Illustration of the Flood Dragon

"..."

Granny Lan's words left Xie Lingmin silent. She also knew that if she wanted to seize the Fortuitous Encounter that was Zhong Ming, ten Trial Platform trial tickets were somewhat too few.

But she had no choice.

The Xie Family possessed abundant resources, but that did not mean she did.

Ten Trial Platform trial tickets were already the limit of what she could produce without alerting the family.

Any more, and the family would certainly notice and intervene.

Then, the matter of Zhong Ming comprehending a Dao Rhyme Fragment in less than a month would inevitably become known to the family.

Having lived in the family for many years, Xie Lingmin hardly needed to think to know that once the family elders and patriarch discovered and confirmed Zhong Ming's talent, they would absolutely not mind deepening their ties with him.

And simply giving him resources would not satisfy the family elders. They would certainly rack their brains to forge a more intimate relationship with Zhong Ming.

A marriage alliance—or, to put it bluntly, a honey trap. You could call the strategy trite, but the fact that it had endured from ancient times to the present without dying out proved its usefulness.

To draw closer to Zhong Ming, the family would certainly support Xie Yuzhu in learning the sword and try to bring the two together.

As for the risks involved... Xie Lingmin cared deeply for her daughter, regarding her as her most precious treasure. She did not want her to touch even the slightest bit of danger.

But the Xie Family's patriarch and elders would not think that way.

For the family's development, they would absolutely be willing to sacrifice the happiness of individual clan members.

Of course, Xie Lingmin also knew that if she did everything in her power to stop it, the family could... replace her daughter.

There were many members of the Xie Family, and quite a few legitimate daughters. Nearly ninety percent of those girls had no say over their own marriages.

Thus, if she insisted on refusing, the Xie Family elders would not pester her. They could easily choose someone else.

In fact, once they discovered Zhong Ming's circumstances, the other branches of the Xie Family might even fight within the family for the chance to befriend him.

A Sect Master Candidate—and a Sect Master Candidate from their own mountain sect. The temptation was simply too great.

"...I'm quite hypocritical too."

Thinking this, Xie Lingmin shook her head with a self-mocking smile.

She was unwilling to bind her own daughter to Zhong Ming, yet she was equally unwilling to watch the treasure she had discovered be claimed by someone else.

"Ah, why did you have to be a sword cultivator? With your talent, there is indeed a certain chance that you can grow smoothly and support Dragon Stream Peak."

"But it will not be easy. Those Demons and Monsters, evil spirits, and strange aberrations will not just stand by and watch a sword cultivator of exceptional talent rise."

"The road you've chosen is far too dangerous..."

At that moment, Xie Lingmin was deeply conflicted and hesitant.

In this era, walking the path of a sword cultivator was simply too dangerous.

Not wanting her daughter to die alongside him, or become a widow, she did not want Xie Yuzhu to grow too close to Zhong Ming.

Yet she was unwilling to let go of Zhong Ming's peerless talent.

Unable to make a decision, she ultimately decided... to wait and see.

"These resources are only temporary, and they are also a test for Zhong Ming. I need to know whether he truly comprehended a Dao Rhyme Fragment, and whether that comprehension came from good fortune or outstanding talent... The Trial Platform can temper a person's soul, and it can also test the strength of one's soul. When he goes to the Trial Platform, follow him, observe, and record his results."

"If he goes far enough... we'll talk then."

Granny Lan said, "Yes, Matriarch."

Because of her inner conflict, Xie Lingmin had decided to watch a little longer. Yet while she remained indecisive,

elsewhere, someone had already prepared to stake everything they had.

Once Zhong Ming's body recovered and he began cultivating again, Youlan did not waste a moment before running toward her young lady.

In the end, she found Yi Yunya in the Golden Jade Tower.

At that moment, Yi Yunya was standing with several richly dressed young men and women, arguing with them.

Above the group sat a dignified, elegant noblewoman, watching Yi Yunya's dispute with the others with great interest.

"Yi Yunyan, stop dreaming. I was the one who applied for the Illustration of the Flood Dragon first."

"But your application is for half a month from now. Before then, it does not belong to you."

Those words sounded somewhat reasonable, but Yi Yunya knew clearly that activating a True Intent Diagram for someone to study consumed its power.

If Yi Yunyan took it away and let someone else use it, then half a month later, when Zhong Ming needed it, that True Intent Diagram might no longer be usable.

Thus, she firmly refused.

Seeing this, the girl named Yi Yunyan did not become angry. Instead, she smiled at the noblewoman seated above them. "Auntie, I wish to borrow the True Intent Diagram for Ye Cheng, Young Master Ye of the Golden Armor Sect."

"Ye Cheng is the grandson of the Golden Armor Sect's Third Elder, and that elder values him greatly. Befriending him will help expand our influence within the Golden Armor Sect."

"As for Seventh Sister, hehe..."

Looking at Yi Yunya, Yi Yunyan laughed, her face full of teasing mockery. "I have also looked into the person Seventh Sister intends to befriend. He may be a Class A disciple of Dragon Stream Peak in the Seven Mysteries Sect, but he entered the sect on the very last day, and he only has a Third-grade Spiritual Root."

"However, I heard that he has quite the bearing. When cultivating, he drinks, reads, and practices swordsmanship without neglecting any of them. He is truly free-spirited and unrestrained."

At this point, the mockery on Yi Yunyan's face became even more obvious. "Seventh Sister, you're pouring so many resources into such a mediocre man. Could it be that your heart is fluttering with spring, and you've developed private feelings for him...?"

The moment she said this, the looks the other men and women in the room gave Yi Yunya became somewhat strange.

Even the noblewoman seated above raised an eyebrow.

This scene made Yi Yunyan smile inwardly.

I've won for certain. What can a pretty boy with a mediocre Spiritual Root use to compete with Young Master Ye Cheng?

Yi Yunya naturally sensed the strange looks from the crowd, and she understood the purpose behind her fourth sister's words.

An ordinary inner sect disciple with "mediocre" talent, or the grandson of the Third Elder of the Golden Armor Sect, a sect equal to the Seven Mysteries Sect—which was more important, and whom they should befriend first, was practically beyond question.

Yi Yunya also knew clearly why Yi Yunyan was opposing her.

Benefits.

The Golden Jade Tower was vast, yet it was also small. There were only so many positions among the middle and upper ranks.

Now that a steward position had opened up, everyone in the Yi Family was qualified to compete for it.

Under such circumstances, Yi Yunya and the others would naturally use every possible method to strike at one another.

Fortunately, faced with Yi Yunyan's attack, Yi Yunya remained calm because she had confidence—she had never considered Zhong Ming ordinary.

"Fourth Sister places such importance on Spiritual Roots. Your vision is so short-sighted that your younger sister does not even know what to say."

"Do you not know that cultivation has never depended only on Spiritual Roots? Temperament, comprehension, will... there are too many things that can affect a cultivator's future."

"Senior Brother Zhong Ming's Spiritual Root talent is indeed not particularly good, but with a Third-grade Spiritual Root and the status of a Commoner Disciple, he surpassed a great many disciples from cultivation families and those with Second-Class Spiritual Roots to become a Class A disciple of Dragon Stream Peak. Does that not prove that Senior Brother Zhong Ming possesses outstanding talent in comprehension?"

"To the strong, comprehension is far more important than Spiritual Roots..."

Yi Yunya's forceful rebuttal made Yi Yunyan's hand tighten around her fan. But she soon smiled. "Seventh Sister, you are the short-sighted one. Every prodigy is strong in every aspect. I admit that Zhong Ming has some talent if he was rated Class A, but his Spiritual Root is poor, he has no backing, and he lacks resources. Someone like him can only rely on you."

"I find it hard to believe that you alone can raise him into a true expert..."

For the Illustration of the Flood Dragon, and even more so for the steward position, Yi Yunya and Yi Yunyan competed inch by inch without yielding.

And the outcome of their argument was highly unfavorable to Yi Yunya.

Though she did her utmost to explain that Zhong Ming was quite talented, his Third-grade Spiritual Root and commoner background were both flaws.

Investing in him was not as safe as investing in Ye Cheng.

Especially when Yi Yunyan smilingly revealed something else. "I'm not the only one who doesn't think highly of Zhong Ming. Even the Senior Disciple Sister of your Dragon Stream Peak does not think much of him. Some time ago, she visited our Golden Jade Tower and even bought a top-grade magical artifact."

"And the person accompanying her then was a cool and aloof young girl, not the Brother Zhong Ming you admire and adore."

"Or do you think your judgment is better than your Senior Disciple Sister's?"

"..." Yi Yunya said, "The Xue Yao you mentioned also believes Senior Brother Zhong Ming is the strongest person on Dragon Stream Peak. It was because of her influence that I decided to invest fully in Zhong Ming."

"Hehe, Yun Ya, stop forcing an argument. Do you even believe that yourself...?"

Just as everyone was gradually leaning toward Yi Yunyan, Youlan, who had hurried there at full speed, arrived at the Golden Jade Tower.