With a single strike, the outcome was clear. Cheng Yang's massive axe emitted a mournful wail as it was knocked away by the sword's energy, while he himself barely escaped unscathed, as if he'd brushed against death itself—a terrifying taste indeed. Only Cheng Yang, having experienced it firsthand, could truly grasp Zhang Yiyi's formidable strength. If she hadn't held back at the last moment, retracting her strike without intending to kill, he and his axe would likely already be in pieces. This sword move left Cheng Yang thoroughly convinced, affirming that there was always someone better. He admitted his defeat without resentment, fully convinced by the outcome.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yiyi felt dissatisfied with her previous sword strike, silently sighing at how overbearing her master's technique was. She'd barely managed to hold back and avoid causing a fatal accident. As she mentally replayed the strike, numerous insights emerged, feeling vastly different from her usual solo practice sessions. However, now wasn't the right time or place to meditate on it properly. Once the guest member selection was finalized, the first thing she planned to do was retreat into seclusion and focus on mastering her sword techniques.

No wonder her master advised her to engage in actual combat to sharpen this technique. There was a significant gap between merely practicing a sword move and mastering it to its core essence.

"Thank you, Miss Han, for your mercy. I admit my defeat wholeheartedly!" On the arena, Cheng Yang's face was still a bit pale, but his expression was calm, filled with respect toward Zhang Yiyi, with not a trace of anger or resentment. This battle was as sudden as it was swift, ending far quicker than anyone had expected. Fortunately, Cheng Yang's open-minded nature allowed him to accept defeat; otherwise, anyone with a stronger sense of pride might have struggled to come to terms with losing to a mid-Foundation Establishment female cultivator.

The spectators finally snapped out of their shock upon Cheng Yang's concession, once again thoroughly astonished by Zhang Yiyi's incredible sword skill. No one had expected this female cultivator to defeat a Golden Core practitioner so effortlessly, overturning their assumptions. Now, they looked at Zhang Yiyi with excitement and awe. It turned out that true sword cultivators could indeed reach such astonishing heights. Appearances were deceiving—who would have believed that this delicate, fairy-like girl could fight so dominantly?

"You're too kind, Senior Cheng. I'm just glad you're not offended," Zhang Yiyi replied, having already sheathed her sword and returned to her usual gentle, neighborly appearance, as if the fierce strike moments ago had nothing to do with her.

The Wang family members who'd witnessed the duel, however, no longer dared to view Zhang Yiyi as a harmless, delicate girl. The old saying proved true: appearances could indeed be deceiving. The young members of the Wang family had unwittingly learned a valuable lesson—never underestimate any opponent, no matter how weak or easy to bully they might seem.

"Please, don't call me Senior. If Miss Han doesn't mind, just call me Uncle Cheng," Cheng Yang said. Face was unimportant to him; what mattered was character. Befriending such a talented young cultivator was worth the price of his loss.

"Alright, Uncle Cheng." Zhang Yiyi understood his gesture of goodwill and gladly accepted. This wasn't Huaren World, and she and Luo Qiheng were without sect protection or family. Making friends here could only be beneficial, especially one like Cheng Yang, who had shown kindness.

With the match decided, Zhang Yiyi stepped down from the arena. She hadn't even had a chance to speak with Luo Qiheng when she was warmly intercepted by one of Wang Can's trusted aides.

"Miss Han, your swordsmanship is truly remarkable! On behalf of the Wang family, I welcome you and your brother as official guest members. With your support, our family will only grow stronger!"

Wang Congshan, although from a side branch, held a high status within the Wang family due to his loyalty to Wang Can. His words carried weight and represented Wang Can's intentions. After witnessing Zhang Yiyi's skill, he anticipated that the pair would bring great benefits to the Wang family. He was a mid-Golden Core cultivator himself, yet he knew he couldn't withstand Zhang Yiyi's final strike, proving that her combat ability far exceeded what anyone would expect from someone at her cultivation level. If the sister was this powerful, her brother Han Qi was surely equally formidable.

Moreover, Han Qi is already at the early Golden Core stage. In a real fight, while it might be too much to say he could challenge a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could certainly hold his own against late-stage or even peak Golden Core practitioners. Initially, when Fifth Miss insisted on making an exception and promoting Luo Qiheng to a first-class guest member out of gratitude for saving her life, he thought her favoritism wasn't quite appropriate. But now it seems her intuition was spot-on. They had the skills to back it up all along. Even without the special treatment, they would have earned it on their own soon enough. Granting them this early advantage only serves to further demonstrate the Wang family's respect and sincerity towards them. In the end, the Wang family has truly struck gold with these two, though it's clear they're not ordinary itinerant cultivators. Their background is likely more complex than Fifth Miss suggested, so he'll need to discreetly investigate further. But as long as they bear no ill intent towards the Wang family, there's no problem.

"Thank you, Elder Wang, for the compliment. My brother and I are honored to join the Wang family as guest members." Zhang Yiyi politely smiled at the now markedly warmer steward of the Wang family, knowing she had officially secured the guest member status for her and her brother. She was happy to say a few pleasant words. "Should there be any tasks where we can be of service, please feel free to command us. My brother and I will do our utmost."

Accepting support means fulfilling obligations; as guest members, they would be responsible for duties proportional to the benefits they received, and they wouldn't shirk their responsibilities.

"Of course, of course. From now on, you are family. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me or to Fifth Miss," Wang Congshan replied, highly pleased with Zhang Yiyi's attitude. This young woman had a clear and upright demeanor, while her brother, though more reserved, exuded a strong sense of justice. Even if they were hiding some part of their background, they certainly didn't seem like ill-intentioned people. Wang Congshan increasingly felt that these two must be talented young disciples of some hidden power sent out to gain experience. Otherwise, how could ordinary cultivators reach such a level of strength at such a young age?

Once this thought took hold, Wang Congshan became even more satisfied, seeing in Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng all the qualities befitting heirs of a prestigious family. Little did Zhang Yiyi know that Wang Congshan had quickly filled in a story about their origins in his mind.

Wang Xiaodan, standing nearby, was also thrilled for them. "Miss Han, would you consider challenging a late-stage Golden Core next?"

Wang Xiaodan meant no harm; she merely felt that Zhang Yiyi had clearly held back in her previous fight. If she could defeat a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, her benefits as a first-class guest member would be even greater. However, she overlooked the importance of moderation—continuing to challenge others could invite unnecessary trouble and resentment.

Wang Xiaodan immediately realized her slip and, blushing, glanced apologetically at Luo Qiheng, worried he might misunderstand her intent. However, Luo Qiheng appeared unaffected, his mind seemingly still focused on Zhang Yiyi's final sword move. He'd long heard about the incredible power of the Nine Celestial Swords created by Jiang Heng. What Zhang Yiyi used just now was the first of these swords, and it indeed lived up to its reputation! This was only the first sword, wielded by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. If the remaining techniques were unleashed by someone whose cultivation advanced step by step, the resulting force would be catastrophic. No wonder Jiang Heng was not only the youngest Saint of the Grand Ascension stage but also its foremost master. With just his sword, he could reportedly challenge half of the Huaren Great World. As a fellow sword cultivator, Luo Qiheng couldn't help but feel inspired, knowing he was still far from that level. Yet one day, he vowed, he would create a sword technique of his own to surpass even his most revered ideal.

...

Following their formal induction, Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng moved into the Wang family's quarters. As new arrivals, it was unlikely that the Wang family would have immediate tasks for them. In reality, most guest members were only called upon a few times a year for missions, if at all. Their primary role was as a deterrent against other families. Thus, the Wang family's support would continue regardless of their activity. Of course, if their missions brought notable benefits to the family, additional rewards would be given.

Zhang Yiyi, now enjoying the Wang family's support, immediately secluded herself to train. That battle had provided her with new insights into the First Sword of the Celestial Nine Swords. It was the perfect time to reflect and hone her technique. The courtyard assigned to Luo Qiheng was spacious, with relatively abundant spiritual energy compared to the rest of the Wang family estate. As they were pretending to be siblings, she didn't request separate accommodations and instead chose a room in his courtyard, making it convenient to watch each other's backs. After notifying Luo Qiheng, Zhang Yiyi began her closed-door training.

She set up a protective array outside her room and a high-grade spirit-gathering formation inside. Only after finishing did she realize the resources were depleting rapidly. Spiritual stones seemed to flow like water. She sighed inwardly—spiritual energy here truly was scarce. Back at her home on Inner Peak, her residence never needed additional spirit-gathering arrays, as the protective arrays were connected to mountain veins by her master, requiring no stones at all.

Settling her thoughts, Zhang Yiyi soon entered a state of deep focus. When she finally opened her eyes, twenty-five days had passed. She glanced at the pile of depleted, dimmed spiritual stones on the ground and frowned. The less spiritual energy available, the more stones were needed to maintain the formation. A mere twenty days of regular training had consumed so many stones. When the time came for breakthroughs or advancement, the demand would increase exponentially. With her current usage rate, the stones left to her by her master might only last a few years. It seemed she could never escape the fate of having to earn her own resources wherever she went. And that wasn't even counting the day Maoqiu might awaken and add to her burden—oh, not to mention her trusty, insatiable copper mirror, which had saved her life. She certainly wouldn't abandon it now.

Opening the door, Zhang Yiyi intended to see if Luo Qiheng was available to discuss ways of earning more spiritual stones. To her surprise, she found him just outside, speaking with Wang Xiaodan under a large locust tree, his expression icy.