C45 Hanyu Yi

"Didn't that elder manage to find any other martial arts within the Sky Devil Policy?" Hanyu Xiaotian asked with keen interest.

"The records suggest that the elder believed the Sky Devil Sect's leadership had fragmented due to internal strife at some point. As they neared death, some chose to etch their ultimate techniques from the Sky Devil Policy into stone, while others left no trace at all. Over time, this remarkable tome gradually vanished into the annals of history. Despite an exhaustive search, the elder ultimately came up empty-handed."

"But it's a form of martial arts, isn't it? Why did it merge with me in the Scripture Pavilion? With my dantian sealed, I can't even cultivate it," Hanyu Xiaotian voiced his confusion.

"Ha, the martial arts and the abhijna nebula within the Scripture Pavilion are sentient. They wouldn't make a mistake in choosing. Besides, from what you've described, the Tianmo Force Field was the quickest to merge with you among the stars of the abhijna nebula. It even made you feel like it was afraid you'd escape, right?"

"Yes, I did feel that way. But at the time, I didn't realize it was a Star of Martial Arts. It was only when I began to practice later that I noticed something was amiss."

"Well then, I have a handwritten copy of the original martial arts manuscript left by our family's ancestor. I'll bring it to you; perhaps you'll find it enlightening."

"Thank you, Elder Yuan. I appreciate it."

Hanyu Xiaotian didn't dwell on why Elder Yuan possessed such a high-level martial arts manuscript. His mind was still preoccupied with the mysteries of the Tianmo Force Field.

"Eh, Xiaotian, little brother, are you here to compete with me for Master's attention again?" A crisp female voice snapped Hanyu Xiaotian out of his thoughts.

"Ah, it's you, Xiao Yi. How many times must I say I'm not vying for Master's favor!" Hanyu Xiaotian turned to face the girl who was a constant source of his exasperation.

Named Hanyu Yi, she was two years his senior and had entered the Scripture Pavilion alongside Hanyu Xiaotian. Three years prior, Elder Yuan had taken her on as an in-name disciple.

While Hanyu Xiaotian was unaware of many things, he knew for certain that Hanyu Yi was a bona fide prodigy in the arts of formations, Feng Shui, and the esoteric weimen. Yet, for reasons unknown, she seemed to have an inexplicable need to compete with him, often leveraging her age to act the part of an older sister and chastise him, claiming he had stolen her master.

"Hmph, how many times must I tell you not to call me Xiao Yi? It's Big Sister Yi to you!" she retorted sharply.

Hanyu Yi had been irked ever since she learned that Hanyu Xiaotian, though not Elder Yuan's formal disciple, could seek his counsel at any time.

From a young age, Hanyu Yi had no interest in martial arts, yet she possessed a natural aptitude for it. Her family had exhausted every strategy to encourage her training.

But five years ago, after merging with the weimen and Zhou Yi Gossip in the Scripture Pavilion, her family finally ceased their insistence on her martial training, much to her relief.

As her exceptional talents in formations, Feng Shui, and weimen later became apparent, her family went to great lengths, spending all their accumulated contribution points in one fell swoop, to ensure Hanyu Yi could study under Elder Yuan as an in-name disciple.

Although she was unaware of Elder Yuan's exact identity, the fact that her family had paid such a steep price for her to become an in-name disciple spoke volumes. It was rumored that Elder Yuan had agreed to this arrangement only after recognizing her considerable talent, which suggested his significant standing within the clan.

Over the years, Hanyu Yi grew to deeply respect Elder Yuan's vast knowledge. Yet, it irked her that Hanyu Xiaotian, a youngster two years her junior, could seek Elder Yuan's counsel without any formal recognition or status, and even receive better treatment than she did as an in-name disciple.

This thought invariably ignited a fire of indignation within her. While Hanyu Yi would never dare to challenge Elder Yuan's decisions, she felt justified in schooling Hanyu Xiaotian, taking every opportunity to put the upstart in his place. So, whenever she encountered Hanyu Xiaotian, she couldn't resist the urge to throw a wrench in his plans, much to her satisfaction.