Completely Wrong Reasoning, Completely Correct Result

"This is serious, Old Fama," Jia Xing Tian said grimly.

Fama nodded in deep agreement. Yun Shan had emerged from seclusion, and the entire Elder group was out in force. Something earth-shattering must have happened.

"You two, what brings you to my Misty Cloud Sect?"

The moment Fama and Jia Xing Tian saw Yun Shan, Yun Shan saw them as well. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately spread his Dou Qi wings and flew before them, assuming a guarded stance.

He was fine upon seeing Fama, but when Yun Shan saw Jia Xing Tian, his expression turned extremely grim.

Possessing an Earth-tier cultivation method was a good thing for the Misty Cloud Sect—an incredibly good thing. But if the imperial family learned of it before it had even been cultivated, that would not be good news for the Misty Cloud Sect.

The Jia Ma Empire's imperial family had been wary of the Misty Cloud Sect for years. Even the dogs in the Imperial Capital could see it clearly, much less Yun Shan, the one in power at the Misty Cloud Sect.

When Yun Yun had just broken through to Dou Emperor, he had handed the position of Misty Cloud Sect Leader over to her. Aside from his dwindling lifespan forcing him to seek a breakthrough, he had also grown weary of fighting Jia Xing Tian.

And now, Yun Yun's Earth-tier cultivation method had only just arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect. He had only just learned what happened and had not yet had time to convert the cultivation method into an Earth-tier one when Jia Xing Tian arrived with Fama. Clearly, although Lion King Yan Shi and Wind Walker Feng Li had not said anything outside, news of the Earth-tier cultivation method had most likely already leaked.

"Yun Shan, tell me. Does the Misty Cloud Sect currently have a Wind Attribute Earth-tier cultivation method?"

Jia Xing Tian got straight to the point. In his view, as long as the Earth-tier cultivation method Yun Yun had bought or seized in the Black Corner Region was still here, there was room for negotiation. Even if Yun Yun had been captured, considering the value of an Earth-tier cultivation method, that faction would most likely not kill her outright. Instead, they would want to make a deal with the Misty Cloud Sect.

After all, Yun Yun was merely a human Dou Emperor, not even a magical beast. Even if she were killed, she would not even drop a magic core. Only the Heart of the Sea Armor and Storage Ring on her were worth anything, but compared to an Earth-tier cultivation method, they were nothing.

Hearing Jia Xing Tian's words, Yun Shan's face darkened. If he had only suspected that Feng Li and Yan Shi had accidentally leaked news of the Earth-tier cultivation method before, then Jia Xing Tian's mention of it now confirmed that the secret had indeed been exposed.

As Yun Shan's expression darkened, Yan Shi and Feng Li's faces sank as well. They were certain that they had kept the Earth-tier cultivation method secret throughout their journey, but if the Misty Cloud Sect's Earth-tier cultivation method had been exposed, how could the cultivation methods they had already converted into Earth-tier ones possibly remain secret?

At least Yun Yun had not returned yet, so no one knew she had converted to an Earth-tier cultivation method. But they had already returned and had long since converted theirs.

"So that's how it is. It seems the situation I feared most has finally happened."

Jia Xing Tian sighed. When he brought up the Earth-tier cultivation method and Yun Shan merely changed expression without replying, several parts of his speculation were confirmed.

But when Yan Shi and Feng Li's expressions turned equally ugly, his guess was completely confirmed.

Something had happened to Yun Yun. Otherwise, Yun Shan would not look so grim, and Feng Li and Yan Shi would not look so grim either.

Yun Yun must have realized that the three of them could not bring the Earth-tier cultivation method back to the Jia Ma Empire, so she had resolutely decided to hold off the pursuit of the other powerful experts while Feng Li and Yan Shi brought the Earth-tier cultivation method back.

His mention of the Earth-tier cultivation method had reminded them of abandoning Yun Yun and leaving on their own back then, which was why their expressions were so ugly. There was almost no other possibility.

After all, it could not possibly be that the two of them had also obtained Earth-tier cultivation methods by chance and feared that he, the guardian of the Jia Ma Empire, would seize them, could it?

Feng Li and Yan Shi flew behind Yun Shan and cupped their fists toward Jia Xing Tian.

"Old Jia, Old Feng and I have decided to join the Misty Cloud Sect."

"That's right. I hope you will not take offense."

"So that was it." Jia Xing Tian nodded. "Whichever faction you two wish to join is your freedom. This old man naturally has no objections."

"Old Jia, wait a moment. Why do I feel like there's some misunderstanding here?"

Listening to both sides, Fama felt that Jia Xing Tian's earlier guess was correct. Misty Cloud Sect Leader Yun Yun had gone to the Black Corner Region and acquired an Earth-tier cultivation method—that matched. Yun Yun had stayed behind to protect them—that matched. They had survived because of Yun Yun, then joined the Misty Cloud Sect out of guilt afterward to serve it—that matched as well.

But as an Alchemist, his intuition kept telling him that something about this did not seem right.

"Hehe, Old Fama, what could possibly be wrong? Old Yan, Old Feng, let me ask you: did you join the Misty Cloud Sect because of Yun Yun?"

Yan Shi and Feng Li looked at each other, then nodded. Yun Yun had indeed invited both of them, and she had negotiated their treatment before they joined. There was nothing shameful about that, so they had no reason to lie.

"Old Fama, the facts are right before us. What we feared most has finally happened. Fortunately, it is not the worst possible outcome. There is still time."

"Ah..." Fama sighed and nodded helplessly.

Then, in the next instant, Yun Shan's expression changed drastically. He had expected Jia Xing Tian to come suppress the Misty Cloud Sect, but he had never expected Fama and Jia Xing Tian to stand on the same side.

He did not fear Fama alone, nor did he fear Jia Xing Tian alone. But if Fama and Jia Xing Tian joined forces, Yun Shan knew that there was a high chance he would die at their hands.

Fortunately, he was not fighting alone now. This was the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation left behind by the sect's founder could serve as his trump card.

"All Elders and disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect, heed my command! Form the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation! Eliminate the invading enemies!"

"By the Old Sect Master's command!"

As Yun Shan's words fell, several Dou Wang Elders took the lead while the remaining Elders and disciples worked together. Within mere seconds, the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation, with Yun Shan as its formation core, was initially formed, trapping Jia Xing Tian and Fama within the grand formation.

"Wait, Yun Shan. Have you misunderstood something?"

"A misunderstanding? No, there is no misunderstanding!"