Chapter 2542

Cui Wan was not in a hurry. Zhu Yanyi was quite satisfied with Cui Wan’s attitude. She smiled gently and said, "Don’t worry. You will break through sooner or later."

Cui Wan nodded. She truly wasn’t worried, knowing she would eventually succeed. "Master, do you have any final advice for your disciple?"

"We can talk while we eat." Zhu Yanyi pointed to the pastries and tea nearby. With Yan Aohan’s support, she sat down and invited everyone else to sit as well.

After settling in, Zhu Yanyi picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and spoke. "Remember this for every match: just do your best. Once you have used your skills fully, nothing else matters."

If they had done their best, there was no need to worry about the rest. Zhu Yanyi did not wish to impart overly complex truths or profound words. She simply wanted them to give their all.

"The Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect is not rigid or unchanging. Therefore, do your utmost. Be worthy of yourself and worthy of the sect. But between the two, being worthy of yourself comes first."

Seeing the doubtful looks on her disciples’ faces, including a hint of surprise from Ouyang Tianyun, Zhu Yanyi laughed.

"Don’t think I’m joking. Often, we stand at a crossroads, forced to make choices. For instance, in war, if the enemy captures someone you cherish deeply and uses them to force you to betray your sect, what would you do?" Zhu Yanyi looked at them with a gentle smile.

"Righteousness over family?" Cui Wan asked.

Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly.

Gong Jue spoke up. "That choice is difficult. Eldest Senior Sister can easily say 'righteousness over family' now because she hasn’t faced it in reality. If she did, she would have many concerns—feelings for that person, the greater good, and so on. These would make her hesitate. One wrong choice could easily breed a heart demon."

"Exactly. Gong Jue is right." Zhu Yanyi smiled with relief, her gaze toward Gong Jue filled with approval.

Perhaps because Gong Jue had endured more loneliness in his childhood, he understood this deeply.

"I just said that whatever you do, you must be true to your own heart. Whether it is righteousness over family or betraying the sect, those are not the most important things. What matters is this." Zhu Yanyi pointed to her heart. "Before doing anything, do not think of other things first. Ask yourself: Can I live with this choice? If yes, then do it boldly. As long as you are true to your heart, that is your path, and you will not go wrong."

Zhu Yanyi’s words were somewhat unconventional, but she knew they would understand.

Gong Jue was the first to grasp her meaning. "The Sect Leader means that sometimes, clinging to a rigid sense of righteousness can leave behind a heart demon. Therefore, when acting, if we can uphold righteousness, that is good. If we cannot, we should respect our hearts and choose accordingly. This way, at least a heart demon will not take root. Any regrets can still be made up for as long as we are alive."

"Yes, that is exactly it." Zhu Yanyi smiled with relief. "So, this competition is the same. Winning is naturally good. But if you encounter danger during the match, respect your heart’s choice. Whether you fight or flee does not matter. What matters is not leaving a shadow in your heart."

"Master, I understand now." Cui Wan also realized the truth.

"The Thousand Gold Sect is different from the Sun and Moon Gang. The leaders and elders of the Thousand Gold Sect are second- or third-generation immortals. They founded this sect primarily for fun, with no other serious intentions.

Moreover, most of their disciples are descendants of immortal families. While few are from the main lineage, most are from collateral branches. Even so, these branches have many connections. Therefore, the Thousand Gold Sect is untouchable in daily life.

Because they are untouchable, they are naturally arrogant. Because of this arrogance, they may make things difficult for us in the competition. We do not need to overthink it. If we can win, good. If not, even using medicine is acceptable.

Whether they seek revenge is irrelevant. We act according to our hearts and do not breed heart demons. Similarly, if we defeat them and cause them loss, their senior elders may step in to make things difficult for our Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect. As long as we have a clear conscience, we only need to protect the sect afterward."

Cui Wan spoke little, but her words conveyed much. Zhu Yanyi nodded with a smile. "Good child. Understanding is enough."

Cui Wan smiled proudly. "I am Master’s disciple, so of course I understand. The Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect is my home. This competition is not just my personal matter; I am fighting for the sect’s honor. Therefore, I will do my best. If I can win, that is what matters. The rest can be dealt with later."

Hearing Cui Wan’s words, Zhu Yanyi laughed heartily. "Understanding is enough. Since you understand, I am at ease."

It was a break time. The leaders of the five major sects, curious about the Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect, approached under the guise of resting. At first, they saw the sect members eating casually. Seeing their relaxed demeanor, the five leaders simultaneously felt that the Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect was not here to compete, but to vacation.

Then, they heard Zhu Yanyi teaching her disciples. They were slightly stunned. Usually, they taught disciples in black and white terms, never considering other perspectives. Clearly, Zhu Yanyi taught differently, encouraging disciples to respect their inner voices.

Such teachings might lead those with weak willpower to the demonic path. However, falling into the demonic path did not make one evil. In the current era, both demonic and immortal paths were valid paths. Thus, they were not overly surprised.

It was similar to the current Ink Sect, which evolved from the former Ink Palace. The Ink Sect existed as a choice for demonic cultivators after ascending.

Therefore, there was nothing wrong with the demonic or immortal paths; they were just different cultivation methods. Following one’s heart and handling matters properly could actually help break through heart demons and achieve inner peace.

The five sect leaders exchanged glances. Could such insight truly come from the leader of a small sect like the Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect?

They looked at the Immortal Emperor nearby, who was drinking tea leisurely and had not approached them. Yet, the five leaders sensed an intricate, unseen connection between the Immortal Emperor and the Azure Sovereign Qingdi Sect.

They originally wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. Zhu Yanyi’s words had shocked them. They needed time to reflect. So, they simply returned to their groups to think.