At the Tianyin Pavilion cliff, strong winds howled, and clouds and mist swirled.
Xueji stood at the edge of the cliff, her back to mingji. "mingji, how much are you willing to sacrifice for Tianyin Pavilion?"
mingji stood respectfully behind her, her voice calm yet firm. "Pavilion Master, mingji is willing to sacrifice everything for Tianyin Pavilion."
Xueji turned, looking at her with a complex gaze. "Everything? Including your cultivation base, your identity, even your feelings?"
mingji hesitated not at all: "Yes."
Xueji fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "I want you to undergo rebirth, join the Youming Sect, make Yuyi fall at your feet, and let him lose everything."
mingji's heart trembled, but her expression remained unchanged. "Pavilion Master, the first step requires rebirth, giving up my current cultivation base."
"Yes." Xueji nodded, "That is the price. Are you willing?"
mingji took a deep breath, her gaze determined: "mingji is willing."
A flash of reluctance crossed Xueji's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness. "Very well. I will give you the best dharma treasures and techniques."
She took out several dharma treasures from her storage ring and handed them to mingji one by one. "This is the Liancheng Sword Art, the sect's strongest dharma treasure the Azure Dragon Sword, the Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robe, Cloud-Soaring Boots, as well as protective talismans and spirit stones."
mingji accepted the dharma treasures, a warm current rising in her heart. "Thank you, Pavilion Master."
Xueji suddenly stepped forward and tightly embraced mingji, tears flowing from her eyes. "mingji, your failure to become a Demoness is my greatest regret."
mingji's heart ached, and she said softly: "Pavilion Master, mingji has no regrets."
Xueji released her, wiping away her tears. "Go, proceed to the Rebirth Formation in Xuantian City. Remember, your mission is to make Yuyi completely sink."
mingji nodded, turned, and left.
At the edge of the cliff, only Xueji remained, gazing in the direction mingji had left, complex emotions flashing in her eyes.
Many years ago, in Youming Cave.
mingji swung her sword to slay a Youming Beast, suffering seven wounds, her blood dyeing her dao robe red. Yet she still persisted in protecting her younger sister and three younger brothers behind her.
"Sister!" her younger sister cried out.
mingji gritted her teeth: "Don't fear, your sister is here."
Suddenly, a blood-red sword light flashed, and the Youming Beast was slain with a single strike.
mingji looked up to see a red-robed woman standing at the cave entrance, her long sword dripping blood. That was Xueji from those years, the number one killer in the cultivation world.
Xueji looked coldly at mingji: "Why do you protect these ants?"
mingji gasped: "They are my family."
A strange light flashed in Xueji's eyes: "Family? For family, you are willing to give your life?"
mingji nodded: "Yes."
Xueji fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Interesting. Your appearance in protecting others reminds me of someone."
She turned and left, leaving behind an invitation. "If you want to become stronger, undergo rebirth to Tianyin Pavilion. I will teach you the strongest techniques in the cultivation world."
mingji watched Xueji's retreating figure, then looked at her younger sister and brothers behind her, a decisive look flashing in her eyes.
She turned her sword upon herself, and her blood bloomed like fireworks.
At the Rebirth Formation in Xuantian City, the formation's light flickered.
mingji stood in the formation, her heart as calm as water. She thought of her twenty-three years at Tianyin Pavilion, thought of Xueji's careful guidance, thought of those days of fighting side by side.
"Pavilion Master, what mingji owes you is not only kindness, but also trust and emotion." mingji murmured to herself.
She turned her sword upon herself, blood splashing, beautiful as fireworks.
The formation's light intensified greatly, and mingji's figure gradually dissipated.
Outside the Rebirth Formation, Xueji and Le'er stood side by side.
Le'er frowned: "Pavilion Master, is it really necessary to send mingji? Her strength is first-rate even at Tianyin Pavilion."
Xueji said indifferently: "Killing Yuyi has no meaning. I want him to completely sink, to lose everything."
Le'er was puzzled: "Why?"
Xueji's gaze was profound: "This is a test for mingji. I want to see if she can comprehend emotions higher than love."
"Emotions higher than love?" Le'er was confused.
Xueji nodded: "Having emotion is higher than love. I hope mingji can comprehend another reason."
Le'er fell silent for a moment, then said softly: "Pavilion Master, you have truly put great thought into mingji."
Xueji smiled bitterly: "Put great thought? Perhaps. But some things must be done by someone."
In the Youming Desert Maze, yellow sand filled the sky.
A yellowed secret manual lay quietly on the sandy ground, with four large characters written on the cover: "Liancheng Sword Art."
All around was silent and uninhabited, with only the sound of wind howling.
This secret manual seemed to be waiting for someone destined to discover it.
At Youyue Valley, Yuyi was cultivating.
Suddenly, a intense dizziness struck, and Yuyi staggered backward, nearly falling.
Shaying hurried forward to support him: "Yuyi, what's wrong with you?"
Yuyi rubbed his temples, frowning: "Strange, I suddenly couldn't remember where I learned the Nirvana Sword Art from just now."
Shaying asked worriedly: "Is it from over-cultivation?"
Yuyi shook his head: "No, it's not over-cultivation. I... I seem to have forgotten something."
He walked to the desk and discovered an unfamiliar technique manual lying there. Opening it, he found it contained a sword art he had never seen before.
"This is..." Yuyi frowned, "When did I obtain this manual?"
Shaying came over to look: "This manual looks very ancient, not like an ordinary technique."
Yuyi shook his head: "I can't recall its origin. Forget it, let's put it away for now."
He stored the manual in his storage ring and sat in a chair to rest.
Shaying said with concern: "Yuyi, you rest first. I'll go pour you a cup of Spirit Tea."
Yuyi nodded and closed his eyes.
In his mind, some fuzzy memory fragments flashed by, but quickly dissipated.
"What exactly have I forgotten?" Yuyi murmured to himself.
At the Tianyin Pavilion cliff, Xueji stood alone at the edge, holding a pot of Ethereal Traceless Wine.
She raised her head and took a sip, her gaze looking into the distance.
"mingji, I hope you can complete this mission." Xueji murmured, "I also hope you can comprehend emotions higher than love."
The wind howled, and clouds and mist swirled.
Xueji's figure appeared exceptionally lonely at the edge of the cliff.
The lanscape of the cultivation world was quietly changing.
And all this was only the beginning.