Zhao Wuji hadn't even finished speaking.
Yun Jin couldn't be bothered to listen anymore.
The flame flickering at her fingertip suddenly shot forward.
Zhao Wuji's expression changed drastically.
Even though experience told him—
Even if Yun Jin had advanced to Divine Transformation in the secret realm, there was no way she could surpass him so easily.
And yet—
He still instinctively retreated several steps. A defensive shield sprang up around him in the same breath.Zhao Wuji had done everything by the book. Every layer of defense was in place.
But to his horror, the flame didn't strike him directly. It scattered—splitting apart and flowing into the bodies of the others nearby.
Zhao Wuji froze, then broke into a crazed laugh. "Yun Jin, have you lost your mind? You—"
The others were confused too.
Right now, they couldn't use their spiritual power at all. They were no different from ordinary mortals. Yun Jin's flames entering their bodies—there was no way they could resist.
But strangely, no one panicked.
When it came to Yun Jin—
They trusted her far more than Zhao Wuji.
Very quickly—
They noticed something. The power that had bound their spiritual energy… was slowly melting away under Yun Jin's fire. They could feel it—just a sliver, but they were beginning to regain control over their strength. The flames continued to burn gently, and their spiritual power gradually returned.
"Then I won't hold back." Zhao Wuji sneered and charged straight at Yun Jin.
The others stayed silent, focusing on restoring their spiritual energy.
Yun Jin didn't summon Lao Huo either.
Perfect.
She wanted to see for herself—
Now that she was at the peak of Divine Transformation, how would she fare against Zhao Wuji?
She actually dared to face him head-on!
Zhao Wuji couldn't help laughing coldly.
Back in her Golden Core stage, she had defeated someone at Nascent Soul.
But now she thought—
That stepping into Divine Transformation meant she could take on someone at Unity?
The higher one climbed in cultivation, the greater the gap between each major realm.
The difference between Divine Transformation and Unity—
Was sometimes wider than the gap between a Golden Core cultivator and an ordinary mortal.
For Yun Jin to challenge him was utterly—
Zhao Wuji was brimming with disdain.
This time, Yun Jin didn't draw the Tai'a Sword.
The Tai'a Sword was too weak now. Against a Unity-stage opponent, it risked being destroyed.
Besides, sword techniques were no longer her greatest strength.
She now wielded two supreme Daos—like a child holding the sharpest blade. Even if still young, with a weapon like that, even a child might slay a grown man.
Flames suddenly burst from Yun Jin's palm.
Her greatest strength now lay in fire-element spells.
And Zhao Wuji?
Would make the perfect test subject.
Yun Jin's flame looked ordinary, nothing special. Zhao Wuji didn't take it seriously. He soared into the air, casting a powerful technique. A massive hand materialized in the sky, reaching down with crushing force.
"Xiao Jin..." Lin Ya tensed instinctively. Right now, Yun Jin's flame was dissolving the toxins in his body. Until the poison was gone, he couldn't move a muscle. If he did, the detoxification would fail.
Yun Jin gave him a calm smile. "Master, no need to worry."
She lifted her hand and flung the flame upward.
Just a small flicker.
In front of Zhao Wuji's massive conjured hand, it looked pitifully tiny, as if it would be snuffed out at any moment.
Zhao Wuji smirked coldly. This Yun Jin had simply risen too fast. She was young and overconfident, clearly unaware of her limits. Once he took her out, he'd send the others down to accompany her in death. A fitting end. A quick one, too. Lucky for them.
"Yun Jin, let me show you just how vast the gap is between Unity and Divine Transformation." Zhao Wuji's sneer deepened as his colossal hand grew even larger, shimmering faintly with golden light. The tiny flame flickered, looking like it would vanish in the golden brilliance.
Yun Jin's gaze shifted. Her tone light:
"Explode."
Hmm?
Zhao Wuji suddenly felt something was wrong. But his move was already unleashed. He clenched the flame in his conjured hand, intending to snuff it out.
Then—
Boom.
The tiny flame erupted.
So small—yet the force it unleashed was enough to tear heaven and earth apart.
Zhao Wuji screamed. His entire right hand was blasted to pieces. His body fell like a stone, crashing to the ground in a daze.
Yun Jin let out a small sigh. "Sect Master Zhao, I honestly didn't think you'd try to grab it barehanded. But thank you for cooperating."
This was Flame Burst.
A seemingly harmless little flame, but once ignited—
Its might was terrifying.
The only reason Zhao Wuji wasn't dead outright was because her cultivation was still lacking.
If she'd already stepped into Unity—
That same Flame Burst could have wiped him out on the spot. Such was the overwhelming power granted by a supreme Dao.
"What… is that?" Zhao Wuji's face drained of color. His eyes, staring at Yun Jin, now brimmed with fear.
He could accept losing to Lin Ya.
After all, Lin Ya had always been a rival from the start.
If not for a twist of fate, Lin Ya might have crushed him all along.
But Yun Jin?
How long had she even been cultivating?
Not even half a year.
In just half a year—
From mortal to someone who could defeat him?
Was she even human?
Not even gods or immortals would have such a monstrous path!
Zhao Wuji's lips trembled. He struggled to his feet, only to turn and try to flee. No matter how strong Yun Jin was, she couldn't possibly be stronger than someone at Mahayana, right?
He needed to find the Demon Sovereign and the others immediately. Once they regrouped, this bunch would still end up dead. He had barely taken a few steps when a sword sliced through the air. Zhao Wuji dodged with all his might, but the blade still nicked him—shearing off half his ear.
He clutched his head in terror.
It was Lin Ya.
Lin Ya had recovered his spiritual power too!
"Zhao Wuji, you think you're getting away?"
One of the Grand Elders snorted. He extended his palm, releasing a wave of powerful suction. Zhao Wuji was dragged back instantly.
Then—a golden rope descended and bound him tightly.
"Hmph. This man conspired with the demon race, framed his fellow disciples. Even death a hundred times wouldn't be enough. He may still be hiding something. We'll detain him for now and hand him over to the Demon-Slaying Alliance for interrogation. We might be able to pry more secrets out of him." The elder glanced at Yun Jin and said, "This rope is one of my artifacts. Anyone with lower cultivation than mine cannot break free."
As he spoke, his gaze settled on Yun Jin. "Xiao Jin, what do you think?"
Unknowingly, despite not being the most powerful among them, Yun Jin had already become their pillar. Yun Jin nodded. "That's fine. But right now, the priority is activating the sect's grand protective array—then exterminating every last one of those demons."
"Indeed."
The elders all nodded in agreement.
The Tianxing Bell rang out at once.
Zhao Wuji's face turned pale, but he didn't look completely hopeless.
They thought they'd won. But in truth, all they'd done was delay their deaths. Once the Demon Sovereign noticed what happened here, he would surely come.
And when that happened—
All of them would die anyway.
Besides—
They were about to find out something important.
The protective array—
Couldn't be activated anymore.
That thought was still swirling in Zhao Wuji's mind—
When suddenly—
The Tianxing Bell rang nine times. A barrier rose from the ground, stretching upward, then spread across the sky, forming a vast protective dome.
The sect's grand array had been activated. Zhao Wuji's expression twisted.
Xiao Yu!
Did something happen to Xiao Yu?!