The next day.
Duan Yiwei arrived in Lin City, bringing along a group of powerful cultivators from Yuehua Sect. Together with the disciples from the Four Holy Lands and the Yuehua Sect contingent, they made their way to the Yu family estate.
Yu Lin was so terrified he didn't dare breathe loudly, following beside them with utmost caution.
"How's this lineup? This time, you shouldn't be afraid anymore, right?" Duan Yiwei sneered.
Yun Jin gave a light smile. "With so many seniors present, of course I'm not afraid."
Still, her gaze sharpened slightly.
"Tian Po Sword Senior," Yun Jin spoke directly in her mind. "Once we open the hidden trove, I suspect Yuehua Sect will try something."
It was simply too obvious.
All these people were from Yuehua Sect. Not a single person from any other sect had been included.
Yun Jin didn't believe for a second that they had no ulterior motives.
The Tian Po Sword gave a cold laugh. "Ignore them. My master anticipated this long ago. He knew his successor might be too weak to protect the trove and could attract greedy eyes. If they make a move, they will die."
Yun Jin's eyes flickered faintly.
The Wushuang Sect was known for its vast repertoire of techniques. Wan Dao Saint, who bore that title, was said to have grasped countless Great Daos.
This hidden trove was laid out by him personally, meant only for his heir. If these people really dared to act, they were truly walking into their graves.
With her brows arched in a carefree expression, Yun Jin spoke lightly, as if she hadn't noticed a thing. "Well then, let's head to Luohua Mountain. The sooner we complete the mission, the sooner we can relax."
Luohua Mountain?
Yu Lin's face changed instantly. He couldn't help blurting out, "Why are you all going to Luohua Mountain?"
Duan Yiwei cast a cold glance at him. "What, do we need to report our actions to the head of the Yu family?"
Yu Lin quickly lowered his head. "I wouldn't dare."
Mu Lan gave him a lazy glance and casually flicked his sleeve.
Yu Lin was immediately flung through the air, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood as he landed.
"Father!" Yu Liangping's face turned pale. He rushed over in a panic and helped Yu Lin up, but didn't dare utter another word.
"Don't speak out of turn again," Mu Lan said flatly.
"Yes," Yu Lin muttered in a low, deferential voice. "It's only that our Yu family has lived in Lin City for many years, and we know a fair bit about Luohua Mountain. If you are going there, perhaps I can offer some help."
Duan Yiwei scoffed. "Luohua Mountain? What help do we need? We'll simply bulldoze our way through."
Bulldoze our way through.
Yu Lin lowered his head even further, his face drained of color.
With so many powerful cultivators heading for Luohua Mountain… what would become of the few people still on the mountain?
His heart twisted in worry, but he had no idea how to stop any of this.
Yun Jin glanced at Yu Lin's uneasy expression. A flicker of contemplation crossed her eyes, then she smiled. "The Yu family head is so thoughtful. In that case, why not come along? See with your own eyes how the seniors of Yuehua Sect cleanse the mountain of evil."
To these cultivators from Yuehua Sect, Luohua Mountain was nothing worth noting.
They had heard of the place, sure.
But those who had gone missing there were mostly loose cultivators, with the strongest only at the Nascent Soul stage. That kind of threat didn't warrant their attention.
This was a minor task. Anyone in their group could wipe the place clean alone.
Yun Jin had simply been too timid, which was why she'd assembled such a massive team. Still, no harm done. They'd just finish it quickly.
None of them actually cared about Luohua Mountain. Their real focus lay elsewhere.
No one objected when Yun Jin suggested bringing Yu Lin along. This was a trivial matter. There was no point butting heads with Yun Jin before the hidden trove was even opened. For now, they'd play along. Once she opened the trove, that would be the moment of her death.
Yu Lin discreetly glanced around. When Yun Jin spoke, no one voiced any objection.
His heart sank.
Yun Jin's standing among these people was far higher than he had imagined.
His smile grew more forced.
It was too late to send out a warning now.
The only thing he could do was go along, at least to understand what was really happening.
Yu Lin silently stepped forward.
Yun Jin waved her hand with a confident grin. "Everyone, follow me. We march on Luohua Mountain!"
She looked spirited, brimming with momentum.
Mu Lan and the others nearly laughed out loud watching her.
Let her have her moment.
She wouldn't be smiling for long.
After all...
How could the dead laugh?
-
Overhead, above Lin City.
The citizens looked up in awe and fear.
Dozens of cultivators were soaring through the sky.
Although flying was forbidden within the city, these people exuded such overwhelming pressure that they clearly had no intention of following any rules.
"That one struggling to keep up at the end... that's the Patriarch of the Yu family," someone muttered.
"And the group in front of him, that's Yuehua Sect," someone else said quietly, recognizing their robes.
Typically, those with higher status would walk at the front, and the lower-ranked at the back. But here, the cultivators from the powerful Yuehua Sect were nearly at the rear of the group. Those at the front... no one could recognize them.
Leading the procession was a young woman who looked surprisingly youthful.
Some began to feel like they'd seen her before.
While the crowd whispered and speculated, Yun Jin suddenly halted midair, right in the center of Lin City.
"What now?" Duan Yiwei asked impatiently.
Yun Jin ignored him. A trumpet-shaped artifact appeared in her hand.
Then she raised her voice.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Yun Jin."
People all around looked up.
Yun Jin. A name few had ever heard.
But just from her imposing presence alone, many involuntarily contributed some Emotional Value.
The smile on Yun Jin's lips deepened.
The name of the Wushuang Sect would start making waves from this moment onward.
She would make these three words known across the world, enough to shake the heavens.
And, of course, her own name—Yun Jin—would soon become legend.
As for gathering Emotional Value one by one? That was far too slow.
The better way was to let her name travel from mouth to mouth, to become a legend. That was how the value would flow in without end.
"This name may be unfamiliar to you," Yun Jin said arrogantly. "Apologies, but you'll probably be hearing it a lot from now on."
The young woman stood proudly in the wind. Her hair whipped around her face, her expression brash and utterly self-assured.
Duan Yiwei narrowed his eyes.
Yun Jin, who had seemed timid before, now acted outrageously arrogant.
One phrase came to his mind.
Borrowing the tiger's might.
Heh.
So this was the Wushuang Sect's future sect master?
Even if they didn't interfere, with a leader like her, their future looked bleak.
Yun Jin paid no mind to anyone else's thoughts. She loudly declared, "By now, you've probably noticed the giant sword from a few days ago is gone. I know many of you have been guessing what happened. Well, I can now reveal the truth. That sword is called Tian Po Sword. And now, it belongs to me."
Then, she raised her voice.
"Tian Po!"
A sword-shaped mark appeared at the center of her brow.
And right on cue, the Tian Po Sword manifested in the sky.