The sword technique in the seventh trial was a wood-element, Earth-grade low-tier sword art.
Back then, even the Azure Lotus Sword Art had only been of this grade. When Yun Jin first tried to learn the Azure Lotus Sword Art, it had taken her quite a bit of time to even grasp the basics.
But now, with her deepened understanding of the sword and her steadily advancing cultivation, Earth-grade techniques no longer posed much of a challenge.
The sword techniques that Ji Wusi had recently taught her were all Earth-grade as well. Within ten days, Yun Jin had mastered them completely and even comprehended sword intent.
And now, this particular sword art also came with spatial enhancement, allowing Yun Jin to train even faster.
Even though she had wasted quite a bit of time matching wits with the Qingmu Sword earlier, Yun Jin still managed to fully learn the technique within twelve hours.
Somehow, the space recognized her progress as soon as she learned the technique within her spiritual realm.
The moment that happened, her body, which had been frozen in place, suddenly regained mobility.
Yun Jin opened her mouth, ready to voice her frustration—
But in the next instant, she was thrown out of the space entirely.
She landed once more before the gravestone, stunned and disoriented.
All she wanted was to ask one thing:
Was that really necessary?
Seriously?
With all that abundant wood-element spiritual energy, and such a vast space, what was the harm in letting her finish practicing a sword art?
Who exactly was she bothering?!
Yun Jin stood in front of the gravestone, on the verge of a breakdown.
Meanwhile, in front of the water screen, the crowd was utterly dumbfounded.
What just happened with Yun Jin?
It had only been one day.
And she already passed the seventh trial?
Was that even possible?
Could that be real?
"No, no, no, she might not have passed. Maybe she failed. That's why she got expelled from the space. Any moment now, she'll be transmitted out," said Yu Lin, his voice trembling.
Because if Yun Jin had really cleared it—
That meant—
She had surpassed Ma Yuanwu and become the fastest challenger yet!
This time, Yuehua Sect had put in enormous effort to open the Sword Tomb. They had even gone all out promoting Ma Yuanwu.
All of it had been for one purpose: to elevate his reputation.
Both Yuehua Sect and the Yu family had painstakingly set the stage, only to have someone else swoop in and reap the rewards?
Neither the Yu family nor Yuehua Sect could accept that outcome.
Mu Lan's expression was grim. He said nothing now, only stared fixedly at the names displayed in the sky.
If Yun Jin had truly cleared the trial, then her name would rise to the top.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
"The rankings haven't changed. As I thought…" Yu Lin was just starting to speak with a smile of relief—
Then the list suddenly shifted.
Yun Jin's name surged from second place straight to first.
Next to it was a new entry:
[Cleared the Seventh Trial]
She had actually done it.
Silence fell across the entire field.
Mu Lan's gaze turned cold and sharp.
Even Yu Lin's face went ghostly pale.
The treasures inside were no longer the main concern. After all, no one truly knew what was hidden within.
But now, word of the Sword Tomb's opening had already spread. Sword cultivators from across the land had come pouring in.
Once Ma Yuanwu overcame all others and obtained the treasure, Yuehua Sect would broadcast the news to the entire continent. That moment would become Ma Yuanwu's stepping stone to fame.
But if—
He was instead defeated by another sword cultivator?
Then all the effort that Yuehua Sect had poured in would be for nothing but helping someone else make a name for themselves!
If such a thing really happened, even the Yu family would not escape blame.
The moment the rankings changed—
Everyone beyond third place was forcibly expelled. Even Feng Linglong, who was in the middle of the sixth trial, was suddenly ejected halfway through her challenge. When she returned to the outside world, Feng Linglong was momentarily disoriented.
But soon enough—
Others followed, thrown out one by one, all equally dazed.
Feng Linglong quickly understood what had happened.
Three days had passed.
They had been eliminated.
So now—
Only three challengers remained?
"What the—first place isn't Ma Yuanwu?" one sword cultivator shouted in shock.
"Yun Jin?? Who's Yun Jin? That name doesn't ring a bell!"
"I know her! She was with that Yu family waste. She's the one who shattered the trial sword stone!"
"Wasn't that just because she had a sharp sword?"
"No way! That trial stone isn't that easy to break. I've said all along, this girl must be a rare sword genius."
"The Sword Tomb only tests sword talent. The trials adjust based on cultivation. Yun Jin might only be at the Golden Core stage, but her sword talent might even surpass Ma Yuanwu!"
"Amazing. The Canglan Kingdom actually produced someone like her!"
"And that Yu family waste actually got third place."
"I'd heard rumors that he used to be exceptionally talented. I didn't believe it, but now… it might be true."
"He just can't cultivate anymore, that's all. It doesn't necessarily affect sword talent."
"But no matter how great your sword talent is, if you can't cultivate, you're still a waste in the end."
While all the other sword cultivators were being expelled, they couldn't help but erupt into discussion.
Some still talked about Yu Songnian, but most had shifted their attention completely to Yun Jin.
Ma Yuanwu had long been hailed as the number one sword cultivator of the younger generation in the Canglan Kingdom.
Yet now, he had been outpaced by a woman from a mid-tier sect—one no one had ever heard of before.
It was the kind of twist that could keep people gossiping for days.
All this chatter poured into Mu Lan's ears. His expression grew darker and darker. A ruthless glint crept into his eyes. If he could, he would silence every single one of those gossiping tongues.
But Qin Ping, by contrast, seemed rather amused. With a light smile, he said, "Elder Mu, don't be upset. Yun Jin's only temporarily in the lead. There are still two trials left, aren't there?"
Mu Lan's face darkened further.
He understood now.
Yun Jin had done this on purpose.
She had deliberately slowed down at the start, only to suddenly surge forward later. Was she mocking them?
So many of them, completely played for fools by one disciple from a mid-tier sect!
What an utter humiliation.
But the faster she went in the later stages, the more it proved one thing—Yun Jin's talent was nothing short of terrifying.
In previous years, each Kingdom might produce a few cultivators capable of entering a Holy Land, but that counted all cultivators. If limited to sword cultivators, only the absolute elite had any hope.
And now, Yun Jin had emerged like a dark horse. She could easily become a serious threat to Ma Yuanwu.
A trace of killing intent flickered in Mu Lan's eyes.
She could not be allowed to live.
If it were possible, he would kill every sword cultivator present just to contain the fallout.
But he couldn't.
He couldn't touch these sword cultivators, and he wasn't even sure he could touch Yun Jin.
First, it had been declared a fair competition. If Yun Jin were to die under suspicious circumstances afterward, sword cultivators from all across the land would spread the word. He wouldn't be able to cover it up.
Second, there was Qin Ping.
In a one-on-one fight, he might not even be Qin Ping's match.
And Qin Ping clearly held Yun Jin in high regard. There was no doubt he would protect her.
But letting Yun Jin go?
Just standing by and watching her step over Ma Yuanwu to make a name for herself?
Mu Lan clenched his fists.
He could not accept it.
Absolutely not.