In Yizhou, inside a small tavern outside Mingyue City, a tall middle-aged man was drinking.
His expression was tense, his mind clearly elsewhere, as if drinking was just a pretense and his real purpose was something else entirely.
Before long, a light, nimble set of footsteps sounded behind him, followed by a soft, cute voice that still carried a hint of blunt honesty.
“No need to wait any longer. I’ve already taken care of all your companions. You’re the last one.”
The man was startled, turning to look back.
He saw the little girl with a fluffy golden head standing right in front of him.
He recognized her at once.
Among the Disciples of Caiyunjian, the most useful tool—Huang Doudou.
Even though she was the weakest in cultivation among the seven disciples, her strength was close to that of a Wang. Ordinary people were no match for her.
Without hesitation, the man flipped the wine table in front of him toward Huang Doudou’s face and dashed to escape.
But the moment he turned, Huang Doudou appeared before him again.
“Don’t be afraid, it’ll only hurt for a moment. After that, I promise you’ll die peacefully, hehe.”
Huang Doudou smiled, then slapped the man’s face.
A sudden surge of electricity swept through his body, instantly knocking him unconscious.
Under the trembling gaze of the tavern owner, Huang Doudou hefted the man, who was more than three times her size, onto her shoulder, humming a little tune as she walked toward the deep mountain forests outside the city.
“Hmm…Ahu and Axiong each ate the same number. How should I split this last one…”
Including this man just now, Huang Doudou had captured a total of ten spies lurking around Mingyue City who were secretly monitoring Among the Colorful Clouds, all within just two days.
Each one was an absolute professional, the kind who would be almost impossible to detect.
The reason their identities were exposed so quickly was because Su Cheng had officially returned to Among the Colorful Clouds.
She spent only half a day using all the information Huang Doudou had gathered to uncover the ten hidden agents in the sea of people, compiling a detailed list that included names, appearances, heights, and weights.
With such a list in hand, catching them was almost too easy for Huang Doudou.
After dumping the final spy into the mountains, Huang Doudou hurried back to Among the Colorful Clouds to report.
She moved swiftly.
Today, Yu Yi had important matters to arrange.
If she was late, not only would the “special reward segment” Huang Doudou had long awaited vanish, but she might even face a “custom punishment.”
Back at Among the Colorful Clouds, Huang Doudou entered the council hall and found the others already seated.
“Master, I’m not late, am I?”
She asked, panting.
Even for her, running back to Among the Colorful Clouds from the deep forests a hundred miles outside Mingyue City took some effort.
“Of course not, Doudou. You did very well.”
Yu Yi smiled gently, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Huang Doudou’s forehead.
“Ehehe…Then, Master, can I ask what the reward is in advance?”
Huang Doudou asked happily.
“I plan to reward you by having you build a formation barrier for Among the Colorful Clouds.”
“Eh?”
Her smile froze.
She poked her fingers together, looking aggrieved.
“Master…Among the Colorful Clouds is so big, setting up a formation is exhausting. How is that a reward?”
“If you get tired, I’ll whip you from behind to keep you motivated.”
“Your disciple guarantees to complete the mission!”
Huang Doudou was instantly filled with determination, slapping her flat chest in assurance.
After the excitement passed, she asked in confusion,
“But Master, why did you suddenly decide to set up a formation for Among the Colorful Clouds?”
In her memory, Among the Colorful Clouds had never used any defensive formations or barriers.
After all, the name alone—Among the Colorful Clouds, lair of the Lady Demon Yu Yi Jue—was enough to deter anyone from trespassing.
There had been a few petty thieves who accidentally wandered in and picked some fruit, but upon hearing whose territory it was, they fled in terror and delivered at least ten baskets of fruit in apology the next day.
But now, Yu Yi was preparing to set up a formation for Among the Colorful Clouds.
That alone showed that the world’s situation had changed.
Yu Yi glanced at the three empty seats beside her and sighed softly.
“Among the Colorful Clouds…is no longer what it once was.”
The four disciples’ expressions turned subtle at her words.
Blue Ling’er and Huang Doudou seemed unaffected, but Su Cheng and Chi Ming looked faintly guilty.
“Besides that, Chi Ming and Su Cheng both have special identities and may draw increasing attention. For your safety, it’s now necessary to set up a defensive formation for Among the Colorful Clouds.”
Yu Yi continued.
Chi Ming’s identity needed no elaboration—she was the last remaining descendant of the Fire Phoenix, and many coveted her.
As for Su Cheng, the Heart of the Firm Rock Jade within her drew the eyes of certain powerful groups.
The Heart of the Firm Rock Jade was a big deal.
Its existence had transformed Su Cheng from an ordinary person into a cultivator wielding the power of the earth.
In the Martial World, those who could control any of the elemental forces of nature were destined for greatness.
With Su Cheng as a precedent—someone who, by relying on this “Houtian Linggen,” rose above the masses—rumors would only draw more people willing to risk their lives for the Heart of the Firm Rock Jade.
Although Yu Yi claimed the formation was for their protection, the deeper reason was that her own notoriety attracted too much hostility.
There was no guarantee that a group of self-righteous “heroes” wouldn’t come one day to challenge her.
Besides preparing the defensive formation, Yu Yi announced another matter.
“After the formation is complete, I will set out for Cangzhou. As for the reason, you all understand.”
The four disciples nodded in unison.
Be it the “Imperial Family of Great Yan” behind Jiang Hanshan or the Ouyang Clan from Cangzhou, both would pay the price.
Before she uncovered who in the “Imperial Family of Great Yan” was truly behind everything, Yu Yi’s first priority was to deal with the Ouyang Clan—the “Ming Wolf.”
“Those who invaded Among the Colorful Clouds in the past days, attempting to steal from the Treasure Pavilion while I was away—their factions will pay as well. This mission, I leave to the three of you.”
Yu Yi’s gaze fell on Blue Ling’er, Huang Doudou, and Chi Ming in turn.
Her reasoning was simple.
Blue Ling’er’s maturity made her suited to lead, while Chi Ming needed to start with easier tasks to gain experience.
And by fighting, Huang Doudou could break through in cultivation.
Thus, only Su Cheng would travel to Cangzhou with Yu Yi.
Yu Yi looked at Su Cheng, meeting her eyes.
Even without Yu Yi’s words, Su Cheng understood.
Su Cheng’s elegant face turned slightly red.
She rose, lips curled in a soft smile, and bowed.
“Your disciple will obey and not disappoint Master’s expectations.”