"Trial Tower," Yun Jin said calmly, "is Wushuang Sect's ultimate secret."
The little girl's forehead broke into a sweat. She had already accepted that there were areas within Wushuang Sect she could not probe.
But this Trial Tower!
It was different from the previous two places. Just a brief, instinctive scan had caused an immense, boundless force to instantly repel her consciousness. Although the force had restrained itself and did not truly harm her, the overwhelming power had made the little girl tremble instantly.
This force was too powerful.
She was the spirit of a palace pearl, yet facing this level of power, she could barely resist.
"This is impossible," the little girl said, staring at the towering Trial Tower, "this world shouldn't even have treasures of this level!"
"Oh?" Yun Jin appeared completely nonchalant. "This counts as a treasure? Not really. Once the Sky City matter is settled, I plan to construct another building."
Yun Jin was serious.
Once the Sky City Grand Sect Ranking Conclave concluded, Wushuang Sect would undoubtedly become a new super sect. If nothing went wrong, she would receive another building token for a completely new structure.
The building tokens awarded for completing the sect mainline always enhanced the sect's overall power. Judging by the current progress, the next building token would not be inferior.
It was very likely to be on par with the Trial Tower.
"You… you built this?" The little girl's face twisted in shock.
"Of course," Yun Jin said, her expression inscrutable. "All Wushuang Sect disciples saw it with their own eyes. I built these three structures in a single day."
"This is impossible." The little girl stared at Yun Jin, trying to detect a hint of lying on her face.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "All the disciples of Wushuang Sect are here. You can ask them freely. With your ability, you should be able to tell truth from falsehood."
The little girl gritted her teeth and indeed began questioning the disciples.
Yun Jin said lightly, "She is my guest. Answer her questions truthfully."
Hearing this, the disciples no longer held back and recounted everything that happened that day. Even now, recalling the grand spectacle, their eyes still shone with admiration.
The little girl instantly realized they were telling the truth. Yet she still could not believe it. Suddenly, she noticed a jade-skinned, adorable little girl. Her eyes lit up.
The little girl appeared only six or seven years old. Such a small child could not lie. She immediately ran to Su Lingling and asked the same question.
Su Lingling blinked. "You mean the Sect Master's Residence, the disciple quarters, and the Trial Tower?"
The little girl nodded expectantly. "Such wonders could not have been created by beings from a small world! Yun Jin is lying, right?"
Su Lingling looked slightly troubled. "Lying? Something so trivial, would my Master need to lie? This is nothing for her."
Little girl: "???"
She could not help glancing at Yun Jin.
Yun Jin smiled humbly. "This is my not-yet-competent disciple. You can just call her Ling Ling."
The little girl gritted her teeth. "You say this is nothing?"
Su Lingling looked puzzled. "My Master is the reincarnation of a divine being. Is this so difficult?"
Seeing the little girl dazed, she continued to teach gently. "Since you are following my Master, you will have opportunities to join Wushuang Sect. For such a small matter, there's no need to make such a fuss. It's fine within our own sect, but if you act like this outside, it will seem like you've never seen the world and will damage the sect's reputation."
Su Lingling lectured.
The little girl was going crazy.
She was making a fuss?
She had never seen the world?
Although she was a newly born spirit after her master's demise, she inherited the previous spirit's memories. Over the subsequent hundreds of thousands of years, she had traversed countless small worlds. Who could say she had no experience?
Seeing her reaction, Su Lingling sighed and looked at Yun Jin. "Master, not every child has such an ability to understand. Don't be impatient. She is still young; teach her gradually."
Su Lingling sounded excessively mature.
The little girl: "…"
Yun Jin's lips curved in a smile. "No matter, I will teach her slowly. You focus on your work."
Su Lingling sweetly nodded and turned back into the Trial Tower.
The little girl inhaled deeply twice, then looked at Yun Jin. "I want to go inside too."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "You are not a Wushuang Sect disciple, nor a true being. You cannot enter the Trial Tower."
The little girl was about to protest.
Suddenly, a white figure emerged from the Trial Tower.
Seeing Yun Jin, she first froze slightly, then rushed forward and immediately knelt. "Sect Master! Bai Yiran requests formal entry into Wushuang Sect!"
The little girl froze.
She knew Bai Yiran.
One of the current trial participants, a top expert second only to Yun Jin and Di Xiao. Had she not chosen wrongly, entering the third stage would have been easy.
Such a powerful being might serve Yun Jin for a while out of gratitude for saving her life. Yet to kneel so willingly before Yun Jin, gratitude alone could not suffice.
Yun Jin showed no surprise. She raised her hand slightly.
Bai Yiran was lifted by her power and naturally stood.
"You are a temporary disciple now?" Yun Jin said casually.
"Yes," Bai Yiran said respectfully, her eyes showing a hint of fervor. "Temporary disciples can only experience the first three layers in simple mode. An Tong said that to become a formal disciple, the Sect Master must approve. As long as I can join Wushuang Sect, I am willing to accept any test. Sect Master, please allow it!"
She attempted to kneel again.
"Do not kneel at every turn. Wushuang Sect does not emphasize this," Yun Jin said, raising her hand.
"Yes," Bai Yiran replied, then looked at Yun Jin with longing.
Yun Jin smiled. "An Tong."
An Tong immediately appeared. "Young Master."
Yun Jin instructed, "Take her to the Heart-Test Steps. If she passes, give her a disciple position first. Other matters can wait until I return."
Bai Yiran's cultivation level in any other sect would have made her worshipped as a living treasure.
However, her strength was too great. Yun Jin intended to temper her pride first. Start with a disciple, observe her for a while, and then slowly promote. Hearing she would begin as a disciple, Bai Yiran showed no dissatisfaction, only an expression of ecstasy. Becoming a formal disciple unlocked full access to the Trial Tower. For a cultivation fanatic like her, this was the most important thing.
An Tong nodded and led Bai Yiran out of the Trial Mountain.
The little girl remained silent.
A top expert like Bai Yiran, after experiencing the Trial Tower, had humbled herself so completely.
Her curiosity deepened.
The little girl inhaled deeply and said, "I have a way to form a temporary contract with you. The contract lasts only a quarter-hour, but during that time, I would count as your spirit. You should be able to take me into the Trial Tower."
A slow smile formed on Yun Jin's lips.
Fish.
Bait taken.