After Yu Yi finished speaking, the entire place fell silent.
Fang Xiaoyu looked utterly confused, while Blue Ling’er was completely shocked.
The wind blew through Yu Yi’s robes and dark hair, radiating an aura of supreme majesty. Neither of them dared to step forward and speak for Chi Ming at this moment.
No one dared to disobey Yu Yi’s orders.
Chi Ming lowered her head in silence, not uttering a word.
She trembled as she reached out, grasped the long blade before her, and slowly drew it from its sheath, pressing it against her own neck.
The sharp blade cut into her delicate skin, beads of blood seeping out.
Yet, the blade went no further.
Chi Ming lacked the “courage” to press it down any more.
“Why? Are you afraid to die?”
Yu Yi’s beautiful eyes were indifferent as she asked Chi Ming in a calm voice.
“No… This disciple is not afraid to die.”
Tears streamed down Chi Ming’s face as she bit her lip, her voice trembling.
“This disciple just feels… I cannot die yet!”
Yu Yi fell silent, but her expression changed slightly.
“This disciple defied Master, and made Master bear the crime of Zixu Wuyou. If I were to die like this, even in the Nine Springs my heart would not be at peace. Therefore, I wish to live on, to spend my life making amends and repaying Master!”
Chi Ming looked into Yu Yi’s eyes, clear and bright. In this moment, she had no distractions in her heart, as if she had returned to her purest, most innocent self.
“Heh, wanting is a beautiful thing.”
Yu Yi let out a light laugh.
Hearing this, Chi Ming’s expression darkened, and she murmured in her heart:
“That’s right… I committed such a grave mistake, yet I still wish to cling to life. How foolishly unrealistic of me…”
But to Chi Ming’s surprise, Yu Yi suddenly shifted her tone.
“However, as your master, I am willing to give you a chance to ‘want beautifully’.”
“…What?”
Chi Ming raised her head in disbelief, looking at Yu Yi as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
“Sometimes, death is merely an escape from reality. Earlier, I told you to end your own life on purpose, to give you a chance to run away. It was a test. Since you did not choose to escape, but decided to atone for your mistakes instead, are you prepared to return to Among the Colorful Clouds?”
Yu Yi’s expression grew serious as she questioned Chi Ming:
“Returning to Among the Colorful Clouds means once again bearing countless accusations. The Path of Righteousness you seek will also cease to exist.”
“In this world, there is no such thing as an absolute ‘Path of Righteousness’—there is only the ‘Right Path’.”
Chi Ming shook her head, full of emotion.
“In this period, this disciple has gained much, witnessing all kinds of things, and finally came to understand one thing.”
“There is no absolute Orthodox Faction in this world, and the Demonic Path is not entirely The Evil Sect either. As long as one acts rightly and justly, what does it matter if the world mistakes you for The Evil Sect?”
“My heart is clear as a mirror; I have no regrets in what I do. I believe that one day, the world will truly understand Among the Colorful Clouds.”
After listening to Chi Ming’s insight, Yu Yi felt deeply gratified.
This child… has grown up.
Among the Colorful Clouds stood in the world, always upholding the principle: if others do not offend me, I will not offend them.
In Yu Yi’s eyes, this stance was never a problem, and it was the principle she wished to instill in her disciples.
But the reason she later came to be known as the Lady Demon Yu Yi Jue was because the original master herself had ‘issues.’
Though gentle most days, she indeed possessed the qualities of a “demon.”
When facing enemies, or when it came to fighting for essential cultivation resources for her disciples, she would become cold, ruthless, and decisive.
Yet even so, the countless cultivation treasures she collected over decades were all won fairly and squarely. She would remove all obstacles at any cost, but never used any underhanded tricks.
Whenever a rare treasure appeared and attracted the masses, if others saw Yu Yi present and admitted defeat, leaving honestly, Yu Yi would not make things difficult for them.
But if someone held a grudge and tried to harm Yu Yi in secret for the sake of a treasure, their fate would be miserable.
As Chi Ming’s state of mind grew, she suddenly sensed the long blade in her hand stirring with a gentle awakening force.
Looking down, she saw the blade beginning to emit a faint red glow.
“This is…”
Chi Ming stared at Yu Yi in surprise and curiosity.
After regaining many memories related to Chi Ming, Yu Yi naturally knew the origin of this long blade.
She spoke lightly.
“It seems this blade is finally willing to recognize you as its master.”
“Re-recognize its master!?”
Chi Ming was shocked.
“Master, this blade… wasn’t it just an ordinary Earth-Grade Weapon?”
Fang Xiaoyu, standing nearby, heard this and felt a bit conflicted.
In any faction, an Earth-Grade Weapon would be a prestigious treasure.
Yet, to Chi Ming, it was just ‘ordinary.’
But then again, with her master being Yu Yi Jue, what could one expect?
“This blade was indeed nothing more than an Earth-Grade Weapon before it acknowledged a master. But once it chooses its master, it will shine with its true power.”
Yu Yi gazed at the long blade in Chi Ming’s hand, its glow growing ever brighter.
She spoke calmly.
“This blade is a Heavenly-Grade Weapon—‘Ting Xin’.”
“It heard the voice in your heart and chose you as its master. It can absorb the negative emotions within you and transform them into power.”
“It can turn the negative emotions in my heart into strength? That means…”
Chi Ming suddenly realized something, her gaze on Ting Xin blazing with fervor.
“That’s right. Ting Xin can absorb the anger brought by the Fire Phoenix Bloodline and turn it into power.”
Yu Yi nodded.
“So you no longer need to fear losing control. From now on, you can freely unleash the Phoenix Avatar and display your proud Fire Phoenix Bloodline before your enemies.”
The power of ‘Ting Xin’ left Blue Ling’er and Fang Xiaoyu in awe.
Yu Yi herself finally understood why the original master had called Chi Ming a ‘monster.’
The original master had crafted ‘Ting Xin’ specifically for Chi Ming.
Once Ting Xin recognized her as its master, no matter how angry Chi Ming became, she would never lose her mind, while Ting Xin would only grow stronger.
Moreover, whenever Chi Ming was injured, her blood could transform into Phoenix Nectar to nourish the Phoenix Avatar, greatly enhancing its power.
With so many enhancements, it would indeed be strange if Chi Ming were not called a monster.
However, there was just one thing Yu Yi couldn’t help but complain about—
Why did this Chi Ming… feel like a “power bank” for the Phoenix Avatar and Ting Xin?
“Cough, cough.”
Yu Yi cleared her throat and brought the topic back.
“Although I’ve given you the chance to return to Among the Colorful Clouds to make amends, Chi Ming, you still must be punished.”
“Pu-punished? For what?”
Chi Ming tensed up again.
“Just now, I ordered you to end your own life, but you disobeyed. Shouldn’t you be punished?”
“But Master, didn’t you say you were only testing me…”
“Sigh, you silly girl. If it had been your Second Senior Sister, she would have realized it was a test and deliberately defied my order. But you failed to see that much, did you not?”
Yu Yi said mildly.
Off to the side, Blue Ling’er, who had been mentioned, blushed a little.
But it wasn’t out of pride—just embarrassment.
Even with Blue Ling’er’s wild imagination, she hadn’t realized that ordering Chi Ming to end her own life was Yu Yi’s way of testing her.
“Master is truly wise! But… Even though I’m happy to be praised for something I didn’t realize, I can’t be entirely happy… Sigh, I must continue to work hard in cultivation so as not to disappoint Master…”
Blue Ling’er thought to herself.
“This disciple is not as clever as Second Senior Sister, and is willing to accept Master’s punishment and guidance.”
Chi Ming bowed obediently.
“Good. That’s more like it.”
Yu Yi used the Earth System Technique to create a chair, then sat and addressed Chi Ming.
“Also, your clothes have all been burned off. Come here, lie across Master’s lap.”
“M-Master, what are you doing?”
Chi Ming sensed something was wrong.
Though her body was concealed by flames, she still felt shy and spoke in a small voice.
“Second Senior Sister and Xiaoyu are both watching…”
Yu Yi ignored her embarrassment, smiling as she patted her own thigh.
“Be good. Come here.”