[+50 Emotional Value.]
Ruan Jun's chest heaved with rage. "The Mystic Codex may be a basic technique, but for disciples new to Qi cultivation, mastering it takes days—if not months! With your garbage talent and laziness, if you can manifest Qi, I'll smash my head into this plaza!"
"Oh? Then I'll look forward to it, Senior Brother." Yun Jin flashed him a dazzling smile.
"What's there to—" Ruan Jun's sneer died as Yun Jin shoved a handful of sunflower seeds into her mouth.
The simplified Mystic Codex had one rule: Eat more = Absorb more spiritual energy.
Before, she'd been snacking slowly, and the energy hadn't had time to properly condense. But now? That was a different story.
Ruan Jun was enraged at her continued arrogance and was just about to forcibly throw her out.
But then, in the very next moment—
Multicolored threads of spiritual energy surged toward her, gathering like stars and coalescing into glowing motes. They danced at her fingertips, like fireflies drawn to moonlight.
Ruan Jun's eyes bulged. "What kind of sorcery is this?!"
Ye Danxia stiffened.
She hadn't even sensed spiritual energy yet—and she was the Heavenly Spirit Root prodigy!
This has to be a trick!
Ye Danxia stared at Yun Jin with bloodshot eyes, refusing to believe what she was seeing.
"Senior Brother Ruan," Yun Jin said with a gentle smile. Spiritual energy danced between her fingers, gradually forming a five-petaled flower in midair. "Would this count as having entered the path?"
[+100 Emotional Value.] The meter surged again.
With the emotional contributions of Ye Danxia, Ruan Jun, and several others, her emotional value had now soared past one thousand.
Ruan Jun's face had gone completely pale.
What was this?
This wasn't just spiritual energy manifesting—it was refined control. Such fluid manipulation could only come from someone who had practiced the Mystic Codex for years!
But how could that be?
Only half an incense stick's time had passed since the manuals were distributed!
Who masters a technique in minutes?!
"Still not enough?" Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, then began directing the spiritual energy to spin and swirl in the air.
Ruan Jun stood frozen in place, completely stunned.
On the platform above, Sect Master Zhao Wujing and the various peak lords all took notice, their expressions shifting subtly.
They had sensed the spiritual fluctuations too.
Half an incense's time, and a disciple had already succeeded in drawing spiritual energy?
No... not just drawn it—controlled it. Mastered it, even.
The very same girl the sect master had just ordered expelled?
She had this level of perception?
Even the old man seated in the back raised his eyes and looked toward Yun Jin with renewed interest.
Interesting.
The glowing motes of spiritual energy finally stilled and reassembled midair.
They formed an image.
Ruan Jun blinked, stunned.
That image—it was the front gate of the Tianxing Sect.
She had recreated the sect's mountain gate using only spiritual energy.
Was this girl even human?
Around the square, the other disciples who had been waiting to take the test could no longer focus. Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire. And with this dazzling display, Yun Jin raked in another huge wave of emotional value.
Back on the platform, the peak lords all exchanged glances. With such perception and terrifying spiritual control... what kind of monster was this Yun Jin?
But then came the inevitable sigh in every heart.
Too bad she's a five-root.
Indeed. What a shame.
No matter how gifted her comprehension, if her spiritual root was flawed, it would all be for nothing.
On the platform, Ye Danxia suddenly panicked under the weight of so many awed glances. Instinctively, she glanced toward Ruan Jun. And with that one look, Ruan Jun's heart surged with righteous indignation.
It didn't matter how gifted Yun Jin might be. If she made his junior sister feel upset, then she had no right to stay! He had to protect her. He had to drive this troublemaker away.
Ruan Jun straightened and shouted, "Yun Jin! Do you think the Tianxing Sect is some place for you to make a mockery of? This isn't about talent anymore. It's about your attitude! You're lazy and disrespectful! I have every right to expel you!"
Yun Jin smiled again.
Then, in a clear and melodic voice that echoed across the entire square, she said:
"But... the Mystic Codex is just so simple. I just had to glance at it and I understood. Eating and drinking is enough to advance. Do I really need to work hard? Heavens, Senior Brother Ruan... don't tell me you needed a long time to learn this?"
Ruan Jun nearly exploded. "I took three days to learn it back then—and that already made me a genius!"
"Three days??" Yun Jin's eyes widened in mock shock. "What kind of idiot takes three days to learn something like this? Look at me. All I did was eat a few seeds."
To prove her point, she casually tossed a few more sunflower seeds into her mouth. At once, the surrounding spiritual energy surged toward her again. She didn't even have to sit down or circulate her energy consciously. The Qi flowed naturally into her meridians and settled obediently in her dantian.
"So tell me," she said, tilting her head, "what exactly did you find so difficult about this? What took you three whole days?"
[+100 Emotional Value.]
Yun Jin glanced at Ruan Jun in surprise.
Well now.
Looks like this guy's emotional swings are pretty intense. Might be worth milking him for more later. Ruan Jun was shaking with fury, his lips trembling uncontrollably. He hadn't paid her much attention earlier.
But now, watching closely, he realized—
Not only had she drawn in spiritual energy, but she was nearly at the first level of Qi refinement already!
How?!
What kind of Five Spirit Root monstrosity is this?!
Desperate, he looked to Zhao Wuji.
Yun Jin did the same. "Sect Master, your rules never banned leaning on pillars or eating seeds. By your own criteria, I finished first. I qualify."
"…The rules do allow it," Zhao Wuji admitted coldly.
"That is indeed the rule," the old man beside him said with a sudden chuckle. His eyes now sparkled with admiration.
Zhao Wujing's expression darkened slightly.
Before the spiritual root tests, he had already taken a liking to Ye Danxia. As for Yun Jin... her overly showy looks were far from the ideal of a cultivator.
Her talent was undeniable—but a five-root was still a five-root. The further one progressed, the harder the path became.
Throughout history, not a single five-root cultivator had ever reached the Nascent Soul stage.
He didn't want this disciple, no matter what.
But... the rules of the Tianxing Sect could not be broken lightly.
Zhao Wujing said coldly, "You may remain in the Tianxing Sect. But if none of the ten peak lords wish to accept you, you will enter as an outer disciple."
The difference in resources between the inner and outer sects was like the gap between heaven and earth. For an outer disciple to rise through the ranks... was harder than climbing the heavens.
The other peak lords sensed Zhao Wujing's displeasure. Even those who had been momentarily tempted by her talent now hesitated. Her aptitude really was too poor. Taking her in might offend the sect master—and she wasn't worth that risk.
No one spoke.
Zhao Wujing said calmly, "See? No one wishes to take you. If you still insist on staying, then—"
"I wasn't asking you," Yun Jin cut him off without hesitation. She turned to the old man beside him. "Will you take me as your disciple?"
The old man nearly choked on his wine. He swallowed it back with visible effort, clearly reluctant to waste a single drop.
"Young lass! Do you even know who I am?"
"I know you like to drink," Yun Jin said matter-of-factly. "And I have a family recipe for a very special brew."
Gulp.
The sound of him swallowing was exaggeratedly loud.
He hesitated, voice rough. "I already have my hands full with my three current disciples. Adding one more would—"
"I can recreate Hundred Flower Wine. The lost recipe," Yun Jin said.
Gulp!
Even louder this time.
The old man stared at her. "If it's lost, how can you possibly brew it?"
Yun Jin rolled her eyes. "I have my ways. So? Are you taking me or not?"
"Fine. Two warnings: First, I was injured in my early years and my cultivation has long since stagnated. I doubt I'll ever advance further.
Second, I'm the Peak Lord of Tianjian Peak, the tenth of the Tianxing Sect's ten peaks. But the title isn't permanent. Every three years, the sect holds an inter-peak competition. If a peak places last ten times in a row, its lord is stripped of position. I've already ranked last nine times.
Three months from now is the next evaluation—and I'll likely lose my seat. When that happens, I'll no longer be able to protect you. If you're okay with that, welcome aboard."