The morning light of Zhongzhou City had just broken. Yuyi walked out of Tianxiang Tower, the events of the previous night still echoing in his mind. Dao Zun's blade light, Feiyue's strength, Bingxin's coldness—these images were deeply branded in his memory.
He decided to first find a place to settle down, then slowly plan his next steps. Zhongzhou City was the cultivation world's largest city, with countless inns and taverns. Yuyi chose a small inn called "Qingfeng Inn," inexpensive and quiet, suitable for long-term stay.
After settling in, Yuyi began organizing his thoughts. The previous night's battle made him realize his weakness. Though his Foundation Building perfection cultivation wasn't low, he was nothing before top experts like Dao Zun and Feiyue. He needed to become stronger, needed more resources.
Just then, a commotion rose from the street. Yuyi walked to the window and looked down to see a group of cultivators gathered at the street corner, pointing at a notice board. Curious, he went downstairs and squeezed into the crowd.
The notice board posted a mission: "Huangsha Stronghold bandits are rampant, harming the people. Specially recruiting cultivators to exterminate them. Reward: two hundred thousand spirit stones."
Yuyi's heart stirred—two hundred thousand spirit stones was no small sum. If he could complete this mission, he would have enough resources to cultivate for a long time.
He memorized the mission details, preparing to find companions to complete it together. In the cultivation world, completing missions alone was extremely dangerous, especially this kind of extermination mission.
Yuyi arrived at the mission hall, finding quite a few cultivators already gathered there, all here for the Huangsha Stronghold mission. He scanned the crowd and noticed a group of five cultivators, their cultivation all at Foundation Building, their coordination clearly practiced.
"Friends, are you also preparing to take the Huangsha Stronghold mission?" Yuyi stepped forward and asked.
The leader was a sword cultivator with a resolute face, his gaze sweeping over Yuyi: "Indeed. You want to join?"
Yuyi nodded: "I'm Yuyi, Foundation Building perfection, skilled in Fast Sword Art. I hope to join your team."
The sword cultivator sized Yuyi up, then nodded: "I'm Lingxiao, these are my companions. Since you want to join, let's go together."
Yuyi was startled—Lingxiao? That name was so familiar. He looked carefully at the sword cultivator's face, his heart suddenly trembling. This was... his childhood friend Lingxiao!
"Lingxiao, it's you!" Yuyi couldn't help exclaiming.
Lingxiao froze, looking closely at Yuyi, surprise also appearing on his face: "Yuyi? Is it really you?"
The two looked at each other, emotions surging. Years of separation, they had both changed so much, but that familiar feeling remained.
"Good, good! I never thought we'd meet here!" Lingxiao laughed heartily, pulling Yuyi into a bear hug. "Come, let me introduce you—these are my companions: Liuchen, Yunyou, Fenghan, Lanxin."
Yuyi greeted each of them. Liuchen was the youth who had been at Qingyun Academy with them; Yunyou was a free-spirited cultivator; Fenghan was cold and reticent; Lanxin was a gentle female cultivator.
"Since everyone's here, let's set out immediately!" Lingxiao said enthusiastically.
The six departed Zhongzhou City, heading toward Huangsha Stronghold. Along the way, Lingxiao and Yuyi caught up on their experiences over the years. Learning that Yuyi had fallen multiple times but persisted in cultivating, Lingxiao was both heartbroken and admiring.
"Yuyi, you've really suffered these years." Lingxiao sighed. "But don't worry—with me here from now on, no one will bully you."
Yuyi smiled, warmth rising in his heart. Though he had experienced the cultivation world's cruelty, Lingxiao's friendship remained unchanged.
Huangsha Stronghold was located in a desolate gorge, surrounded by yellow sand, desolate and barren. The six arrived outside the stronghold, carefully observing the terrain.
"The stronghold has about fifty bandits, their leader is a Golden Core expert." Liuchen analyzed. "We need to be careful."
Yuyi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the stronghold's entrance. He noticed several guards patrolling, their cultivation not low—all at Foundation Building.
"Let's split up and act." Lingxiao decided. "Yuyi, you and I will attack from the front; Liuchen, Yunyou, you two cover from the sides; Fenghan, Lanxin, you two provide support from behind."
Everyone nodded, each taking position.
Yuyi and Lingxiao approached the stronghold entrance, their spirit swords ready. Lingxiao gave a signal, and the two simultaneously charged out, sword light like a rainbow, straight for the guards.
"Who dares!" a guard shouted, his spirit blade meeting the attack.
Lingxiao's sword technique was domineering and fierce, each strike carrying powerful spiritual energy. Yuyi's Fast Sword Art was quick as lightning, sword light interweaving into a net. The guards were caught off guard, several falling in moments.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" shouts rose from within the stronghold.
Bandits poured out, surrounding Yuyi and Lingxiao. Lingxiao laughed loudly: "Come, let me see what you're made of!"
Yuyi gripped his spirit sword tightly, his gaze determined. This battle would be his chance to prove himself.
The battle was incredibly fierce. Yuyi's Fast Sword Art was fully displayed, sword light like silk, each strike precise. He discovered that after the previous night's shock, his understanding of sword arts had deepened.
After an hour of fighting, most of the bandits had fallen. Only the bandit leader remained, his face dark, spiritual energy radiating from his body.
"You ants, daring to attack my Huangsha Stronghold!" the bandit leader roared, his spirit blade sweeping out, blade light like a blood moon, straight for Yuyi.
Yuyi's heart tightened—this was a Golden Core expert's attack, not to be underestimated. He circulated his spiritual energy, his spirit sword meeting the blade light.
"Bang"—a huge sound, Yuyi felt an immense force transmitted to him, his body flying backward.
"Yuyi!" Lingxiao exclaimed, rushing forward to catch Yuyi.
The bandit leader sneered: "Foundation Building cultivation, daring to fight me—overestimating yourself!"
Lingxiao's expression darkened, his spirit sword leaving its sheath, sword light like a dragon, thrusting at the bandit leader. The two exchanged over thirty moves, evenly matched.
Just then, Liuchen and Yunyou arrived from the sides, their spirit swords simultaneously attacking the bandit leader. Fenghan and Lanxin also joined the battle, five Foundation Building cultivators working together, finally suppressing the bandit leader.
After another hour, the bandit leader finally fell, his body covered in wounds.
Yuyi struggled to stand, looking at the bandit leader's remains, emotions complex. This was his first time participating in such a large-scale battle, his first time facing a Golden Core expert.
"Yuyi, are you alright?" Lingxiao asked with concern.
Yuyi nodded: "I'm fine, just some minor injuries."
Lingxiao patted Yuyi's shoulder: "You did well today. I didn't expect your Fast Sword Art to have reached such a level."
Yuyi smiled, but his heart was secretly vigilant. He knew his strength was still far from enough. In this battle, if not for his companions' help, he would have fallen to the bandit leader.
The six cleaned the battlefield, obtaining a large amount of spirit stones and dharma artifacts. Yuyi's share was about thirty thousand spirit stones, plus several dharma artifacts.
"Let's go back to Zhongzhou City to claim the reward." Lingxiao suggested.
Everyone agreed, preparing to return. Yuyi walked at the back of the group, his gaze sweeping over the yellow sand of Huangsha Stronghold, his heart filled with determination. He would become stronger, strong enough to protect himself, to protect those he cared about.
The cultivation path was long, but he would keep moving forward.