Inside the deliberation hall, spiritual lamps flickered, illuminating the grave faces of everyone present. Duan Changjian sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the several vice alliance leaders present, finally landing on Yuyi.
"Yuyi, do you know why Tiandaozi and Ren are targeting you so?"
Yuyi shook his head, his expression as calm as usual. Shaying stood at his side, her brows slightly furrowed, obviously also waiting for an answer.
Shuanghan spoke: "They want to raise a banner."
"Raise a banner?" Yuyi was puzzled.
"In the cultivation world, new forces rising often need to establish authority." Shuanghan explained, "Tiandaozi and Ren are ambitious. They want to establish their own power within the Nitian Alliance, so they must find someone of sufficient weight to make an example of. You control Youyue Valley and have impressive strength, making you the perfect target."
Duan Changjian added: "What's more dangerous is Suiying. This person was the number one quick sword in the cultivation world twenty years ago. His sword technique is as fast as lightning, precise beyond compare. Although his realm stays at the early Nascent Soul stage, in terms of sword dao attainment, even Deity Transformation Realm cultivators wouldn't dare underestimate him."
Yuyi's heart tightened. A cultivator at the early Nascent Soul stage, yet his sword dao attainment could make Deity Transformation Realm cultivators wary - this Suiying was definitely no ordinary person.
"The four of them joining forces, you have no chance of winning." Duan Changjian said solemnly, "Tiandaozi, Ren, and Xishui Changliu are all late Golden Core stage experts, plus Suiying this quick sword master. Even with Shaying's help, it would be difficult to resist."
Yuyi was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "What if I show weakness?"
"Show weakness?" A sharp light flashed in Shuanghan's eyes.
"They want to raise a banner, establish authority, then I'll give them the opportunity." A cold smile appeared at the corner of Yuyi's mouth, "However, whether this banner can be raised isn't up to them to decide."
Shaying held Yuyi's hand, saying in a low voice: "What do you plan to do?"
"South Nine District cliff, surrounded by clouds and mist, with thin spiritual energy, it's a good place for an ambush." Cold light flickered in Yuyi's eyes, "I'll show weakness for several days, forced to give up South Eight District, pretending to be depressed in South Nine District. When they come to surround and kill me, that's when we counterattack."
Duan Changjian looked at Yuyi, slowly nodding: "This plan is feasible, but you need sufficient help."
"Xueying." Yuyi transmitted.
A figure emerged from the shadows - it was Youming Sect leader Xueying. She was dressed in white like snow, her appearance cold and beautiful, her aura restrained to the extreme, actually disguised as an ordinary guard.
"Xueying is willing to help." Xueying's voice was cold, "I'll disguise myself as a guard and appear at the crucial moment."
"And Bingxin." Yuyi continued, "She'll secretly reveal information, letting me know Tiandaozi and the others' movements in advance."
Duan Changjian deeply looked at Yuyi. This young man's scheming and decisiveness far exceeded his imagination. Facing enemies on all sides, he didn't choose to flee, but rather retreated to advance, betting his life.
"Good." Duan Changjian stood up, "I tacitly approve this matter, but publicly I won't interfere. The Nitian Alliance's internal struggles can only be resolved by yourself."
Yuyi cupped his hands: "Thank you, Alliance Leader."
For the next ten days, Yuyi began showing weakness. He voluntarily gave up South Eight District, retreating to guard South Nine District. Every day he wandered by the cliff edge, looking depressed, as if under enormous pressure. News spread, and the cultivation world discussed it, saying Youyue Valley master Yuyi was already at the end of his rope.
Tiandaozi and Ren received the news, joy flashing in their eyes.
"This Yuyi really can't hold on anymore." Tiandaozi sneered, "Ren, Suiying, Xishui Changliu, the four of us join hands, today we'll take his life and raise the banner to establish authority!"
Ren nodded: "Suiying's quick sword is enough to kill Yuyi in an instant. We just need to watch from the side."
Suiying remained silent, only gripping his long sword tighter. Xishui Changliu stood at his side, her eyes full of worry.
Ten days later, South Nine District cliff.
Cold wind howled, sea of clouds surged. Yuyi stood at the edge of the cliff, his back to everyone, as if gazing into the abyss. His figure was lonely and desolate, just like his state of mind at this moment.
"Yuyi!" Tiandaozi's voice came from behind, "Today is your death day!"
Yuyi slowly turned around, no fear on his face, instead revealing a strange smile.
"Tiandaozi, Ren, Xishui Changliu, and Suiying." Yuyi's voice was as calm as water, "The four of you joining hands is indeed enough to kill me. But have you ever thought why I would wait for you here?"
Tiandaozi's face changed, suddenly feeling something was wrong.
"Attack!" Yuyi shouted explosively, his figure like lightning, charging straight at Suiying!
A sharp light flashed in Suiying's eyes, his long sword unsheathed, fast as lightning! The two swords collided in the air, emitting ear-piercing metallic ringing!
Quick sword against quick sword!
Yuyi's Quick Sword Art and Suiying's quick sword engaged in fierce combat at the cliff edge! Sword light flashed, sword qi crisscrossed, the two's speed was so fast it was hard to catch with the naked eye!
"Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang!"
Dense metallic collision sounds rang incessantly. Two figures moved rapidly at the cliff edge, sometimes leaping up, sometimes diving down, sword light like weaving, killing intent everywhere!
Tiandaozi and the others wanted to support but found they couldn't intervene at all. The two were too fast; the slightest carelessness would injure their companion.
"Damn it!" Tiandaozi grit his teeth, "Suiying, finish it quickly!"
Suiying sneered in his heart. How could he not want to finish it quickly? But this Yuyi's Quick Sword Art was so exquisite, each strike precise beyond compare, his speed not inferior to his at all!
The two exchanged dozens of moves, still unable to determine victory or defeat.
Suddenly, Yuyi revealed a flaw.
Suiying's eyes shone with intense light, his long sword like a venomous snake striking, straight at Yuyi's throat!
This sword was fast to the extreme, precise to the extreme, impossible to avoid!
Yuyi didn't dodge, instead charging toward the sword edge!
"Pfft!"
The long sword pierced through Yuyi's throat, blood spraying out!
But Yuyi's long sword also simultaneously stabbed into Suiying's heart!
The two froze at the same time, blood dyeing their clothes red.
"Mutual destruction?" Tiandaozi's face changed drastically.
Suiying looked at the long sword in his chest in disbelief, then looked at Yuyi. This young man had actually chosen to bet his life against his life!
Blood spilled from the corner of Yuyi's mouth, but a trace of relief flashed in his eyes.
"Suiying, you were the number one quick sword twenty years ago." Yuyi's voice was hoarse, "But today, you lost."
Suiying wanted to speak but spat out a mouthful of blood. His life force was rapidly draining. Even with Nascent Soul stage cultivation, he couldn't survive with his heart pierced through.
The two fell simultaneously, their breath cut off.
At the cliff edge, only the howling cold wind and surging sea of clouds remained.
Tiandaozi, Ren, and Xishui Changliu looked at each other, not expecting this outcome.
"Yuyi and Suiying, mutual destruction." Tiandaozi took a deep breath, "Although we lost Suiying, Yuyi is dead, our goal is achieved. Raising the banner to establish authority is complete!"
Ren and Xishui Changliu nodded, about to step forward to examine Yuyi's remains.
Suddenly, a hidden weapon broke through the air!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
Several flying needles shot toward the three!
Shaying emerged from the shadows, holding more hidden weapons in her hand, her eyes full of killing intent!
"Yuyi!" Shaying's mournful cry echoed at the cliff edge.
At the same time, the guard-disguised Xueying also revealed her true form, the aura of early Nascent Soul stage erupting!
"Tiandaozi, Ren, Xishui Changliu!" Xueying's voice was icy, "Today, none of you will leave!"
Qingfeng and Hanmei, lying in ambush all around, also appeared simultaneously, forming an encirclement!
Tiandaozi's face changed drastically: "It's an ambush!"
But what terrified him even more was that Yuyi's remains suddenly turned into a ray of light and disappeared!
"This is... a protective talisman?!" Tiandaozi's pupils contracted sharply.
The next moment, a figure emerged from the void - it was Yuyi!
He was unharmed, holding a positioning teleportation talisman, his eyes full of coldness.
"Tiandaozi, Ren, Xishui Changliu." Yuyi's voice was icy, "You wanted to raise a banner to establish authority. Today I'll let you know what the true price is!"
Yuyi's long sword unsheathed again, the Quick Sword Art executed to the extreme, transforming into a stream of light, straight for the three's lives!
At this moment, Tiandaozi and the others finally understood - they had fallen into Yuyi's carefully designed trap!
And this cultivation world power struggle had only just begun...