’...An Earth Level Basic Technique will definitely boost my cultivation efficiency by another huge margin.’

Realizing he had a good chance of raising his cultivation to the middle stage of Qi Cultivation by the end of the month, Zhong Ming’s face was mostly smiles, even though his body was completely drained of strength.

As everyone crowded around, the inwardly pleased Zhong Ming struggled up from Yi Yunya’s arms and faced Shi Yun. "Senior Brother, I’m out of Magical Power. You win this time."

"No..." Shi Yun shook his head bitterly. Though his expression was grim, he was candid. "You’re the one who won. That attack of yours was too powerful; I couldn’t block it. Besides, judging by how it changed shape at the end, your attack can probably change direction on its own, right? Even if I had tried to dodge, I wouldn’t have been able to."

Shi Yun’s assessment was spot on. Zhong Ming’s attack, imbued with two types of Dao Rhyme, was indeed terrifying.

The attack’s raw power was almost a secondary concern. It also had tracking, power-amplification (by automatically drawing on the water essence of the world to increase its might), and armor-piercing properties, among others. It was a move that would be incredibly difficult for anyone in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation to block.

Of course, after unleashing it, Zhong Ming himself would be completely drained.

In a way, it was an ultimate move, akin to a mutual-destruction technique.

’Cultivating my Magical Power is truly urgent.’

Just as Zhong Ming was thinking of recovering some energy before resuming his cultivation, a voice suddenly rang out from the sky.

"A Dragon Flood Dragon and water flow... To comprehend two types of Dao Rhyme in less than a month, our Seven Profound Sect has truly produced a hidden dragon."

The sudden voice made everyone turn their heads in unison. They then saw four lavishly dressed cultivators from a family clan descend from the sky to land beside them.

Seeing Xie Yuzhu among the four, Zhong Ming immediately knew they were from the Xie Family.

What he found strange was:

’I remember the Xie Family was unwilling to let Xie Yuzhu learn swordsmanship from me just yesterday. Why the sudden change of heart today?’

Before he could finish his thought, something occurred to Zhong Ming. It made him glance at Yi Yunya beside him, and he sent her a voice transmission, "Yesterday, you took it upon yourself to deal with the Xie Family, didn’t you? So, them showing up now... this was your doing?"

"Mm."

A faint smile touched Yi Yunya’s lips at Zhong Ming having figured it out on his own.

’At least I don’t have to spell it out for him.’

As she thought this, Yi Yunya sent him another transmission. "Sir, your talent is supreme; there is no one in the entire Seven Profound Sect more gifted than you. And yet, you’re constrained by a lack of resources. I felt this was unfair, so I took matters into my own hands and brought the Xie Family to you, hoping they would also provide resources to support your cultivation."

"...And you’re not afraid that I’ll simply side with whoever offers me more?"

While conversing with Yi Yunya via voice transmission, Zhong Ming cupped his hands toward the leader of the Xie Family members. "Senior, you praise me too highly. This junior has only gained a shallow understanding; I’m truly unworthy of being called a hidden dragon."

"Haha, it is you who are too modest, Zhong. If your insights can be called shallow, then I fear no one in the entire Seven Profound Sect would dare claim to have any insight at all!"

Just as the two were speaking, Yi Yunya’s reply reached Zhong Ming’s mind as well.

"I’m not afraid. I believe in you, sir. Besides, I’ve long since bet everything I have on you. Whether you bring down thunderbolts or bestow sweet dew, it is all grace from my lord. Whatever decision you make, I will accept it."

"..."

Yi Yunya’s words carried immense weight. More importantly, she was telling the absolute truth. This made it impossible for Zhong Ming to abandon her; it would go against his very conscience.

Zhong Ming didn’t reply to Yi Yunya’s message.

However, in the ensuing conversation with the Xie Family, Zhong Ming gestured for Yi Yunya to step forward and take the lead. He himself would merely fill in any gaps and make the final decisions.

This sight caused Xie Yongjie’s expression to darken slightly.

’We were a step too late.’

He felt a pang of regret, but it was only a slight one.

—Although Xie Lingmin had reported the matter of Zhong Ming to the family, she naturally couldn’t have revealed everything.

In her version of events, Yi Yunya was already involved with Zhong Ming; Xie Lingmin had only discovered his talent later.

This version of the story meant that Xie Yongjie had no idea they had missed being the first to connect with Zhong Ming by just a single step.

Because he was unaware, he naturally didn’t feel too much regret.

At the same time, while Xie Yongjie felt a pang of regret about Zhong Ming letting Yi Yunya act as his most trusted confidante, he was also... satisfied.

An investment was never just about talent; character was also crucial.

If Zhong Ming were an ungrateful turncoat who would abandon his first ally, Yi Yunya, simply because they made a higher bid, they wouldn’t dare bet so heavily on him.

On the contrary, a Zhong Ming who valued loyalty and relationships was far more appealing to the Xie Family.

...

Since both sides intended to form an alliance, the atmosphere of their negotiations was very amicable.

In the end, they reached a cooperation agreement.

In exchange for a high-grade flying sword with the potential to be upgraded to the supreme level, an Earth-level Middle-grade Treasure, and a large amount of miscellaneous resources, the Xie Family requested that Zhong Ming teach swordsmanship to Xie Yuzhu and take Xie Yushuang as a follower.

"..."

After Xie Yongjie and Xie Lingmin left, Zhong Ming thought about the terms Yi Yunya had negotiated with the Xie Family, and a strange feeling washed over him.

"This is almost entirely beneficial to me. Your negotiation skills are incredible."

Hearing Zhong Ming’s praise, Yi Yunya said with a hint of playful reproach, "Senior Brother, you should know this has nothing to do with me. The Xie Family is eager to get on your good side; that’s why they offered such generous terms."

"If it were just me, they wouldn’t have offered a single Spirit Stone."