Inside the Nitian Alliance conference hall, the atmosphere was heavy as lead.
Dozens of sect masters sat on both sides, their gazes all focused on the center of the hall. There, Youyue Valley Master Yuyi stood leisurely, his long hair gently dancing, a faint smile hanging on his lips.
Opposite him, Leixiao Sect Master Lei Zhentian had an iron-blue face, his fists tightly clenched, spiritual power surging around his body, clearly suppressed to the limit.
"Yuyi Valley Master, what is the meaning of this?" Lei Zhentian asked in a deep voice.
Yuyi smiled faintly, "We are discussing cooperation matters. Of course, Leixiao Sect has the right to refuse. However, my Youyue Valley can provide Spirit Beast Fur to help Leixiao Sect through this difficult time, only requiring twenty percent of the Dharma Treasure profits."
"Generous?" Lei Zhentian sneered, "You're taking advantage of our misfortune! The Southern District Spirit Vein was seized, and Leixiao Sect's over seven thousand cultivators are struggling for their livelihood, yet you want to take twenty percent of the profits?"
Yuyi's expression remained unchanged, "Sect Master Lei is mistaken. The Southern District Spirit Vein dispute is an internal matter of the Nitian Alliance, and my Youyue Valley did not participate. Now that Leixiao Sect is in difficulty, I've actively proposed cooperation—this is already going above and beyond."
"Refuse?" Lei Zhentian laughed in extreme anger, "You clearly know Leixiao Sect's current situation, yet you propose such harsh conditions—this is clearly kicking someone when they're down!"
The corners of Yuyi's mouth rose slightly, "Sect Master Lei overstates the case. Since cooperation isn't possible, then I'll propose another plan."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, finally fixing on Lei Zhentian, and slowly said, "Leixiao Sect merges into Youyue Valley, becoming a force under my command. In this way, Leixiao Sect's difficulties will naturally be resolved."
As soon as these words came out, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar.
Lei Zhentian suddenly stood up, spiritual power erupting from his body, and shouted angrily, "Yuyi! You're bullying too much! With Youyue Valley's over four thousand cultivators, you want to swallow Leixiao Sect's over seven thousand cultivators? Is there something wrong with your brain?"
Yuyi remained composed, as if Lei Zhentian's anger had nothing to do with him, "I haven't violated Nitian Alliance regulations. If Sect Master Lei is unwilling, he can naturally refuse. It's just that Leixiao Sect's difficulties, I'm afraid, will be hard to resolve."
Having said this, he turned to leave.
"Wait!"
A cold shout rang out, and Nitian Alliance Master Duan Changjian stood up, his face dark.
"Yuyi Valley Master, doing this is not giving the Nitian Alliance face at all." Duan Changjian said in a deep voice, "The Southern District Spirit Vein dispute was originally an internal alliance matter. Now you're taking the opportunity to threaten Leixiao Sect—what does this count as?"
Yuyi stopped his steps and looked back at Duan Changjian, "Duan Changjian Alliance Master, I haven't violated regulations. If Leixiao Sect doesn't want to cooperate, I naturally won't force it. As for the Southern District Spirit Vein, my Youyue Valley can yield half, but this requires Leixiao Sect to agree to my conditions."
Duan Changjian's brows furrowed tightly, just about to speak again, when a white-haired elder slowly stood up. This person was precisely Nitian Alliance Elder Xuantie, known for his fairness and quite prestigious in the alliance.
"Yuyi Valley Master, Sect Master Lei, this old man has something to say." Elder Xuantie's voice was steady, "The cooperation plan proposed by Yuyi Valley Master, although the conditions are harsh, is not impossible to negotiate. Why not have both sides take a step back—Yuyi Valley Master reduces the profit share to ten percent, and Sect Master Lei accepts the cooperation. How about that?"
Yuyi faintly shook his head, "Elder Xuantie, my conditions have been given and won't change."
Elder Xuantie's brows furrowed, and he looked at Lei Zhentian again, "Sect Master Lei, what is your intention?"
Lei Zhentian snorted coldly, "My Leixiao Sect will never accept such humiliating conditions!"
Elder Xuantie sighed, just about to persuade again, when Youming Valley Master Shuanghanzi stepped forward.
Shuanghanzi's expression was complex as he glanced at Yuyi, then looked at Lei Zhentian, and said in a deep voice, "Since both sides are at a stalemate, why not decide the outcome by martial arts. One-on-one duel—the winner takes all."
As soon as these words came out, the corners of Yuyi's mouth rose slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
Shuanghanzi's heart jumped, suddenly realizing he seemed to have been calculated. He originally wanted to mediate, but unknowingly became Yuyi's chess piece. He secretly regretted it, hoping Lei Zhentian would refuse, but he knew that with Lei Zhentian's character, he would never back down.
However, Lei Zhentian suddenly turned around, looking at Yuyi, battle intent burning in his eyes, "Good! Let's do as Youming Valley Master Shuanghanzi says. Yuyi, do you dare to accept the challenge?"
Yuyi slowly turned around, looking at Lei Zhentian, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "Since Sect Master Lei has such interest, I naturally will accompany. However, the stakes need to be renegotiated."
Lei Zhentian snorted coldly, "What do you want to bet?"
Yuyi said indifferently, "If I lose, Youyue Valley merges into Leixiao Sect. If I win, Leixiao Sect merges into Youyue Valley."
As soon as these words came out, the hall erupted in uproar again.
Lei Zhentian's brows furrowed tightly—this stake was too risky for him. Leixiao Sect's over seven thousand cultivators, if he lost, would have to merge into Youyue Valley. But if he won, Youyue Valley's over four thousand cultivators would belong to Leixiao Sect.
"How about it?" Yuyi asked indifferently, his expression composed, as if victory was in hand.
Lei Zhentian was just about to speak when he heard Yuyi say again, "However, I feel this stake isn't stimulating enough."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, finally landing on a woman not far behind Lei Zhentian. That woman wore a moon-white dharma robe, her appearance exquisitely beautiful, her temperament cold and clear as the moon—precisely Yuehua Palace Master Yuehua Xianzi.
The corners of Yuyi's mouth rose slightly as he slowly said, "I'll add another stake. If I lose, I'll present twenty pieces of Black Iron Essence Stone. If I win, Yuehua Palace merges into Youyue Valley."
As soon as these words came out, the hall immediately fell into silence.
Yuehua Xianzi's expression changed slightly, and Lei Zhentian's face changed even more dramatically. He and Yuehua Xianzi had been in love for ten years, their hearts already connected. Now Yuyi was including Yuehua Palace in the stakes—this was clearly forcing him.
"Yuyi! What is the meaning of this?" Lei Zhentian shouted angrily.
Yuyi smiled faintly, "Does Sect Master Lei not dare? Or does Sect Master Lei have some special feelings for Yuehua Palace Master?"
The veins on Lei Zhentian's forehead bulged, just about to erupt, when Yuehua Xianzi suddenly stood up, striding to the center of the hall, her voice clear and firm, "I am Yuehua Palace Master, and I accept this wager!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall was shocked. Yuehua Xianzi's action clearly bound her fate together with Lei Zhentian's.
She turned to look at Lei Zhentian, her eyes full of trust and determination, "Zhentian, I believe in you. All these years, from poverty to now, you've always fully supported everything about me. This time, let me support you."
Lei Zhentian's heart warmed, looking at Yuehua Xianzi, his eyes full of gratitude and tenderness. He took a deep breath, looked at Yuyi, and said in a deep voice, "Good! I accept the challenge!"
The corners of Yuyi's mouth rose slightly, "In that case, I'll give you a chance. I'll only use one move—if you can withstand it, I lose."
As soon as these words came out, the hall erupted in uproar again.
Shuanghanzi's brows furrowed tightly, thinking to himself: Is Yuyi being too confident?
Just then, Yuyi suddenly released his spiritual power.
In an instant, a majestic spiritual power swept through the entire hall, strong winds howling, and those with lower cultivation immediately felt their qi and blood surging, their faces turning pale.
Everyone was shocked. Yuyi's expression remained calm, but spiritual power surged around his body like a tide.
"This spiritual power is actually not inferior to the Deity Transformation Realm peak!" someone exclaimed.
Cold sweat broke out on Lei Zhentian's forehead as he finally realized Yuyi's strength far exceeded his imagination. He originally thought Yuyi was just profound in mental methods, but never expected his spiritual power to be so powerful.
Yuyi looked at Lei Zhentian and said indifferently, "Sect Master Lei, please make your move. I'll give you a chance."
Lei Zhentian took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart, drew his Blood Fiend Demon Blade, spiritual power erupting from his body, and chopped down with full force.
This blade contained all his spiritual power, the blade force fierce, unstoppable as if splitting bamboo.
However, Yuyi just raised his left hand, two fingers lightly catching the Blood Fiend Demon Blade.
The blade edge stopped between his two fingers, motionless.
Lei Zhentian's pupils suddenly contracted, his heart greatly alarmed. His full-force blade was actually caught by Yuyi's two fingers—how was this possible?
Yuyi's wrist flicked, and Lei Zhentian immediately felt a tremendous force coming, retreating four steps in succession, his expression changing drastically.
The hall fell into silence, everyone shocked by this scene. Yuyi's strength far exceeded their imagination.
Yuyi's expression remained calm as he picked up an Ordinary Wood Sword with his right hand, step by step approaching Lei Zhentian. Lei Zhentian wanted to retreat but discovered his body was locked by an invisible force, unable to move.
Yuyi walked to Lei Zhentian's front, the Ordinary Wood Sword lightly stabbing out. The sword tip stopped half an inch from Lei Zhentian's neck.
Yuyi said indifferently, "You've lost."
Lei Zhentian's body trembled, a sense of absurdity rising in his heart. He had lost, lost so thoroughly, so unbelievably. His full-force blade was caught by Yuyi's two fingers, while Yuyi's one sword strike—he couldn't even dodge.
The hall fell into silence, everyone shocked by this scene. Several experts present secretly sighed—Yuyi had been calculating from beginning to end, every step within his control.
Yuyi withdrew the Ordinary Wood Sword, turning to walk toward the hall entrance. He reached the doorway, suddenly stopped, and without turning his head said, "In five days, I'll come to receive Leixiao Sect and Yuehua Palace."
Having said this, he strode away, his long hair gently floating, his expression calm, neither happy nor sad.
Lei Zhentian stood frozen in place, suddenly asking, "Yuyi! Why target Leixiao Sect?"
Yuyi's steps didn't stop, and without turning his head he said, "Those who insult others will inevitably be insulted!"
Lei Zhentian's body trembled, complex emotions surging in his heart. He finally understood that Yuyi targeted Leixiao Sect because he had once insulted Yuyi.
Causality cycles; retribution is sure.
In the hall, everyone fell silent. Yuehua Xianzi walked to Lei Zhentian's side, gently holding his hand, "Zhentian, no matter what happens, I'll be with you."
Lei Zhentian looked at Yuehua Xianzi, his eyes full of gratitude and guilt. He took a deep breath, gripping Yuehua Xianzi's hand tightly, "Hua'er, I'm sorry."
Yuehua Xianzi gently shook her head, "Between us, there's no need to say sorry."
Duan Changjian's face was dark, watching the direction Yuyi left, a flash of anger in his eyes. But he also knew Yuyi's strength far exceeded his imagination. If he forcibly stopped him, he would probably only bring humiliation upon himself.
Lei Zhentian smiled bitterly, looking at Yuehua Xianzi, "At least I still have her."
Yuehua Xianzi gently leaned on his shoulder, "No matter what happens, we'll be together."
And Yuyi had already left, leaving only a retreating figure, and those words: "Those who insult others will inevitably be insulted."