Mittel Teng Shan: If Only Elder Hai Were Still Here

Yun Lei's death was the Misty Cloud Sect's greatest loss in nearly ten years. He had been an elder!

Most crucially, Yun Lei had been secretly sent by him to retaliate against the Xiao Family. The sect master knew nothing of it. Now that notice had spread throughout the country, coupled with the disappearance of a Dou Ling elder... none of it could be concealed anymore!

He had to take responsibility for this!

Even if Yun Leng was an old hand of the Misty Cloud Sect and was effectively in charge of all sect affairs; even if he held far less respect for that little girl Yun Yun than he had for the old sect master, Yun Shan.

There was one thing he had to admit: the fury of a Dou Emperor was absolutely not something a mere Dou Wang like him could bear!

"Great Elder Yun Leng, This Sect Master needs an explanation!"

"Boom!"

The woman's icy voice, accompanied by a fierce aura, suddenly rang out from the Sect Master Main Hall. Throughout the sect, disciples and elders alike stiffened as they looked toward the Sect Master Main Hall in horror.

"Alas!"

Clenching his shriveled hand, Yun Leng's body suddenly hunched over. With an ashen face, he headed toward the Sect Master Main Hall. Along the way, white-robed elders could be seen hurrying over as well.

However, the elders who usually eagerly flattered him now moved far aside upon seeing Yun Leng, as though they had encountered a plague god, afraid they could not avoid him quickly enough.

Yun Lei was the only elder to fall in the past ten years. He had not died fighting on the battlefield, nor had he perished in a conflict with another sect. He had died because of faulty intelligence from his own Great Elder.

His death would have been one thing, but he had also been branded a spy from the Chu Yun Empire. The Misty Cloud Sect could not even hold a proper funeral for him!

Who would not be disheartened?

"Yun Leng, didn't I tell you that Yanran was to handle the Xiao Family matter herself three years later?"

Yun Leng had just arrived at the Main Hall when, before he could speak, a clear and authoritative voice sounded. He immediately raised his head to look.

Following Yun Leng's gaze, one could see a woman seated in the central position of the hall. She wore a moon-white gown, and faint anger showed on her elegant, noble, beautiful face.

It was none other than the current sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun.

"Sect Master, the Xiao Family annulled Yanran's engagement and severely injured Steward Ge Ye, greatly damaging the reputation of our Misty Cloud Sect. If we simply let them off so easily, would that not make people think anyone could trample all over the Misty Cloud Sect in the future?"

"This was done for the sect's honor. Old Man does not believe he was wrong. Even if there was a mistake, it was because the intelligence was flawed and the Xiao Family's strength was underestimated."

"Old Man accepts the punishment for this mistake!"

Yun Leng defended himself.

"What a fine 'for the sect's honor.'" Glancing at the old guy who had his neck stiffly raised, Yun Yun rubbed her brow with a troubled, helpless expression. "Great Elder, do you realize that this has already placed the sect in danger?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. Every elder turned their gaze toward her.

"The Imperial Family has always been cold and ruthless. How could it allow another to snore beside its bed? Over the years, I have repeatedly stressed that the sect's disciples and elders must keep a low profile in their dealings!"

"You all treated my words as wind past your ears!? If that's the case, then I might as well stop being sect master. Go deal with Jia Xing Tian yourselves!"

The more Yun Yun spoke, the harsher her tone became. In the end, she directly flung a calling card viciously into Yun Leng's old face.

"Jia Xing Tian is coming to visit the sect to discuss how the Xiao Family should be rewarded? As the empire's strongest sect, the Misty Cloud Sect holds the status of protector sect. Should we not express something as well?"

"That damned old guy, he's too arrogant! Too arrogant! If the old sect master were still here, would he dare act like this?"

"Jia Xing Tian has brought death upon himself!"

After reading the contents of the calling card, Yun Leng's old face changed from white to red, then from red to green, becoming utterly unsightly. At some point, a cloud-white flute had appeared in his hand.

A Misty Cloud Sect elder had died, yet he wanted them to reward the killer?

Outrageous!

"Who told you to let him catch you with evidence? Of all excuses, you had to claim he had returned after studying in the Chu Yun Empire..."

At this point, even Gu He, who had always paid little attention to sect affairs, shook his head helplessly.

He did not know whether Yun Leng was foolish or wicked.

Everyone knew the Imperial Family's intentions.

If they were not uncertain whether the old sect master Yun Shan was dead or alive, there would be more than just legions stationed below the mountain.

Anyone with eyes could see that Jia Xing Tian alone was now holding up the Imperial Family. The younger generation had no particularly gifted cultivators and had already fallen into an awkward gap between generations.

To ensure the Imperial Family's continued existence, while Jia Xing Tian still lived, it would certainly intensify its suppression of the other powers within the empire.

As the most transcendent force, the Misty Cloud Sect had likely long become a thorn in their eyes and flesh!

"Hm?"

Yun Yun suddenly rose from her throne, her beautiful eyes turning solemn as she looked outside the Main Hall.

"Could it be..."

Her unusual reaction also gave the elders present a bad feeling, and they all followed her gaze.

"Hehe, is Sect Master Yun Yun present? Old Man has come to pay a visit."

The light laugh, infused with Dou Qi, echoed throughout Misty Cloud Mountain. Then an old man in hemp robes appeared, flapping a pair of earth-yellow Dou Qi Wings behind him as he sped over.

"Buzz!"

The aura of a Peak Dou Huang spread out without reservation, forming an invisible pressure that made everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect tremble inwardly. Some weaker disciples were instantly forced to bend at the waist.

"Elder Jia, since you have come as a guest, This Sect Master naturally welcomes you. But if you intend to provoke us, then do not blame This Sect Master for offending you!"

Yun Yun rose into the air, her own Dou Emperor aura spreading out and violently colliding with Jia Xing Tian's pressure.

Needle against wheat awn!

"Sect Master Yun Yun truly is the new wave pushing the old wave forward."

Feeling her aura and seeing her fearless, unyielding attitude, Jia Xing Tian narrowed his old eyes slightly. He glanced toward the back mountain, and doubt rose in his heart.

She was this confident... could Yun Shan still be alive?

The Misty Cloud Sect was only a dozen or so li from the Imperial Capital. The clash between two Dou Emperor experts naturally alarmed many powerful figures within the Imperial Capital.

"The Imperial Family truly has not been idle. Nephew Xiao Yan really is a fine schemer. I just wonder whether Jia Xing Tian can probe the true depth of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"If Yun Shan has not died of old age, then he has definitely broken through to the Dou Zong Realm by now!"

Deep within the Mite'er Family, Mittel Teng Shan looked toward Misty Cloud Mountain, sensing the two powerful auras confronting each other from afar.

"Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation?! There will be no fight today."

After a moment, one of the light and ethereal auras was defeated by a heavy aura. Then a terrifying fluctuation erupted from Misty Cloud Mountain, making the Mite'er Family's Great Elder's expression change instantly.

The Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation was renowned far and wide. With a Dou Wang expert presiding over the formation, it could contend against a Dou Emperor.

And if it were presided over by Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor...

Based on Teng Shan's understanding of Jia Xing Tian, the latter would never completely fall out with the Misty Cloud Sect without certainty of victory.

The purpose of the test had already been achieved, so this battle naturally would not break out.

"It is time to go to Wutan City. I wonder what surprise Nephew Xiao Yan mentioned. Could it be that Senior has refined a Dou Ling Pill?"

"Alas, the empire's situation is ever-changing and unpredictable. If only Elder Hai were still here."

Withdrawing his gaze from Misty Cloud Mountain, Teng Shan sighed, then summoned his Dou Qi Wings and flew toward Wutan City.

Xiao Family Back Mountain, beneath a concealed cliff.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in a Cave barely over a meter wide. He had carefully chosen this cliff as his cultivation site.

Opposite the cliff, clouds and mist swirled. Beneath them lay the perilous Monster Beast Mountain Range. Below the cliff was a bottomless abyss, while the only path leading here had been concealed beforehand with branches and broken stones. Thus, Xiao Yan was quite certain that this breakthrough would not be interrupted midway.

That was right. After continuously taking Yang Yuan Pills for some time, while the Life-Bound Fire Seed in his body steadily grew stronger, his cultivation had also reached the brink of a minor breakthrough.

Fen Jue was unfathomably strange. Devouring fire allowed it to grow stronger.

A single Yang Yuan Pill did not contain much fire energy, but after making a killing in Yan City, the Xiao Family now possessed tens of thousands of Yang Yuan Pills!

"With enough Yang Yuan Pills, one minor realm per week. By the end of the month, I should be able to advance to a Dou Master."

Slowly drawing a breath, Xiao Yan took out a huge Jade Basin from his chest. With a grasp of his hand, a large handful of fire-red pills rolled into his palm.

"Fen Jue can remove impurities and use the pure energy of Heavenly Gang Yang Fire to nourish the entire body. While increasing my strength, it can also solidify my foundation. There is no need for the so-called suppression of my realm."

"With a stable foundation, the faster my realm breaks through, the better!"

Looking at the large handful of warm fire-red pills in his hand, Xiao Yan smiled faintly.

"Taking pills by the handfuls—only Fen Jue is strange and domineering enough to refine them quickly."

He inhaled that refreshing exotic fragrance once more, licked his lips, and without another moment of hesitation, swallowed them all in one mouthful.