On the Martial Arena.
When Yun Jin appeared with the disciples of the Wushuang Sect, an odd silence swept across the crowd.
It was quiet before, but that quiet had been deliberate isolation. Now, however, the silence carried a faint undertone of awe. The brand-new body refinement technique she had created still lingered in their minds. Although their sect elders had immediately ordered them not to attempt it—claiming it was incomplete—who could truly believe that?
Was it really incomplete?
After all, news had already spread from other regions. Over at the Beastmaster Sect, the technique was being treasured like a divine gift, with every disciple already practicing it.
Kunlun Sword Sect and Xuandan Gate, too, had encouraged those interested to begin cultivation.
If it truly were flawed, why would the Heavenly Dao itself reveal it to the world?
If it truly were flawed, could the other three Holy Lands have failed to notice?
No. The truth was simple.
Only here, in the Qingxiao region, every sect had forbidden its disciples from practicing. Everyone could see through the farce. The problem was not Yun Jin's technique—it was Lin Xiao's hatred of her. He could not stand watching her reputation soar unchecked.
Before this, under Lin Xiao's influence, the sects of Qingxiao had imitated his attitude, subtly isolating both Yun Jin and the Wushuang Sect.
They had gone along with it partly because Lin Xiao's strength commanded respect, and partly because siding with him seemed to come at no personal cost. Who knew—perhaps it could even earn his favor.
But now, everything was different.
This technique was not an illusion. It was a brand-new cultivation system, one that could tangibly raise their strength. Lin Xiao's ban was not just about suppressing Yun Jin. It was about preventing them from growing stronger.
How could they not feel discontent?
To put it plainly—helping Lin Xiao isolate the Wushuang Sect had brought them no benefits.
Meanwhile, the disciples who had joined Wushuang Sect earlier were racing ahead, their progress so rapid it was almost frightening. People who once couldn't compare now easily crushed them, simply because they had chosen Yun Jin.
Worse still, Tianxing Sect, led by Lin Ya, had long since attached themselves to Yun Jin. Now Tianxing Sect had risen to lead the mid-tier sects, their disciples strutting with newfound superiority wherever they went.
The thought gnawed at them.
Yun Jin could casually refine such brilliant techniques. Who could believe she would share her very best work with the world?
Of course not.
The best things were given to her own Wushuang Sect disciples. Even Tianxing Sect had reaped the rewards. Those who had chosen Yun Jin were thriving. Their power soared, their futures secured.
And what of those who had chosen Lin Xiao?
What had they gained? Nothing.
He couldn't even deal with Yun Jin.
The contrast was glaring, and dissatisfaction spread quietly through the crowd.
Yun Jin, aware of it all, allowed a faint, knowing smile to curl on her lips. Her master Lin Ya had already informed her: many Sect Masters of mid-tier and low-tier sects had privately approached him, inquiring about the conditions to become an affiliated sect of Wushuang Sect.
The number of interested parties was far from small.
The only regret was that no high-tier or super-tier sect had yet extended their goodwill.
Yun Jin wasn't in a hurry. She left the matter of expanding affiliated sects entirely to Lin Ya. But this time, joining Wushuang Sect would not be so easy. The entry requirements for disciples would be far harsher than for the first waves. After all, they had squandered their chance when it first mattered.
As for the lack of recognition from high-tier sects, that was only natural.
Wushuang Sect hadn't won enough yet.
But once they kept winning, the high-tier sects would come. The super-tier sects would come. Yun Jin never intended to fight alone. Her ambition was to unite every ally she could, and in the end, drag Qingxiao Pavilion down from its throne.
She smiled faintly and, without hesitation, sat down beside Lin Xiao.
"Pavilion Master Lin," she said sweetly. "My master, Ji Shizun, told me to stay close to you from now on. He said a genius like me, if something were to happen, would be a loss to the entire human race. Pavilion Master Lin, you'll protect me at all costs, won't you?"
Her grin was mischievous, her tone almost taunting.
Lin Xiao's expression was stone. His gaze upon Yun Jin was utterly still, devoid of ripples. To him, Yun Jin was already a dead woman walking. The terror of that being he had bargained with was beyond anything this world could withstand. Even Ji Wu Si could not survive a single move.
"Rest assured," Lin Xiao said coldly. "I will not allow harm to come to you."
Yun Jin blinked, a little surprised. She had pushed him, yet not a trace of Emotional Value surfaced.
That could only mean one thing.
He was calm. Too calm. Which meant he was confident.
But confident about what?
A prickling wariness stirred in Yun Jin's heart. Lin Xiao was, after all, one of the outer-realm demons. In the last cycle, he had been the one to shatter the spatial wall, inviting the outer-realm demons to annihilate this world.
A man like that was bound to have a hidden card.
She couldn't afford to relax. She needed to grow stronger, and quickly. Since she couldn't milk him for Emotional Value, Yun Jin stopped bothering to banter with him.
On the arena, the referee announced the start of the round-robin matches.
To everyone's surprise, the Bitao Sect—normally ranked at the very bottom of the super-tier sects—had fought their way into the final four. By the end, the results shocked no one and everyone at once.
The champion was, of course, the Wushuang Sect.
But the true revelation was Bitao Sect. With a single technique refined by Yun Jin, they had soared to second place, even defeating Xinghe Sect.
Hua Ran could not hide his joy, while Liu Hua's face was thunderous.
In past years, Xinghe Sect had always crushed the competition. Last time, they'd fallen to second. This time, they were humiliated into third.
Yun Jin.
That cursed Yun Jin!
Liu Hua seethed with hatred but dared not voice it. Yun Jin was far too uncanny. The more one tried to provoke her, the more she seemed to thrive. When the referee announced the results, the arena sank into heavy silence.
That Wushuang Sect had taken the championship was expected. But that Bitao Sect had reached second place, all because of Yun Jin's modified technique?
What did this mean?
Whoever gains Yun Jin, gains the world.
If you had her help refining your techniques, you rose in rank.
Without it, you fell.
From now on, would the rise and fall of the cultivation world depend solely on Yun Jin's word?
Uneasy glimmers sparked in everyone's eyes.
Lin Xiao's stance was clear—he had forbidden them from seeking Yun Jin's help. But when a chance to increase one's strength stood so clearly before them, how could they resist?
That very night, someone quietly delivered a manual to Yun Jin.
She cared little for reward. She had only two conditions: first, the manual must be one she did not already possess. Second, every modified technique would be archived by the Wushuang Sect.
The first condition was easy to satisfy. After all, Yun Jin's collection was only just beginning.
The second condition made the truth plain.
The Wushuang Sect intended to gather all the techniques under heaven, to become an unstoppable giant.
No one dared to hand over their most secret manuals just yet. But as for the less vital ones, Yun Jin soon gathered plenty.
Lin Xiao wanted to stop it, but even as Sect Master of Qingxiao Pavilion, he could not control the hearts of all cultivators.
For now, out of respect for his authority, most of these exchanges were made in secret. And once the techniques were modified, disciples could cultivate them privately, without detection for some time.