Cloud Saint Sect

As the sword light multiplied, the entire arena was gradually swallowed by the shimmering blades, making it seem as if Old Luo had vanished within the glow.

To an outsider, Huang Gongdu appeared to hold the absolute advantage, but only he knew the truth: while he seemed to be on the offensive, such large-scale attacks consumed a massive amount of spirit power. If his opponent could just hold out a little longer, his defeat would be inevitable.

Watching his opponent defend with such measured grace, not even bothering to unleash any spirit skills, it was clear he was holding back.

This won't do. If this continues, there's no hope of winning. He hadn't expected such a formidable expert to be hiding in a tiny place like Lushan Town. As Huang Guangdu calculated the flow of the battle, the sword light from his hands began to wane.

Old Luo did not seize the chance to counterattack, focusing instead on maneuvering while secretly gauging his opponent's strength. He used this exchange to extrapolate the overall power of the Hundred Leaf Sect.

This man should be a four-star spirit king. If he has no hidden trump cards, he wouldn't be a match for Kaifeng in a life-or-death struggle, and against Yuer, he would certainly die. I just wonder what status this Huang Guangdu holds within the Hundred Leaf Sect.

"Take my three swords!" Feeling increasingly stifled, Huang Gongdu finally gave in to his killing intent and unleashed his strongest spirit skill: the Buried Earth Three Swords.

The moment the Buried Earth Sword was unleashed, Huang Gongdu's aura shifted. A semi-circular arc of sword light erupted from the ground, kicking up a sky full of dust. Within the haze, a flash of green light cut through—but that wasn't all. For the third strike of the Buried Earth Sword, Huang Gongdu suddenly appeared above the dust, plunging downward with sword in hand, his blade light enveloping the entire world.

At this moment, even a peak spirit king would find it difficult to withstand such an edge. As the three swords converged, Huang Guangdu let out a roar: "Die!"

He thought to himself, Even if you have the strength of a five-star peak, you're going down.

Dust billowed, then slowly settled. The two combatants stood on opposite sides of the haze, a circular pit half a meter deep appearing between them. Across the pit, Luo Dingyi looked disheveled and was panting heavily.

He actually blocked my Buried Earth Three Swords? He really is an expert. Only then did Huang Guangdu realize the true strength of his opponent.

In truth, with Old Luo's peak spirit emperor strength, killing his opponent would have been a trivial matter. It was only because he had many concerns that he intentionally fought to a "draw."

"Good. I never expected such a hidden dragon in a small place like Lushan Town. My apologies, Huang will take his leave." Knowing he couldn't gain any advantage today, Huang Guangdu was surprisingly decisive, immediately leading the Yan Clan members away without a trace.

The Luo Clan members were filled with anxiety upon returning to their estate. The days ahead would likely be far from peaceful; the grudge had been formed, and with the temptation of the spirit copper, the Hundred Leaf Sect would return sooner or later.

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

"That is the situation. It won't be easy for our Luo Clan to find peace from here on out. You must all cultivate diligently and improve your strength as quickly as possible, especially Sanbao and Caiguang—and of course, Caiyue. I will begin closed-door cultivation starting tomorrow and will not emerge unless it is a matter of life and death. Kaifeng will handle all family affairs, with Yuer and Caiyang assisting. Kaifeng, stay behind; the rest of you may leave."

After analyzing the general situation, Old Luo decided to enter closed-door cultivation to break through to the spirit emperor realm.

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

Returning to his room, Sanbao felt a heavy heart. Although the Luo Clan seemed powerful, they were few in number and lacked deep foundations. Dealing with the small Yan Clan had been easy, but after today, their opponent would likely be the formidable Hundred Leaf Sect. He, in particular, lacked even the strength to protect himself, let alone help fight the sect. He only hoped the Hundred Leaf Sect would give him more time; Sanbao felt that time was the one thing he lacked most.

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

"Uncle, aren't you supposed to be entering closed-door cultivation? Why are you here?" Sanbao asked, feeling surprised.

"I start tomorrow. I came to see you today specifically. Sanbao, it's been nearly three years since you came to Lushan, hasn't it?" Old Luo sat beside Sanbao, patted his head, and asked with a smile.

"That's right, three years!" Sanbao sighed deeply.

"Are you accustomed to everything here?" Old Luo asked.

"Very much so. I've long considered this my home. Uncle, if you have something to say, just say it," Sanbao asked, sensing something.

"Good, then I'll be brief. You've seen the situation. When you were in Lushan, I had the absolute strength to keep you safe, but now I can no longer guarantee it. The Hundred Leaf Sect is, after all, a top-tier power in the Yunli Kingdom. To avoid any accidents, I intend for you and Caiguang to leave for a while. There are two choices: one is to study at the Spirit Cultivation Academy in Lijing, and the other is to go to the Cloud Saint Sect on Cloud Mountain. You two can each pick one..."

Old Luo explained in detail.

"Life at the academy might be more colorful, and there are many peers, offering plenty of opportunities to make friends—people who might be beneficial to your future. Conversely, the Cloud Saint Sect might be more arduous and dull, but it is better for cultivation. With you gone, we will have one less worry. To put it bluntly, if the Hundred Leaf Sect dares to come, we aren't pushovers. You can also use this opportunity to gain some real-world experience..."

Only when a fledgling eagle leaves the nest can it spread its wings and truly grow.

Sanbao saw through Old Luo's arrangements clearly. Although he was psychologically reluctant to leave this "home," he knew there was no other way to grow better.

Sharing a classroom, sharing a rifle, sharing a brothel.

Sanbao suddenly recalled a classic quote about brotherhood from his past life. He had had dozens or hundreds of classmates back then, but how many were true brothers? In any place, one ultimately has to rely on oneself.

Sanbao had little interest in the Spirit Cultivation Academy. He wasn't a child, and he had already dabbled in the basic knowledge of spirit cultivation, including several spirit skills. For a long time, he could cultivate entirely on his own. He preferred a quieter place, and with that thought, he chose Cloud Mountain.

"Uncle, I'll go to Cloud Mountain. But there is one thing I must ask of you after I leave: please find a good husband for my girl, Meimei..."

"You brat, you're truly a member of my Luo Clan, thinking of your little maidservant even at a time like this..." The uncle and nephew couldn't help but have a thorough, heart-to-heart talk.

Before the morning dawn, several unicorn horses galloped through the streets of Lushan Town, leaving behind the rhythmic sound of their hooves.

After leaving Lushan Town, the group split into two paths, heading toward their respective destinations.

Sanbao rode the world's signature mode of transport—the unicorn horse—following behind his eldest brother, Luo Kaifeng, lost in thought.

The unicorn horse, also known as a road beast, was a docile giant with a massive, ox-like build. Aside from the single horn on its head, it resembled a horse but was much larger and sturdier. With endurance and speed far exceeding that of a scrawny horse, it had become the most common mode of transport across the entire continent.

The journey to Cloud Mountain was long, and Old Luo had specifically sent his eldest brother, Luo Kaifeng, to protect Sanbao on his way.

The capital of the Yunli Kingdom was Lijing, and to the east of Lijing stood a famous mountain called Lishan, where the Hundred Leaf Sect was based.

To the west of Lijing stood another famous mountain called Cloud Mountain. Although the Cloud Saint Sect was not as famous as the Hundred Leaf Sect, it was an ancient sect with thousands of years of heritage. It was said that a spirit saint had once emerged from there, which was how the Cloud Saint Sect got its name.

Regardless of the sect, recruiting fresh blood was an essential part of maintaining long-term prosperity.

When Luo Kaifeng brought Sanbao to Cloud Mountain, it happened to be just before the Cloud Saint Sect's once-every-five-years entrance exam.

"Sanbao, we've reached Cloud Mountain. I'm heading back. From now on, you must rely on yourself. Out there on your own, be careful in everything you do..."

After giving a few simple words of advice, Luo Kaifeng left directly. As for how Sanbao would pass the Cloud Saint Sect's entrance exam, that was left entirely to him.

With Sanbao's aptitude and strength, entering the Cloud Saint Sect would naturally be no difficult task.

Qingyun Town, at the foot of Cloud Mountain, was currently experiencing its busiest time in five years. Crowds from all directions had gathered there, waiting for the Cloud Saint Sect's entrance exam in a few days' time.

Sanbao noticed that the vast majority of them were children from humble backgrounds; many couldn't even afford a room at an inn and were sleeping on the streets.

For them, the Cloud Saint Sect was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step. Once they entered the mountain gates, the trajectory of their lives would change drastically.

Money, status, spirit techniques, spirit skills, strength, and so on.

The Cloud Saint Sect was synonymous with all of these things. Having come from the bottom of society, Sanbao understood this deeply. Fortunately, in this life, his starting point was a bit higher than theirs.