Yun Shan's Dream

"Yun Shan, you scoundrel, do you know your crime?"

Misty Cloud Sect, Northwestern Continent.

The old sect leader's secluded cultivation place.

At this moment, Yun Shan was deep in slumber, as if he had arrived in a magical place. It was incredibly vast, with nine suns in the sky. Mountains towered straight into the clouds, and countless giants, shoulder-to-shoulder with the heavens, chased the suns playfully. The beasts on the ground were also enormous; his body wasn't even as big as a single piece of dung from these magical beasts.

Before Yun Shan could react, an old man with a long beard and a white robe descended from the clouds in the distance, his ethereal demeanor inspiring immense reverence.

"You scoundrel, do you know your crime?" the old man landed slowly, his brows furrowed in anger.

"You are..." Yun Shan's old eyes were hazy. After careful identification, he finally recalled the old man's image from his memory. "You are, Grand-Ancestor!"

Indeed, this was Yun Shan's Grand-Ancestor, Yun Potian. Back then, Yun Potian single-handedly founded the Misty Cloud Sect on the Northwestern Continent, making all the petty powers around them tremble and dare not resist. Such glorious deeds had been sung for years.

As a youth, Yun Shan had the fortune to see his Grand-Ancestor once. At the time, he felt it was his utmost honor to join the Misty Cloud Sect.

He never expected that today, his ancestor, with spirit in heaven, would appear in his dream for a reunion. It was truly magical.

"Not bad, you haven't forgotten me, your Grand-Ancestor," Yun Potian nodded.

"Disciple would never dare to forget," Yun Shan immediately knelt and kowtowed. If Yun Potian hadn't casually guided him back then, his cultivation wouldn't have progressed by leaps and bounds. Now that he was the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, he certainly wouldn't forget his Grand-Ancestor's enlightenment.

But why was Grand-Ancestor Yun Potian blaming him? Was he being blamed for letting the Misty Cloud Sect decline further?

He had no choice! Ever since his master died, their Misty Cloud Sect had been declining day by day. He had gritted his teeth and shouldered the great burden of the Misty Cloud Sect. Heaven knew how much forbearance and effort he had put in. Even on the day he married his wife, he had to rush out of bed in the middle of the night to handle official business. Did he have it easy?

As if sensing Yun Shan's aggrieved expression, like a little bride, Yun Potian sighed and said, "I am blaming you for lacking backbone, for consorting with those scoundrels from the Hall of Souls. Do they, these insignificant pests, even deserve to associate with our Misty Cloud Sect?"

"Ah?"

Yun Shan was a bit bewildered. What was his ancestor talking about? Who on the entire Dou Qi Continent didn't know the power of the Hall of Souls? One Hall, one Tower, two Sects, three Valleys, four Pavilions. While the Hall of Souls might not be the strongest, it was certainly a leading power on the Dou Qi Continent. Compared to the Hall of Souls, their Misty Cloud Sect wasn't even a speck of dust. Yet, his ancestor looked down on them? Was his ancestor trying to amuse his grand-disciple?

Yun Potian puffed out his beard and glared, "Look at your meager ambition. I'll tell you the truth, I left behind a Soul Imprint specifically to tell you in your dream that our Misty Cloud Sect has a world-shattering secret."

"A big secret?" Yun Shan's pupils contracted, and he listened intently.

"Little Shanzi, listen carefully. Actually... six thousand years ago, our Misty Cloud Sect was the supreme ruler of the Dou Qi Continent, governing the four seas, eight directions, nine provinces, and ten regions."

"Boom!"

One sentence stirred up a thousand waves, nearly scaring Yun Shan out of his wits.

What did his Grand-Ancestor say?

Their Misty Cloud Sect was once the ruler of the Dou Qi Continent?

Such a shock almost made Yun Shan wet himself.

Yun Potian continued, "Back then, I was merely an ordinary mortal. Fortunately, I met a benefactor. Before he died, he passed this secret to me. Actually, the founder of our Misty Cloud Sect was a girl, your Grand-Ancestor's wife. Unexpectedly, her identity was a Dou God of the Dou Qi Continent, and she was the only female emperor who controlled the Dou Qi Continent. She established the Misty Cloud Empire, and everyone respected and feared her. If she hadn't been disturbed by the rebels of the Ancient Eight Clans while in seclusion, and ultimately perished, the Misty Cloud Sect would likely be even more prosperous today."

"My heavens!" The more Yun Shan listened, the more excited he became, as if his Grand-Ancestor Yun Potian's words had transported him to that magnificent era.

He never expected his Misty Cloud Sect to have such a mysterious background. It was no wonder Grand-Ancestor Yun Potian looked down on the Hall of Souls. Compared to their Grand-Ancestor's wife, they were like children playing house!

However, Yun Shan decided not to reveal this secret to the outside world. Who knew if there were still any veteran powerhouses after thousands of years who would travel thousands of miles to the Misty Cloud Sect to cause trouble.

"Alright, next is the important news I need to tell you. You little brat, prick up your ears and listen clearly."

The dignified old sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, over a hundred years old, being called a brat sounded rather amusing.

Yun Potian said, "Back then, Grand-Ancestor's wife was severely injured and fell in the Central Continent's Misty Cloud Empire. But in reality, she didn't truly die. She was rescued by her pet, the Nine-Headed Sky-Covering Divine Dragon, and disappeared without a trace. According to the deductions of successive Grand-Ancestors, the flight path of that divine dragon would bring it here after a thousand years. It was for this reason that I abandoned my foundation in the Central Continent back then and came to this wild northwestern land. But I waited, and I didn't wait. Now, there is one day left until Grand-Ancestor's wife's arrival. The task of welcoming her falls to you."

"What?" Yun Shan jumped up in fright. Grand-Ancestor's wife would descend here? Was this some kind of joke?

"Remember, remember, do not be disrespectful to Grand-Ancestor's wife. Know that she was a being who suppressed all living things back then. Unless you're tired of living." Yun Potian's figure grew increasingly blurry and gradually disappeared from Yun Shan's sight.

As Yun Potian vanished, Yun Shan finally woke up from his dream, sweat beading on his forehead.

"What a realistic dream!" Yun Shan wiped his sweat. Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly trembled all over. His gaze fell upon the stone slab in front of him. On the slab were written several vigorous characters: Little Shanzi, you must respectfully welcome Grand-Ancestor's wife.

Yun Shan gasped sharply. This, this, this dream was real!

"Ding"

Congratulations to host Ye Qianqian for successfully terrifying Yun Shan with the dream you created, earning 100 Shock Points from Yun Shan.

In a small grove outside Misty Cloud Mountain, a little girl, only five or six years old, let out a sigh of relief. She had finally managed to trick someone.

Yes, this little girl was actually a human from Azure Star. And she was originally a shut-in. It was only because she was bound to this unlucky, broken system that she became so miserable.

The system's name was the God-Tier Great Deceiver System, primarily used to deceive others and obtain Shock Points.

But she was an honest person. Deceiving people was her blind spot. Thus, she had failed several of the system's missions.

The penalty for failure was immense. She had gone from being a shut-in to a little loli. Although she was quite pretty, what would happen to her in the future!

"System, I've already tricked one person. Can you change me back?"

"Ding, apologies host, due to your insufficient authority, please continue to deceive, continue to deceive. Only by unlocking the system's highest authority can you successfully change back."

"Damn it!" Ye Qianqian was completely speechless. Fine, he could keep up the act.

She flipped through the beginner's gift package. Besides the Dream Creation Card she had just used, there was also a Realm Experience Card. Other than that, there were only C-Class Item Cards and C-Class Special Effect Cards left.

Since she had already managed to fool Yun Shan earlier, she might as well fool him even more thoroughly.

"System, use the Special Effect Card and Item Card."

"Ding."

System prompt: Special Effect Card activated, Item Card activated. Remaining time: 1:59.

"Summon all Misty Cloud Sect disciples to Cloud Peak for a gathering."

A steady, ancient voice rang out. Almost all the Misty Cloud Sect elders who were in seclusion broke through their breakthroughs. They knew who had issued this command – it was their old Sect Master, Yun Shan.

In an instant, the entire Misty Cloud Mountain was in a frenzy. As the Sky-Striking Bell continued to ring, everyone knew that this was either an invasion by an external enemy or that something important was about to happen.

Inside the Imperial City of the Jia Ma Empire.

"Report!" A guard rushed towards the imperial court. "Your Majesty, Supreme Elder, there's an anomaly at the Misty Cloud Sect. Today, their entire sect has gathered in one place, as if something important is about to happen."

Upon hearing the report, the Jia Ma Emperor, Jia Ma Qing, and the Supreme Elder, Jia Xingtian, frowned.

One had to know that the Misty Cloud Sect had always been a formidable force within the Jia Ma Empire, with strength comparable to the royal family. They certainly didn't obey the royal family's control and could overthrow the throne at any moment to completely control the Jia Ma Empire.

Something like this happening today was truly puzzling.

"Supreme Elder, what should we do? Is Yun Shan planning to rebel?" Jia Ma Qing asked Jia Xingtian.

"Don't overthink it. That old fox Yun Shan wouldn't possibly become an enemy of the royal family, at least not for now. I think it would be best for us to go and investigate as guests," Jia Xingtian said, putting down his teacup.

Jia Ma Qing nodded in agreement. He also wanted to see what schemes that old fox Yun Shan was up to.

At the same time, the spies from various influential families who were lurking within the Misty Cloud Sect also sent this news back to their respective families in the capital, causing the family heads to become suspicious. Upon hearing that Jia Xingtian and the Jia Ma Emperor were heading to Misty Cloud Mountain, they pondered for a moment and then also set off.

They were all old foxes, so they had to go. If the Misty Cloud Sect were to break ties with the Jia Ma royal family, they would have to choose a new master to serve.

"Quick, quick, quick! Silk streamers, more silk streamers!"

"Fine wine, bring out all the fine wine I've been hoarding for years!"

"Spirit fruits, elixirs, bring them all out and place them on plates. Oh, this table won't do. Replace it with the one from the Treasure Pavilion – the one made from the Three Divine Woods of the South Sea!"

Yun Shan and several elders became like busybodies, constantly directing the sect disciples. Furthermore, Yun Shan abandoned his usual stingy habits, constantly ordering people to bring out rare treasures.

In an instant, the mountaintop was adorned with lanterns and colorful banners. Countless delicacies were laid out, and fresh flowers carpeted the ground. The stone steps on the main path were even replaced with gold bricks, making it truly magnificent and resplendent.

This scene shocked all the family heads who had come to visit. Was this old man still the Yun Shan they feared?

After Jia Xingtian and Jia Ma Qing exchanged glances, Jia Ma Qing stepped forward first and said, "Hahaha, I didn't expect Sect Master Yun to have foresight and know that we would be coming to visit."

"Hmm?" Yun Shan stopped in his tracks and glanced at the shameless Jia Ma Qing. "Get lost, I don't have time for you."

"You, Yun Shan, how dare you!" Jia Ma Qing was so angered that he couldn't catch his breath. This Yun Shan was too presumptuous.

Everyone was stunned by Yun Shan's behavior. What was wrong with this old man today? That was the Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire!

Yun Yun, who was busy working in the distance, also trembled in fright. Had her teacher taken the wrong medicine today?

Just as everyone was about to whisper amongst themselves, Yun Shan suddenly looked up at the sky.

Would the Ancestral Mistress really come?