Upon her arrival, Orchid bowed to the noblewoman at the head of the room before quickly making her way to Yi Yunya’s side.

Then, leaning close to her ear, she used her Magical Power to transmit a message to Yi Yunya.

This scene caused the ignored Yi Yunyan to let out a cold laugh.

"She didn’t even greet us. Seventh Sister, your servant is far too ill-mannered. You really need to teach her some discipline..."

Before hearing the news Orchid delivered, Yi Yunya would have definitely argued with Yi Yunyan over this accusation, just to show that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

But right now, she couldn’t be bothered with any of that.

Recalling the words Orchid had passed on, Yi Yunya couldn’t hide the shock on her face.

She couldn’t be blamed for her reaction. The news Orchid brought was simply too astonishing.

’So that’s why Xue Yao considers Senior Brother Zhong Ming the strongest—he’s comprehended Dao Rhyme... But how is that possible? He hasn’t even been in Cultivation for a month. How could he have already comprehended Dao Rhyme?’

The news hit Yi Yunya with such force that even though she knew Orchid would never deceive her, she couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure what you’re saying is true?"

"Miss, I wouldn’t dare lie to you. I saw it with my own eyes."

After speaking, she leaned even closer to Yi Yunya’s ear and sent another voice transmission. "Just now, Xie Yuzhu of the Xie Family engaged Young Master Zhong Ming in a duel under the pretense of an assessment."

"Miss Xie is at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation and possesses a seven-in-one high-grade Magical Treasure. She’s a prodigy among those at her level."

"But even someone like her was defeated when facing Young Master Zhong Ming, who had activated his Dao Rhyme. And it was a one-hit kill."

At this point, Orchid added in a tone of awe, "Young Master Zhong Ming’s Vortex Dragon technique already has the power of the late stage of Qi Cultivation."

CRACK...

After receiving confirmation, Yi Yunya clenched her fists tightly, trying to conceal her excitement.

Unfortunately, she failed completely.

The intense excitement and joy were simply impossible for her to suppress, and it showed all over her face.

’I’ve found a true hidden dragon.’

Her unconcealable expression put all the Yi Family disciples in the room on high alert.

"What happened?"

"Did she find another super genius?"

"No, there’s only one deacon position. Whatever the reason, Yi Yunya being this happy means she’s made a huge gain. We have to stop her..."

While everyone else had their own thoughts, an excited and thrilled Yi Yunya was lost in daydreams about Zhong Ming’s future.

’He comprehended Dao Rhyme in less than a month. Senior Brother Zhong Ming is destined to become a True Disciple. He could even become the Peak Master of Longxi Peak.’

’At least, in our generation, no one can compete with him... Even Xue Yao, who seemed to be the strongest, already defers to him.’

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

However, along with her elation, a profound sense of crisis also arose in Yi Yunya’s heart.

’With such immense Talent, a Senior Brother like Zhong Ming is bound to attract the prying eyes of a whole flock of vixens.’

’I’m one of them... and that Xie Yuzhu might be another.’

With this in mind, Yi Yunya secretly asked Orchid about Xie Yuzhu’s situation.

"What was Xie Yuzhu’s attitude after losing to Senior Brother Zhong Ming?"

Because of Xie Yuzhu’s petite frame, Orchid didn’t consider the possibility of romantic entanglements. She assumed her miss was worried that Xie Yuzhu would hold a grudge, so Orchid put in a good word for her. "Miss Xie has a rather good temperament. She wasn’t angry about losing to Young Master Zhong Ming. On the contrary, she’s full of admiration for him and, out of reverence, wants to learn Swordsmanship from Senior Brother Zhong Ming."

Her words caused Yi Yunya’s gaze to turn completely cold. ’Wants to learn Swordsmanship from Senior Brother Zhong Ming? Is she planning on getting the first-mover’s advantage? Just as I thought, a vixen.’

’No, I was the one who discovered Zhong Ming’s Talent first. I have to find a way to tie Senior Brother Zhong Ming to my side.’

Sensing the crisis, she stood in place and pondered for a long while.

She was actually very clever, and soon, Yi Yunya had an idea. She raised her head to look at the noblewoman seated above—her little aunt, Yi Qing.

Her movement, signaling the end of her contemplation, made everyone turn to look at her.

Even the noblewoman, Yi Qing, who had been watching everything with great interest, now sat up straight. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

She was very curious about what Yi Yunya had discovered that would make her so happy she’d disregard her etiquette, brazenly converse with a subordinate via voice transmission in her presence, and then fall into deep thought.

After all, behaving like that in front of an elder was highly impolite.

...

’I can’t let Yi Yunya get the upper hand.’

The one thinking this was, of course, Yi Yunyan. Unwilling to let Yi Yunya steal the show, she spoke up quickly before the latter had a chance. "Seventh Sister, I think we should first decide who gets the Evil Flood Dragon Walking Water Map."

"We’ve been arguing about this for too long. It’s time to settle it."

"Ahem, I support Young Master Ye Cheng. Investing in him is a sure bet..."

Because Yi Yunya looked like she had made a huge gain, the other Yi Family disciples spoke up one after another in support of Yi Yunyan.

This brought a look of confident victory to Yi Yunyan’s face.

But she soon discovered that her seventh sister wasn’t paying her any attention at all.

After learning of Zhong Ming’s Talent, Yi Yunya was indeed in no mood to play games with Yi Yunyan.

Looking directly at Yi Qing, she said calmly, "Little Aunt, I want to shatter the jade."

"..."

"Hmm?"

"Shatter the jade!"

Yi Yunya’s words silenced the room for a moment, followed by several gasps of shock.

Even Yi Qing’s pupils contracted sharply.

But she quickly regained her composure and said calmly, "Are you sure you want to do this... I suggest you think it over carefully before you answer."

The fact that Yi Qing, who had been content to sit back and watch the younger generation squabble, would say such a thing was enough to prove the gravity of shattering the jade.

And it truly was no small matter.

The Yi Family was a merchant clan. In a past life’s Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a great merchant had shown the world that investing in goods was not the most profitable venture—investing in ’people’ was.

By investing in an Abnormal Person, Lv Buwei attained the position of Prime Minister, second to only one man and ruling over ten thousand.

The merchants of that past world understood this principle, and the people of this world naturally understood it as well.

In fact, because a Cultivator’s great power belongs to them alone, the Yi Family placed even greater importance on investing in geniuses.

Yi Yunyan trying to win over Ye Cheng and Yi Yunya befriending Zhong Ming were perfect examples of this.

In the process of investing in others, many Yi Family disciples felt that the people they had their eye on were highly talented with promising futures, but because of their own low status and insufficient resources, they couldn’t establish deeper connections with them.

At times like these, as members of the Yi Family, they could use the "shattering of the jade" to draw a vast amount of resources from the family.

But everything comes at a price.

"Shattering the jade" was not a pleasant term. It represented burning one’s bridges. If the investment succeeded, it was naturally a cause for celebration for all involved.

The Yi Family disciple who shattered the jade would gain a die-hard supporter, the Yi Family would gain a powerful and reliable ally, and the person being invested in would receive a massive amount of resources.

But if it failed, the one who shattered the jade would face a miserable fate.

It meant they would be completely out of the running within the family, reduced to a fringe figure.

Therefore, the act of shattering the jade was not often seen in the Yi Family.

This was also why Yi Qing had asked with such caution.

She was, after all, Yi Yunya’s little aunt, and didn’t want to see her take such a risky gamble.

She had hoped Yi Yunya would reconsider, but after learning of Zhong Ming’s Talent, Yi Yunya couldn’t imagine how she could possibly lose.

Thus, her reply was firm and decisive.

"I’m certain this is what I want to do."

"..."

Hearing no trace of compromise or hesitation in Yi Yunya’s voice, Yi Qing shook her head and didn’t press her further.

"Since you’ve made your decision, you alone will bear any future consequences... So tell me, what are you asking for?"

"An Earth-level Top-grade Treasure."