Jia Xing Tian's Relief

Gamma Empire Imperial Capital, Alchemist Guild headquarters.

After seeing two figures with Dou Qi Wings rapidly flying toward the Misty Cloud Sect, and sensing that both of their auras were only at the Dou Wang level, Jia Xing Tian's expression changed. He immediately flew toward the Alchemist Guild headquarters.

"Old Fama! Look what you've done!"

By the time he arrived at the Alchemist Guild headquarters, Jia Xing Tian's face was so dark it looked ready to drip water.

Three people had accompanied Su Luo to Jia Nan Academy, yet only two Dou Wang experts had returned. Yun Yun, the strongest among them, still had no news.

Based on Jia Xing Tian's assessment, Yun Yun had most likely stayed behind to cover their retreat. But in a place like the Black Corner Region, with Yun Yun's strength as a One-star Dou Huang who had only recently advanced, Jia Xing Tian could already sense that her odds were grim.

The thought that Yun Yun might be in grave danger gave Jia Xing Tian a pounding headache.

The Gamma Empire Royal Family had always been wary of the Misty Cloud Sect, but the Jia Ma Empire also needed the Misty Cloud Sect's strength.

As one of the few Dou Emperor forces in the Jia Ma Empire confirmed to still exist, the Jia Ma Royal Family and the Misty Cloud Sect had indeed been openly and secretly competing. But if something happened to Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Leader, then the first to suffer would be the Misty Cloud Sect, while the second would be the Gamma Empire Royal Family.

If Yun Yun fell, the Misty Cloud Sect would be severely weakened and would no longer pose a threat to the royal family. That would certainly be good, but the Jia Ma Empire already had very few Dou Emperors. Losing another would only make the Jia Ma Empire's situation worse.

The Jia Ma Royal Family faced more than just domestic threats. The Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, Mu Lan Empire, and Snake People Empire were all watching like tigers, waiting for the neighboring empires to weaken. The Jia Ma Empire had never held much of an advantage over those empires to begin with. If something happened to the Misty Cloud Sect Leader now, who knew whether the other empires would seize the chance to strike while it was down.

"What is it, Old Jia? You came in blazing with anger. What happened?"

Fama was somewhat baffled by Jia Xing Tian's outburst, but as an Alchemist, he still possessed a steady temperament.

Jia Xing Tian said darkly, "Yan Shi and Feng Li are back."

Fama took a sip of tea, unable to understand why Jia Xing Tian was so angry. "That's a good thing. It means the Black Corner Region isn't as dangerous as we imagined. Isn't that excellent?"

Jia Xing Tian slammed his palm onto the table. "Excellent, my ass! Yan Shi and Feng Li came back, but Yun Yun didn't!"

"What? Th-this... could something have delayed her?" Upon hearing that Yun Yun had not returned, Fama immediately understood the severity of the matter. As one of the Jia Ma Empire's upper echelon, he knew exactly how many enemies the empire had.

The Jia Ma Empire could not afford to casually lose a Dou Emperor. This was not merely a loss for the royal family, but for the entire Jia Ma Empire.

"I'd like to think so too. But considering Yun Yun's speed, even if they encountered enemies not far from the Jia Ma Empire's border and she stayed behind to cover their retreat while letting the other two return first, Yun Yun should still have arrived before them. At the absolute latest, she should have only been a step behind. Wind Attribute Dou Emperors have always been the fastest among Dou Emperors of the same level when traveling. Lightning Attribute Dou Emperors might have the edge in short-range bursts, but once the journey stretches out even a little, Wind Attribute Dou Emperors completely crush them in speed."

"Th-this..." Listening to Jia Xing Tian's analysis, Fama began to panic as well.

They were both Dou Emperors, and they belonged to the same generation as Jia Xing Tian and Yun Shan. He had rarely seen Yun Yun's speed, but he had seen Yun Shan's.

Yun Yun was Yun Shan's disciple and the new Misty Cloud Sect Leader. Her strength was practically that of a younger Yun Shan. Taking Yan Shi and Feng Li's speed into account, Fama knew Jia Xing Tian was right.

"No, Yun Yun is a Dou Emperor. A Dou Emperor expert, accompanied by two Dou Wangs—without some tremendous and terrifying benefit, who would go looking for trouble with her?"

After panicking for a moment, Fama's identity as an Alchemist ultimately helped him regain his composure early enough to analyze the current situation.

Jia Xing Tian's expression remained ugly. "Old Fama, have you forgotten where they went? That was the Black Corner Region!"

"The most chaotic place in the Northwest Region, but also the place with the most opportunities."

"Earth-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, things our entire Jia Ma Empire does not possess, are not rare there at all. As long as one attends a major auction, a few rounds of bidding will almost always turn up some Earth-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. So tell me, do you think Yun Yun and the others might have encountered an auction for an Earth-tier cultivation method while passing through the Black Corner Region?"

"..." Fama lowered his head. Jia Xing Tian's question left him silent. Thinking of the allure of an Earth-tier cultivation method, he truly began to worry about Yun Yun's situation.

The Black Corner Region was filled with treasures, but just because someone bought a cultivation method did not mean they could actually keep it. Whenever there was a major auction, it was commonplace for people to rob one another after it ended. In fact, it would be strange if no robbery occurred.

"Old Fama, you underestimate the Black Corner Region's dangers too much. Why do you think I've reached the level of a High-tier Dou Emperor and still haven't gone there? The risks there are uncontrollable even for me. And Earth-tier cultivation methods are frequently there to tempt people. Yun Yun's talent and strength may be impressive, but she is still too young. Faced with the temptation of an Earth-tier cultivation method, I'm afraid she would find it difficult to resist the greed in her heart. By now, she may already have..."

"No, Old Jia. Things haven't reached that point yet. At the very least, Yun Yun simply hasn't returned. We haven't confirmed that she is dead. As long as Yun Yun is alive, there will still be a way to resolve everything."

Fama grabbed Jia Xing Tian's arm. "Let's go to the Misty Cloud Sect and find out exactly what happened. As long as Yun Yun is alive, if you, me, and that old fellow Yun Shan all step in, along with Pill King Gu He, there should still be room to ease the situation."

"As long as Yun Yun is alive, the Alchemist Guild will cover every resource needed to save her."

"At this point, that's all we can do."

Two pairs of Dou Qi Wings shot out from the Alchemist Guild headquarters, ascending Misty Cloud Mountain's peak at a terrifying speed.

The moment the two arrived at the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain, Fama's heart sank. He saw Yun Shan, the Old Sect Master who should have been in secluded cultivation, had emerged. Beyond that, the Misty Cloud Sect's Elders at the Dou Wang and Dou Ling level had all gathered as well. It was clear that this matter was no small one for the Misty Cloud Sect.

Jia Xing Tian, who had come to the Misty Cloud Sect alongside Fama, also felt his heart sink. Yet he was faintly relieved—relieved that he had refused Fama back then. Otherwise, if he had been the one in trouble, Jia Xing Tian did not even know who could have gone to save him.