Cloud Heavenly Emperor, Full of Swagger; Protector Wu of the Soul Hall Appears

A Dou Master...

Ji Changqing felt somewhat ashamed.

Yun Yun looked at him with a face full of fondness.

There was a tear in the cuff of her green dress, and a deeply hidden trace of exhaustion lingered in her clear, cool eyes.

After returning from gathering herbs, she must have immediately had the sect's alchemists refine medicine. Once it was ready, she had hurried over without rest to deliver the pill to him.

"Master, you've worked hard."

A momentary flicker of guilt passed through him.

Ji Changqing still decided to continue concealing his true cultivation level.

A trump card was called a trump card because no one else knew about it.

It was not that he did not trust Yun Yun. He simply felt safer with one more trump card in hand.

Besides, he was only a Dou Emperor, nearly ready to break through to Dou Zong.

When he became a Dou Di, then telling Yun Yun would truly be a surprise.

"Ah, why be so polite with me?"

Yun Yun gently patted Ji Changqing's head.

After chatting for a while longer, she rose to leave.

Ji Changqing walked Yun Yun out of the Bamboo House. Looking at the formations scattered throughout the courtyard, she smiled and said,

"Formations are ultimately a minor path on the Dou Qi Continent."

"Changqing, since you are interested in professions besides cultivation, why not see whether you can become an alchemist?"

"In a few days, I'll invite an alchemist to come teach you pill refinement."

"Huh?"

Ji Changqing froze.

Who in the Jia Ma Empire could teach a Seventh-grade Alchemist like him?

More importantly, he truly did not want to deal with outsiders!

The more people he came into contact with, the more likely he was to run into trouble!

"No need, no need!"

Yun Yun thought Ji Changqing was afraid of troubling her.

She sighed inwardly. Changqing was such a considerate child. A disciple this considerate deserved the very best.

So, she swiftly passed through the formation. Just as her graceful figure in green vanished, her gentle voice drifted into Ji Changqing's ears.

"Don't worry, Changqing. Master will find you the best alchemist. Be good and cultivate."

"Ah..."

Watching a streak of light fly toward the sect residence, Ji Changqing sighed wearily.

More trouble had come knocking.

He only wanted to lie low and grow stronger. Why was that so hard?

Sighing repeatedly, Ji Changqing was about to turn back into the Bamboo House.

But at that moment, he suddenly sensed a powerful and evil aura within the Misty Cloud Sect.

It was like pouring a huge slick of oil into the clear broth of a hotpot.

It was that conspicuous, that blazing.

Every hair on Ji Changqing's body stood on end.

But the more dangerous the situation, the more he needed to stay calm.

Ji Changqing relaxed his tensed body. He turned around as usual and walked briskly toward the Bamboo House.

In truth, the immense soul power of a Seventh-grade Alchemist swept cautiously through the entire Misty Cloud Sect like a gentle breeze, probing every corner.

At last, he found the source of that evil aura.

At the summit of a mountain hidden within the clouds, a humanoid mass of mist revealed a pair of scarlet eyes as it looked down over the entire Misty Cloud Sect.

"This aura... it's the Soul Hall..."

Ji Changqing's gaze darkened slightly.

He had long sensed traces of Soul Hall experts within the Misty Cloud Sect.

But this was the first time he had seen one with his own eyes.

"With the strength of a Dou Zong, it should be that Protector Wu."

"In the original plot, aside from helping Yun Shan advance to Dou Zong, Protector Wu did not do anything else in the Misty Cloud Sect."

"No, perhaps the original plot simply never mentioned it. Why did Protector Wu increase Yun Shan's strength? To collect souls, or for the Tuoshe Ancient Jade?"

Ji Changqing did not continue watching Protector Wu.

After all, the latter was a Dou Zong. If he were noticed, that would be troublesome.

He returned to the Bamboo House and sat cross-legged on the Meditation Mat with a deep frown.

Protector Wu's appearance filled Ji Changqing with unease and urgency.

As the saying went, how could one allow another to snore beside one's bed?

And this was not snoring at all. It was practically a rave.

"I just hope nothing unexpected happens."

"I'm only a Dou Emperor. I can't afford to clash with a Dou Zong."

Ji Changqing looked up at [Ordinary Is Best] above his head and murmured,

"Check in."

[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a strand of pure Dou Qi!]

In the past, Ji Changqing might have scoffed at a Dou Qi reward.

But feeling the increasingly vigorous fluctuations of energy within his body, he found his unease easing somewhat.

"Hurry up and break through. A Dou Emperor is still too weak."

At the mountain peak.

Protector Wu swept a condescending glance over the Misty Cloud Sect, let out a disdainful snort, and withdrew his gaze.

"Yun Shan, your Misty Cloud Sect is truly far too weak."

"Other than you, there is only one Dou Emperor. It is far inferior to when Yun Potian held power."

"Humph!"

A wisp of cloud drifted over on the wind and slowly transformed into a handsome man with an extraordinary bearing.

Energy churned around him, faintly forming a tide of Dou Qi above his head. He clearly looked like someone who had broken through not long ago and still could not fully control his aura.

This man was the former Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect—Yun Shan.

Yun Shan stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the spiritually exquisite Misty Cloud Sect. His blue-green eyes carried the weathered air of one who had seen through the world, while his white robes snapped in the wind.

"Protector Wu, watch your words."

"No outsider has the right to point fingers at my Misty Cloud Sect."

Protector Wu: "..."

As an Earth-rank Protector of the Soul Hall, Protector Wu's duty was to collect the souls of powerful experts, and he had traveled throughout the Dou Qi Continent.

Yet this was the first time he had encountered someone as full of swagger as Yun Shan.

Damn it, you're just a Dou Zong—and one who relied on the Soul Hall to break through at that. What gives you the right to act so high and mighty?

Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a Dou Di!

"Yun Shan, after borrowing the Soul Hall's power to break through to Dou Zong, you've grown even more arrogant."

Protector Wu's scarlet eyes fixed on Yun Shan.

He did not bother concealing his killing intent. The rolling black mist let out strange wails, as though it contained countless souls that had died miserably, crushing toward Yun Shan with savage force.

Yun Shan, who had only recently broken through to Dou Zong, was naturally no match for Protector Wu.

Moreover, they were in the Misty Cloud Sect. To avoid harming the sect's disciples, Yun Shan did not dare fight without restraint.

"I understand."

Yun Shan's hands, clasped behind his back, clenched tightly. A chilling glint of killing intent flashed through his eyes as he said indifferently,

"I will keep watch for fallen alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire."

"Also, why did you ask me to investigate the Xiao Family?"

Protector Wu drew back the black mist and said coldly,

"Do not ask what you should not ask."

"Humph."

Yun Shan snorted. After remaining silent for a long while, he said calmly,

"There are countless families surnamed Xiao in the Jia Ma Empire. It will take time to thoroughly investigate the Xiao Family that meets your requirements."

As he said this, Yun Shan, with his back to Protector Wu, narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Mm."

Protector Wu nodded. His gaze swept over the Misty Cloud Sect once more as he said,

"Your Misty Cloud Sect may be weak, but the scenery is not bad."

"With you helping me collect souls, I can rest for a while as well. Find me a quiet place."