Yun Jin didn't linger at Tianxing Sect for long.
Lin Ya and the others swiftly and decisively restructured the sect from within.
Now that they held absolute advantage, every measure they took proceeded smoothly.
Those who had surrendered earlier were locked away. Many were already dead before that—people like Huo Lie Long Yi, whose pride couldn't withstand the immense gap in power. When Lin Ya announced they would be imprisoned for life, despair overtook them, and several chose to end their lives. Only a few remained, barely clinging to life, destined to perish soon. They were left to struggle in their endless torment.
It wasn't that they didn't want to die. They simply didn't have the strength left to do it.
The Demonic Clan's secret techniques had drained their lifeforce. What they now suffered was the exact consequence of the path they had chosen.
Once the hearts and minds within the sect were unified, Lin Ya selected a secluded location. There, Yun Jin instructed An Tong to establish a spatial passage.
"This passage can only be used by someone who has been authorized and carries the matching token. If the token doesn't match its owner, entry is impossible. Also, if someone tries to force their way through, the passage will self-destruct in extreme situations. Of course, if I'm present, I can open it for you directly," Yun Jin explained. As she waved her hand, the faint membrane covering the entrance shimmered and vanished.
Lin Ya had already chosen the first group of disciples and elders. They stood ready at the portal's threshold.
When the passage opened, Yun Jin led them straight into Wushuang Sect.
This ability to establish spatial passages—aside from Wushuang Sect—was unheard of in this world. Even the four major Holy Lands hadn't mastered it.
An Tong could do it only because Wan Dao Saint had left behind a spatial treasure and bestowed upon him the power to use it.
Unless someone else comprehended the Laws of Space, this ability was unique in the world.
This single feat alone left everyone from Tianxing Sect in utter shock.
In an instant, they arrived inside Wushuang Sect.
Within her consciousness, Yun Jin issued a command to the giant tortoise, Lightning.
"Shan Dian, set sail for the nearest sea region to the Canglan Kingdom's capital."
Receiving the order, Shan Dian immediately shifted course.
Days passed.
There was still no word from Qin Ping.
Even Feng Linglong had lost contact with her master.
A sense of unease began to settle in Yun Jin's chest. Eventually, she decided to go check on the situation personally.
She had long since considered the cultivators from the Imperial Dynasty—led by Qin Ping—to be her own people. If anything had happened, she needed to prepare early.
"Welcome to Wushuang Sect," An Tong said in a miserable tone, his face scrunched up as though he were about to cry.
The people from Tianxing Sect looked around in confusion.
This... didn't sound like a proper welcome.
Yun Jin glanced at An Tong. "Ignore him. He likes running around without pants. I forced him to wear some, and now he's throwing a tantrum."
Seriously?
Everyone instinctively looked toward An Tong's small ass. Sure enough, he was wearing pants today, however reluctantly. An Tong looked wronged. "Young Master is mean. I haven't worn pants in over a thousand years."
Yun Jin chuckled but still said, "There will be more and more people in the sect soon. Are you really okay with everyone seeing your bare butt?"
"Why not?" An Tong asked, genuinely puzzled.
Yun Jin was quiet for a moment, then said solemnly, "Because your butt is too perfect. If others see it, they'll feel ashamed."
Realization dawned on An Tong's face. He grinned, revealing a few childlike white teeth. "Ah, I see!"
He turned proudly toward the people from Tianxing Sect. "Don't be discouraged. A perfect little butt like mine is probably one of a kind in the entire world. It's normal that yours aren't as perfect as mine. No need to feel embarrassed."
The Tianxing Sect members had no words. They could only remain silent.
"Alright, An Tong, take them to complete the Insight Heart test," Yun Jin said.
Most of these people wouldn't pose any problems.
Still, the formalities needed to be followed.
Lin Ya and the rest had no objections and followed An Tong.
Yue Zhao and a few others had already completed the Heart Testing Stairway. They didn't need to repeat the process.
These few had all been recognized by the Tian Po Sword and were deemed excellent candidates for joining Wushuang Sect. All that remained was the formal entry ceremony.
Feng Linglong couldn't help feeling a bit envious as she watched so many people from Tianxing Sect arrive at once.
The Sect Leader had already said that more peaks would be established.
And now, Tianxing Peak was clearly about to flourish.
But over on her side, there was still no word from her master.
Feng Linglong felt uneasy. She didn't know if something had gone wrong.
Yun Jin noticed her mood and gently reassured her, "Don't worry just yet. Your communication token still connects, which means your master isn't in mortal danger. He might just be in a special situation where communication isn't possible. Maybe he's in seclusion? And with Shan Dian's speed, we'll reach the capital soon. Then we'll know exactly what's going on."
Feng Linglong pushed down her anxiety and nodded obediently.
She believed her master was the most powerful person in the world.
No matter what happened, he would be alright.
He had to be.
—
Canglan Kingdom, Capital City.
Beneath the royal palace.
Qin Ping and several dozen others sat in a circle, struggling to recover from their wounds.
"Preceptor Qin, their search is extremely thorough. They'll find this place soon," someone said weakly.
"Those bastards. When did they side with the Demonic Clan? How did we not know a thing?"
Just a few days ago...
They had been preparing to seek out Yun Jin and formally join Wushuang Sect.
Then, without warning...
People they had believed to be comrades struck without mercy while their guard was down. Because they had trusted those around them, many were injured in the initial assault.
Qin Ping managed to avoid that first ambush, but when he tried to rescue a heavily wounded ally, he was ambushed again.
That man's wounds had been faked all along.
His true target had always been Qin Ping.
Qin Ping, caught completely off guard, was seriously injured.
The situation quickly descended into chaos.
Friends who had been fighting at their side just moments before suddenly turned their blades on them.
They couldn't tell who was enemy or ally anymore.
After a long and bloody struggle, they finally identified the traitors. Under Qin Ping's lead, they escaped into a hidden chamber. This place was extremely well concealed, protected by a complex formation that had kept them safe for the time being.
But...
The ones in the palace were relentless. Their search was exhaustive. Now, they were drawing dangerously close. Most of those who had taken refuge here were still injured and barely capable of fighting. If they were discovered, it would be a massacre.
And no one understood why this had happened.
Why?
They had fought side by side.
They had shared the same ideals—to uphold justice in the world.
There had been no warning signs, no clues.
Then suddenly, everything had changed.
One or two turning traitor could be explained.
But dozens, all at once?
No matter how they tried, they simply couldn't make sense of it.