Meanwhile,
Within the Qingyun Sect's Ancestral Land.
Atop a cloud-wreathed mountain stood a simple, ancient palace.
Inside the palace, an old man dressed in gray Daoist robes sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion,
His withered face was taut, his eyes tightly shut, yet an unfathomable pressure radiated from his body.
—He was none other than the Qingyun Sect's Old Ancestor, Jian Xiaotian.
Lying before him was a figure covered in wounds and barely clinging to life—the rescued Zhuge Xiu.
Below the palace, Qingyun Sect's Sect Master, Xuanxiaozi, stood with his back bent, his expression respectful. He did not even dare breathe too loudly.
After a long while,
Jian Xiaotian slowly opened his eyes. A trace of weariness flashed in them as he spoke in an aged, hoarse voice:
"Xuanxiaozi, Zhuge Xiu's soul has suffered severe damage, and his physical body is on the verge of shattering."
"Go to the sect's treasury and retrieve the thousand-year-old Soul Nurturing Grass and the Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pill. You must preserve his life."
"Yes, Old Ancestor!" Xuanxiaozi hurriedly accepted the order.
Jian Xiaotian let out a soft sigh, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness and resentment:
"Who would have thought that a mere Misty Rain Tower would possess such strength?"
"If not for the restrictions imposed by the Heavenly Dao, which prevent me from using my full strength recklessly, how could I have allowed these ants to run rampant?"
Hearing this, hatred flashed through Xuanxiaozi's eyes:
"Old Ancestor, this enmity is irreconcilable! The Misty Rain Tower killed dozens of Qingyun Sect disciples and two elders."
"It even trampled our Qingyun Sect's dignity into the dirt. I beg you to act, Old Ancestor, and annihilate the Misty Rain Tower!"
"Impossible!" Old Ancestor Jian Xiaotian waved his hand and said in a deep voice,
"Spiritual Energy has yet to recover. If I force myself to act, I will inevitably suffer the Heavenly Dao's backlash."
"Put this matter aside for now! When Spiritual Energy revives, I will personally act. I will grind the Misty Rain Tower to dust and flay the mastermind alive, tearing his tendons from his bones!"
"Yes..." Though Xuanxiaozi was unwilling, he did not dare defy the Old Ancestor's command.
Jian Xiaotian closed his eyes and waved his hand. "Leave! Pass down the order: Qingyun Sect disciples are not to set foot in Qingzhou City for the time being."
"At the same time, monitor the Misty Rain Tower's movements closely. Report immediately if anything important happens!"
"This disciple obeys!" Xuanxiaozi bowed and withdrew.
After leaving the palace, Xuanxiaozi went straight to the sect's council hall.
Inside the hall, several elders dressed in fine robes were discussing matters with furious expressions. Each was filled with righteous indignation and murderous intent.
"Sect Master! How can we simply let the matter in Qingzhou City go?!"
"The Misty Rain Tower has gone too far! They killed our Qingyun Sect disciples and executed our Third Elder and West Elder. If we do not avenge this grudge, what face will our Qingyun Sect have left?!"
"Please give the order, Sect Master. Mobilize the sect's experts and flatten the Misty Rain Tower!"
Xuanxiaozi looked at the agitated elders, his face so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it.
He slammed his palm onto the table and shouted, "All of you, shut up! The Old Ancestor has ordered us not to provoke the Misty Rain Tower for the time being!"
"We will seek revenge when Spiritual Energy revives!"
The moment those words were spoken, the hall fell utterly silent.
The elders exchanged looks, all showing shock and unwillingness, but they could only sullenly close their mouths.
They knew that no one dared disobey the Old Ancestor's command.
Still, this anger was truly hard to swallow!
The sky over the Eastern Region appeared calm, but beneath the surface, underlying currents had long been surging.
Qingzhou City, western district.
Yuan Tiangang stood before the abandoned Courtyard House at the end of the alley. His fingertip brushed over the rusted copper lock, and the lock cylinder snapped with a click.
Behind him, the auras of Jing Ke and the other six had been restrained to the utmost, their figures almost blending into the shadows of the wall—this was the result of their day-long search.
The place bordered the Dense Forest outside the city. The streets and alleys crisscrossed chaotically, and there were far fewer people than in the central district, yet the roads extended in every direction.
They could use the bustle of everyday life to conceal their movements, while fleeing the city at the first sign of danger. It offered both concealment and accessibility.
"This place is exceptionally well hidden and close to the Dense Forest. It can be used to attack or defend, making it perfect as a stronghold."
"Jing Ke, put it down." Yuan Tiangang's gaze fell on the empty ground at the center of the Courtyard House as he nodded.
Jing Ke stepped forward, a pitch-black miniature tower resting in his palm.
Though the tower was tiny, the obscure patterns on its upturned eaves and the three characters "Misty Rain Tower" on its lintel could be seen clearly. It was the foundation of the stronghold Ye Junlin had entrusted to them.
His fingertip touched the tower's base, and he could sense the faint energy flowing within—the power of the formation built into the tower.
Jing Ke took a deep breath, infused the tower with Spiritual Energy, and shouted in a low voice, "Rise!"
In an instant, the tower lit up all over with ghostly blue patterns, as though it had come alive.
He raised his hand and tossed it. The tower transformed into a streak of light and landed steadily on the empty ground in the center of the Courtyard House.
Humm—
The tower suddenly erupted with dazzling radiance, and a mighty surge of Space Power swept outward, twisting even the surrounding airflow.
Everyone instinctively retreated several steps. Within the radiance, a magnificent tower with carved beams and painted rafters rose from the ground.
The main building had three floors, with auxiliary wings on the east and west connected by covered corridors, forming the shape of the character "pin" overall.
Its upturned eaves and corners were carved with ferocious ghost faces. Above the lintel, a plaque with a black background and golden characters gleamed brilliantly.
It bore three bold, vigorous characters—"Misty Rain Tower." Faint killing intent coiled between the strokes.
In the blink of an eye, the empty grounds had been filled by the tower,
Yet strangely, it had not crushed the surrounding earthen walls or old trees. Instead, it blended perfectly with the atmosphere of the entire alley.
Before you continue