Leaving the Imperial Capital

Nalan Su looked at Nalan Yanran with an extremely serious expression and asked, "What did you do at the Misty Cloud Sect today?"

Nalan Jie also looked at Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran slowly sat up against the bed, her slightly pale lips moved, and she whispered, "I've been to the back mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect!"

Upon hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su's expressions changed slightly. As the only family that was on good terms with the Misty Cloud Sect, and with Nalan Yanran being the young sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, they were quite familiar with the affairs of the Misty Cloud Sect.

The back mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect is located within the Misty Cloud Sect and is considered a forbidden area. Only the sect leader and the young sect leader are allowed to enter. However, now, Misty Cloud Sect Xiao Yu killed so many people in Nalan Yanran, remains.

Nalan Yanran naturally assumed the position of Misty Cloud Sect Master, so it's not surprising that she entered the forbidden area in the back mountain.

Nalan Jie asked in a deep voice, "You've entered the forbidden area of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Seeing that her father and grandfather's expressions were not good, and knowing how rash her actions had been, Nalan Yanran lowered her head slightly and said, "There is a forbidden area in the back mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect, which is the final resting place of all the past sect leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect, called the Gate of Life and Death!"

Upon hearing Nalan Yanran's words, both Nalan Jie and Nalan Su's expressions changed. The Gate of Life and Death —just hearing that name told them how dangerous this forbidden area was!

It was a matter of life or death, but Nalan Su frowned and asked, "Why do you want to go..."

Before he could even ask the question, Nalan Su stopped himself from pursuing it. He too was thinking of the two Xiao Clan brothers who had displayed their prowess at the Misty Cloud Sect; their strength and talent were truly awe-inspiring.

Moreover, Nalan Su knew how proud his daughter was; why she entered the Gate of Life and Death and Death was perhaps obvious.

Nalan Su sighed softly and asked, "Did you gain anything from the Gate of Life and Death?"

Nalan Yanran smiled bitterly and said, "Perhaps my strength is insufficient, or perhaps the successive sect leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect have not recognized my abilities. This time, entering the Gate of Life and Death, I only obtained a power, but I did not comprehend anything else!"

"What power?" Nalan Jie asked with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Nalan Yanran shook her head blankly and said, "I don't know either. This power is currently sealed within my body; I can neither use it nor absorb it."

Nalan Jie and Nalan Su both fell into deep thought upon hearing this. Then Nalan Jie said, "Stretch out your hand!"

Nalan Yanran obediently stretched out her hand, her fair wrist as white as jade, with pale blue veins clearly visible.

Nalan Jie suddenly unleashed a surge of Dou Qi, and the powerful aura of Dou Wang instantly filled the entire room. Nalan Jie then placed one hand on Nalan Yanran's wrist.

The pale blue Dou Qi Dou Qi surged violently into Nalan Yanran 'Nalan Yanran body, as if it were attacking her directly.

Nalan Su's expression suddenly changed, but he didn't move. Nalan Yanran also calmly watched her grandfather attack her.

The next moment, the pale blue Dou Qi controlled by Nalan Jie was blocked by an even stronger force the instant it came into contact with Nalan Yanran!

Boom!

The clash of the two forces generated a powerful wind pressure that smashed the surrounding wooden furniture to pieces!

Click click click!

Nalan Su shouted softly, "Father, be careful!" A surge of Dou Qi also erupted from his hand, instantly forming a wind shield in front of Nalan Jie!

Nalan Jie abruptly withdrew his Dou Qi, and the powerful force that had emanated from Nalan Yanran's body also receded back into her own.

Nalan Jie exhaled a breath of turbid air and said, "This power is very strong. At least with my strength as Five-Star Dou Wang, I cannot contend with it. It's a good thing that this power is now sealed within Yan Ran's body. At least when I pretended to attack just now, that power protected its master!"

Nalan Su asked with some surprise, "Father, is this true? Even you, with your strength, couldn't withstand it, so wouldn't this be considered a guarantee for Yan Ran?"

Nalan Jie nodded and said, "That's fair to say. This power is something that even Dou Wang level expert cannot break through, but it's uncertain whether Dou Emperor can!"

Nalan Yanran remained calm, sensing that this power posed no threat to her and even provided an extra layer of protection.

Nalan Su and Nalan Jie left without saying much.

Nalan Yanran leaned against the bedside, gazing at the twinkling stars in the night sky outside the window.

"If I hadn't been so assertive back then, if I hadn't chosen to annul the engagement, perhaps things would be different now?"

As Nalan Yanran sat alone on the bed, looking out the window, a hint of vulnerability and regret appeared on her thin, beautiful face for the first time.

"Jia Nan Academy, it seems the teacher is there too!" A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Nalan Yanran's eyes.

The next day.

After having breakfast with her father and grandfather at her family home, Nalan Yanran rushed back to the Misty Cloud Sect.

In the main hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran swept her sharp and domineering gaze across the elders standing below and said, "I had some insights from my seclusion yesterday, so I plan to go into seclusion for a while longer. During this time, you will be directly responsible for all affairs of the Misty Cloud Sect, large and small. All Misty Cloud Sect disciples should minimize going out. If there are any issues that cannot be resolved, the Elder Council make a decision!"

The elders in the main hall were all the remaining elders of the Misty Cloud Sect and those who had risen from among the disciples. The Misty Cloud Sect was no longer as glorious as it once was, and to this day, it couldn't even find a single expert at the Dou Wang realm!

The elders exchanged glances, but didn't ask any further questions. Instead, they bowed slightly and said, "We will obey the sect leader's orders!"

After dealing with the matters of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran disguised herself and sped off towards the outskirts of the Imperial Capital!

Black Corner Region, Maple City.

In a quiet bamboo grove in the city, a figure in green sat before a stone table, holding a book of cinnabar in his hand, with a Bamboo House behind him.

A cloud of black smoke suddenly appeared beside Han Feng. Han Feng was drinking tea and looking at the alchemical book, seemingly unaware of the strange occurrence around him!

A sinister, grating laugh echoed from within the black mist, rattling like chains as it said, "Han Feng, all these years have passed, and you've certainly made a name for yourself in this Black Corner Region."

Han Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, put down his teacup, and chuckled, "What? You haven't captured that old guy's soul yet?"

Han Feng's laughter carried a hint of sarcasm and mockery, as well as a sense of anger.

A cold laugh came from within the black mist, "Han Feng, don't you know what happened back then? If you hadn't been so impatient, and if we hadn't acted so hastily, Yao Chen's soul wouldn't have escaped!"

"We didn't get Yao Chen's soul, so I'm afraid you won't get what you want either!" A sneer came from within the black mist.

Bang!

Han Feng unleashed a torrent of Dou Qi, unleashing the powerful aura of a Dou Emperor. The stone table in front of him was shattered into a pile of stones!