...

Zhong Ming didn’t spend much time in the room with the True Intent Map, re-emerging after only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Yet in that short period, Zhong Ming’s power had undergone a massive increase.

As a result, Zhong Ming was brimming with joy when he emerged, his aura more condensed than ever before.

While he was happy, Yi Yunya, who was waiting outside the door, also had a look of unconcealable joy on her face.

Having waited outside the entire time, she was naturally the first to feel that terrifying and tyrannical Long Wei.

It made her eyes fly wide open in an instant.

’So strong! No wonder Senior Brother said we don’t need to work with Cuixiang Mountain. With might like this, he can support Longxi Peak all on his own.’

Beyond the relief she felt at Zhong Ming’s strength, another thing that filled Yi Yunya with glee was the reaction of her rivals: Yi Yunyan, Yi Yunhai, and Yi Shan.

Watching them struggle under the Long Wei, their expressions shifting constantly, an indescribable sense of satisfaction washed over Yi Yunya.

Then, in the next moment, something happened that delighted her even more.

Amidst the tyrannical Long Wei, some were still in a daze, unable to believe that Zhong Ming could cause such a massive stir.

Others, however, after a shift in expression, gritted their teeth, walked over to Yi Yunya, and bowed their heads.

Yi Yunhai: "Cousin, I’ve always thought you were the most outstanding member of our generation in the Yi Family. It seems I was right all along."

Yi Yunhai, the first to speak, filled his words with reverence and flattery.

’Despicable.’ Yi Shan cursed inwardly at the sight. But in the next moment, he also stepped forward and echoed Yi Yunhai’s sentiment.

"Brother Yunhai is right. Of our generation in the Yi Family, you are without a doubt the most outstanding, Cousin..."

Yi Yunhai and Yi Shan were not stupid.

If Zhong Ming were only slightly stronger than them, the two would absolutely be thinking of ways to compete.

But this scene—the swirling storm, the very sky changing color—left them with no hope of victory.

What frightened them even more was that it hadn’t taken Zhong Ming long to reach this level.

They knew exactly what that implied. And so, seeing no hope of victory, they switched sides at the first opportunity.

After pledging their allegiance, they discovered they didn’t feel wronged or that their own interests would suffer. In fact, quite the opposite: the future suddenly looked promising.

’With Zhong Ming’s help, why would Yi Yunya—I mean, Cousin—even bother with a supervisor position? She’ll be competing at the Jade Level. From there, she’ll be aiming for Steward, Vice Tower Lord, or even Tower Lord.’

’As her power and position in the tower grow, we clan members who sided with her first will surely benefit.’

’Cousin is no longer our competitor, but our benefactor!’

’With her support, maybe I can become a Steward in the future, or even... a Vice Tower Lord.’

With this in mind, Yi Yunhai and Yi Shan no longer had any psychological reservations about siding with Yi Yunya. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Yi Shan wasn’t the only one who thought of this.

Soon, the other members of the Yi Family began to realize the same thing. In a very short time, the once-isolated Yi Yunya found herself surrounded by a large crowd of supporters.

In a person’s life, the most fulfilling thing is to return home in glory.

Right now, as the center of attention with everyone fawning over her, Yi Yunya had perfectly achieved this. Under these circumstances, she was naturally filled with satisfaction.

Not to mention, for Yi Yunya, being surrounded by the crowd didn’t just satisfy her vanity.

’After this, my standing in the Yi Family is bound to rise. The family will give me priority for resources. There’s real hope for my cultivation path now!’

Just as she was imagining the future, her emotions surging to their peak, Zhong Ming came out of the True Intent Area.

Zhong Ming paused for a moment, surprised to see Yi Yunya at the center of the crowd, looking regal, elegant, and utterly stunning.

’This air about her... it brings back my first impression of Yun Ya: noble, elegant, and... untouchable.’

Just as Zhong Ming was savoring the memory, Yi Yunya also saw him.

At the sight of him, she instantly broke away from the crowd and rushed to his side.

Her regal and noble bearing instantly melted away, replaced by a demure and clinging affection.

"Senior Brother Zhong Ming, you’re finished comprehending."

Yi Yunya knew better than anyone who had given her her current glory and status.

Therefore, when facing others, she would be proud and aloof.

But in front of Zhong Ming, she was always gentle and submissive.

Then, as she stood there submissively, she heard a voice transmission from Zhong Ming. ’You can actually go back to how you were just now.’

"Huh?"

Zhong Ming’s words left Yi Yunya momentarily stunned.

But soon, she had no time to worry about such things.

When Zhong Ming came out of the True Intent Area, not only did the Yi Family members crowd around, but Dong Jinhai and Qin Rou also came over.

And somehow, in that short amount of time, they had managed to find more than a dozen graceful, beautiful young women.

Yi Qing was completely unable to hold them back as they all swarmed forward.

As for Yi Yunhai and Yi Shan... it wasn’t their place to interfere.

They knew who the most important person in the crowd was, and they couldn’t be sure if Zhong Ming might take an interest in those young women.

Given the propriety between men and women, they were afraid of causing a misunderstanding, so they were reluctant to step in.

Helpless, Yi Shan could only pull Yi Yunyan aside and ask her to help.

"Stop thinking about competing with Yun Ya. We’ve already lost... no, you can’t call it losing. Yun Ya is on a completely different level from us now."

"Right now, she’s fighting for the interests of the entire Yi Family. If our family can produce a Tower Lord, your future cultivation resources will be countless times more abundant. Go help her!"

"...I understand."

The appeal to the family’s greater good greatly lessened Yi Yunyan’s resistance.

"I’m only helping Yun Ya for the sake of the Yi Family."

Although she said this, she herself didn’t realize that she was now showing a bit more reverence towards Yi Yunya.

But even with her former rival now acting deferentially towards her, Yi Yunya was in no mood to savor the joy of her victory.

She was gravely concerned by the presence of the Dong and Qin family heiresses, and by the terms being laid out by Qin Rou and Dong Jinhai.

Fortunately, Zhong Ming was a man who valued loyalty.

To repay Yi Yunya for betting everything on him, he didn’t negotiate with the crowd of people who had swarmed him. Instead, he left everything to her.

This display of loyalty and commitment to his word made Qin Rou’s and Dong Jinhai’s hands clench, but it also fueled their enthusiasm.

’To be able to stay true to himself in the face of such great temptation... He truly has the integrity of a Sword Cultivator.’

Recalling the rumors that Sword Cultivators valued honor above life and death and always kept their word, they redoubled their efforts to win him over.

In the end, it took a great deal of effort for Zhong Ming to finally extricate himself from the Golden Jade Tower.

After leaving the Golden Jade Tower, he looked up at the gloomy clouds that had yet to disperse, and a faint smile touched the corners of his lips.

’All my preparations for the Seven Peaks Grand Competition at the end of the month are complete... I’m actually starting to look forward to it.’