The second realm of the Yin-Yang Codex: Fusion of Yin and Yang.
According to the imagination of Wandao Saint, at this stage the energies of yin and yang would merge together, producing mysterious and unpredictable changes.
The third realm of the Yin-Yang Codex: Rebirth of Yin and Yang.
At this realm, yin and yang would not only merge but could also continuously regenerate. If everything in existence could be divided into yin and yang, and yin-yang itself could endlessly renew…
Would that not be akin to stepping into the realm of a creator god?
Though the latter two realms only existed in theory, the sheer scope of such vision filled Yun Jin with admiration for her master. Her curiosity about the legendary Yin-Yang Wheel that had once inspired Wandao Saint grew stronger as well.
This was not the first time she had heard of the Yin-Yang Wheel.
Cang Li had once spoken of it. When he was a child, he had caught sight of the Yin-Yang Wheel, and from that revelation the Tai'a Sword was born. At that time, he had been but a boy. For him to grasp even a shred of its mystery was proof of extraordinary talent.
Wandao Saint, however, was a supreme genius who stood at the very peak of cultivation.
When he too witnessed the Yin-Yang Wheel at the height of his power, the insight he gained far outstripped what Cang Li had perceived.
From that single glimpse, he had created the Yin-Yang Codex.
Yun Jin could not help but wonder what kind of existence this Yin-Yang Wheel truly was, that it could even paralyze Wandao Saint in place.
She thought back to her journeys through countless small worlds.
In truth, she had encountered the concept of yin and yang many times. And yet, strangely enough, none of those small worlds contained any authentic cultivation methods that harnessed yin and yang. At most, a technique or name might reference it, but the essence was unrelated.
The Yin-Yang Codex, therefore, could be considered the very first true scripture to apply yin and yang energy in earnest.
Yun Jin had the faint feeling that there was some deeper mystery behind this matter, though for now she could not discern what it was.
Perhaps, once she cultivated the Codex to its final third realm, all would be made clear.
Shaking off her wandering thoughts, Yun Jin gave a firm command to the system:
"Perfect the Yin-Yang Codex."
Wandao Saint had been a peerless genius to conceive of such a method. But he had perished before he could refine it fully. Naturally, many flaws still lingered within.
The system's refinement could fill those flaws and bring it to a perfect state. Yet when the order was given, the system did not immediately respond. The panel flickered repeatedly. It almost seemed to… freeze?
This was the first time Yun Jin had seen such a thing, and she was more curious than alarmed. She waited patiently. At last, the system steadied itself.
Then came its mechanical voice:
[Refining the first realm: Cost, one billion Emotional Value.]
And then it flickered again.
Yun Jin: "???"
What in the world?!
One billion?!
That amount of Emotional Value could refine every scripture in the world several times over!
And this was only for perfecting the first realm of the Yin-Yang Codex?
Her Sect Master's Residence had been upgraded to level two for just five hundred million!
What kind of monstrous scripture was this Yin-Yang Codex?!
For the first time, Yun Jin felt a chill of unease.
The system flickered again, then delivered the next line:
[Refining the second realm: Cost, five billion Emotional Value.]
Yun Jin's heart skipped a beat.
Five billion?! That much could upgrade the Trial Tower to level two outright!
And the Trial Tower's worth was undeniable.
Yet the second realm of the Yin-Yang Codex demanded more than that?
She held her breath, waiting for the third figure.
She had to know.
Just how terrifying would the third realm cost?
Beside her, the Tian Po Sword waited silently. Watching Yun Jin's shifting expressions, its own emotions swung between pride and worry.
Indeed, this scripture was no trivial thing. To challenge even its Young Master to such an extent… the old master's genius shone all the brighter. But what if she could not enter the gate? Would the Yin-Yang Codex vanish forever? And would failure wound her invincible Dao heart?
The Tian Po Sword was almost trembling from the tension.
This wait dragged on longer than the last two.
Finally, the system gave its verdict.
[Refining the third realm: Cost, fifty billion Emotional Value.]
Yun Jin's lips twitched.
How much?!
Fifty billion?!
She had only earned one hundred and fifty billion Emotional Value by leveraging the aid of the Heavenly Dao itself.
And now the system demanded fifty billion—just for the third realm alone.
She had never seen such an astronomical number. Even if she scoured every living being in this small world, she might not gather that much. And that was just for refinement.
What of cultivation itself?
At this level, the cost of training would surely be staggering beyond measure.
To master all three realms, Yun Jin suspected even draining this entire world's Emotional Value might not be enough. And she could not possibly sink everything into one scripture.
The Trial Tower still had to reach the third level.
The Sect Master's Residence and Disciple Dormitories still needed upgrades.
Her daily cultivation and battles also required reserves.
She still had to refine countless other scriptures for the sake of the world. With all these demands, her Emotional Value was already stretched thin. After upgrading two buildings, she now had only seventy billion remaining. Staring at the panel for a long moment, Yun Jin clenched her teeth.
"Refine the first and second realms."
Sixty billion vanished in an instant, and the system began to labor.
This time, it did not yield results immediately. Instead, it churned furiously, as if even for the system, perfecting this Codex was no small feat.
Watching her reserves dwindle to a mere ten billion, Yun Jin's heart ached. She had thought herself a rich woman of Emotional Value. Who could have guessed she would become poor again so quickly?
Still… it was worth it.
After all, the refinement of just the first two realms had cost more than upgrading the Trial Tower. That alone proved the might of this scripture. Now she happened to have another chance to challenge the Trial Tower.
The Law reward had already been chosen.
Her soul realm would rise naturally.
Spiritual power rewards were unimportant.
The best choice was to increase her scripture proficiency.
At first, Yun Jin had thought clearing the Tower would max out the Codex's proficiency.
But not anymore.
Given the astronomical costs she had just seen, it was clear the Tower as it stood could not possibly raise the third realm's proficiency.
Perhaps only a level three Trial Tower might have the chance. But upgrading to level three required two hundred billion Emotional Value. Refining the Codex's third realm required five hundred billion. Seven hundred billion in total.
At her current rate, it would take far too long to accumulate that much. By then, the outer-realm demons might have already invaded.
For now, Yun Jin's goal was simple: increase her strength quickly. If she could only master the first two realms, then so be it.
Any scripture that demanded such a vast sea of Emotional Value just to perfect the first two realms—once she trained them to their peak, their power would be no less than seizing hold of an entire Great Law itself.