The night in Youyue Valley was as dark as ink, with moonlight streaming through the window lattice into the quiet chamber, spreading a silvery white across the floor. Yuyi sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and even. Several days had passed since his journey to Xuantian City, but the sights and experiences from that ancient city were etched into his heart like a brand.
Shaying pushed open the door and entered, holding a cup of Spirit Tea in her hand, speaking softly: "Still thinking about Xuesha Ren's matter?"
Yuyi opened his eyes, accepted the Spirit Tea, and the tea fragrance curled upward, carrying a faint bitterness. After a moment of silence, he slowly said: "I'm thinking whether I will also choose to retire like him in the future."
Shaying sat down beside him, speaking gently: "You won't."
"Why are you so certain?"
"Because you are different from Xuesha Ren." Shaying raised her eyes to gaze at the bright moon outside the window, "He retired because he saw through the hypocrisy of the cultivation world, but you... you still have attachments in your heart."
Yuyi sighed softly and drank the Spirit Tea in his cup. Shaying was right; he did indeed have attachments. That attachment was like an invisible thread, pulling him forward on this immortal path. He thought of those high-and-mighty sect elders in Xuantian City, thought of those cultivators who schemed against each other for profit, thought of those so-called experts who lost themselves in games of power.
"I will continue walking my own path." Yuyi stood up and walked to the window, his gaze piercing through the night, looking into the distance, "No matter where this path leads."
Shaying rose and walked behind him, gently holding his hand. The two stood there quietly, letting the moonlight wash over them, like a painting in ink and wash.
Just then, a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman flew through the air, hovering before Yuyi. From the jade talisman came Duan Changjian's urgent voice: "Yuyi, come to the Nitian Alliance's discussion hall immediately! Something major has happened!"
Yuyi frowned slightly, exchanged a glane with Shaying, then formed a hand seal and transformed into a stream of light, flying toward the Nitian Alliance.
In the Tianjian Domain, what was originally peaceful and tranquil lan was now shrouded in blood-red color. Le'er, dressed in red robes, held a long sword as she stood atop the ruins of a small town. Her eyes held no emotion whatsoever, only endless killing intent.
Nine months, merely nine months, and she had cultivated all of Tianyin Pavilion's sect techniques to perfection. Such speed was unheard of in the cultivation world. And the first thing she did after emerging from seclusion was slaughter.
Thousands of cultivators were brutally killed throughout the Tianjian Domain. Fresh blood dyed the earth red, and killing qi rose to the heavens, forming blood-red fiend qi that swirled in the sky without dispersing.
Yanxue flew from afar, laning beside Le'er, speaking softly: "Le'er, that's enough."
Le'er turned her head, a cruel smile curving her lips: "Enough? Far from it." She waved her hand, and a blood-red sword qi swept out, cutting several cultivators trying to flee into two pieces, "After killing qi reaches ten million, its power will multiply. After ten million, the calculation method will also change. I want to see just how far this killing qi can reach."
Yanxue fell silent. She knew that Le'er had fallen into some kind of madness. This madness stemmed from the obsession deep in her heart, and also from Tianyin Pavilion's unique cultivation method.
Inside the Nitian Alliance's discussion hall, the atmosphere was as heavy as lead. Duan Changjian sat in the main seat, his expression dark. Lingxiao, Shuanghan, Shuangtong, Bingxin, Xueying, and other sect leaders sat on both sides, their faces filled with worry.
"Everyone," Duan Changjian said gravely, "after emerging from seclusion, Le'er has slaughtered thousands of cultivators in the Tianjian Domain. If we don't stop her, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Lingxiao was the first to speak: "My Xuantian Sect is willing to dispatch volunteers in exchange for Le'er stopping the slaughter."
Shuangtong sneered: "Fellow Daoist Lingxiao is truly righteous. However, since your Xuantian Sect is so generous, why not send more people?"
Lingxiao's expression changed slightly, and just as he was about to retort, Yuyi walked in from outside the hall. Yuyi swept his gaze over everyone and said indifferently: "My Youyue Valley will not send anyone."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar. Shuanghan frowned: "Yuyi, what do you mean? Now that the cultivation world is in immingent danger, all sects should unite together."
Yuyi said coldly: "Unite together? When my Youyue Valley faced crisis, where were all of you?" His gaze was like a knife, sweeping across everyone present, "Now that sacrifice is needed, you remember unity. Such hypocrisy, I, Yuyi, disdain to participate."
A flash of anger crossed Shuangtong's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She turned to look at Lingxiao, a mocking smile on her lips: "Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, since Yuyi is unwilling, then this heavy burden can only be borne by your Xuantian Sect."
Lingxiao's face turned iron-gray, but he had no choice. He knew that his earlier statement had pushed Xuantian Sect to the forefront.
Seeing this, Duan Changjian said gravely: "Let this matter be so for now. Lingxiao, after you return, immediately select volunteers to depart for the Tianjian Domain in three days."
After the meeting ended, everyone left one by one. Yuyi had just walked out of the hall when Duan Changjian called out to him.
"Yuyi, wait a moment."
Yuyi stopped and turned to look at Duan Changjian. Duan Changjian walked to his side and said in a low voice: "I planto establish a position of Regional Elder in the Nitian Alliance. What do you think?"
Yuyi shook his head: "I'm not interested."
Duan Changjian sighed: "Yuyi, you should know that serving as a Regional Elder can enhance your reputation and allow you to learn the ultimate techniques of various sects. This would greatly benefit your cultivation."
"I cultivate, never relying on others." Yuyi turned to leave, his voice cold, "Especially those hypocritical people."
Duan Changjian watched Yuyi's retreating figure, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He knew that Yuyi's character was proud and unyielding, and he would not easily compromise. But in this cultivation world, not compromising meant bearing more pressure.
The night deepened, and the bloody atmosphere in the Tianjian Domain still permeated. Le'er stood atop a mountain peak, gazing at the earth below, madness flickering in her eyes. The killing qi continued to climb, and she could no longer stop.
This was the cruelty of the cultivation world, and also its reality. Here, there was no right or wrong, only strength and weakness. No good or evil, only life and death. And Yuyi stood at the edge of this cruelty and reality, gazing at the endless immortal path, contemplating his own way.