Yue Lin's mocking words instantly stuck in his throat.
He stared in disbelief at the single floating petal of a lotus.
A sword that gives rise to a lotus bloom—this was the unmistakable mark of someone who had mastered the first level of the Lotus Bloom Sword Art!
This Yun Jin, had she truly learned a mid-tier Profound-grade sword art?
No, impossible. There had to be some trick.
Ruan Jun thought the same. He barked, "Si Wanning, did you tamper with something in secret? You must have faked that lotus bloom!"
Si Wanning spread her hands. They were empty. "Go on, then. Tell me how I supposedly rigged it."
Ruan Jun didn't know, but that didn't stop him from believing it anyway.
"A new disciple, barely three days into her training, mastering a mid-tier Profound sword art? Do you take me for a fool?" he snapped.
Yun Jin sighed softly.
"Senior Brother Ruan, I don't resent anything you've done today."
Ruan Jun: "???"
In the past, he might have thought she was trying to flatter him. But now? He knew this woman was about to spout more nonsense.
Sure enough.
The next moment, Yun Jin looked at him with pity. "How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan? How can a summer insect speak of ice? And fools, well, cannot fathom the limits of genius."
Ruan Jun's face turned ashen, yet deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that her words rang infuriatingly true.
This Yun Jin!
Could she ever speak like a normal person?!
Yun Jin tilted her head. "Of course, you did call yourself a fool earlier, so at least you have some self-awareness. That's commendable. Here, have a little red flower."
With a flick of her sword, the floating lotus drifted toward Ruan Jun.
Humiliation!
Utter humiliation!
Ruan Jun swatted it away with his sleeve, dispersing the lotus.
Yun Jin wasn't the least bit upset. She let out a lilting laugh. "If you want another red flower next time, just let me know."
Face grim, Ruan Jun turned to Yue Lin. "Hall Master Yue, there's clearly something fishy going on! Even if, and I say this as a stretch, she truly mastered a Mystic-grade sword art, she still violated sect rules. She must be expelled at once! Her behavior just now proves her guilt beyond doubt, doesn't it?"
Snapped out of his daze, Yue Lin quickly nodded. "That is indeed the case! Yun Jin, what say you?"
Yun Jin arched an eyebrow. "Of course I have something to say. Second Senior Sister never gave me the sword manual. I learned the Lotus Bloom Sword Art simply by watching her practice. It came naturally to me."
Yue Lin: "???"
Ruan Jun: "???"
The two of them exchanged glances—and burst into laughter.
Ruan Jun smirked. "Such absurdity! You can spout nonsense in front of me, but now you dare lie to an elder? That's an additional offense!"
"Fools shouldn't speak," Yun Jin said flatly.
Ruan Jun clenched his jaw so hard it creaked. One day, he would see this woman crushed. He swore it.
Yue Zhao, watching from the side, found himself mildly impressed.
Tsk, tsk.
Not long ago, he held the top spot on Ruan Jun's Most Hated list. And yet now, in such a short time, he had been dethroned by Little Junior Sister. Oddly enough, the thought left him feeling a little melancholic.
Yun Jin, unfazed, continued, "It's just a Mystic-grade sword art. Is a manual really necessary? Spiritual flow, sword intent, subtle transitions—watch it enough times, and it becomes second nature. What do I need a manual for, hmm?"
The arrogance was boundless.
Even Yue Lin found it hard to listen further. "This is absurd. Do you truly expect me to believe that?"
"Seems you and Senior Brother Ruan are on the same level," Yun Jin replied with a disappointed sigh.
Yue Lin nearly choked.
Was she calling him a fool too?
Regardless of how Yue Lin and Ruan Jun felt, Yun Jin was delighted. The emotional value from this scene alone was a considerable windfall.
She smiled and said, "If you want to test whether I'm telling the truth, it's simple. Have disciples demonstrate sword techniques in front of me. See if I can learn them on the spot. You claim I'm cheating—then choose the disciples yourselves. That way, you'll know I had no chance to tamper with anything."
At that, Yue Lin narrowed his eyes.
It was, admittedly, a reasonable proposal.
Ruan Jun, unable to contain himself, immediately said, "Then allow me to select them!"
He still didn't know what kind of trick Yun Jin had pulled.
But there was no way she could pull this off.
This time—
He would expose her in front of everyone.
Then, he could righteously expel her from the sect.
Yue Lin glanced at Yun Jin. "Do you object?"
Not that it mattered. Even if she had objections, he wouldn't have listened.
Yun Jin smiled and agreed easily. "Then I shall follow Senior Brother Ruan's arrangement."
Ruan Jun's eyes gleamed. The disdain in his gaze grew even sharper.
So this woman had a glib tongue, and nothing else. She had no real intelligence at all!
Did she not even realize she had cheated?
And yet she actually dared to accept the challenge?
Very well. He would make sure she regretted it.
Ruan Jun personally went to select the disciples.
Soon, five of them stood ready.
Their cultivation ranged from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul. All specialized in sword arts, though only practiced high-tier Yellow-grade techniques.
It wasn't that Ruan Jun didn't want to find someone who trained in Mystic sword arts, but the Lotus Bloom Sword Art had already been flawlessly faked. As for the Void-Piercing Sword Art, that was Yue Zhao's specialty. If he helped Yun Jin cheat somehow, the whole plan would fall apart.
There were only three Profound-grade sword arts in all of Tianxing Sect, and the disciples practicing them were all elite talents—not ones Ruan Jun could summon on a whim.
Still—
Even Yellow high-tier sword arts would be enough to expose Yun Jin's lies.
At the combat arena.
Ruan Jun folded his arms and smiled lazily at Yun Jin. "Too late to back out now."
The commotion had drawn quite a crowd of curious disciples. Some had watched the duel on the arena stage days prior. Their curiosity only deepened now. Back then, it had seemed like Yun Jin used some kind of sword technique—
But it happened so fast, no one was sure. Now, she publicly declared that she had used the Lotus Bloom Sword Art, and even claimed she could replicate any technique without a manual.
Seriously?
How was that even possible?
No, this wasn't just suspicious—it was downright unscientific.
So, even more disciples gathered to watch.
Yun Jin grinned and jumped onto the raised platform, casually pointing at a disciple. "You there. You go first."
The disciple glanced at Ruan Jun.
He gave a subtle nod.
Only then did the disciple step forward.
He began to perform his sword form.
Once the first demonstration ended...
[System Scan Complete.]
[Langya Sword Art. Yellow Grade, High Tier.]
Yun Jin didn't even bother reading the full breakdown. She simply had the system simplify the analysis. She had stockpiled a mountain of emotional value. Using it on simplifications didn't faze her in the slightest.
Yellow-grade arts were clearly on a different level from Mystic-grade ones.
After only two simplifications, she got a satisfying result.
[Can be grasped after three viewings. (One viewing completed.)]
Yun Jin smiled and turned to the crowd, ready to show off again. "Back when I watched my senior sister train, it took ten viewings before I could grasp it. As for you... three should be enough."