The entire grassland was still trembling violently.
Even though the Yu Tribe experts had retreated over a hundred miles away, they were still shaken. From such a distance, the ground beneath their feet was still quivering nonstop.
Yu Yi!
He'd used everything he had!
They waited for a long time. Only when the trembling finally stopped did they begin to realize—the battle was over.
Who won? Who lost?
Everyone rushed toward the battlefield. And then they saw Yu Yi collapsed on the ground, while Yun Jin knelt beside him, trying to comfort him.
"Senior Yu, please don't take it too hard," Yun Jin said gently.
"Sure, I didn't use my full strength," she added quickly. "But it's not because I looked down on you, it's because I didn't want to endanger your life.
Think about it another way," she continued earnestly. "Didn't you keep me pinned down the entire time? I didn't even have a chance to fight back, did I?
You're really strong, honestly. You just ran out of spiritual power, that's all. As for me, I didn't even attack. I mean it, your strength's impressive. Among everyone I know, you could probably rank in the…"
Yu Yi's face grew darker the more he listened. When she paused, he looked at Yun Jin expectantly.
After a brief silence, she cautiously said, "Would top hundred make you happy?"
Yu Yi's lips twitched hard.
The hell?!
On the Nanlan Continent, he could at least rank top ten! Yet in Yun Jin's eyes, he was only top hundred among her opponents?
He let out a long sigh and stopped dwelling on it. "Even my strongest Law couldn't touch you. I lost this time, fair and square. I have only one request."
"Please, go ahead, Senior," Yun Jin said at once.
"Your strongest path should be your Wood Attribute Law, right? Can you show it to me? Just once?" Yu Yi asked hopefully.
Yun Jin fell silent.
Strongest? Not exactly.
Yu Yi's face darkened a little. "Am I really not even worth a single move from you?"
"That's not it." Yun Jin sighed softly. "I was planning to use it anyway, Senior Yu."
Spiritual power wrapped around her fingertips, and in the next instant, countless green motes of light rose from the grass. The land that had been shattered by Yu Yi's Earth Tremor began to stir with new life.
Within just a few breaths, the once-ruined grassland was covered in vibrant green again.
Yu Yi's pupils contracted sharply.
Before he could react, Yun Jin guided the motes into his body. A surge of Wood-element energy filled him with boundless vitality.
Moments ago, he'd been utterly exhausted, yet now he felt invigorated, every cell thrumming with energy. He could feel the change clearly, and a flash of disbelief crossed his eyes.
There was no trace of aggression in Yun Jin's move, yet the power hidden within it was terrifying. Her control over Wood-element spiritual power was perfect, as natural as breathing.
No—no, that wasn't right.
It wasn't that she controlled the Wood element, it was that the Wood element eagerly obeyed her. The energy itself seemed proud to answer her call.
After a long pause, Yu Yi couldn't help but ask, "You... you've comprehended the Primordial Wood?"
Yun Jin nodded. "That was years ago."
Yu Yi's lips twitched again.
Years ago?
From the way she said it, he almost thought she meant centuries!
"I accept my defeat," Yu Yi said with a wry smile, slowly standing up.
"I should be thanking you, Senior," Yun Jin said sincerely. "Because of you, I've fully mastered the Super Law: Impenetrable Wall. Turns out, you only truly understand it once you internalize it. Now my defense is balanced inside and out."
Yu Yi's expression stiffened.
Who would've thought—he'd worked himself to the bone, only to help her master Impenetrable Wall!
"At the same time," Yun Jin added thoughtfully, "I've gained new insight into Earth Tremor. I think I'll be able to master that Super Law soon."
Yu Yi fell silent again.
That was a Super Law!
Why did she make it sound as easy as buying cabbage at the market?
His lips trembled slightly, and suddenly he said, "The tribe closest to us is the Di Lie Tribe."
Yun Jin blinked, a little curious. "And?"
Yu Yi looked deadly serious. "The Di Lie Tribe's Di Yong has mastered the Super Law: Impenetrable Wall. You can go challenge him. If your attacks can break through his defense, you'll be ready to comprehend Earth Tremor."
Yun Jin's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! Senior Yu, you're such a good man!"
Yu Yi straightened his back and said solemnly, "It's only right. I've gained a lot from this battle too. I look forward to seeing you master even more Super Laws."
"Thank you," Yun Jin said gratefully. Without resting, she vanished from sight in an instant.
Yu Yi exhaled slowly, watching where she disappeared.
He'd lost.
That news would spread soon enough.
The only way to save face now… was if everyone lost too.
Fine then, he thought.
Let's see who ends up more embarrassed.
Once Yun Jin made her rounds through the tribes, he could say proudly that he was the only one who hadn't even been hit! He'd lost, sure, but with honor intact!
"She's... already gone to the Di Lie Tribe?" one of the Yu Tribe members asked, still dazed.
Yu Yi nodded, looking rather pleased. "At her speed, she'll be there in a few days."
He decided to go into seclusion for a while. Once Di Yong lost too, he'd come out again. By then, at least someone would share his humiliation.
With that comforting thought, Yu Yi promptly announced his retreat.
Meanwhile, news that Yun Jin had defeated the Yu Tribe's strongest warrior spread quickly.
In the Shi Tribe's territory, an entire mountain range had been renamed the Wushuang Mountains—the new headquarters of the Wushuang Sect.
When Yu Songnian received word of Yun Jin's victory, he couldn't help but smile.
As expected of their Sect Master.
While Yun Jin was out winning battles, they had just finished preparing the new recruitment plans.
Yu Songnian spoke calmly, "Begin the enrollment. Wherever the Sect Master fights, we'll follow up with recruitment there. To establish our branches firmly, we need local disciples. We used to recruit only in the Shi Tribe region, which helped, but our goal's the entire Nanlan Continent."
The first group of disciples had been those rare races Yun Jin had rescued earlier.
Many of their kin, captured by the royal city, had already perished.
Yu Songnian and the royal family had arranged homes for the survivors, and once they recovered, they eagerly signed up to join the Wushuang Sect's branch.
Their presence attracted even more rare races to join. Not all passed the tests, but the first batch of branch disciples had already been chosen.
The King hadn't mentioned letting Shi Tribe members join the Sect's entrance trial, so Yu Songnian didn't bring it up either. If he did, she might think he was being self-serving, when in truth, supporting the Shi Tribe's inclusion would've shown his loyalty to them.
Right now, few on the Nanlan Continent realized how much of an honor it was to join the Wushuang Sect.
But that was fine. They'd understand soon enough.
Just like back on the Central Continent, the first batch of disciples would always have the biggest advantage.
During early recruitment, the requirements were always more lenient. Whoever seized this opportunity—it all depended on fate.