Yun Jin and Di Xiao exchanged a glance.
Yun Jin arched a brow and said, "The next time we see the bronze gate, we strike together. We must open it at the very first instant."
Di Xiao tilted his chin proudly. "I don't need you. I can handle it myself."
Yun Jin rolled her eyes. "Senior, humility, one must learn humility! In this regard, you really should learn from me."
Di Xiao could not help but give her a look.
Learn humility from her?
That was like learning colors from a blind man!
"Stay close, react quickly. This time, we cannot let the bronze gate slip away," Yun Jin said, following the guidance of the plant spirits once more.
Soon.
The bronze gate appeared again. This time, neither of them hesitated. They struck almost at the same moment. Two streams of powerful energy surged into the mountain wall.
The hazy bronze door grew clearer and clearer.
Di Xiao's heart leapt. He poured in more force. After a while, he stole a glance at Yun Jin. He had already used seventy to eighty percent of his strength, yet Yun Jin's spiritual power was actually holding equal to his own.
"Senior Di, full strength!" Yun Jin suddenly called out. "The gate is about to open!"
Di Xiao's heart tightened, and he immediately unleashed his full power.
Yun Jin matched him.
The illusory door slowly gained substance.
And then—
It began to creak open.
A flash of joy crossed Di Xiao's eyes.
Had they succeeded?
But halfway open, the bronze door suddenly stuck, refusing to move.
Di Xiao's expression darkened.
Not enough power?
"Yun Mu!" Yun Jin shouted.
Yun Mu understood, layering halo after halo of support upon them.
Both Yun Jin's and Di Xiao's powers surged sharply.
The gate inched open again.
Yun Jin strained to peer inside.
Within was nothing but pitch darkness.
It seemed only by fully opening the door could the truth be seen.
"Senior, we still need greater force." Yun Jin stretched out her hand, summoning the wood-element energy of the entire mountain. "I can still add more. Surely you haven't already hit your limit?"
What did she mean by that?
Di Xiao's face chilled. He did something, and his power spiked drastically again.
Together, they poured everything they had into the gate.
Finally—
A crisp sound rang out. The door opened wide!
A bronze, ancient-looking gate broke through the mountain, standing tall and silent. Beyond it yawned a black vortex, swirling endlessly.
Yun Jin glanced at Di Xiao. "What do you think?"
Di Xiao raised a brow. "That vortex contains spatial power. Entering it should lead to a dimensional pocket. But such spaces are unpredictable. If you're afraid, wait outside. I'll go alone."
Yun Jin chuckled. "Senior, we agreed to fair competition."
Di Xiao kept his expression calm. "I merely worry for your safety. If you must insist, then naturally I fear nothing."
Though his words were steady, inwardly he was deeply cautious. This Yun Jin was clearly only in the Tribulation stage, yet the power she had just unleashed was nearly equal to his own. In a contest of equals, she was a true rival.
"Senior, let's make it clear now," Yun Jin said. "We join forces to face all dangers first. When it comes time for the Palace Pearl to choose its master, then we each rely on our own ability. How about it?"
"Agreed." Di Xiao nodded and stepped into the vortex.
Yun Jin followed right after.
As soon as they entered, the ancient gate slowly closed and sank back into the mountain wall, as if it had never appeared at all.
Inside the dimensional space—
Yun Jin looked curiously around. They found themselves on an open plain. All around was nothing but emptiness. Only ahead were nine roads, each vanishing into dense fog.
Yun Jin frowned.
Did this mean they had to choose one path?
She tried stepping onto one of them, but the moment her toe touched the road, she was pulled back to her starting point.
Di Xiao, unwilling to accept it, tried another path. He too was immediately returned. His temper flared.
"What is this supposed to mean? Are we trapped here?"
Yun Jin rubbed her chin, thoughtful.
Nine paths. Clearly symbolic.
Otherwise, there was no point in arranging such a test.
But what did it point toward?
As she pondered, suddenly—
A mechanical voice resounded through the air.
[Trial space initiated.]
[Trial participants: 2.]
[Insufficient participants, insufficient participants.]
Insufficient?
Yun Jin's eyes narrowed.
Nine paths—
Could it be that nine people were required?
Di Xiao caught the same implication, and his frustration deepened. "Seven more? Where are we supposed to find them? And to find them, we'd have to leave first. But this place has no exit!"
This space was so secretive. Ten thousand years had passed before the two of them arrived here. And now they wanted seven more? How long would they have to wait?
[Trial participants insufficient], the mechanical voice repeated.
Then—
[Summoning trial participants.]
A strange wave rippled through the air.
Yun Jin looked up sharply. Her pupils contracted. Above, a phantom of a yin-yang wheel appeared. Within it was the shadow of a Daoist in green robes.
That figure—
"Wan Dao!?" Di Xiao was stunned.
Why would the shadow of Wan Dao Saint appear here?
[Unable to capture aura. Unable to capture aura,] the voice repeated.
The image shifted again.
This time it showed a cold-faced woman in white.
[Trial participant Bai Yiran. Information captured successfully.]
The next instant, a black vortex appeared in the sky.
Soon after, a white-robed woman descended, looking wary and uncertain. She had been in seclusion when suddenly a voice had asked if she wished to join a trial, and a black vortex had appeared before her.
Stuck at a bottleneck, eager for breakthrough, she had entered without hesitation. Perhaps the vortex held the very chance she sought. The moment Bai Yiran landed, her eyes fell on Yun Jin and Di Xiao. She looked startled and was about to speak when—
Another phantom appeared in the sky.
Again, the yin-yang wheel.
This time, it revealed an old man. He soon descended as well. More and more figures appeared.
Yun Jin's gaze flickered with thought. So, all these people had once seen the yin-yang wheel?
Sidling up to Di Xiao, she whispered, "Senior, some of these people have very strong auras. Remember our alliance. If there's competition, it's you and me together. No matter what others say, we ignore them. In all the world, we two are the best."
Her words were odd, but Di Xiao nodded, not objecting.
As soon as she finished—
The sixth phantom appeared.
And this time, it was someone Yun Jin knew well.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Soon after, the sixth figure arrived.
Yun Jin rushed forward at once. "Senior Brother Cang! You're here too! There are many competitors, so we as Senior Brother and Junior Sister must form an alliance. In all the world, we two are the best!"