Youyue Valley's reception hall, quiet and elegant.
Outside the hall, spiritual bamboo swayed; inside, spiritual energy abounded. Yuyi and Shaying were enjoying tea and chatting when suddenly he sensed a familiar spiritual power fluctuation coming from outside the valley.
"It's Hanshuang." Yuyi put down his teacup and stood up toward the hall door.
Shaying also stood up, confusion flashing in her eyes: "Why has Sister Hanshuang come?"
As soon as the words fell, two figures appeared before the reception hall. The leader was Hanshuang, wearing a plain white dharma robe, her cold-as-ice face bearing a trace of gravity. Behind her followed a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate features and clear eyes like water, revealing a bit of innocent naivety.
"Yuyi, Shaying." Hanshuang nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the two.
"Sister Hanshuang, why have you come?" Shaying stepped forward, asking with concern.
Hanshuang didn't answer immediately but stepped aside to reveal the young girl behind her: "This is mingji, my sworn sister. She just joined Youming Sect recently and isn't familiar with cultivation world matters. I have important business and need to leave for a while, so I want to entrust her to your care."
mingji stepped forward and bowed obediently: "mingji greets Brother Yuyi, Sister Shaying."
Yuyi examined mingji, seeing that although her realm wasn't high, her spiritual root aptitude was good. More importantly, she had a rare pure temperament, which was uncommon in the cultivation world.
"Hanshuang, rest assured, we'll take good care of her." Yuyi nodded in agreement.
Hanshuang breathed a sigh of relief, then said with a grave expression: "There's one more thing, you need to be careful of Xueji. She seems to be looking for something recently, and I'm worried she might be harmful to you."
Shaying's face slightly changed upon hearing this: "Sister Xueji she..."
"Don't ask more about Xueji's matters." Hanshuang interrupted her, "Just remember, she's very dangerous now."
Yuyi's heart stirred, remembering the encounter with Xueji during the labyrinth exploration. That bloodthirsty and crazy aura still made him shudder.
"We understand." Yuyi said solemnly.
Hanshuang gave a few more instructions, then hurriedly left. mingji stood beside Shaying, a bit of unease in her eyes.
Shaying looked at her and suddenly said: "mingji, how about we become sworn sisters? This way I can better take care of you."
mingji's eyes lit up, nodding joyfully: "Okay!"
The two immediately became sworn sisters in the reception hall, with Yuyi as witness. Although mingji was simple, she was very close to Shaying, calling her "sister" affectionately.
In the afternoon, the sound transmission jade talisman suddenly lit up.
Yuyi took out the jade talisman and heard Duan Changjian's voice: "Yuyi, come quickly to the Nitian Alliance deliberation hall, there's an emergency meeting."
Yuyi frowned slightly and said to Shaying: "The Nitian Alliance has another meeting, I must go."
Shaying nodded: "I'll go with you."
Yuyi looked at mingji: "mingji, you..."
"I want to go see too!" mingji immediately said, her eyes full of curiosity.
Yuyi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, let's all go together."
Nitian Alliance deliberation hall, the atmosphere tense.
Various forces gathered. Yuyi walked into the hall with Shaying and mingji, immediately attracting countless gazes. The Yinghao Society leader sat to the side, his gaze lingering on Shaying, a trace of greed flashing in his eyes.
"Oh, isn't this Valley Master Yuyi?" The Yinghao Society leader said sarcastically, "How come you brought two female cultivators today?"
Yuyi glaned at him coldly and said calmly: "If Yinghao Society Leader is so idle, why not go find your dao companion?"
The Yinghao Society leader's face stiffened, and he awkwardly shut up. Although he was lustful, his dao companion was a tigress. If she knew he was flirting with female cultivators outside, he'd be in big trouble.
Duan Changjian sat in the main seat and said solemnly: "Today I've gathered everyone to announce two major events."
"First, the Cangqiong Alliance turmoil and Zixiao's selling of sect dharma treasures have been verified. The Cangqiong Alliance will accept Nitian Alliance supervision."
"Second, the sect dharma treasure strengthening system has been activated. Each sect can begin strengthening their dharma treasures."
As soon as the words fell, the hall immediately buzzed with discussion. The sect dharma treasure strengthening system was a major event, meaning each sect's strength would greatly increase.
Just then, an aged voice suddenly rang out: "Alliance Leader Duan Changjian, this old one has something unclear."
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a white-haired elder stand up. He was Tiandaozi, ranked first on the Chunyang Sect's Top Ten Experts List, a retired expert who had newly joined the Nitian Alliance.
"Senior Tiandaozi, please speak." Duan Changjian said politely.
Tiandaozi's gaze fell on mingji, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "This young friend's dharma treasure seems quite extraordinary. May I ask where it was obtained?"
mingji was stunned, subconsciously touching the storage ring at her waist. Although she was simple, she also heard the questioning tone in Tiandaozi's words.
Yuyi's heart tightened, immediately standing up and saying calmly: "What does Senior Tiandaozi mean by this?"
Tiandaozi sneered: "This old one is just curious, how a young girl who just joined a sect could have such a precious dharma treasure? Could someone be selling sect dharma treasures?"
As these words came out, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar. Selling sect dharma treasures was a serious crime!
Yuyi's eyes flashed with cold light as he said solemnly: "Senior Tiandaozi, you need evidence when speaking. mingji's dharma treasure was gifted by me."
"Gifted by you?" Tiandaozi snorted coldly, "Yuyi, as a Youyue Valley master, where do you get so many precious dharma treasures?"
Yuyi looked at him coldly, suddenly saying: "Since Senior Tiandaozi is so concerned, then I'll formally announce something."
He turned to face everyone and announced loudly: "From today, mingji is the vice valley master of Youyue Valley. Her dharma treasures are Youyue Valley's dharma treasures. If Senior Tiandaozi still has questions, feel free to ask me directly."
Tiandaozi's face darkened, angrily saying: "Yuyi, are you provoking this old one?"
"I wouldn't dare." Yuyi said calmly, "But Senior Tiandaozi is being aggressive, so I have to respond."
"Good! Good! Good!" Tiandaozi said "good" three times, his spiritual power suddenly erupting, a majestic pressure surging toward Yuyi, "Since that's the case, let this old one see just how capable you, the Youyue Valley master, really are!"
Yuyi was not to be outdone either. The true essence in his body circulated, a sharp sword intent shooting up into the sky. The two spiritual powers collided in the center of the hall, stirring up waves of air.
"Stop!" Duan Changjian shouted heavily, but the two were already fighting.
Tiandaozi's cultivation was profound, his spiritual power surging like a river. Each move carried the power to destroy heaven and earth. Although Yuyi's realm was slightly inferior, his sword technique was exquisite, each strike pointing directly at the opponent's weaknesses.
The two went back and forth, fighting inseparably. The tables and chairs in the hall were shattered by spiritual power, and the surrounding cultivators retreated one after another to avoid being affected.
Just then, a figure suddenly rushed into the field.
"Both of you stop! Let me heal your injuries!"
It was Ren, ranked first on the Hengyue Sect's Top Ten Experts List, a retired expert who had newly joined the Nitian Alliance. Her hands formed seals, and a gentle spiritual power surged toward the two.
Yuyi's heart sounded an alarm, immediately withdrawing his sword and retreating. But Tiandaozi couldn't dodge in time and was hit by that spiritual power, his face immediately changing.
"Ren, you..." Tiandaozi said angrily.
Duan Changjian had already appeared between the two, saying solemnly: "Enough! How can you behave so recklessly in the Nitian Alliance deliberation hall!"
Ren withdrew her spiritual power, looking somewhat embarrassed: "Alliance Leader Duan Changjian, I just wanted to break up the fight..."
"No need." Duan Changjian said coldly, "This matter ends here. Tiandaozi, Ren, you both step back."
Tiandaozi and Ren exchanged glanes, ultimately saying nothing more and each returning to their seats.
Although Yuyi had suffered some injuries, they weren't serious. He returned to Shaying and mingji's side, saying in a low voice: "It's fine."
Shaying's eyes were full of worry, but she didn't say much.
After the meeting ended, Yuyi led Shaying and mingji away from the hall. Walking out of the Nitian Alliance, Shaying finally couldn't help asking: "Yuyi, that Ren, she just..."
"He wanted to take the opportunity to ambush me." Yuyi said calmly, "But was stopped by Duan Changjian."
Shaying's heart tightened, gripping Yuyi's hand firmly.
Yuyi patted the back of her hand, his gaze looking into the distance, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Tiandaozi, Ren, it seemed these two had become his enemies.