Everyone stared at the place where Yun Jin had vanished, their expressions slightly dazed.
Sect Master Yun always seemed to come and go in a rush. Yet every time she appeared, she accomplished something that shook the heavens and the earth. And after finishing, she would drift away as if nothing had happened.
If it were anyone else, after doing such earth-shaking deeds, would they not stay behind to bask in the adoration of the crowd? They had once thought Sect Master Yun was ostentatious and vain. Now, it seemed their misunderstanding of her had been far too great.
She was, in truth, the most humble and low-key person in the world.
Many among the crowd felt a touch of emotion rise within them.
Just then, Yue Zhao's communication token flickered with light.
"I am about to undergo Heavenly Tribulation, so I need to prepare. As for the matter of Sky City, it's almost enough to film The Yun Jin Saga: Part III. Senior Brother, I'll leave the scriptwriting to you."
As Yue Zhao listened to the crowd still marveling at Yun Jin's humility, he silently nodded.
Yes.
Their Sect Master did good deeds and never boasted. At most, she had them turned into movies and broadcast thousands of times. If that wasn't low-key, what was?
By then, Yun Jin and Di Xiao had already left Sky City.
"Senior Di, there is still nearly a month before my Heavnly Tribulation. To be safe, I want to raise my strength a bit more. I plan to return to Wushuang Sect. Will you accompany me, or wait for me at the Celestial Divine Palace?" Yun Jin asked.
Di Xiao froze for a moment.
He almost said, "With less than a month left, what strength can you possibly raise? That time will pass in the blink of an eye."
But the words stuck in his throat. He remembered Yun Jin's terrifying speed of advancement, and forced them back down. His voice sounded a little muffled. "I will go with you."
This time, all disciples of Wushuang Sect mobilized. The sheer strength of those disciples left even Di Xiao secretly shaken. Every Wushuang Sect disciple was no weaker than a super spirit beast of the same level, and some even surpassed them. He very much wanted to know how Yun Jin had raised such monstrous disciples.
"Good," Yun Jin replied simply. With Di Xiao, she returned to Wushuang Sect.
Within the sect's secret realm, all was unusually quiet.
Most disciples were still in Sky City and had not returned. Only An Tong, the Tian Po Sword and other living spirits, along with the Lava Dragon and a few other spirit beasts, remained to guard the secret realm.
Yun Jin summoned An Tong, then released Di Ying.
"An Tong, this is Senior Di Xiao, King of the spirit beast forest. This is his younger sister, Di Ying. I'm heading to the Trial Tower for a while. Take good care of them." Yun Jin instructed.
An Tong immediately agreed.
Yun Jin gave a slight nod to Di Xiao and Di Ying before vanishing.
An Tong blinked, curiosity in his gaze as he regarded Di Xiao. This beast king had lived for countless years. He belonged to the same level as his former master, the Wan Dao Saint.
However, super spirit beasts were notoriously proud, rarely interacting with humans. Even back then, Di Xiao had never sought out his master. At most, when the old master visited the spirit beast forest, Di Xiao had shared tea with him a few times.
Yet with the Young Master…
He had heard the stories. Di Xiao was proactive, almost eager. For the Young Master, he had left the forest on his own initiative, and now followed her to Wushuang Sect.
So this was the difference in treatment.
As An Tong sighed inwardly, he led the two on a tour of the grounds.
In a cavern, the Lava Dragon suddenly stirred awake. Shock flickered in his eyes.
That aura…
That oppressive force that came from bloodline itself!
The king had arrived at Wushuang Sect.
The Lava Dragon vanished from the cavern and soon appeared before the group.
"King." He bowed respectfully, though his heart trembled faintly with fear.
The Lava Dragon clan was a special case. Though his energy had not yet run out, he usually slumbered to reduce loss. This time, if not for suddenly sensing the king's aura, he would not have woken at all.
"Rong Huo," Di Xiao said with casual indifference. "Your father has been thinking of you."
"Thinking of me?" Rong Huo blinked in shock. "King, are you mistaken? My father has always regarded me as the disgrace of the super spirit beasts. Once, when I tried to go home for a visit, he beat me so badly I nearly died."
Even now, he still trembled when recalling that merciless strike from his father Rong Zhou.
Di Xiao said calmly, "Perhaps that was simply his way of expressing his concern."
Rong Huo: "…"
If his father expressed concern a few more times, he'd be beaten to death.
As if seeing through Rong Huo's thoughts, Di Xiao said flatly, "Find time to return. Your father is currently in a period of awakening. This time, he likely will not hit you."
Rong Huo's eyes lit up instantly. Ever since being subdued by the Wan Dao Saint, he had never dared to return home. Did the king mean his father had finally come to terms?
"But… for a super spirit beast to be bound by a human contract is the greatest disgrace. My father, he…" Rong Huo ventured cautiously.
"Why should it be a disgrace?" Di Ying tilted her head curiously.
Rong Huo was about to answer.
Di Xiao's expression darkened immediately. "Disgrace? If your father dares say such things again, tell him to come see me himself!"
His sudden anger left Rong Huo confused, yet faint joy also sparked in his eyes.
The king was standing up for him. He no longer had to fear his father.
Rong Huo straightened his back. "Many thanks, King!"
"Don't get in the way here. Go," Di Xiao waved him off.
Rong Huo gladly accepted and set off at once for the spirit beast forest.
"Senior Di, shall we continue?" An Tong asked carefully.
Di Xiao nodded. "Yes."
All the while, he kept searching for the source of Wushuang Sect disciples' strength. For now, he still hadn't found it.
Could it be the secret lay within the Trial Tower Yun Jin mentioned?
But he was in no hurry. With nearly a month before Yun Jin's Heavenly Tribulation, he had time to investigate.
Inside the Trial Tower.
Yun Jin had already reached the highest floor.
"Senior Ta Ling, I've come again," she greeted naturally.
There was no response.
Yun Jin didn't mind. "Last time, thank you for your help, Senior Ta Ling."
"Master! He spanked me last time, and you still thank him?" Zhu Zhu's voice was filled with grievance.
"That was just his way of encouraging you. Besides, the fact that he can spank you now doesn't mean he always will. Think about it. Ta Ling has lived who knows how many millions of years. You're still just a newborn baby. Of course a baby can't beat an ancient monster. But when you've lived millions of years yourself, you'll be able to chase him around and spank him in return." Yun Jin consoled gently.
Zhu Zhu brightened. "That makes sense. I'm so smart! I'll cultivate a few more tens of thousands of years, then come back and settle accounts with him."
"Actually, you don't even need to wait that long. There are already things you surpass him in," Yun Jin added.
"What? Really? Tell me!" Zhu Zhu asked eagerly.
Ta Ling: "…"
Could they not just exchange thoughts through divine sense? Did they have to say it all out loud?
This gave him the distinct feeling that his intelligence was being insulted.
===
塔灵(Tǎ líng) "Tower Spirit". From here I will call him with his Chinese 'name'. Maybe until I knew his real name.