Alchemist Association
Mu Clan
Nalan Clan
Across the vast imperial capital, similar events were unfolding in several places. The imperial capital, which had gradually settled into calm after the Alchemist Grand Meeting and the three-year agreement, once again became rife with undercurrents with Xiao Yan's arrival.
In the Misty Cloud Sect's council hall, over a dozen figures stood around a large table. Most wore white robes, and the distinctive emblems on their clothes made it clear that their status within the Misty Cloud Sect was far from low.
On the other side of the table, Pill King Gu He sat casually, while Liu Ling stood behind him with a respectful bow. However, his gaze occasionally drifted toward a woman in a moon-colored robe opposite him. Looking closely, she was Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran's cheeks were noticeably thinner than they had been a few days ago. As she sat alone, her once-lively eyes appeared vacant and dazed, as though she were lost in thought.
All in all, she had lost some of her aloofness that kept others at a distance, replaced instead by a touch of delicate, moving fragility.
"Second Elder, why did you leave the sect with those mysterious people a few days ago?" In the quiet hall, a cold female voice carrying faint authority suddenly rang out.
The person she questioned was naturally that Misty Cloud Sect elder from before.
Yun Leng had died at Uchiha Madara's hands. By rights, as Second Elder, he should have become the Great Elder.
However, only a few days had passed, and he had yet to be officially promoted.
Faced with the question, the Misty Cloud Sect's Second Elder showed no anxiety. Instead, he smiled and said, "Sect Leader, we acted under the former Sect Leader's orders. If you have any questions, you