In the seclusion chamber, Shaying sat cross-legged on a cushion, surrounded by faint netherworld qi. The cultivation of the Netherworld True Scripture had reached a critical point, but she couldn't calm her mind to comprehend it.
Lingxiao's figure kept appearing in her mind. That meeting at the back mountain of Sword Peak, his heroic laughter, his concerned eyes, and that inadvertently revealed tenderness... Shaying suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp pain in her heart.
"How can I be like this?" She whispered to herself, her hands tightly clutching her clothes. "Yuyi is my fiancé, how can I think of another?"
Yet, that longing grew like wild grass, impossible to suppress. Whenever she tried to circulate the Netherworld True Scripture's mental method, Lingxiao's face would appear in her consciousness, disrupting her spiritual power circulation.
Shaying took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and closed her eyes to cultivate again. But the self-blame in her heart surged like a tide—she couldn't forgive herself, even more couldn't face Yuyi.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the mountain ranges of Tianjian Domain, Lingxiao was leading a team to execute a sect mission. Amidst flashing sword light, he killed a Late Foundation Building Stage demonic beast with one sword, but his movement was half a breath slower than usual.
"Brother Lingxiao, what's wrong with you today?" A Tianjian Sect disciple beside him asked with concern.
Lingxiao sheathed his sword and forced a smile. "Nothing, just a bit tired."
But he knew clearly in his heart that he couldn't concentrate at all. Ever since Shaying entered seclusion, he often thought of her. That gentle smile, those thoughtful words, and the deep emotion when she gave him the Hanxiao Sword... everything was deeply branded in his heart.
"She is Yuyi's fiancée..." Lingxiao repeatedly warned himself. "How can I have improper thoughts about her?"
Yet, that longing was like a bone-deep maggot, impossible to shake off. Whenever night fell and all was quiet, he couldn't help thinking of Shaying, thinking of everything about her.
This interweaving of guilt and longing made him suffer endlessly.
Several days later, deep within Youming Sect.
Xueying slowly opened her eyes, a flash of sharp light in them. The netherworld qi around her receded like a tide, revealing her cold and beautiful face.
"Finally comprehended it." She said softly, feeling the surging spiritual power within her body.
The Netherworld True Scripture, this sect-guarding technique of Youming Sect, she had finally comprehended it to its depths. Her root bone had improved by one level, her movement technique had improved by one level, and more importantly, the probability of sword qi condensation had greatly increased.
Xueying stood up and pushed open the stone door of the seclusion chamber. Facing her was the respectful bowing of Youming Sect disciples.
"The sect master has exited seclusion!"
"Congratulations on the sect master's divine art completion!"
Xueying nodded slightly and transmitted to Yuyi: "Yuyi, I've exited seclusion. Let's gather at Tianxiang Pavilion tonight."
Yuyi's voice came through the transmission formation: "Good, I'll notify everyone now."
That evening, in a private room on the second floor of Tianxiang Pavilion.
The core members of Nitian Alliance gathered together to celebrate Xueying's comprehension of the Netherworld True Scripture. Wine and dishes were fragrant, spirit tea curling with steam. Everyone raised their cups, the atmosphere lively.
"Sect Master Xueying, congratulations on comprehending the Netherworld True Scripture!" Duan Changjian raised his cup and said. "This technique is Youming Sect's secret transmission. Being able to comprehend it to its depths is truly not easy."
Xueying smiled faintly. "Just luck."
Bingxin put down her wine cup and asked: "Sect Master Xueying, after cultivating the Netherworld True Scripture, what attributes improved?"
Xueying answered truthfully: "Root bone improved one level, movement technique improved one level, sword qi condensation probability also improved."
"Truly a sect-guarding technique." Shuanghua Xianzi exclaimed. "Our Tianyin Pavilion's Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Art improves speed and strength after cultivation, but root bone and movement technique can't both be improved."
Shuangtong also said: "Kunlun Sect's mental method can improve strength, root bone, and nature, but cultivation speed is extremely slow, and the requirements for aptitude are extremely high."
Bingxin shook her head: "Our Emei Sect still hasn't discovered a sect-guarding technique. Truly regrettable."
"Sect-guarding techniques each have their merits." Duan Changjian said. "But there's one restriction—after cultivation, one cannot practice other sect-guarding mental methods, unless encountering a technique of the same nature."
"For example?" mingjing asked.
"For example, the Netherworld True Scripture is purely yin attribute. If it meets another purely yin attribute technique, perhaps they can be cultivated together." Duan Changjian explained. "Yuyi's Nirvana Sword Art is also purely yin attribute, a perfect match with the Netherworld True Scripture."
Everyone suddenly understood, looking toward Yuyi one after another.
Yuyi just smiled faintly, not saying much. He knew clearly in his heart that he hadn't cultivated Xuantian Sect's sect-guarding technique, the Hunyuan Mental Method. He only had the Nirvana Sword Art passed down by a mysterious elder. What level this sword art was, he still didn't know.
After three rounds of wine, mingjing's expression suddenly changed, her gaze through the window looking toward the first floor of Tianxiang Pavilion.
"What's wrong?" Xuantie asked.
mingjing said softly: "Shaying and Lingxiao are on the first floor."
Everyone's expressions varied. Yuyi's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
"They're together?" Xueying asked.
"Mm, talking happily." mingjing said. "Looks like... very intimate."
The private room fell into brief silence. Canglong and Liekong exchanged glanes, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.
Yuyi put down his wine cup and stood up. "I'm a bit tired. I'll return to Youyue Valley first."
"Yuyi..." Duan Changjian wanted to speak but stopped.
Yuyi waved his hand, turning to leave. His retreating figure still looked upright, but those familiar with him could feel that the figure revealed a trace of loneliness.
The night grew deeper, in the courtyard of Youyue Valley.
Yuyi sat alone at the stone table, a pot of spirit wine on the table. He drank cup after cup. The wine entered his throat, but couldn't extinguish the bitterness in his heart.
The news from the transmission formation was like a sharp blade, piercing his heart. Shaying and Lingxiao, on the first floor of Tianxiang Pavilion, talking happily...
He thought of Shaying's various abnormalities before entering seclusion, thought of the look in Lingxiao's eyes when he looked at Shaying, thought of those inadvertent interactions between them...
Everything became clear.
"So that's how it is..." Yuyi mumbled to himself, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes.
Footsteps sounded. Xueying walked into the courtyard. She had wanted to comfort Yuyi, but seeing his lonely figure drinking alone, she didn't know what to say.
"Yuyi." Xueying called softly.
Yuyi raised his head, seeing Xueying, and forced a smile. "Xueying, why are you here?"
"I..." Xueying wanted to speak but stopped, finally just saying. "The moonlight is nice tonight."
The two looked up at the sky, but only saw dark clouds covering it, impossible to see the moon at all.
Awkward silence spread between the two.
Xueying sighed in her heart. She had wanted to persuade Yuyi, but at this moment discovered that any words seemed pale and powerless. Matters of emotion, what could an outsider say?
"I'll go back first." Xueying finally said. "You... take care."
Yuyi nodded, watching Xueying leave.
After a while, footsteps sounded again. Yuyi raised his head, seeing Shaying walk into the courtyard.
"Yuyi." Shaying called, her voice carrying a trace of trembling.
Yuyi put down his wine cup, quietly looking at her. Moonlight through gaps in the clouds scattered down, illumingating his cold, handsome face.
"You're back." Yuyi said calmly.
Shaying approached, sitting across from him. She saw the empty wine pot on the table, her heart aching. "Yuyi, you..."
"Shaying." Yuyi interrupted her, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I'll ask you one thing."
Shaying's heart tightened. She said in a low voice: "Speak."
Yuyi looked straight into her eyes, asking word by word: "Do you like Lingxiao?"
Shaying's whole body shook, her face instantly turning pale. She opened her mouth, wanting to deny, but the words at her lips, she couldn't say them at all.
Silence.
Long silence.
Yuyi watched her reaction, the last trace of hope in his heart also shattered. He slowly stood up, his voice hoarse. "I understand."
"Yuyi, I..." Shaying covered her face and wept. "I'm sorry, I really didn't want this, but I..."
"I don't blame you." Yuyi interrupted her, his voice cold as ice. "But I will forever hate you both."
After speaking, he turned and left, his figure resolute.
Shaying collapsed to the ground, crying uncontrollably.
Yuyi walked out of Youyue Valley. The night wind was like a knife, cutting his face. He didn't know how long he walked, finally arriving at Duan Changjian's residence.
Duan Changjian was flipping through ancient texts in his study. Seeing Yuyi visit late at night, his heart startled.
"Yuyi, what's wrong?" Duan Changjian asked.
Yuyi stood at the door, his voice cold. "I want a killing mission."
Duan Changjian was stunned, then immediately understood something. He stood up and walked before Yuyi, saying solemnly: "Yuyi, you..."
"I need to vent." Yuyi interrupted him, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes. "Give me a killing mission, anywhere is fine."
Duan Changjian was silent for a moment, finally sighing. "There's a cultivation point on the periphery of Cangqiong Alliance called Xuesha Cave. Many low-ranking disciples of Cangqiong Alliance gather there. You can go there and vent to your heart's content."
Yuyi nodded, turning to leave.
"Yuyi." Duan Changjian called out to him. "Killing isn't the way to solve problems, but if it can make you feel better... then go."
Yuyi stopped, his back to Duan Changjian as he said: "Thank you."
After speaking, his figure flashed, disappearing into the night.
Duan Changjian gazed in the direction he left, a complex light flashing in his eyes. He thought of himself years ago also experiencing similar pain, finally choosing this path of slaughter.
"Yuyi..." Duan Changjian sighed low. "Hope you can walk out of this haze."
The night was deep. Yuyi's figure was like a black lightning, rushing toward the Cangqiong Alliance's peripheral cultivation point. The pain, anger, and unwillingness in his heart all transformed into overwhelming killing intent.
This night, countless lives were destined to fall.
And Yuyi's cultivation path would also undergo earth-shaking changes because of this.