"That doesn't look like an ordinary Spirit Gathering Array," Ye Liuqin said softly, watching as Yun Jin laid down the formation.
She had studied some formation techniques herself and could faintly discern some of its structure.
"It's not any known method for arranging a Spirit Gathering Array," another added.
As disciples of the Holy Lands, each of them was at least proficient in one or two secondary paths. Upon seeing this, their expressions subtly shifted.
Yun Jin had already demonstrated highly unorthodox techniques in alchemy before. And now, when arranging a formation, she wasn't using any publicly known Spirit Gathering array diagrams at all.
Her method was even simpler than the rare diagrams hoarded by the Holy Lands, yet it exuded a deeper level of mystery. There was something about it, faint but unmistakable. A sense of profound simplicity—like the great Dao hidden in plain sight.
Duan Yiwei's pupils constricted.
When a technique reaches its pinnacle, there's a saying: "Skill approaches the Dao."
It's the highest praise for mastery.
And now, as Yun Jin arranged her formation, it faintly carried a trace of Dao resonance. Though still vague, if she continued on this path and the Dao resonance became clearer, wouldn't that mean she could one day comprehend the Dao of Formations?
In the sea of consciousness.
An Tong couldn't hold back any longer and started muttering to the Tian Po Sword in a hushed voice.
"Where in the world did you find our Young Master? This is insane!"
In truth, these ten stone rooms were a legacy trial exclusive to the Wushuang Sect. Every ten years, the Wushuang Sect invited the younger generations from the Four Great Sects to visit.
And upon their arrival, the first challenge they faced was these ten stone rooms.
Each time, the Wushuang Sect and the Four Great Holy Lands would each send five of their strongest young talents.
They competed to claim the treasures hidden within the rooms.
And each time, the Wushuang Sect would walk away with nearly half of the rewards.
Even with the Four Great Holy Lands combining their forces, they could only claim the other half.
It was through these repeated trials that the Wushuang Sect earned its reputation as the strongest.
Otherwise, given that members of the Wushuang Sect rarely left to show off, how else could their name have spread so far?
It was precisely by repeatedly trampling over the so-called geniuses of the Holy Lands that the Wushuang Sect had climbed to the summit.
You could say... their old master had been quite shrewd.
This time, however, was different. Since it was their first time entering this secret realm, Yun Jin and her companions hadn't yet cultivated the Wushuang Sect's secret techniques.
They had originally assumed they wouldn't be able to claim many treasures.
Who could have guessed Yun Jin would practically steamroll the entire trial on her own?
The Tian Po Sword chuckled. "Do you think my eye for talent is just for show? The moment I saw our Young Master, I knew she would lead the Wushuang Sect to rise again."
An Tong didn't argue this time. He simply looked awestruck. "Unbelievable. Just... incredible."
The third-tier Spirit Gathering Array was quickly completed.
Duan Yiwei stared at it grimly, eyes locked on the formation.
Even if Yun Jin's array was unusual, it was still only third-grade.
He still had a shot—at least, that's what he thought.
But then.
A mechanical voice rang out.
Original formation: +1 tier.
Perfect formation: +1 tier.
Formation speed: +1 tier.
Final ranking: First.
Yun Jin claimed first place once again.
As the treasure emerged, she calmly collected it and turned to Duan Yiwei with a bright smile. "Senior Brother Duan, are you satisfied now?"
Duan Yiwei's lips trembled. For a moment, he couldn't speak.
He had been confident that with the Soul Refining room and this formation room, he could secure at least two treasures.
Now?
One had been taken by Yue Zhao. The other by Yun Jin. He had come away empty-handed. Of all the rooms Yun Jin had engraved, only one remained—the one testing planting techniques.
Most alchemists cultivated some degree of planting arts as a supplementary skill.
Currently ranked first was Ye Liuqin.
Ye Liuqin had stopped thinking about the treasure. At this point, she was just curious. This was the last of the six stone rooms Yun Jin had touched. Could she really sweep all six?
Yue Zhao scratched his head nearby.
If this had been his turf...
He would've opened a betting pool by now.
Planting techniques weren't directly useful in combat, so only alchemists typically studied them. And even then, most alchemists preferred something like formations that could help them defend themselves.
So this particular room wasn't fiercely contested.
Yun Jin checked her status panel.
She had been helping Ye Cheng remotely with specialized lessons. In turn, Ye Cheng had been training diligently day and night. His planting technique had already reached third level.
As a result, Yun Jin's own planting technique had just advanced to level four, and the three bound planting-related spells had also leveled up.
Ye Liuqin's planting skill was probably level five.
But her version of planting...
Let's just say it was a little different.
Yun Jin stepped calmly into the formation.
The formation contained an illusionary realm. After completing the trials within, the mechanical voice once again rang out.
Yun Jin, still in first place.
Even though everyone had begun to expect it, the top disciples from the Four Great Holy Lands couldn't help but fall into silence.
Ten stone rooms.
The Four Holy Lands combined had secured just two treasures. Yun Jin alone had taken six.
Yue Zhao had taken one.
Fortunately...
There was still one room left.
And word had it—
The treasure in that room was the best of them all.
Yun Jin was only in the Nascent Soul stage. Surely she wouldn't be able to claim it?
Even if in terms of combat power the top contender was most likely Jin Yu, the other three sects wouldn't benefit either way.
But at this moment...
Even Duan Yiwei—who'd opposed Yun Jin fiercely—was silently hoping that Jin Yu would win.
At least if it were Jin Yu, the Four Holy Lands could preserve a shred of their dignity.
If Yun Jin won again...
They'd be nothing but a joke.
"Only one stone room left," Yun Jin said with a smile in her eyes. "Would anyone like to rest before we begin?"
"No need. Let's go straight into it."
"That's right. No rest needed."
Everyone from the Four Holy Lands had a fire burning in their chest.
Even if they couldn't win the treasure, they had to win back some pride. This last room—Yun Jin absolutely could not come in first.
"Junior Sister Yun," Jin Yu said gravely. "Your cultivation is still shallow. On the platform, your level will be temporarily elevated to Divine Transformation, but you haven't reached that stage yet. You won't be able to control such power. The Sect Master asked me to look after you, but when it comes to combat, I cannot hold back."
Yun Jin gave a faint smile. "Of course. On the platform, I won't hold back either. Let the strongest win."
"Very well." Jin Yu nodded. His expression grew solemn.
Yun Jin had completely shattered the image she had carefully crafted earlier.
Now, she carried a faint aura of mystery.
A disciple from a mid-tier sect, in a remote Kingdom.
Yet she had mastered multiple disciplines and even surpassed elite disciples trained by the Holy Lands.
Something that should have been impossible... was happening, right before their eyes.
But this final room tested pure, undeniable strength.
Surely, she couldn't win this one too?
If she did...
Then they might as well all jump into the sea.