Above the Misty Cloud Sect.
The activation of the sect-protecting Cloud Smoke Sun-Covering Array made the others frown.
"Yun Leng has gone too far!"
"Alas, with Sect Master Yun overseeing the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng is relying on his status and position to forcibly keep Xiao Yan here. Now that Xiao Yan has Hai Bodong's help, if Yun Leng can't capture him himself, the Misty Cloud Sect will suffer even greater losses today."
"In short, it's not worth the cost."
As the others were discussing this,
Boom!!
A tremendous sound rang through the sky. Xiao Yan had sent Yun Leng crashing straight down from the air, smashing a huge crater into the ground. Yun Leng's neck was now deeply wounded, blood oozing from it every so often.
Hiss!!
"Could the Dou Technique Xiao Yan used have reached the Earth Class?"
"Wasn't Xiao Yan supposed to be from a small family in Wutan City? How could he have a Dou Technique like that?"
The experts present all wore expressions of disbelief as they looked at Xiao Yan in the sky, their faces complicated.
Among them,
Nalan Yanran's feelings were the most complicated.
Seeing Yun Leng's miserable state, Nalan Yanran was shocked. A bitter look appeared on her face. "So he hadn't even used his true strength."
With strength like this,
he had beaten even an old Dou Wang expert like Yun Leng into such a state. There was no need to mention her.
She couldn't even take a single hit.
Xiao Yan hurriedly took out a pill to restore Dou Qi from his Storage Ring and swallowed it, trying to recover his Dou Qi as quickly as possible.
"Ah~~~~~~~~!"
On the ground,
inside the crater,
Yun Leng's roar rang into the clouds, his voice filled with boundless fury. "Xiao Yan, I'll kill you!"
He,
Yun Leng,
an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect,
a Dou Wang,
had been beaten into such a sorry state by a mere Da Dou Shi today. How could he lead the Misty Cloud Sect after this? How could he hold his head high in front of everyone?
This was more agonizing than being killed.
Boom!!
Yun Leng moved with incredible speed, crossing from the ground to Xiao Yan in an instant. He took out some medicinal powder and sprinkled it over his wound. The bleeding stopped at once, and a scab formed.
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
The Heavy Profound Ruler flew from Xiao Yan's hand and hurtled toward Yun Leng.
Yun Leng dodged with a sidestep.
He avoided the Heavy Profound Ruler, but when it struck the Cloud Smoke Sun-Covering Array, cracks suddenly appeared across the entire formation. Then, with a boom, the array shattered completely. The Misty Cloud Sect disciples and elders maintaining it all spat blood.
Xiao Yan: "???"
In the sky,
a black-robed figure appeared before everyone.
"A Dou Huang expert?"
Feeling the black-robed figure's aura, shock flashed through the eyes of those present.
"Heh."
"For a great sect, bullying a mere Da Dou Shi is shameful enough. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at the Misty Cloud Sect for bullying the weak?" A voice full of mockery came from beneath the black robe.
Seeing the black-robed man,
Yun Leng's expression turned grave. He knew that this black-robed man was a Dou Huang expert.
So,
Yun Leng cupped his hands and said, "May I ask who you are, sir? This is a matter for the Misty Cloud Sect to handle. Besides, our sect has always welcomed strong experts. Perhaps you could wait until we've settled this matter..."
The black-robed man cut him off.
"There's no need for all that. I'm here at someone's request to take him safely down from the Misty Cloud Sect."
The black-robed man pointed at Xiao Yan as he spoke.
Yun Leng: "...!"
Hai Bodong and the black-robed man came to Xiao Yan's side. Now Xiao Yan had two Dou Huang experts with him. Just as everyone thought Yun Leng would back down, they saw him burst into loud laughter.
"Good!"
"Very good indeed!!"
"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong—and you, too. I hope you won't regret your decision!"
Yun Leng took out a whistle and put it to his lips.
"What's that...?"
When the whistle's sound reached the rear mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect, an aura that stirred the power of heaven and earth erupted from the sect. A white figure stepped through the air toward them.
"Old Sect Master!"
Seeing the newcomer, Yun Leng immediately looked aggrieved.
The newcomer glanced around.
"I didn't expect you all to be here!"
"Yun Leng, explain. Since you've disturbed my seclusion, you should know what the consequences will be."
Seeing the newcomer,
"Yun Shan!"
"He actually took that step!"
Jia Xingtian's expression darkened. The Misty Cloud Sect was already powerful, and now Yun Shan had taken that step ahead of everyone else.
After Yun Leng finished explaining the situation,
Yun Shan looked at Xiao Yan, his gaze calm. "In that case, you'll stay in the Misty Cloud Sect until this matter is settled."
His tone was utterly casual,
as though it were only right and proper.
That was the confidence strength gave him.
"Heh."
"Yun Shan, I didn't expect you to be the first to reach that level."
Hai Bodong stepped in front of Xiao Yan and spoke with a smile.
"Hai Bodong?"
"What? Are you going to stop me?"
The black-robed man let out a loud laugh. "The Misty Cloud Sect really is nothing special. You've disgraced the reputation Yun Potian built across the continent back in the day!"
At this,
Yun Shan looked at the black-robed man. "You don't seem to be from the Jia Ma Empire, sir."
"So what? Does that mean people from elsewhere can't come here?"
Yun Shan shook his head. "The Misty Cloud Sect has always welcomed strong experts from outside."
"Enough talk. I'm here at someone's request, and I have to take him down from the Misty Cloud Sect in one piece."
In response,
Yun Shan merely chuckled.
A Dou Huang was powerful, sure, but he was a Dou Zong!!
In the distance from the Misty Cloud Sect,
a woman with a striking figure, wings formed from Dou Qi sweeping past the clouds, suddenly stopped and looked toward the sect. "Has Teacher come out of seclusion?"
"In that case, the two of you can come at me together. If you can withstand three moves from me, I'll let him leave."
After Yun Shan finished speaking,
he took a step forward.
A terrifying aura burst from him and surged straight toward Hai Bodong and the black-robed man.
Seeing this,
Xiao Yan immediately retreated. "Kid, find a chance and run!"
Ling Ying's voice reached Xiao Yan's ears.
Xiao Yan nodded. "Thank you for helping me, senior!"
"Haha, it's nothing. The young lady gave the order, so I have to carry it out."
Below,
Shen Shihuang placed the wine flask in Ya Fei's hands and slowly rose to his feet.
"The two Dou Huangs are both strong, but they're still no match for Yun Shan."
In the sky,
Ling Ying and Hai Bodong joined forces, but they were no match for Dou Zong Yun Shan. In front of him, they were forced back step by step.
"Looks like the two of you won't be able to protect him today."
Yun Shan's expression remained calm.
He spoke softly.
"You'll stay in the Misty Cloud Sect. If this has nothing to do with you, I'll naturally let you leave." Yun Shan looked at Xiao Yan, his Dou Zong aura pressing down on him. Just as Xiao Yan was about to fuse the Green Lotus Core Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame,
a voice rang out.
"Indeed!"
"They're no match for you. But I wonder if I am."
Whoosh!!
Shen Shihuang appeared in front of Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan looked at him, confusion in his eyes.
At the same time, Shen Shihuang's aura erupted without restraint.
"A Dou Zong expert?"
Feeling Shen Shihuang's aura, Yun Shan's calm expression finally changed.
"Yun Shan, I'd like to protect Xiao Yan, too."
"Do I have what it takes?"
Shen Shihuang said calmly.