Meanwhile.
Xuanming Cult.
In the gloomy grand hall, Xuanming Cult Master listened to his subordinate's report and let out a low chuckle.
"Heh... The lackey of Qingyun Sect is dead? Good! Excellent!"
"Cult Master! This Misty Rain Tower has never been heard of before. Could it be a hidden Ancient Power? Otherwise, how could they not fear Qingyun Sect?"
A gray-robed person nearby asked doubtfully.
Xuanming Cult Master stood up, the hem of his black robe brushing across the ground and stirring up a cold wind:
"Regardless of what kind of force Misty Rain Tower is, having such boldness and strength is somewhat beyond my expectations."
"Qingyun Sect will definitely dispatch experts to make a move against Misty Rain Tower."
Then, he looked at the gray-robed person and spoke.
"Pass down my command to closely monitor Qingyun Sect, and then spread the news that Mo Chen is a lackey of Qingyun Sect."
"In addition, order our cult's disciples in Qingzhou to secretly assist Misty Rain Tower if an opportunity arises."
"Although their true strength remains unknown, as long as it can make Qingyun Sect wary, my Xuanming Cult will be satisfied."
"Understood, Cult Master. I will order our disciples in Qingzhou to keep a constant eye on Qingyun Sect's movements."
"If there is any situation, we will immediately inform Misty Rain Tower and seize the chance to strike against the people coming down the mountain from Qingyun Sect."
With that, the gray-robed person vanished from the grand hall.
Qingzhou City. Black Market.
Cultivators were heatedly discussing the news regarding the death of Luoxia City Lord.
Upon receiving the news that Luoxia City Lord's Mansion had been wiped out, many people expressed doubt about its accuracy.
However, after being confirmed by one person after another, this matter turned out to be true! Everyone had no choice but to believe it.
"Hiss, this Misty Rain Tower is simply too terrifying. Back when I heard the news that Misty Rain Tower had passed down through Langya Pavilion,"
"stating that 'those above the Void Glimpse Realm can also be killed', I thought it was just some ignorant small force trying to gain attention through grandstanding."
"Unexpectedly, in less than three days, Luoxia City Lord's Mansion has actually been destroyed," a burly man said in a deep voice.
"Although Misty Rain Tower can slay Void Glimpse Realm cultivators, it is still nothing particularly remarkable,"
"yet Luoxia City Lord Mo Chen is definitely no ordinary Void Glimpse Realm cultivator,"
"as there were long-standing rumors that he had powerful forces supporting him from behind,"
another nearby cultivator chimed in.
"Does anyone know which faction they belong to?"
"I know. Earlier, I accidentally overheard someone in the black market say that Mo Chen is a man of Qingyun Sect."
"Hiss! Is that really so? If that's the case, then this is going to be huge."
"Since Misty Rain Tower doesn't put Qingyun Sect, which stands behind Mo Chen, in their eyes, they must have some backing of their own."
"I told you so! The lackeys of Qingyun Sect will meet their doom sooner or later!"
"When that old man of a Luoxia City Lord was extorting the people's blood and sweat, how could he have anticipated today?"
"Keep your voice down! Qingyun Sect's informants are all over Qingzhou."
"What do you guys suppose the background of this Misty Rain Tower making the move really is?"
"To dare to kill a city lord backed by Qingyun Sect is no different from poking a hornet's nest!"
"Screw whatever background they have! Anyone who can punish Qingyun Sect is a hero!"
"I even want to go look for Misty Rain Tower and give it a try! Those Great Sects disciples have been arrogant and domineering for too long; it's high time Misty Rain Tower made a move."
"Don't be rash! Do you even know where Misty Rain Tower is?"
"Besides, Qingyun Sect definitely won't let this rest. Who knows, one of these days they might send troops to blood wash Qingzhou City. As small cultivators like us, we'd better stay out of it."
"Stay out of it?"
"Did you forget who robbed you of your meager cultivation resources last month?"
"Forgot who beat your sworn brother to death? They were all disciples of Qingyun Sect!"
"If this Misty Rain Tower can defeat Qingyun Sect, I'd willingly empty out all my family assets to support them!"
"Hmph! Whether Misty Rain Tower can withstand the retaliation of Qingyun Sect behind City Lord Mo remains to be seen!"
"Even if Misty Rain Tower manages to survive this tribulation from the forces behind City Lord Mo,"
"there are still the Eastern Region's two major assassin organizations, Ink Abyss and Blood Kill Pavilion."
The cultivators discussed it animatedly.
Qingyun Sect, resembling a brilliant pearl embedded in the Sky Abyss Continent, was the pinnacle of top-tier forces.
It was founded after the Gods and Devils War, passing down its legacy for thousands of years, and its might was truly jaw-dropping.
Rumors had it that a Land Immortal might be slumbering within the sect, like a dormant dragon ready to soar into the skies at any moment.
Qingyun Sect was located at the border between Qingzhou and Xuanzhou in the Eastern Region.
In recent years, due to the decline of the Great Gan Dynasty, Qingyun Sect had arbitrarily occupied the border region between the two provinces.
At first, the Great Gan Dynasty vehemently stopped such behavior and had dispatched experts to negotiate with Qingyun Sect,
even triggering a fierce battle where both sides fought to a standstill.
However, as the imperial court gradually declined and other sect forces grew restless,
as the saying went, a mighty dragon could not crush a local serpent, and in time, the imperial court could only helplessly choose to turn a blind eye.
Within Qingyun Sect, the surface combat strength consisted of:
Sect Master Xuanxiaozi at Late Heaven Human, Vice Sect Master Cangwuzi at Mid Heaven Human,
First Elder Zhuge Xiu at Early Heaven Human, and the remaining nine elders all at the Nirvana Realm.
At this moment, inside the sect's grand council hall,
the ten great elders of the sect and the Sect Master were gathered together, staring intently at the intelligence in their hands.
After Xuanxiaozi finished reading, the teacup in his hand shattered with a "bang", completely oblivious to the scalding tea splashing and soaking his robes.
He abruptly slammed the table and stood up, the veins on his face bulging as he roared:
Before you continue