The sudden turn of events made many people instinctively want to exclaim, fearing that Zhang Yiyi would inevitably be injured. After all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator's attack on a mere Qi Refining disciple couldn't be light.

But before anyone could voice their concerns, they saw that Zhang Yiyi didn't dodge or avoid; instead, she foolishly met the punch head-on.

With a "pfft," the gusts of palm and fist clashed.

Contrary to expectations, Zhang Yiyi didn't get knocked flying. Instead, she stood firm, unmoving.

Jiang Lishui was evidently caught off guard by the fact that her palm strike hadn't harmed a Qi Refining disciple. Even though she hadn't used her full strength, she had still used sixty percent of her power.

"Die!"

Enraged, Jiang Lishui lost all rationality. She drew her flying sword and channeled all her energy into a full-force strike aimed directly at Zhang Yiyi, clearly intent on killing her out of rage.

"Stop!"

At that moment, Fu Jin stepped in to block Jiang Lishui's attack, scolding, "Disciples of the sect are prohibited from private fights. Senior Sister Jiang, you've gone too far!"

"Junior Brother Fu, even you are helping an outsider bully and teach me a lesson?" Jiang Lishui, unable to stand up to Fu Jin, was forced to retreat, her eyes reddened with fury, her words becoming sharp and unreasonable.

"If Senior Sister Jiang insists on continuing, I will accompany you."

Fu Jin's expression darkened, his tone becoming stern, "The facts are clear. I hope Senior Sister Jiang will not tarnish the reputation of inner disciples!"

"You..."

Jiang Lishui was unwilling to back down, but she was being pressured by someone who was undoubtedly the foremost among the new generation of disciples.

With her face flushed red, Jiang Lishui gritted her teeth in frustration. She eventually suppressed her anger but directed all her fury toward the true culprit.

She shot a fierce glare at Zhang Yiyi before storming off, her intentions for revenge clearly unmasked.

"Yiyi, you were a bit impulsive just now. Senior Sister Jiang has always been so strong-willed. For a few words of argument to make her hold a grudge against you isn't good for you in the long run."

Watching Jiang Lishui's angry retreating back, Zhang Tongtong finally spoke up, trying to advise her younger cousin with a serious tone.

She meant well, after all. Jiang Lishui was naturally proud and had a powerful backing with a God Transformation Elder as her grandfather, making it unwise to completely sever relations. However, Zhang Yiyi clearly didn't see it that way.

"Cousin, you think it was just a matter of a few words? Clearly, she slandered and humiliated me, repeatedly throwing dirt on my name. I was only defending myself. Is that wrong?"

Meeting Zhang Tongtong's gaze, Zhang Yiyi disagreed.

Moreover, she wasn't about to give her cousin, who always liked to show off a gentle and kind image in public, any room to maneuver.

"I didn't mean it that way. I'm just worried about you. If you offend her so severely without considering the consequences, you might face trouble in the future."

Zhang Tongtong's expression froze. This development was different from what she had imagined.

She suddenly regretted engaging with her younger cousin today.

Four years ago, she had already failed to get along with Zhang Yiyi, and now, after four years, why had she entertained the delusion that her grown-up cousin might be more docile and agreeable?

Seeing her cousin's appearance of supposedly caring for her, Zhang Yiyi felt a sharp pain in her heart.

When she was targeted, insulted, and even physically attacked, this cousin had been completely indifferent, acting like a stranger watching the commotion.

Now, after the matter was resolved, she came out pretending to care and educate her. Zhang Yiyi really didn't know how she could bear such a facade.

"If fearing trouble means we can't even refute the other party's malicious slander and bullying, then what's the point of cultivating immortality?"

Zhang Yiyi looked at the person in front of her with a calm yet firm tone, leaving no room for argument.

If one is constantly afraid of offending others and lacks basic principles, how far can one really go on the path of immortality?

She couldn't believe Zhang Tongtong didn't understand this logic, which was why she felt the need to confront it directly.

Perhaps Zhang Tongtong wasn't inherently bad, but there was certainly some underlying unfriendliness towards her.

She still disliked Zhang Tongtong as she did four years ago, even more so after today. If they happened to cross paths in the future, Zhang Yiyi wouldn't even bother with polite exchanges.

"..."

Zhang Tongtong was left speechless by the rebuke, her face turning various shades of red and green in embarrassment.

Indeed, she had underestimated how much her cousin was disliked.

To state things so bluntly and make it impossible for others to save face, what good would it do her?

Zhang Yiyi, however, had no time to dwell on her cousin's complex emotions. She quickly shifted her attention to Fu Jin, who had helped her.

"Thank you, Senior Fu, for your assistance just now."

She sincerely expressed her gratitude to Fu Jin.

Compared to Fu Jin, her cousin Zhang Tongtong's actions were starkly contrasted.

Fu Jin said nothing, giving a slight nod to accept Zhang Yiyi's thanks. He didn't linger and turned to leave.

From Zhang Yiyi's differing attitudes toward Jiang Lishui, Zhang Tongtong, and himself, it was clear she was a perceptive person with a strong sense of justice.

Fu Jin didn't mind making friends with Zhang Yiyi, an outer sect disciple. After all, given how she had held her own against Jiang Lishui's punch, she would likely soon enter the inner sect and call him Senior Brother.

After Fu Jin left, Zhang Yiyi didn't greet Zhang Tongtong again and walked straight to complete her tasks.

The esteemed Miss Zhang Tongtong was thus ignored and left behind.

Zhang Tongtong's pride was wounded, and she could no longer think of anything else. She had no choice but to turn away with a blank expression.

The onlooking disciples, seeing that all parties involved had departed, slowly dispersed, though various discussions continued.

Unsurprisingly, Zhang Yiyi's name was mentioned again after four years, with mixed opinions. To Zhang Yiyi's surprise, there were quite a few people speaking favorably about her.

Zhang Yiyi didn't care about those opinions. Aside from keeping one of the nineteen five-horned deer to consume slowly later, she handed the other eighteen over.

The elder in the task hall, familiar with her, directly credited her with a hundred spirit stones, a decent amount even if sold outside.

However, before she could even get those hundred spirit stones, she ended up spending an additional twenty-five to exchange them for a small piece of Yunying Stone.

"Don't be upset. If you hadn't informed me earlier and if I hadn't encountered a bunch of large ones for task submission today, do you think one hundred twenty low-grade spirit stones could have bought such a small piece of Yunying Stone?"

Seeing Zhang Yiyi's distressed expression, the elder joked, "Such a small piece of Yunying Stone is generally useless to most people. It's a bargain for you. Otherwise, with those big pieces remaining, you could only look at them, not afford to buy them."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiyi felt the loss was somewhat less painful.

It seemed she had indeed benefited from Zhang Tongtong and the others, finally obtaining a piece of auxiliary material for body refinement. Once ground into powder, it would be useful for several uses.