Yun Jin spoke with sincerity, and even the Tian Po Sword began to feel tempted. It wasn't that he was unwilling to continue following the Young Master.
The truth was… Yun Jin's current strength was already enough to annihilate a Mahayana cultivator in mid-stage with ease. As for himself, even if he unleashed his full power, he could barely reach the level of early Mahayana.
The enemies he could handle, Yun Jin could crush without effort. The enemies Yun Jin could not handle, even if he went all out, would leave him helpless.
"Senior Tian Po, these new disciples really need your guidance," Yun Jin said earnestly.
The Tian Po Sword gave a dry cough and spoke in a solemn tone. "The mission given to me by my master was to protect the Young Master and guard her growth. By rights, I should remain at your side. But the sect's development is equally important. Since you believe the Wushuang Sect needs me here, then I will listen to you."
Yun Jin nodded at once. "Yes, the development of the Wushuang Sect cannot happen without you, Senior."
The Tian Po Sword felt very satisfied hearing this, nodding repeatedly.
"Young Master, I'll stay in the sect, but my sword seal remains with you. Should you ever need my help, you can summon me at any time," the Tian Po Sword said.
Although he suspected Yun Jin would never really need his help anymore—
Still!
He had his dignity. Such words had to be spoken.
"All as Senior wills," Yun Jin replied with a bright smile.
With Tian Po arranged, Yun Jin turned to An Tong for the next matter.
"An Tong, these past days, based on your observation, do we have any elders about to step into the Tribulation stage? Right now, we only need two more Mahayana to reach the requirement of a Super Sect. If we push hard in these last days, maybe we can…"
But before she finished speaking—
She suddenly sensed something, her expression shifting.
That oppressive force…
"!!! Young Master, it's a Thunder Tribulation!" An Tong exclaimed in surprise. "An elder on the verge of breakthrough! The alternate-dimension space isn't suited for receiving tribulation thunder, quickly bring them outside!"
Yun Jin nodded sharply.
In the next instant, she appeared before the elder about to transcend.
She knew this elder!
It was none other than Elder Yin Jun of the Tianxing Sect!
The moment Yin Jun saw her, she revealed a desperate, pleading look. "Sect Master, I think I'm about to break through. I can feel the pressure of the tribulation, but here in this alternate space, the heavenly thunder cannot sense me properly, so it won't descend."
Yun Jin nodded, pressing a hand on Yin Jun's shoulder. In the next moment, both appeared atop the back of the colossal turtle, where endless ocean spread before them.
The giant turtle, Shan Dian, had been swimming deep under the sea, but at Yun Jin's order, it surfaced.
The moment Yin Jun appeared on its back, the sky erupted. Thunder roared, and pitch-black clouds gathered at terrifying speed.
The Heavenly Tribulation had arrived.
If she endured it, she would step into Mahayana.
If she failed, her body and soul would be destroyed.
This was the deadliest trial faced by all cultivators. Countless prodigies had perished beneath the Ninefold Thunder Tribulation.
Even Yin Jun, with her steady temperament, felt nervous beneath that suffocating pressure.
Yet she managed to steady her heart.
Long before this moment, she had faintly sensed the signs of tribulation, and she had prepared herself.
Now, whether she rose to Mahayana or perished beneath the heavens, all rested on this trial.
No one could help her. Only she could endure.
"Senior Sister Yin Jun," Yun Jin said solemnly, "the token of Grand Elder is already prepared. Everything rests on you passing the Ninefold Thunder Tribulation."
In the Wushuang Sect, one had to reach Mahayana before being acknowledged as a Grand Elder. Her words were a blessing, a wish for Yin Jun to triumph.
Yin Jun drew a deep breath, her eyes brimming with unshakable confidence. "Sect Master, be at ease. I have prepared far too long for this moment. Since joining the Wushuang Sect, I have patched countless flaws. This tribulation—I will succeed."
With those words, Yin Jun ascended into the skies, charging straight into the clouds. At this stage, there was no turning back. If she failed to step into Mahayana, she would rather die beneath the thunder.
Yun Jin sat cross-legged on Shan Dian's back, watching calmly. Every cultivator aiming for Mahayana had to face this same trial. She had a premonition—her own Ninefold Thunder Tribulation was not far away.
"Young Master," the Tian Po Sword's voice rang out at her side. "Yin Jun's tribulation does not look particularly fierce. She should pass without trouble."
Yun Jin's eyes flickered. "You mean… for some people, the tribulation could be far fiercer?"
The Tian Po Sword showed a nostalgic look. "When my former master faced her tribulation, that was what you call world-shattering. Though it was called the Ninefold Thunder Tribulation, the lightning nearly covered the whole sky. It gathered for three days and three nights before striking. Generally, the more talent and potential one has, the more terrifying the tribulation. My master was a peerless genius. Such a calamity was only natural. In all this realm, such a tribulation may never appear again."
Yun Jin's curiosity was piqued. "Three days and three nights? I should be facing my tribulation soon too… I wonder what mine will be like."
The Tian Po Sword froze in place.
Right.
Yun Jin's tribulation!
He almost cursed aloud.
His former master barely survived her tribulation. Yun Jin's talent eclipsed even that.
Her tribulation… what kind of horror would it be?
The Tian Po Sword didn't even dare imagine.
For ordinary cultivators at Unity peak, they didn't need to worry about tribulation yet.
But for Yun Jin…
Her tribulation could arrive within a year or two.
That was terrifying.
The Tian Po Sword hurriedly warned, "Young Master, your Ninefold Tribulation will not be weaker than my master's! You must begin preparing right now. If you're not ready, suppress your cultivation and don't break through recklessly! Thunder tribulation truly is a matter of life and death."
Yun Jin nodded.
The stronger the talent, the fiercer the tribulation.
If the Wendao Saint's tribulation had gathered for three days and nights, then hers… who knew? She had to be ready.
Suddenly—
A deafening crash.
Yun Jin looked up.
The first bolt of tribulation thunder had fallen.
For those at the Tribulation stage, there were always nine bolts. Survive them, and one would step into Mahayana.
In the past, when the Immortal Road still existed, the Mahayana stage was but a transitional phase. Once the tribulation was passed and a cultivator accumulated enough spiritual power, the heavens would naturally summon them into the Immortal Realm.
But now…
The Immortal Road was severed. This world could no longer sense the aura of the Immortal Realm. Even peerless figures like Ji Wusi, who should have ascended long ago, were trapped here. Though the Mahayana's lifespan was vast, it still had an end. Without ascending, there was no true eternal life. Thus, countless cultivators sought ways to reopen the Immortal Road.
Yet all had failed.
Yun Jin too desired to reopen it. Unlike others, she already had some clues.
It was tied to the collapse of Heavenly's Dao.
Only when Heavenly's Dao was restored could the Immortal Road be opened again.
For now, she could only continue helping Heavenly's Dao, stabilizing the world piece by piece.