A Glimpse of Stunning Beauty!

Silver moonlight fell upon her, setting her skirts swaying. Light and shadow intertwined around her body, while her ink-black hair, trailing to the ground, danced wildly in the wind. Her crystalline eyes were cold and proud, carrying the seductive charm of the night and displaying peerless, frost-like splendor.

After one night, the next day soon arrived. Throughout the night, Ao Qing had made no moves. Instead, he had mingled among the crowd and enjoyed this rare peace and quiet. The days ahead would not be so tranquil, nor would such a lively and harmonious scene as today be likely to appear again.

Misty Cloud Sect's plaza was already packed with people. Thousands of Misty Cloud Sect disciples waited there, while numerous guests had taken their seats in the VIP section. Ao Qing was among them. He kept a low profile, yet the transcendent air about him made him easy to pick out at a glance. Calling him a crane among chickens would not have been an exaggeration.

Moreover, there was not the slightest fluctuation of aura around Ao Qing. Yet no one present believed he was a person without cultivation. They merely assumed that he possessed some special secret art for concealing his aura.

How could these people have known that Ao Qing was a true Dou Saint?

The world was just that wondrous. If Ao Qing had been standing among the experts of the major Emperor Clans right now, no one would doubt that he was a Dou Saint. Yet here, even if they racked their brains, no one would guess that Ao Qing was a Dou Saint expert!

It was not some prank. Ao Qing did not wish to cause too great a stir during this trip. After all, Misty Cloud Sect bore him no grudge.

But today's protagonist was not Ao Qing. It was Yun Yun.

Once the Misty Cloud Sect disciples and the guests had all arrived, the Succession Ceremony officially began!

As the doors of the Sect Leader Hall slowly opened, Yun Shan led Yun Yun and the Misty Cloud Sect Elders toward the center of the plaza.

Yun Yun was incomparably spirited, dressed in a flowing blue-and-white robe. She was as ethereal as snow, and within her holy, noble bearing radiated a wild and unrestrained grace. Standing upon the plaza, waves of peak Dou Wang aura surged forth, like blazing azure lotuses, dazzling and enchanting as they bloomed brilliantly beneath her feet. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

At the same time, her strength was fully displayed.

Ao Qing also saw Yun Yun in all her peerless splendor, but his heart stirred little. No one had been willing to associate with him in his previous life, and thus he had never held much expectation toward women.

Apart from Ao Qing, everyone present could not help but look at her with newfound regard. Even the president of the Alchemist Guild coughed a few times to conceal the fact that he had just been captivated.

And the one most enchanted by her was naturally Pill King Gu He.

Yun Yun looked as gentle as water, so graceful and ladylike. The moment Gu He saw her, he was utterly entranced, as though he had fallen into the vortex of love. Her beautiful appearance, every smile and frown, truly touched the depths of his heart. She made him feel that life was so wonderful; being able to meet Yun Yun in his life, a beauty as exquisite as a celestial maiden, made Gu He sink deeply into his infatuation.

But all of it was ultimately futile. Yun Yun would never take a liking to him.

After Yun Shan arrived at the center of the plaza, he swept his gaze over all the guests and Misty Cloud Sect disciples. Countless emotions showed in that aged figure from behind—joy and sorrow alike, all incomparably complicated.

"Today is the Succession Ceremony for the new Sect Leader of my Misty Cloud Sect. I thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and honor us with your presence!

"My disciple Yun Yun may only be twenty years old, but her strength is sufficient for her to inherit the position of Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect. From today onward, Yun Yun shall be the new Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect! All disciples and Elders shall obey the new Sect Leader's commands without error!"

The many disciples and Elders of Misty Cloud Sect responded in unison, "We shall obey the old Sect Leader's command! We shall obey Sect Leader Yun Yun's command!"

Yun Shan looked upon it all with satisfaction, then waved a hand for Yun Yun to step forward.

"From today onward, I am the new Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect. I shall certainly lead the sect toward an even more powerful future!"

Yun Yun was deeply stirred at this moment. Perhaps this was her destiny, as well as her mission. From this moment onward, she no longer belonged only to herself. A sect rested upon her shoulders, and she would strive for its glorious future.

After speaking, Yun Yun turned her gaze toward the VIP seats and offered her respects to each guest with her eyes. The guests returned the gesture in kind.

When Yun Yun's gaze fell upon Ao Qing, she noticed the unusual aura that set him apart from the others. He was pure and cold, as though untouched by the dust of the mortal world, and his eyes were filled only with indifference, as though Yun Yun did not exist in them at all.

This caught Yun Yun's attention. Most women were emotional creatures, especially proud women. The more fervently you pursued them, the less they wished to pay you any mind. Yet if you truly felt nothing for them, they would instead view you differently.

In an instant, Yun Yun's beautiful eyes met Ao Qing's amid the crowd.

At that moment, Ao Qing thought, So this is Yun Yun? She does have something unique about her. But why does she keep staring at me? I don't know her—I only came to this world myself!

They said dragons were naturally lustful, but that trait did not seem to show itself in Ao Qing at all. He was a complete straight-laced fool.

Yun Yun, meanwhile, found the man before her rather interesting. His cold, aloof aura paired with his proud demeanor made the tips of her ears redden faintly. It was not love at first sight, but a seed of affection had nonetheless begun to sprout in her heart.

As for how that seed would germinate, take root, and grow in the future, it would all depend on fate.

Ao Qing showed no surprise. He had only come to Misty Cloud Sect to find someone who could lead him to the Xiao Clan. As for Yun Yun, although he found her beautiful and moving, he held no interest in her whatsoever. Perhaps he had been lonely for so long that he had grown accustomed to, even fond of, being alone.

The Succession Ceremony continued. Even if Yun Yun was curious, she could not immediately step forward to question him. Instead, she began receiving the distinguished guests together with Yun Shan.

While everyone else feasted on meat, drank deeply, and chatted with one another, Ao Qing sat alone at a table, leisurely and elegantly savoring the unique delicacies of the Dou Qi Continent.

Before long, Yun Yun came to Ao Qing's table.

"Sir, you look unfamiliar. May I ask where you are from? Why are you sitting alone at a table and drinking by yourself?"

Yun Yun stared at Ao Qing as she asked.

Ao Qing raised his head. His snow-white hair fell somewhat messily over his shoulders. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked calmly at Yun Yun.

"Sect Leader Yun Yun and I have never met, so naturally you would not recognize me. As for where I am from, there is no need to mention it. I only happened to come here today."

Seeing that Ao Qing refused to reveal anything, Yun Yun felt somewhat annoyed. She had asked him so politely, yet he still seemed utterly unwilling to engage with her.

"In that case, Yun Yun shall not disturb you any further, sir."

With that, she turned and left.

As Ao Qing watched Yun Yun's departing figure, he only found the whole thing inexplicable.

The guests rejoiced, and time passed. Soon, some people began to take their leave. Gradually, more and more departed, and before long, nearly everyone had left Misty Cloud Sect.

Yet Ao Qing did not leave. He remained seated at the banquet table.

After finishing all her work, Yun Yun saw this, gritted her teeth, and walked toward Ao Qing once more.

"Sir! The Succession Ceremony has already ended. Why have you not left? Could it be that Misty Cloud Sect has failed to receive you properly? Please tell me in detail."

"Failed to receive me properly? Not at all. However, I did not come today merely to witness some Succession Ceremony. I came to ask Misty Cloud Sect about something. May I ask whether Sect Leader Yun Yun can answer my question?"

Looking at Ao Qing's calm expression, Yun Yun had no idea what he was up to.

"Please ask whatever you wish, sir. If Yun Yun knows the answer, I will tell you everything without reservation."

"Then I will be direct.

"Does Sect Leader Yun Yun know where the Xiao Clan of Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire is located?"

Yun Yun had not expected Ao Qing to ask such a question, but she still answered seriously.

"The Xiao Clan you speak of—I happen to know of them. My seven-year-old disciple, Nalan Yanran, is said to have a marriage arrangement with the Xiao Clan. But may I ask what plans you have in inquiring about the Xiao Clan?"

When he heard that Nalan Yanran was only seven years old, Ao Qing relaxed even more. In that case, he had sufficient confidence that he could obtain the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade without alerting the major Emperor Clans!