At 1:45 AM, sunlight streamed into the courtyard, casting a soft glow through the half-open door into the side hall.
A refreshing autumn breeze carried the scent of incense from the main hall.
Zhou Zhiyi had a neat topknot, long and narrow eyes, white hair and beard, and wore a bright yellow Daoist robe. He sat upright on the long couch, and he really had the air of a highly accomplished Daoist master.
On this bright autumn morning, conversing with a highly accomplished Daoist master in an ancient side hall should have been a beautiful scene.
Until Zhou Zhiyi uttered the word "however," Zhou Wuji's good mood shattered like a broken mirror, breaking into many pieces.
He knew that no matter what followed the word "however," it meant he had made a wasted trip.
Zhou Wuji had considered this possibility before, but he still held onto a sliver of hope that Zhou Zhiyi, this Third Rank True Person, would have some moral integrity and know when to advance and retreat.
Unfortunately, Zhou Zhiyi lacked both the vision and the wisdom to achieve this.
In practice, playing tricks is the simplest and most effective way to achieve results, but it can also be extremely destructive.
Zhou Wuji thought of the prize redemption process in his previous life, where merchants would always state at the end that the final interpretation right belonged to the merchant.
Even the simplest contracts inevitably have various loopholes. If one truly doesn't want to fulfill a contract, countless reasons can be found.
Zhou Zhiyi, in a tone of voice, was originally waiting for Zhou Wuji to ask a question, but Zhou Wuji remained silent, which made the old Daoist slightly embarrassed.
Giving the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword to Zhou Wuji wouldn't be a loss.
However, Zhou Zhiyi didn't want to give it. He simply wanted to make Zhou Wuji unhappy.
The reputation of the Yuheng Lineage has become a stepping stone for Zhou Wuji, making this kid's name resound throughout the academy and bringing shame upon the entire Yuheng.
This kid is still reciting poetry on the Seven Star Platform, completely disregarding the Yuheng Lineage.
What an utter disgrace!
If it weren't for the rule against killing fellow disciples, they would have already joined forces to wipe out Zhou Wuji. Zhou Wuji still wants the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword? Dream on!
The old Daoist coughed and continued, "I will definitely give you the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword, but you'll have to wait a bit."
Zhou Wuji understood immediately: waiting for a day is waiting, and waiting for a lifetime is also waiting.
He sighed softly, "You've wasted this beautiful autumn day—"
After finishing his sentence, Zhou Wuji immediately turned and left.
Zhou Zhiyi was puzzled. He didn't understand why Zhou Wuji would suddenly say such a thing. It was completely incoherent and sounded like nonsense.
But he understood Zhou Wuji's meaning; the young Daoist was somewhat angry.
Watching Zhou Wuji leave decisively, Zhou Zhiyi, who was over ninety years old, felt a pang of regret. He then sneered, "Does Yuheng fear a mere Zhou Wuji?"
Zhou Wuji wasn't that angry; he just felt there was nothing to say to an old man who broke his promise.
Upon arriving at the central courtyard, Zhou Wuji saw Ye Wuque emerging from another side hall.
The autumn day was perfect, and Ye Wuque, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, looked even more radiant. Her tranquil and serene temperament added a touch of timelessness to the autumn day.
On this beautiful autumn day, with a lovely woman by his side, Zhou Wuji's mood improved considerably.
He nodded to Ye Wuque, Ye Wuque then bowed in return.
Zhou Wuji couldn't help but smile. There were shameless people like Zhou Zhiyi and beautiful women like Ye Wuque in the world. That was part of what made the world interesting. Ye Wuque watched Zhou Wuji leave. She saw the deep emotion beneath Zhou Wuji's calm smile. This genius was a little angry. He must have had a falling out with Zhou Zhiyi.
After a few days of interaction, Ye Wuque discovered that Zhou Zhiyi was indeed narrow-minded, cunning, and had done a decent job leading the Zhou Household.
As the head of the Yuheng Lineage, Zhou Zhiyi has failed in his duties.
The reason why sects can become powerful is that they can attract talents from all sides. If they only focus on bloodline inheritance, they will become Aristocratic Clan.
The Northern Pole Sect is, after all, a Daoist sect with a history of thousands of years. Zhou Zhiyi cannot treat everyone equally, so outsiders naturally become disloyal and alienated.
Without the cultivation of talent, and with morale low among the middle and lower ranks, Yuheng's influence naturally weakens.
Ye Wuque then thought of what Zhou Wuji had said yesterday. Regardless of his intentions, his words were genuinely kind.
After Zhou Wuji left, Ye Wuque went to the side hall to pay his respects to Zhou Zhiyi.
"Lord, I've lingered in this courtyard for too long. I must return to Yuyang today. There are still many matters in the Upper Court that require my attention."
Zhou Zhiyi was somewhat surprised. He pondered for a moment and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? After some time, I will meet with the sect leader and request a True Disciple Candidate."
He originally wanted Zhou Yichun to withdraw from the True Disciple Candidate and let Ye Wuque take his place.
After thinking about it again, he couldn't bear to part with it.
The key issue is that Zhou Wuji; none of the True Disciple Candidate are a match for him. Therefore, Zhou Yichun 'Zhou Wuji defeat is insignificant.
Moreover, Zhou Yichun didn't want to withdraw, and he couldn't force her.
Zhou Zhiyi originally wanted to delay for a while, after all, Ye Wuque was a rare genius, and he didn't seem to be much worse than Zhou Wuji.
For this reason, he even agreed to exchange Ye Wuque for the Third Rank Tianshu Sword Technique.
Of course, that was also Ye Wuque eliminated Third Rank evil spirit in the Upper Court, saving hundreds of people and making great contributions.
Only cultivators of this lineage are qualified to exchange for Third Rank Tianshu Sword. But if he doesn't agree, how can Ye Wuque exchange for it?
He felt he had already taken great care of Ye Wuque, and for this female cultivator to want to leave was rather reckless.
Ye Wuque had already made up her mind. She shook her head slightly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Palace Master. But I am busy with worldly affairs and cannot linger for too long."
"Although Uncle-Master Yichun has suffered a minor setback, he shows great determination and will surely achieve great things in the future."
These words softened Zhou Zhiyi's expression, and he also relaxed his tone, saying, "You're still young, there's no need to rush."
Ye Wuque in understanding. Zhou Zhiyi to persuade him to stay, but seeing that Ye Wuque determined to leave, he didn't try to persuade him any further.
Back in his room, Ye Wuque quickly packed his luggage and quietly left the Yuheng Hall.
Ye Wuque originally intended to go directly to Chuyang City, but after a change of heart, she went to Fallen Blossoms Studio Tianshu Peak instead.
Zhou Wuji was in the courtyard instructing Yang Tie Ying and Shangqi on their cultivation when he saw Ye Wuque arrive, and he was slightly surprised.
Looking at the Ye Wuque peach leaves and the ground covered with fallen leaves, Ye Wuque invited, " True Person, shall we go to the peach grove and see the fallen leaves?"
"Good." Zhou Wuji thought it was a great idea.
The autumn air is crisp and clear, the peach leaves are golden, and the sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves creates a rich and layered effect in the colors of autumn.
The two walked side by side through the fallen leaves. Ye Wuque, as did Zhou Wuji. He felt that Ye Wuque must have something to say, so there was no need for him to say anything either.
As you walk deeper into the peach grove, you can no longer see Fallen Blossoms Studio; all you can see are peach trees and golden, yellowish leaves.
Ye Wuque stopped and turned to Zhou Wuji: "Senior brother, I have a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it."
Zhou Wuji smiled, "Please speak freely."
"Was it the Northern Pole Sword that Senior Brother used that day?" Ye Wuque asked softly.
"Exactly."
Zhou Wuji had nothing to hide, "As a True Disciple Candidate, I exchanged two great merits for the Third Rank Northern Pole Sword from the sect leader."
"Just as I thought."
Ye Wuque pondered for a moment, "Senior Brother mastered the Northern Pole Sword after only a few months of practice; I am far inferior."
She then turned serious and said, "I used to be short-sighted and thought I had good talent, but today I realize that there are always people better than you."
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I will go back and practice my sword diligently. If I make progress, I will come back to ask you for more guidance."
Ye Wuque bowed deeply as he spoke.
Zhou Wuji stepped aside, saying, "It's just a friendly sparring session between fellow disciples. Junior sister, you flatter me."
"Senior brother, until we meet again."
Ye Wuque cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left with a nonchalant air.
Until we meet again.
As Zhou Wuji watched Ye Wuque figure disappear into the distance, he felt inexplicably empty.
He and Ye Wuque personal relationship; it was just that such a Swordsmanship genius could exchange ideas with him on Swordsmanship, making them kindred spirits in the way of the sword.
His departure left him feeling somewhat wistful.
The autumn wind blows, leaves flutter down, and even this beautiful autumn day becomes desolate.
Back at Fallen Blossoms Studio, Zhou Wuji was in no mood to instruct Yang Tie Ying and Shangqi. He gave them a few corresponding pills and told them to cultivate on their own.
He was lost in thought for a while, but he calmed down. He couldn't afford to be sentimental right now; he needed to get down to business first.
Zhou Zhiyi was resorting to trickery, and he really had no good way to deal with it. The other party was the head of a lineage and a relative of the sect leader. Whether it was fighting or comparing status and connections, he was inferior to the other party.
Complaining to the sect leader is not out of the question, but it would make Zhou Xuan'an look down on him.
Superiors like capable subordinates. A subordinate who likes to complain is essentially passing on trouble to their superiors, which is not a good thing.
He didn't know how the sect leader viewed Zhou Zhiyi. As the saying goes, "Don't let strangers interfere with close relatives."
It would be naive to expect the sect leader to enforce the law impartially if you don't understand anything.
Zhou Wuji had actually calculated this long ago, and what he was seeing now was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated.
That evening, Zhou Wuji told Yang Tie Ying and then summoned the Vanishing Shadow Yin Dragon Steed to gallop down the mountain.
As his cultivation level increased and his Divine Sense became stronger, he was able to ride the Vanishing Shadow Yin Dragon Steed at high speed for extended periods of time.
By the time dawn broke in the east, Zhou Wuji had already arrived at Jingyang Upper Court.
In a side hall of the Yuheng Hall, True Person Zhihua had just finished washing up and was lazily lying on the long couch, lost in thought, when she heard a knock on the door.
She frowned slightly, wondering who was so inconsiderate as to disturb her at this time.
But she immediately sensed something was wrong; the person outside the door possessed a deep and profound aura, indicating extremely refined cultivation.
"It's me, the True Person."
As Zhou Wuji spoke, he pushed open the door and entered. He saw True Person Zhihua wearing a blue Daoist robe, his hair casually tied into a bun, and he was just lying lazily on the long couch without using a hair bun.
Zhou Wuji hurriedly lowered his eyes and bowed. "Disciple greets the True Person."
True Person Zhihua chuckled, "You've come all this way back, what good news do you have for me now?"
These words were a sarcastic remark, implying that Zhou Wuji's visit to her was bound to be troublesome.
" True Person, the old Daoist Zhou Zhiyi has gone too far! Please, Master, do me True Person!" Zhou Wuji did not know the details of the feud True Person Zhihua and the Zhou Household, but he knew that True Person Zhihua must despise Zhou Zhiyi and the others.
The sect leader may not know whether he is reliable or not, True Person Zhihua is definitely reliable.
True Person Zhihua laughed and said, "You swept through Yuheng, Zhou Zhiyi was furious. It's more like you're bullying him."
" True Person, I'm here to avenge you! That junior Zhou Yichun dared to insult you, I absolutely cannot tolerate it!"
Zhou Wuji briefly recounted the events, concluding, " Zhou Zhiyi utterly shameless; I cannot swallow this insult."
" Zhou Zhiyi is still as selfish and narrow-minded as ever; he's laughable."
True Person Zhihua chuckled, "So, what are you up to now?"
"Please, True Person, pass on to me the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword."
Zhou Wuji said confidently, " Zhou Zhiyi is the head of the Yuheng Lineage. Since he agreed, the True Person is merely passing on the teachings on his behalf to save face for Yuheng!"
True Person Zhihua burst into laughter, pointing at Zhou Wuji and jokingly scolding, "Your brain isn't wasted!"