The Sect Leader's Authority, the Xiao Family Attacked!

Having witnessed the cruel truth that made even her soul tremble, Yun Yun did not return to that cave dwelling filled with sorrow and deception. Instead, she silently followed Xiao Yao and left the place that had broken her heart, intending not to return until they had truly dealt with the one behind the Misty Cloud Sect.

Before leaving, Xiao Yao gave her some time alone.

"I'll be back soon."

Yun Yun spoke to Xiao Yao in a hoarse voice. Her beautiful eyes, once always filled with grace and confidence, now held only deathly gray desolation. Yet beneath that desolation hid a frenzied flame, one that seemed ready to burn everything to ashes.

She needed to see someone and settle a few matters.

Inside the sect leader's hall of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Nalan Yanran was quietly meditating cross-legged. Her pretty face, now somewhat less youthful, was full of focus and determination. Thanks to Yun Yun's careful guidance and her own doubled efforts, her strength had steadily broken through to the level of a three-star Dou Shi, placing her among the finest of the Jia Ma Empire's younger generation.

"Yanran."

A slightly weary voice sounded behind her.

"Teacher!" Nalan Yanran opened her eyes in delight. When she saw Yun Yun, an excited smile appeared on her face. But once she noticed Yun Yun's pale complexion and hollow gaze, that smile froze. "Teacher, you... what happened to you?"

Yun Yun looked at the disciple she cherished most, the one into whom she had poured the most effort. Her heart was filled with countless complicated emotions and endless bitterness. She did not answer. Instead, she took out a crystalline purple gemstone radiating pure energy from her storage ring and handed it to her.

"This is a Purple Spirit Crystal I found for you. Keep it safe. Go find Pill King Gu He and have him refine a Purple Spirit Pill for you. Remember, you must not slack off in your cultivation in the future."

"It was my indulgence that led you to mishandle things. During the Three-Year Agreement, you must apologize to Xiao Yan and the Xiao Family for what happened back then. But when it comes to comparing strength, give it your all!"

Ignoring Nalan Yanran's confused questions, Yun Yun put on the bearing of a teacher. Nalan Yanran could only agree, though her resolve to cultivate even harder burned brighter within her.

Hidden in the shadows, Xiao Yao took in everything and could not help letting out a soft laugh.

Interesting. Even at a time like this, this foolish woman is still thinking about her precious disciple's Three-Year Agreement. He thought to himself, Fine. It can count as adding a little more difficulty to Xiao Yan's trials. I'd like to see what opportunities this predetermined Child of Destiny can still find without the Green Lotus Core Flame.

He was now looking forward even more to the Three-Year Agreement, which he had long since turned completely upside down.

After settling her disciple, Yun Yun's face regained that coldness that kept others at a distance. Step by step, she entered the Misty Cloud Sect's council hall. Great Elder Yun Leng was there, handling sect affairs with a ruddy glow on his face.

"Great Elder." Yun Yun's voice was as cold as ten-thousand-year black ice.

"Oh? Sect Leader, you have emerged from seclusion? Did your trip go smoothly?" Seeing Yun Yun, Yun Leng revealed a formulaic smile of false respect. Yet deep in his triangular eyes flashed an almost imperceptible trace of contempt and impatience.

"Mo Cheng, the outer sect steward in Salt City of the empire's eastern province, has long been part of an evil criminal force. He has harmed fellow cultivators and conducted human experiments. His crimes are unforgivable." Yun Yun got straight to the point, her voice devoid of emotion. "In the name of the Misty Cloud Sect's leader, I order you to immediately dispatch the sect's enforcement team to Salt City. Bring him back to the sect, cripple all his cultivation, throw him into the water prison, and await judgment!"

She still remembered Xiao Yao's words. Through this matter, she wanted to test the attitude of this Great Elder, this senior whom she had once respected, one last time.

Yet the result chilled her heart more than the sharpest blade ever could.

The false smile on Yun Leng's face did not change after hearing her. He unhurriedly set down the scroll in his hand, picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and only then said at leisure, "Sect Leader, I'm afraid this matter is somewhat inappropriate. Steward Mo Cheng has worked diligently for many years and rendered great service to the development of our Misty Cloud Sect. The authority our Misty Cloud Sect possesses today could not exist without the hard work of those stewards stationed outside."

"Besides, as an outer sect steward, it is only inevitable that he might have some friction with local forces. To cripple someone who has contributed to the sect over a few unsubstantiated trivialities would surely chill the hearts of the disciples below. Sect Leader, you should reconsider."

His words sounded grand and flawless, every sentence seemingly for the sake of the sect, but his intent to shield and indulge Mo Cheng could not have been more obvious!

Hidden in the shadows, Xiao Yao finally could not hold back and directly burst out laughing.

Though the laugh was soft and reached only Yun Yun's ears, it was like an incomparably loud slap, viciously striking her across the face!

It was mocking her stupidity! Mocking her incompetence!

An unprecedented sense of humiliation, fury, and anguish at being utterly betrayed erupted from Yun Yun's heart like a volcano that had been suppressed for ten thousand years!

She finally understood just how laughable and symbolic a figure this sect leader was in these people's eyes!

"Yun—Leng—!"

A furious cry filled with endless rage and killing intent rang out like a phoenix's cry, echoing through the entire hall!

The next moment, a streak of green light flashed past at incredible speed!

Clang—!

The moon-white longsword that had accompanied Yun Yun for decades was already pressed tightly against Yun Leng's fat neck, carrying a bone-piercing chill that seemed capable of freezing souls! The sharp blade had even cut through his skin, drawing a bead of blood!

"Yun...! Sect Leader! Wh-what are you doing?!"

Yun Leng was truly panicking now! Every hair on his body stood on end! He never could have imagined that Yun Yun, who had always been gentle, weak, and even somewhat indecisive, would draw her sword against him!

"Y-you'd better not act recklessly! I-I'm doing this for the sect's sake! If you strike, the old sect leader will never forgive you!" He actually brought up Yun Shan to threaten her.

However, this time, he had miscalculated.

Yun Yun looked at his face, now filled with panic and terror, and the final trace of hesitation in her eyes completely vanished.

"By my sect leader's decree!"

She withdrew her sword. Her cold yet authoritative voice, carrying the immense Dou Qi of a Dou Emperor, resounded throughout Misty Cloud Mountain!

"All elders currently in the sect are to gather in the council hall immediately! Any who disobey will be treated as traitors to the sect!"

"Effective immediately, Mo Cheng is stripped of his position as outer sect steward. Enforcement Team Captain Yun Yi will personally lead a team to apprehend him!"

"Furthermore, Elder Yun Lei will lead an investigation into whether all disciples stationed outside the sect have committed brutal acts. Once verified, they will be severely punished without exception!"

A succession of swift and decisive commands issued clearly and firmly from her tightly pressed red lips! At this moment, the dignity and dominance that should have belonged to the leader of a sect finally revealed itself without reservation!

Several elders who hurried over after hearing the news were stunned by the sight, but none dared confront Yun Yun as she issued orders in the sect leader's name. They bowed and accepted her command.

"Yes! We shall obey the sect leader's decree!"

Watching this, Xiao Yao finally nodded in satisfaction.

Now that's more like the leader of the Misty Cloud Sect.

But at that moment, Grandpa Lu's somewhat startled voice suddenly exploded in his mind!

"Kid! Go back to the Xiao Family! The Soul Hall is attacking!"