When Jianchi pushed open the door and entered, Yuyi was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes slightly closed, spiritual energy flowing around his body. Jianchi stood at the doorway and bowed respectfully.
"Come in." Yuyi opened his eyes, his voice calm.
Jianchi stepped across the threshold and said in a low voice, "Valley Master, the valley's affairs have been handled properly."
Yuyi nodded and took out a Shadow-Recording Jade Talisman from his Storage Ring, gently placing it on the table. "From today onward, Jianyin Valley will be renamed Youyue Valley. Arrange this as soon as possible and change all the valley's signs and documents."
Jianchi's body trembled slightly, a trace of reluctance flashing through his eyes. Jianyin Valley was founded by his own hands, and this name carried years of his blood and sweat. But he quickly suppressed the emotions in his heart and cupped his hands, saying, "This subordinate obeys the order."
Yuyi looked at him with satisfaction and continued, "Also, the new system must be implemented as soon as possible. The monthly Spirit Stone salary for core members must be reduced by thirty percent, while establishing a contribution bonus system. At the Finance Hall, start with spirit merchants to acquire and resell spirit materials and dharma artifacts."
"This..." Jianchi showed a troubled expression. "Valley Master, doing so will likely cause dissatisfaction among the core members."
"Dissatisfaction?" Yuyi sneered. "If they are dissatisfied, they are welcome to leave. Youyue Valley does not keep idle people."
Jianchi said no more and withdrew with his orders.
He walked out of Yuyi's courtyard, his heart heavy. Arriving at the valley's council hall, he summoned the various hall masters and announced the news of the name change and system reform.
"What? Change the name?" Huaying, the master of the Ancient Cultivation Hall, was the first to jump up. "Jianyin Valley has used this name for so many years, how can it be changed just like that?"
"Exactly!" Jianxin, the master of the Sword Cultivation Hall, also said indignantly. "Jianchi Valley Master, this is the foundation you built with your own hands!"
Rouxin, the master of the Enforcement Hall, frowned and said, "Reduce salary by thirty percent? How can we convince the others as hall masters?"
Jianchi raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet and said in a deep voice, "This is the Valley Master's order. Since the Valley Master has made this decision, there must be deep meaning behind it. We only need to execute it."
"But..." Huaying still wanted to argue.
"Enough!" Jianchi's voice sank. "My decision is made, no need to say more."
Seeing Jianchi's firm attitude, everyone could only suppress their dissatisfaction and disperse. Jianchi watched their departing figures and let out a long sigh. He knew that this system reform would surely cause considerable turmoil, but he had no other choice.
Returning to his residence, Jianchi sat down wearily. He closed his eyes, and the scene of founding Jianyin Valley appeared in his mind. At that time, he was full of spirit, determined to establish a holy land that all sword cultivators would yearn for. Now, this name was about to become history.
In the evening, Jianchi was organizing the valley's account books when he suddenly felt a breath approaching. He looked up abruptly and saw a figure appear silently ten steps away.
Jianchi was shocked in his heart—he hadn't detected the other person's arrival at all! To know, he was already a Golden Core Realm cultivator with extremely keen perception. Someone who could appear silently within ten steps of him must be at least a Nascent Soul Realm expert.
"Who are you?" Jianchi stood up, his hand resting on the spirit sword at his waist.
The newcomer was a woman in a pale green long dress, her face cold and elegant, her temperament transcendent. She said indifferently, "Shaying of Tianyin Pavilion, requesting to see Valley Master Yuyi."
Jianchi was stunned—Shaying, one of the top ten experts of Tianyin Pavilion? He had heard this name before. It was rumored that this person's evasion techniques were superb and her personality was cold. He hadn't expected her to appear in Youyue Valley.
"So it is Pavilion Master Shaying." Jianchi cupped his hands. "Please wait a moment, I will report to the Valley Master."
Shaying nodded slightly. Jianchi walked quickly toward Yuyi's courtyard. He was secretly shocked in his heart—the strength of Tianyin Pavilion's top ten experts was indeed well-deserved. At the same time, he was also puzzled—why would Shaying come to find Yuyi? Could there be some relationship between the two?
Arriving at Yuyi's door, Jianchi said softly, "Valley Master, Pavilion Master Shaying of Tianyin Pavilion has come to visit."
After a moment of silence in the room, Yuyi's voice came, "Please ask her to come in."
Jianchi turned to invite Shaying, but in his heart, he was guessing the relationship between the two. Shaying was the master of Qingyin Pavilion under Tianyin Pavilion, with a prestigious status. Why would she personally come to see Yuyi? Could she be his cultivation partner?
Shaying followed Jianchi to Yuyi's door and pushed it open to enter. Jianchi stood outside the door, becoming increasingly curious in his heart, but he dared not eavesdrop and could only guard from a distance.
Inside the room, Yuyi stood up and looked at Shaying, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. "Why have you come?"
Shaying closed the door, walked to the table and sat down, took out a drawing from her Storage Ring, and spread it on the table. "I have found out the whereabouts of the person you are looking for."
Yuyi walked over quickly and looked down. The drawing showed the layout of a building, marking the positions of various rooms and the distribution of guards.
"This is the architectural layout of Xuantie Fortress in the southern district of Zhongzhou City." Shaying pointed at the drawing and said, "The person you are looking for is being held here."
A trace of excitement flashed through Yuyi's eyes, but he quickly returned to calm. "What is the guard situation?"
"Inside Xuantie Fortress, there are more than thirty cultivators guarding, mostly at Foundation Building Realm, with a few at Golden Core Realm." Shaying's voice remained cold. "But you must note that Liekong and Canglong live nearby. Both of them are true experts of Tianjian Sect, their strength far exceeds ordinary Nascent Soul Realm cultivators."
Yuyi frowned slightly. He had heard the names Liekong and Canglong—they were the top existences of Tianjian Sect. If he encountered them, he would probably find it difficult to escape.
"Are there times when they are not there?" Yuyi asked.
Shaying shook her head, "Rarely. Even if they are not there, those thirty-plus guards are not easy to deal with. I hope you won't take the risk."
Yuyi was silent for a moment, a trace of determination flashing through his eyes. "I will go tonight. If I fail, I will find another way. I cannot rest until I try."
Shaying looked at him, a complex emotion flashing through her eyes. She took out a black dharma robe from her Storage Ring and placed it on the table. "This is the Shadow Dharma Robe. After wearing it, you can conceal your breath and are not easily discovered. Also, do not use the Longyuan Sword. That sword is too conspicuous and will easily expose your identity."
Yuyi took the Shadow Dharma Robe and felt the spiritual power contained within it. A warm feeling rose in his heart. "Thank you."
Shaying stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside. "I will stay here tonight."
Yuyi was stunned, "This..."
"I know what you are worried about." Shaying turned around, her gaze calm. "You are worried that this will cause your relationship with your cultivation partner to break down."
Yuyi gave a bitter smile, "Shaying, you know very well that I don't have a cultivation partner at all."
A trace of softness flashed through Shaying's eyes, but she quickly returned to coldness. "Then that's good. Tianyin Pavilion emphasizes purity and few desires. I don't care about those idle rumors. Moreover, now that most of Tianyin Pavilion's experts have joined the Nitian Alliance, my staying here can provide cover for you."
Yuyi was moved in his heart. Great kindness needs no words of thanks; he would not forget Shaying's kindness.
"Extinguish the lights after one quarter hour, and set off after three quarter hours." Shaying said. "I will be here. Even if someone comes, I can handle it."
Yuyi nodded and began to prepare. He first put on the Golden Thread Immortal Robe, a Heaven-grade dharma robe that could increase comprehension and also had good defensive capabilities. Over it, he wore the Battle Soul Dharma Robe, which contained killing intent and could enhance combat power. Finally, he put on the Shadow Dharma Robe that Shaying had brought, and his whole person instantly merged into the darkness.
Shaying handed him a spirit sword, "Use this. It's stronger than an ordinary iron sword, but it won't attract attention."
Yuyi took the spirit sword, feeling the sharpness of the blade, and felt confident in his heart.
After one quarter hour, Yuyi extinguished the lamp, and the room fell into darkness. Shaying sat by the window, quietly watching the night outside, waiting for the arrival of three quarter hours later.
Outside the door, Jianchi had been guarding all along. He heard the sound of the lamp being extinguished in the room and became even more certain of his guess. Shaying was actually going to spend the night in the Valley Master's room—the relationship between the two was indeed extraordinary.
After three quarter hours, the door opened gently, and a black figure flashed out, disappearing into the night as fast as lightning. Jianchi only felt his vision blur and didn't see clearly who it was at all.
Shaying stood at the door and said to Jianchi, "I will stay here tonight. Withdraw the surrounding guards and do not let anyone disturb us."
Jianchi was stunned, then suddenly realized. Valley Master's wife! He secretly marveled in his heart—he hadn't expected the Valley Master's cultivation partner to be Shaying, one of the top ten experts of Tianyin Pavilion. No wonder the Valley Master trusted her so much to let her spend the night in his room.
"This subordinate understands." Jianchi bowed respectfully and turned to make arrangements.
Shaying returned to the room, closed the door, and sat in the darkness. She knew that Yuyi had already set off. Tonight's operation was full of danger. She could only pray silently here, hoping that he would return safely.
The night was deep. In the southern district of Zhongzhou City, Xuantie Fortress appeared exceptionally quiet under the moonlight. A black figure swept over the city wall like a ghost and silently infiltrated the fortress.
Yuyi pressed against the corner of the wall and, under the cover of the Shadow Dharma Robe, avoided a patrol of cultivators. Following the drawing Shaying provided, he found the location where the person was being held.
It was an independent small courtyard with two Golden Core Realm cultivators guarding the entrance. Yuyi held his breath, circled around from the side, and arrived outside the courtyard wall. He leaped up and landed silently in the courtyard.
The courtyard was silent, with only one room showing faint light. Yuyi quietly approached and looked inside through the crack in the window.
Inside the room, a figure sat at the table with their back to the window. Yuyi's heartbeat accelerated—he recognized that back view.
It was the person he was looking for.