Cloud Saint Sect

As the swordlights multiplied, the entire arena was gradually swallowed by their radiance. Even Old Luo seemed to disappear amid the flashing blades.

To outsiders, Huang Gongdu appeared to have the upper hand. Only he knew that despite seeming to dominate, such wide-ranging attacks consumed a great deal of spiritual power. If his opponent could hold on a little longer, he was certain to lose.

His opponent, meanwhile, was attacking and defending with measured ease, and had barely used any Spirit Skills. Clearly, he was holding something back.

This won't do. At this rate, I have little chance of winning. He hadn't expected a tiny place like Lushan Town to have such a formidable expert. As Huang Gongdu calculated the course of the battle, the swordlights around him gradually dwindled.

Old Luo didn't take the opportunity to counterattack. He mainly focused on keeping his opponent at bay, while secretly gauging the man's strength. By judging one from the whole, he could estimate the Hundred Leaf Sect's overall strength.

This man should be a four-star Spirit King. Unless he had many hidden tricks, he wouldn't stand a chance against Feng'er in a fight to the death. Against Yu'er, he'd be doomed. The only question was what position Huang Gongdu held in the Hundred Leaf Sect.

"Take my three swords!" The longer he fought, the more stifled Huang Gongdu felt. At last, he couldn't hold back his murderous intent and unleashed his strongest Spirit Skill: Buried Earth Three Swords.

The moment the Buried Earth Sword appeared, Huang Gongdu's entire aura changed. A crescent of swordlight burst from the ground, sending dust billowing into the sky. A streak of azure light flashed through the dust—and that wasn't the end. With the third sword of Buried Earth, Huang Gongdu suddenly appeared above the swirling dust and plunged down, man and sword together. Swordlight blanketed the whole world.

At that moment, even a peak Spirit King would likely struggle to face its edge head-on. As the three swords struck, Huang Gongdu roared, "Die!"

Even if you're at the peak of five-star, I'll still put you on your back.

Dust filled the air, then slowly settled. The two combatants stood on either side of it, with a round, half-meter-deep crater between them. Across from the crater, Luo Dingyi stood in a sorry state, panting heavily.

He had actually withstood Buried Earth Three Swords. Huang Gongdu finally realized just how strong his opponent truly was.

In truth, with Old Luo's peak Spirit Sovereign strength, killing his opponent would have been as easy as lifting a hand. It was only because he had so many concerns that he had deliberately fought the man to a "draw."

"Good! I never imagined that a tiny place like Lushan Town would be full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Huang has been disrespectful. We're leaving." Knowing he wouldn't get anything out of the day, Huang Gongdu readily led the Yan Clan's people away, leaving no one behind.

After the Luo Clan returned home, everyone was deeply troubled. Their days would likely be far from peaceful. They had already made an enemy of the Hundred Leaf Sect, and with the allure of Spirit Copper, the sect would come again sooner or later.

That night, the Luo Clan's direct descendants gathered in the Luo Clan Ancestral Hall.

"That's the situation. It won't be easy for our Luo Clan to live in peace from now on. You must train diligently and improve your strength as quickly as possible, especially Sanbao and Caiguang—and Caiyue as well. Starting tomorrow, I'll go into seclusion. I won't come out unless we face a life-or-death crisis. Feng'er will handle everything at home, with Yu'er and Caiyang assisting him. Feng'er, stay behind. The rest of you may leave."

After analyzing the situation, Old Luo had decided to go into seclusion and break through to the Spirit Emperor realm.

"Yes..." the Luo Clan members replied in unison.

Back in his room, Sanbao felt heavy-hearted. The Luo Clan seemed powerful, but there were few of them and their foundation was shallow. In the past, dealing with the small Yan Clan had been no problem. But after today, their opponent would likely be the mighty Hundred Leaf Sect. Sanbao, in particular, couldn't even protect himself at present, much less help fight the sect. He could only hope the Hundred Leaf Sect would give him more time. Sanbao felt that what he lacked most right now was time.

As night fell, Old Luo unexpectedly appeared in Sanbao's room.

"Uncle, weren't you going into seclusion? What brings you here?" Sanbao was surprised.

"I'm going into seclusion tomorrow. I came to see you today. Sanbao, you've been in Lushan for almost three years now, haven't you?" Old Luo sat beside him, patted his head, and asked with a smile.

"Yes, three years!" Sanbao sighed deeply.

"Have you settled in here?"

"Very well. I've long considered this place my home. Uncle, just tell me what's on your mind." Sanbao sensed that something was up and asked.

"All right, I'll get straight to the point. You've seen the situation for yourself. When you were in Lushan, I had the strength to keep you completely safe. Now, I can't guarantee that anymore. The Hundred Leaf Sect is one of the top powers in the Yunli Kingdom, after all. To avoid any mishaps, I plan to have you and Caiguang leave for a while. You have two choices: you can study at the Spirit Cultivation Academy in Lijing, or go to the Cloud Saint Sect on Cloud Mountain. You can each choose one."

Old Luo explained the options in detail.

"Life at the academy might be more lively, and there'll be plenty of people your age and opportunities to make friends. Those connections could be useful to you in the future. The Cloud Saint Sect, on the other hand, might be harder and more monotonous, but it'll be better for cultivation. With you two away, we'll have one less thing to worry about. To put it bluntly, if the Hundred Leaf Sect dares to come, we're no pushovers. You can also use this chance to go out and temper yourselves."

A young eagle had to leave the nest before it could spread its wings and soar, before it could truly grow up.

Sanbao understood Old Luo's plans perfectly. Although he was reluctant to leave this "home," he had no other choice if he wanted to grow stronger.

"Shared a classroom, shouldered a rifle, and visited brothels together."

Sanbao suddenly recalled one of the most classic lines about brotherhood from his past life. He'd had dozens, even hundreds of classmates in his previous life, but how many of them had truly been brothers? In the end, wherever he went, he would have to rely on himself.

Sanbao had little interest in the Spirit Cultivation Academy. He wasn't a child, after all, and he already knew the basics of Spirit Cultivation, including various Spirit Skills. For a long while, he could cultivate on his own. He'd rather find somewhere quiet. With that in mind, he chose Cloud Mountain.

"Uncle, I'll go to Cloud Mountain. But there's one thing I'd like to ask you to do after I leave: find my little Meimei a good husband..."

"You brat. You really are a member of the Luo Clan—still thinking about your little maid at a time like this..." The uncle and nephew naturally had a long, careful talk.

Before dawn, several Unicorn Horses raced through the streets of Lushan Town, their hoofbeats ringing out again and again.

After leaving Lushan Town, the Unicorn Horses split into two groups and headed for their respective destinations. They were carrying several members of the Luo Clan.

Riding a Unicorn Horse, this world's distinctive means of transportation, Sanbao followed behind his elder brother Luo Kaifeng, lost in thought.

The Unicorn, also known as a Road Beast, was a gentle giant. It was enormous and as strong as an ox, with a build much like a horse's except for the horn on its head. It was taller and sturdier than a horse, and both its stamina and speed surpassed those of the smaller animals. As a result, it had become the most common means of transportation across the continent.

Cloud Mountain was a long journey away, so Old Luo had specially sent his eldest brother, Luo Kaifeng, to escort Sanbao there.

The capital of the Yunli Kingdom was Lijing. To its east stood the famous Lishan Mountain, where the Hundred Leaf Sect was based.

To the west of Lijing stood another famous mountain, Cloud Mountain. Though the Cloud Saint Sect wasn't as well-known as the Hundred Leaf Sect, it was an ancient sect with a history stretching back thousands of years. It was said that a Spirit Saint had once emerged from its ranks, earning the sect its name.

For any sect to thrive for generations, recruiting new blood was essential.

When Luo Kaifeng brought Sanbao to Cloud Mountain, the Cloud Saint Sect's entrance test, held once every five years, was about to begin.

"Sanbao, we've arrived at Cloud Mountain. I'm heading back. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. Be careful in everything you do while you're on your own."

After giving him a few brief words of advice, Luo Kaifeng left at once. He left it entirely up to Sanbao to pass the Cloud Saint Sect's entrance test.

With Sanbao's talent and strength, getting into the Cloud Saint Sect would naturally be no trouble.

At the foot of Cloud Mountain, Qingyun Town was now experiencing its busiest time in five years. Crowds of people had gathered from far and wide, waiting for the Cloud Saint Sect's entrance test a few days later.

Sanbao also noticed that most of them were poor youths. Many couldn't even afford to stay at an inn and were sleeping out on the streets.

To them, the Cloud Saint Sect was a chance to rise to the heavens in a single bound. Once they entered its gates, the course of their lives would change completely.

Money, status, Spirit Techniques, Spirit Skills, strength, and more.

The Cloud Saint Sect was synonymous with all of it. Sanbao, who had come from the bottom of society, understood this deeply. Fortunately, in this life, he had started a little higher than these people.