Yun Jin's words struck like thunder.
The crowd was stunned.
How to put it?
Her logic sounded wrong… but also kinda right?
More importantly—
Wasn't this the exact argument Ye Danxia had just used?
Yue Zhao clicked his tongue in amazement. If my junior sister were in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," she'd give Murong Fu a run for his money—turning opponents' moves against them like a pro.
He had originally planned to step in and support her.
But now?
She didn't need him at all.
This senior brother role was feeling a little… unnecessary.
Yue Zhao stroked his chin, suddenly melancholic.
And just like that—
Everyone turned their eyes toward Ye Danxia in perfect unison.
"Well? How do you counter your own logic when it's used against you?"
Ye Danxia felt her scalp go numb under the pressure of those stares.
Especially from the male disciples standing beside her. After Yun Jin's clever manipulation, a hint of doubt had begun to surface in their eyes as well.
"No. If this isn't handled, my reputation will take a hit!"
Ye Danxia lowered her gaze and spoke pitifully, "No matter what, Senior Brother Chen was injured because of me. I will plead with Master right away. If he refuses, I'll kneel in front of him until he changes his mind. Even if he ends up blaming me, I won't regret it. Senior Brother Chen, rest assured, even if I must risk Master's disfavor, I will help you."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she looked every bit the picture of delicate sorrow.
"Junior Sister," Chen Hao suddenly spoke.
Ye Danxia's heart leapt.
Good. Now he'll refuse!
A proper simp would never let her suffer for him!
Then she could spin this as his choice, not her failure.
"Then… I'll trouble you," Chen Hao said calmly. "Given how much Master dotes on you, he won't let you down."
He… accepted?!
Ye Danxia froze for a second before forcing a smile. "I… I'll do my best."
Inside, she was seething.
"How dare this trash make demands?! Just wait. He'll regret this."
"Clap clap clap!" Yun Jin applauded. "See? Problem solved. Danxia, hurry and take Senior Brother Chen for treatment."
Solved?!
Ye Danxia shot Yun Jin a venomous glare.
"The only one winning here is YOU!"
Yun Jin grinned. "Danxia, we're such good sisters. Once you're done, come find me—I've got so much more to say."
And so much more Emotional Value to farm.
Ye Danxia gritted her teeth.
Back when she was the one insisting they were "sisters," Yun Jin had resisted. Now that Yun Jin was suddenly embracing it, she felt… terrified.
Mumbling a vague reply, she and the male disciples hastily carried Chen Hao away.
Yun Jin watched them go, a sly smirk playing on her lips.
This time—
She had deliberately left them a clue.
Ye Danxia hadn't noticed yet.
No matter.
The Sect Master's disciples would figure it out soon enough.
Her system was meant to operate loudly and in the open.
But such visibility inevitably attracted jealousy.
Before Lin Ya's injuries were fully healed, she needed to secure a reliable backer—for herself, and for Tianjian Peak.
Once word got out, that "backer" would surely approach her of their own accord. It wouldn't have to last long. Just give her three months, and everything would be turned upside down.
"Don't disappoint me, Ye Danxia."
Yun Jin's gaze deepened.
`~
Tianjian Peak.
Si Wanning stared at Yun Jin. Then stared again. And again.
Yun Jin felt her scalp tingle. "Second Senior Sister, I know I'm an astonishing, once-in-a-generation genius, but if you keep staring at me like this, I'm going to get embarrassed."
Si Wanning, Yue Zhao, and Yu Songnian: "…"
Technically true.
But why does it sound so punchable?
Si Wanning took a deep breath.
Then another.
Only after composing herself did she ask, "Xiao Jin, that sword technique you used on the dueling platform just now—was that the Lotus Bloom Sword Art?"
Even asking it felt ridiculous. She shook her head instinctively.
But Yun Jin answered cheerfully, "Second Senior Sister, you noticed? Yup, that was the Lotus Bloom Sword Art."
Si Wanning responded numbly, "Oh… it just looked kind of similar…"
Then her brain caught up.
WAIT.
SHE MEANS IT ACTUALLY WAS?!
Her lips trembled. "But… I never taught you that sword art."
Sword arts weren't just about moves—they required precise spiritual energy circulation, force application, and more. You needed the manual to learn properly.
Yun Jin shrugged. "Didn't need teaching. I just watched you practice a bunch. After a while, it just… clicked."
Si Wanning's soul seemed to leave her body. "Clicked… just like that?"
"Yup." Yun Jin nodded. "The energy flow and force control were slightly harder. So I had to watch you ten whole times before I grasped the essence."
Slightly harder.
Ten whole times.
Silence.
Deafening silence.
Si Wanning's mind blanked.
How long had she taken to get a handle on that technique?
Probably after reaching the Golden Core stage, once her control over spiritual energy had matured. Then three more months under Master's direct instruction—just to barely grasp the basics.
Yun Jin?
She just watched it ten times?
And she learned it?
"…Useless. I'm useless…" Si Wanning murmured to herself.
Yue Zhao cast a sympathetic glance at his second junior sister, then gave a modest chuckle. "Junior Sister, you truly are a peerless talent. However, Second Junior Sister's sword art is only a mid-grade Mystic-tier manual. Perhaps it's still possible to learn it through observation. But your senior brother's—my own—Void-Piercing Sword Art is high-grade Mystic-tier. It's second only to Earth-tier techniques. If you want to master it, that won't be easy."
Yun Jin gave him an odd look.
Yue Zhao thought she was disappointed and quickly tried to comfort her. "You're already incredible. If you want to learn my sword art, just wait until you reach the Golden Core stage and apply to study the manual. I'll personally teach you then."
Yun Jin looked like she wanted to say something but held back.
Feeling like he'd reclaimed some dignity as the eldest senior brother, Yue Zhao continued with a sage expression. "Also, I must admonish you about today's duel. Even if you could defeat Chen Hao, you shouldn't have done it so cleanly. Especially not while revealing your Lotus Bloom Sword Art. Always keep a trump card. Only then can you remain invincible."
Yun Jin nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I kept one."
"Oh?" Yue Zhao beamed proudly.
Yun Jin smiled shyly. "I actually… already learned your Void-Piercing Sword Art too. But I didn't use it. That was my trump card."
Yue Zhao: "???"
===
[+500 Emotional Value from Ye Danxia.]
[+300 Emotional Value from Chen Hao.]
[+1,000 Emotional Value from Yue Zhao & Si Wanning.]