Chapter 7, Only a Moment Opens

The title of this chapter is not a result of laziness. It is simply deemed the most appropriate.

Sha and Xiaolongnv had actually seen the two of them long ago, but they felt that there were too many people and did not approach to speak. As for Sha, he was unwilling and did not want to; at this moment, Ye Lingbatian was present, and Sha always did not want his relationship with Yiyun to be known by Batian. This thought left Sha at a loss for how to explain, yet he simply did not want to.

On the night he entered the secluded chamber, Sha could not help but miss Batian outside. He found it unforgivable that he would miss Batian more intensely than Yiyun. Looking at the calm and indifferent Xiaolongnv beside him, Sha sighed inwardly. After the initial excitement of learning the Nine Yin Manual had passed, he began to wonder whether Yiyun had returned to the manor, buried in contemplation of the manual he always felt he had not fully comprehended. Now, he was also thinking about what Batian was doing, whether he too was missing someone like Sha was. After a moment of chaotic thoughts, Sha ultimately forced himself to suppress the myriad of distractions and closed his eyes to meditate.

"Yiyun..." Batian called out, but he no longer knew what to say. Sha, on the other hand, seemed to be more relaxed. "Yiyun, don't be like this. Over time, the Shenzhou Gang will not let you go." Yiyun chuckled lightly, her voice filled with an indescribable sarcasm. "Sha, Batian, you should know what I hate the most: meaningless sympathy. Are you trying to say something that expresses your heartfelt concern for me? What is the point? It's like I bring a group of people back to life and then tell them, 'Don't be sad.' Isn't it ridiculous? I don't blame you; I truly don't blame you at all. However, I will forever hate you. To me, you are all important people, but my value in your eyes is far less than I thought. Do you understand? Therefore, I hate you, and I will continue to hate you forever!" After saying this, she waved her hand and left. Sha's face turned pale as he shouted loudly at Yiyun's figure, "Yiyun!" His tone was filled with indescribable sadness. Yiyun suppressed the impulse to turn back and simply slipped out of their sight. Batian reached out to embrace Sha and comforted him softly, "Sha, don't be like this. Let him calm down for a while; one day he will understand. Although we have wronged him, it is something we cannot control ourselves." Sha pushed Batian away forcefully and ran off.

I thought I had a heart as hard as iron, yet memories can so easily compel me to admit that this is not the case. Fireworks are splendid, but they bloom only for a moment; brilliance and beauty are never eternal. In this world, there is nothing and no one that every individual can absolutely affirm, except for oneself

As expected by the two, within less than an hour, Xiao Zhang fell to the ground severely injured. The disciples of the Xingxiu Sect erupted in cheers, while Zi Er smiled calmly and led her disciples away from the platform

Chapter 8, Endless Years 8

Chapter Four, The Passage of Time

In fact, only a moment has passed, yet it feels as though I have witnessed countless years while gazing at Mingji's flight towards the cliff. In Yi Yun's eyes, Mingji has always been simple and straightforward, but recently, Yi Yun has come to see Mingji's tenacity. At this moment, she perceives confidence and an indescribable sense of weariness. Yi Yun extends her right palm, exerting all her strength to perform a technique to seize from a distance, and Mingji's body is suddenly pulled to Yi Yun's front, stumbling and falling onto her shoulder. Leaning close to Yi Yun's ear, with a tone laced with amusement, Mingji says: "Yi Yun, you have lost; your heart can no longer abandon my existence." Yi Yun's pupils constrict, her expression darkening. She warns coldly: "Do not speak such words; do not challenge my patience again, or you will regret it." Mingji remains unfazed, replying: "Yi Yun, you have already been defeated by me; do you still not acknowledge it? Speaking such words to me is of no use. Do you really need to provide yourself with a hypocritical excuse, using your reluctance as a pretext? This deception fools no one but yourself. You have lost and no longer have the right to stop me from saying anything to you." Yi Yun, for reasons unknown, raises her hand but ultimately lets it fall in despair, gently pushing Mingji away. Grasping Mingji's hand, she says softly: "I have indeed lost, and I will not evade failure, but this is not the final outcome." Pulling Mingji, they rush down the cliff again, Yi Yun's expression remains emotionless, while Mingji wears a satisfied smile.

With a snap of his fingers, the ancient sword understood and said: "Then I will briefly explain the specific matters. The Seven Factions will continue to operate within their original territories, with the only change being that the training points will no longer have specific planning restrictions. Factions within the area can freely mix and use the training points, while any form of exclusive occupation of training points by factions is strictly prohibited. As for the Heavenly Path Organization, the alliance will include South Six, South Five, West Two, Four Three, East Eight, and East Nine. The Seven Factions will still operate within their original territories, with the only change being that the training points will no longer have specific planning restrictions. Factions within the area can freely mix and use the training points, while any form of exclusive occupation of training points by factions is strictly prohibited. As for the Heavenly Path Organization, the alliance will include South Six, South Five, West Two, Four Three, East Eight, and East Nine. Full authority is granted for use, and in addition, any actions to occupy the resource collection areas belonging to other factions for any reason are strictly prohibited. Furthermore, there has been a significant influx of newcomers into the martial world recently, and it is hoped that all factions will strive to absorb fresh blood. Lastly, if there are no particularly important matters, all will be handled by me on behalf of the factions.

Heavenly Dao expresses gratitude to Elder Yi for not holding past grievances! Additionally, I apologize to Elder Yi for my previous arrogance. In the future, Heavenly Dao will strictly adhere to Elder Yi's management. The members of Heavenly Dao simultaneously voiced their agreement. The new talents who admire experts share similar temperaments; if they are oppressed without reason, it will lead to their rebellion. However, if they are subdued and then treated with kindness, they will surely be convinced. Yi Yun, with a gentle demeanor, said: "We are all part of the alliance, all our own people, there is no need to say such things." After speaking, she turned and led the three with the ancient sword onto the carriage, departing swiftly. The mad leader couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed; the situation was not as he had imagined, and he signaled his people to disperse.

With Yi Yun leading the way, it took nearly half an hour to reach the summit of Duanchang Cliff. At this moment, as the sun was setting in the west, the twilight glow, tinged with purple and yellow, cast a particularly beautiful light on the cliff top and the surrounding sheer walls. Yi Yun could not help but stop and stand still, relaxing her body and mind as she admired the scenery before her

Master Zhuang! The situation has escalated. The members of the Kuang Gang are extremely angry. If it were not for the consideration of the alliance's regulations, they would have already resorted to violence. Now both sides have gathered a large number of people for the final negotiations. The leader of the Kuang Gang has asked me to convey to you that the heavens are being excessively unjust. If you are still unable to provide a solution, the Kuang Gang will be forced to resolve this with force. " Yi Yun packed the combat gear into her backpack and stood up, saying, "Then let us go over there and call Jia and Ming. They have really been dragging this out. It has been over a month, and they are only now preparing for the final battle, making me wait. Gu Jian, it is time to strike. " Gu Jian was taken aback. The heavens are being excessively unjust. If you are still unable to provide a solution, the Kuang Gang will be forced to resolve this with force. " Yi Yun packed the combat gear into her backpack and stood up, saying, "Then let us go over there and call Jia and Ming. They have really been dragging this out. It has been over a month, and they are only now preparing for the final battle, making me wait. Gu Jian, it is time to strike. " Gu Jian was astonished, and then he sent a secret message to summon Jia and Ming. The four of them boarded the carriage and hurried towards the Sword Cave.

The battles fought by Jia were not particularly difficult. Following Yi Yun closely, he had previously listened to the insights shared by Yi Yun, Qing Yi, and Xiao Long Nu. Suddenly, his understanding of martial arts was far deeper than that of his peers. Under Yi Yun's strict requirements, he had been in seclusion day and night, diligently practicing. His internal strength and martial arts skills were undoubtedly several notches above the top experts in the martial world. He easily defeated seven opponents, none of whom could last more than seven moves against him. Ming smiled and said, "I have long heard of the esteemed name of the deputy leader of Tiandao. How about we have a little sparring? I will be using the Huashan Essence Sword Technique." Ming could be considered Yi Yun's strongest trump card. Under Yi Yun's strict requirements, he had been in seclusion day and night, diligently practicing. His internal strength and martial arts skills were undoubtedly several notches above the top experts in the martial world. He easily defeated seven opponents, none of whom could last more than seven moves against him. Ming smiled and said, "I have long heard of the esteemed name of the deputy leader of Tiandao. How about we have a little sparring? I will be using the Huashan Essence Sword Technique." Ming could be considered Yi Yun's strongest trump card. His internal strength and martial arts cultivation were stronger than Jia's, especially his comprehension and insight, which were so high that even Yi Yun admired him. With the help of people like Shang Xin and Duan Chang, he had already learned the Dugu Nine Swords and was currently practicing diligently. These ignorant individuals could not possibly understand how much time, energy, and money it takes for a gang to cultivate a true expert. Just the invitation of capable experts from various sects in the martial world for sparring costs millions each year! The wear and tear on weapons and equipment also amounts to nearly a million. To claim oneself as an expert after achieving level ten or twenty in martial arts is truly the folly of the ignorant.

The First Section, The Long Years

For a full eight days, Mingji had collapsed to the ground, unable to hold on any longer, yet stubbornly refusing to lose consciousness. If it were an ordinary person, eight days without food or water would be enough to be fatal due to dehydration alone. Mingji secretly felt fortunate that he was, after all, a master of the martial world. Although he was currently only a first-rate expert, he was certainly not an ordinary person. Yiyun suddenly knelt on one knee, her sword plunged into the ground, and a group of disciples from the Blood Knife Sect, who had been continuously killed by Yiyun for eight days, shouted and ran away in panic. At this moment, Yiyun truly lacked even the strength to smile. Her consciousness gradually became clearer, and she turned to look in the direction where Mingji was standing, startled. She forced herself to gather her energy, sheathed her sword, and quickly approached, lifting Mingji onto the horse's back. Then she mounted the horse and urged it to gallop away. Mingji's voice was extremely weak as he said, "I am not unconscious yet!" His tone was filled with a stubbornness that would not allow him to be underestimated. Yiyun licked her cracked lips and replied, "Don't talk, save some strength to drink the nourishing soup." In just a moment, they had already entered the city. Yiyun tossed down a large denomination silver note, and the waiter happily ran out to buy ginseng soup for Yiyun.

Yiyun said without the slightest hint of guilt: "These newcomers, the Tianya Alliance has its own way of winning hearts; just a little coaxing from him and they would be immensely grateful." Jingang reproached: "Yiyun, you are truly speaking from a position of comfort. If you were in the Tianya Alliance's position, would you be willing to take on this task? Currently, none of the four regional elders are willing to take it on. The Tiandao gang will not shy away from others and will continue to maintain a rapid expansion rate. They will only be forced to rein in their growth when their numbers reach at least 800,000 due to financial issues. I have also heard about the people in that alliance; each one is proud and arrogant, overly revered by the younger generation, and they subtly believe themselves to be among the top super experts of today. Now, with none of the four regional elders willing to take on the task, the Tiandao gang will not shy away from others and will continue to maintain a rapid expansion rate. They will only be forced to rein in their growth when their numbers reach at least 800,000 due to financial issues. I have also heard about the people in that alliance; each one is proud and arrogant, overly revered by the younger generation, and they subtly believe themselves to be among the top super experts of today. Do you think the Tianya Alliance can manage such people? I fear that Tiandao is still sulking over the fact that the alliance has not appointed a regional elder for them.

Suddenly speaking, he said: "What kind of sword technique is this? If it were not for the disparity in internal strength, from the fourth move onwards, I would have no way to escape the space enveloped by your sword intent. By the thirteenth move, there would be no openings left; I could only neutralize it but could never counterattack. The fourteenth move, I cannot break through, cannot evade, cannot comprehend." Facing an NPC who spoke such words, Qing Yi was not the least bit surprised. An NPC of Wang Chongyang's stature possessed exceptionally high intelligence. "The Emei Sect's ultimate skill, the Yitian Sword Technique." Wang Chongyang laughed heartily, "Good, what a fine Yitian Sword Technique! I, Wang Chongyang, can die under such a sword technique, and I can close my eyes in peace. I have always been proud, believing that no martial arts could defeat me; even the Nine Yin Manual is beneath my notice. Heaven pities me, allowing me to die today with purpose!" His laughter abruptly ceased, and Qing Yi remained unfazed. Wang Chongyang's body slowly fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust that gently rose. Heartbroken and heart-wrenching, he joked: "What a pity, he is ultimately an NPC. If he knew that even after dying, he would respawn after a few days, merely erasing the memory of having encountered us, he probably wouldn't carry such a tragic emotion." The others couldn't help but smile. Cold Proud Frost curiously asked: "Is the Emei Sect's ultimate skill really that powerful? The last move, even Wang Chongyang admitted he couldn't evade it." Qing Yi smiled in response, naturally unable to divulge the details of the situation. Yi Yun and Xiao Longnu, having not heard the conversation, shifted the topic. Cold Proud Frost had originally been shocked by the power of the Yitian Sword Technique and couldn't help but speak out, but upon hearing it, she immediately felt it was inappropriate. How could one publicly discuss another's ultimate skill? If it were herself, it would also be considered taboo.

Leng Aoshang continued, "Another matter is that the number of newcomers entering the Chaotic Era in the past year has been extremely large. I hope everyone will pay more attention to this aspect and strive to absorb more fresh blood. Secondly, our valley has recently discovered a mining site with an extremely rich source of minerals. Even if the number of skilled individuals in our valley were to increase tenfold, mining for fifty years would still yield an inexhaustible supply. Therefore, after discussion, the Huashan Alliance, the Diamond Alliance, the Qian Gang, the Guyue Villa, the Tianya Alliance, the Hero Association, the Yue Lao Association, and the Mengxing have decided to send skilled personnel to share resources together. After the meeting, we hope to arrange for skilled experts to go there as soon as possible." The conference hall immediately became noisy. It is well known that a guild's financial strength is not solely determined by monetary income. Apart from first-class weapons and equipment, serious damage can occur during training, tasks, or battles, requiring raw materials for repairs. If items are damaged beyond use, a large amount of raw materials is needed for forging and crafting. Therefore, the number of skilled experts and the production of raw materials are both crucial factors determining a guild's strength. Moreover, the large-scale mining of raw materials is an important source of income for manufacturing weapons and equipment for sale in the martial world. Leng Aoshang's generosity was not surprising to everyone.

In the realm of the Heavenly Path, words are of little use; everyone, filled with anger, stormed out. Gu Jian smiled bitterly; ever since Yi Yun stepped into the manor, her methods had been domineering, only to personally engage and win hearts when the organization suddenly expanded and required internal stability. It was evident that she was still employing her old style to deal with the obviously difficult-to-manage Heavenly Path. However, Gu Jian could not understand why, since the Heavenly Path had always been quite friendly towards Yi Yun, she would break this rapport and take a roundabout way to re-establish it. Yi Yun shot a glance at Gu Jian, who was lost in thought beside her, and said lightly: "Gu Jian, with an organization like the Heavenly Path, you cannot simply win them over with kindness; you must thoroughly subdue them so that they dare not speak out. Merely offering favors will only make them feel that they have the face and power to look down on others, leading to increasingly excessive demands and a growing sense of entitlement. I detest any actions or words from those under my jurisdiction that are on par with mine. Of course, matters unrelated to me, I have no intention of forcibly occupying." Gu Jian nodded in understanding, and as he carefully contemplated Yi Yun's words, he reflected on his own management style during his time overseeing the manor, feeling a deep resonance.

In rhythm, I have completely forgotten the passage of time; my eyes are filled only with the countless fallen, and the beautiful blood that sprays forth like blooming fireworks. The graffiti of blood in the air is indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, it cannot last. It seems as if Yi Yun's bodily functions have long since ceased. Yet, there is no memory; I remember that today marks the fourth day, the fourth day of Yi Yun continuously killing at the Blood Knife Sect's resurrection point. Two batches of skilled fighters have come through, skilled in the eyes of ordinary martial artists, for no one has managed to escape even a single move from Yi Yun. The Blood Knife Sect has also sent two individuals from the tail end of the top ten masters list, who were slightly better and managed to block four of Yi Yun's swords. This kind of frequent massacre does not attract the attention of the Shenzhou Gang. I do not worry that the Shenzhou Gang will dispatch a large number of masters to encircle Yi Yun; I only fear that Yi Yun might suddenly collapse. After four days without food or water, even Yi Yun might not be able to endure it, at least I feel very hungry and very thirsty, yet I stubbornly stand, determined that unless Yi Yun stops and remembers me, I would rather be the first martial artist to starve to death than eat alone. After four days without food or water, even Yi Yun might not be able to endure it, at least I feel very hungry and very thirsty, yet I stubbornly stand, determined that unless Yi Yun stops and remembers me, I would rather be the first martial artist to starve to death than eat alone.

At that moment, Sha approached gracefully, and upon seeing the two, displayed a look of surprise. "Yi Yun, why are you not immersed in the secret manual at such a late hour? What interest do you have in chatting with your senior sister in this cold wind?" Yi Yun smiled and replied, "We are discussing some martial arts issues. Ah, Xiao Long Nu, you were about to leave just now, and I feel quite sorry for having kept you here for so long." Xiao Long Nu sighed inwardly, knowing that Yi Yun did not wish for her presence, and thus bid farewell and left quietly. "Sha, have you comprehended the Nine Yin Manual? When did you come out of seclusion? Why didn't you inform me?" Sha replied calmly, "I returned as soon as I came out of seclusion, fearing to disturb your training, so I did not send you a message." Upon hearing this, Yi Yun's expression changed drastically, and Sha immediately noticed something was amiss with Yi Yun, nervously asking, "What is wrong, Yi Yun?" Yi Yun took a long breath, her expression serious as she asked, "Do you really like Ba Tian?" Sha's face turned pale, instinctively taking a few steps back, and after a long pause, finally spoke, "You... I do not deny it, but..." "Enough! I do not wish to hear anything else, nor am I interested in hearing more. I do not blame you, but I will forever hate you." With that, she stood up and leaped over the wall, leaving Sha in a state of shock, collapsing to the ground and covering her face in tears.

Qing Yi sighed and said, "It seems that the unique internal skills of various sects all have attribute bonuses, but apart from Lingjiu Palace, no other sect's internal skills can be as exaggerated as those of the Ancient Tomb Sect." Leng Ao Shuang felt it was not appropriate to hide this, so she spoke up: "The unique skill of Lingjiu Palace, the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Skill, also adds two attributes of 10 points, but they are speed and strength." Heartbroken Duan Chang did not put on airs and laughed, saying, "It's better than the Huashan Sect. Although the True Zixia Divine Skill of the Huashan Sect adds two attributes, it only increases by 5 points, in root bone and courage." Yi Yun shrugged lightly, appearing helpless, and then spoke: "The unique skill of Lingjiu Palace, the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Skill, also adds two attributes of 10 points, but they are speed and strength." Heartbroken Duan Chang did not put on airs and laughed, saying, "It's better than the Huashan Sect. Although the True Zixia Divine Skill of the Huashan Sect adds two attributes, it only increases by 5 points, in root bone and courage." Yi Yun shrugged lightly, appearing helpless. Everyone knew that Yi Yun had not learned the unique skills of the Wudang Sect, having only inadvertently obtained a set of sword techniques that were still uncertain whether they belonged to the level of unique skills, so naturally, they would not blame him. Qing Yi sighed and said, "Emei has yet to even catch a glimpse of the unique skill's mental methods!" Everyone also knew that Yi Yun had not learned the unique skills of the Wudang Sect, having only inadvertently obtained a set of sword techniques that were still uncertain whether they belonged to the level of unique skills, so naturally, they would not blame him. Qing Yi sighed and said, "Emei has yet to even catch a glimpse of the unique skill's mental methods! I am now very suspicious that they do not exist at all, especially after the power of the Yitian Sword Technique was discovered, I am even more convinced of this idea, otherwise, there would be no clues to this day." Ning Wang sighed, "It's better than Kunlun, a set of unremarkable mental methods, matching the name of the martial arts, increases three attributes, but each only adds two points: strength, root bone, and courage." Everyone was lamenting the unique skills of their respective sects, when Ming Ji suddenly instructed the inn's waiter to move the screen beside the railing and explained, "I like to eat while watching others converse." Everyone did not mind and resumed discussing other topics.

A month has passed, and Yi Yun turned over and mounted the horse, letting out a long sigh, "I've killed enough for now, let's head back to the capital." Seeing that Ming Ji had not spoken, he did not elaborate further, raising the whip and turning the horse's head towards the direction of the capital, galloping off. After running for about an hour, Ming Ji suddenly said, "I remember that not far ahead is the Heartbreak Cliff, let's go there." Yi Yun looked puzzled, "I have no interest in climbing cliffs." Ming Ji resolutely insisted, "But you must go!" "On what grounds?" Yi Yun retorted. After running for about an hour, Ming Ji suddenly said, "I remember that not far ahead is the Heartbreak Cliff, let's go there." Yi Yun looked puzzled, "I have no interest in climbing cliffs." Ming Ji resolutely insisted, "But you must go!" "On what grounds?" Yi Yun retorted, "You said before that if I said that kind of thing again, you would throw me off the Heartbreak Cliff. Have you forgotten? I want to say it again now, and I will definitely say it." Yi Yun was instantly filled with unnameable anger, "You are being too outrageous!"

Ba Tian and Ye Ling, along with Liu Zi and Mo Lu Bai He, jumped onto the platform and began to chat and laugh with Yi Yun. Naturally, Ba Tian could not escape a round of scolding, while Liu Zi expressed his grievances incessantly. Sha, however, did not step forward; Yi Yun sent a meaningful smile towards Sha from a distance and then said: "After we complete the tasks we need to do later, let’s gather at my place for a good catch-up. It has been many years since we last met, and it is rare to encounter each other like this." "It will definitely happen; I won’t disturb you all with your tasks for now," Ye Ling said as she retreated from the platform with the others. Yi Yun and Qing Yi then closed their eyes in contemplation, recalling the moves of Xiao Zhang from the recent battle, searching for any potential fatal flaws. Xiao Long also stood at the edge of the platform, deep in thought. The insights of others in swordsmanship cannot be directly transformed for one’s own use; if one tries to imitate them deliberately, it will only backfire. Xiao Long Nu naturally understood this principle, but she could summarize what she observed, grasping the deeper meanings behind the moves of the two, filtering out the variations unsuitable for her attributes, and categorizing them into patterns that suited her own nature and attributes. This is, in fact, the difference between a super expert and an ordinary expert. Most people see how other strong individuals use their skills and simply follow suit, without considering their own personality traits, the most intuitive choices in similar situations, and the strengths and weaknesses of their attributes. As a result, they can only learn the form without grasping the essence. In actual combat, once the differences are significant, not only do their original techniques become less powerful, but they may also endanger their lives. Unfortunately, this seemingly simple principle is understood and applied by only a few.

A few days later, beneath the Bright Summit, over a million people gathered in a grand assembly. Yi Yun felt her legs trembling slightly, and with a stiff neck, she turned to Qing Yi and said: "Qing Yi... although I am temporarily acting as your free laborer, you need not bring the entire Emei Sect here!" Qing Yi replied with a mischievous smile: "One should help to the end, right? The limit for a single task is 200,000 people, but defeating Zhang Wuji six times will suffice... The refresh rate is quite fast; if all goes well, it won't take more than two days to complete." Yi Yun vaguely understood why Sha was so busy... "I am temporarily acting as your free laborer, but you need not bring the entire Emei Sect here!" Qing Yi replied with a mischievous smile: "One should help to the end, right? The limit for a single task is 200,000 people, but defeating Zhang Wuji six times will suffice... The refresh rate is quite fast; if all goes well, it won't take more than two days to complete." Yi Yun vaguely understood why Sha was so busy; the number of disciples in the Ancient Tomb Sect was not significantly fewer than that of the Emei Sect... "Fine... since we are here, Gu Yue, instruct the people in the manor to arrange for a rotation, sending batches of people to the Bright Summit daily to perform the Holy Fire Guardian task. Qing Yi, you must also help me to the end." Qing Yi laughed playfully: "You, Yi Yun, are unwilling to suffer even a little loss."

After spending most of the day in a flurry of activity, Yi Yun and Qing Yi finally completed all the tasks required for the tasks assigned to the disciples of the Emei and the ancient tomb, and even a group of members from the Gu Yue Villa had finished their tasks. They each called their disciples and members of the villa to leave, and then they all walked together to meet Xiao Long Nu and Sha Chu. Yi Yun had already changed back into a set of insightful attire and said with a smile, "After a whole day of busyness, let's find a place near the foot of Kunlun Mountain to eat and chat together." Everyone readily agreed

The formidable attack from Tiandao was, in Yi Yun's view, hardly worth mentioning. This shallow understanding of martial arts is a common flaw among the new rising stars of the Jianghu, who mistakenly believe that reaching a certain level of martial prowess qualifies them as super experts, yet they still fall short compared to even the bottom ranks of the top ten sects. Yi Yun lightly flicked her left finger on the sword's body, her figure moved swiftly, and the sword in her hand pierced directly into the palm strike of Tiandao without any embellishment. Yi Yun's figure was extremely fast, appearing to outsiders as if she had suddenly passed through the shadow of Tiandao's palm. The members of Tiandao were left speechless, a red line appeared on Tiandao's neck, slightly oozing blood. Yi Yun lightly flicked her left finger on the sword's body again, her figure moved swiftly, and the sword in her hand pierced directly into the palm strike of Tiandao without any embellishment. Yi Yun's figure was extremely fast, appearing to outsiders as if she had suddenly passed through the shadow of Tiandao's palm. The members of Tiandao were left speechless, a red line appeared on Tiandao's neck, slightly oozing blood. Yi Yun said in a calm tone: "If you still refuse to accept this, then let all the experts of Tiandao step forward. If Gu Jian were to intervene, it would be considered bullying the younger generation. Let the first-class hall of our Zhuang, Jia He Ming, show you what it truly means to be a master."

Chapter 10, Endless Years 10

Section 3, Endless Years 3

At this moment, Tiandao had lost its previous arrogance, silently retreating to the side. Had it not been for Yi Yun's mercy, it would have directly faced reincarnation. In its heart, Tiandao could not help but develop a sense of unattainable admiration for Yi Yun's strength. More than ten individuals stepped out from Tiandao, clearly recognized within the gang as the strongest group. Jia and Ming stepped out with calm demeanor, and Jia spoke first: "Let me go first; I also use the Finger Sword Technique." At this moment, the mad gang leader unexpectedly found a stool from somewhere and personally moved it behind Yi Yun, who lazily sat down. The scene repeated itself as more than ten individuals stepped out from Tiandao, clearly recognized within the gang as the strongest group. Jia and Ming stepped out with calm demeanor, and Jia spoke first: "Let me go first; I also use the Finger Sword Technique." The mad gang leader, at this moment, could not help but admire Yi Yun. He believed that if he were to face Tiandao, based on years of experience, winning would not be a problem, but it would at least take three moves. How could it be as effortless as Yi Yun, who concluded the matter with a single sword?

Section 7, Endless Years 7

Heavenly Dao was indeed furious, "Elder Yi! Your contempt for our Heavenly Dao is truly intolerable. The masters of Heavenly Dao are numerous, and I do not believe they are significantly inferior to the Ancient Moon Manor. Aside from you, Elder Yi, who else in the Ancient Moon Manor can be considered a master!" Yi Yun chuckled lightly, "If I were to strike and compete with you, it would surely be said that I am bullying you." At this moment, the leader of the Mad Gang immediately interjected, "Elder Yi, that statement is incorrect. Your experience in the martial world is comparable to that of the masters of Heavenly Dao. How can it be considered bullying the younger generation?" The duet of the two instantly made the proud Heavenly Dao unable to bear it, "Alright, Elder Yi, we are all peers in the martial world, so let me experience your high skills!" Yi Yun leisurely replied, "No, no, I have already said that if I strike, the people of the Alliance will say I am bullying you. However, since you are so resolute, let us agree on three moves. If you can withstand my three moves and remain unscathed, then you win. I will only use the finger sword technique, which is looked down upon by the people in the martial world, to fight you!" The people of Heavenly Dao all shouted angrily, enraged by Yi Yun's dismissive behavior. The leader of the Mad Gang laughed even harder in his heart. Within the Alliance, those of status knew that Yi Yun practiced the finger sword technique, but in the martial world, very few people were aware of it. Previously, she had no reputation, and it was only recently, after Yi Yun's massacre of the Shenzhou Gang, that her name gradually spread. Who would have thought that Yi Yun practiced the finger sword technique?

Recently, at the alliance meeting, the Heartbroken announced his resignation from the position of regional elder, citing his inability to fulfill the duties adequately. After repeated discussions within the alliance, it was decided that the owner of the Ancient Moon Villa would take over the position, also being appointed as the chief elder of the region. Additionally, the regional elder will have the authority to appoint and dismiss assistants to aid in management. Yi Yun secretly cursed the Heartbroken in his heart, thinking that such a trivial matter still required him to show off.

Qingyi said with slight anger: "The people from Tiandao are truly too arrogant! They hardly regard others. Recently, someone from our faction had a dispute with them, and I personally went to handle it. Their deputy leader's partner actually gave me a cold shoulder, which infuriated me at that moment. If it weren't for the fact that they are already part of the alliance, I would have taught her a lesson on the spot! Such an ignorant girl." The crowd was left speechless. Although Qingyi and Xiaolongnv are both quite proud, they have always been very gentle in dealing with others and do not flaunt their status and reputation. For Qingyi to be this angry clearly indicates that she was treated in an extraordinary manner.

After a moment of contemplation, Yi Yun inquired, "There are now over 20,000 people, but most of them are new disciples who have just joined. There are also some who have been members for a while and possess some skills." Yi Yun nodded and said, "In that case, the Huashan Southeast Ancient Moon Villa has a dedicated resource gathering point. I will arrange for it to be made available for your use, and I will purchase the materials at market price." Ye Ling was delighted and said, "That sounds great. The disciples in the association will no longer have to worry about this matter. For the past two years, we have relied on the charity of other factions. When they had fewer people, they could lend a hand, but once they return, we have to leave unconditionally. The association's finances have been quite tight all along." Sha, however, felt uneasy. Yi Yun's initial question clearly carried an unusual undertone, evidently a feigned casual probe. Sha absolutely did not believe that Yi Yun was a dull person; Yi Yun could not possibly overlook Sha's series of unusual behaviors, which were now merely hidden in his heart without being spoken. In fact, Ba Tian and Liu Zi shared similar thoughts. Both had spent a long time with Yi Yun and were close friends, so how could they not realize that Yi Yun's seemingly normal attitude was just an act? They were merely trying to deliberately ignore the situation due to various factors. Yi Yun would not demand that Sha or himself take any specific actions; instead, he would feign ignorance and let the two of us decide for ourselves. Once he felt he had obtained the desired outcome, he would never give either himself or Sha any opportunity for explanation, absolutely not!

In recent days, Batian has appeared quite troubled, despite being extremely busy with the mission alongside Yeling. It has been rare for him to be separated from Sha for several days; even when busy, they would still keep in touch through messages. However, this time marks the first instance of not contacting each other for several days. Batian himself had not anticipated such a strong sense of longing. He feels somewhat guilty towards Yiyun, yet this longing cannot be suppressed; the more he tries to avoid it, the more intense it becomes. Ultimately, Batian lets out a deep sigh, filled with sorrow.

After a quarter of an hour, Mingji suddenly said, "Sister Xiaolongnv, Shajie has come out of seclusion." Everyone immediately stopped their conversation and turned their attention to where Mingji was looking. Sure enough, they saw Sha and Batian, while Yeling was enjoying a lively conversation and drinks on the first floor. Shanshenduanchang laughed and said, "It must be that Yiyun has closed the door again, but since they are having such a good time chatting, we won't disturb them." Yiyun smiled slightly, and upon seeing this, Xiaolongnv closed her lips that were about to part, her expression somewhat peculiar. "Mingji, let's move the screen up," she said. Mingji revealed a charming smile and nodded gently. Shanshenduanchang laughed again, "It must be that Yiyun has closed the door again, but since they are having such a good time chatting, we won't disturb them." Yiyun smiled slightly, and upon seeing this, Xiaolongnv closed her lips that were about to part, her expression somewhat peculiar. "Mingji, let's move the screen up," she said. Mingji revealed a charming smile and nodded gently. The group casually began to discuss their insights on the ultimate skills. If it were any other time, these topics would have been impossible to bring up, but thanks to Xiaolongnv's candidness, everyone felt compelled to say something. After they had all spoken, and after consuming quite a bit of strong liquor, they began to talk even more. It is sometimes strange how relationships between people often deepen through the exchange of secrets, as if this is the only way to demonstrate mutual trust. This was evidently the case for this table of people; after the effects of the alcohol wore off, their bonds suddenly felt much deeper.

Section 5, Endless Years 5

This horse is indeed as outstanding as mentioned several times in the ancient sword, and Yi Yun gracefully dismounts. Ming Ji hurriedly follows, as if fearing that Yi Yun might suddenly disappear. This is a training point belonging to the Shenzhou Gang, located near the Blood Knife Gate, known in the martial world as the Blood Knife Cave. The NPCs inside range from the level of Hate Heaven to the level of Imperial Guards, making it a popular spot for training. However, currently, only members of the Shenzhou Gang are allowed to enter and exit. Yi Yun changes into a set of attack-enhancing gear and enters the cave with her sword drawn, while Ming Ji closely follows behind. Occasionally, Yi Yun glances back, only to see a face full of pleading. Yi Yun's sudden massacre immediately causes chaos within the cave, and in no time, the entire cavern is filled with a cacophony of noise. This sound makes Yi Yun feel even more irritable, causing her to swing her sword faster and more urgently, with the force of her energy extending over a wider area.

As the reins tightened, the horse's hooves rose high, coming to a sudden stop. At the entrance of the manor, Gu Jian was indeed waiting in person, asking, "What has happened?" Yi Yun handed the reins in her hand to Gu Jian and inquired. "Master of the Manor, you suddenly left the manor, and Madam Sha also packed her things and left. The people in the manor are all unaware of what has transpired. Recently, there have been rumors in the martial world that you have been rampantly slaughtering within the territory of the Shenzhou Gang, and even..." Yi Yun interrupted with an indifferent expression, "Even blocking a group of newcomers at the resurrection point and killing them repeatedly for several days. There is no mistake about it; it is exactly as such. Furthermore, there will no longer be Madam Sha in the manor; remember, from now on, she will be the Mistress of the Manor." After saying this, she ignored Gu Jian's astonished expression and strode into the manor with Ming Ji. Gu Jian suddenly came to his senses and said, "Master of the Manor, the alliance has an important meeting today. In the past two meetings, since you were not present, I attended on your behalf, and the contents of the meetings have been organized and placed in your study."

Qingyi pondered for a moment upon hearing this, and with a hint of dejection, said: "I must admit that what you say is very reasonable. The sword techniques of both me and Xiaolongnv have been analyzed with great precision, which is truly frustrating. I never believed that there exists a sword technique in the world that cannot be broken. Once faced with a skilled opponent, wouldn't the Yitian Sword Technique be rendered useless?" Yiyun nodded, then shook her head, saying, "No, I don't think so. The Yitian Sword Technique is not solely possessed by the Emei Sect. I am certain that the sword intent is entirely different. Why don't you try executing the sword moves in a continuous manner, while I will not break your moves by attacking your flaws, but rather respond in a proper manner and see what the outcome is?" Qingyi reluctantly nodded in agreement. However, after only seven exchanges, Qingyi's sword was already pointed directly at Yiyun's throat, leaving her with no way to evade. Yiyun and Xiaolongnv took turns accompanying Qingyi in continuous attempts for a day and a night. Ultimately, when the two of them reached the fourteenth move, they could no longer find a way to resolve it; no matter what they did, they would definitely be defeated at the fourteenth move. The three of them were astonished. "I recall an ancient novel I once read, in which there was a character named Yan Shisan. His sword technique consisted of fifteen moves, but no one had ever seen the fifteenth move. The fourteenth move was already enough to defeat any master of that time." Qingyi laughed and said, "You are just joking. Are you suggesting that the Yitian Sword Technique is that set of martial arts? Although the Yitian Sword Technique indeed consists of fourteen moves." After Qingyi finished speaking, a look of confusion suddenly appeared on her face, and she abruptly covered her mouth, saying: "I just remembered something my master once told me when he was teaching me: Qingyi, the Yitian Sword Technique has boundless power and can sweep away all obstacles, but it is only when you can comprehend the fifteenth move beyond these fourteen moves that it will truly manifest."

In just two hours, apart from a few fortunate individuals who managed to escape, all others perished under the blade of Yi Yun. Yi Yun, fixated on strengthening the Azure Dragon, surveyed the bloodstains and corpses scattered around, and couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity, bursting into laughter. Many years ago, she had witnessed others being slaughtered in the training cave, and now, it was she who was slaughtering others in the same cave. "How utterly ridiculous!" The pile of equipment and items on the ground did not catch Yi Yun's eye at all. She pulled on Ming Ji and mounted her horse, galloping towards another location. ... Many years ago, she had witnessed others being slaughtered in the training cave, and now, it was she who was slaughtering others in the same cave. "How utterly ridiculous!" The pile of equipment and items on the ground did not catch Yi Yun's eye at all. She pulled on Ming Ji and mounted her horse, galloping towards another location. ... Pleas, begging, resentment ...? ... All these expressions, to Yi Yun, seemed completely devoid of meaning. What significance do they hold? Can this truly alleviate the resentment in my heart, allowing me to refrain from venting my anger with the sword? How laughable; begging for sympathy is utterly meaningless. This world knows no sympathy, just as a merchant would not cease their actions out of concern for your livelihood after they have slaughtered you. Can this truly alleviate the resentment in my heart, allowing me to refrain from venting my anger with the sword? How laughable; begging for sympathy is utterly meaningless. This world knows no sympathy, just as a merchant would not cease their actions out of concern for your livelihood after they have slaughtered you. And pleading, begging, is not because you are kind, but because you are powerless; otherwise, you would respond to my atrocities with your sword. You do not need to plead or beg. It is cruel, but who says it is not so cruel?

The partner expressed indignantly: "Elder, our entire faction has always held you in high regard, yet we never expected you to treat us this way! How can one gain the hearts of others?" Yi Yun smiled faintly and replied lazily: "Deputy Leader of the Partner, you need to clarify the relationship. Whether you harbor hatred or admiration for me, that is your emotion, not something I have requested. Therefore, I do not owe you anything because of it. Furthermore, as a regional elder, my responsibility is to reasonably allocate matters within my jurisdiction and enhance the overall strength and resources. I cannot engage in favoritism, nor will I intentionally suppress the development of the faction simply because I dislike someone. If that were the case, there would be no one here whom I particularly like; would I then have to suppress everyone? Well, let us adjourn for today. If there are no important matters, you can directly approach Deputy Elder Gu Jian for assistance.

Continuing in rhyme, she said: "You two factions still have the audacity to ask me to mediate this petty matter? Master Kuang, you have wasted over twenty years in the martial world." Master Kuang's face showed signs of discontent, yet he dared not speak. Yi Yun glared at him and said: "What? Do you feel dissatisfied? Your Kuang faction has over two hundred thousand members, and you have stood in the martial world for so many years without any merit? The Heavenly Path has expended great resources to occupy the training points near you, and you won't spend money to hire people to take over their nearby training points? Your Kuang faction has over two hundred thousand members, and you have stood in the martial world for so many years without any merit? The Heavenly Path has expended great resources to occupy the training points near you, and you won't spend money to hire people to take over their nearby training points? Can the Heavenly Path compete with you in terms of finances?" The Kuang faction was rendered speechless; such a shameless approach had indeed never crossed their minds, but upon reflection, it made sense. The Kuang faction's numbers were indeed inferior to the Heavenly Path, but when it came to financial resources, they were certainly not a hodgepodge faction like the Heavenly Path could compare to. How much silver is spent every time they travel by carriage? If a protracted battle ensues, it would definitely be the Heavenly Path that could not sustain itself first. "Now you tell me, for such a trivial matter, you threaten me to mediate, is there no fault on your part?" Master Kuang said nervously: "It is indeed my fault, and I am willing to accept punishment." Yi Yun casually waved her hand and said: "Gu Jian, hand the punishment notice to Master Kuang for him to sign, and all the silver collected will go into the regional warehouse." Master Kuang secretly cursed himself for being tricked, yet he had no choice but to sign his name on the bill presented by Gu Jian.

Yiyun ran to the stable of the villa, just as she was about to untie the reins of a swift horse, Mingji suddenly rushed over and said: "Yiyun, where are you going? What happened? Your expression looks strange!" Yiyun forced a smile and replied, "It's nothing, I have something urgent to attend to, you should go back quickly." After saying this, she intended to mount the horse, but Mingji grabbed Yiyun's arm and said: "You're lying. If it were a matter concerning the villa, you wouldn't need to go out personally. If it were something extremely urgent, how could you ride a horse!" Yiyun felt helpless but couldn't bring herself to get angry at Mingji, "In any case, it's my own business, why are you holding onto me?" Mingji stubbornly insisted: "No, your expression is too strange. If you don't tell me, I won't feel at ease." "I'm going to Shenzhou to help kill someone, is that alright?" Yiyun truly felt impatient. Mingji continued to hold onto Yiyun's arm and said: "You're lying. If it were a matter concerning the villa, you wouldn't need to go out personally. If it were something extremely urgent, how could you ride a horse!" Yiyun felt helpless but couldn't bring herself to get angry at Mingji, "In any case, it's my own business, why are you holding onto me?" Mingji stubbornly insisted: "No, your expression is too strange. If you don't tell me, I won't feel at ease." "I'm going to Shenzhou to help kill someone, is that alright?" Yiyun truly felt impatient, "Then take me with you, I want to go too." Mingji's reaction was completely unexpected for Yiyun. Yiyun struggled a bit, but Mingji held on tightly. Not wanting to use her internal energy to hurt Mingji, she simply grabbed Mingji and lifted her onto the horse's back, then spurred the horse and galloped away. Along the way, Mingji was quite self-aware, no longer saying annoying things that made Yiyun feel irritated, remaining quiet like a rabbit.

With a heartbroken smile reminiscent of an old fox, he said, "You need not worry about this; the Moon Elder has willingly agreed to step down from the position of regional elder." Cold Proud Frost immediately added, "Rest assured, the Moon Association originally managed seven larger guilds, and the affairs are not too complicated, certainly not like the Tianya Alliance, which oversees dozens of small and medium guilds, burdened with trivial matters." How could Yi Yun be fooled by Cold Proud Frost's words? After pondering for a moment, she said, "I can take over, but it is essential that the regional elders have the authority to appoint their own deputies. This way, I can delegate the trivial matters to Gu Jian, and the impact on me will not be too significant. Otherwise, it is non-negotiable." The four alliance leaders almost simultaneously replied, "Agreed!" "Then I will return to make arrangements," Yi Yun said, taking Ming Ji's hand and bidding farewell as she left.

After resting for two days in the city and fully recovering, Yi Yun once again mounted her horse and pulled Ming Ji up with her. With a crack of the whip, they rode out of the city gate. "Have you killed enough?" Ming Ji asked. "Not yet, today we go to Kunlun Sect to kill," Yi Yun replied. "Why go there?" "Because I hate that name; it sounds unpleasant to me, that's all." Yi Yun answered淡淡地. Ming Ji fell silent, holding Yi Yun tightly, his grip surprisingly strong, unsure whether it was from fear of riding or something else. Until Yi Yun reined in the horse, Ming Ji finally released his arms. "You must not be killed; otherwise, I will seek revenge on that person." Yi Yun was taken aback, her expression turning cold. "If you say such things again, I will throw you off the Broken Heart Cliff." At the same time, she drew her sword and leaped towards the group of disciples at the entrance of the Kunlun Sect. In no time, the ground was covered in blood. Ming Ji remained quietly standing at a distance, silent.

Finding a more convenient method, Yi Yun arrived at the Blood Knife Sect, where nearly a thousand disciples were busy hunting low-level animals to accumulate resources. After swiftly eliminating a group using her lightness skill, she unexpectedly discovered dozens of individuals appearing at the sect's respawn point. Without hesitation, she leaped from her horse and began to slay them with her sword. The intricate changes in their techniques annoyed Yi Yun, prompting her to switch to a killing sword for a more straightforward approach. Driven by curiosity, she fully unleashed her lightness skill, continuously slaughtering the respawning Blood Knife Sect disciples at the fastest possible speed, managing to control the situation such that twenty individuals would immediately fall upon respawning, leaving them no chance to escape. Ming Ji quietly stood aside, silently observing Yi Yun's actions.

Jingang further stated: "There is another exhilarating piece of good news. Recently, in Xianling Valley, the Tianya Alliance, and Guyue Villa, a total of seven Grand Masters of the ninth rank in both the forging and tailoring professions have emerged, and they are now capable of manufacturing various weapons and combat equipment from the Dream Series. Therefore, the accumulated Xuan Iron of each faction can be utilized for manufacturing by contacting the leaders of the three factions and paying a fixed handling fee. Additionally, the thirty pieces of Xuan Iron in the alliance's inventory will all be applied to this purpose, and the manufactured equipment will be publicly rewarded based on strength and attack." Yi Yun pondered to herself, it has only been a little over a month since she left, yet so many significant events have occurred, and she was unaware that her own faction had produced a ninth-rank Grand Master. Jingang's words greatly excited the experts within the alliance; given the alliance's reserves, it is likely that at least ten sets of the Dream Series can be manufactured, which is extraordinary, only slightly inferior to the second-level equipment of the main hall. However, the materials required for enhancement are significantly simpler, and once enhanced, they will surpass the weapons of the second-level equipment from the main hall. The only downside is that the mining of Xuan Iron is extremely difficult. With the combined strength of so many factions in the alliance, the total reserve over the years is merely thirty pieces. Even when considering the internal reserves of the major factions, it certainly does not exceed fifty, with Xianling Valley alone accounting for nearly forty pieces, highlighting its preciousness.

"Elder Yi, you underestimate people too much!" Tiandao, already infuriated, was at a loss for words. Yi Yun calmly drew her sword and said, "If you are afraid to do this, then I will call upon other experts from the village to spar with you." Tiandao threw off his cloak with force and declared, "In that case, please enlighten me, Elder Yi!" Yi Yun's gaze turned cold as she replied, "You go first, otherwise you need not fight at all." Tiandao ceased his chatter and, gathering all his strength, unleashed the Free and Easy Palm technique, his palms executing dozens of intricate variations as they surged towards Yi Yun. The myriad shadows of his palms and the energy they emitted created an impressive spectacle, and the members of Tiandao cheered loudly to bolster their morale. The leader of the Mad Gang, watching from the side, secretly admired the prowess of Tiandao. But how could Yi Yun be compared to the likes of the Mad Gang leader? The gap between a super expert and an ordinary expert is not merely in the level of martial arts. Firstly, in terms of internal strength, the two are not even in the same league. The rising stars of the martial world, busy with various affairs, mostly toil for money, focusing solely on martial skills, leaving no time to devote to internal cultivation. The gap between a super expert and an ordinary expert is not merely in the level of martial arts. Firstly, in terms of internal strength, the two are not even in the same league. The rising stars of the martial world, busy with various affairs, mostly toil for money, focusing solely on martial skills, leaving no time to devote to internal cultivation. Yi Yun's agreement of three moves is fundamentally unassailable; if she cannot defeat Tiandao in two moves, the third move will require only full exertion of her internal strength, and there is no reason for Tiandao not to be severely injured.

Qingyi comforted, "Don't be like this. Why don't we talk to the Heartbroken and Heart-wrenching group? With the combined strength of the eight of us, there might still be a chance." "How can that be? If everyone had a substitute doll, it would be fine, but if just one or two people encounter an accident, I would rather not allow it than face that kind of outcome." Yiyun and Qingyi exchanged helpless glances, both aware that it was impossible to obtain eight substitute dolls. They had already exhausted their resources during the divine weapon mission; this was not something that could simply be bought with money. Yiyun reassured, "There's no need to rush. We should at least greet the Heartbroken and Heart-wrenching group. I will also pay close attention to acquiring substitute dolls. Once we have enough, you and Sha can take on the mission together, and we will join forces to kill Wang Chongyang." Xiaolongnv showed a grateful expression, yet ultimately could not fully let go. With supreme skills before her, yet unable to grasp their essence, how could she not feel distressed and agitated? In fact, both Qingyi and Xiaolongnv were equally troubled, unable to find a 100% method to execute the fourteenth move, rendering it of little use. Killing intent? How could I manage that? I can't just become a killer, indiscriminately slaying to accumulate it. Heaven knows how much killing intent is needed; if it requires tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, how could that be feasible? In a moment, although the three of them had unraveled the mysteries of their martial arts and fully exchanged insights, they found themselves trapped in an even deeper layer of unresolved distress.

Tiandao and his companions gradually began to sense the tyranny and insidious tactics of Yiyun that were rumored within the alliance. Yiyun turned her head and coldly laughed at Tiandao, saying: "You are all quite good, very well! You enjoy practicing near the Kuang Gang, do you? From now on, you are only allowed to practice in this vicinity. The Tianshui Gang will cede half of their practice area near the Kuang Gang, and the Kuang Gang will have to travel a bit further to that side. Does the leader of the Kuang Gang have any objections?" The leader of the Kuang Gang certainly had no objections; this was a clear scheme to undermine Tiandao, and he was more than happy about it. Although the members of his gang would have to travel a bit further, the Kuang Gang would rather spend money to have their members take horse-drawn carriages than miss out on the opportunity to see Tiandao suffer a significant loss. He quickly expressed his willingness.

Chapter 6, The Passage of Time 6

Chapter 2, The Passage of Time 2

Upon taking office, Yi Yun was required, as per tradition, to summon the leaders of the gangs under her management to the villa for a brief discussion of administrative matters. Seven highly esteemed gang leaders within the alliance had already arrived in advance, and Yi Yun lounged lazily in the center, while everyone awaited the representatives of the newly planned Tiandao gang. Gradually, a sense of dissatisfaction began to brew among them; all were prominent figures, with the least experienced among them having spent at least twelve years in the martial world. Yet here they were, gathered together waiting for a few juniors. However, no one dared to voice their concerns, as Yi Yun had not yet spoken. They all understood that Yi Yun, being an old hand in the industry, would never complain openly.

Suddenly, Yi Yun burst into laughter and then said: "You still don't quite understand, do you? It's like this: if you see a dog and every time you meet it, you give it a bone, soon it will cling to you for bones whenever it sees you, and even if you don't have any, it will pester you endlessly. However, if you first give it a good beating, and then another, until it fears you, and then you give it a bone, it will definitely be especially grateful to you. For every act of kindness, it will hold a heart of gratitude, and even if you don't give it anything, it won't dare to pester you, let alone bark at you." Although Gu Jian found this analogy quite uncomfortable to hear, he had to admit that it was indeed very reasonable, and he completely understood Yi Yun's meaning regarding the way of heaven.

Yiyun burst into the sorrowful and heartbroken abode like a gust of wind, startling the heartbroken man who was whispering sweet nothings to his wife, Lan Xiaoying. "Heartbroken, does the alliance have any killings to carry out now? The more, the better!" Heartbroken came to his senses from the surprise, gazing at Yiyun for a long while before speaking: "What happened?" "Is there, or isn't there?" Yiyun countered without answering. Heartbroken sighed and said: "It must be a love-related injury. When I was a killer, it was for this reason; my heart was filled with pain with nowhere to vent, and in the end, I went around eliminating people to release my resentment. If you truly cannot suppress it, I suggest you go to the outskirts of the Shenzhou Gang to practice; there are still many people desperately training there at this time." Yiyun took a deep breath, "Thank you." After saying this, her figure flashed and disappeared. Heartbroken smiled at Lan Xiaoying beside him: "After all, I have only been in the martial world for a short time, so it is inevitable to be a bit impulsive. You see, back then because of you, I was called the Cold-Blooded Sword of Huashan." The response to Heartbroken was a flurry of playful punches and a teasing tone.

Section 9, Endless Years 9

Sha had closed the communication channel as soon as he saw Yi Yun, but now, after refreshing, all of Xiao Zhang's guards had been completely eliminated by the two additional people. After exchanging weapons, the two stepped onto the platform, yet they were very worried about Yi Yun. Although they knew that Xiao Zhang could not possibly harm Yi Yun, they still felt anxious. Xiao Longnu, on the other hand, appeared quite relaxed, saying, "Sha, I can absorb some experience from their sword techniques along the way, after all, I have been practicing swordsmanship for too short a time, and I felt that I was using it improperly just now." At this moment, Ba Tian's expression was quite strange, "Is he the master of Gu Yue Villa?" Lian Ye Ling and Liu Zi's group also showed an eager inquiring expression. Sha was unaware of the reason, while Xiao Longnu seemed very relaxed, saying, "Sha, I can absorb some experience from their sword techniques along the way, after all, I have been practicing swordsmanship for too short a time, and I felt that I was using it improperly just now." Ba Tian's expression was still quite strange, "Is he the master of Gu Yue Villa?" Lian Ye Ling and Liu Zi's group also showed an eager inquiring expression. Sha, not knowing the reason, nodded and said, "Yes, do you know him?" Liu Zi laughed and said, "How could we not know? I have been the best friend of Yi Yun since we were in the growth academy with Ba Tian. However, this guy has a strange personality and never opens a private channel. If we don't run into him, we wouldn't even be able to talk. Over the years, he has occasionally taken the initiative to contact us, but it has been very limited, and he rarely mentions his own situation, just a simple sentence to brush it off. I really didn't expect him to have done so well." Ba Tian and Ye Ling also showed joy on their faces, truly not expecting him to have done so well. "Yes, this guy, I must go and scold him later for never telling us a word." After saying this, they looked at Yi Yun and Qing Yi with great concern as they stepped into the arena, but Sha's face instantly turned pale! Tian Ya had an indignant expression, never expecting that the kid from a few years ago had transformed into the master of the fifth largest gang in the martial world, Gu Yue Villa.

After another quarter of an hour, Tiandao finally arrived with his companion and two elders. They took their seats with a rather arrogant demeanor, not expecting such a large turnout. Gu Jian had to instruct someone to add a few more seats. Once Yi Yun saw that everyone had arrived, she spoke淡淡: "Today, I would like to announce that Gu Jian will be my deputy from this day forward, with the authority to make decisions on all matters. Secondly, everything else will remain the same, and everyone may return now." The crowd was astonished; Tiandao and his group had not even had a chance to sip their tea before the meeting was adjourned? Although the leaders of the seven factions were surprised, they did not find it particularly strange, as Yi Yun had always behaved this way. Even if it was a bit unexpected, they did not think it was odd. Just as they were about to rise to take their leave, the companion stood up and clasped his fists, saying: "Elder Yi, we have heard of your great name, especially regarding the recent actions that have brought great satisfaction to the people; we all admire you greatly. However, it seems we have arrived late today and are completely unaware of the specific matters to be addressed. To adjourn the meeting like this seems unfair to our faction." Yi Yun glanced at the companion from the corner of her eye and still spoke lazily: "It’s alright, the meeting hadn’t started before you arrived. After you leave, you can ask the seven experienced faction leaders, and you will understand everything clearly." The two elders behind Tiandao immediately showed signs of anger, and Tiandao spoke: "Could you please elaborate for us, Elder?" Tiandao had only recently joined the alliance and was not very familiar with many matters. Additionally, our faction has a large number of members and knows nothing about the alliance's plans for material collection points, skin collection points, and mining points.

With a light laugh, Yi Yun said, "What a bold claim! Regarding the issue of regional division, is there not a lack of fairness? Why don’t you ask the four leaders? You dare not, for once you inquire and find it to be true, you will have no reason to feel indignant towards me. This is clearly an open rebellion against me, yet it has caused me no trouble at all; you must be quite disappointed. How dare you, from the Heavenly Path, openly declare war on me? What do you have to back it up, just a surge of passion? This is clearly an open rebellion against me, yet it has caused me no trouble at all; you must be quite disappointed. How dare you, from the Heavenly Path, openly declare war on me? What do you have to back it up, just a surge of passion? Can you compete with money? Can you compete with people? Are you comparing with masters? Those from the Heavenly Path dare to consider themselves masters in front of me! What a great absurdity!" Yi Yun intentionally shifted the focus to the last point, inciting the collective anger of the opponents. The first two points are obvious to any fool; the Heavenly Path is absolutely incomparable. The only way the Heavenly Path can retaliate is through the number of masters. The mad leader, listening from the side, secretly scoffed; the people from the Heavenly Path are truly too naive, falling into the trap set by Yi Yun with just a few words.

Not long after, the area under Yi Yun's jurisdiction gradually fell into conflict. The members of Tiandao engaged in a series of alternating occupations of all the training points closest to the activity range of the Kuang Gang members. The leader of the Kuang Gang made multiple unsuccessful negotiations, and in the end, in anger, he went to complain to Gu Jian. Gu Jian still failed to mediate, and Tiandao refused to transfer the members of the gang elsewhere, claiming that they had not violated any regulations. If the Kuang Gang were to take a step back, it would greatly inconvenience the members' access in the future, as they would have to travel a long distance to reach areas far from the gang. Initially, Yi Yun remained silent on this matter. Seeing that Gu Jian's repeated negotiations were ineffective, the Kuang Gang was on the verge of resorting to violence, and the two gangs set up formations to argue at the plains in front of the Sword Cave.

The battle was exceptionally fierce, and Wang Chongyang's strength was astonishing. Although his internal energy was far inferior to that of the monster known as Xiao Zhang, the lethality of his martial arts was extremely terrifying, especially his exquisite movement techniques. By this point, everyone had been fighting for a quarter of an hour, and despite combining their efforts, they had only managed to leave a very light scratch on Wang Chongyang. In contrast, everyone else had suffered varying degrees of internal injuries from Wang Chongyang's elusive One Yang Finger. "This won't do; at this rate, we will collapse before Wang Chongyang does. It would be better to retreat first!" Xiao Longnv clearly did not wish to suffer the loss of the substitute doll only to end in failure, and she proactively requested to abandon this mission. However, everyone else had suffered varying degrees of internal injuries from Wang Chongyang's elusive One Yang Finger. "This won't do; at this rate, we will collapse before Wang Chongyang does. It would be better to retreat first!" Xiao Longnv clearly did not wish to suffer the loss of the substitute doll only to end in failure, and she proactively requested to abandon this mission. Shan Xin Duan Chang resolutely said, "No! Since we have come, we must give it our all." Yi Yun said solemnly, "Everyone should use the unique skills of your sect. I have an idea: we should all create an opportunity for Qing Yi to restrain Wang Chongyang. As long as we allow Qing Yi to lock onto Wang Chongyang and execute the Yitian Sword Technique for fourteen moves, we will have a chance of victory." Xiao Longnv and Qing Yi naturally understood Yi Yun's meaning, but Shan Xin Duan Chang and the others were still puzzled, yet they nodded in agreement.

The strength of the partner seems to be even more formidable than that of the Heavenly Path. It is likely that the hermit who provided guidance is indeed extraordinary, and in terms of internal power, they are certainly not inferior to Ming. The two fought for nearly a hundred exchanges before Ming finally defeated the partner under his sword. Ming cast a guilty glance at Yi Yun, feeling that his performance was truly lacking, to which Yi Yun responded with a smile. Subsequently, Ming accepted the challenge from the eight experts of the Heavenly Path, and none managed to last beyond four exchanges. The masters of the Heavenly Path finally grew timid, and no one dared to issue further challenges. If even the strongest among them is so inadequate, is there any need for the others to step up? Subsequently, Ming accepted the challenge from the eight experts of the Heavenly Path, and none managed to last beyond four exchanges. The masters of the Heavenly Path finally grew timid, and no one dared to issue further challenges. If even the strongest among them is so inadequate, is there any need for the others to step up?

In the courtyard, Yi Yun poured wine for herself and drank alone, yet her heart was faintly pained. For the past few days, she had not once turned on the secret communication channel. What wine was she drinking, and what sorrows was she trying to resolve? Sha, you are truly heartless, enjoying delicious food and drink with others while leaving me here to endure the cold air alone. Yi Yun strolled to the garden, gazed deeply at the night sky, and slowly poured the wine from her cup onto the ground before shattering the cup and leaving. "Yi Yun!" Xiao Longnu, unbeknownst to her, had already entered the villa. Upon hearing the voice, Yi Yun stopped in her tracks, turned around, and greeted with a smile, "What brings you here to chat with me so late?" Xiao Longnu hesitated in her speech, and Yi Yun continued to the garden, gazing deeply at the night sky, pouring the wine from her cup onto the ground, and leaving the shattered cup behind. "Yi Yun!" Xiao Longnu had entered the villa without her noticing. Upon hearing the voice, Yi Yun stopped, turned, and smiled, asking, "What brings you here to chat with me so late?" Xiao Longnu hesitated again, ultimately sighing, unsure of what to say. The two walked to the pavilion and sat down, with Yi Yun still wearing a smile, saying, "Then let us admire the moon." Xiao Longnu was left speechless; Yi Yun appeared as usual, yet she did not realize that inside, Yi Yun was already stirred to such a degree, with dark clouds gathering, where could there be a moon for them to admire? After saying this, Yi Yun looked up, suddenly speechless, and coughed lightly twice to cover her embarrassment. The two sat in the pavilion, and Yi Yun still wore a smile, saying, "Then let us admire the moon." Xiao Longnu was left speechless; Yi Yun seemed unchanged on the surface, but little did she know that Yi Yun's heart was already in turmoil, with dark clouds looming, where could there be a moon for them to admire? After saying this, Yi Yun looked up, suddenly speechless, and coughed lightly twice to mask her embarrassment. Xiao Longnu could not help but chuckle softly, while Yi Yun felt her face grow slightly warm and fell silent.

Heartbroken and filled with sorrow, he secretly invited everyone to his residence for a discussion, lamenting: "According to the rhyme, you refused to accept the position of regional elder back then. Now, what do you say the heavenly way allows us to plan? In this gang, everyone is full of youthful vigor, displaying a fearless attitude. Ranked sixth among the top ten gangs, especially with all the young juniors, they truly believe their gang is the sixth in the martial world. At present, no gang can manage the others; they cling to empty titles and are arrogant. How could they possibly submit to someone whose gang ranking is lower than theirs?"

Sha forced a smile and pretended as if nothing was wrong, saying: "What’s the big deal? Don’t worry. Since Batian has understood now, that’s for the best. I just hope he doesn’t blame me for not mentioning Yiyun; after all, I didn’t know you were acquainted, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate to bring him up." Liuzi, while expressing understanding, was actually completely perplexed. From Sha's attitude towards Batian, it seemed to be different from how he treated others, yet it was not overly ambiguous. It was evident that he deeply loved Yiyun, so why didn’t he say it from the beginning? Even if Batian didn’t know Yiyun, he would have assessed himself and might not have developed such deep feelings by this year. After pondering for a long time without reaching a conclusion, he simply decided to give up worrying about it.

Tian Dao said urgently: "Elder Yi, our faction has something to say!" Yi Yun feigned surprise, "Go ahead, I, as the elder, will satisfy your collective wishes, allowing you to practice here without interference. What objections could there be?" Tian Dao, slightly angered, replied: "Elder Yi, your original division of the areas for collection and mining is inherently unfair, and this matter is clearly a scheme against us. Our faction is not to be trifled with! We joined the alliance hoping to contribute to defeating the Shenzhou Gang, not to be bullied by you at will!" He continued, "Do not think that we are truly afraid of the Gu Yue Villa."

Recently, a rapidly developing faction known as Tiandao has emerged in the martial world. In just two years, it has grown to over 400,000 members, ranking second only to Guyue Mountain among the top ten factions. Subsequently, it joined the alliance, and the number of skilled individuals within Tiandao is truly remarkable, primarily attracting factions that were previously neutral in the martial world. The main demographic consists of emerging young masters from recent years. Although they are relatively lacking in financial resources, their combat strength cannot be overlooked by any faction. The leader is named Tiandao, and it is rumored that he has reached level 112 in the Beggar's Sect's Xiaoyao Palm technique, and has now also learned the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, making a significant name for himself among the rising stars of the martial world. The deputy leader's partner is unaffiliated, but due to their immense wealth, they have attracted a group of emerging young masters from recent years. Although they are financially weaker, their combat prowess is also not to be underestimated. The deputy leader's partner is said to have mastered the Mad Demon Blade technique at level 110, and what draws even more attention is that she is a beautiful woman, admired by countless martial women among the rising stars. This joining of the alliance is undoubtedly a positive development for the alliance's momentum, but in reality, it has caused considerable headaches within the alliance.

The swift horse gallops rapidly along the road to the capital, unable to resist the rising dust. You once promised that you would hold my hand and leave; you once said that as long as I accompanied you a little more, you would no longer wish to go anywhere; you once said that after retreating from the chaotic world, you would become a wealthy lady, ... while I was not allowed to practice martial arts and could only accompany you to explore the beautiful mountains and rivers every day ... The remembered voice echoed beside Yiyun's ear, "Yiyun, since you already know the outcome, why do you still choose to step out unnecessarily? You once promised that you would hold my hand and leave; you once said that as long as I accompanied you a little more, you would no longer wish to go anywhere; you once said that after retreating from the chaotic world, you would become a wealthy lady, ... while I was not allowed to practice martial arts and could only accompany you to explore the beautiful mountains and rivers every day ... The remembered voice echoed beside Yiyun's ear, "Yiyun, since you already know the outcome, why do you still choose to step out unnecessarily? Just like when you pushed me off the cliff, you knew you had already lost, yet you still pushed, and then saved me; this was an unnecessary process." Yiyun replied without turning her head, "It is not unnecessary; within this excess, one often discovers decisive reasons." The remembered voice said softly, "This is precisely where you are most mistaken. Do not become someone else's firework, never ... ... "Do not become someone else's firework, never ... ... "

"Throw me down. If you cannot do it, you know you have already lost." Mingji maintained a calm demeanor, very calm, yet her eyes were filled with a resolute determination, devoid of any room for retreat. Yiyun suddenly felt foolish for having brought Mingji to the Broken Heart Cliff; it was entirely a wrong decision. Yiyun placed her hands on Mingji's shoulders and, with a subtle force, gently pushed her. Mingji's body began to drift outward from the cliff's edge, standing upright as she moved toward the abyss below. Dressed in a white gauzy garment, she was illuminated by the setting sun, making her even more dazzlingly beautiful. Her long hair was caught by the wind, dancing wildly in the breeze, her gaze still so resolute, her expression still so calm and confident... Yiyun placed her hands on Mingji's shoulders and, with a subtle force, gently pushed her. Mingji's body began to drift outward from the cliff's edge, standing upright as she moved toward the abyss below. Dressed in a white gauzy garment, she was illuminated by the setting sun, making her even more dazzlingly beautiful. Her long hair was caught by the wind, dancing wildly in the breeze, her gaze still so resolute, her expression still so calm and confident... As if unaware that the next moment would lead to her falling off the cliff, as if she had not considered that after rebirth, even the proud enhanced equipment from the main guild could not be reclaimed, as if unaware...