Lin Xiao had already made moves against her more than once or twice. Every strike he launched, she had managed to receive. But how could there be any logic in guarding against a thief forever?
The best defense was, of course, offense.
Now, it was her turn to strike. She wanted to see whether Lin Xiao could withstand it this time!
From her repeated clashes with him, Yun Jin had already discerned Lin Xiao's greatest weakness.
Lin Xiao was powerful, cunning, full of schemes, and experienced in treachery.
But he was obstinate, and had an almost inexplicable confidence in his own deductions.
This time, he was convinced that Di Xiao wanted to kill her, and such a notion would not be easily changed.
Yun Jin seized upon this very flaw to lay down a killing game!
Once she obtained the Palace Pearl and forged a contract with the Divine Palace, that day would mark Lin Xiao's death sentence. With herself and Di Xiao together, plus the aid of an immortal artifact, she would see whether Lin Xiao still had any means to escape.
Di Xiao rose to his feet. "It is late. I shall take my leave for now."
He had remained here to inform Yun Jin of Lin Xiao's murderous intent. Now that everything needing to be said was said, and their understanding reached, there was no reason to linger. Everything else could wait until after the Divine Palace was bound.
"Good." Yun Jin nodded.
As Di Xiao turned to leave, he muttered under his breath, "I cannot believe I ended up talking so much to myself. Still, the wager never said anything about not speaking to oneself…"
Di Ying immediately revealed an indescribable expression.
"Elder Brother! You are the majestic King of Spirit Beasts! Must you deceive yourself in such a pathetic manner?!"
The corners of Yun Jin's lips curled in amusement.
Lin Xiao had already failed several times in trying to deal with her.
That was its own reminder. If she were to make her move, it had to be a thunderous strike, giving Lin Xiao no chance of survival! Perhaps with her and Di Xiao joining forces, it might already be enough to leave Lin Xiao behind.
But Yun Jin was unwilling to gamble. She would wait until the Palace Pearl was found, until the Divine Palace was officially contracted. To eradicate Lin Xiao was not so simple. Fortunately, she could barely count herself a patient hunter.
In the days that followed, as expected, Lin Xiao kept trying to secretly win over Di Xiao. As Yun Jin had instructed, Di Xiao at first gave him nothing, then gradually appeared swayed.
The more hesitant he seemed, the harder Lin Xiao pressed, meeting him in secret again and again, each time sending lavish gifts.
Di Xiao accepted them all without the slightest politeness.
The quicker he accepted, the more reassured Lin Xiao became. It proved that cooperation between them was drawing closer and closer.
Amidst these undercurrents, the day arrived for the opening of the Main City's barrier.
On this day, Sky City welcomed its most bustling moment since its unveiling.
Aside from those in seclusion or unable to leave their duties, nearly everyone had already gathered in Sky City.
From the Wushuang Sect, even a few had come just to watch the excitement.
Hong Ye stood at Yun Jin's side and whispered, "Sect Master, that Xuan Kong has arrived too."
"Oh?" Yun Jin raised a brow. "I did not sense him."
"I did not see him either. Only, I still carry an item he left behind long ago, and so I faintly felt his aura." Hong Ye explained.
Yun Jin's eyes lit up with mischief. "So, after that day, have you met him again? Any progress?"
Hong Ye's eyes flickered as she whispered, "After Sect Master left Sky City last time, I stayed a few days more. Just like now, I did not see him, but I did sense his presence. He must have secretly come to see me several times."
Yun Jin blinked. "And what does that mean? Lingering affections?"
Hong Ye did not blush, only frowned. "If that were true, it would actually make investigating him easier. Unfortunately, he never shows himself, so I cannot probe further."
Yun Jin chuckled. "Do not overthink. If he truly harbors secrets, sooner or later they will surface."
Hong Ye nodded, murmuring, "It still feels like his cultivation level is… off."
"Oh?" Yun Jin looked at her with curiosity. "In what way?"
"Sect Master, say what you will about Xuan Kong's character, but his talent is indeed extraordinary. When we parted ways, he was already near the Mahayana realm. Over a thousand years have passed since, yet he has only just barely reached late Mahayana. With his aptitude, if he were cultivating wholeheartedly, that should not be the case."
Yun Jin's gaze flickered slightly.
If he had been cultivating with full effort, it should not have been so limited…
Then what if he had not been?
But cultivation was a path of no return. Without progress, one regressed. Who would deliberately hold back their own advancement?
What exactly was wrong with this Xuan Kong?
Yun Jin considered briefly, then set the thought aside.
The priority now was completing the killing trap against Lin Xiao.
Once Lin Xiao was dead, no matter how many secrets the Qingxiao Sect still held, they would be uncovered in time.
-
Qingxiao Main City.
On the vast plaza.
Lin Xiao hovered silently in midair, eyes closed, seemingly making preparations.
Suddenly.
A gentle white radiance bloomed from the statue's body. In an instant, that light enveloped the entire Qingxiao Main City. The hidden barrier gradually became visible under the glow. The radiance grew ever brighter.
The crowd looked upward, anticipation flickering in their eyes. Once the Main City opened, participants in the trials would be sent to predetermined locations.
The rest, those not competing, could freely venture outside on their own adventures.
Beyond the Main City lay endless hordes of ferocious beasts. The farther one traveled, the more numerous and powerful those beasts became.
In this world, humans and spirit beasts coexisted in relative peace. They would not attack beasts without reason. But beast bodies contained countless rare materials, indispensable for forging and alchemy. Most of the time, their supplies came from the inexhaustible beasts of Sky City.
Every beast was a trove of treasures. The materials could be sold for enormous sums. And beyond that, the lands outside the Main City teemed with opportunities. With enough luck, one might soar into the heavens in a single step.
Only when the Main City opened did Sky City truly begin!
At the climax of that radiance, Lin Xiao seemed to respond to some hidden call. He stretched out his hand, and a phantom ruler appeared within it.
A terrifying might descended, weighing heavily on Yun Jin's chest.
This was…
The Earth Ruler!
And this was not even its true body, only a projection, yet its power was already so immense.
Yun Jin's heart tightened as she recalled what Zi Mo Xiāndì had once said: the Earth Ruler was nothing more than her playful creation.
A mere trifle of hers had been enough to uphold an entire Holy Land.
If not for calamity, how unfathomably powerful must Zi Mo Xiāndì have been at her peak?
This entire miniature world could never have contained the force of an Immortal Emperor.
Such was the terror. Such was the dread!
As Lin Xiao summoned the phantom Earth Ruler, the Main Cities of the other three Holy Lands responded in kind.
The four sacred artifacts manifested together once more.
The Earth Ruler's shadow soared into the heavens.
Under its strike, the barrier shattered with a resounding boom!
The Four Great Main Cities—
Had opened!
Deep within Sky City, a strange voice resounded.
"Blood sacrifice presents itself once again."