JSCMU-Chapter 28: Too Cruel

Zhao Wuji was already at the mid-stage of Fusion Realm, a true powerhouse. Meanwhile, Yun Jin was merely at the Qi Refining Stage.

This time, Zhao Wuji was determined to teach her a lesson.

He wouldn’t go as far as to take her life as that would damage his reputation as Sect Master.

But!

Letting her suffer to make her obedient from now on? That, he was allowed.

Zhao Wuji had chosen a level of pressure just beyond Yun Jin’s limit. He stared at her, waiting to see her collapse in agony.

“Sect Master!” Yue Zhao shouted angrily. “What exactly has my little junior sister done to deserve such cruel treatment?”

“Her crime was showing disrespect toward me,” Zhao Wuji replied coldly.

“Disrespect? How? All she did was refuse to leave Heavenly Sword Peak, how is that a crime?!” Yue Zhao was furious.

The situation had already escalated beyond what he could handle, and he had quietly sent word to their master.

Now, all he could do was hope Lin Ya arrived quickly!

At the same time, Yue Zhao was filled with frustration.

Too weak!

He was still too weak!

That’s why he had to watch his little junior sister suffer like this right in front of him.

Zhao Wuji remained expressionless. “I am not an unreasonable man. Yun Jin, if you apologize, I will overlook your disrespect.”

As he spoke, he steadily increased the pressure. Today, he would make Yun Jin bow her head.

A new disciple was actually trying to challenge his authority? That was unacceptable!

Yun Jin was drenched in sweat, but her lips curled into a faint smile.

How interesting.

Truly interesting.

She had traversed countless worlds. Though the overwhelming power she once wielded couldn’t be brought to this body, her terrifying soul power had followed her here!

Zhao Wuji’s pressure had caused her pain, but that hidden soul power was slowly being activated.

The stronger the pressure, the more soul power was awakened.

Yun Jin was certain that even if Zhao Wuji went all out, she could endure it.

In fact, this was even beneficial to her.

The strength of her soul determined the limit of her cultivation.

With just this wave of pressure, her soul power had already reached the Foundation Establishment level.

That meant,

The bottleneck between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Stage was gone. As long as she accumulated enough spiritual energy, she could break through with ease!

If she had waited for her soul power to strengthen naturally, it would’ve taken far longer.

Sweat trickled down, but Yun Jin remained calm as she looked up at Zhao Wuji. “Forgive me, Sect Master, but I don’t quite understand. Are you saying that just because you made an offer, I’m supposed to be grateful and immediately abandon my peak? Wouldn’t that make me a selfish, disloyal person with no integrity? Or is that the kind of disciple your sect prefers?”

As she spoke, Yun Jin deliberately casted a glance at Ye Danxia and Ruan Jun. The meaning in her gaze was obvious to all.

Everyone was stunned.

In this situation…

What is Yun Jin doing?

Provoking the Sect Master?

Sure enough, Zhao Wuji’s expression turned visibly dark.

He glared coldly at Yun Jin and increased the pressure again. “Fine. Let’s see how long your attitude lasts!”

Little Junior Sister!

Yue Zhao and the others looked on anxiously, utterly helpless.

Sweat streamed faster down Yun Jin’s forehead.

By Zhao Wuji’s estimation, this pressure had already surpassed her limits.

But under the crushing force, a radiant smile curled at Yun Jin’s lips.

She opened her mouth. Her voice was loud and clear.

“Everyone, look carefully. This is our Tianxing Sect’s Sect Master. To shield his favored disciples, he uses such force on a new disciple. If it’s us from Heavenly Sword Peak today, who’s to say it won’t be you tomorrow?”

On stage,

Yun Jin’s hair fluttered in the pressure. She should have long since collapsed, yet her back remained perfectly straight, utterly unyielding.

The disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak stood beside her, filled with worry and despair.

They couldn’t protect their little junior sister.

Before Zhao Wuji, they were just lambs to be slaughtered.

Most in the sect had heard about Heavenly Sword Peak’s misfortunes, but this was their first time seeing it so clearly.

Even when Yun Jin had only ever defended herself and tried to prove her innocence, the Sect Master still acted without reason.

What Yun Jin said wasn’t wrong. If he could treat Heavenly Sword Peak like this today, what about them tomorrow?

From the distant peaks, several Peak Masters observed the scene.

“Are we really going to let the Sect Master act like this…?” Fang Mingyue, Peak Master of Bright Moon Peak, wanted to say ‘recklessly’, but held her tongue.

The others remained silent.

“What? Does the Sect Master no longer have the authority to punish a disciple? Lin Ya hasn’t even spoken up, what are you all anxious about?” scoffed Long Yi, Peak Master of  Invincible Body Peak.

Long Yi was a staunch ally of Zhao Wuji. His comment came as no surprise.

The other Peak Masters pressed their lips together, unsure how to respond.

In terms of cultivation, they were only one minor realm below Zhao Wuji, not weak enough to fear him.

But Zhao Wuji had the backing of Qingxiao Pavilion, one of the Four Great Holy Lands. His father was already in the Tribulation Crossing Stage and held a high position within the Pavilion.

That was why they dared not oppose Zhao Wuji publicly.

Still, in private…

Many of them did not approve of how Zhao Wuji treated Heavenly Sword Peak. Some had even offered quiet support, otherwise, those few from Heavenly Sword Peak couldn’t have survived this long.

But to step forward publicly on their behalf?

They hesitated.

The path to immortality was long. Was it really worth offending Zhao Wuji, and even Qingxiao Pavilion, for the sake of a Heavenly Sword Peak?

“Sect Master,” Yun Jin looked directly at Zhao Wuji. “I’ve committed no crime today. And I will not apologize.”

Zhao Wuji’s expression turned colder.

Yun Jin’s stubbornness puts him in a dilemma.

If she didn’t yield, he would lose face.

But if he further increased the pressure, he would risk killing her!

“This little brat has a stubborn mouth,” Zhao Wuji growled, biting his lip as he increased the force again.

This time, it was at the Late Foundation Establishment level.

He would make Yun Jin beg for mercy!

The pressure surged, however, Yun Jin was thrilled.

Yes, yes, yes, keep it at this level! Maintain it like this and her soul power would continue skyrocketing!

This Sect Master wasn’t so bad after all!

He came to hand her ammunition and even helped her strengthen her soul.

Where else could one find such a prime target?

Yun Jin’s face wore a look of noble martyrdom. Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice was still bold and strong: “If you want to kill me, then do it! In life, I belong to Heavenly Sword Peak. In death, I’ll be its ghost!”

“Little Junior Sister!” Yue Zhao and the others cried out in despair.

Heavenly Sword Peak was too pitiful!

Other bystanders could hardly bear to watch.

Even the Peak Masters watching from afar showed subtle shifts in expression.

Just as some of them were about to speak up,

A furious voice echoed across the sky.

“Zhao Wuji! What are you doing to my disciple?!”

Lin Ya arrived in a rush with an elderly man.

At the sight of the old man, Zhao Wuji’s heart jolted. He instinctively withdrew the pressure.

Huh?

It’s already gone?

Looks like this round of power-harvesting is over.

Yun Jin clicked her tongue in pity, then quickly worked up a mouthful of blood and violently spat it out.

“Yun Jin!” Lin Ya’s face changed drastically. In an instant, he was by her side, catching her as she swayed.

Pale-faced and pitiful, Yun Jin whimpered, “Master… the Sect Master… the Sect Master  tried to force me to worship him as my teacher. When I refused, he…”

She trailed off with another two spurts of blood, looking utterly tragic.

Lin Ya’s expression turned strange.

How should he put it…

He had just examined her condition in a panic.

She was completely unharmed.

In perfect health!

“Master… let me be your disciple again in my next life,” Yun Jin said as she spat more blood.

Lin Ya finally caught on. He wrapped his arms around her and burst into exaggerated sobs. “My poor Xiao Jin! How could this happen to you! It’s all your master’s fault, your master is so useless! I never should’ve volunteered for that deadly sect mission. Though I succeeded, I returned crippled, unable to even protect my own disciple! I should never have risked my life for this sect!”