"Let's go, follow the Sect Master's lead, and start recruiting!" Yu Songnian said with a grin.
The disciples of Wushuang Sect answered in unison.
Their first stop for this round of recruitment was the Yu Tribe. Within the Yu Tribe's territory, aside from their own kind, many other races also lived there.
The news of Yu Yi's defeat at the hands of Sect Master Yun Jin had already spread across the tribe like lightning, and before anyone could recover from the shock, Wushuang Sect's recruitment team had arrived.
The Yu clansmen who held positions of power didn't show much interest.
But for the other races? That was a different story.
A "sect" was still a new concept in the South Nanlan Continent.
Rumor had it that joining Wushuang Sect would grant you a cultivation manual personally tailored by the Sect Master herself, along with her protection. And this powerful organization wasn't based on bloodline. Any race across the South Nanlan Continent could join.
What's more, within the sect, your worth wasn't determined by your bloodline either. You could rely on your own strength, your own effort, to carve out your place!
That might be normal on the Central Continent, but on South Nanlan, this was something unheard of.
The moment Wushuang Sect opened its recruitment, the entire land went wild.
"Some of you will handle the recruitment among the Yu Tribe," Yu Songnian instructed, "the rest, come with me to the Di Lie Tribe. By the time news of the Sect Master's victory spreads, we'll start promoting there."
With a commanding wave, he led a group to chase after Yun Jin's trail.
—
At the Di Lie Tribe.
Yun Jin faced Di Yong from across the field.
Di Yong's expression was grim. He'd already heard about Yu Yi's defeat. His strength was slightly above Yu Yi's, but not by much. This was going to be a tough fight.
"Senior Di," Yun Jin said with a calm smile, "I heard you've mastered the super law Impenetrable Wall. Would you mind demonstrating it for me?"
Di Yong's gaze sharpened. "That depends on the strength of Sect Master Yun."
Yun Jin nodded, and sharp spikes of earth began to rise layer after layer. Her attack began.
At first, Di Yong held back, not wanting to reveal his trump card too early. But after resisting for a while, he realized that without using Impenetrable Wall, he had no chance of standing against her.
Just like Yu Yi before him had unwillingly helped Yun Jin refine Impenetrable Wall, now Di Yong was being forced to help her temper Earth Tremor.
He quickly caught on to what Yun Jin was doing, but by now, it was too late to stop. All he could do was follow her rhythm.
Their fierce battle raged for three days and three nights.
When moonlight finally shone upon the battlefield, Yun Jin's eyes lit up with understanding. Her next strike of Earth Tremor felt entirely different.
Di Yong's expression changed drastically. His body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
Yun Jin had broken through.
"Senior Di," Yun Jin said softly as she infused his body with life energy, "thank you for your cooperation."
Before his eyes, his condition rapidly returned to peak form.
"You... mastered Earth Tremor?" Di Yong asked in disbelief.
Yun Jin nodded. "It took a bit longer than expected, but I managed it in the end."
A bit longer? Three days?
He almost coughed up blood. How was three days considered long?
Feeling utterly powerless, he quickly advised, "Sect Master Yun, the nearest tribe from here is the Tu Xuan Tribe. Their strongest warrior is Tu Ying. Don't challenge the wrong person."
Yun Jin smiled gratefully. "Thank you for the warning, Senior."
"Hurry then," Di Yong said, "Tu Ying's good at hiding. Who knows where he's holed up right now."
Yun Jin nodded, glanced in a strange direction, and vanished in an instant.
Di Yong exhaled in relief.
Good. Good!
If everyone lost face together, then no one really lost face. He was still feeling smug when suddenly, he froze. He looked toward the direction Yun Jin had glanced before leaving.
And then he roared, "Yu Yi!!!"
There, Yu Yi was holding a Recording Stone, sneaking away.
Di Yong nearly went insane. Hadn't this bastard gone into seclusion after his loss?!
Apparently not! And he'd even recorded it?!
Yu Yi grinned. "Hey, Di Yong, I just wanted to prove I lost with dignity. Don't worry, I'll keep your beating on this Recording Stone safe. I won't show it around… easily."
Won't show it easily meant he definitely would.
Di Yong's fury exploded as he charged at Yu Yi.
Unfortunately, the Yu Tribe excelled at speed, and Yu Yi was already darting away. Thankfully, this was Di Lie territory, and he was quickly surrounded.
"It's just one Recording Stone. Do you really need to make such a big fuss?" Yu Yi said helplessly.
"Hand it over," Di Yong growled.
But Yu Yi wasn't about to give it up. He smirked. "How about this, Di Yong. Come with me to the Tu Xuan Tribe. We'll secretly record Tu Ying getting beaten up too. That way, it won't just be you who looks bad."
"That's your idea? I, Di Yong, would never stoop to that level!" Di Yong snapped.
Half an hour later…
Yu Yi and Di Yong were traveling side by side.
"Yun Jin's too fast," Yu Yi said cheerfully. "But I've got a top-tier flying treasure. With my wind powers, we should barely keep up."
"Don't you dare lose her," Di Yong grumbled.
—
At the Tu Xuan Tribe.
Yun Jin still had two earth-type super laws left unmastered: Nourishment of Earth and Control of Earth Element.
She fought Tu Ying for a long while and gained some insight, but not enough to break through.
Following his suggestion, she went on to challenge the Tian Lang Tribe next.
When Tu Ying later discovered Yu Yi and Di Yong sneaking around, he joined them.
Thus, the little group of stalkers grew once again.
While Yun Jin continued challenging one tribe after another, more and more powerful beings quietly followed behind her.
Yu Songnian led the Wushuang Sect disciples in pursuit as well.
Everyone was busy. Everyone had a bright future ahead.
Yun Jin traveled across the lands, battling through the ten great tribes.
Finally, after countless battles, she mastered the super law: Control of Earth Element.
But the last one, Nourishment of Earth, still eluded her grasp. Perhaps she'd already reached the brink of enlightenment. But without comprehending the True Meaning, she couldn't break through.
Yun Jin found a quiet place and sat down cross-legged.
What was the True Meaning of the Earth Element?
She'd once drawn her sword in fury to save the people of the Canglan Kingdom, and through that, she'd understood the Fire's True Meaning: Courage.
She'd gained help from the plants of Luoyun Mountain and protection from the disciples of Mingxin Hall, realizing the Wood's True Meaning: Symbiosis.
She'd seen the ruthless laws of the sea, helped the weak, and built new order. In that vast ocean, she'd learned the Water's True Meaning: Embrace.
And now…
What was the True Meaning of Earth?