At the mine behind Sword Peak, the sound of pickaxes striking ore echoed through the valley. Yuyi swung his pickaxe, again and again, his movements having grown from clumsy to proficient. Three months—an entire three months—he had mined and cultivated almost without rest, day and night.
The ore veins stretched and rose, the minerals glimmering faintly in the sunlight. Yuyi's hands had grown thick calluses, and his once slender frame had become robust. He could now mine copper and iron ore, and forge ordinary iron swords and refined iron swords. Each refined iron sword sold for a hundred spirit stones, and his savings had reached eight thousand spirit stones.
In these three months, Yuyi had practiced the Xuantian Sword Art to the Minor Achievement realm, and the Xuantian Breathing Technique had broken through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining. He had only one goal in his heart: save enough spirit stones to meet the recruitment requirements for Xuantian Sect's outer disciples.
The mining girl still worked silently not far away. The two had never exchanged a single word, yet each other's presence had become a silent companionship. When Yuyi mined quickly, the girl mined faster; when Yuyi mined more, the girl mined even more. This silent competition gave the tedious mining life a trace of motivation.
One evening, Yuyi put away his pickaxe and took out the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman from his robes. The talisman had been silent for three months, and now it grew slightly warm in his hand. He hesitated for a moment, then finally infused it with spiritual power.
"Yuyi! You finally contacted me!" Lingxiao's voice came from the talisman, carrying both anger and joy. "Where have you been for these three months? Why didn't you contact me? Do you know how worried I was?"
Yuyi said indifferently, "I was mining and cultivating."
"Mining?" Lingxiao's voice rose. "You've been mining alone in the mines for three months? Yuyi, why do you always go about alone like this!"
"I like quiet." Yuyi said.
Lingxiao sighed, his tone softening. "Fine, knowing you're alright is what matters. By the way, Liuchen contacted me too. He's joined Xuesha Sect, and I've joined Tianjian Sect. Though the three of us have been assigned to different sects, we've all established ourselves in the cultivation world."
Yuyi nodded. "Mm."
"Yuyi, how are you doing? Are your spirit stones enough? Do you need my help?" Lingxiao asked with concern.
"No need." Yuyi refused. "I can manage on my own."
Lingxiao fell silent for a moment, then his tone grew serious. "Yuyi, I know you're independent, but friends should help each other. I'm earning spirit stones through sect missions now, and the income is decent. If you need anything, tell me anytime."
"Thank you, but no need." Yuyi insisted.
Lingxiao sighed helplessly. "You really are something... Fine, remember, if anyone bullies you, you must tell me. I, Lingxiao, am not someone to be trifled with at Tianjian Sect. Anyone who dares bully my brother, I won't let them off!"
Yuyi felt a slight warmth in his heart, but still said indifferently, "Understood."
Another two months passed. Yuyi's mining and artifact crafting skills both reached the intermediate level. He could mine various ores and forge high-grade dharma artifacts, and his savings reached fifty thousand spirit stones. One day, while working in the mine, he suddenly noticed the mining girl stop her pickaxe.
The girl stood at the edge of the mine, gazing into the distance. Yuyi stopped his work and looked at her. This was the first time the two had made eye contact. A complex light flashed in the girl's eyes, seeming like a farewell, and also like a blessing. Then, she turned and walked away, her figure gradually disappearing on the mountain path.
Yuyi later learned that the girl had been chosen by Lingjiu Palace, becoming a disciple of that mysterious sect that only accepted female disciples.
Yuyi gazed in the direction the girl had left, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss. In these five months, although the girl had never communicated with him, her presence had become part of his mining life. Now that she was gone, the mine suddenly felt empty and silent.
For the next few days, Yuyi spent his time in a daze, his mining speed slowing down. He didn't know why he felt this way, only that something was missing.
Finally, Yuyi pulled himself together and decided to complete his next plan. He left the mine and went to Xuantian City, using fifty thousand spirit stones to buy two sets of Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robes. These were high-grade dharma robes that could enhance defense and also change one's appearance.
Yuyi boarded a flying boat to Tianjian Sect. Inside the boat, cultivators from various paths gathered, wearing superior dharma artifacts, sizing each other up and comparing. Spiritual energy fluctuations circulated in the air, and the sound of the flying boat piercing through the sky was incessant. Yuyi wore ordinary daoist robes, standing in a corner, ignored by everyone.
"Look at this dharma artifact of mine—I spent a hundred thousand spirit stones on it!" a cultivator boasted.
"A hundred thousand spirit stones is nothing! This spirit sword of mine was used by a Foundation Building expert!" another cultivator countered.
Yuyi listened silently, his heart undisturbed. He knew that in the cultivation world, strength was fundamental; dharma artifacts were merely supplementary.
The flying boat arrived at the foot of Tianjian Sect. Yuyi found a spot to set up a stall and began calling out, "Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robes, high-grade dharma robes! Can enhance defense and change appearance! Don't miss this chance!"
His voice echoed at the foot of the mountain, attracting quite a few cultivators to look. But most only looked without buying. Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robes were high-grade, but the price was steep, and ordinary Qi Refining cultivators couldn't afford them.
Three days later, a middle-aged cultivator walked up to Yuyi's stall. The cultivator had a haggard face, yet his eyes held determination. He had been lingering near the stall for quite some time, and now finally gathered the courage to speak, "These robes... can change appearance?"
"They can." Yuyi nodded. "After wearing them, you can change your appearance at will."
A flash of excitement crossed the cultivator's eyes. "I'll take them! How much?"
"Sixty thousand spirit stones." Yuyi said.
The cultivator毫不犹豫 took out spirit stones and handed them to Yuyi. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Yuyi accepted the spirit stones and handed the robes to the cultivator. The cultivator took the robes, tears welling in his eyes. "I... I've been searching for a dharma robe that can change appearance, for... for that person in my heart. Thank you, fellow daoist, for making this possible! If you need anything in the future, come find me. I, Qingchi, will surely help!"
Yuyi nodded, watching the cultivator leave. He didn't know this cultivator's story, but he could feel the obsession in the other's heart.
Just then, a familiar voice came. "Yuyi! Why are you here!"
Yuyi turned to see Lingxiao striding over, followed by several Tianjian Sect cultivators. Lingxiao grabbed Yuyi in a bear hug, his voice booming, "Brother! Why did you come to Tianjian Sect? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Yuyi was hugged so tightly he could barely breathe, saying indifferently, "I came to sell dharma robes."
"Sell dharma robes?" Lingxiao released Yuyi, seeing the remaining Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robe on the stall, his eyes lighting up. "These robes are nice! How much?"
"Sixty thousand spirit stones." Yuyi said.
A female cultivator behind Lingxiao stepped forward, examining the robes. "These Cloud Rainbow Dharma Robes are indeed fine. Fellow daoist, can you lower the price?"
Yuyi looked at the female cultivator, then at Lingxiao, and said, "Fifty thousand spirit stones."
A flash of surprise crossed the female cultivator's eyes. "Thank you, fellow daoist!" She took out spirit stones and handed them to Yuyi.
Lingxiao patted Yuyi's shoulder, laughing. "Yuyi, did you come to Tianjian Sect this time to join us? Let me tell you, Tianjian Sect is a major sect with abundant cultivation resources. If you join, you'll definitely improve your cultivation quickly!"
Yuyi shook his head. "No, I'm going to Xuantian Sect."
Lingxiao froze. "Xuantian Sect? Aren't you already at Xuantian Sect?"
"I want to become an outer disciple of Xuantian Sect." Yuyi said. "Outer disciple recruitment requires a hundred thousand spirit stones as an entrance fee. I have enough now."
Lingxiao fell silent for a moment, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. "Yuyi, you... you're really going to Xuantian Sect alone?"
"Mm." Yuyi nodded.
Lingxiao sighed, taking out a jade token from his robes and handing it to Yuyi. "This is my Tianjian Sect identity token. It has my aura recorded in it. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can use this token to contact me. Remember, no matter where you are, we are brothers!"
Yuyi accepted the token, warmth rising in his heart. He knew Lingxiao genuinely cared for him, but he still chose independence. He didn't want to burden his friends, nor did he want to depend on them.
Just then, the flying boat's whistle sounded. Lingxiao looked at the sky, his expression changing. "Yuyi, the flying boat to Xuantian Sect is about to leave! Quick, let me send you over!"
Lingxiao didn't wait for Yuyi's response, pulling him toward the boat landing. Yuyi had intended to sell dharma robes for a few more days, but with Lingxiao rushing him, he could only hastily pack up his stall and follow Lingxiao onto the flying boat.
Lingxiao stood below the flying boat, his voice slightly choked. "Yuyi! When you reach Xuantian Sect, you must contact me! Don't go about alone like before!"
Yuyi stopped, turning back to look at Lingxiao, finally nodding. "Alright."
The flying boat slowly rose. Yuyi stood at the bow, watching Lingxiao's figure grow smaller and smaller, complex emotions rising in his heart. He knew this parting might mean a long time before they met again. But he still chose to persist on his own path, walking forward alone.
The flying boat pierced through the sky, disappearing into the clouds. At the foot of Tianjian Sect, Lingxiao gazed in the direction the boat had left, unwilling to depart for a long time.