Chapter 162: Heavenly Decree

By the shores of Jishui Lake.

Several outer disciples were paving the road.

Yu Ye, Musha, and Shang Xin were hammering stones, with Hong Qiaoer assisting nearby. Dang Guiyi was ordering Zhan Kun around to haul stones back and forth, scolding him from time to time. Ever since Zhan Kun demanded spirit stones, he had been ostracized by Dang Guiyi and the others. Using the rigged martial trial as leverage had clearly provoked public outrage. Yet he seemed completely oblivious, continuing to work diligently and without a single complaint.

Three months had already passed since the mid-year grand tournament.

Life remained peaceful.

Aside from his daily cultivation, Yu Ye would spend a short while gathering with Yuxing, Li Yun, and Dang Guiyi, either strolling by the lake or chatting in front of their cave dwellings. As for the powerful expert he had seen that day, perhaps it was some elder, but because he was flying too fast, Yu Ye had failed to clearly see the flying sword beneath his feet. As everyone knew, no one in Qizhou had reached the realm of Void Transformation or Integration for hundreds of years, so how could such a grand expert appear within the Yunchuan Immortal Sect? After a brief moment of shock, the four of them gradually let the matter slip from their minds.

Ming Ye’s injuries had completely healed. Mu Hu showed him considerable favor, exempting him from his chores in the kitchen and allowing him to enter secluded cultivation. Rumors had it that he had already advanced to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, and he had made it known that he would not forget his defeat in the grand tournament nor the humiliation of his broken sword.

Although Chen Qi no longer made open provocations, he still acted furtively. Whenever they crossed paths, he would distance himself while wearing an enigmatic smile. Meanwhile, he enjoyed a good reputation on Jishui Peak, having befriended a group of high-cultivation disciples such as Guzi and Yu Fei.

Bai Zhi seemed to have vanished. She had not been seen anywhere since the mid-year grand tournament.

"Ah, take a break!"

Dang Guiyi called out for everyone to rest, then glared and said, "Zhan Kun, the stone materials for paving are waiting right here, how dare you slack off!"

Not daring to argue, Zhan Kun silently picked up a boulder weighing over a hundred catties.

Dang Guiyi gave a muffled snort, an expression of disgust crossing his face. Then he pulled open his collar, fanning himself with his palm while his small, beady eyes darted back and forth.

Yu Ye, Musha, Shang Xin, and Hong Qiaoer each sat down to rest.

Yu Ye sat on a stone and said mysteriously, "I've heard that the Shenqi Hall is recruiting inner disciples. Is anyone interested?"

"Heh!"

Musha chuckled and said, "Inner disciples are all selected from a hundred candidates, none of us dare to harbor unrealistic ambitions!"

Shang Xin asked with puzzlement, "Didn't Uncle-Master Chang say disciples would be chosen from the winners of the mid-year grand tournament?"

Hong Qiaoer chimed in, "That's right, why change the rules now?"

"Ha!"

Yu Ye puffed out his chest and said, "From what I've gathered, Uncle-Master Hong Lie of the Shenqi Hall was extremely dissatisfied with the last mid-year grand tournament. He wants to advance the year-end Heavenly Decision by two months, selecting inner disciples based on merit from among the participants of the Heavenly Decision. This matter has already been approved by the Sect Master, so there shouldn't be any mistake. And why is it called the Heavenly Decision? Because within the Kongtong Realm, life and death are up to heaven, and fortune is up to heaven. Those disciples who manage to walk out of the Kongtong Realm alive rely entirely on divine will, hence they are called Heavenly Decision participants. As for whether to participate in the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision, it is entirely voluntary..."

Musha, Shang Xin, and Hong Qiaoer exchanged glances.

The so-called Heavenly Decision sounded rather terrifying.

"Advancing the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision by two months—doesn't that mean next month? The Kongtong Realm is extremely perilous, everyone should think twice!"

"No need to think twice, I don't dare to go..."

"I'm not going either..."

Yu Ye lowered his gaze to the hammer in his hand.

Unlike the mallet from the Yu family village, this hammer was forged from a solid block of black iron. Sturdy and heavy, a single blow could effortlessly shatter a hundred-catties boulder.

Smashing stones was easy, but the upcoming Yunchuan Heavenly Decision did not seem so simple.

To go or not to go was entirely voluntary; whether one lived or died was up to the Heavenly Decision. This alone was enough to illustrate the mortal danger hidden within the Kongtong Realm.

"Yu Ye, what is your intention?"

Dang Guiyi, Musha, Shang Xin, and Hong Qiaoer had all made up their minds to give up this trip to the Kongtong Realm, yet they wanted to know Yu Ye's decision.

"Me..."

Before Yu Ye could hesitate further, he heard someone calling him.

"Yu Ye—"

On the hillside by the lake, a figure appeared, her body graceful like a green willow and her eyes clear like autumn water.

"Oh?"

It was Bai Zhi, whom he had not seen for a long time. She spoke in a soft voice—

"A moment of your time, please."

She nodded in greeting to Hong Qiaoer and the others, then walked straight along the lake embankment.

Yu Ye slowly stood up.

"Heh!"

Dang Guiyi waved his hand and urged, "Senior Sister Bai is inviting you for a chat, how dare you dawdle!"

Musha, Shang Xin, and Hong Qiaoer wore good-natured smiles.

"Thud—"

Zhan Kun had just set down a stone, wiping the sweat from his brow. As he turned to leave, he cast a deep glance at Bai Zhi's retreating figure.

Yu Ye had been to the forest north of Jishui Lake many times.

At this moment, the woods were exceptionally quiet; no one else was here practicing breathing exercises or adjusting their internal energy. Only a single figure stood tall by the cliff edge. Judging from the powerful aura emanating from her, she had already attained the perfection of the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.

"What do you want with me?"

Yu Ye walked to the edge of the cliff, where a cool breeze brushed against his face. He folded his arms, enjoying the refreshing wind.

"Have you heard of the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision?"

"I don't know if it's true or false."

"It should be accurate."

"How can you be certain?"

"Mu Hu took bribes from Ming Ye; whenever there is the slightest disturbance in the immortal sect, he reports it truthfully. This matter has already spread all over Jishui Peak. What are your plans?"

"It is said that the Kongtong Realm is unpredictably perilous, I might as well not go."

"The only reason the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision has been advanced is for the Shenqi Hall to recruit disciples. If you give up this trip, wouldn't that be a pity!"

"My cultivation is shallow, I should know my own limitations."

"If that were truly the case, why did you go to such painstaking lengths to enter the Yunchuan Immortal Sect?"

"..."

The two stood by the cliff, separated by a distance of over ten feet, communicating through voice transmission so as to prevent outsiders from overhearing.

"You've grown taller..."

Just as Yu Ye fell silent, Bai Zhi's voice suddenly turned gentle. He couldn't help but turn around, only to see her gazing at him intently while murmuring softly—

" And you've grown up, you're a grown man now. You are no longer ignorant and awkward in speech, but calm, sophisticated, wise, and courageous. When you injured Ming Ye that day, I was worried for you, but who would have thought that a few short words from you would defuse the crisis. Nowadays, Yu Ye's great name is known to everyone on Jishui Peak!"

Unable to help himself, Yu Ye lowered his head and interrupted, "What is it you want to say?"

"Go to the Kongtong Realm!"

"No one is stopping you!"

"Accompany me!"

Bai Zhi suddenly turned a bit willful.

"Why?"

"Why do you accompany Yuxing and Li Yun every day? Does Yuxing have feelings for you, and have you taken a liking to her as well?"

"Absolutely not. You have Chen Qi, Guzi, Yu Fei, and Ming Ye keeping you company..."

"You are angry because of this, and therefore..."

"No!"

Yu Ye glanced up, somewhat annoyed, and flicked his sleeve before turning to leave.

Bai Zhi smiled faintly and said leisurely, "I advise you not to crave comfort and obsess over romantic entanglements; only by entering the inner sect can you truly accomplish something!"

Yu Ye did not look back.

Bai Zhi turned to gaze into the distance, a hint of confusion in her beautiful eyes. Her chest rose and fell as she let out a light sigh, muttering to herself, "Alas, is it an opportunity, or a tribulation..."

Inside the cave dwelling.

Yu Ye opened his eyes from meditation.

More than a month had passed again, and his cultivation at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation was gradually nearing perfection. Not only that, but after reaching the fourth layer, perhaps due to the dense spiritual energy, his progress in cultivation had noticeably accelerated.

The enhancement of cultivation was a pleasant thing.

And in two days would be the day of the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision; how should he choose?

During his last conversation with Bai Zhi, she had actually tested him with matters of romance. Their conversation had failed to find common ground, ending unpleasantly in parting ways. Yet the one thing she had said happened to coincide with Yu Ye's own thoughts. Only by becoming an inner disciple could one truly achieve something. And he was not one to crave comfort; he had simply been waiting for the right opportunity.

"Knock, knock—"

Someone struck the protective barrier of the cave door, followed by Dang Guiyi's shout—

"Senior Brother Mu has given instructions, head to the kitchen to await orders!"

Yu Ye dismissed the barrier and stepped out of the cave.

Dusk was approaching. Figures emerged one after another from among the cave dwellings halfway up the mountain, gathering in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing as they headed down the mountain.

Dang Guiyi was waiting not far away, accompanied by two female disciples. Among them, Yuxing wore a smiling expression, standing on tiptoe and waving repeatedly.

"Who is giving instructions?"

"Uncle-Master Chang Ming!"

"For what purpose?"

"It might be related to the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision!"

Perhaps because it was dinnertime, crowds of disciples had gathered in the open space in front of the kitchen.

Yu Ye only ate one meal a day at noon, and as his cultivation improved, his appetite had grown smaller and smaller. While his dining companions usually consisted of only a few dozen lower-tier disciples, tonight over three hundred people had gathered at dinnertime, showing that virtually all the outer disciples had turned out.

"Silence!"

Mu Hu barked out an order.

Once the surroundings quieted down, Chang Ming's voice was heard: "Three days from now will be the day of the Yunchuan Heavenly Decision. We hope the disciples of Baichuan Hall will actively participate. Those who excel can be recruited into the inner sect—such an opportunity is hard to come by! However, this journey's fortune is unpredictable and life and death are inconstant; everyone must make their own decision. Those who are interested may register here. Mu Hu—"

Mu Hu held up a scroll and a brush, gesturing, "Whoever wishes to go to the Kongtong Realm, leave your name here!"

The crowd broke into a flurry of discussion; some were fearful, some hesitated, some were excited, and others remained completely indifferent. Yet within a short moment, dozens of disciples had already left their names in the scroll.

Yu Ye stood at the back of the crowd, observing for a moment before taking a step forward, only to have his sleeve grabbed.

It was unexpectedly Yuxing. Though she made no sound, she was biting her lip, her watery eyes and delicate cheeks filled with anxiety as she shook her head at him repeatedly.

Yu Ye smiled and gently pulled his sleeve free.

Dang Guiyi, Musha, Shang Xin, Hong Qiaoer, and Li Yun also waved at him quietly, their worry evident without words.

Yu Ye strode past the crowd and walked forward.

He stopped in front of Mu Hu and wrote the two characters 'Yu Ye' on the animal-skin scroll. But no sooner had he finished writing his name than the bamboo brush was snatched away by someone else reaching out.

Ming Ye!

Standing behind Ming Ye were Chen Qi, Bai Zhi, Guzi, Yu Fei, and others.

Yu Ye acted as though he saw nothing.

Suddenly, he heard Chang Ming say, "Yu Ye, Hong Lie has asked me about you before. On this trip to the Kongtong Realm, take care of yourself!"

What did "take care of yourself" mean? What was the intention behind these words from the Baichuan Hall deacon?

Yu Ye hurriedly bowed in salute, then silently turned back.

He saw that Dang Guiyi and the others wore disappointed and helpless expressions. Yuxing, meanwhile, was wringing her hands with a resentful look on her face.

On the other hand, Zhan Kun stepped up to meet him, praising him with cupped hands: "Senior Brother Yu possesses extraordinary courage and formidable methods, truly the outstanding talent of our generation. On this trip, you will surely return laden with rewards and amaze everyone once more!"

"Oh, thank you for your auspicious words!"

Yu Ye brushed him off with a perfunctory reply, then couldn't help asking out of curiosity, "I thought Senior Brother Zhan's tongue was even clumsier than mine, yet you're so adept at flattery—you truly hide your capabilities well!"

"Heh!"

Zhan Kun gave an awkward smile, turned around, and hid himself within the crowd...