Xu Yi left the Artifact Tower and remained at Kunlun Academy for over a month.
During this time, she visited the academy's teachers, caught up with old friends, and sparred with them. Her life was fulfilling and relaxed, and her state of mind steadily improved.
Outside the Kunlun Academy's gates.
"Xu Yi, when I graduate from Kunlun Academy, I will definitely come to Xuanji Sect to find you," Yu Xiaoyu said with reluctance.
Xu Yi winked at her. "I'll be waiting for you."
Yu Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed crimson.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, understanding the implication, scratched the back of his head and chuckled. After a while, he smacked his lips and lamented, "With you and Lu Zaiye both graduating and leaving, Bai Shan's whereabouts are unknown, and Bei Xinghan and Hong Jing are out on trials, only you and I are left as companions in Kunlun Academy."
"Isn't that exactly what you wanted?" Xu Yi teased with a light laugh.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang choked, "Who said that? You are all equally important to me."
Their bond had been tested by life and death.
Xu Yi also recalled their time adventuring together, her gaze softening.
"Alright, we'll all meet again in the future."
Xu Yi suppressed her surging emotions, comforted Xiong Zhuangzhuang with a smile, and under the reluctant gazes of Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu, transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.
"Xu Yi..."
Yu Xiaoyu looked up at Xu Yi's receding figure, her eyes red.
"Xiaoyu, why are you crying? You, you don't cry."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang flusteredly tried to comfort Yu Xiaoyu, but he didn't know how. In the end, he almost got agitated himself before finally making Yu Xiaoyu laugh.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang looked down at Yu Xiaoyu's gentle smile, his heart feeling as if it were immersed in warm water, and he couldn't help but smile.
He suddenly felt that Xu Yi's words weren't wrong; it was quite good to have just him and Xiaoyu.
...
Xu Yi was unaware that Xiong Zhuangzhuang had already switched sides. She was currently on her way back to Xuanji Sect.
She hadn't planned to return so soon, but the appearance of Wan Yanxue made her suddenly realize that the Demon Race had never given up their plan to break the contract.
She needed to discuss the matter of preventing the Demon Race's invasion with Ji Bubuangan again.
Although she was the Sect Ancestor, Ji Bubuangan was the Sect Leader. Any matters that required consultation with other sects had to be handled by Ji Bubuangan.
Besides that, there was another reason.
She wanted to investigate the Vermilion Bird Tomb.
The bearded cultivator she met on Fire Mountain last time said that the Discipline Rod was a magical artifact refined from the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire.
And the Discipline Rod was brought out of the Vermilion Bird Tomb by Patriarch Feng Jian.
There should be a definite connection between these two.
Xu Yi wanted to find out everything, so she decided to end her trial period early and return to the sect.
Rong Province did not have a teleportation array that directly reached Zhong Province. Xu Yi had to take a teleportation array from Rong Province to Ang Province first, and then transfer to Zhong Province from Ang Province.
Xu Yi chose Ye City, a prosperous city in Ang Province, as her transfer point.
As soon as she stepped out of the teleportation array, Xu Yi heard the sound of magical artifacts colliding.
Xu Yi looked up and saw over a dozen people engaged in a fierce battle not far ahead.
These more than ten people belonged to two factions, fighting back and forth, each move drawing blood.
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow and did not hurry to leave. Instead, she stood aside and watched with interest.
Fights among cultivators were common, but fights between two groups of female cultivators were rare.
Xu Yi's interest was piqued, and she decided to wait until they decided on a winner before leaving.
However, Xu Yi never expected that this fight would involve her.
At first, she just felt that one of the female cultivators in the group looked very familiar.
But after thinking carefully, she couldn't find any memory of the woman in her mind.
As she was feeling confused, she suddenly glimpsed a small lock peeking out from the woman's neckline.
The small lock was delicate and cute, with a unique design, leaving a deep impression at first glance.
Especially those who had seen the small lock found it hard to forget, and Xu Yi was no exception.
She remembered.
This small lock was called the Heart-Protecting Lock.
No wonder she felt the woman looked familiar. She had not only met the woman before but had also affectionately stroked her head.
Xiao Yi.
The little girl from Mingyue Pavilion she met at the Jian family banquet.
In a flash, she had grown into a graceful young lady.
Xu Yi recognized Xiao Yi's identity but did not rush to act.
She and Xiao Yi had only met by chance, and she had even made her master, True Person Jingqiu, spit up blood.
Xu Yi did not believe there was any deep friendship between her and Xiao Yi.
Moreover, years had passed since they last met. Who knew what kind of personality the innocent and lively little girl from back then had now.
Xu Yi decided to observe first and then decide whether to intervene.
On the other side.
Wen Yi fought her opponent with her long sword, her complexion slightly pale, a sign of excessive spiritual energy consumption.
Her mind was filled with how to block her opponent's attacks, and she didn't notice Xu Yi's presence at all.
Clang!
A harsh sound of metal striking metal echoed.
Wen Yi's arm trembled, and a immense force spread throughout her body from her arm. She let out a muffled groan and retreated dozens of steps, blood trickling down the corners of her mouth.
"Wen Yi, I told you long ago that you are no match for me. Hand over your master's secret treasure, and I can spare your life out of our sisterly bond. Don't be stubborn."
The woman opposite Wen Yi also held a sword, her lips curled upwards, displaying the arrogance of a victor.
"Sister Lan, I told you long ago too that Master did not leave any secret treasure. Even if you kill me, you will get nothing."
Wen Yi gently wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes clear, and said slowly.
"Impossible!"
Lan Keruan sneered.
"Before I joined Mingyue Pavilion, I knew that Master had a precious treasure. Later, Master also admitted it herself. Now that Master has passed away, her precious treasure is nowhere to be found. She must have given it to you!
You are her favorite disciple, and she doted on you. Besides you, she would never give the secret treasure to anyone else!
Wen Yi, you're still lying at this point. It seems I really can't get anything out of you without taking serious action.
Sisters, don't hold back anymore. Give her a killing blow!"
The eight female cultivators with Lan Keruan were also disciples of Mingyue Pavilion, each apprenticed to different elders.
Lan Keruan, in order to obtain the secret treasure, had promised great rewards and invited them to join her in pursuing Wen Yi.
Although Wen Yi had joined the sect the latest, because of her kind nature, she had made many friends among the outer disciples.
It was precisely these outer disciples who were now fighting the personal disciples of Mingyue Pavilion to protect Wen Yi.
However, the strength and number of the two sides were not equal. Lan Keruan, in order to extract information from Wen Yi, had not gone all out from the beginning, so the two sides appeared to be evenly matched.
Now that Lan Keruan and her group got serious, Wen Yi's faction was immediately at a disadvantage. Even two of them were directly knocked to the ground, vomiting blood.
"Junior Sister Han! Junior Sister Liu!"
Wen Yi looked at the two bloody figures and roared at Lan Keruan in anger, "I'm not lying! The secret treasure is really not with me!"
"Then where is it?" Lan Keruan pressed.
"In..."