Late at night, Youyue Valley was silent, with only the formation spiritual light outside the cave dwelling faintly flickering in the darkness. Yuyi sat cross-legged on the spirit bed, with Shaying beside him closing her eyes to regulate her breath. Spiritual energy circulated around both of them, clearly in cultivation.
Suddenly, a violent fluctuation came from the restriction outside the cave dwelling.
"Yuyi Valley Master, Nitian Alliance emergency inspection, open immediately!" Duan Changjian's voice came from outside, carrying unquestionable authority.
Yuyi and Shaying opened their eyes simultaneously, exchanging a glance, with a trace of gravity flashing in their eyes. Shaying transmitted her voice: "They came so quickly, could they have discovered something?"
Yuyi slightly shook his head, transmitting back: "Regardless, we must first stabilize them." He stood up, straightened his robes, and said in a deep voice: "Please wait a moment."
Outside the cave dwelling, Duan Changjian, Xuantie, Liekong, and others stood before the stone door, with several Nitian Alliance experts behind them. Xuantie Fortress Master Xuantie had a cold expression, his eyes flashing with sharp light, clearly full of expectation for this inspection. Liekong stood with hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, scanning the formation patterns around the cave dwelling.
"Yuyi Valley Master, it's been half the time it takes to burn incense, what are you dawdling for?" Xuantie said coldly, his tone carrying obvious impatience.
The stone door of the cave dwelling slowly opened, and Yuyi and Shaying walked out side by side, their clothes neat and expressions calm. Yuyi said indifferently: "What brings you all for a late-night visit?"
Duan Changjian stepped forward and cupped his hands: "Yuyi Valley Master, tonight someone broke into the Nitian Alliance forbidden area and rescued an important hostage. We suspect an insider colluded with outsiders, so we're conducting emergency inspections of various cave dwellings."
"Oh?" Yuyi raised an eyebrow, "So you all suspect me?"
"I wouldn't dare." Duan Changjian quickly waved his hand, "This is just routine business, please forgive us, Valley Master."
Shaying snorted coldly, "Routine business? Breaking into others' cave dwellings in the middle of the night—is this your routine business?"
Liekong stepped forward, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Yuyi and Shaying, seemingly searching for flaws. He said in a deep voice: "Yuyi Valley Master, have you been cultivating in the cave dwelling all night?"
Yuyi calmly met Liekong's gaze, "That's right. Shaying and I have been cultivating in the cave dwelling, never leaving."
"Is that so?" A trace of suspicion flashed in Liekong's eyes, "What technique has Valley Master been cultivating? I observe the spiritual energy fluctuations on your body seem rather special."
Yuyi's heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently: "Just an ordinary mental method, nothing more. Brother Liekong is overthinking."
Xuantie suddenly spoke up, "Since Valley Master has been cultivating all along, then we should have no problem going in to take a look, right?"
Yuyi's eyes turned slightly cold, "Xuantie Fortress Master, what do you mean by this?"
"Nothing much." Xuantie sneered, "Just want to confirm Valley Master's innocence, that's all."
His attendants behind him immediately stepped forward, about to rush into the cave dwelling. A flash of anger crossed Yuyi's eyes, his right hand suddenly raised, spiritual light flashing in his palm, and a majestic palm force whistled out.
"Get out!"
That attendant screamed, his whole body blasted back several zhang, heavily crashing into the stone wall outside the cave dwelling, blood spraying wildly from his mouth. The other attendants, seeing this, retreated one after another, their faces showing terror.
Xuantie's expression changed, "Yuyi, what is the meaning of this?"
Yuyi said coldly: "My cave dwelling—how could I allow you to intrude at will? If anyone else dares to cross the line, don't blame me for being impolite."
Duan Changjian quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, "Yuyi Valley Master, please calm your anger. Xuantie Fortress Master was just a bit anxious. Since Valley Master says you've been cultivating all along, we naturally believe you." He turned to look at Xuantie, "Brother Xuantie, Yuyi Valley Master is a member of the Nitian Alliance, we should trust him."
Xuantie snorted coldly but said nothing more. He deeply glanced at Yuyi, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Liekong pondered for a moment and said: "Yuyi Valley Master, tonight the expert who rescued someone had profound techniques, using the Quick Sword Art. What is Valley Master's view on this technique?"
Yuyi's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm as he said indifferently: "Quick Sword Art? I've heard of this technique—it's a rather exquisite sword art. However, many people know this technique, so I can't determine who it might be."
Liekong nodded and didn't ask further. He turned to Duan Changjian and said in a low voice: "Alliance Master, we should go."
Duan Changjian nodded and cupped his hands to Yuyi: "Yuyi Valley Master, we've disturbed you greatly tonight, please forgive us. We'll take our leave now."
Yuyi said indifferently: "I won't see you out."
Everyone turned to leave, but before leaving, Liekong deeply glanced at Yuyi once more, his eyes flickering with complex light.
Only when everyone's figures disappeared into the night did Yuyi and Shaying breathe a sigh of relief. Shaying said in a low voice: "They're gone, but I feel they're still suspicious of us."
Yuyi nodded, "Liekong is keenly observant, not easy to deal with. However, as long as we stay calm, they won't make any moves for now." He looked at the night outside the cave dwelling, "Let's wait a quarter hour to confirm they've really left."
Shaying nodded, and both returned to the cave dwelling to continue waiting.
A quarter hour later, Yuyi confirmed there was no further movement outside the cave dwelling, then walked to a storage cabinet in the corner. He waved his palm, spiritual light flashed, and the storage cabinet door slowly opened, a slender figure walking out from within.
It was Yunzhi.
Yunzhi's face was pale, clearly having hidden in the storage cabinet for quite some time, her body somewhat weak. She looked at Yuyi and Shaying, her eyes full of gratitude, "Thank you, Yuyi Valley Master, for the rescue."
Yuyi waved his hand, "No need for courtesy. Rest first, we can talk about other matters later."
He helped Yunzhi sit on the spirit bed, then took out a pill and handed it to her, "This is a Fasting Pill, it can restore some qi and blood."
Yunzhi accepted the pill and took it, her complexion gradually improving. She took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Yuyi Valley Master, there's something I must tell you."
Yuyi and Shaying exchanged a glance, and Yuyi said: "Go ahead."
A trace of pain flashed in Yunzhi's eyes, "The Nitian Alliance captured me to threaten Bixiao."
"Bixiao?" Shaying asked doubtfully, "Tianjian Sect's Bixiao?"
Yunzhi nodded, "Yes. But Bixiao's true identity is actually a hall master of the Cangqiong Alliance."
Yuyi and Shaying's expressions changed simultaneously. The Cangqiong Alliance was the mortal enemy of the Nitian Alliance. If Bixiao was a hall master of the Cangqiong Alliance, then this matter was complicated.
Yuyi said in a deep voice: "How do you know this?"
Yunzhi smiled bitterly, "I am Bixiao's fiancée, so naturally he wouldn't hide these things from me. The Nitian Alliance captured me to force Bixiao to submit."
Shaying frowned, "Then what will you do now?"
Yunzhi shook her head, "I don't know. I can't return to Bixiao's side now, or it will implicate him. But I also can't keep hiding here, that would implicate Yuyi Valley Master."
Yuyi pondered for a moment and said: "Rest here for a few days first, wait for the situation to calm down. As for Bixiao's matter, we'll think of a way later."
Yunzhi nodded, gratitude flashing in her eyes.
Yuyi arranged for Yunzhi to rest on the other side of the cave dwelling, then returned to the spirit bed with Shaying to begin self-cultivation. Although both closed their eyes to regulate their breath, their minds were thinking about tonight's events.
Meanwhile, at Nitian Alliance headquarters.
Duan Changjian, Xuantie, and Liekong sat in the conference hall, their expressions grave. Liekong said in a deep voice: "Tonight's expert who rescued someone had profound techniques, using the Quick Sword Art. Although this technique isn't rare, there aren't many who can reach such a level."
Xuantie said coldly: "I suspect an insider colluded with outsiders. Otherwise, how could that person so easily rescue Yunzhi?"
Duan Changjian nodded, "Investigate from the insider angle. However, regarding Yuyi's side..."
Liekong interrupted, "Yuyi Valley Master's performance tonight was indeed somewhat suspicious. But his techniques are profound, and we have no conclusive evidence."
Xuantie snorted, "Profound techniques? I think he's hiding something."
Duan Changjian waved his hand, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Let's start with the insider investigation and see if we can find clues."
Just then, Hanyin Xianzi walked in from outside. She was the master of Tianyin Pavilion and also Shaying's sect elder. After listening to the three's conversation, her heart struggled.
She suspected Yuyi and Shaying, but Shaying was a disciple of Tianyin Pavilion, and she couldn't disregard sect relationships. Ultimately, she chose to conceal her suspicions, only saying indifferently: "This matter needs careful consideration; we must not act rashly."
Duan Changjian nodded, "Hanyin Xianzi is right. Let's disperse for now and discuss tomorrow."
Everyone dispersed, but undercurrents had already begun spreading within the Nitian Alliance.
One month later, Nitian Alliance conference hall.
Leixiao Sect leader Lei Zhentian sat angrily in the conference hall, opposite the composed Yuyi. Duan Changjian sat in the main seat, his brows slightly furrowed.
Lei Zhentian slammed the table and stood up, "Duan Changjian Alliance Master, Yuyi has occupied my Leixiao Sect's Spirit Stone vein—you must give me an explanation for this!"
Yuyi said indifferently, "The Spirit Stone vein was ownerless to begin with; I simply arrived first, that's all."
"Bullshit!" Lei Zhentian said angrily, "That vein was clearly discovered first by my Leixiao Sect!"
Yuyi sneered, "Discovered? The rules of the cultivation world have always been that strength is supreme. If you have the ability, you can also go take it back."
Lei Zhentian was so angry his face turned iron-blue, but Yuyi's techniques were profound, and he didn't dare to act rashly.
Duan Changjian said in a deep voice, "Yuyi Valley Master, this matter is indeed somewhat improper. You occupying the Spirit Stone vein is a bit too domineering."
Yuyi turned to look at Duan Changjian and said indifferently, "Duan Changjian Alliance Master, the cultivation world is about the weak being prey to the strong. I occupied the vein by strength—what's improper about that? Moreover, the ownership of this vein wasn't clear to begin with; I'm just making reasonable use of resources."
He paused and continued, "Besides, after I occupied the vein, I've been diligently cultivating, never doing anything that violates Nitian Alliance rules. If you're dissatisfied, just say so directly."
Duan Changjian fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Yuyi Valley Master, you may withdraw."
Yuyi nodded and stood up to leave. His departing figure was unhurried, as if the earlier dispute had never happened.
In the corner of the conference hall, Shuanghua Xianzi quietly watched all this. She was a cultivator from Bingmei Valley and had always paid attention to Yuyi. Watching Yuyi's departing figure, a trace of appreciation flashed in her eyes.
"This person is quite interesting," she murmured to herself.