Jianchi stood in the council hall of Youyue Valley, his expression grave as he watched Yuyi. Yuyi sat on the valley master's meditation cushion, toying with a short sword in his hand, his gaze drifting aimlessly. The candlelight flickered in the council hall, casting long shadows of the two men.
"Valley Master!" Jianchi finally couldn't hold back, his voice carrying a trace of urgency. "Please reconsider. For over two years now, you've been frequently absent. The internal affairs of the region have accumulated dissatisfaction. Your long-term absence from Nitian Alliance meetings has caused people to lose heart. Duan Changjian and the alliance leader have grown increasingly reliant on Lingxiao, and the Tianming Alliance has developed rapidly, now numbering thousands with extremely stable internal morale."
Yuyi raised his head, glaning indifferently at Jianchi. The short sword in his hand spun at his fingertips, cold light flashing. His eyes were as calm as water, as if Jianchi's words hadn't touched him in the slightest.
"I don't need you to just be my tool." Yuyi's voice was calm and cold. "If you can't handle things on your own, and Youyue Valley declines, I owe Youyue Valley nothing. It's you who would have failed Youyue Valley."
Jianchi's expression changed slightly, words catching in his throat. He knew Yuyi's character—once he decided something, it was hard to change. But he still couldn't help trying to persuade him.
"While I'm here backing you up, show some backbone." Yuyi stood up, slipping the short sword into his sleeve. "I'm leaving for a while to find true masters. These years, I've been trapped in Youyue Valley's affairs, and my technique advancement has stagnated. I need a breakthrough. I need to find real opponents."
mingjing walked in from outside, frowning slightly at this scene. "Where are you going?"
"Xuantian Sect." Yuyi smiled, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "I'm going to set up an arena there and challenge the masters of the cultivation world. For years, I've been searching for opponents who can make me go all out, but I haven't found any. Perhaps publicly setting up an arena can attract true masters."
mingjing paused, then nodded. "I'll go with you."
Yuyi didn't refuse. Taking mingjing, he left Youyue Valley. He looked back at Youyue Valley's gate, a complex emotion flashing through his heart. This place he had managed for years now made him feel suffocated. Every blade of grass and tree in Youyue Valley carried too many of his memories—Jianchi's worried expression during late-night councils, the sound of disciples reciting during cultivation, and all those days and nights fighting side by side with Nitian Alliance friends. He had found belonging here, found friendship, found his own path. But now, he felt trapped, trapped by these bonds, unable to move forward. He knew he had to leave, had to let go of all this, to pursue a higher realm. This was his obsession, and his destiny.
Along the way, mingjing silently followed behind Yuyi, asking nothing. She knew his character—once he decided something, he wouldn't easily change it. She also knew that what Yuyi needed was support, not questioning. The two passed through Youyue Valley's mountain path, heading toward Xuantian Sect. The scenery along the way was picturesque, but Yuyi's mind was completely elsewhere. In his mind, he constantly replayed the bits and pieces of his cultivation over these years. He felt his technique had reached a bottleneck and needed a breakthrough.
Three days later, at the foot of Xuantian Sect's mountain, an arena rose from the ground. Notices were posted around the arena, reading:
"Those who defeat Yuyi will receive five thousand high-grade Spirit Stones; those who draw will receive three thousand high-grade Spirit Stones; those who last fifty moves will receive five hundred Spirit Stones. Entry fee: three Spirit Stones."
The news spread throughout the cultivation world, causing a huge uproar. Yuyi's name was already thunderous in the cultivation world, and now publicly setting up an arena with such generosity shocked everyone. Cultivators came from all directions, wanting to witness this grand event.
The arena was packed with people, cultivators discussing animatedly.
"Valley Master Yuyi setting up an arena—how arrogant!"
"Five thousand high-grade Spirit Stones is no small amount. I heard his technique has advanced greatly in the past two years. I'm afraid few can defeat him."
"However, daring to publicly set up an arena shows he has absolute confidence in his strength."
"I want to see just how powerful he is."
Yuyi sat in a chair on one side of the arena, mingjing standing beside him. Sunlight spilled onto the arena, sword light flashing, gold and silver intertwining like a painting. Yuyi's eyes were calm, but his heart was filled with anticipation. He hoped to find a real opponent here. Around the arena, cultivators were packed so tightly not a drop of water could pass through. The air was filled with the fragrance of Spirit Tea and pills, everyone's face bearing anticipation and excitement. In the distance, vendors' calls mingled with cultivators' discussions, forming a noisy yet lively scene.
For three consecutive days, challengers came in endless streams, but Yuyi found them all uninteresting. These so-called "masters" couldn't even last one or two moves, completely unable to interest him. Every battle felt like bullying the weak, leaving him bored. Some challengers couldn't even touch his sword before being defeated in one move. Others could barely receive a few moves but were quickly suppressed by his sword momentum, powerless to fight back. Yuyi began to doubt whether there were truly opponents in the cultivation world who could match him.
Yuyi turned to look at mingjing and found her squinting in the sun, her skin fair as jade, flawless. The sunlight on her face made her look even more beautiful.
"mingjing, you bask in the sun every day—why doesn't your skin darken?" Yuyi asked curiously. "The sunlight in Youyue Valley isn't bad either, but I just get darker the more I sunbathe."
mingjing opened her eyes and smiled. "Our all-female disciple sect has a special technique that can keep skin like jade. This is the sect's secret transmission, only female disciples can cultivate it."
Yuyi nodded, asking no more. His gaze fell on the arena again, a trace of loneliness in his eyes. The battles these past few days had disappointed him. He began to doubt whether he could truly find a real opponent.
Just then, a resonant voice rang out: "Valley Master Yuyi, Lei Zhentian of Kunlun Sect has come to challenge!"
Everyone looked toward the voice to see a burly man leap onto the arena, holding a long sword, his momentum like a rainbow. Kunlun Sect's top ten masters ranked seventh—Lei Zhentian's name was renowned in the cultivation world. His appearance excited the watching cultivators.
"It's Lei Zhentian! Kunlun Sect's top ten masters ranked seventh!"
"Now there's a good show to watch!"
"Lei Zhentian's Nine Heavens Thunder is Kunlun Sect's ultimate technique—its power is astonishing!"
Yuyi stood up, slowly walking onto the arena, holding only his sword sheath. His movements were unhurried, as if he didn't take Lei Zhentian seriously at all.
"Please." Yuyi said indifferently.
Lei Zhentian's eyes flashed with anger. He swung his long sword, sword qi striking toward Yuyi like thunder: "Nine Heavens Thunder!"
The sword qi tore through the air, emitting a piercing whistle like thunder exploding. The watching cultivators retreated one after another, afraid of being caught in the sword qi. But Yuyi only slightly sidestepped, blocking with his sword sheath, casually deflecting Lei Zhentian's attack.
Lei Zhentian's expression changed dramatically. Just as he was about to change moves, he found Yuyi's sword sheath already pointed at his chest. All his follow-up moves were sealed by this one move from Yuyi.
"Your moves are too flashy, and the changes are useless." Yuyi's voice was calm. "A true master only needs one move. Your sword technique, while powerful, lacks variation and relies too much on strength. Against a true master, such swordplay will only become your weakness."
Lei Zhentian froze, his face filled with shame and anger. He wanted to refute but found he couldn't refute at all. Yuyi was right—his sword technique did rely too much on strength and lacked variation.
The crowd booed, someone shouting: "The top ten masters are nothing special!"
Yuyi withdrew his sword sheath, turning to walk down the arena, a trace of loneliness on his face. Such an opponent couldn't make him feel excited at all. He began to doubt whether he could truly find a real opponent.
mingjing watched Yuyi's back and said softly: "Let me challenge you!"
Yuyi stopped, turning to look at mingjing. "Be careful. You know my Golden Snake Sword Art is extremely vicious—I might not be able to hold back."
mingjing smiled, leaping onto the arena. "Don't underestimate me. Be careful or you'll end up embarrassed in front of everyone."
Yuyi smiled too, walking onto the arena and drawing the Dream Sword. The blade was like a snake, cold light flashing. He knew mingjing's strength, and he knew her sword technique was exquisite. Perhaps she could bring him some challenge.
"Swords only, not internal power." mingjing said.
Yuyi nodded: "Agreed."
Both struck simultaneously. mingjing used the Cloud-Breaking Sword Art, one sword transforming into twelve sword shadows, enveloping toward Yuyi like clouds and mist. Sword shadows danced like churning clouds, dazzling the eyes. Yuyi's Dream Sword moved like a venomous snake, sword shadows dancing, weaving through mingjing's sword momentum.
mingjing's sword technique was exquisite, but Yuyi was faster. His Dream Sword seemed to have a life of its own, every attack pointing directly at mingjing's openings. mingjing, using Yuyi's reluctance to hurt her, constantly pressed forward, trying to find flaws. Her sword shadows changed unpredictably like clouds, forcing Yuyi to deal with them carefully.
But Yuyi was ultimately superior. His sword tip stopped at mingjing's left chest, the tip entering three fen, blood seeping out. mingjing's face paled slightly. She stepped back, covering her wound: "You win."
Yuyi withdrew his sword, a trace of reluctance in his eyes: "Sorry."
mingjing shook her head, jumping down from the arena to heal. She knew Yuyi had shown mercy. If he really wanted to hurt her, that one sword would have been fatal.
Just then, a clear voice rang out: "Senior Brother!"
Yuyi looked toward the voice to see a white-robed woman leap onto the arena, her eyes pure and bright, her smile open and charming. Her appearance made the watching cultivators' eyes light up.
"Cangying?" Yuyi froze. "Haven't seen you in years. You're still the same—open and charming, even more beautiful."
Cangying smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "Senior Brother still loves to joke. Earlier I heard people say Youyue Valley's master is called Yuyi—I couldn't believe it was actually Senior Brother. Why don't you use our sect's technique?"
Yuyi paused: "I didn't learn it. Cangying, your technique has improved considerably."
Cangying nodded, a trace of seriousness in her eyes. "Senior Brother, I want to spar with you. These years, I've been cultivating the Hunyuan Sword Art, and I want to see my progress."
Yuyi looked at Cangying, a trace of surprise in his eyes: "Alright."
Cangying drew her long sword, taking a deep breath, as if merging with the sword. Around her formed a circular qi field, sword circles constantly being drawn, creating a tai chi pattern. Sword qi circulated as if heaven and earth were just opening, yin and yang being born.
Yuyi's expression changed slightly. Cangying's Hunyuan Sword Art had actually reached such a realm. Her sword momentum was continuous, openings constantly shifting, impossible to predict. Her attacks were like mercury spilling to the ground, never stopping. Yuyi found he couldn't find Cangying's weakness at all.
"Hunyuan Sword Art..." Yuyi murmured, a trace of excitement in his eyes.
This was the opponent he had been searching for. This was the realm he wanted to pursue. Yuyi's sword intent began to boil—he had finally found a real challenge.