History Has Fallen Ill

Chapter 70: Embracing the Pure—The Ge Family and the Calamity Qi Devouring Nine Dragons!

As the words fell, the entire scene fell silent.

Everyone looked at Jiang Yan. Though his smile was gentle, all they felt was...

Madness!

So arrogant!

One must understand, this young man was named Ge Xianyao, from the Jiangnan Baopu Daoist Institute.

His ancestral master was Ge Hong, the patriarch of the "Ge Family Dao" under the title of Immortal Elder Ge. This lineage held the leading position within the Pill Dao sect, cultivating external alchemy, and was said to have countless intricate ties with the Lingbao Sect’s Dharma lineage.

In the present world, inheritors of such lineages might have a chance to enter the corresponding Diseased Domain, gaining opportunities, or even...

Meeting the ancestral masters.

It was said that when Ge Xianyao was born, he already possessed a spiritual physique, emanating a medicinal fragrance that invigorated all who smelled it. Therefore, his father named him Ge Xianyao.

However, after he learned to read, he said, “If I cannot become a Heavenly Official, how can I bear the name ‘Xian’ (Immortal)?” Thus, he changed the character to “Xian” meaning “Virtuous”.

He sought to match the ancient sages!

He cultivated the top-tier cultivation method [Four Seasons Azure Dragon Dripping Heavenly Essence Method], a legacy of the Jiangnan Baopu Ge Family. Which of the Ten Heavenly Stems it corresponded to remained a secret—no one knew.

At only twenty-one years of age, he had already forged a Transcendent Foundation, and now stood at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He was one of the top contenders for the championship.

Even if Jiang Yan truly was the so-called "cultivation genius" of the rumors, that was ultimately just potential—not yet actual strength.

Facing equally talented, or even superior geniuses, he held no advantage.

Ge Xianyao was briefly stunned by the remark, yet he did not grow angry. With an air of aged wisdom, he said:

“This courage is admirable, but I hope you can reach me. If you can withstand ten moves, I will acknowledge you as an outstanding talent.”

He spoke with the tone of a child imitating an elder’s lecture.

In Ge Xianyao’s eyes, the provocation of the weak could not stir the wrath of the strong.

To this, Jiang Yan offered no response.

Zhao Yinman paused in her steps. Her crimson pupils fixed on Ge Xianyao. Everyone thought she was about to say something harsh.

Instead,

She pointed at herself and said, “I, lack human nature.”

Then pointed at Jiang Yan. “He, doesn’t respond to dog barks.”

Zhao Yinman always remembered—they were the “Double No” duo.

So, she had to explain it clearly to outsiders,

Lest anyone misunderstand that Jiang Yan didn’t respond out of rudeness.

The main reason was...

You are the dog!

“……”

Everyone looked at Ge Xianyao, whose face had stiffened and was clearly agitated, and silently shook their heads.

Indeed, this Pan’an Branch Bureau was full of Problem Children.

“Anyone can talk big, but if the loss is too humiliating, it’s just a slap to the face.”

Though they weren’t optimistic, everyone’s favorability toward Jiang Yan increased greatly.

After all, anyone qualified to participate in the rookie tournament was a young, proud genius.

How could they be content to be overshadowed?

Especially when they’d long been fed up with Ge Xianyao’s arrogance.

If Jiang Yan backed down now, he’d only be looked down upon.

A spineless waste had no right to be their colleague.

Jiang Yan leapt up, landing on the White Jade Disc. Finding a corner, he was about to sit cross-legged, but the Coffin Spirit, enthusiastic as ever, came out on its own to serve as a chair.

Zhao Yinman saw this and a trace of envy flickered in her eyes.

“Come sit.”

Seeing this, Jiang Yan patted the coffin lid, inviting her to join.

She hesitated for a moment, then straightened her clothes, smoothed her skirt, and gently rested her bottom on the edge.

“No need to be so cautious. Coffin Grandpa is quite generous!”

The Coffin Spirit snorted, but since she had spoken up for its master, it didn’t hold it against her.

At the same time,

Atop the head of a stone dragon, three individuals from the Bureau of Historical Revision’s Jiangnan Headquarters, all at the peak of the Law Seed Stage, concealed their presence and silently observed the unfolding situation without interfering.

They were the judges and medical officers for this competition.

One of them, a man with long hair draped over his shoulders and a longsword on his back, stroked his chin and said, “Zhou Li, this kid really lives up to being Ba Lie’s favored newcomer. His words are just as aggravating. But I wonder if he has the same strength Ba Lie once had—otherwise… he’s in for a beating.”

The Zhou Li he mentioned was a sharp and valiant-looking woman in military attire with short hair and decent features. She spoke softly:

“Even just that Coffin Spirit’s strength is impressive. Besides, he caused quite a stir in Hangzhou, successfully ambushing a White Sakura Law Seed. Even though the opponent was careless and didn’t use Law Seed power, it still shows he’s no pushover.

There’s a gap in cultivation now, but Jiang Yan has only been a History Walker for just over a month. As long as he doesn’t lose too badly, that’s already a win.”

Speaking of this, Zhou Li added, “Bo Rui, you were like a Honey Badger in your youth, always picking fights. You even provoked Old Ba and ended up being forcefully wrapped with three layers of Silkworm Clothing, sword and all, crawling on the ground like a worm in the dark…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Bo Rui, his face full of black lines, quickly interjected, “Who doesn’t have some dark history when they’re young? If it were now, one slash of my sword and the sword aura would sweep across—Ba Lie would have no choice but to turn and flee on his sword!”

Zhou Li’s gaze was teasing. That was more than just a little dark history.

As teammates, they knew each other all too well.

Still, when Ba Lie first arrived in Jiangnan Province, his list of defeated challengers was endless. Losing to him wasn’t shameful.

Had he not suffered a calamity in a major Diseased Domain that crippled his path, he would have already become an Ancient Talisman True Person.

Zhou Li sighed, “I wonder if, after these years settling in the Pan’an Branch Bureau, Ba Lie can patch the gap in his path. If he manages to ascend to Ancient Talisman, he could go even further—perhaps even become a Heavenly Official.”

“He better hurry up. Otherwise, when I become Ancient Talisman, I’ll block his door every day until he calls me Sword Immortal Bo Rui.”

Bo Rui snorted, then turned to look at the monk who was staring at Jiang Yan. He leaned in and playfully breathed near the monk’s ear:

“Master Fale, is this Jiang Yan fated with your Buddha again?”

“Amitabha!”

Monk Fale snapped out of his daze and exclaimed, “Never in my life have I seen such a fated one, with such wisdom root and purified five aggregates.”

Bo Rui ruthlessly exposed him: “Give me a break. Last time during the ‘Anti-Vice Operation,’ you pointed at a lust-driven maggot and claimed it was fated with Buddha.”

“Ahem, that person had dragon bones. Lust is in the nature of dragons. It’s perfectly normal. He could cultivate the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon…”

Master Fale tried to explain but, faced with their mocking expressions, he eventually gave up and said helplessly:

“You only see appearances and not the true self—naturally you can’t understand.”

Others might not sense it, but he could clearly see that Jiang Yan carried Buddhist principles within him.

If he cultivated the Buddhist path, he would advance at lightning speed.

“Heh.”

The other two merely sneered.

“I left the Buddhist Order long ago. Whether Buddha or Dao, the paths are different, but the ultimate goal is the same—saving all living beings.”

Master Fale gently recited a Buddha’s name. He was long past the age of arguing.

Now that he was older, he could only beat people to death to save on time for posthumous rites.

Zhou Li remarked, “Still, for Jiang Yan to form his Foundation in just one week—his talent is terrifying. It’s just a pity that in this Jiangnan Grand Competition, there are vicious contenders who’ve already planted their Law Seeds. First place is locked in. Even if you fight, it’s only for second or third.”

Bo Rui shook his head. “Ridiculous. Nothing is set in stone. Until the end, how do you tell the winner?”

“I agree with Benefactor Bo,” said Master Fale approvingly. “Fate is determined by Heaven, but the path is walked by people.”

He had high hopes for Jiang Yan. Even if he suffered temporary setbacks, it wouldn’t affect his climb to the peak.

However, the Jiang Yan they were discussing quietly shifted his gaze from the three of them, his expression increasingly puzzled.

He could see black-red Calamity Qi constantly emerging from the void, spreading across the entire Jiulong Mountain.

He couldn’t help but wonder...

Was this opponent really that strong?

To the point it was forming a calamity!