Yang Yun looked at Bai Yiran's pale face, a dark flicker of resentment rising in his chest.
How could this woman be so useless? Wasn't she supposed to be one of the strongest?
He'd already been holding back so much, yet she still couldn't escape. Couldn't she at least try a little harder?
He'd done everything he could to help her flee, but Bai Yiran was just too weak to make it.
Seeing Yang Yun's face, which looked even worse than her own, Bai Yiran trembled all over with fury.
It was humiliating.
Truly humiliating.
She could not tolerate it any longer!
Even if it meant dying, she would tear a piece of flesh from this bastard!
Bai Yiran shouted fiercely and charged toward Yang Yun!
Watching the screen, Yun Jin's gaze tightened.
Yang Yun…
This man was none other than Yang Yun!
Since that day when Ji Wusi's sword had split the cocoon, the demonic soul had taken Yang Yun and vanished completely from sight. And now, he had appeared in the Far North Icefield, pursuing Bai Yiran.
"This man has inscribed demonic markings on his body," the Automaton said. "It is a cultivation method. The stronger the markings, the more energy they can absorb.
Perfect demonic markings can coexist symbiotically with the body, complementing each other. But the markings on this man are only half-formed. They rely on this body to survive yet absorb all energy for themselves, giving nothing back to the flesh."
The Automaton continued: "Demonic markings can grow rapidly by absorbing the energy of living beings. When they fully mature, this man will have no place to survive."
As the Automaton spoke, Yun Jin's eyes narrowed slightly. She seemed to understand. Yang Yun holding back a few times to let Bai Yiran escape was probably not to toy with her. He truly wanted Bai Yiran to survive!
Bai Yiran's strength was high. If he absorbed her, the demonic markings would perfect further. Once the markings were fully matured, it would be his death!
The demonic soul did not care about Yang Yun's life. Its only purpose was to catalyze Yang Yun's power, pushing him to the world's limits, and then, with all that strength, break the spatial barrier!
At that time,
Yang Yun would likely be doomed!
Logically, since the demonic soul coexisted with Yang Yun, if he died, the soul should die too.
However…
Once the spatial barrier opened, its true body would immediately sense the existence of this world. Then, with a single thought, this fragment of the demonic soul could return!
Yun Jin's expression turned grave. Her progress had been fast, but her strength was still insufficient to deal with the outer-realm demons. Even all of humanity could not handle them!
Otherwise, why would the once-mighty Wushuang Sect sacrifice an entire sect to seal the outer-realm demons in a different dimension?
Before she became truly powerful, this spatial barrier must never be opened!
At this moment,
Yun Jin, Bai Yiran, and even Yang Yun shared the same thought:
She must survive!
She must not be absorbed!
"Senior." Yun Jin suddenly looked at the Automaton. "Bai Yiran cannot hold on much longer. Can you save her?"
Save her?
The Automaton looked at Yun Jin with slight confusion. "Why?"
Yun Jin's mind raced. "She's got deep insight into the Primordial Yin. It'd be a waste to let her die like this, wouldn't it?"
"Not really," the automaton replied flatly. "After death, her Dao comprehension will return to the Yin-Yang Wheel as nourishment for the Primordial Yin and Yang. You've seen the Wheel yourself. The stronger it becomes, the more complete the Primordial Yin and Yang grow."
Yun Jin nodded. "I understand that. But if she lives, she could gain even deeper understanding, which would make the Primordial Yin and Yang even more perfect, right?"
She glanced back at the screen.
Through their combined struggle, Bai Yiran was barely hanging on by a thread.
But she was furious, thinking Yang Yun was mocking her, and her attacks were becoming more reckless.
At this rate, even if Yang Yun stopped fighting, she'd probably end up killing herself.
"In all the small worlds I've observed," the automaton said seriously, "Bai Yiran's talent in the Primordial Yin and Yang is rather average. Hardly worth saving."
Yun Jin panicked. "What if I simply want to save her?"
The Automaton was puzzled. "Why?"
Yun Jin pointed at Yang Yun. "If his power grows, he will break the spatial barrier and invite the outer-realm demons. This world will be destroyed!"
The Automaton suddenly understood. "You need not worry. You have a high chance of inheriting the Celestial Divine Palace. Even if not, with your talent, I am willing to save your life. Then I can take you through other worlds."
Yun Jin gritted her teeth. "No! This world is not just about me. My masters and companions are here too!"
The Automaton said, "That is a minor issue. I can reserve spots, and you can bring your masters and companions. I will take you all away."
Yun Jin's talent justified this help.
"It is not like that!" Yun Jin gritted her teeth. "This world is where I was born, where my soul belongs! Millions of lives follow their own paths, living and dying! Though there is regret and pain, this world is flourishing!
But if the outer-realm demons invade, all of it will be destroyed! War will spread, countless people will die under the demons' blades. This world will fall into death! Even if I survive, I will have no home or return!"
Yun Jin spoke slowly but firmly. "I will not allow this to happen."
The Automaton tilted its head at Yun Jin.
It could not understand her words, nor her determination.
It was only weighing whether to act for Yun Jin this time.
After a long pause,
The Automaton said softly, "I can help you this once."
Yun Jin's eyes lit up.
A faint red glow flickered in the automaton's eyes. "If you eventually inherit the Celestial Divine Palace, you'll become my Young Master. Saving Bai Yiran now will simply count as obeying my future master's order in advance.
But if you fail to obtain the inheritance…" He paused. "Then I'll take payment. Your Yin Yang Codex, how about that?"
"Deal," Yun Jin said without hesitation.
Without wasting another second, the automaton raised his hand. A small control console appeared in front of him as he muttered, "Good thing Bai Yiran's Dao imprint meets the threshold. Otherwise, I couldn't save her even if I wanted to."
He just needed to open another vortex channel like before, when he'd summoned the trial participants.
Yun Jin held her breath as she watched the screen.
Inside it, Yang Yun's face was grim. The demonic sigils on his body twisted violently, turning into countless black tendrils that lashed toward Bai Yiran.