Yun Jin looked obedient: "I will follow what the Fairy Sister says."
From this vague figure, she felt a power capable of destroying heaven and earth. Without reason, only a fool would provoke a strength of this magnitude.
The Fairy chuckled softly, speaking warmly: "I am Zi Mo Xiāndì of the Immortal Realm."
Yun Jin's heart trembled.
Immortal Emperor?
The Immortal Realm's situation had been preserved in numerous texts.
A Immortal Emperor was among the top-tier cultivators in the Immortal Realm.
And yet,
Here she was, trapped within a statue, her life force barely perceptible.
Moreover,
The statue in Qingxiao Main City represented a strength at the level of a Immortal Emperor.
What about the other three statues?
They might very well be three more Immortal Emperors.
Four Immortal Emperors together descending upon a seemingly ordinary small world left Yun Jin momentarily horrified. She recalled the deal she had made with the Heavenly Dao. It had said that once she reached a certain realm, it would reveal to her the greatest secret of this world.
Could this so-called greatest secret be related to these four statues?
Zi Mo Xiāndì smiled and continued: "As you guessed, the remaining three statues also hold the power of Immortal Emperors. However, due to certain incidents, the four of us can only self-seal within the statues and cannot accomplish much at present."
Though Zi Mo Xiāndì spoke calmly, Yun Jin did not dare take her words at face value. Merely existing there, she could deter countless ferocious beasts from approaching. She could perceive the thoughts of mortals and mete out rewards or punishments at will. Even with some restrictions, the mere display of these abilities was terrifying.
"May I ask what orders Xiāndì has?" Yun Jin asked respectfully.
Zi Mo Xiāndì pondered for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words. After a while, she asked gently:
"You must have heard something about the origins of the Four Great Holy Lands?"
Yun Jin nodded: "Five thousand years ago, a corpse of an Immortal fell. Four cultivators discovered four divine artifacts on the corpse. Using these artifacts as foundations, they established the Four Great Holy Lands, which have persisted to this day."
Zi Mo Xiāndì nodded calmly: "Indeed, those four took four divine artifacts. However, the power of those artifacts was mediocre. They were not particularly impressive."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow.
The very artifacts that had established the Four Great Holy Lands' five-thousand-year glory were merely mediocre in the eyes of a Fairy Emperor.
Was this the perspective of a Immortal Emperor?
"But these four divine artifacts are extremely important," Zi Mo Xiāndì said softly. "Their power is secondary. Most importantly, they serve as a kind of proof."
Proof?
Yun Jin frowned.
"The Qingxiao Pavilion's Ruler was a toy I personally created when my cultivation was still shallow," Zi Mo Xiāndì said carelessly. "At the time, I sent the Ruler to the lower realm as a contingency. Unexpectedly, a thousand years ago, a real incident occurred, and that contingency came into play."
Zi Mo Xiāndì looked at Yun Jin calmly: "Yun Jin, when the Sky City opens next, if you can obtain the Ruler itself, merge it with the spiritual essence of the Ruler in your possession, and then come to see me, I will grant you a great opportunity."
The next time the Sky City opens.
Obtain the Ruler itself.
Yun Jin's expression shifted slightly.
The Ruler was the Qingxiao Pavilion's foundational divine artifact. To obtain it meant only one possibility:
Qingxiao Pavilion would fall, and Wushuang Sect would rise as the new Holy Land.
Naturally, she could then take the Ruler.
"I will do my best," Yun Jin said.
Zi Mo Xiāndì nodded: "You may go."
She waved lightly.
The next moment, Yun Jin returned to the ground. The spiritual essence of the Ruler was immediately collected.
Yun Jin looked up at the statue, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. Zi Mo Xiāndì's words were vague, clearly concealing much.
Yun Jin would not blindly trust someone just for appearances. Still, replacing Qingxiao Pavilion was one of her goals. For now, her plans aligned with the Fairy Emperor's instructions.
Then she would proceed accordingly. The next Sky City opening would be nearly ten years away. By then, her cultivation would have reached unknown heights. Whether she would see Zi Mo Xiāndì then was a matter for the future.
However, Yun Jin could not help but feel curious. With four Immortal Emperors stationed there, what secrets could the Sky City possibly hold? Curiosity aside, Yun Jin was not one to dwell on things. In an instant, she pushed the matter from her mind.
She turned around.
The crowd looked at her with complex expressions.
Yun Jin cleared her throat lightly: "A little, just a little. During the gathering, I had a sudden insight. No one expected that by casually practicing, I would make a small breakthrough.
I know everyone is looking forward to this gathering. Next time, I will continue hosting it and make sure everyone enjoys it fully." Her tone was apologetic.
The crowd was speechless.
Were they concerned about the gathering?
Did they not realize the magnitude of the commotion she had caused?
"Sect Master Yun," a cold voice sounded. Lin Xiao's gaze was like a venomous snake: "That technique just now, was it the Wandao Saint's Yin-Yang Codex? Sect Master Yun's strength is becoming unfathomable.
Though your spiritual realm is only Unity, few in the Mahayana stage could oppose you. When you reach Mahayana, will you not be invincible?" Lin Xiao seemed to try to instill fear of Yun Jin in the crowd.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow but showed no sign of modesty. She smiled: "My cultivation has indeed progressed slightly. In the Mahayana stage, few are my match. Pavilion Master Lin, you are also a peerless expert. How about we spar? I want to test my current strength."
Not only did Yun Jin accept, she actively challenged Lin Xiao!
The crowd's eyes widened in shock.
This Yun Jin!
What audacity!
Their gazes shifted between Yun Jin and Lin Xiao. The arena fell into a tense silence.
"Pavilion Master Lin, just a friendly spar, you are not afraid, right?" Yun Jin asked with a light laugh.
Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing: "Sect Master Yun jokes. The Ranking Conclave is ongoing. I am busy with affairs and have no time for childish games. I hope Sect Master Yun continues to improve and reaches the Mahayana stage soon."
Lin Xiao refused the challenge. Yun Jin felt a small pang of disappointment; she had genuinely wanted to gauge his strength.
Yun Jin smiled slightly: "Don't worry. You won't wait long."
Lin Xiao glanced at her coldly and left.
Yun Jin paid no mind. After giving Yue Zhao a few instructions, she returned to Wushuang Sect.
The Yin-Yang Codex was finally entered!
Next,
She would rush to challenge the tower!
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仙帝 (Xiāndì) Literally translate as Immortal Emperor. It was cultivation stage, I'm not sure about their formal title as I translate this chapter. So I use their pinyin as the formal title for now.