"Since everyone is here," Duan Yiwei said bluntly, "shouldn't we get to the main issue now? The Wushuang Sect's hidden treasure, shouldn't we start searching for it?"
He looked straight at Yun Jin.
With all the keys gathered, and Yun Jin as the holder of the main key, only she could activate the entrance to the treasure realm.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "I'm afraid we can't just yet."
"Why not?" Duan Yiwei frowned.
Could it be...
She thought that just because the others were siding with her, she could start playing hard to get?
Yun Jin gave a faint smile. "It's not that I don't want to look for the treasure realm, but... this key isn't even mine."
Duan Yiwei froze, then burst into anger. "There's a clear resonance between the sub-keys and the main key. I can sense it perfectly. How can you deny it?"
Yun Jin raised a brow again. "And what good is your sensing ability? Did you pass the test of the number one sect under heaven, the Yuehua Sect?"
Duan Yiwei was stunned.
What number one sect?
What Yuehua Sect?
Then, as if remembering something, he snapped his gaze toward Mu Lan.
Mu Lan's face turned pale.
Was Yun Jin out of her mind?
What nonsense was she spewing?
He was just about to explain when Yun Jin casually continued, "Didn't Elder Mu say it himself? That this Sword Tomb belongs to the Yuehua Sect, and everything inside naturally belongs to the Yuehua Sect as well. Since this main key was found inside, then of course it also belongs to the Yuehua Sect.
As the number one sect under heaven, with Elder Mu's cultivation reaching the heavens—he's even said to be at the legendary Mahayana stage." Yun Jin put on an exaggeratedly frightened expression. "If he says I can't take it, then I'm too scared to even move."
Mu Lan was about to go mad.
What was Yun Jin pretending for?
She hadn't looked scared at all earlier. Now she was suddenly acting like a timid little deer?
And who in their right mind would dare to claim that Yuehua Sect was the number one sect under heaven?
But Yun Jin wasn't finished. She pressed on, "Look at yourselves. You're all only at the Divine Transformation stage, while Elder Mu is already in Mahayana. If he were to get angry, one strike would be enough to reduce us all to dust. I know you're all noble disciples of the Holy Lands, but the situation is clear. This is Yuehua Sect's domain. It's Elder Mu's domain.
So I have a proposal. Let's all hand our keys over to the Yuehua Sect. Then, naturally, the Wushuang Sect's treasure realm will belong to the Yuehua Sect as well. Only this way might we survive under Elder Mu's mercy."
Yun Jin spoke with such conviction and emotion that Mu Lan wanted to die on the spot.
Even if he had ten lives, he wouldn't dare lay a finger on disciples of the Holy Lands. And Yun Jin, someone who could make disciples of the Holy Lands show her such deference, clearly wasn't someone he could afford to offend either.
Mu Lan didn't know what Wushuang Sect was, or what this treasure was about.
Of course, he was tempted. But he also knew anything that could bring in the attention of all four Holy Lands was way out of his reach. Way out of Yuehua Sect's reach too.
To get involved now would be to invite destruction.
Mu Lan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly said, "No, no, I didn't mean anything like that. Treasures of the world belong to the capable. As for this Sword Tomb and the key, Yuehua Sect absolutely will not interfere."
Even as he said it, he still didn't dare lift his head.
"Oh?" Yun Jin looked genuinely surprised. "You really don't want it? Elder Mu, I was just about to hand you the key."
"No need, really no need," Mu Lan said, still frantically dabbing at his sweat.
Yun Jin chuckled. "Well then, I'll just take the Sword Tomb... and the key with me."
"That's only right, only right," Mu Lan answered at once.
Duan Yiwei frowned. He'd had enough of this nonsense. "Can we activate the key now?" he cut in.
"There's no rush," Yun Jin said evenly. "You've already picked your people. This main key can bring five along, but I haven't chosen mine yet."
Duan Yiwei scowled. "Where are your people?"
"They haven't arrived yet. So I'll wait," Yun Jin replied.
Duan Yiwei clenched his jaw. "Then tell me, how long do you plan to wait?"
Yun Jin gave a cold snort. "Until everyone is here. If you're too impatient, feel free to leave your sub-key and go. I'll find a new bearer for it."
The sub-keys could be reassigned?
A flicker of surprise passed across the faces of the others.
Ye Liuqin was the first to smile and speak. "We cultivators have long lives. Waiting a few days is nothing. Xuandan Gate is willing to wait."
Cheng Su followed immediately, not wanting to be outdone. "We disciples of Beastmaster Sect are known for our patience."
Jin Yu said nothing, only giving a firm nod.
Duan Yiwei's expression turned colder. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll wait too, but you'd best not take too long."
"I can't promise anything," Yun Jin replied calmly.
"You—" Duan Yiwei's eyes flashed with rage.
A mere Golden Core cultivator dared to speak to him like this?
Very well. Yun Jin was clearly walking the path to death.
Once the treasure realm opened, he would show her exactly what it meant to provoke him.
Forcing down his fury, Duan Yiwei put away his sub-key and said coldly, "Then I'll wait in Lin City. I suggest you don't try anything foolish, or you'll be wasting everyone's time."
With that, he flung his sleeve and left.
Jin Yu cupped his fists. "Junior Sister Yun, we'll remain nearby as well. If anything happens, come to me at once."
Yun Jin smiled and nodded.
Ye Liuqin and Cheng Su also smiled and took their leave.
These disciples of the Four Holy Lands were all proud and aloof. Aside from speaking with Yun Jin, they didn't bother acknowledging anyone else.
Mu Lan was at least given a bit of attention.
The rest of the crowd didn't even register in their eyes.
Yu Lin stood off to the side, barely daring to breathe. Only after the disciples of the Four Holy Lands had left did he dare to exhale.
But in the next moment...
Yun Jin locked eyes with him and walked straight over.
"Patriarch Yu."
Yu Lin stiffened, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes. "F-Fairy Yun..."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Didn't the Yu family say that anyone who passed the Sword Tomb could make one request of them? Am I mistaken?"
Yu Lin's heart sank. He glanced toward Mu Lan for help.
Mu Lan quickly looked away, not daring to get involved.
With the situation still unclear, the last thing he wanted was to cross Yun Jin again.
"Patriarch Yu, I asked you a question," Yun Jin said flatly.
Yu Lin flinched and quickly replied, "That is indeed what we promised. May I ask what Fairy Yun wishes?"
His heart was filled with dread. He feared Yun Jin might ask for something he couldn't possibly give.
But Yun Jin said calmly, "I won't make it hard for you. I want all the belongings of the former patriarch. That shouldn't be too difficult for you."
All the belongings of the former patriarch?
Yu Songnian froze, then turned sharply to look at Yun Jin.
In that moment, he understood.
So this was why Little Junior Sister had come here.
This was her true goal.