Zhai Ge looked at Yun Jin with a face full of sincerity. "Hall Master, I only made this proposal for the sake of Mingxin Hall's unity. I wonder what Hall Master thinks?"
Below the stage, the sect disciples lowered their heads in silence. Their expressions revealed nothing, but it was obvious they had known this arrangement was coming.
The loose cultivators, on the other hand, broke into an uproar. Many opened their mouths as if to protest, yet all swallowed their words. It was plain they did not wish to be forced into working alongside the sect disciples.
Hong Ye frowned and spoke directly, "Hall Master, after working together for so many years, we've already built tacit coordination. If we're suddenly paired with sect disciples, our fighting strength might actually drop instead of rise."
"How could that be?" Zhai Ge countered immediately. "The sect disciples' overall strength clearly surpasses these loose cultivators. Hong Ye, once you take them on a mission, you will understand."
He turned back to Yun Jin, his voice sonorous. "Hall Master, I only believe that Mingxin Hall should be one unified whole. If we keep letting the two sides stand opposed, it will bring us no benefit at all."
Shi Li also added, "I agree. Forcing the sect disciples and loose cultivators to mix might spark some surprising results."
All eyes turned to Yun Jin.
Zhai Ge's gaze flickered. His reasoning was sound, unassailable from any angle.
Yun Jin swept her eyes over the crowd and suddenly smiled. Her voice softened. "Very well. Your suggestion is a good one. From this day, sect disciples and loose cultivators will be mixed together to jointly execute missions."
The corners of Zhai Ge's lips curled in the faintest trace of satisfaction.
Yun Jin's voice rose again, calm yet clear. "This time the missions are weighty and the danger high." She drew out a stack of talismans. "I have prepared a set of life-preserving talismans. Each of you will take one. If you face an irresistible danger, ignite the talisman."
With a wave of her sleeve, the talismans drifted down, one for every person present.
"Talismans?"
Zhai Ge's expression shifted ever so slightly. He did not believe for a moment that Yun Jin would so kindly hand out treasures that could truly save lives. If anything, he suspected the opposite—that activating one might bring disastrous consequences.
A cold sneer flickered at the corner of his mouth.
Did Yun Jin really think a mere talisman could control them?
No matter what these things were, as a precaution, he would never carry one on his person.
He cast Shi Li a look. Shi Li immediately understood, giving a subtle nod. He too would warn the sect disciples under him not to keep the talismans close.
While Zhai Ge and Shi Li played their careful little games, Hong Ye thought nothing of it. She accepted her talisman gratefully. The other loose cultivators also cherished theirs, tucking them carefully within reach.
After all, the Hall Master had said these could protect their lives. In missions like this, death and injury were inevitable. If such a talisman could truly grant them one extra chance at survival, then it was a priceless gift.
Yun Jin, of course, could see the differences in how each group treated the talismans. But she did not expose anyone.
Every person had their own fate.
The talismans were identical. Whether they used them or not was their own choice.
The next step was choosing personnel.
Yun Jin was not familiar enough with the disciples to make detailed picks. She simply waited until the others finished choosing, then casually selected a few to fill her team.
Thus, with Yun Jin, Zhai Ge, Shi Li, and Hong Ye, four squads were assembled.
No one lingered. After brief preparations, the teams departed.
The Demon-Slaying Alliance provided specialized flying vessels, faster by far than ordinary flight artifacts.
Standing at the prow of the flying boat, Yun Jin let her thoughts drift to the details of her five assigned missions.
Each involved Mahayana demons. Yet by comparison, these demons were not especially powerful. Three were only early Mahayana, while two had reached mid Mahayana. The Demon-Slaying Alliance had long prepared specialized artifacts for combating such foes, making it easier to hold the upper hand against them.
As for the lesser demons, Mingxin Hall's disciples could handle them with their dedicated Demon-Slaying arrays.
Yun Jin's role was to slay the ringleaders.
Her spiritual sense was razor sharp. Though she appeared to stand in silence, the entire vessel, every person aboard, was firmly within her perception.
Her squad consisted of thirty-nine people—half sect disciples, half loose cultivators.
Most of them harbored curiosity toward her, stealing glances from time to time.
Yun Jin ignored it all.
But one sect disciple did not simply glance. His gaze was fixed, unblinking, always locked on her.
Yun Jin arched a brow and looked directly at him. "Kong Huai. Come here."
Kong Huai jolted, head instinctively dipping. Then he forced himself to raise his chin again, arrogance hardening his expression.
He strode forward with firm steps, speaking neither humble nor overbearing. "Hall Master, what instructions do you have for me?"
Yun Jin tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "Do you have something you wish to ask me?"
Kong Huai froze, then shook his head.
"Then get lost." Yun Jin's voice was edged with impatience.
Yet Kong Huai refused to leave. After a pause, he bit his lip and spoke. "Hall Master chose me deliberately during the selection, didn't you? Because that day in the hall, I contradicted you. You picked me out to make an example of me."
He stared straight into Yun Jin's eyes.
She regarded him sidelong, her expression unreadable.
Kong Huai stood ramrod straight, unyielding.
At last, Yun Jin's lips curved in a peculiar smile. "When I made my selections, I was the last to choose. Instead of worrying that I singled you out, why don't you reflect on why no one else wanted you in their team?"
Kong Huai's face twitched with embarrassment, though he quickly retorted, "Perhaps Hall Master secretly told the others not to pick me."
This time, Yun Jin truly laughed.
"You think a mere Divine Transformation disciple is worth me scheming behind the scenes?"
"I… I am already at the peak of Divine Transformation. I may break through to Unity at any time!" Kong Huai blurted.
"And then?" Yun Jin's expression grew stranger. "Do you think that would stop me from crushing you with a single finger?"
Kong Huai's lips worked soundlessly.
Yun Jin waved her hand dismissively. "Enough. Get lost. And stop staring at me, or I will dig out your eyes."
With that cold threat, Kong Huai dared say no more. He turned and retreated. He cast a final glance at Yun Jin's back, then quickly averted his eyes.
Just wait.
This so-called Hall Master called them parasites.
He would see for himself whether Yun Jin truly lived up to her own words. If she failed to meet the standard she imposed on others, then all her righteous scolding was nothing but a joke.
"Senior Brother Kong, what did the Hall Master say to you?" someone asked curiously.
Kong Huai shook his head. "Nothing. She only told us to focus on the mission."
The disciple sneered, lowering his voice. "Focus on the mission? She sure dares to dream. A little girl, thinking she can truly control us all. Senior Brother Kong, did you notify your sect yet? Elder Shi said that if our sects band together and accuse Yun Jin of injustice, we can push for her removal as Hall Master. I think this plan has great potential."
Kong Huai pressed his lips together. His sect was not represented by him alone here. Though he had not personally informed his elders, the other disciples surely had already sent word back. If multiple sects joined hands to challenge Yun Jin's authority, could she really withstand it?
Most likely not.
This new Hall Master probably would not last many days.
Kong Huai pushed the thought away and kept silent.