As Yun Jin drank and spoke, her spiritual power quietly and steadily rose. By the end, it had climbed all the way to the peak of Divine Transformation.
Everyone subconsciously turned to look at her.
At that moment, a flicker of fear stirred in their hearts.
Was Yun Jin about to break through to Unity right here in front of them?
If that happened, they might very well cough up blood on the spot.
Fortunately—
Yun Jin didn't seem intent on pushing further. She looked at them with a hint of puzzlement. "Why are you all looking at me like that? It's as if you're expecting something."
Everyone immediately shook their heads like rattles.
Expecting something?
Not even a little!
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "Now that everyone's finished enjoying themselves, why don't we step outside the hall? There's one last thing I'd like to show you all. A little something good."
Something good?
The Wushuang Sect certainly had no shortage of treasures.
But for Yun Jin to personally highlight something—then it had to be extraordinary.
The crowd couldn't help but look forward to it. They had already gained so much from this visit. If there was still more to receive, of course they wouldn't refuse.
Yun Jin led the crowd outside the great hall.
Outside, Duan Yiwei and the others were still kneeling.
Duan Yiwei glanced at Yun Jin, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes. But he remained motionless, unable to speak or move, his gaze locked firmly on Yun Jin.
Yun Jin didn't spare him a glance. Instead, she suddenly looked up into the sky.
To those watching through the projection, it appeared as though Yun Jin had turned to look directly at them.
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
Even though Yun Jin had recently advanced through several realms, she was still only at Divine Transformation.
And yet, with that single glance, she carried a kind of overwhelming pressure that made everyone inexplicably anxious.
Then, in the next instant—
Yun Jin smiled.
That smile swept away the coldness she'd previously carried, replacing it with something warm and almost endearing.
"Today, I have officially succeeded the role of Sect Master of Wushuang Sect. Once again, I thank all of you who are watching from afar."
She clasped her hands together in salute.
In the capital of the Canglan Kingdom, many people wore expressions of stunned honor.
In their eyes, someone like Yun Jin was already a towering figure.
When had such people ever spoken to them so kindly?
Even if it was only through a projection, this moment would be remembered.
"I believe most of you feel this trip has been worthwhile." Yun Jin's gaze briefly swept over Duan Yiwei and the others kneeling outside. "Of course, some may still feel unconvinced."
Inside Qingxiao Pavilion, curses and shouts filled the air. Ever since they had seen all the disciples of Qingxiao Pavilion forced to kneel outside, the sect had erupted in chaos. Some were already shouting that they should go wipe out Wushuang Sect entirely.
Lin Xiao sat with narrowed eyes, silently watching the projection as the crowd around him grew increasingly agitated.
A mere Yun Jin... and she dared to trample Qingxiao Pavilion's face into the ground like this?
He had agreed not to obstruct the rebuilding of Wushuang Sect. But with Yun Jin acting this brazenly, shouldn't Qingxiao Pavilion at least be given an explanation?
And besides—
Disciples from the other three Holy Lands had also been forced to kneel.
Did those sects really have no opinions about that?
Who did Yun Jin think she was?
What was Wushuang Sect now, really?
Did they truly believe they were still the number one sect from the past?
If treaties could be signed, they could also be broken.
He wanted to see just how far Yun Jin thought she could go—and whether Ji Wusi could still protect her after this.
In the projection, Yun Jin suddenly flashed a bright smile, her teeth a gleaming white. "I believe everyone knows that my Wushuang Sect possesses a certain treasure, the Heart-Testing Mirror. When paired with the Heart-Testing Stairway, it can reveal a person's true nature from the very beginning. As our final event today, I'll be randomly selecting a few people to display their Heart-Testing Mirror experiences. How does that sound?"
Though it sounded like a question, Yun Jin didn't wait for anyone to respond. She raised her hand, and the Mirror of Self-Inquiry appeared in her palm.
An Tong dove into the mirror.
A moment later—
The mirror floated in the air, and scenes began flashing rapidly across its surface.
"Stop," Yun Jin called, and the images halted.
It landed on a disciple of Qingxiao Pavilion.
"We'll start with him," Yun Jin said with a smile.
The mirror began replaying the disciple's trial through the Heart-Testing Stairway.
His expression subtly shifted.
Once they left the Stairway, they would forget everything that had happened inside. Now that it was about to be played back in front of everyone, it was only natural that he felt nervous.
During the process of the test, one's memory and cultivation were sealed. They could only act based on instinct. There was no room for pretense. What appeared in the mirror was a direct reflection of their innermost self.
And this Qingxiao Pavilion disciple?
What was his nature?
In the first and second trials, he had slaughtered until the ground was piled with corpses.
In the final trial, he had even chosen to secretly cooperate with the demons.
This time, even Jin Yu and the others' expressions changed.
The four Holy Lands had always stood united.
Hadn't they agreed long ago to eradicate the demon race completely?
And now?
This disciple had instinctively chosen to collaborate with the demons.
What did that mean?
There was a traitor within Qingxiao Pavilion.
Several disciples from Kunlun Sword Sect had a murderous glint flash through their eyes as they watched the footage.
The entire viewing area burst into an uproar.
Ji Wusi narrowed his eyes.
Qingxiao Pavilion.
So there really was a problem.
Back during the last joint siege, the Demon Sovereign had inexplicably escaped.
Ji Wusi had already begun to suspect Lin Xiao.
But the four Holy Lands had always presented a united front. He couldn't openly accuse a fellow sect master.
Still, he had quietly begun investigating Qingxiao Pavilion.
Before he found anything, though, the Heart-Testing Stairway had already exposed more than he expected.
"A traitor from Qingxiao Pavilion?" someone said sharply. "To think he collaborated with the demon race. He must die."
But others were puzzled. "What exactly is this Heart-Testing Stairway? Is its judgment truly accurate?"
"Hah. You're still young, it's normal not to know. The Heart-Testing Stairway have existed in Wushuang Sect for thousands of years. Not once has it made an error. During the test, everyone loses all memory and acts purely on instinct. What shows in the Heart-Testing Mirror is a direct reflection of their true character. If he chose betrayal in that world, then in the real world, if faced with the same situation, he would do the same. This person is a traitor to humanity."
"In that case, he truly cannot be allowed to remain. At the very least, this disciple must be thoroughly investigated."
While the crowd debated heatedly, Yun Jin smiled once more.
"Next, let's welcome our next lucky participant."
The mirror began flashing through more images.
"Stop."
This time, it landed on Jin Yu.
Jin Yu looked unbothered. Though he didn't remember the last trial, he was confident. There was no way he'd ever betray humanity by cooperating with the demon race. If they were going to show it, then let them. He didn't mind. It would even be a good chance to show off his heroic image.
Then—
Jin Yu suddenly recalled something, and his face twisted.
Wait... the final trial might have been fine.
But the first two...
With his memory and cultivation sealed, in the first world he had been played like a fool by mere mortals.
In the second, he had abandoned everything and traveled aimlessly across the seas. If he hadn't been invincible in that world, he probably wouldn't have made it out in one piece.
As the mirror replayed those first two worlds, the crowd's expressions turned amused.
At least his performance in the final trial earned him back a little dignity.
Faced with threats and bribes from the demon race, Jin Yu had never yielded. In the end, he had even died heroically in battle.