Yun Jin sat in command at the center of the plaza.
This was but a mere yellow-rank cultivation art, so most people progressed swiftly. Those with guilty consciences, however, stalled and dared not continue further.
Yun Jin ordered disciples of the Wushuang Sect to issue warnings to each of these people. If they resumed cultivation after the first warning, Yun Jin would let it pass. If they still delayed after a warning, execution was the only outcome. When the first person was slain for deliberately wasting time, the entire plaza was shaken.
"Cultivate properly. Even if you are tainted by demonic qi, it may not necessarily be a death sentence."
Yun Jin's voice was cold. "But if you purposely delay, then even if you originally could have lived, now there is only one path left—death. This Sect Master has no time to waste on you.
Remember, before me, Yun Jin, there are but six words: those who obey prosper, those who resist die. Do you understand?" Speaking icily, Yun Jin suddenly raised the Tai'a Sword in her hand.
The Tai'a Sword expanded at once into a colossal blade, blocking out the sky, hovering above their heads like a mountain of death.
"Continue cultivating," Yun Jin commanded, sitting back down calmly.
The corpses of those who had been slain for stalling were swiftly cleaned away by the Wushuang Sect disciples, the blood erased as if nothing had happened.
Seven days later.
Most people had already been sorted into categories.
Those whose demonic qi was the thickest remained under the strict guard of Wushuang Sect disciples.
Yun Jin then turned her gaze toward the group that was only slightly better. In her palm appeared a small mirror—none other than the Heart-Questioning Mirror.
"The Heart-Questioning Mirror can expose the past," Yun Jin said flatly. "Each of you will enter the mirror in turn. Your sins, your punishments, the mirror itself will reveal the truth."
These people hesitated, but none dared defy Yun Jin.
To enter the Heart-Questioning Mirror at least offered the possibility of survival. To be like those other wretches, trapped under heavy guard, was surely a road to certain death.
Thus, they entered the mirror one by one.
At last, Yun Jin looked at those whose demonic qi was extremely faint. Within the Qingxiao region, among the so-called super sects, shockingly, nearly eight or nine out of ten had been touched by demonic qi.
Even Hua Ran and Feng Yuan were not exempt, each showing some traces.
At this moment, all of them looked at Yun Jin with unease, uncertain of their fate.
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "The demonic qi within you is only superficial. You are tainted, yes, but you have not truly fallen under its sway. You have not acted against your hearts or violated the Dao.
Here, I give you a secret manual. Cultivate it and you can slowly purify the demonic qi. Or else, focus on the body-refining art. Reaching profound mastery in it will naturally purge the taint as well."
This body-refining art was commonly practiced only in Xuandan Gate or among Beastmaster sects. In the Qingxiao region at large, few chose to walk the body-refining path. After all, alchemists and beastmasters neglected the body, focusing instead on spirit. Their physical bodies were weak.
But here, most were dual cultivators of body and spirit. Their spiritual power constantly nourished their flesh. Yet to deliberately cultivate the body was a whole new path, one that demanded time and lifespan cultivators rarely had to spare.
Only now, hearing Yun Jin's words, did regret surface in their hearts. If they had known earlier that the body-refining art could purge demonic qi, they would have practiced it at once. Then they would not have been caught unaware by their own corruption.
"Furthermore, the arts I have personally improved also carry effects akin to the body-refining art," Yun Jin said. "Hurry and cultivate them. They will prevent demonic qi from invading further."
The crowd nodded earnestly, voices raised in agreement.
Having dealt with these groups, Yun Jin turned her eyes toward the most corrupted—the ones already beyond salvation.
Her gaze narrowed.
Among them stood Liu Hua, Wen Fu, and two other sect masters of the super sects. Of the ten great super sects, four of their sect masters had already been consumed entirely by demonic qi. Such a ratio was terrifying.
Naturally, it was because their leaders had become demons in all but name that their disciples were far more prone to corruption than those of other sects.
"Sect Master Yun," Liu Hua said, his face pale, "we… we merely strayed in a moment of confusion. Since others are given a chance, I beg you to grant us one as well."
His body trembled, true fear in his eyes.
For Yun Jin was a demoness who showed no mercy in killing.
"Confusion?" Yun Jin's expression did not shift. "If you had not steeped yourselves in sin for years on end, how could your souls have turned so black? Sect Master Liu, how much blood stains your hands?"
Liu Hua shook violently. "Sect Master Yun, we are victims too! The demonic qi—we do not even know whence it came. It clouded our minds against our will. Otherwise, we would never have erred!"
Yun Jin sneered. "I may be young, but within the Wushuang Sect are stored the greatest texts of the world. Do you truly think me so easily deceived?"
Liu Hua's face turned ashen, words caught in his throat.
"Demonic qi can indeed magnify the darkness in one's heart," Yun Jin said coolly. "But those who are steadfast and virtuous, like Sect Master Hua and the others, even if tainted, can still guard their hearts. Only those like you, whose hearts are already black, resonate perfectly with demonic qi. The more evil you commit, the deeper its hold. To fall so completely, Sect Master Liu, shall I recount every vile deed you have done?"
Liu Hua's lips quivered, but no sound came out.
"You people," Yun Jin continued, "have but one road left: death. The only difference is whether you die swiftly or in torment.
Those who cultivate this art to the third layer will be granted a quick death. I will end you with flames.
Those who refuse to cultivate will have their Primordial Souls sealed in soul jars, to be tormented without end until they scatter into nothingness."
A shard of cold light glinted in Yun Jin's eyes.
Fear spread among the condemned. Yet still, none resumed cultivation. They could tell Yun Jin wanted them to reach the third layer. They thought perhaps they could use this to negotiate, to bargain for their lives.
As long as she spared them, anything else could be endured.
"You think I am jesting?"
Yun Jin smiled faintly, her gaze locking onto Liu Hua.
"Sect Master Liu, we know each other well. Why not let you set the example?"
Liu Hua froze. Before he could react, a flick of spiritual power leapt from Yun Jin's fingertip, and his body instantly turned to ash. She casually seized his Primordial Soul.
Yun Jin turned her eyes to Jiang Siwei. "Jiang Siwei, your Mingxin Hall has punishments crafted especially for the soul, does it not? I leave him to you."
Jiang Siwei nodded, eyes glinting, and strode forward with eager fists.