While Yun Jin was still taking her time in the first trial, Ma Yuanwu had already reached the fourth.
Now that Yun Jin had cleared the fourth trial, Ma Yuanwu remained stuck at the sixth.
Beneath Ma Yuanwu, even the most gifted participants were still trapped at the fifth.
Somehow, Yun Jin had gone from falling behind to pulling ahead of nearly everyone.
There were still plenty of cultivators concentrating in the open space of the fourth trial. Even Yu Liangping hadn't made it through yet.
Yun Jin glanced at him without pausing and headed directly for the fifth trial.
If there was a pattern to these trials…
Then the fifth one likely contained another Sword Intent.
Yun Jin was looking forward to it.
Thanks to Ji Wusi's teachings, and her innate five-element spiritual roots, she could, in theory, comprehend all elemental Sword Intents. Not only that, but the elemental Intents might even blend together. Perhaps she was on the verge of mastering a second advanced Sword Intent.
On the way there, Yun Jin suddenly remembered something. It was precisely because she had five-element roots that she could grasp every elemental sword technique.
But what about cultivators with only a single root?
Surely, they couldn't expect an earth-attribute cultivator to comprehend a metal-based Sword Intent.
There was only one possibility.
The trials must be tailored to each individual.
Otherwise, single-root cultivators would be eliminated from the start. The fact that so many people had passed showed that elemental compatibility hadn't hindered them.
Still, Yun Jin had a strange sense about it. If not for her five-element roots, she likely wouldn't have been able to unlock the true core of this sword trial.
Her gaze drifted to the enormous sword in the center.
A vague feeling stirred inside her.
These swords weren't just guarding something. They were waiting for something.
Across the spatial barrier, the giant sword also seemed to be silently watching her.
A thousand years had passed.
In today's world, five-element roots were considered the worst spiritual roots.
No one knew that a thousand years ago, a certain type of five-element root had once been hailed as the highest natural talent. It was the balanced five-element root. Back then, there was even a secret technique designed specifically for such cultivators.
That secret technique… was called Mystic Codex, wasn't it?
The further one cultivated Mystic Codex, the more terrifying its power became. Unfortunately, that devastating war had led to its loss. Its original master had been a five-element cultivator. Their elemental balance was near perfect. With Mystic Codex, their cultivation soared rapidly, and they eventually became one of the most powerful figures of their time.
But...
That battle...
Remembering that brutal war, the blade of the giant sword trembled faintly. Its master, along with many others, had perished in that war. To preserve their legacy, they created countless sword domains and built numerous sword tombs.
And they were only one among many.
Of course, not all sword tombs were created equal.
This particular sword tomb hadn't originally been ranked very high. But the Yu Clan had ties to the sword's master, and so the master had chosen to remain here.
Being a peerless cultivator, the master's natal sword was naturally no ordinary blade. Because of this sword's presence, the overall level of this tomb had been forcibly raised.
This also meant...
That the conditions required to unlock the true trial of this sword tomb were extremely strict.
A five-element root like the master's.
Mastery of all five elemental sword techniques.
And cultivation in a five-element manual.
With so many demanding criteria, not a single person had triggered the core trial in all these years.
Until now.
This girl Yun Jin…
She seemed to have genuine potential.
Perhaps she truly could reach the sword's side.
If so, then the sword wouldn't have let down its master's final hopes.
Under the gaze of many swords, Yun Jin stepped into the fifth trial.
As expected, another treasured sword awaited her.
"Mingjin Sword. Earth-grade mid-tier. Destroyed a thousand years ago."
So this trial was focused on metal-based Sword Intent?
Yun Jin scanned her surroundings. This area was much more open than the previous trials, and surprisingly, only one person was sitting cross-legged here.
Just as Yun Jin was about to enter the tombstone space, that lone cultivator abruptly opened their eyes, frustration flashing across their face before they were instantly teleported away.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like the upcoming trials would involve actual eliminations."
She found a spot and stepped into the space of the fifth trial. The moment she entered, her expression shifted slightly. She was standing on a floating stone, suspended precariously in the air, swaying back and forth. Below her, countless sword tips gleamed like a deadly forest.
If the stone fell, she'd be eliminated on the spot.
"This just gets more and more elaborate," Yun Jin muttered. "Do your family members know how flashy your tests are?"
Inside the sword domain.
The Mingjin Sword looked pitifully at the giant sword.
He was just a serious sword. How did this count as flashy?
The giant sword was silent for a long moment before quietly replying, "Endure it…"
This was the first person in a thousand years with the potential to pass. What else could they do but endure?
The Mingjin Sword gave a defeated hop and saw the Ice Jade Sword and the others waving at him excitedly.
He immediately bounded over.
Thus, the Sword Complaints Alliance was officially formed.
Yun Jin, of course, was unaware that these swords were gossiping about her behind the scenes. She had already found the method to clear the trial.
"As expected, this trial was tied to Sword Intent."
The sword tips below were not all the same. Most were ordinary, but one of them seemed to harbor something different.
Yun Jin activated her Insight Eye, shutting out all distractions to sense it more clearly. Even when the stone beneath her would occasionally wobble, she acted as if she didn't notice, focusing entirely on the intent.
Back at the fourth trial.
Yu Liangping opened his eyes, unwilling to accept the outcome. He had failed again. Still stuck at the fourth trial. He quickly looked around. Not seeing Yun Jin anywhere, a satisfied smile spread across his face. It didn't matter that he failed. That arrogant woman must have failed earlier than he did. That was enough.
Once they were out of here, he'd make sure to mock her thoroughly.
Just as he was thinking this, Yu Liangping was teleported outside.
The moment he arrived, he eagerly searched for Yun Jin.
But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find her.
"Liangping." Yu Lin called to him.
"Father." Yu Liangping replied, still looking around. "Where's Yun Jin? Didn't she get kicked out just before me? Father, she used some trick to jump straight to the fourth trial, but so what? She still failed before I did…"
As he spoke, Yu Lin gave him a complicated look, then pointed to the water screen.
Yu Liangping looked over, confused.
Then he saw Yun Jin. Seated calmly, perfectly centered, inside the fifth trial.
Yu Liangping's expression immediately darkened.
"The fifth trial? How is that possible? Father! She must've cheated again! Quick, drag her out!"
Yu Liangping shouted.
Yu Lin's face twisted awkwardly. He leaned closer and whispered, "Everyone's watching..."
"Exactly! Everyone's watching. They all know she's cheating!" Yu Liangping's eyes lit up, thinking he'd found support.
Yu Lin: "..."
Maybe it's time to just have another son.