The gate Yun Tie had forged collapsed with a thunderous roar.
A terrifying wave of fire swept through, melting the once-solid metal into a puddle of molten iron.
Yun Jin watched the disciple on the ground, terrified beyond reason, while a small flame flickered at her fingertips. She smiled, and slowly approached. Looking down at the man sprawled on the floor, she said, "If you had been this cautious when purging demons and upholding the Dao, this land would not have allowed evil to run rampant to such an extent."
She bent slightly, her lips curving into a trace of malicious amusement. "Speaking of which, my strength could use a test as well. How about this—you absorb this little flame of mine, and I'll see what you're truly capable of. You are Unity Realm, after all. Surely you won't die just like that?"
The disciple's terror deepened, his voice trembling as he shouted, "Hall Master, Hall Master! It is my failure for not recognizing greatness. I know my mistake!"
His heart throbbed with regret. Had he not been told that Yun Jin, though arrogant, was supposedly easy to handle?
Otherwise, the Blood Dao Sect would not have risked a mere mortal's life to make her appear.
Such a person…
She might be harsh on demons, but at her core, she was still a good person. But who had ever seen a good person strike first at the slightest provocation?
If Yun Jin could, she would have explained this to him. "Brother, your misunderstanding of me is far too great."
Ignoring his pleas, Yun Jin let the flame drift toward him. Just as it was about to touch him, a clear voice rang out. "Hall Master Yun, we are on the same side. There is no need for such cruelty."
A middle-aged man appeared, smiling. He reached out to block the flame.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, unsurprised.
This man had been hiding in the shadows long ago. The disciple who troubled her was nothing more than a pawn, and the identity of the man behind him… was now apparent.
She did not interfere as he tried to stop the flame.
Seeing only a small flicker of fire casually sent toward him, the man did not take her seriously. He tried to block it with ease.
But the moment his spiritual energy touched the flame, it flared violently, exploding in the next instant. Though he was a Mahayana cultivator, the close-range blast shook his Primordial Soul pool violently.
And it was not over.
The post-explosion flame scattered into a storm of sparks. He managed to suppress most of them, but the remaining sparks rained down onto the disciple.
The disciple, seeing the middle-aged man appear, had initially felt relief, thinking he had escaped. He did not expect Yun Jin's fire to be so peculiar. Even when partially blocked, it could split and continue.
The moment the sparks touched him, he cried out in pain.
The middle-aged man's face darkened. Bending over, he used his spiritual energy to suppress the flames while drawing out various pills.
Even so, it took the better part of an incense stick's time to extinguish the blaze completely.
By then, the disciple's cultivation had been reduced by more than half.
The middle-aged man's expression was grim. He said softly, "Hall Master, even if my apprentice was careless in words, this punishment is excessive. Your actions make you no different from the demons themselves."
Yun Jin could not help but chuckle.
So they were trying to pin a label on her?
Smiling sweetly, she said, "Deputy Hall Master Zhai, so this is your apprentice. Blind to the point of not even recognizing the hall master's token—this is incompetence. Him trying to block me is one thing. But what if tomorrow he tries the same excuse against you, Deputy Hall Master Zhai? Or someone else?
The whole day, the entire Mingxin Hall would be busy just proving themselves. No wonder there has been no progress in purging demons over the years. Everyone has been too busy proving themselves." Her words were deliberately sharp.
Zhai Ge's face darkened. Once the Hall Master of Mingxin Hall and a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator, he had been demoted to Deputy Hall Master after failing to assist Canglan Kingdom in time. He was also an elder of Qingxiao Pavilion. Having managed Mingxin Hall for years, the majority of its members were likely loyal to him.
Yun Jin arriving as the new Hall Master was both an opportunity and a challenge.
But Yun Jin had never feared a challenge.
Zhai Ge, huh?
If he was a tough bone, she would chew him down early.
Being the Hall Master meant reshaping Mingxin Hall entirely in her image.
Gritting his teeth, Zhai Ge said slowly, "Hall Master, perhaps your words are somewhat exaggerated."
Yun Jin feigned surprise. "Exaggerated? Does that mean he doesn't demand proof from everyone regularly? So he is singling me out?!"
Her expression darkened. "I am the Hall Master appointed by the Alliance Leader. Are his complaints about me, or a challenge to the Leader's decision? If so, I will take him to the Leader and speak directly."
The disciple turned pale, looking desperately at Zhai Ge.
Zhai Ge replied calmly, "It is not quite so extreme…"
Yun Jin sneered, her face unreadable. "If he acted deliberately, then he has grievances against both the Leader and me. We will go and settle it directly. If not, then he acts this way regularly.
Where did he get the authority to demand proof from everyone? How many demons are wreaking havoc outside while he wastes everyone's time? Half a reduction in cultivation is still too light. He should be removed entirely." Her voice suddenly grew cold.
"Master, save me!" the disciple knelt, trembling. He was genuinely terrified this time. Wasn't she supposed to be a noble figure? Pursuing justice, punishing the Blood Dao Sect, chasing them a thousand miles… She looked like a noble person!
And yet, for merely blocking her at the gate, she became so aggressive, ready to end his life. This was no noble person. This was more evil than the demons themselves.
Zhai Ge's eyes were cold as he said, "My apprentice has already lost half his cultivation. That should serve as punishment. Hall Master Yun, do not go too far. Otherwise, none below may obey you."
Yun Jin smiled. "Deputy Hall Master, is that a threat?"
Zhai Ge narrowed his eyes. "Not at all."
"So if no one below obeys me, the only one left to obey is you, Deputy Hall Master Zhai?" Yun Jin's smile turned wicked.
Zhai Ge frowned.
What a reckless girl.
She had grasped his meaning perfectly—and yet she said it aloud.
"Why don't we settle this with a fight first, and then see who everyone truly obeys?" Yun Jin chuckled.
The Tai'a Sword appeared in her hand.