"Ha!"
The Misty Cloud disciples stood in neat formation in Misty Cloud Square. Though sweat beaded on their foreheads beneath the sun, they didn't dare move a muscle.
The young disciples' minds tended to wander. This kind of arduous practice could help steady their minds to a degree, though it wouldn't last too long, since it wasn't their main form of training.
All the disciples wore white robes embroidered with cloud patterns. Each sleeve bore the design of a sword. As their robes fluttered in the wind, the sword patterns seemed almost tangible, faintly radiating a sharp sword aura.
These were a batch of matching uniforms Yun Zimo had paid a hefty price to have custom-made in the eastern provinces. They were impervious to heat and cold, difficult to damage with water or fire, and their material was no worse than the robes worn by first-tier alchemists.
"Form a wedge!"
A deep, weighty voice rang out. Without hesitation, the Misty Cloud disciples formed triangular groups of three. Their auras surged as they assembled into small formations.
Working in teams of three better trained them to work together and draw on one another's strength. They hadn't yet reached the level of a Dou Wang expert who could stand against a thousand soldiers alone. While they were still weak, learning how to use their numbers was what mattered most!
"Lord Mad Lion, the hall master requests your presence."
"All right! Everyone, take a short break!"
The burly, half-naked man barked an order, then followed the disciple off the square.
"Phew~"
The Misty Cloud disciples quietly let out a breath and gently worked the soreness from their bodies. They whispered among themselves, afraid Mad Lion might turn around and drag them back into training.
"Teacher Mad Lion is something else. Ever since the hall master invited him back to the sect a year ago to serve as an instructor, every day has been pure torture!"
"Tell me about it. But I heard the young sect master is being personally taught by the old sect master. His training is a hundred times harsher than ours!"
"Ah, then..."
While the Misty Cloud disciples grumbled, Mad Lion had already arrived at the sect master's office.
"Hall master, you wanted to see me?"
Misty Cloud instructor Yan Shi cupped his fists. He had nothing but respect for this young Dou Wang, who had taken him down in just three moves.
"Old Yan, how have things been lately?"
Yun Zimo didn't ask how he was training the disciples. He had given Yan Shi authority, so he wouldn't interfere.
Yun Zimo's attitude toward his friends naturally moved Yan Shi. For an honest, straightforward man like him, it was exactly the sort of thing he appreciated.
Yan Shi had been nothing more than a lone cultivator. Though he had survived countless deadly trials to break through to the Dou Wang level and become one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire, he had neither backing nor resources. His life would have gone no further. Then Yun Zimo had personally invited him. Powerful and well-connected, Yun Zimo had offered a way forward to the cornered Yan Shi, who joined the Misty Cloud Sect after losing to him.
Grateful for the chance Yun Zimo had given him, Yan Shi spared no effort in drilling the Misty Cloud disciples as Yun Zimo had requested. From time to time, he even went down the mountain to persuade his friends to join, helping Yun Zimo recruit talent.
"Thanks for asking, hall master. I've been on my own all these years. As long as I've got enough to eat, I've got nothing else to worry about."
Yan Shi gave a guileless grin. Though he was a hulking man, he looked a little bashful.
"Oh, right. I recently got in touch with an old friend. Hall master, I'm sure you'll be interested!"
Yan Shi suddenly thought of someone and eagerly recommended him.
"Oh? An old friend? Who?"
"The former Ice Emperor, Mite'er Haibodong, one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire!"
"Snap!"
The pen in Yun Zimo's hand broke. He looked up at Yan Shi, his eyes gleaming.
"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong? Didn't he disappear after going to the desert to challenge Medusa?"
An image of someone buying a map flashed through Yun Zimo's mind, but he merely asked in a quiet voice.
"Disappear? After raising hell among the Snake-Person Tribe, he went into seclusion. If I hadn't happened to visit a friend in the desert, I never would've run into him."
Yan Shi scoffed. They had once belonged to the same assassin organization. Though the organization had been destroyed, the two had stayed in touch, so Yan Shi knew what had happened to Hai Bodong.
"But he's a member of the Mittel Family. I'm afraid he won't accept my invitation."
Yun Zimo sighed.
"Why not try? Besides, something seems to have happened to him. His strength has fallen to the Dou Ling level. If we can help him resolve it, we might have a chance."
"All right. I'll go look for the Ice Emperor when I have time. In two days, the young sect master's coming-of-age ceremony is taking place. The sect master is in seclusion, and the old sect master is cultivating, so I have to represent the Misty Cloud Sect at the Nalan Family's home. I won't have time for a while."
Yun Zimo rubbed his aching head. The past year had worn him out. He had used his veto to bring all the elders into line, cleared out the sect's parasites, reformed the conduct of the disciples, invited instructors from far and wide to train them, and gone down the mountain to recruit talent whenever he had a spare moment...
"Oh, right. Call Senior Brother Yun Yun over. There's something I'd like to ask him to do."
Yun Zimo picked up the Sect Master Token and sent a message. Yun Yun arrived moments later.
"Well, look at that. What does such a busy man want with me today?"
With a blade of wild grass hanging from his mouth, Yun Yun raised an eyebrow and gave Zi Mo a cheeky look.
"Hall master Yun Yun."
Yan Shi cupped his fists in greeting. Yun Yun gave a slight nod, then immediately teased Yun Zimo.
"What is it? Does our hands-on Sect Master Yun finally have a problem he can't solve?"
"Senior Brother..."
Yun Zimo smiled helplessly.
"Yanran's coming-of-age ceremony is coming up, and that boy from the Xiao Clan is having his this year too. I was wondering if you had time..."
"Fine, fine. Hey, your relationships are a real mess..."
Thinking of Yun Zimo's bizarre seniority, Yun Yun felt a headache coming on. He reached out as he continued muttering.
"Give me a Sect Master Token. I'll pick out a suitable gift from the treasury, then stop by the Xiao Clan."
After getting the Sect Master Token from Zi Mo, Yun Yun turned and left, waving a hand as he went.
"Hall master Yun Yun really is carefree..."
Yan Shi gave an awkward smile, but didn't want to say more. Yun Yun was Yun Yun's younger brother, which gave him a rather exceptional standing in the sect. It had made him easygoing and bold.
Still, Yun Shan knew how to raise people. Yun Yun hadn't turned into the kind of spoiled young master in the Imperial Capital who went around looking for trouble.
"Let him be. I'm sure he and Little Yanzi will have plenty to talk about."
Thinking of the month he had spent in the Xiao Clan's bamboo grove, Yun Zimo smiled faintly, feeling a little nostalgic.
"Let's go for a walk. It's been ages since I took the time to clear my head. I want to see how the Misty Cloud Sect has changed this past year."
Yun Zimo suddenly felt tired. He gently gathered up the scrolls in front of him and let out a long breath.
"Old Yan, do you think these reforms of mine are right?"
Yun Zimo stood among the clouds, looking down at the disciples in the square. His blue-white wings stirred gently behind him. Yan Shi stood beside him, unsure what he meant.
He followed Yun Zimo's gaze. New buildings had sprung up across Misty Cloud Mountain, and the sect had been transformed. The Misty Cloud disciples and elders were full of vigor, while down in Misty Cloud Town, disciples and ordinary people mingled harmoniously in the bustling streets, indistinguishable from one another as they came and went.
"At the very least, the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect have settled down."
Yan Shi thought for a moment, then pointed to the disciples practicing or exchanging ideas on the mountainside.
"I remember that the disciples used to go down the mountain acting like they were invincible, as if the whole world belonged to them. Now they've learned to calm down and focus. Your reforms are working."
Listening to Yan Shi's somewhat clumsy praise, Yun Zimo smiled faintly. That was right. At least he had done something, and the Misty Cloud Sect had changed. The world was still the same, but at least he had changed something.
The last light of sunset lingered, and the sky above Misty Cloud Mountain blazed with rosy clouds. As he watched the sun sink below the horizon, the confusion in Zi Mo's heart suddenly vanished. His aura surged, and a faint cracking sound came from within him.
Nine-Star Dou Wang. He'd made it...
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