The last stone chamber.
An Tong emerged, raising his hand lightly. The barrier before the stone hut dissolved like melting snow.
Everyone entered.
In the next instant, they found themselves standing in a vast square.
At the center of the square stood a dueling platform, quietly dormant, like a sleeping tiger waiting for the day it would be conquered.
Expressions across the group subtly shifted.
Before setting out, they had all heard from their sect elders of Wushuang Sect's formidable reputation. But reputation was one thing. Until you experienced it yourself, it was hard to truly believe.
Now they had.
Whether it was the Heart-Testing Staircase or the trials within each stone chamber, one thing was clear to them.
Wushuang Sect's achievements in the art of illusions were truly world-shaking.
Even the Four Holy Lands couldn't create such immersive and seamless illusions without the participants realizing it.
And here, in Wushuang Sect, this was considered basic technique.
They finally swallowed their pride and shed their unearned arrogance.
The world was far larger than they had imagined. Beyond the Four Holy Lands lay mountains beyond mountains.
Yun Jin was the first to leap onto the dueling platform. She gripped Tai'a in her hand, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile.
"I told you—I'd be here, waiting for your challenge."
She had not yet completely subdued these so-called peerless geniuses. But by the end of today, she would make sure they understood. They were not the most outstanding of their generation. Above their heads, there would always be someone who surpassed them.
The restoration of Wushuang Sect would begin by shaking the pride of the Four Holy Lands' younger generation.
No matter how much of a genius or prodigy you were outside—
Here, you were nothing more than a challenger.
And you would always be just a challenger.
Yun Jin's stance made it clear. In fact, she looked even more arrogant than the disciples of the Four Holy Lands.
Duan Yiwei's expression darkened. He shot a glance at a disciple beside him from Qingxiao Pavilion.
He'd learned his lesson. No matter what happened, he wouldn't go first. It was best to let others test the waters.
That disciple was more than willing. He leapt onto the platform and looked down at Yun Jin. "You may possess the power of Divine Transformation now, but it's nothing more than an illusion granted by this realm. You've never truly reached Divine Transformation—how can you even hope to master this level of strength? I—"
Yun Jin's expression turned impatient. Tai'a twisted in the air, slicing forward at an impossible angle toward the man.
He was still talking when Tai'a struck.
He instinctively tried to counter.
But—
It was too fast. Far too fast.
Inside the Sword Tomb, Yun Jin had comprehended the Sword Intent of Speed. Layered atop it was the Sword Intent of Rotation. The combination of both gave her overwhelming velocity and unpredictability.
With a single strike, the disciple was sent flying off the stage.
From start to finish, he hadn't even had time to react.
The fight ended so quickly that the onlookers were left stunned.
What just happened?
They had blinked—and it was over?
Beneath the stage, the Qingxiao Pavilion disciple fumed in frustration. "You ambushed me! That wasn't fair!"
Yun Jin let out a cold laugh. "An ambush? I just didn't want to waste my time listening to your nonsense. Who's next? Whoever it is, spare me the chatter."
Arrogant.
Unbelievably arrogant.
Audacious.
Beyond audacious.
It was as if she had taken the pride of the Four Holy Lands and ground it into the dirt.
Even Duan Yiwei looked a bit grim now.
He glanced around.
Another Qingxiao Pavilion disciple stepped onto the stage.
This time, having learned from the previous match, the disciple didn't waste a single word. From the very first moment, he launched a full-force assault.
Yun Jin parried with ease, dissipating a portion of the force. Then, from a strange and unpredictable angle, her sword technique struck back.
The man barely held his ground for one exchange before he was thrown off the platform on the second.
Yun Jin stood calmly with Tai'a in hand.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, cold and sharp.
Now, both sides possessed peak Divine Transformation power.
So what if they were disciples of a Holy Land?
Within the same cultivation stage, she was invincible.
"Next," Yun Jin said flatly.
Offstage, An Tong watched with sparkling eyes.
Wuwuwu…
If the master could see the young master now, he'd probably die of joy.
Wushuang Sect—might truly rise from the ashes.
"Yun Jin! Don't be so arrogant!" someone else shouted and charged up.
This time, Yun Jin's sword was even sharper. Sword aura surged wildly. Within moments, the challenger was defeated.
Duan Yiwei and the others observed her intently.
While the dueling platform restored the victor's spiritual essence and physical condition to perfect state after each match…
Those who fought later still had an advantage.
They could study Yun Jin's swordplay and style.
But Yun Jin's three battles had all featured completely different styles.
Each one seemed to contain entirely distinct Sword Intents.
They couldn't make sense of it at all.
Another stepped up.
This one used fire-attributed sword techniques.
Yun Jin immediately responded in kind, employing her own fire techniques, fusing them with the Fire Dragon Sword Intent. In a swirling inferno of dragon flames, the opponent was blown off the platform almost instantly.
And with that, Qingxiao Pavilion had only Duan Yiwei left.
Yun Jin didn't feel like waiting.
She lifted Tai'a and pointed directly at his chest. "Senior Brother Duan, it's your turn."
Duan Yiwei had hoped to wait a bit longer. But since Yun Jin had called him out by name, there was no room to avoid it. To back down now would make it seem like he feared her.
He let out a cold snort and stepped onto the platform.
He refused to believe Yun Jin was really that outrageous.
As one of Qingxiao Pavilion's most elite young disciples, even Jin Yu couldn't easily defeat him. What could a mere Yun Jin do?
But before he could finish his thought, Yun Jin was already attacking.
She gave him no time at all.
The moment he set foot on the platform, she struck.
Duan Yiwei's expression changed. A third eye appeared on his forehead.
This was his Heavenly Eye divine ability. It had many miraculous effects: it could fire powerful beams, but more importantly, it could track the opponent's movements with enhanced clarity. Paired with his secret palm technique, it was his trump card.
Once the Heavenly Eye opened, Yun Jin's speed appeared to slow down in his vision. Her swordplay became clear.
Duan Yiwei smirked. That's more like it.
He reached out, trying to seize Tai'a.
Yun Jin's gaze lifted slightly.
In that instant, Tai'a twisted midair, changing direction abruptly.
Duan Yiwei's fingers closed—on nothing but an afterimage.
The next moment—
Tai'a dropped from above.
With a flash of light, it severed Duan Yiwei's arm.
Blood splattered. A look of disbelief flickered in Duan Yiwei's eyes.
His arm—cut off in a single move?
This Yun Jin—
She'd been holding back all along!
She hadn't even used her full strength on the others!
Before he could react, Tai'a struck again, from a vicious angle.
The second blow severed his other arm.
This was an illusion realm. Though the injuries didn't affect the physical body, the pain was very real.
Duan Yiwei stared at the sword now aimed at his chest, terror overtaking his face.
He turned and jumped off the stage.
As soon as he landed, his arms regenerated, and the pain vanished.
But when Duan Yiwei looked at Yun Jin again, something had changed.
Deep in his eyes, a hint of fear had crept in.
This woman… was she a demon?