Battle Through the Heavens: Flame Emperor, Please Restrain Yourself—Your Brother Is Actually Quite Simple

So that was what he meant. She suddenly wanted to chop something up.

"Do you think you're very funny?" Yun Yun narrowed her eyes.

Zhang Yuan smiled, sliced off another piece of roasted meat and handed it to her, then asked, "Sect Master Yun Yun, can you tell me why you came to find me?"

If he did not change the subject soon, he might end up fighting a Dou Emperor.

"You saw through it?" Yun Yun raised her delicate brows slightly.

"You didn't exactly hide it." Zhang Yuan took a large bite of meat. He was bold but not crude, and said with a smile, "The dignified Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, a Dou Emperor ranked among the Jia Ma Empire's strongest, could pass through Qingyun Town by chance. But having the leisure to eat meat with a minor Da Dou Shi like me and listen to me tell stories would be far too unusual."

"Finding me was definitely one of the purposes of your trip."

His invitation for Yun Yun to dine and his offer to tell stories had merely been tests. He had not expected Yun Yun to go along with it, but he certainly did not mind having a beauty eat with him—and receiving a fourth-tier magic core as payment for the meal.

Yun Yun nodded lightly, undisguised appreciation in her eyes. "You truly are intelligent. Then you should have guessed why I came looking for you, shouldn't you?"

He had become famous at a young age yet carried himself steadily. He remained composed before her, possessed outstanding talent without arrogance or impatience, and had wisdom far beyond that of his peers.

It would definitely be a good thing if such a prodigy could be brought into the Misty Cloud Sect.

"You want to recruit me into the Misty Cloud Sect, don't you?" Zhang Yuan guessed, though his tone was certain.

Yun Yun stared at Zhang Yuan and asked, "What do you think?"

"My apologies, but I refuse." Zhang Yuan shook his head.

Naturally, Zhang Yuan could not agree. Though his surname was not Xiao, he still carried the Xiao Clan's bloodline.

The Misty Cloud Sect might have ties to the Soul Hall, placing it in hidden opposition to him. He could not walk into their trap of his own accord.

But hidden opposition did not mean they had to become enemies. The reason the Misty Cloud Sect became a so-called villain was ultimately because Yun Yun's teacher, Yun Shan, had sought to break through to Dou Zong and pursued cooperation with the Soul Hall.

Before that, Yun Shan had enjoyed a good reputation. He was a man who could distinguish right from wrong and acted rationally. He loved quiet cultivation, was refined and well-mannered, rather than ambitious and sinister, much less someone who coerced his disciples.

If Zhang Yuan could help Yun Shan shake off the Soul Hall's influence, or even turn him against the Soul Hall completely, their stances might not be incompatible.

If that failed, he still had ways to make Yun Shan lose all support, with Yun Yun leading the resistance.

But no matter what, he would not join the Misty Cloud Sect.

He had a clear plan for his own development.

Whether it was the Misty Cloud Sect or the Jia Ma Empire, both were far too small.

"Why?" Yun Yun's beautiful eyes flickered. "You haven't even heard the conditions I can offer."

"There's no need to make things so troublesome." Zhang Yuan shook his head. "If this had been three years ago, I might have agreed. But now... Elder Ling!"

As Zhang Yuan's voice fell, a man in black robes abruptly appeared behind him.

Yun Yun's pupils suddenly contracted as she instinctively circulated the Dou Qi within her body.

She was a three-star Dou Emperor, yet she had not detected this man's presence beforehand, nor had she seen how he appeared.

Upon closer observation, he gave her an extremely dangerous feeling.

His strength was undoubtedly above hers.

"This is my guardian," Zhang Yuan said to Yun Yun.

It would be foolish not to make use of a banner he had.

Xun Er had given him this guardian, so he was his.

A guardian?

Yun Yun's heart jolted.

Having a guardian meant that Zhang Yuan had already joined some faction.

This guardian was stronger than her, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. That faction was at least a second-rate power on the continent with a high-level Dou Zong overseeing it, perhaps even a first-rate power with a Dou Venerate.

As for a top-tier power overseen by the legendary Dou Saints, Yun Yun did not dare imagine it.

Yet even a second-rate power could easily wipe out the Misty Cloud Sect, which was not even particularly strong among third-rate powers.

For a moment, bitterness filled Yun Yun's heart. A prodigy like Zhang Yuan could not possibly be someone she could pick up by chance.

"Greetings, Senior." Yun Yun clasped her hands toward Ling Ying.

Ling Ying swept his gaze over Yun Yun and said indifferently, "Yun Potian made something of a name for himself on the continent in his day. I never expected the Misty Cloud Sect he founded to have declined to this extent. Its current sect master is merely a three-star Dou Emperor."

Zhang Yuan: "."

As expected of someone from the Ancient Clan. He was somewhat arrogant after all.

Yun Yun immediately felt awkward. Since she had made her name, she had never been looked down upon like this.

But given Ling Ying's strength and his origins from at least a second-rate power, it was only natural that he looked down on her.

"Senior's lesson is correct. Yun Yun will certainly work hard and not disgrace my ancestor's name," Yun Yun could only say.

Ling Ying said nothing more.

Zhang Yuan did not want the atmosphere to become awkward, so he said, "Elder Ling, withdraw."

Elder Ling: "."

You called me out here to back you up, and you won't even give me a piece of meat?

"Here you go!"

Zhang Yuan carved off a thigh as tall as a person and tossed it to Ling Ying.

"And this." Zhang Yuan took out some wine he had brewed himself.

This wine had been made by refining spirit fruits and second-tier magical beast cores with Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire. It could accelerate the recovery of Dou Qi, and it tasted exceptionally good.

"Thank you, Young Master."

With the roasted meat and fine wine in hand, Ling Ying withdrew in satisfaction.

Ever since his protection had shifted from the shadows into the open, Zhang Yuan had made plenty of demands of him. However, he had also given him sufficient respect and benefits, so overall, it was not a loss.

After Ling Ying left, Zhang Yuan and Yun Yun looked at each other for a long while. The latter spoke first. "How can one eat meat without wine? Won't you let me have some of this?"

There was a touch more softness in her voice and a little less nobility. She had already begun treating Zhang Yuan as an equal.

So long as Zhang Yuan did not fall, surpassing her was inevitable. In the future, he would surely become a Dou Zong.

"My wine isn't cheap." Zhang Yuan smiled.

Yun Yun smiled lightly. In that instant, she was like a blooming snow lotus, breathtakingly beautiful, and Zhang Yuan was briefly dazed.

"This is for you. It was originally the gift I intended to give you upon our meeting."

Yun Yun took out a jade box from her Storage Ring and tossed it to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan opened it and gave it a glance, discovering that it contained a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.

Well then, a fourth-grade pill as a meeting gift. He believed her.

She clearly wanted to invest in him early and build goodwill.

"This is rather valuable." Zhang Yuan put away the jade box and smiled. "I'll gladly accept it."

Yun Yun had the urge to roll her eyes. This man really did not stand on ceremony.

Still, she did not dislike that unpretentious manner of his.

"Take it." Zhang Yuan took out a gourd and threw it over.

"Fine wine, and it can even be used like a first-grade medicinal pill." Yun Yun opened the stopper and took a sip, her eyes brightening slightly.

The two drank wine, ate meat, and chatted about trivial matters. They had a thoroughly pleasant time, eventually even addressing each other as sister and brother.

Ling Ying: Was this mutual affection, or were they simply birds of a feather?

Make a note of it, make a note of it. It might come in handy someday.

"Zhang Yuan, I should be leaving."

After eating and drinking her fill, Yun Yun rose to depart.

Ever since becoming the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, she could no longer remember how long it had been since she had relaxed like this.

Although she had not managed to recruit a gifted prodigy into the Misty Cloud Sect today, learning the extent of his abilities and investing in him early had still been a good outcome. If Zhang Yuan became an expert she had to look up to in the future, this friendship would be worth a fortune.

At that thought, Yun Yun suddenly remembered her disciple and could not help asking Zhang Yuan, "Zhang Yuan, you surely know how Yan Ran feels about you. How do you intend to respond?"

Zhang Yuan raised his head to meet her gaze, then smiled and asked, "Sister Yun Yun, you surely know how Pill King Gu He feels about you. How do you intend to respond?"

Yun Yun:?

I asked you a question, and you asked me one in return?