Gate of Life and Death, Small World?

"Su Yun is a Dou Zong powerhouse occupying the Chu Yun Empire. I have nothing to say about that.

"Medusa has broken through the shackles of her bloodline and is seeking territory for the Snake-People Race. That is also nothing.

"But what are the Nalan Family and the Mu Family? How do they have the right to take the stage and divide up the territory of the three empires?!"

Yun Shan's expression was incomparably grim. "I am a Dou Zong powerhouse, yet the Misty Cloud Sect is only granted the right to recruit disciples within the three empires?"

Yun Yun asked in confusion, "Teacher, what do we need the territory of the three empires for? For thousands of years, hasn't the Misty Cloud Sect cultivated peacefully atop Misty Cloud Mountain?

"The right to recruit disciples in the three empires was something I proposed myself. It was not Senior Su deliberately making things difficult for us."

The moment those words left her mouth, Yun Shan grew even more furious. "So it was you who did this!"

A stunned look appeared on Yun Yun's beautiful face, and she could not help asking, "Teacher, what is wrong with you?"

Her teacher had always been calm and composed, wholly devoted to cultivation on Misty Cloud Mountain. Even when fighting for the Jia Ma Empire at the Northwest Continent's sect tournament, he had done so without complaint.

Much of her own tranquil temperament had been influenced by her teacher.

Yet now, Yun Yun realized that ever since her teacher had emerged from seclusion, he seemed like a completely different person—one she no longer recognized.

Yun Shan seemed to realize that he had lost his composure as well. The anger on his face receded slightly as he said coldly, "I am doing this for the good of the Misty Cloud Sect!"

Yun Yun's brows remained tightly furrowed.

A chill flashed through Yun Shan's eyes. "Su Yun defeated the Dou Zong forces of the three empires alone. Did he really not suffer any injuries?"

Yun Yun frowned even more deeply and shook her head. "No. Senior Su was completely unharmed. Please stop entertaining other thoughts... I am doing this for the good of the Misty Cloud Sect as well.

"Besides, Senior Su and Queen Medusa are extremely close. You are not even Senior Su's match, Teacher. How could you possibly defeat them if they joined forces?"

Yun Shan laughed in extreme anger. "Good! So now you are lecturing me!"

Yun Yun's crimson lips trembled before turning into a sigh. Bending at the waist, she said, "This disciple merely does not wish for anything to happen to Teacher."

Looking at the disciple before him, whose words were so sincere, a trace of clarity returned to Yun Shan's eyes. He remained silent for a long while, then waved his sleeve. "Forget it. You may leave. Your teacher spoke improperly today."

A faint joy appeared on Yun Yun's face. "It is good that Teacher understands. This disciple must still oversee the compensation for the fallen disciples, so I shall take my leave first."

"Mm."

Yun Shan turned around, presenting his back to Yun Yun. Once the fading footsteps had completely vanished from the corridor outside the hall, a strand of invisible black mist suddenly emerged from his head.

Yun Shan's eyes, which had only just regained some clarity, turned crimson. Even his reason vanished without a trace!

"Uninjured! How could he be uninjured?!"

Yun Shan's voice was hoarse, his chest filled with fury.

"Even three Dou Zong combatants could do nothing to him. How am I supposed to avenge the humiliation of that day?!"

Recalling the scene of Su Yun suppressing him with a single palm, Yun Shan's face filled with terror.

After leaving the main hall, Yun Yun found her teacher's condition increasingly strange. She sought out a sect elder and asked what had happened during the time she had been away from the sect.

"An attack on the Xiao Family in Wutan City, Xiao Zhan's disappearance... Xiao Yan came to the Misty Cloud Sect a second time, killed Great Elder Yun Leng, and injured Teacher... So such things happened as well."

Yun Yun held her forehead. These truly were troubled times. The Misty Cloud Sect had made enemies one after another—where would it go from here?

At that moment, Nalan Yanran arrived.

"Teacher."

"Yanran, did you not return to rest?"

The worry on Yun Yun's face faded as she spoke softly.

Nalan Yanran said, "I wish to enter the Gate of Life and Death. Please grant me this, Teacher!"

"What?!"

Yun Yun was startled. "It is far too early for you to enter the Gate of Life and Death!"

Nalan Yanran bit her teeth lightly. "I want to catch up to Xiao Yan, defeat him fairly and openly, and prove that a disciple carefully nurtured by the Misty Cloud Sect will not lose to some Young Master from Wutan City!

"Teacher, I beg you. Please grant me this!"

Nalan Yanran pleaded desperately. Yun Yun knew that Xiao Yan had provoked her. Her Youthful Arrogance had been stirred, and her refusal to admit defeat had flared up.

Yun Yun pondered for a long time before finally relenting. "All right."

The sect was currently in turmoil, and no one knew what might happen. Once Yanran entered the Gate of Life and Death, she likely would not emerge for two or three years.

It would be good for her to go inside and avoid the storm. That way, even if the worst came to pass, the Misty Cloud Sect would still have one surviving seedling.

"However, Yanran, do not be hasty yet."

Yun Yun raised her delicate hand and placed it over Nalan Yanran's. "The Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill refined by Senior Su can further improve your talent.

"Your teacher will go and ask him for one. That way, you will gain even greater benefits upon entering the Gate of Life and Death."

Nalan Yanran's eyes instantly reddened, shimmering tears filling her eye sockets. Her voice choked.

"Teacher..."

"Do not cry. Our Yanran will become a fairy who stands proud against frost and snow in the future."

Yun Yun gently wiped away her tears. After a pause, she added, "However, you absolutely must not let your Martial Ancestor know that I went to visit Senior Su. Do you understand?"

"Mm, mm!"

The next day.

Yun Yun secretly descended the mountain and arrived at the Mite'er Family.

"What is it?"

A trace of puzzlement flashed through Su Yun's eyes.

Yun Yun bowed, then said, "I apologize for disturbing you, Senior. Yun Yun has come to request an Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill."

"I see."

Su Yun's thoughts turned, and he roughly guessed what was going on.

Yun Yun doted greatly on Nalan Yanran.

If he remembered correctly, it was with Yun Yun's support that Nalan Yanran had dared to defy Nalan Jie and go to the Xiao Family to break off her engagement.

"Is it for that disciple of yours?"

"Yes. Yanran is about to enter the Gate of Life and Death. Senior's pill can lend her a helping hand."

The Misty Cloud Sect possessed a secret inheritance site, the Gate of Life and Death. This was no secret within the Jia Ma Empire.

What outsiders did not know was exactly what mysteries lay within the Gate of Life and Death...

Su Yun's expression shifted slightly. With a turn of his hand, he took out a snow-white pill the size of a longan from his Storage Ring.

"The Gate of Life and Death—This Sect Master learned a thousand years ago that it was the foundation Venerable Yun Potian left behind for the Misty Cloud Sect."

Ding.

Your lie has made Yun Yun believe it to be true. It has been judged as baseless nonsense. You have obtained 100 Truth Points.

Remaining Truth Points: 39204.

Hearing Su Yun say that he had known of it for a thousand years, Yun Yun subconsciously assumed that he understood the Gate of Life and Death quite well, and her tone relaxed somewhat.

"Yes. The Gate of Life and Death is the foundation upon which the Misty Cloud Sect was established. Beyond it lies a ruined, desolate independent space.

"According to records left behind by Martial Ancestor Yun Potian, a Saint can create a space for people to live in, while a Dou Di can create a Small World capable of housing an enormous population.

"Martial Ancestor speculated that the space beyond the Gate of Life and Death was created by a Saint. As for a Small World created by a Dou Di... the Misty Cloud Sect likely does not have such good fortune.

"That space sounds frighteningly prestigious, but it contains no great treasures. I fear it would not catch Senior Su's eye.

"Otherwise, the Misty Cloud Sect would not have produced only one Dou Zong—my teacher—in all these centuries.

"The Gate of Life and Death is essentially a sealed gate formed by the Space Power left behind by Martial Ancestor. It allows later disciples to enter that ruined space. Without the designated hand seals, it cannot be opened.

"If one tries to force it open, the Gate of Life and Death will destroy itself."

Su Yun nodded. "Venerable Yun truly considered everything carefully for the sake of the sect's inheritance."

Yun Yun appeared tranquil and gentle, but she was also well versed in the ways of the world. She had quickly realized that he was interested in the Gate of Life and Death.

After seemingly generously revealing its secrets, she had pointed out that its treasures were insufficient to move a Dou Zong and that forcing it open would cause it to self-destruct...

She did not wish to offend him, yet she also did not want him coveting the Gate of Life and Death... Yun Yun had truly gone to great lengths.

But though the speaker had no such intention, the listener did. Su Yun had perceived something unusual.

"The Xiao Clan declined and moved all the way from the Central Plains to the Northwest Continent. Where did the Small World they originally inhabited go? And why did they have to come to the Northwest Continent?

"If they sought a place to hide, the Eastern Sea, the Southern Wastelands, the Northern Pole... all would have sufficed. The Northern Pole's icy plains were sparsely populated and would have been an even better choice."

Windfire Plains connect... Could it be...?