Brilliant sunlight and moonlight continuously converged and reformed around Yun Jin. It seemed as if some supreme Law quietly manipulated all these transformations.
This…
What Law was this?
In the plaza, people did not even need to look at the big screen. A glance at the dome above was enough to see two torrents of energy cascading like waterfalls from the sky, ultimately converging into Yun Jin's body.
The next moment,
Lin Xiao appeared in the plaza. At that instant, not a single person bowed or greeted him.
All were awestruck by the overwhelming force, a fascination slowly blooming in their hearts. What an imposing and majestic power. The combination of sunlight and moonlight? No, it was far more complex.
Lin Xiao gazed at the sky, his expression darkening slightly.
The Yin-Yang Codex!
Long ago, the Wandao Saint had been invincible across heaven and earth, relying on this very Codex. He had arrived in this world ten thousand years ago, spending the prior millennia quietly healing.
Five thousand years ago, when an immortal's corpse fell, he seized a divine artifact and established Qingxiao Pavilion. He had thought that he could then expand his power, but unexpectedly, there existed another Wandao Saint in this world!
Even with the four Great Holy Lands possessing divine artifacts to suppress Luck, During the era of the Wushuang Sect, the Great Holy Lands had been subdued into obscurity. Even he dared not act recklessly and could only remain hidden.
Lin Xiao recalled his past meetings with the Wandao Saint: the Saint's quiet gaze seemed to pierce through all.
It was not until a millennium ago, when the Wandao Saint and the Wushuang Sect perished together, that Lin Xiao could gradually increase his actions. Yet, Ji Wusi and the others were not fools. While acting secretly, he had to carefully avoid detection. Overall, however, it was much better than the prior thousand years; he had made some progress.
But that peace did not last long.
Yun Jin appeared.
Then,
His secret schemes were exposed one after another. Though no concrete evidence was seized, the Great Holy Lands' vigilance and fear of Qingxiao Pavilion became overt.
Yun Jin kept stirring trouble. He had once tried to suppress her, but a few days ago, when her ability to refine secret techniques was revealed, even he could no longer control her.
Now,
This already frustrating Yun Jin seemed to have learned the Wandao Saint's Yin-Yang Codex!
Just thinking of the Wandao Saint's former might made Lin Xiao shiver involuntarily. He knew that given enough time, Yun Jin would inevitably grow into a second Wandao Saint. He had been gambling that time would not suffice. As long as she could be eliminated before fully maturing, his grand plan would remain intact.
But Yun Jin was a monster; each appearance showed new progress.
Three years from now, would he even be able to kill her?
That thought flashed, but Lin Xiao forced it down. He could. He had seen the power he was facing. That power even surpassed the outer-realm demon god. Even with her dazzling light, Yun Jin only had three years. Thinking so, Lin Xiao kept his eyes fixed on the twin waterfalls of light above the dome.
After some indeterminate time, all the light was absorbed, and the world returned to calm.
The crowd instinctively glanced at the big screen.
On the screen, black-and-white points of light danced across Yun Jin's body, finally settling into stillness.
She resumed her usual appearance.
She raised her gaze.
Though separated by the screen, those watching felt an involuntary shiver under her glance.
Yun Jin had always been strong. Now, however, she carried an air of detachment and authority. Her eyes seemed like a divine being looking down upon ants.
The sensation lasted only a moment before she returned to her normal demeanor. Feeling this new power, she was pleasantly surprised. The improved Yin-Yang Codex was overwhelmingly strong. She had just entered it, yet her combat power had already grown. With her Sect's strength added, Yun Jin felt almost invincible. She believed she could easily handle most late-stage Mahayana cultivators!
Whether she could match Lin Xiao remained uncertain. He likely had many hidden moves, but she also had her own. Even if she could not defeat him yet, escape would be easy. Once she cleared the Trial Tower and improved her mastery of the Yin-Yang Codex, defeating Lin Xiao would be achievable. If her spiritual power also reached the Mahayana stage,
Then—
Yun Jin thought with confidence: four words summed it up—invincible in this realm.
While she reveled in this thought,
Suddenly,
A mysterious sensation made her lift her head.
She saw the most awe-inspiring sight of her life.
In the void,
A colossal Yin-Yang Wheel appeared.
As it manifested, even the Taiyin Star vanished from the sky.
Everyone looked up in shock.
Even Lin Xiao felt nothing but profound awe for the immense power.
Yun Jin's heart skipped. Could this be the Yin-Yang Wheel once seen by Cang Li and the Wandao Saint? Such terrifying power defied comprehension without firsthand experience.
Lowering her head, Yun Jin noticed everyone on the ground had frozen, including Lin Xiao, looking like lifeless puppets.
She realized the next moment:
She could still move.
She could still act.
Why?
Her cultivation was far below that of the Wandao Saint.
Yun Jin could not help but lift her gaze to the Yin-Yang Wheel. Though called a wheel, to her it seemed more like a massive millstone. Yin and Yang spun continuously, holding unfathomable mysteries between them. Curiously, she studied the slowly rotating wheel. Somehow, she could feel immense goodwill radiating from it.
The Yin-Yang Wheel was sending her benevolence?
Was this because of the improved Yin-Yang Codex?
Yun Jin pondered.
In the sky, stars moved along specific trajectories. Countless starlights converged, then exploded like fireworks. Fireworks born of countless stars.
Yun Jin raised her eyes. Her own gaze reflected the starlight, yet shone brighter than any star.
Somehow, she felt it intuitively: This grand display was for her alone.
The Yin-Yang Wheel was celebrating her entry into the Codex. Yun Jin smiled softly and whispered, "Thank you."
Whether the Yin-Yang Wheel could comprehend, it vanished from the sky immediately.
Everything returned to normal.
As if it had never been there.
===
Author Note:
Timeline clarification: Lin Xiao arrived in this world ten thousand years ago. The immortal corpse fell roughly five thousand years ago. The four Great Holy Lands were established at the same time. One thousand years ago, Sky City descended, followed by the fall of the Wushuang Sect.