The Sword Tomb was a place of supreme value for any sword cultivator.
Even if one couldn't reach the core trials, simply being here could significantly refine one's swordsmanship.
Third Senior Brother was a natural-born sword cultivator. If he could remain inside for a few more days, he was bound to gain a great deal.
Clouded with worry, Yun Jin glanced at Yu Songnian and Feng Linglong, who were still in the sixth trial, then sat down cross-legged and entered the seventh.
There was no point in worrying about Third Senior Brother now. If he ended up being expelled, and the Yu family tried anything against him, Yun Jin was confident that Qin Ping would step in to protect him.
Everything else could wait until she cleared the stage herself.
The seventh trial opened into a vast forest.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the ground in shifting patterns. Yun Jin narrowed her eyes against the light and looked up.
Seventh trial.
If the pattern held...
This trial would reveal a new sword technique. She only needed one glance to understand the overt challenge.
The forest trees were arranged in a specific pattern. And within that pattern lay the embryonic form of a Mystic-rank sword technique.
Naturally, Yun Jin wasn't going to settle for just that. Instead of rushing to uncover the hidden test, she paused to consider her approach. In all the previous stages, she had been ejected almost immediately.
Why?
Because she had completed the task directly, that's why!
As soon as the goal was met, she was transported out. No one could argue with that.
But what if... she simply didn't complete the task?
What if she just left the final sword move unlearned?
Wouldn't that mean... she could stay and keep milking this place for gains?
In theory, it was entirely feasible.
More than feasible.
So why hurry?
No need to rush at all.
This was such a perfect place to practice wood-attribute sword arts. Wouldn't it be a shame not to linger?
With that thought in mind, Yun Jin unsheathed the Tai'a Sword.
Inside the sword domain, Qingmu Sword nodded solemnly.
"This forest has one tree unlike all the rest," he said. "If she can find that tree, the real trial will begin. Yun Jin's mental strength is formidable. She should find it soon."
Based on her performance in the earlier stages…
This girl had already mastered several Earth-rank sword techniques. The current one was merely a low-grade Earth-rank technique. And she only needed to reach the entry level to pass.
This Qingmu domain was already a massive boon to anyone trying to grasp wood-element sword techniques.
Out in the real world, it might take months to grasp the basics.
Here, time was compressed.
With Yun Jin's talent, a few days should be enough.
Qingmu was still musing when Yun Jin suddenly shifted into a starting stance.
Qingmu: "???"
Hold on, she hasn't even found the core trial yet, and she's already started practicing?
Shua-shua-shua.
Yun Jin had already launched into the Wood Lotus Sword Art.
Qingmu nodded reflexively.
"Oh, this sword art is quite intricate—not inferior to the one I had prepared as the real test."
And she was practicing it with surprising precision. She must have put in a lot of work beforehand. Just as this thought passed through his mind, Qingmu Sword stiffened.
Wait a minute...
No matter how elegant the sword art, now is not the time for this!
She should be looking for the core trial!
At least learn the sword technique and move on!
Outwardly, Qingmu remained composed, but inside, he was screaming.
His Emotional Value surged for some reason, but Yun Jin was too absorbed in the rapid rise of her wood-element sword proficiency to care.
These sword domains... they really were hidden treasures.
Sisters.
Places like this—once gone, they're gone for good.
There's no way she was leaving so easily!
If possible, Yun Jin would have stayed here forever.
If she had to give it a time limit…
She hoped it'd be... ten thousand years.
While Yun Jin trained with utter joy, all the swords turned to look at Qingmu Sword.
Qingmu repeatedly told himself to stay calm.
Hold it in!
Don't give them a reason to laugh!
Because if swords decided to be petty, they were far worse than people.
Qingmu Sword smiled faintly. "It's nothing. The girl probably just wants to warm up her hands."
As he spoke, he subtly nudged the tree hiding the core trial closer to Yun Jin's position. If she so much as looked up and used her mental power, she'd spot it immediately.
"Please, just learn the technique already so I can send you out!"
Qingmu roared in his heart.
Inside the sword domain, Yun Jin glanced up.
Oh? That tree near her looked a little... odd.
But...
What did that have to do with her?
She looked away and continued practicing.
Qingmu Sword: "..."
All the other swords looked at him again.
They'd all seen what he just did.
Technically speaking, helping a challenger in this way was cheating.
Strictly forbidden.
But...
Yun Jin was just too endearing in her stubbornness. Even the Giant Sword at the head of them all didn't have the heart to scold Qingmu.
Still, Qingmu had bent the rules to such an extent, and Yun Jin still hadn't caught on?
Was that even possible?
She had to be doing this on purpose!
Qingmu Sword trembled slightly. He adjusted his manipulation and, in the next instant, the trial tree shot up—towering so high it blocked Yun Jin's line of sight entirely.
Qingmu stared.
The tree was now so obviously different, she had to notice.
Sure enough, Yun Jin stopped.
She stared at the towering tree in front of her and muttered, "Kind of blocks the view."
Then...
She sidestepped a few paces and calmly resumed training.
Ice Jade Sword and the others kept their eyes on Qingmu.
Ordinarily, they would have taken this chance to ridicule him.
But seeing the way his sword body was buzzing with frustration, they couldn't bring themselves to mock him.
"Qingmu," said Haomiao Sword kindly, "why don't you come over to our side instead?"
Expressionless, Qingmu Sword leapt over to them.
Giant Sword: "..."
A long pause.
Then Giant Sword finally said in a slow voice, "This girl… is indeed a bit mischievous."
A flash of light flickered across Giant Sword's blade.
In the next moment—
Yun Jin froze in place.
Inside her mind, a wood-element sword art forcibly began to unfold, frame by frame.
Yun Jin: "???"
She was instantly furious.
"You—are you serious right now? Forcing this on me? Let me tell you, strong-arming people like this is a terrible business model! No one's going to respect you!
I just wanted to improve my sword skills. What did I ever do to you?!"
Yun Jin launched into a rant, utterly exasperated.
The swords exchanged awkward glances.
Haomiao Sword couldn't help but whisper, "Boss, I think... she knows we exist."
"She knows," Giant Sword said calmly. "That's fine. One day, she'll come stand before me."
Even if Yun Jin didn't clear the trial this time, Giant Sword wasn't going to let her go. She was the only one in a thousand years who met the requirements.
If she failed now, he'd make sure she returned.
Again and again.
Until she succeeded.
Meanwhile, Yun Jin raged for a while, but nothing changed. She still couldn't move, and the sword technique kept looping in her mind.
With no other choice, she gritted her teeth and started learning it.
Fine. These stingy swords—she'd remember this!