Yun Jin stepped out from the Time Room. She had spent three hundred full days alone within. But to those waiting outside, only a single day had passed.
An Tong and the others all turned toward Yun Jin at the same time. A flicker of surprise flashed through the eyes of the Tian Po Sword. It had only been three hundred days, not three hundred years. Yet Yun Jin looked entirely different, as if her very being had undergone a complete transformation.
In terms of cultivation, she had successfully advanced to the Unity stage. And judging from the density of her spiritual energy, she had already reached at least the late Unity stage. Even more astonishing, her soul had grown stronger too. She was now at the peak of the Unity stage, almost touching the threshold of the Tribulation stage.
But cultivation was the least of the changes she'd undergone. What truly stunned the Tian Po Sword was the pressure he now felt from Yun Jin. That was unheard of.
Even in extreme circumstances, he could still unleash power equivalent to the Mahayana stage. It wasn't sustainable, of course, but still—Mahayana.
And Yun Jin? She was only at the Unity stage. How could she possibly make him feel pressured?
The Tian Po Sword faltered, his voice trembling slightly. "Young Master, your Law of Flame…"
Yun Jin shook her head, a touch of regret in her expression. "I haven't fully mastered it yet."
"That's good, that's good," the Tian Po Sword replied instinctively.
That was a Law , after all.
To master a Law, immense time and innate talent were both absolutely essential.
So far, the cultivator with the lowest cultivation stage to ever master a Law had been at the Mahayana level.
And it wasn't just about talent.
Once one reached Mahayana, their lifespan extended to ten thousand years. Only then did they have the luxury of truly refining a Law. As for his master, who had grasped multiple Laws, he was a monstrous anomaly rarely seen in this world. That title, Wan Dao Saint, didn't mean the master had actually mastered ten thousand Laws.
In truth, the number of Laws he had fully grasped could be counted on one hand. But he had dabbled in many others, and though he hadn't achieved complete mastery, he had comprehended a significant portion of their essence. That was how he earned such a title.
But Yun Jin?
Even counting these three hundred days, she had only been cultivating for just over a year. And in that short time, she had already reached the late Unity stage, and was on the verge of mastering an entire Law?
The Tian Po Sword felt a chill crawl through him.
A moment later, he heard Yun Jin frown and mutter, "In the final days, I managed to fully comprehend the Super Intent of Flame Mastery. Of the five Super Intent required for the Law of Flame, I've already mastered four. Only the Wildfire Intent still eludes me. It's just one final step, but it's proving stubborn. To master an entire Law is far more difficult than I imagined."
Her brows remained furrowed, and her tone carried unmistakable dissatisfaction.
The Tian Po Sword went utterly silent.
Of five Super Intent, she had already grasped four.
And even the final Wildfire Intent—she was just a step away.
And how much time had she taken for that?
Yet Yun Jin looked thoroughly displeased.
The Tian Po Sword was speechless.
Yun Jin sighed. "The Tai'a Sword also reached five-star grade. This past year… really drained me."
Again, the Tian Po Sword was left mute.
He had nearly forgotten.
These past three hundred days, Yun Jin hadn't been focused solely on comprehending her Law. She had also taken time to raise her cultivation. And she had even worked on artifact refinement. The Tian Po Sword couldn't help but suspect—
Did his Young Master carry a Time Room within her?
Her three hundred days were equivalent to someone else's three hundred years.
"Young Master," the Tian Po Sword couldn't help but ask, "you truly plan to enter the Capital this time?"
Yun Jin nodded. "Of course."
The Tian Po Sword clenched his jaw. "And if I object?"
Yun Jin tilted her head slightly, curious. "Why?"
He couldn't hold back. "The Capital reeks of a trap. Feng Linglong and the Lava Dragon already sent word—after Qin Ping was captured, someone requested help from the Demon-Slaying Alliance and Yuehua Sect. But the Demon-Slaying Alliance responded that they detected no demonic or sinister aura, so they deemed it an internal conflict among the Imperial cultivators and refused to interfere. The Yuehua Sect outright stated that their sect does not intervene in worldly affairs. Though Feng Linglong and the others kept sending reports, warning that the Capital situation was suspicious and possibly linked to the Blood Dao Sect, no one took it seriously. No one went to investigate."
Yun Jin frowned, though her expression remained calm.
This situation…
She had already anticipated it.
If Ji Wusi and the others weren't currently occupied, she might have been able to rely on them for support.
But now?
All their communication channels were cut off. Clearly, they were entangled in something major at Qingxiao Pavilion.
This region fell under Qingxiao Pavilion's jurisdiction.
Even without Ji Wusi acting directly, so long as Qingxiao Pavilion remained involved, they could manipulate everything behind the scenes.
Lin Xiao wouldn't need to make a move himself.
One word from him, and all the surrounding sects would choose to turn a blind eye to what was happening in the Capital. Even if they knew Qin Ping would never collude with the demonic race. Even if they sensed there was more to this story.
Still—
If it didn't concern them directly, they wouldn't lift a finger. No one would risk offending Qingxiao Pavilion.
Of course…
Eventually, Ji Wusi and the others would find time to act. Which meant Lin Xiao and Qingxiao Pavilion likely wouldn't intervene directly either. He would stay hidden, distancing himself from whatever came.
The only party that might act would be the Yuehua Sect.
She had long-standing enmity with them.
All Lin Xiao had to do was hint at something, and the Moonlight Sect might make another move. They might not act openly, but behind the scenes? Undoubtedly. So this time, heading to the Capital—
She wouldn't just be facing the Blood Dao Sect. She would also be contending with the Yuehua Sect, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. Her progress had been fast.
Unprecedented.
Yet she was still only at the Unity stage.
Among her enemies, there would surely be Mahayana cultivators.
She might face one, or several.
Yun Jin had already considered all of this.
The Tian Po Sword could no longer stay quiet. "Then you'll be going in alone! Even if we mobilize every last bit of our sect's power, we might not win! Young Master, with your talent, just a few more centuries… no, even just a hundred years! Give it a hundred years and you could step into the Mahayana stage. Then, taking revenge for Qin Ping would be guaranteed!"
He laid his thoughts bare.
His Young Master was a peerless prodigy. Even their old master couldn't match her speed of progress. If she could just endure a little longer—
She would become unmatched in this era.
If she fell now, due to rashness, he would never be able to accept it.
Yun Jin fully understood his concern. She smiled gently, then spoke softly, "Senior, do you think what the Wushuang Sect did back then, sacrificing their entire sect for the people of the world, was a pity?"
The Tian Po Sword froze. His blade trembled.
Yun Jin merely gave a light laugh. "The Path of the strong… is to choose what must be done, and what must not."
Her voice was calm, but the Tian Po Sword felt like he was about to cry.
He wanted to ask—
Why was it always the Wushuang Sect?
They had already paid such a steep price before.
Why must his Young Master bear the burden again?
But deep down, he knew—
Back then, the Wan Dao Saint never hesitated.
And now, Yun Jin would not hesitate either.
The Tian Po Sword sighed, and said nothing more.
Since this was the fate of the Wushuang Sect—
Then so be it.
Let them clash head-on with this world once more.