In her nineteen years of life, Ming Yi had never experienced romantic love. After all, she had been raised as a boy and couldn’t develop feelings for other males. As for girls… although she found them attractive, she had never truly fallen for one.
So, Xiu Yun’s expression made her curious.
Would someone disregard everything for their sweetheart?
The first man she had been with taught her that a so-called sweetheart was merely a companion for idle times and a partner for intimacy. When nothing significant happened, it was fine, but when troubles arose, they became disposable and replaceable—not particularly precious. She had never seen the look in Xiu Yun’s eyes in Ji Bozai’s gaze.
Stroking her chin in thought, Ming Yi concluded that perhaps she hadn’t found the right person. When they reached Flying Flower City, she would try to find someone else.
Lost in thought, she accidentally voiced this idea aloud.
Xiu Yun stared at her with wide eyes, then quickly glanced around, afraid others might have heard. “You… you belong to Ji Bozai. Even though you’ve separated, we women of the Qing Yun Realm value faithfulness. Even if abandoned, we can’t remarry, let alone what you’re suggesting…”
“I don’t know the customs of Qing Yun Realm women,” Ming Yi said frankly, seeing that Xiu Yun had heard. “So I don’t intend to follow them.”
After all, with such a short life, one should do what makes them happy.
Xiu Yun was shocked by her matter-of-fact attitude, unable to react for quite some time.
The Qing Yun Realm had many strict rules for women: they couldn’t learn combat skills, couldn’t possess Yuan Power, couldn’t engage in business, couldn’t hold official positions, couldn’t remarry, had to serve their in-laws, had to bear children… They had grown up under the oppression of these rules and had become accustomed to them.
But she never expected someone to so openly disregard the rules.
More alarmingly, she felt that Ming Yi’s approach was quite good.
This was too unorthodox, improper, improper.
Shaking her head, Xiu Yun tried hard to pull her thoughts back and stammered, “I’ll go prepare lunch.”
With that, she ran off faster than a rabbit.
Ming Yi watched her retreating figure with amusement, but as she laughed, she began to worry—would she have to eat lunch with Ji Bozai later?
She used to find him a feast for the eyes, but after so long, she had grown tired of looking at him. Coupled with their recent unpleasantness, she didn’t particularly want to see him.
However, what one fears often comes to pass. Before lunchtime, Qin Shangwu summoned her to the training ground.
“The Divine Artifact Hall segment of the Six Cities Competition has never been properly taught due to the lack of an Artificer,” Qin Shangwu looked at her kindly. “Today, since everyone is here, why don’t you fill in that empty spot and help them train?”
The vast training ground brought back many memories of past battles, which were rather unpleasant. Ming Yi wasn’t very willing and tried to think of a way to decline.
But then Qin Shangwu said, “Ten thousand bei coins for one training session. Someone will deliver them to the Forging Institute right after.”
…What memories? One must look forward in life.
Ming Yi rolled up her sleeves and took her position to the left and behind Ji Bozai. “Mentioning bei coins makes this too formal—have them send it back in the evening when Xiu Yun is free.”
Qin Shangwu’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he waved his hand.
A purple spirit realm descended upon the training ground, simulating the weather and wind of Pursuing Moon City within it.
The next Six Cities Competition would be held in Pursuing Moon City, known for its heavy fog that made it difficult to distinguish between people and animals beyond ten feet. Travelers often lost their way, so they used the moon to navigate.
This segment of the Divine Artifact Hall competition in such an environment tested not only the power of divine artifacts but also one’s sensitivity to the environment and ability to judge the enemy’s direction. In unexpected situations, it also tested one’s survival skills in the wild.
Qin Shangwu didn’t teach often, but when he did, he created the most challenging environment. As the fog rolled in, their vision was as if covered by white cloth. They could only hear the slightly heavy breathing of their teammates nearby.
“What kind of awful place is this?” Luo Jiaoyang stood to Ming Yi’s right, grumbling. “How can we fight when we can’t see anything…”
As soon as he finished speaking, a precise burst of Yuan Power carrying a poison needle shot towards his throat.
“Watch out!” Ming Yi reacted swiftly, pulling him away just in time. Then, out of habit, she frowned and scolded him in a low voice, “Who told you to speak? In this place, we rely on sound to determine position. Whoever speaks becomes a living target.”
Luo Jiaoyang was stunned for a moment, instinctively wanting to apologize, but then he looked at Ming Yi in shock.
How did she know all this?
Ming Yi came to her senses, realizing her slip. She quickly poked Ji Bozai’s back with Star River Sunset, signaling him to move first.
Ji Bozai said nothing, but reached out and grasped her wrist.
The warmth of his palm startled her, and she was about to shake him off when she heard him say softly, “Hold onto each other. Don’t let anyone fall behind.”
Oh, so it was for the team’s sake.
Ming Yi endured it and reached out to grab Fan Yao and Chu He behind her, only to find that they had already linked up and were hanging onto Ji Bozai’s left hand.
Their position was exposed, and attacks came one after another. They had no time to think of anything else and ran swiftly towards the moon, searching for the pre-buried divine artifacts.
The artifacts buried for the competition weren’t just those forged by their Artificers; each city would bury many. What they found and whether they could use it all depended on luck.
So, when Fan Yao dug out an iron hook from the sand, Ming Yi wasn’t surprised at all.
She took out Star River Sunset and placed it on the ground.
Ji Bozai and the others were about to continue searching, but seeing her action, they quickly gathered around to shield the light from the artifact.
Star River Sunset was originally an offensive artifact, but for some reason, when placed on the sandy ground, it raised a thumb-sized rising sun. The sun wobbled, not quite merging with the full sky of stars. After a moment, it tilted in one direction. The rest of the stars, in groups of two or three, more or less, all gathered in certain directions.
Ming Yi gestured to them: The direction of the rising sun had useful artifacts, with the areas where more stars gathered being second best.
It even had this function?
Ji Bozai finally began to truly respect the profession of Artificers.
Each profession indeed had its specialties. If they had to rely solely on luck, they wouldn’t fare well in this challenge.
Gathering up Star River Sunset, Ming Yi led them forward.
To be honest, being led by a woman wasn’t a glorious thing, and Chu He and Fan Yao felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, Ming Yi’s directions were incredibly accurate. They ran over and immediately dug out “Thunder of Ten Thousand Pounds.”
Fan Yao wiped his face and bowed slightly to Ming Yi.
Ming Yi didn’t pay much attention, glanced at Star River Sunset, and led them to the location of the next high-grade artifact. But this time, they dug out “Fire Tree Silver Flower,” a special artifact from Morning Sun City that they had never used before.
She looked at Ji Bozai and seriously gestured: This one is powerful. You take it.
He frowned: I don’t know how to use it.
Looking at him disapprovingly, Ming Yi took his hand and placed it on the mechanism switch of Fire Tree Silver Flower.