Xueji put down the documents in her hand, sighing regretfully. "What a pity, what a pity..."
Yanxue showed puzzlement, looking doubtfully at Xueji. Hanshuang calmly picked up the spirit tea on the table, taking a small sip, her expression serene as water. The fragrance of tea curled upward, spreading through the dim room.
Xueji's gaze fell on the documents as she slowly said, "After experiencing the pressure of death, he's started falling into clichés. Truly foolish."
Yanxue frowned slightly. "Sister Xueji, what do you mean by that?"
Xueji didn't answer directly but continued, "Let me give him a lesson he'll remember for a lifetime!"
Hanshuang set down her teacup, a trace of understanding flashing through her eyes. She understood Xueji's intention but didn't ask. As the fourth of the Tianyin Pavilion's Ten Great Experts, she knew well Xueji's methods and wisdom.
...
Inside Youyue Valley, Yuyi sat facing Shaying.
Shaying looked at Yuyi, her eyes carrying some worry. "Why have you changed so much recently? You're frequently participating in Youyue Valley activities, spending a hundred times more time with me than usual."
Yuyi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. "Shaying, there are some things I must consider."
"What things?"
Yuyi's gaze became deep. "Once I want to leave the Nitian Alliance, the Nitian Alliance will never tolerate someone of my cultivation level breaking away. All old debts from the past will be brought up."
Shaying froze. "Then you now..."
"Now they tolerate me because my ambition has limits—I can grow powerful but not threaten the Nitian Alliance's position." Yuyi's voice was calm and firm. "The only possibility that would make the Nitian Alliance dare not move against me is that even if I leave, I would still be the supreme authority of Youyue Valley, able to control everything in Youyue Valley."
Shaying suddenly understood, a complex light flashing through her eyes. She finally understood the purpose behind Yuyi's frequent handling of Youyue Valley affairs during this time.
"This afternoon I'm going out with my senior sister and friends from the Nitian Alliance for an outing," Shaying said softly.
Yuyi nodded. "Go ahead."
Shaying rose to leave, her figure carrying a trace of worry. Yuyi watched her depart, yet inexplicable irritation and unease welled up in his heart.
When accompanying Shaying, he felt warmth, but when alone, he always felt he had made some terrible mistake. But where exactly the mistake lay, he couldn't figure out.
Yuyi simply stopped thinking about it, closing his eyes to begin cultivating the Nirvana Sword Art.
The characteristic of the Nirvana Sword Art was that through cultivating the general formula, one could simultaneously improve mental method, sword technique, and movement technique. However, this technique's difficulty far exceeded the Quick Sword Art. Yuyi had cultivated for fifteen full days, yet had only reached the second level.
He couldn't help but wonder what the Nirvana Sword Art's original name actually was. The writing on the cover, torn away and then re-added, seemed to hide some secret. This technique's difficulty was at least in the highest tier of sect-guarding supreme arts, perhaps even beyond.
Yuyi could sense that cultivating the Nirvana Sword Art would have profound effects on his future. But at this moment, he couldn't predict what those effects would be.
After cultivating for a while, Yuyi stopped dejectedly. His heart was filled with irritation that made him want to destroy something. If he didn't see Shaying for even a short while, he would become restless. His former calm and focused state of mind had vanished without a trace.
He paced irritably, wandering through Youyue Valley. Moonlight spilled on the bluestone path, casting dappled shadows.
Just then, Jianchi hurried over to report. "Valley Master, something has happened in the Tianjian Domain. Several people from the Tianyin Pavilion killed quite a few of our Youyue Valley members. They're quite skilled—I fought them to a draw."
Yuyi stopped, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes. He thought for a moment—he had nothing to do anyway, and Shaying had gone out for an outing, probably not returning for at least two days.
"I'll go personally," Yuyi said calmly. "Order the flying boat prepared."
Jianchi looked surprised but was pleased with the outcome, hurrying away to order the flying boat prepared.
...
In the Tianjian Domain, Yuyi quickly defeated three female cultivators from the Tianyin Pavilion.
His sword technique was sharp and precise, each strike carrying killing intent. Though the three female cultivators were not weak, before Yuyi they had no power to resist. Sword light flashed, and the outcome was decided.
Youyue Valley members cheered, deeply shocked by Yuyi's strength. Many felt admiration for Yuyi welling up in their hearts. They were even more gratified that Yuyi would personally take action for such a small matter. Having a valley master who cared for his subordinates was something to be happy about.
Yuyi stood with sword withdrawn, his expression indifferent.
...
On the return journey to Zhongzhou City, Qingfeng accompanied Yuyi aboard the flying boat, traveling back toward Zhongzhou City. The silver-white flying boat moved through the night sky, stars twinkling.
Qingfeng, seeing Yuyi's extremely impatient expression, couldn't help but ask, "Valley Master, is something troubling you?"
Yuyi glanced at him, saying calmly, "Nothing. You just focus on practicing your technique well. I'll handle my own affairs. Don't worry about it."
Qingfeng sighed but wasn't discouraged. He had long known Yuyi's general temperament—Yuyi kept countless things in his heart and would never reveal them to anyone.
...
Yuyi had just returned to Zhongzhou City when he received a report from his subordinates.
"Valley Master, something has happened in Xuantian City. Several cultivators have conflicted with Youyue Valley. They're extremely skilled—Protector Canglang is no match for them. Protector Moyan is on a mission and can't be contacted for the moment."
Yuyi answered without thinking, "I'll go."
...
The next day, subordinates reported again. "Valley Master, at the Spirit Stone mining point, several highly skilled people have conflicted with our members, killing over a dozen Youyue Valley people."
Yuyi still answered, "I'll go."
...
"Valley Master..."
"I'll go."
Yuyi constantly handled Youyue Valley affairs personally. In a short time, he frequently rushed between various locations, dealing with all kinds of conflicts and disputes. This was clearly someone deliberately causing trouble. He wanted to see how many experts the other side could send for him to kill.
...
Shaying, seeing Yuyi constantly rushing about recently, was deeply worried.
"Why have you become like this recently?" Shaying couldn't help asking.
Yuyi froze. "What?"
Shaying sighed. "So many things have suddenly happened in half a month, and you're always personally taking action. If you stop going in the future when something happens, the people below will definitely think you look down on them. And you haven't had time to practice cultivation."
Yuyi remained silent.
Shaying continued, "I know you want to stabilize the hearts of people within Youyue Valley. You never miss Youyue Valley activities, you've made many humanized welfare adjustments internally, and you personally take action when members have problems. In just nearly a month, the people in Youyue Valley have gone from rarely being sincerely convinced to now mostly being sincerely convinced."
She paused, worry flashing through her eyes. "But if this continues, you won't have time to practice cultivation. That would be truly dangerous."
Yuyi still remained silent.
Shaying bit her lip. "How about this time I don't go, and I'll accompany you for a few days to relax?"
Yuyi shook his head. "You know my temper. If I get involved, it's easy to create unpleasantness."
Shaying sighed helplessly. She knew Yuyi's personality—except for being amiable within Youyue Valley, outside he extremely disliked idle chatter, often making people feel he was aloof and proud. And few of Shaying's friends weren't constantly talking, which would only add irritation.
"Alright then." Shaying compromised. "When you have time, I'll accompany you for a walk alone."
Yuyi nodded, somewhat absent-mindedly.
Deep in his heart, he always felt he seemed to have suddenly lost many things, and no matter how he looked, he couldn't find them again.
...
Elsewhere, Xueji said to Hanshuang and Yanxue, "Hanshuang, Yanxue, in the path of techniques, if you don't advance, you retreat."
Yanxue listened attentively.
Xueji continued, "Do you know why in the cultivation world there were so many famous experts in the past, but later became mediocre, many finally dying at the hands of rising stars, their lifetime of cultivation finally turning into green smoke?"
Yanxue shook her head.
Xueji slowly said, "Before they became famous experts in the cultivation world, they could endure loneliness and practice bitterly. But once they became famous, whether for love, fame, or profit, they could never find that heart that could bear loneliness again. Gradually buried by the tide of time, becoming part of the mediocre masses."
Hanshuang already understood Xueji's intention in saying this. Both she and Yanxue had experienced this. If not for Xueji, perhaps they too would have been buried in this tide like countless famous experts of the past, turning into a wisp of smoke that no one remembered, dissipating in the wind.
Xueji's gaze passed through the window lattice, looking into the distance, a cold smile curving her lips.
Yuyi, you are walking a dangerous path. And I will give you a lesson you'll remember for a lifetime.