Elder Jian narrowed his eyes, carefully studying Yun Jin. Had anyone else spoken such words, he would have found them laughable. But Yun Jin...
She was no ordinary girl. From the moment she arrived, she had overturned all his expectations again and again. What startled him the most was her ability to speak the most outrageous statements with perfect composure, as though they were self-evident truths.
Just like now.
She spoke of the chasm between the five-spirit-root constitution and the Nascent Soul realm as if it were nothing, her confidence unshaken, her expression calm—as though she were already certain she would overcome it.
Elder Jian stared for a long moment before chuckling softly.
"Elder Jian!" Zhao Wujie sensed something was off and quickly stepped forward in alarm.
But the Elder Jian waved him off with a calm tone. "Yun Jin. Since you call yourself a genius, then you should walk a path others dare not tread. Do you agree?"
Yun Jin nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
"Good," Elder Jian said, his voice steady. "Then listen well. Within the Tianxing Sect, there is indeed an Earth-rank sword art—the Azure Lotus Sword Art. This technique originally comes from the Kunlun Sword Sect and was left here to await a fated individual. Moreover, the Earth-rank version is only a fragment of the true Azure Lotus Sword Art. The complete version… is a Heaven-rank technique."
His eyes were deep with meaning as they met hers.
"Oh? Heaven Grade, is it?" Yun Jin said, voice light. "Well, I suppose that makes it barely worth practicing."
Elder Jian: "..."
"Hah. As expected, I shouldn't hope for this girl to say anything normal."
He took a breath and continued, "As a disciple of the Kunlun Sword Sect, I bear the duty of finding a worthy successor. I have the authority to grant you access to the Azure Lotus Sword Art."
"Well then, I gratefully accept," Yun Jin replied cheerfully.
Elder Jian squinted slightly. "Whether you are truly born with the Sword Body can only be proven through your mastery of the sword. So, Yun Jin, I will offer you a condition."
Yun Jin's expression grew serious. "Please speak."
"You must grasp the entry-level form of the Azure Lotus Sword Art within one year," he said slowly. "If you can achieve this, then perhaps you may one day inherit the complete Sky-Grade version. If not…"
His gaze turned cold. "Then you are not the one I am seeking."
To the Kunlun Sword Sect, a true Sword Body was too valuable to overlook.
Then, while an ordinary Five-Spiritual-Root cultivator would indeed struggle to progress, what did that matter if a Holy Land devoted its full resources to supporting her?
Breaking through the Nascent Soul bottleneck would be no challenge at all. But to earn such investment from a Holy Land, Yun Jin would have to prove herself worthy.
Mastering the Azure Lotus Sword Art in one year—that was Elder Jian's condition.
"A year?" Yun Jin widened her eyes.
Zhao Wujie quietly sighed in relief, a trace of a smile tugging at his lips.
He had feared Elder Jian had lost his mind, but this condition proved he was perfectly clear-headed. The Azure Lotus Sword Art—he had tried it himself. Ten years hadn't been enough for him to make any progress. And now, this new disciple was expected to comprehend it in just one?
Impossible.
"Are you afraid?" Elder Jian raised a brow.
"Not at all," Yun Jin answered honestly, shaking her head. "I just think you're quite kind. I was thinking three months should be enough, and you've given me a whole year."
Elder Jian: "..."
"Stay calm. I must stay calm. This is just Yun Jin's unique way of speaking. She surely doesn't truly believe that. Yes. That must be it."
Taking a deep breath, he asked, "So you accept?"
"I do." Yun Jin nodded. "But what if someone tries to interfere while I'm training? What if they harass me?"
Elder Jian cast a meaningful glance at Zhao Wujie.
Zhao Wujie looked somewhat awkward. "Nothing of the sort will happen within the Tianxing Sect. What happened earlier… was a misunderstanding."
Elder Jian spoke directly. "With me here, you'll be safe for the entire year."
"I want the same for my master, senior brothers, and senior sister," Yun Jin added calmly.
He did not refuse. "Granted."
In front of Zhao Wujie, Elder Jian handed Yun Jin a jade pendant. "This token connects directly to me. If you are ever wronged, speak to me."
"Thank you, Elder Jian," Yun Jin said sweetly, tucking the jade into her robes with a delighted smile.
Her original plan had been to draw out Elder Jian, then use his presence to secure peace on Tianjian Peak for three months.
Now she had a full year of protection—far better.
Zhao Wujie's gaze flickered with emotion.
A whole year…
Heh.
With Elder Jian's words spoken, he would have to bide his time.
Still…
Once Lin Ya lost in three months, his position as Peak Lord would be forfeit.
That was sect law. He would simply be following the rules—no one could fault him.
And once that happened…
Even if he didn't kill Lin Ya, making his life miserable would be trivial.
Thus, Zhao Wuji remained silent, his head slightly bowed.
Elder Jian looked to Yun Jin and drew out a golden book. "When you return, send your spiritual sense into this page. You'll receive what you seek."
Yun Jin accepted it and asked, "You're just giving this to me? Aren't you afraid I'll leak it?"
"If others could comprehend it," Elder Jian said calmly, "I would welcome it. But let me be clear. The Azure Lotus Sword Art is extremely dangerous. A careless attempt could result in injury—or even damage to the soul."
Yun Jin noticed the others nearby casting wary glances at the golden page. Not a trace of greed in their eyes, only fear.
She understood immediately.
This Earth-rank sword art was no ordinary technique.
But she wasn't worried in the slightest.
No matter how difficult it was…
Once simplified step by step…
It would become easy!
Her current simplification count had reached over 150 attempts.
"Surely, I can brute-force a simple method!"
Since Elder Jian had made his decision, Zhao Wujie spoke up, "Then let it be as Elder Jian said. Yun Jin, focus on cultivating the sword art. Everyone, this meeting is over."
But Yun Jin frowned. "Over? Sect Master, isn't something missing?"
"Hm?" Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.
Yun Jin pointed coldly at Ruan Jun. "This man falsely accused me of stealing techniques and tried to kill me. How will this be settled?"
"We have the recording stone as evidence!" Yue Zhao added immediately. "Sect Master, surely you won't shield him just because he's your personal disciple?"
Elder Jian's gaze also turned toward them, cold and sharp.
Ruan Jun tensed, turning pale as he looked to Zhao Wujie in panic. "Master, I… I didn't mean to…"
"If anyone could escape punishment simply by saying they didn't mean it," Yun Jin said coolly, "then what's the point of having sect rules at all? According to the regulations, anyone who slanders or attempts to harm a fellow disciple must have their cultivation abolished and be expelled. In serious cases, they are to be executed. I ask the Sect Master to uphold justice."
Ruan Jun's face drained of all color. He looked at Zhao Wujie, fear etched into every line.
He had done this sort of thing many times before. But as the Sect Master's prized disciple, no one had dared lay a hand on him. He thought this time would be no different.
But Tianjian Peak had unexpectedly invoked a banner named "Elder Jian." If the Sect Master truly decided to punish him...
Ruan Jun's legs almost gave out.