This was the very center of the Kingdom's capital.
Once, a finely crafted bronze statue stood proudly here.
It had been a statue of the Qingxiao Pavilion's founder, Master Lin.
Now, that statue had been torn down.
In its place stood a plaque, carved with the names of those who had perished in the recent calamity.
The surface of the plaque was densely inscribed, name after name after name.
Each of these names...
Were carved into cold, lifeless stone. When they were born, the heavens had shown no sign. As they grew up, no miraculous fortune had ever come their way.
It was as if the heavens had never shown them any favor at all. They had to work relentlessly just to live the most ordinary lives. And then, one night, without warning, they died in silence. Their deaths changed nothing in this world.
There had even been a moment when Xue Daoren asked her, in shock, "You would chase me three thousand miles... just for these mortals?"
These people, the most ordinary souls of this world, could no longer speak for themselves. They were now only a row of tiny black characters etched onto stone.
Yun Jin said nothing.
She began at the top and read every single name. One by one. She read quickly. But she remembered each name with perfect clarity.
In this recent chaos...
Exactly 124,523 lives had been lost. Every name had been carved here. And every name was carved into Yun Jin's heart as well.
These names would remind her again and again...
That she was still far from strong enough.
No matter how the world praised her, no matter how they were in awe, She knew better than anyone: she was not yet strong enough.
A 16-year-old at the Unity stage. A 16-year-old master of a Law.
It all sounded extraordinary.
But...
No enemy would show mercy just because she was young. Right now, she was still far from the summit she aimed for. During her years traveling across countless minor realms...
Yun Jin had nearly lost her life in every world she entered.
Back then, she had told herself:
Once she shed the identity of a Tasker, She would live freely. Live without restraint.
But saying that was easy.
Actually living that way... was unimaginably difficult.
Without peerless power in this world, what freedom could one truly speak of? To live free, one must first stand at the very peak. Only then could regrets like this never happen again.
Yun Jin calmly placed Xue Daoren's severed head in front of the monument.
This time, that was all she could do.
She could not undo the past, could not change what had already happened. She could only offer the culprit's head... as a tribute to the dead.
The moment the head was laid down...
All across the capital, the people began to sing a soft funeral hymn. The sorrowful melody drifted gently through the air, echoing over the streets and rooftops.
Yun Jin sang along softly, her expression calm, her thoughts unknown.
When the hymn ended...
Xue Daoren's head was subjected to merciless treatment.
Some burned it. Others stomped on it. Qin Ping allowed everyone to vent their fury however they pleased.
Yun Jin simply watched quietly. She didn't interfere.
The people needed an outlet for their pain and anger.
Xue Daoren's head was the perfect outlet.
"Sect Master Yun." From the crowd, Gao Jingxuan finally pushed through and approached her, looking a little awkward.
Yun Jin glanced over at him and, for the first time in a long while, smiled. "Your injuries look much better now."
Gao Jingxuan scratched his head in embarrassment. "It's thanks to the pills you left behind. I've pretty much recovered."
Yun Jin nodded.
Gao Jingxuan looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "If you've got something to say, just say it."
He looked conflicted. After a long moment, he finally lowered his voice. "You said... when you returned, you had something to discuss with me."
Those words from Yun Jin had left him thrilled for days. And now, Yun Jin had really come back. He wanted to ask, but was afraid. What if she'd only said it casually? What if he was the only one who took it seriously?
Yun Jin saw the nervous look on his face and let out a small laugh. "I do have something to talk to you about. But... are you sure you want me to say it here?"
Gao Jingxuan's eyes lit up. Afraid she might leave, he quickly said, "I've got nothing to hide. Sect Master Yun, just say it."
He saw himself as an upright man, with no need to speak in secret.
Yun Jin gave a small nod. "Very well. I may be young, but I already have one senior disciple."
Gao Jingxuan's eyes filled with envy.
To be Sect Master Yun's senior disciple...
What sort of unparalleled genius must that be?
Yun Jin continued, "And now, I plan to take in a second disciple."
A second disciple...
Gao Jingxuan frowned slightly, beginning to ponder. For someone as brilliant as Sect Master Yun, any disciple she chose would surely be exceptional.
So who could it be?
"You've guessed what I'm about to say, haven't you?" Yun Jin asked.
Gao Jingxuan nodded. "I have."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
He smiled faintly. "If you're looking to take in a disciple, then naturally, you were going to ask me to help you find one."
Yun Jin waited, interested. If he could realize it himself, then maybe she wouldn't need to say anything at all.
Gao Jingxuan spoke earnestly. "Sect Master, if you're seeking a suitable disciple, leave it to me. I've got a decent network across Canglan Kingdom. Whatever qualities you're looking for, I'll try my best to find someone who fits."
As he spoke, he stood up straighter, pride in his posture. To be of help to Sect Master Yun, that was the greatest honor of his life.
Yun Jin stared at him for a moment in silence. Her voice was flat. "If I needed help finding a disciple, why wouldn't I ask Qin Ping? His network is far broader than yours."
Gao Jingxuan froze.
Right. Why not?
Yun Jin said calmly, "If you're willing, you can become my second disciple. If not, forget I said anything."
Five-element spiritual roots by birth.
Good character.
Seemingly a reincarnation of a great powerhouse.
A remarkably high Luck value.
Taking him in could only be a gain, never a loss.
Of course...
Now that he'd burned his Primordial Soul and revealed his true identity, it was likely his past-life status had been exposed. The image must have spread far and wide. Anyone observant enough could guess that Gao Jingxuan was no ordinary cultivator. He would likely receive invitations from several prestigious sects. If he didn't want to become her disciple, Yun Jin wouldn't force him. A good disciple was hard to find, but she wasn't in a rush.
Gao Jingxuan stood there in a daze after hearing her words, staring blankly at Yun Jin.
She wasn't sure what to make of his reaction, so she gently added, "You don't have to answer right away. You can—"
Before she could finish, Gao Jingxuan suddenly dropped to his knees with a loud thump and kowtowed three times to her.
Yun Jin: "???"
"Master!" Gao Jingxuan shouted immediately.
Not answer right away?
That was a joke.
What if Sect Master Yun changed her mind later?
He had dreamed of joining the Wushuang Sect. And now, not only that, he could become Yun Jin's personal disciple.
Only a fool would hesitate.
And he, Gao Jingxuan, was no fool.
Yun Jin blinked, still processing. "You…"
"Master, you're not going to take it back already, are you?" Gao Jingxuan asked nervously.
Yun Jin sighed. "No. From this day forward, you are my second disciple. Now get up."