Teacher Yuwen, having vented his frustrations, fixed his gaze intently on Xu Yi.
"Please, Teacher, speak."
Xu Yi had a rough idea of what Teacher Yuwen was about to say.
"The Alliance of Array Masters is holding a grand assembly for array masters, and they intend to announce some regulations for array masters at the event, demanding that all array masters join the Alliance and obtain an array master's token to be recognized as such. Bah! Does Qiu Yuanfeng truly consider himself important?
Xu Yi, your mission this time is to disrupt that assembly. I want to show those short-sighted fellows that array masters without tokens can still survive!"
Despite his extreme anger, Teacher Yuwen maintained an expression of serene composure, as if time stood still.
Normally, Xu Yi would be amused by his drastic change in demeanor, but today, she couldn't bring herself to laugh.
Though she cultivated at Kunlun Academy, she had never forgotten the vow she made: to eradicate the cancerous growth that was the Alliance of Array Masters.
Before she could even finish her apprenticeship, the Alliance was already making trouble again.
Teacher Yuwen, like her, had not joined the Alliance and possessed no token.
Before becoming a teacher at Kunlun Academy, he had faced considerable ostracization.
At the time, lacking sufficient power to resist the Alliance's oppression, he chose to enter Kunlun Academy, believing that out of sight meant out of mind.
But times had changed. Teacher Yuwen now possessed the confidence to challenge the Alliance, and more importantly, he had a disciple who could fully inherit his legacy.
This disciple not only inherited his path of arrays but also his ideology; they shared common principles.
"Xu Yi, can you do it?"
"I can."
A unique brilliance flickered in Xu Yi's eyes.
The opportunity to confront the Alliance of Array Masters firsthand was a task she embraced with delight.
"Very well, here are the things I've prepared for you. Keep them close. With these, you can escape safely even if you were to smash the headquarters of the Alliance of Array Masters."
Teacher Yuwen handed Xu Yi a storage bag, filled with the fruits of his years of labor.
"The Alliance of Array Masters has been arrogant for too long. It's time they learned that the array masters of the Nine Continents are not their pawns to be manipulated at will."
Teacher Yuwen let out a cold laugh, his presence as imposing and awe-inspiring as a mountain.
Qiu Yuanfeng certainly wouldn't have imagined that Yuwen Yuan, whom he once scorned, now possessed strength comparable to his own, and a backing far more formidable than the Great Artifact Sect.
Qiu Yuanfeng, your good days are numbered.
"Teacher Yuwen, I have a small question," Xu Yi said, holding the storage bag, a hint of shyness in her voice.
"Ask me anything you wish. If I can fulfill it, I will agree to it all."
Teacher Yuwen was in high spirits and readily agreed to Xu Yi's unspoken request.
"My departure is indefinite. These contribution points… hehe."
Xu Yi's interest lay not in the contribution points themselves, but in the Time Realm, which was unlocked by them.
The Time Realm could afford her more time, which she could not afford to lose.
However, once she left, she would be unable to earn contribution points, thus reducing her cultivation time in the Time Realm.
Therefore, she had to ask Teacher Yuwen for advice.
"You've accumulated quite a few contribution points from challenging the towers. I'll also assign you a separate mission. If you complete it successfully, you'll receive a hundred contribution points. While it's slightly less than your usual earnings, the difference won't be significant."
Teacher Yuwen pondered for a moment before proposing a solution.
"Okay."
Xu Yi was very satisfied with this resolution.
After leaving the Array Tower, she eagerly returned to Courtyard Forty-Four, intending to bid farewell to her companions.
To her surprise, as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Bei Xinghan emerging from his room.
Their eyes met, and neither spoke, creating a sudden awkward silence.
Finally, Xu Yi broke the quiet, "Are you heading out?"
"To the Sword Pavilion."
Xu Yi's eyes lit up. Going to the Sword Pavilion meant she could see Xue Qi.
"Ahem, may I ask you something?"
Bei Xinghan raised his eyebrows, a flicker of confusion in his gaze.
"It's just… hehe," Xu Yi rubbed her hands together and asked softly, "Do you know Xue Qi? The Xue Qi from First?"
Bei Xinghan nodded.
"What do you think of her?" Xu Yi quickly added, seeing Bei Xinghan's somewhat strange expression, "I greatly admire her and wish to befriend her, so I was hoping to get your opinion."
Bei Xinghan found Xu Yi's explanation somewhat contrived but didn't dwell on it, focusing instead on her question.
After a moment of thought, he slowly replied, "She is very strong. She is my lifelong rival."
Xu Yi: …
Are the thoughts of sword cultivators always so simple and direct?
However, for Bei Xinghan to say such a thing indicated that he had paid attention to Xue Qi.
This realization brought an involuntary, fond smile to Xu Yi's face.
Seeing Xu Yi smile, Bei Xinghan became immediately wary.
He still remembered how Xu Yi had smiled like that in his inner demon tribulation, and each time she smiled like that, she would trick him into calling her "sister."
Bei Xinghan was absolutely certain that Xu Yi was up to something again.
"I've accepted a mission and will be going out today. If you have the chance, could you keep an eye on Xue Qi's personality and preferences? If it's inconvenient, don't worry about it."
"You're going out again?" Bei Xinghan frowned.
The last time Xu Yi went out, she was with Yue Hantian and nearly lost her life. This time, who knew if it would be good fortune or disaster.
"Don't worry, I've asked my teacher for many life-saving items. Just remember what I asked you."
Xu Yi gave him a smile and then quickly returned to her room.
Bei Xinghan stood there for a moment, glancing back at Xu Yi's room before continuing on his way to the Sword Pavilion.
On the road, Bei Xinghan's mind kept replaying his recent conversation with Xu Yi.
What exactly was Xu Yi thinking?
Without finding an answer, Bei Xinghan felt a sense of unease.
"Junior Brother Bei."
Bei Xinghan looked up, somewhat surprised, "Senior Sister Xue."
Xue Qi stood outside the Sword Pavilion and said to Bei Xinghan, "Junior Brother Bei, I have a question for you."
Bei Xinghan's expression turned peculiar. Why was Xue Qi saying something similar to Xu Yi?
Xue Qi interpreted Bei Xinghan's silence as consent.
"Does Junior Brother Bei have someone he favors?"
Bei Xinghan:!
Xue Qi's expression was as usual, without a trace of shyness. "Junior Brother Bei, you are handsome, exceptionally talented, and very well-matched with me. If Junior Brother Bei feels the same, I will inform my teacher tomorrow and ask her to officiate our wedding."
Bei Xinghan:!!!
Had he gone mad from practicing his cultivation?
It must be.
It absolutely must be!
This inner demon was too terrifying.
It had fabricated such a bizarre illusion.
He closed his eyes and calmed his mind, trying to find a flaw in the illusion, when he heard the person opposite him say, "Junior Brother Bei is unwilling? Can you tell me why?"
Fake!
All of this is fake!
Bei Xinghan chanted inwardly, his Frost Sword at his waist trembling slightly.