Wutan City, No Longer What It Once Was

Xiao Chen's calm declaration exploded beside every Misty Cloud Sect disciple's ear like Heaven-Shaking Thunder.

"Dou... Dou Zun?!"

The weight contained within those two words was enough to crush the spine of any expert in the Jia Ma Empire. A Dou Zong was already a legendary existence in the Jia Ma Empire, while a Dou Zun... was a supreme realm beyond even the reach of legends!

The color instantly drained from Yun Shan's face. His former indifference and majesty vanished without a trace, leaving behind only boundless terror and a sense of absurdity. His body trembled uncontrollably. Beneath that vast, starry-sea-like pressure, he, a so-called "expert" who had only just entered the Dou Zong realm, was as insignificant as an ant.

"Se... Senior..." Yun Shan's voice was dry and hoarse, filled with unprecedented panic. "This junior... this junior did not know of this child's relationship with Senior. I have offended you greatly. I beg Senior..."

"Kneel."

Xiao Chen cut him off. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an unquestionable Law Force.

Thud!

Without the slightest hesitation, faced with such an absolute disparity in power, all of Yun Shan's pride and dignity were utterly crushed. His knees buckled, and he truly knelt in midair toward Xiao Chen!

The entire venue fell silent.

Every Misty Cloud Sect disciple and elder stared dumbfoundedly at the supreme sect leader they revered, now kneeling before an unfamiliar young man like a criminal. This scene shattered their faith more thoroughly than any attack could have.

Hai Bodong sucked in a cold breath, his gaze toward Xiao Chen filled with shock and relief. Ling Ying's face, concealed within the shadows, was equally grave as he muttered under his breath, "A Dou Zun... The Xiao Family actually has such an existence? I must report this to Miss immediately!"

Yun Yun stared blankly at her kneeling teacher, then at the figure in azure robes. Her heart was filled with conflicting emotions—relief, bitterness, and an indescribable sense of shock.

Xiao Yan was likewise overwhelmed with shock. He had guessed that his brother must have encountered some opportunity during his years of disappearance, but he had never imagined that he would reach such a terrifying realm! A Dou Zun... this was the realm Yao Lao had possessed only at his peak!

"Little fellow... your brother is truly extraordinary..." Yao Lao's astonished voice sounded in Xiao Yan's heart, carrying a hint of relief.

Xiao Chen ignored the kneeling Yun Shan as though it were nothing more than a trivial matter. He turned, his gaze passing over Xiao Yan before settling on Xiao Zhan, who was being guarded by Misty Cloud Sect disciples.

When he saw Xiao Zhan's haggard face, aged considerably by the years, and the tears of disbelief and overwhelming excitement in his eyes, Xiao Chen's heart—hardened like stone after fourteen years of hardship—twisted sharply.

He took a step forward. Space warped, and he instantly appeared before Xiao Zhan.

The few Misty Cloud Sect disciples guarding Xiao Zhan felt as though they had been targeted by a Primordial Beast the moment Xiao Chen's gaze swept over them. Their Dou Qi froze, and even breathing became difficult. They instinctively staggered back, clearing a path.

"Father..."

Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Zhan. Countless words clogged his throat, only to finally become those two heavy, hoarse words. He lifted his robes and was about to kneel.

"Chen'er! Is it really you? My Chen'er!" Xiao Zhan suddenly stretched out his somewhat rough hands and tightly grasped Xiao Chen's arms, stopping him from kneeling. Tears streamed down his aged face as he looked Xiao Chen over from head to toe, his voice choking with emotion. "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back! Could it be... could it be that I'm dreaming?"

"Father, this is no dream. Your son has been unfilial, only returning today." Xiao Chen clasped his father's hand in return, quietly sending a stream of pure, gentle Dou Qi into him to nourish Xiao Zhan's injured body and meridians. "You and Brother Yan have suffered."

Feeling his injuries rapidly improve and sensing that vast, ocean-like Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Zhan became even more certain. He was too excited to speak, merely patting the back of Xiao Chen's hand with all his strength.

Xiao Chen supported Xiao Zhan as they walked over to Xiao Yan. The two brothers stood on either side of their father, supporting him together. This sight filled Xiao Zhan, who had endured such great sorrow and joy, with incomparable peace and comfort.

Only then did Xiao Chen turn his gaze back to Yun Shan, who was still kneeling in the air. His eyes became cold once more.

"Yun Shan, why is my father here? And why is my brother severely injured? Tell me everything, clearly and truthfully."

His voice held no trace of emotion, yet it made Yun Shan feel as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Yun Shan trembled all over. How could he dare conceal anything or show the slightest backbone now? He hurriedly recounted how Xiao Yan had stormed the Misty Cloud Sect in search of his father, as well as everything concerning the Three-Year Agreement. Throughout his account, he did his utmost to distance himself from blame, pushing most of the responsibility onto the dead Yun Leng and the Soul Hall's instigation.

As Xiao Chen listened to Yun Shan's account, his gaze grew colder and colder. Although he knew the plot well, hearing firsthand of the humiliation and danger his father and brother had endured still made the killing intent in his heart difficult to suppress.

Soul Hall... so they have already extended their hand here.

After Yun Shan finished speaking, Xiao Chen fell silent for a moment. Yet to Yun Shan and the entire Misty Cloud Sect, that brief silence felt like years.

At last, Xiao Chen spoke, his voice like a final judgment:

"Yun Shan, you may be spared death, but you will not escape punishment."

He flicked a finger, and an invisible gust instantly shot into Yun Shan's dantian.

Pfft!

Yun Shan violently spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura immediately withered, and his face turned as pale as paper. To his horror, he discovered that his Dou Zong cultivation, which he had painstakingly accumulated over many years, had been forcibly knocked down by that single finger strike, dropping him back to the peak of Dou Huang!

"I will cripple your cultivation down to Dou Huang as punishment. From this day onward, the Misty Cloud Sect shall seal its mountain for ten years. None of your disciples may leave. Those who defy this order will be killed without mercy."

With one casually spoken sentence, he decided the fate of the Jia Ma Empire's strongest force.

Yun Shan collapsed limply to the ground, his face ashen. Yet he dared not harbor the slightest resentment and could only kowtow with difficulty. "Th... thank you, Senior, for sparing my life..."

Having crippled Yun Shan, Xiao Chen did not spare him another glance, as though he had merely swatted away a fly. He looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, and a gentle smile appeared on his face once more.

"Father, Brother Yan, this matter is settled. We... are going home."

Going home!

Those two words made Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan's eyes redden again.

"Good! Let's go home!" Xiao Zhan nodded heavily.

Xiao Chen swept his sleeve, and a gentle yet immense Power of Space enveloped Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, as well as Hai Bodong, Ling Ying, and the others in the distance.

The next moment, Spatial Fluctuation rippled through the air, and their figures instantly vanished from the Misty Cloud Sect plaza. All that remained was silence across the mountain, along with a Misty Cloud Sect whose sect leader had been crippled and whose legacy was nearly destroyed.

What happened today was destined to sweep across the entire Jia Ma Empire and even the surrounding regions at the speed of a storm!

A Dou Zun named Xiao Chen, and his return, would completely change the entire landscape.