Shattered Jade, Yi Yunya Stakes Everything

Youlan arrived, bowed to the noblewoman seated above, then quickly went to Yi Yunya's side.

She leaned close and used her spiritual power to transmit some information to Yi Yunya.

This sight made the ignored Yi Yunyan sneer.

"You did not even greet us when you arrived. Seventh Sister, your servant has no sense of etiquette. You should discipline her properly..."

Before hearing Youlan's news, Yi Yunya would have definitely argued with Yi Yunyan over that accusation, making it clear that she was not someone to be trifled with.

But now, she had no time to care about such things.

As she recalled the words Youlan had transmitted, the shock on Yi Yunya's face could not be concealed at all.

It was no wonder she reacted this way. The news Youlan had brought was simply too astonishing.

So this was why Xue Yao considered Senior Brother Zhong Ming the strongest—he had comprehended Dao Rhyme... But how was that possible? Senior Brother had cultivated for less than a month. How had he already comprehended Dao Rhyme?

The news hit Yi Yunya too hard. Though she knew Youlan would not lie to her, she could not help asking, "Are you certain what you said is true?" "Miss, I would never dare deceive you. I saw it with my own eyes."

As she spoke, she leaned close to Yi Yunya's ear again and transmitted, "Just now, Xie Yuzhu of the Xie Family fought Young Master Zhong Ming in the name of an assessment. Miss Xie is at Mid Qi Condensation and possesses a high-grade magic artifact formed from seven combined pieces. She is a prodigy among Mid Qi Condensation cultivators. Yet even she was defeated when facing Young Master Zhong Ming after he activated Dao Rhyme—defeated in a single move."

Even Youlan sounded awed as she continued, "Young Master Zhong Ming's Vortex Dragon already possessed the power of Late Qi Condensation."

Crack...

Having received confirmation, Yi Yunya clenched her fists tightly, trying to hide the excitement in her heart.

But she could not do it.

The overwhelming thrill and delight made it impossible for her to suppress the expression on her face.

I found a true hidden dragon.

Her undisguised expression put all the Yi Family descendants in the room... on guard.

"What happened?"

"Did she find another super genius?"

"No. There is only one steward position. No matter the reason, Yi Yunya being this happy means she has gained something substantial. We have to stop her..."

Everyone had different thoughts, while Yi Yunya—excited and exhilarated—began imagining Zhong Ming's future.

He comprehended Dao Rhyme within a month. Senior Brother Zhong Ming will certainly become a True Disciple, and he can even take the position of Dragon Stream Peak's peak master.

At the very least, no one from our generation can compete with him... Even Xue Yao, who appears the strongest, has long since taken him as her leader.

At this moment, Yi Yunya no longer had any doubts about Zhong Ming's future prospects.

Yet amid her joy, an extreme sense of crisis arose in Yi Yunya's heart.

"With such overwhelming talent, Senior Brother Zhong Ming will surely attract the attention of countless vixens."

"I almost... That Xie Yuzhu might be one of them."

Thinking this, Yi Yunya secretly asked Youlan about Xie Yuzhu.

"After losing to Senior Brother Zhong Ming, what was Xie Yuzhu's attitude?"

Because of Xie Yuzhu's petite stature, Youlan had not considered matters between men and women at all. She took her mistress's question as concern that Xie Yuzhu might bear a grudge, so she spoke up for her. "Miss Xie has quite a good temperament. She was not angered by losing to Young Master Zhong Ming. Instead, she greatly admired him, and because of that admiration, she wanted to follow Senior Brother Zhong Ming and learn swordsmanship from him."

Her words made Yi Yunya's gaze turn completely cold. "She wants to follow Senior Brother Zhong Ming and learn swordsmanship? Is she plotting to get the moon first from a terrace near the water? She truly is a vixen."

"No. I was the one who discovered Zhong Ming's talent first. I have to think of a way to tie Senior Brother Zhong Ming to my side."

Sensing the danger, she stood there and pondered for quite a while.

Yi Yunya was actually very clever. Before long, she had an idea and looked up at the noblewoman above—her paternal aunt, Yi Qing.

The moment she ended her contemplation, everyone turned to look at her.

Even Yi Qing, who had been watching everything with great interest, now sat upright.

She was very curious about what Yi Yunya had discovered that had made her so happy she forgot her manners, freely transmitting messages to her subordinate and falling into deep thought before her.

After all, behaving this way in front of an elder was extremely rude.

I cannot let Yi Yunya seize the initiative.

Naturally, Yi Yunyan thought the same. Unwilling to let Yi Yunya shine alone, she swiftly spoke before the latter could open her mouth. "Seventh Sister, I think we should first decide who gets the Illustration of the Flood Dragon." "This matter has been argued over for far too long. It really should be settled." "Ahem, I support Young Master Ye Cheng. Investing in him can never be a loss..."

Yi Yunya's appearance of having gained much made the other Yi Family descendants speak up in support of Yi Yunyan.

This gave Yi Yunyan an expression of certain victory.

But soon, she realized that her seventh sister was ignoring her entirely.

After learning of Zhong Ming's talent, Yi Yunya truly had no interest in playing around with Yi Yunyan anymore.

Looking directly at Yi Qing, she calmly said, "Aunt, I want Shattered Jade." "..." "Hm?"

"Shattered Jade!"

Yi Yunya's words silenced the room for a moment. Then several cries of alarm rang out.

Even Yi Qing's pupils suddenly contracted.

But she quickly regained her composure and said quietly, "Are you sure you want to do this... I advise you to think it through before answering."

For Yi Qing, who had always sat by and watched the younger generation quarrel, to say this was enough to show how serious Shattered Jade was.

This truly was no small matter.

The Yi Family was a merchant Lineage. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period of her previous life, a great merchant had demonstrated to the world that investing in goods was not the most profitable thing—investing in people was.

By investing in Lü Buwei, he had obtained the position of chancellor, beneath one person and above ten thousand.

Merchants in the previous world understood this principle. Naturally, the people of this world understood it as well.

In fact, because cultivators wielded personal power, the Yi Family placed even greater importance on investing in geniuses.

Yi Yunyan's efforts to win over Ye Cheng and Yi Yunya's friendship with Zhong Ming were clear examples of this.

Yet when investing in others, many Yi Family descendants believed that the people they favored possessed great talent and promising futures, but lacked the status and resources to form deeper ties with them.

At such times, as members of the Yi Family, they could use Shattered Jade to draw a vast amount of resources from the Lineage.

But everything had its price.

Shattered Jade was not a good term. It represented smashing the cauldrons and sinking the boats. If the investment succeeded, then everyone would rejoice.

The Yi Family descendant who used Shattered Jade would gain an ironclad supporter, the Yi Family would gain a powerful and trustworthy ally, and the person being invested in would receive abundant resources.

But if it failed, the person who shattered jade would be finished.

It would nearly mean being completely cast out of the Lineage and reduced to a peripheral figure.

Thus, such acts of Shattered Jade were rare within the Yi Family.

That was why Yi Qing questioned her so seriously.

After all, she was Yi Yunya's aunt and did not want Yi Yunya to take such a dangerous gamble.

However, Yi Qing wanted Yi Yunya to think it over once more, but after learning of Zhong Ming's talent, Yi Yunya did not know how she could possibly lose.

Thus, her answer was utterly decisive.

"I am certain I want to do this."

"..."

Yi Qing heard not the slightest compromise or hesitation in Yi Yunya's words. She shook her head and stopped trying to persuade her.

"Since you have made your decision, you alone will bear any consequences in the future... Speak. What do you want?"

"A Top-grade Earth-grade Treasure."