zongzhen stood half a step behind him.

Zhao Zongzhen hadn’t wanted to come. He had already developed a grudging respect for Chen Yue—it wasn’t fear, but a kind of acknowledgment.

But Lin Junshi couldn’t swallow his pride. Upon hearing that Chen Yue was challenging Ji Wanting, he had dragged Zhao Zongzhen along without giving him a chance to refuse.

The three of them sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Ji Wanting lifted the teapot from the stone table, pouring a cup for Lin Junshi first, then one for Zhao Zongzhen, and finally filling his own.

Steam curled gently from the tea, its rich aroma mingling with the crisp scent of pine needles from Celestial Stone Peak outside the courtyard, creating a refreshing fragrance.

Lin Junshi picked up his cup and, ignoring the heat, took a sip. He then set it back on the table with a soft clink.

He looked up at Ji Wanting, the smile on his face deepening.

"Senior Brother Ji, we came because we heard that Chen Yue fellow is challenging you," Lin Junshi said, getting straight to the point.

Ji Wanting raised his own cup, took a slow sip, and then set it down.

His gaze swept over Lin Junshi’s face, fell upon Zhao Zongzhen’s, and then returned.

"You want me to strike a heavy blow in the Martial Arts Arena?" Ji Wanting’s voice was deep and calm.

Lin Junshi nodded, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

"That Chen Yue is arrogant and overestimates his abilities. Daring to challenge you, Senior Brother! If he isn’t severely punished, it won’t serve as a warning to others!" His voice grew louder.

The corners of Ji Wanting’s mouth lifted slightly.

"I know about the situation with the Mutual Aid Association, but I originally had no intention of doing anything to him."

He paused, took another sip of tea, and placed the cup gently on the table. The bottom of the cup made a crisp sound as it touched the stone.

"But now that he’s come looking for me, we can settle all accounts at once."

Hearing this, a smile bloomed on Lin Junshi’s face. He took a box from his Storage Ring, held it with both hands, and placed it before Ji Wanting.

The box was wrapped in deep blue brocade, embroidered with gold thread in a subtle pattern.

"Senior Brother Ji, this is a small token of appreciation from the junior brothers in the association for this month," Lin Junshi said, his voice laced with a fawning tone.

Ji Wanting’s gaze fell upon the box. He didn’t reach out to open it or ask what was inside, but simply nodded slightly, accepting it.

Zhao Zongzhen sat at the stone table, silent the entire time.

He held his teacup in his hand, the tea already somewhat cool, but he hadn’t taken a single sip.

His gaze shifted back and forth between Ji Wanting and Lin Junshi, and his lips moved slightly a few times, as if he were hesitating to speak.

"Senior Brother Ji, there’s something strange about that Chen Yue. You have to be on your guard."

Hearing this, Lin Junshi shot Zhao Zongzhen a look of displeasure.

’The fight hasn’t even started, and he’s already boosting the enemy’s morale while undermining our own?’

In Lin Junshi’s opinion, Zhao Zongzhen had been scared witless by Chen Yue.

Ji Wanting picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. The tea was a bit cool now, but the bitterness of cold tea lingered longer on the tongue, leaving a unique aftertaste.

He gently placed the cup back on the stone table and looked at Zhao Zongzhen, his gaze steady and profound, like a bottomless pool of water.

"A Marrow Refining Realm cultivator defeated a Refining Organ Realm cultivator and came out unscathed. How could I possibly be careless?"

He wasn’t trying to comfort Zhao Zongzhen, nor was he placating Lin Junshi.

He never underestimated any opponent. This was a principle that had never changed in his twenty-plus years on the path of the Martial Dao.

But Ji Wanting didn’t underestimate himself, either.

His confidence wasn’t baseless; it had been forged through years of fighting, one battle at a time.

Every battle, every victory, every time he’d dragged himself up from grave injuries to continue cultivating—each one had carved an indelible mark upon his very bones.

He knew the weight of his own fist.

’If Chen Yue were also in the Refining Organ Realm, it might be a different story. But Chen Yue is only in the Marrow Refining Realm.’

’If I couldn’t even guarantee victory against a mere Marrow Refining Realm disciple, wouldn’t all those days and nights of bitter cultivation on Celestial Stone Peak, all those life-and-death struggles, become a joke?’

A moment later, Lin Junshi and Zhao Zongzhen rose to take their leave.

Ji Wanting saw them to the courtyard gate. He didn’t say much, just nodded before turning back inside.

The gate closed behind him with a dull creak, shutting out the outside world.

He walked back to the stone table, his gaze landing on the exquisite brocade box.

Ji Wanting reached out and lifted the lid.

Inside, several medicinal vials were neatly arranged. Ji Wanting picked one up, uncorked it, brought it to his nose, and sniffed, then nodded slightly.

The number of Elixirs inside was triple what he had received last month.

A smile appeared on Ji Wanting’s face, this one a few shades deeper than the one he had given Zhao Zongzhen earlier.

He wasn’t a greedy man, but he wouldn’t refuse benefits that landed in his lap.

Lin Junshi and Zhao Zongzhen walked along the mountain path, their footsteps making a rhythmic sound on the stone steps.

Lin Junshi looked somewhat euphoric. Recently, he had been at a complete loss as to how to deal with Chen Yue.

Every path had been blocked, and every method had proven useless.

But given his personality, Lin Junshi was too resentful to simply let the matter go.

He never expected Chen Yue to serve up an opportunity on a silver platter by challenging Ji Wanting of all people.

Challenges for the Cyan Cloud Ranking could not be fought to the death; this was an ironclad rule of the Panshi Sect.

But as long as Ji Wanting could gravely injure Chen Yue on the spot, the Mutual Aid Association would have its vengeance.

Zhao Zongzhen followed behind him, his pace much slower.