After conversing with Zi Mo Xiāndì, even though Yun Jin learned that she might face a great crisis two years later, she felt oddly relieved.
Crises were always present.
Discovering it beforehand was far better than realizing it only when disaster was upon her.
Yun Jin gazed into the distance, her expression calm and detached.
So they wanted to kill her?
Then so be it. Two years later, they would meet again.
While Yun Jin spoke with Zi Mo Xiāndì, the Heart-Questioning Mirror had already produced its verdict. For those corrupted by dense demonic qi but still salvageable, Yun Jin forced them to cultivate a technique that purified demonic qi. Afterward, depending on the weight of their sins, they would face punishment.
Once everything was decided, the situation in the Qingxiao Region was more than half stabilized.
Yun Jin cast a glance at the others in the square and said, "Over the next few days, Sky City will remain sealed. Cultivators of the Qingxiao Region still do not know what has transpired here.
The campaign to purify demonic qi will now be carried out across every sect.
You before me have proven yourselves innocent. Over the coming month, you will cooperate with disciples of the Wushuang Sect to enforce this cultivation method across all sects.
Everyone must cultivate it. Those who refuse, kill. Those who flee from the task, kill. Those beyond saving, kill."
The three repeated kills cemented Yun Jin's reputation as a killing star.
The Qingxiao Region would surely be bathed in rivers of blood. Yet once that blood was spilled, the region would be united into an unbreakable iron wall, transforming into a true forbidden land for demon race.
"Sect disciples are easier to control, but loose cultivators and Imperial cultivators are far harder to track. Qin Ping, you will be responsible for issuing decrees in every Kingdom, mandating the cultivation of this technique.
Since those people are difficult to monitor, implement a reporting system. Anyone who discovers someone refusing to cultivate will be rewarded for reporting them. The details are yours to arrange."
Qin Ping bowed in acknowledgment.
"Fifteen days. Within fifteen days, I want the demon spies in the Qingxiao Region preliminarily purged. Within one month, there must not be a single trace of demon race left here. Every sect must work together to meet this goal."
Yun Jin swept her gaze across the cultivators of the great sects. "Do you understand?"
To her, the eradication of demons and defense of the this world was not her personal burden, nor merely the responsibility of the Wushuang Sect.
It was a duty every sect should share.
These cultivators of the super sects stood at the very summit of the Qingxiao Region. Having them spearhead the campaign was most appropriate.
"Yes," Xuan Kong responded first.
The others soon followed suit.
Yun Jin nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Bai Yiran. "Yi Ran, you will oversee this from start to finish. No mistakes."
Bai Yiran bowed in acknowledgment.
Based on the available manpower, Yun Jin had already drafted a plan. Each super sect was given new territorial jurisdictions, and all the sects within those borders would be supervised to ensure the new technique was cultivated.
Disciples of the Wushuang Sect would handle any gaps or oversights.
Once the crowd dispersed, Yun Jin deliberately held back Qin Ping.
"Elder Qin, among these people, you are the best at dealing with mortals. I have another task for you."
Qin Ping immediately straightened, listening with utmost seriousness.
Yun Jin pondered briefly before producing a jade slip. "Within this is a cultivation method."
Qin Ping nodded. A new technique? That was ordinary enough. For the Sect Master to produce one was as natural as drinking water.
But Yun Jin's expression was solemn as she continued. "This method is only of the Yellow rank, lower grade. Moreover, it is a body-tempering method."
Qin Ping blinked, puzzled.
A body-tempering method? And merely Yellow rank, lower grade. Why would the Sect Master treat it with such gravity?
Yun Jin paused, then said, "But this method can be cultivated regardless of whether one has a spiritual root."
Qin Ping's mind went blank for a moment, his eyes flashing with disbelief. Regardless of whether one had a spiritual root? What could that mean…
Then it struck him. He suddenly understood Yun Jin's intent. This method was not meant for cultivators at all. It was meant for the countless mortals.
Among the myriad beings of this world, the overwhelming majority were not cultivators or spirit beasts, but ordinary mortals incapable of stepping onto the path of cultivation. They lived within this world yet could only passively endure everything.
But now, Yun Jin had given them a path.
"Without spiritual roots, mortals cannot sense the ambient spiritual qi, much less cultivate it. But this body-tempering method is different," Yun Jin explained. "It does not require sensing spiritual qi. As long as they temper their flesh to sufficient strength, they will subtly draw spiritual qi into themselves.
Though mortals cannot store qi in their dantian like cultivators, it does not matter. Their flesh itself will hold it. The stronger their bodies, the more qi they can contain. This Yellow-rank method, when practiced to the peak, can give them strength equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm."
Her voice was calm. "As for higher levels, I have yet to refine it further."
Foundation Establishment.
For a mere mortal to cultivate to a level comparable to Foundation Establishment…
Qin Ping's eyes grew moist. He himself had once been a mortal. Once a national preceptor, he had protected the people of a Kingdom, witnessing endless suffering. He knew the helplessness of mortals.
They longed to fight, to defy fate. But in this world, spiritual roots defined destiny. Without spiritual roots, no matter how brilliant, they were crushed like ants.
Mortals had no hope of rising.
Yet now, the Sect Master had given them a sliver of a chance to seize their destiny.
"For all the living beings of this world, I thank the Sect Master." Qin Ping stood, then slowly knelt before Yun Jin.
She moved to help him up, but seeing his unshakable determination, she let him be.
Qin Ping kowtowed three times before Yun Jin lifted him up and said,
"Elder Qin, there is no need for this. The masses have aided me greatly, and I should repay them."
She still remembered clearly how, in the capital of the Canglan Kingdom, it was the power of mortal faith that had enabled her counterattack.
And how could she forget the Yun family tragedy?
If her parents had possessed strength… would that massacre have been averted?
Would she have been spared years of wandering in exile?
Yun Jin did this only for peace of heart.
"This method is for mortals. Do not speak of Yellow rank or cultivation techniques, for they would not understand. Simply call it a martial arts manual. The first three levels are for mortals, call it the Houtian Stage.
The middle three levels are equivalent to Qi Refinement, call it the Xiantian stage. The final three stage can rival the Foundation Establishment stage. Let's call that... the Posui Xukong (Void Breaking) stage.
Spread it as such. A little exaggeration will not hurt." Yun Jin smiled faintly. She believed mortals would not mind.
Qin Ping accepted the jade slip with trembling hands. This technique would open an entirely new era of mortal cultivation. Though the upper limit was not high, the sheer numbers of mortals were overwhelming. When cultivators faced mortals, they might no longer hold absolute advantage.
A new era was about to dawn.
Once Qin Ping departed, Yun Jin finally had a moment to check her system.
She had yet to claim the reward for Wushuang Sect's rise to a super sect.
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后天阶段 (Hòutiān Jiēduàn)
先天阶段 (Xiāntiān Jiēduàn) equivalent as Qi Refining
破碎虚空 (Pòsuì Xūkōng) equivalent as Foundation Establishment