Yun Jin did not expect these people to do anything. She faced them all alone, yet her face held a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It was as if she were not the one at a complete disadvantage.
But the reality was different.
After Zhai Ge dropped his disguise, the frequency of Yun Jin's injuries increased noticeably. Without her last trump card to intimidate them, the attackers grew bolder and more reckless.
Yun Jin weaved through the gaps in their assaults, but there were too many enemies. She could not avoid them all. The composed demeanor she had maintained before crumbled quickly. Within the time of a single incense stick, her cyan robes were soaked in blood.
She was injured—severely.
Yet Yun Jin continued fighting, her smile never fading. But her condition worsened by the moment, giving the impression that she could barely hold on for another instant.
And yet…
Moment after moment, blood spilling over her, she persisted.
The sect disciples below watched the battle, fear etched on their faces.
Zhai Ge and Shi Li, colluding with the Evil Dao, were attacking Yun Jin openly.
Now…
They were nothing more than witnesses.
What should they do?
Hide the truth?
Or…
Report it honestly?
No. Perhaps they need not even consider what comes after. Originally, Zhai Ge had no intention of acting openly. He wanted to stay hidden, letting Yun Jin die at the hands of the Evil Dao.
But Yun Jin was far tougher than he imagined. She had resisted the eight Mahayana attackers for so long and even slain the strongest Blood Demon. If he did not act now, Yun Jin might escape.
Moreover, she had used the talisman given by Ji Wusi. He would sense it soon, and someone nearby would come to check.
There was no time to delay. She had to be killed as quickly as possible. This exposure was not what Zhai Ge wanted, but he had no choice. The sect disciples below were meant to witness Yun Jin's death, to remind them that his authority could not be challenged.
Now they had become witnesses anyway.
It mattered little.
He had ways to control these disciples. If they obeyed, everything would proceed as planned. If not, they would be killed.
Perfect.
With the Evil Dao attacking, some casualties were expected. Killing a few made the scenario more believable. Zhai Ge's expression hardened. His attacks became fiercer.
In the tense atmosphere, one sect disciple murmured:
"This… this is not something we should intervene in. Maybe we just ignore it?"
"Right, right. We can't do anything anyway. This is a battle between Mahayana cultivators."
Even at this level, they were elite within the sect. But involving themselves in such a fight would be suicide.
"But… those are Evil Dao!" someone suddenly said. "Before I joined the sect, my parents were killed by them. I alone barely survived because I was not at home."
Silence fell.
They were cultivators now, it was true.
Many had lived hundreds of years, far longer than mortals. Their old families had long turned to dust. But no matter how long they lived, they had once been ordinary mortals. They had once lived in fear, once felt hopeless despair. When they first joined the sect, they had ambition and hope. They wanted to grow stronger, provide for their families, and change the world. Back then, there had been countless bold declarations and dreams.
But time eroded all that. They had long forgotten the original purpose of cultivation. Those around them told them: "You are geniuses. Geniuses should rise above the mortal world. Focus only on cultivation. Everything else is not your concern."
And now…
Watching Yun Jin fight, bloodied but unyielding, they felt a flicker of confusion.
Hall Master Yun always knew what she was doing. Even if she died today, she would feel no regret.
But what about them?
They had focused only on cultivation, comfortably enjoying the best resources and treatment.
And then?
Once their cultivation rose, what then?
Continue cultivating?
Day after day, year after year… did they even know what they were doing?
Even if they reached Tribulation.
Even Mahayana.
Was their heart still truly alive?
Above, Yun Jin's condition worsened. Her movements slowed. Blood dripped, staining the ground in patches.
Kong Huai stared at the blood, feeling dazed. During missions, Yun Jin's Tai'a Sword had always been there to save them from the brink.
But now…
What was he doing?
What were they doing?
And what were Zhai Ge and the others doing?!
Even if there were struggles for power, those should be matters within humanity.
To collude with the Evil Dao and attempt to kill Yun Jin…
Was this world still normal?
Clear things cleanse the head. Impure things cleanse the feet. What if there was nothing but filth?
Kong Huai's gaze hardened. The next moment…
A golden longbow appeared in his hands.
"Senior Brother Kong!"
Those around him were shocked.
Kong Huai gritted his teeth. There was no time to think. His hands moved instinctively. He condensed golden spiritual energy into arrows, drew the bow, and released.
The arrow cut through the sky, landing in the center of the Evil Dao formation.
After Zhai Ge acted openly, the Evil Dao had ignored the sect disciples, focusing only on harassing Yun Jin.
Now, a sect disciple had attacked them.
The Evil Dao turned to see Kong Huai trembling from fear.
Clearly, he was terrified.
Yet he hesitated not at all and fired a second arrow.
Yun Jin looked down, slightly surprised.
Kong Huai?
He had chosen to stand on her side?
"Foolish." Zhai Ge's expression darkened. He had suspected Kong Huai was off, so he had warned him. Unexpectedly, the warning had no effect. Kong Huai was courting death.
Zhai Ge looked away, uninterested.
Wanting to die?
So be it.
His target now was Yun Jin.
Another arrow struck the formation's center.
Below, a Tribulation-stage Evil Dao coldly said, "You two, go kill this one first."
Two Unity-stage Evil Dao stepped forward, attacking Kong Huai.
Kong Huai, only at peak Divine Transformation, faced two Unity cultivators. Alone, it would be enough to overwhelm him.