Misty Cloud Sect? So What?

A month passed quietly.

Life in Wutan City seemed to have returned to its former peace, but beneath that calm, hidden currents surged.

Within Tianxiang Tower, Ya Fei appeared at the same time every day.

She had shed the aura of Miter Auction House's chief auctioneer and changed into simple, elegant clothes. Without a trace of makeup, her natural beauty became even more striking.

She spoke not a word, merely tidying Xuan Jin's room, refilling his tea, then standing quietly to one side like a pleasing sight.

Ya Fei's obedience did not escape Xuan Jin's notice.

Ling Ying also appeared soundlessly at the appointed time and took away a batch of pills refined by Xuan Jin.

The rich medicinal fragrance lingering around those bottles of pills made even this well-traveled Dou Emperor feel alarmed.

Meanwhile, the Xiao Family was completely immersed in joy.

With the aid of the pills, coupled with his considerable talent and the hunger for Dou Qi accumulated over three years, Xiao Yan's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

In just one month, he successfully broke through to Dou Disciple Stage Four!

On this day, the sky was clear and the air crisp.

Xuan Jin emerged from a month-long period of secluded pill refinement and cultivation.

Cultivating at the Dou Zong level was incomparably difficult; every step forward required either external aid or a great fortuitous opportunity.

He pushed open his door and decided to take a walk outside the city.

Ya Fei immediately came forward. "Young master, shall I prepare a carriage?"

"No need."

Xuan Jin waved a hand and descended Tianxiang Tower alone, walking unhurriedly toward the city gates.

Wutan City backed onto the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and beyond the city lay a stretch of rolling green hills.

Xuan Jin walked along the official road leading to the mountains, enjoying the long-missed sunlight and breeze. His mood lightened considerably.

Just as he reached a bend in the mountain road, several voices drifted over from ahead.

Three figures were approaching from the other end of the road.

Leading them was an old man dressed in a green robe embroidered with cloud patterns. Seven gleaming stars were clearly visible on his chest, displaying his strength as a Seven Star Dou Grandmaster.

Beside the old man was a young man around twenty years old, wearing the same Misty Cloud Sect disciple uniform. He was a Five Star Dou Practitioner, and his face carried a trace of arrogance.

Walking at the rear was a young girl.

She was around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a moon-white fitted robe that perfectly outlined her delicate figure, which had only just begun to mature. Three dazzling golden stars gleamed on her chest.

Her skin was fairer than snow and her features lovely. In particular, her soft pink hair shone faintly beneath the sunlight, making her especially eye-catching.

A pair of green jade pendants hung from her earlobes, swaying gently with her steps and chiming softly.

Her face was expressionless, carrying a chill far beyond her age, as though she were indifferent to everything around her.

They were none other than Nalan Yanran and her party, who had traveled from the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Elder Ge Ye, Wutan City truly is some remote backwater. Even the air reeks of dirt." The young disciple frowned, his tone full of disdain.

Ge Ye's brows furrowed slightly, but he did not rebuke him.

Their Misty Cloud Sect disciples did indeed have reason to be proud.

"We have come for the Young Sect Leader's important matter. Do not cause unnecessary trouble."

Ge Ye spoke in a deep voice.

"Yes, Elder. I understand." The young man agreed with his mouth, but his contempt did not lessen in the slightest.

Nalan Yanran remained silent throughout. She was merely wondering what sort of person that fiancé she had never met might be.

Irritation stirred in her heart, and her pace slowed by half a beat.

At that moment, they saw Xuan Jin approaching alone.

Xuan Jin did not stop walking.

As he looked at the three approaching figures, understanding dawned on him.

Ge Ye, Nalan Yanran, and a Misty Cloud Sect disciple whose name he did not know.

They had finally arrived.

The gears of the plot had, in the end, begun to turn along their predetermined course.

Only, in this life, Xiao Yan did not have Yao Lao as a cheat.

How would he handle the Three-Year Pact?

By then, Xuan Jin himself would be Xiao Yan's greatest obstacle. The Bone Flame Ring should be his for the taking then. If Yao Chen cooperated, it would be simple enough. If he did not...

Yao Chen was now sealed by his Three Essence Seal Fire Mark and could no longer absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. How much strength could he possess when the time came?

While Xuan Jin was thinking, the distance between them had already closed.

When the Five Star Dou Practitioner disciple saw Xuan Jin alone and plainly dressed, unconcealed contempt appeared on his face.

"Hey, you up ahead, move aside. Can't you see an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect is here?"

The young man's voice was not loud, but on the quiet mountain road, it sounded especially grating.

He was accustomed to strutting about within the Jia Ma Empire. Naturally, he did not think much of an ordinary-looking independent cultivator.

Ge Ye stood beside the young man, his brows drawing together slightly.

He noticed his disciple's arrogance, but had no time to speak.

Xuan Jin acted as though he had not heard him and continued at the same unhurried pace.

Seeing this, the young man's arrogance grew even stronger. He felt that his dignity had been challenged.

"Brat, are you deaf? I told you to get lost!"

As he spoke, he prepared to release his Dou Qi and teach this fool who did not know his place a lesson.

However, at the very instant that thought arose.

Xuan Jin finally stopped walking.

He did not even turn his head. He merely swept the young man with the corner of his eye.

It was nothing more than a bland glance.

The next moment, the disciple, whose face had been full of arrogance, seemed to have had every bone pulled from his body. His legs buckled, and with a thud, he collapsed stiffly onto the ground.

All color drained from his face. His pupils dilated, and his entire body shook like a sieve.

His soul had clearly been attacked.

The sudden scene left both Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran stunned.

Ge Ye reacted almost instantly and stared at Xuan Jin in horror.

What had just happened?

He had not sensed anything at all!

There had been no Dou Qi attack.

What a terrifying method!

Nalan Yanran's pretty face also turned pale. She instinctively retreated half a step and gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist.

She looked at her senior brother, sprawled on the ground in utter disgrace, then at the black-robed young man who had remained indifferent from beginning to end. Turbulent waves rose within her heart.

What had this person done?

The atmosphere on the mountain road instantly froze.

Only then did Xuan Jin slowly turn his head, his gaze falling on Ge Ye for the first time.

"The Misty Cloud Sect should discipline its people properly."

His voice was calm, with no hint of anger or joy, yet Ge Ye felt as though a great mountain were pressing down upon him, making even breathing difficult.

"Your Excellency..."

Ge Ye's voice was incomparably dry. He hurriedly bowed deeply to Xuan Jin, his attitude respectful to the extreme.

"This junior has failed in his discipline and allowed him to offend Your Excellency. I beg Your Excellency's forgiveness!"

Ge Ye only wanted to quell the other party's anger as quickly as possible. It was best not to provoke such an unknown expert!