In the Nitian Alliance council hall, everyone sat around on cushions. Duan Changjian sat in the main seat, his expression grave. The atmosphere in the council hall was oppressive—everyone could feel the approaching storm.
"News has come." Duan Changjian said, "Zixiao has left the Cangqiong Alliance."
Everyone was shocked. Zixiao was the Cangqiong Alliance's sect master, with formidable strength and supreme poison techniques, one of the cultivation world's top experts.
"Cangqiong Alliance's Jianying has already stated." Duan Changjian continued, "Zixiao has resigned as sect master and left the Cangqiong Alliance, now a free cultivator."
"This is good news." Lingxiao said, "Zixiao leaving the Cangqiong Alliance benefits us."
"How so?" Duan Changjian asked.
"Zixiao's strength is formidable, but he's not one of us." Lingxiao said, "For Zixiao, recruiting him into the Nitian Alliance is absolutely impossible. So, we must elimingate him."
"How to elimingate him?" Shuanghan asked.
"We must send the Nitian Alliance's strongest experts." Lingxiao said, "After mastering his whereabouts, some will ambush at the nearest city, and we must prepare protective talismans just in case."
Everyone nodded—this strategy was reasonable.
Just then, Yuyi spoke: "I want to challenge Zixiao alone."
Everyone was shocked, all looking toward him.
"Are you crazy?" Duan Changjian frowned, "Zixiao's poison techniques are terrifying, impossible to defeat. His poison techniques have been cultivated to perfection—those poisoned either lose combat ability or die on the spot."
"I painstakingly acquired an Antidote Pill." Yuyi said, "Perhaps it can't completely resist his poison techniques, but at least the damage to me will be reduced to extremely weak."
"That still won't work!" Shuanghan said, "Yuyi, you underestimate Zixiao too much. Even without poison techniques, with his self-cultivated Heaven Sword Chain Sword, he's absolutely no weaker than any of us. His sword technique has reached perfection, each strike carrying powerful force."
"There's also his Dissolution Art." Xuantie added, "It can absorb your spiritual power, making you unable to fight. Once entangled by his Dissolution Art, your spiritual power will continuously drain, eventually turning you into a cripple."
"I don't care." Yuyi insisted, "If I don't have a duel with him, the past shame will always leave a shadow in my heart, I can't let it go!"
"We absolutely won't provide you any information to go find death!" Bingxin firmly opposed, "Zixiao's strength far exceeds your imagination, you're just sending yourself to die. Four years ago you lost to him, now you still might not win."
Yuyi stood up, saying: "Zixiao ultimately isn't like Daozun or Xueji—I can't tolerate losing to him."
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to persuade him. Yuyi's persistence, they all knew. Four years ago, Yuyi lost to Zixiao—that was the eternal pain in his heart.
Just then, mingjing spoke: "I'll accompany him."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Yuyi needs this battle." mingjing said, "Win or lose, he needs to face his past. Only by facing it can he truly let go."
"mingjing!" Bingxin said urgently, "You're letting him go die!"
"It's not going to die." mingjing said indifferently, "It's growth. Every cultivator needs to experience such battles to truly grow."
Yuyi looked at mingjing, saying: "Thank you."
mingjing shook her head: "No need to thank. But I have a suggestion."
"What suggestion?"
"Don't bring the Dream Soft Sword." mingjing said, "Defeat him with your Quick Sword Art. Only then can you truly prove your strength."
Yuyi paused, then nodded: "Alright."
He turned to look at everyone, saying: "I'll challenge Zixiao to a duel at Hengyue Sect's back mountain. If you won't provide information, I'll find him myself."
Duan Changjian sighed, saying: "Fine. Since you insist on going, I won't stop you. But remember, if you encounter danger, retreat immediately. Don't be stubborn—preserving your life is most important."
"I know." Yuyi said.
He left the council hall and began preparing for the duel. He took the Antidote Pill, circulated his technique, adjusted his state. mingjing stood to the side, quietly watching him.
"Are you confident?" mingjing asked.
"No." Yuyi said honestly, "But I must go."
"Why?"
"Because four years ago, I lost to him." Yuyi said, "That's the eternal pain in my heart. If I don't wash away this shame, I can never let go. That shadow will always hang over me, preventing me from advancing."
mingjing nodded, saying nothing more.
Several days later, at Hengyue Sect's back mountain.
Snow covered the entire back mountain, silver-wrapped and beautiful beyond words. Zixiao stood in the snow, Yanqing beside him. Both wore thick winter clothes, quietly waiting. Snowflakes drifted down, laning on their shoulders like white cloaks.
Yuyi and mingjing flew over, laning before Zixiao.
"You've come." Zixiao said indifferently.
"I've come." Yuyi said, "Four years ago, I lost to you. Today, I want to wash away that shame."
"I thought you'd long forgotten me." Zixiao said.
"I've long forgotten your appearance." Yuyi said, "But I still remember you as a person, and the promise I made to you back then."
"Promise?" Zixiao was puzzled.
"I said I would come back to find you." Yuyi said, "Today, I've come."
Zixiao nodded, saying: "Good. Then let me see what progress you've made in four years."
He drew his long sword, sword light like snow. Yuyi also drew his long sword, sword light like a rainbow.
Battle instantly erupted. Yuyi used Quick Sword Art qi attacks, sword qi like arrows shooting toward Zixiao. Zixiao swung his sword to block, the sword qi dissolved. Their sword lights crossed in the air, emitting crisp collision sounds.
Yuyi thrust his sword forward, sword light weaving like fabric, each strike carrying fierce killing intent. Zixiao swung his sword in response, sword light like snow, each strike carrying profound technique. Their figures wove through the snow, sword light dancing like snowflakes.
The two exchanged dozens of moves, difficult to determine victory. Zixiao suddenly threw out a long staff, drawing his sword to use Heaven Sword Chain Sword. Sword light rained down, each strike carrying powerful force. That sword light poured down like a rainstorm, making Yuyi feel enormous pressure.
Yuyi swung his sword to block, but Zixiao's sword technique was too strong, he gradually felt strained. Just then, Zixiao used Dissolution Art, a suction force emitting from his palm, absorbing Yuyi's spiritual power. That suction was like a whirlpool, making Yuyi feel his spiritual power draining.
Yuyi felt his spiritual power draining and his heart startled. He immediately circulated his technique, resisting the Dissolution Art's suction. His meridians trembled, spiritual power boiled, but he didn't retreat.
"You underestimate me too much!" Zixiao shouted in rage, his sword light even more fierce.
Yuyi grit his teeth, using Quick Sword Art's final form. Sword light like a rainbow, carrying powerful force, thrust toward Zixiao. Zixiao swung his sword to block, but Yuyi's sword force was too strong, he was forced to retreat. A string of deep footprints was left in the snow.
The two entered close combat, sword lights crossing, each strike carrying powerful force. Yuyi used his sword sheath to ambush, Zixiao responded hastily, forced back several steps. His face showed surprise, clearly not expecting Yuyi to use such a move.
Yuyi seized the opportunity, fully mobilizing internal force, shooting out Quick Sword Art qi. The qi was like an arrow, instantly piercing through Zixiao's defenses, stabbing into his throat. Fresh blood splattered, staining the snow red.
Zixiao widened his eyes, looking at Yuyi in disbelief. His body slowly fell, fresh blood staining the snow.
Yuyi stood firmly, panting heavily. He had won.
mingjing let out a breath, Yanqing sighed.
Yuyi circulated his technique to force out the toxins in his body, feeling a wave of weakness. The Antidote Pill had weakened the poison technique's damage, but he was still poisoned. His meridians burned, spiritual power boiled, but he felt an unprecedented lightness.
Yanqing walked to Zixiao's remains, silently watching. After a moment, she turned to look at Yuyi, saying: "Please wait a moment."
"Wait for what?" Yuyi asked.
"Wait for Zixiao's rebirth." Yanqing said, "He has something to say to you."
Yuyi paused, then nodded: "Alright."
He stood in the snow, waiting for Zixiao's rebirth. mingjing walked to his side, saying: "You won."
"Yes." Yuyi said, "I won."
"How does it feel?"
"Released." Yuyi said, "Four years of shame, finally washed away. The shadow in my heart, finally dissipated."
mingjing nodded, saying nothing more.
The snow continued falling, covering Zixiao's remains, also covering Yuyi and mingjing's figures. They waited quietly, waiting for Zixiao's rebirth, waiting for this duel's true end. Snowflakes laned on their shoulders like white cloaks, wrapping them in a sheet of tranquility.