The next day.
At the Yu family.
The people of Yuehua Sect arrived ahead of schedule.
Yuehua Sect seemed to place great importance on the Yu family's Sword Domain. Not only had they sent Ma Yuanwu, but several other sword cultivator geniuses came along as well.
Leading the group was a Mahayana stage elder, a gesture that could not have been more generous to the Yu family.
When Yuehua Sect's party arrived, it caused quite the commotion.
Nine Blazing Flame Tigers pulled the carriage, Yuehua Sect disciples stood tall and spirited, and the citizens of the entire city were ordered to line up along both sides of the road to welcome them.
Once the Yuehua Sect disciples descended, everyone had to kneel in unison as a show of respect.
The entire Yu clan had been waiting at the city gate long in advance. As soon as the guests arrived, Yu Lin and several high-ranking members of the Yu family hurried forward to greet them, each one more sycophantic than the last.
Naturally, Yun Jin and Yu Songnian did not appear. They remained hidden in the shadows, watching the scene unfold with different expressions.
"How arrogant. How pathetic." Yu Songnian squeezed the words through clenched teeth.
Arrogant, before mortals.
Pathetic, before Yuehua Sect.
Groveling before the powerful and trampling on the weak, with no trace of integrity.
Every time Yu Songnian thought of how this disgraceful display was the same Yu family his father had poured his life's effort into building, fury burned in his chest.
"Senior Brother, don't rush," Yun Jin said softly. "Just two more days."
In two days, the Sword Tomb would open and the Sword Domain would fully form.
That would be the moment of reckoning.
Yuehua Sect had made such a grand entrance. Clearly, they believed victory was already theirs. But Yun Jin did not think she would lose.
What she feared wasn't losing, but that the Yu family and Yuehua Sect would play dirty.
So—
If Yuehua Sect wanted to promote their so-called sword cultivator geniuses, she would help them, and give them all the promotion they wanted.
Once the Yuehua Sect entourage entered the city, Yun Jin and Yu Songnian also left the scene.
No one knew what Yuehua Sect and the Yu family plotted over the next few days.
But the entire Canglan Kingdom grew livelier by the day.
Yuehua Sect's plan to break through the Sword Domain of the Yu family had slowly spread across the land, thanks in part to their own propaganda.
Even Lin Ya had caught wind of it. He hastily sent a message saying he would rush over immediately. Yun Jin temporarily calmed him down. After all, Tianxing Sect still needed their master to hold the fort. Otherwise, who knew what Zhao Wuji might do? At the moment, only the master could suppress Zhao Wuji with strength alone. Unless it became absolutely necessary, Yun Jin would not allow Lin Ya to leave the sect.
As word spread, the sword cultivator geniuses of Canglan Kingdom began to gather in this region. Previously, the Yu family's Sword Domain wasn't well known, and most of the participants were just nearby cultivators.
But this time, thanks to Yuehua Sect's involvement, the Sword Domain had gained sudden fame.
Among cultivators, a rumor began to circulate: although the Yu family was just a minor cultivation clan, the treasure hidden within the Sword Domain must be extraordinary. Otherwise, why would Yuehua Sect personally send people to break through it?
Whether drawn by curiosity or hoping to pick up some scraps, many people began making their way toward Lin City.
Even the monarch of Canglan Kingdom dispatched powerful experts to attend. Curiously enough, the one sent by the Canglan monarch was also a Mahayana stage cultivator. In terms of sheer strength, it was enough to balance out the Yuehua Sect elder.
Furthermore, this Mahayana expert brought along several of Canglan Kingdom's secretly trained sword cultivator prodigies. Among them, the most outstanding was Feng Linglong. It was said she possessed a natural wind body, and her sword techniques were as fast as a storm, no weaker than Ma Yuanwu.
That information spread just as quickly throughout Canglan Kingdom.
The Canglan monarch's intentions were clear.
He wanted a piece of the Sword Domain too.
When Yun Jin received this news, she felt much more at ease.
In the cultivation world, secular forces were generally no match for cultivators.
But here, countries were not purely secular. Canglan Kingdom itself functioned like a large-scale sect. While overall strength might be slightly lower than Yuehua Sect's, the difference wasn't too drastic.
Otherwise, how could Yuehua Sect have only taken control of Lin City? If they were strong enough, they would have swallowed all of Canglan Kingdom.
Now that Yuehua Sect had caused such a spectacle, whether they wanted to investigate or snatch the treasure within the Sword Domain, the Canglan monarch was bound to get involved.
Canglan Kingdom versus Yuehua Sect.
Who would win?
It had already become a favorite topic of tea house gossip.
Most people, however, favored Yuehua Sect.
The reason was simple.
If Yuehua Sect wasn't completely confident, why make such a grand public display?
Clearly, they wanted the world to watch.
Their confidence in Ma Yuanwu was sky-high.
—
Yu family.
Yu Lin looked a little uneasy.
"Elder, more and more people are arriving, and even Canglan Kingdom has sent representatives. Could something unexpected happen?"
Mu Lan, the Yuehua Sect elder, gave Yu Lin a calm glance. "What are you panicking for? Even if more people show up, only Yuanwu can break the Sword Domain."
Standing nearby, Ma Yuanwu wore a confident smile.
Yu Lin quickly chimed in with a few compliments, not daring to say anything more.
Mu Lan led Ma Yuanwu back to their room and casually set up a barrier.
He looked at Ma Yuanwu with great satisfaction. "Yuanwu, to have cultivated Thunderclap Sword Art to the ninth level at your age means you've already met the preliminary requirements for entering the Holy Land. But fame is still needed. Breaking through the Sword Domain tomorrow will be your moment to shine. No matter how many sword cultivator geniuses arrive, they will serve only as your backdrop. Step over them and stand at the summit. Once that's done, I'll help make arrangements. You will have a place at the Holy Land's disciple recruitment assembly."
Ma Yuanwu immediately bowed. "I will do my best, Master."
Mu Lan nodded. "You've already tried breaking through the Yu family's Sword Domain several times. Last time, you nearly reached the center. This year, your sword technique has improved again. Victory should be all but assured. I will be waiting to celebrate with you."
Ma Yuanwu was brimming with confidence. "Last year, I was only a hair's breadth away. This year, I'm determined to succeed."
The Holy Land's disciple recruitment was just around the corner. He had to build enough reputation within the next two years to earn an invitation.
Mu Lan smiled faintly. "Good. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, whether it's Feng Linglong or Huo Linglong, they'll all just be your stepping stones."
Ma Yuanwu let out a cold snort. "That Feng Linglong from Canglan Kingdom is clearly eyeing the Holy Land disciple spot too. I'll make sure she abandons that hope entirely."
Mu Lan was quite pleased.
This disciple of his understood things quickly and needed very little guidance.
—
Tomorrow.
The Sword Tomb would open, and the Sword Domain would take form.
That night.
More and more sword cultivator geniuses were arriving at Lin City.
Among them, Ma Yuanwu and Feng Linglong were the most well-known.
Many others, who were only moderately famous, were also being discussed by the crowd.
As for Yun Jin?
No one mentioned her.
No one paid her any attention.