An gave a dry cough and suddenly said, "Respecting the old and cherishing the young is a traditional virtue. My lifespan's nearing its end, and this is probably my last chance at a real opportunity. You're all still young, with long roads ahead, so why don't you let me go first?"
Yu Shiyi sneered. "On the path of cultivation, if you don't fight, you die! The chance is right here, and you think being old gives you first pick? Keep dreaming."
An's face twisted bitterly. "Then what do we do? That voice said this is a safe zone, and we can't attack each other. You all saw what happened to that woman in black earlier, right? None of us want to end up like her! If we could rank by strength, nobody would argue, but since we can't fight, how do we even know who's stronger?"
"Not necessarily impossible to decide." Lan Xi's cold gaze turned toward Yun Jin and Cang Li. "Aren't there two juniors at the Tribulation stage here? Just let them pick last."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Determining strength based only on cultivation level? Perhaps in your Boundless Sea, people really are that shallow."
Lan Xi grew slightly irritated. "What? A mere Tribulation stage cultivator like you dares compare yourself against Mahayana experts?"
Yun Jin let out a cold laugh. "Mahayana cultivators who died under my sword are not one or two. If you keep spouting nonsense, once we leave this safe zone, I won't mind adding your soul to my tally."
With those words, Yun Jin drew her sword and pointed it straight at him, her stance domineering.
Everyone present was a powerhouse from their respective continents.
Whether Yun Jin truly needed priority was one matter, but whether she should fight for it was another. If she retreated now, she would be forced to retreat step by step later. So it was better to make it clear from the start—Yun Jin was not someone to be trifled with.
The crowd exchanged glances, expressions turning ugly.
This Yun Jin was only in the Tribulation stage, yet she had arrived first in the trial grounds, and was even ranked above Ji Wusi as the top target on the Demon race's wanted list.
Though they had never heard her name before, it was clear this woman was anything but ordinary.
The atmosphere froze into deadlock.
Bai Yiran spoke up to mediate. "There's no need for haste. There are nine paths in total. Perhaps the distribution will work out evenly, and then there's no need to fight. Why not first state which path each of us desires?"
She stepped onto the area beneath the bright full moon. "I choose this side."
If there happened to be no conflict, that would indeed be ideal.
Her reasoning was sound, and the others were about to choose when—
[Nine paths. Each has a different level of difficulty. The central path is Path One. Path One holds both sun and moon, the most difficult to clear. Passing it grants ten Trial Points.]
[Adjacent to Path One are Paths Two and Three. Their difficulty ranks just below Path One. Passing them grants five Trial Points.]
[Paths Four and Five grant three Trial Points.]
[Paths Six and Seven grant two Trial Points.]
[Paths Eight and Nine grant one Trial Point.]
The central path was the hardest, earning ten points.
The further from the center, the easier the challenge, but the fewer points awarded.
The cultivators' eyes all shifted. They did not yet know the exact use of Trial Points, but it was obvious they would be of critical importance. Higher difficulty meant more points. But with higher difficulty also came the risk of failure.
It all depended on each person's choice—pursue greater risk for greater reward, or secure a safer path with less gain?
Their gazes flickered restlessly.
[You nine were all brought here by chance because of your contact with the Yin-Yang Laws. Within this small world, you are the nine with the deepest understanding of Yin-Yang.]
Yun Jin's heart stirred.
So that was the selection criterion.
It was not merely cultivation strength that let her and Di Xiao open the bronze gate, but because they had both touched upon the Yin-Yang Laws. Had it been someone else, even with stronger spiritual power, they might not have been able to open it.
This was truly an accident of fortune.
[A further revelation: the final reward of this trial space is also related to the Laws of Yin and Yang. If you want to walk further along the path of Primordial Yin-Yang, you can't afford to miss it.]
The mechanical voice, usually so flat, now carried a hint of temptation.
Indeed, the final prize was tied to the Yin-Yang Law!
Excitement flared in every gaze.
[Among you, only one will obtain the final reward. Who that is will be decided by Trial Points. Therefore, strive to accumulate as many points as possible.]
[In such a rule set, those who pick first hold a distinct advantage. Thus, the order of choice matters greatly.]
[To prevent conflict, the order of choosing paths will be determined by your level of comprehension of the Yin-Yang Laws. The deeper your understanding, the higher your priority.]
An's eyes lit up.
He had lived long, spending a lifetime researching Yin-Yang. In raw strength, he might not be the strongest. But in comprehension of the laws, he was confident none here could surpass him.
The others' eyes glimmered as well. Each was a figure of renown, each with their own confidence.
[Based on comprehension of the Yin-Yang Laws, the rankings are as follows.]
A glowing list appeared in the air.
Everyone leaned in with anticipation.
Who would be first?
Would it be An, who had lived the longest?
Lan Xi from the mysterious Boundless Sea?
Or the unfathomable Di Xiao?
The list unveiled from the top.
The first name appeared.
Their pupils shrank sharply.
The one with the deepest comprehension of Yin-Yang—
Was none other than the Tribulation-stage junior.
Yun Jin!
The black-robed woman furrowed her brows, her gaze toward Yun Jin tinged with caution. She had touched upon the Yin-Yang Laws before, and knew well how terrifying their power could become if mastered.
According to this trial space—
Yun Jin was considered the foremost in this realm in Yin-Yang comprehension. No wonder she was at the top of the Demon race's wanted list.
As all eyes fell on her, Yun Jin smiled faintly. "I won't bother saying 'thank you for letting me have it.' After all, who else but me deserves first place?"
Man Sen chuckled. "As expected of a youthful genius, brimming with spirit."
He had been absent for a century. Since when had a junior as intriguing as Yun Jin appeared?
Yun Jin only grinned.
Then the second name surfaced.
An grew tense.
Surely, the second rank would be his.
[Second: Di Xiao.]
The cultivators' expressions shifted again. It was the man who had come with Yun Jin. The two of them occupied first and second place.
Di Xiao's face darkened, displeasure flashing across it. He glanced toward Yun Jin. He was born with a body of pure Yang, and after receiving the Xuan Yin Crystal from Di Ying, he had even begun to faintly comprehend the balance of Yin and Yang.
With such natural advantages, how could his comprehension still fall short of Yun Jin's?
Just what kind of monster was she?