Inside the Sect Master's Hall.
Zhao Wuji's face was stormy.
Just hours ago, he had basked in glory. Now, that same pride had soured into frustration. He glanced over the loyal subordinates gathered before him, and the longer he looked, the darker his expression became.
All these years of effort, and not a single one of them was reliable.
Irritated, he waved everyone away except for Ye Danxia and Han Xiaoyu.
"Danxia," Zhao Wuji said, turning toward her.
Ye Danxia stepped forward, a little tense.
"Yun Jin didn't make things difficult for you today, which was unexpected. For now, stay within the sect and keep a low profile. Try to avoid crossing paths with her."
It had been the Ninefold Star Bell that gave Zhao Wuji the excuse to bring her back. By rights, she should have been sent back afterward, to avoid criticism. But seeing her frail form, clearly worn thin, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Since Yun Jin hadn't said much, he figured he could let the matter rest, unless she decided to press it.
Ye Danxia nodded obediently, but deep down, her opinion of Zhao Wuji plummeted.
A sect master being held hostage by a disciple's whim?
So as long as Yun Jin didn't make a fuss, she could barely stay? And if Yun Jin did, she'd be banished to He Mountain again?
She had to hide from Yun Jin just to exist here?
Anywhere else, a Heavenly Spiritual Root would be treasured. Yet somehow, she ended up like this.
Zhao Wuji didn't notice her thoughts. He turned to Han Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, your condition has improved. Keep cultivating the technique I gave you. Every three days, report to Peak Master Long. If you follow both paths together, your body will recover fully."
Han Xiaoyu nodded respectfully.
Zhao Wuji let out a sigh.
These two disciples were his deepest concerns.
Many people questioned why he favored Han Xiaoyu so much. But only Zhao Wuji knew the truth.
Han Xiaoyu carried his blood. He was Zhao Wuji's biological son.
Even Zhao Ling didn't know this. Zhao Wuji hadn't even dared to let Xiaoyu take his surname.
There were two reasons.
First, Xiaoyu's mother had been a mortal with weak aptitude, barely above an ordinary human. If Zhao Ling found out, he would likely be displeased.
Second, Zhao Wuji's father had always wanted to pair him with someone talented, to boost his cultivation through dual cultivation. Though a suitable candidate hadn't appeared yet, when one did, Han Xiaoyu would be an inconvenient truth.
So he took Han Xiaoyu in as a disciple and poured his heart into raising him. The real reason was known only to him. Even Han Xiaoyu himself had no idea.
His favoritism had its reasons.
As for Ye Danxia, his intentions were different.
Part of it was instinct. Some unknown force had drawn him to take her in. But more practically, he believed her talent would one day earn her a place in Qingxiao Pavilion. If she shone there, he would benefit by association.
But now? Ye Danxia had been thoroughly outclassed by Yun Jin. Their family had bungled the sect master succession, and Danxia's future was suddenly uncertain.
All he could do was let her focus on cultivation. As a Heavenly Spiritual Root, she should surpass Yun Jin one day. Then they could talk about the Holy Land again.
"Master," Ye Danxia hesitated, then asked, "That Qingxiao Pavilion sect master today, was he speaking with the head of the Kunlun Sword Sect?"
She had been locked away in He Mountain and had missed the entire spectacle of the three great leaders vying for Yun Jin. She was still confused.
Zhao Wuji didn't feel like explaining. His expression darkened. He waved her off. "If you're curious, go ask Xiaoyu."
They both answered quickly and left.
Outside the hall, Han Xiaoyu sighed and gave her a brief rundown of the events.
Ye Danxia stayed calm at first, but slowly, her eyes widened. The jealousy in her gaze became impossible to hide.
Kunlun Sword Sect's head.
A ninth-grade alchemist.
A Mahayana Beastmaster.
All of them had come for Yun Jin. All of them had tried to take her as a disciple.
Why?
"You're telling me Yun Jin is the same so-called alchemy prodigy everyone's been talking about in the market district?" she asked, still in disbelief.
Ye Danxia had always taken pride in her talent for alchemy. Even Huo Lie had praised her potential.
She had assumed that with her skills, she would rise above Yun Jin through her identity as an alchemist.
But now?
While she was still preparing for her basic alchemist's exam, Yun Jin had already become a second-grade alchemist?
Han Xiaoyu nodded.
Ye Danxia's face fell.
Impossible.
They had lived side by side for months. She had never seen Yun Jin show any sign of this.
Three months into cultivation, and she had already achieved all this?
There had to be a trick.
That ring she wore. It had to be cheating.
Even that ninth-grade alchemist must have been fooled.
Though Zhao Wuji had warned her not to provoke Yun Jin, Ye Danxia made a mental note to expose her when the chance came.
The next day.
Yun Jin began her ten-day trial with the three great elders.
None of them actually believed she could learn anything in ten days.
But Yun Jin never once considered the possibility of failure.
After the recent Grand Sect Assembly and the incident with Lin Xiao, she had gained another huge boost of emotional value. At this point, she had probably squeezed the Tianxing Sect dry. Aside from Ye Danxia and the soon-to-appear male lead, there were few left who could give her more.
That was why she was so eager for the male lead's arrival.
Ye Danxia alone couldn't provide enough drama anymore.
Still, with her current emotional value, getting started on all the techniques shouldn't be a problem.
The morning began with a sword training session.
Ignoring the unwilling glances of Liu Li and Qing Yun, Ji Wusi took Yun Jin away.
They flew a long distance before landing. He immediately set up a web of protective barriers, only relaxing once everything was in place.
Seeing Yun Jin looking at him, Ji Wusi gave a light cough.
"I was worried the other two might interfere. Better to be cautious. Xiao Jin, you should know, we sword cultivators don't stoop to schemes. But alchemists and beastmasters... they play dirty."
He seized the chance to smear the other two.
Yun Jin couldn't help laughing a little.
Ji Wusi was clearly proud of his clever move, thinking himself quite the strategist for stabbing his rivals in the back.
Satisfied, he continued. "Xiao Jin, among your five spiritual roots, is there one that stands out? A dominant affinity?"