Before long, Xiao Fan returned to the Misty Cloud Sect and spotted Yun Yun waiting for him anxiously.
A hint of tenderness showed in his eyes. He walked over to Yun Yun and told her every detail of Yun Shan's ordeal.
As Yun Yun listened, her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in them.
Her face filled with sorrow, and her voice choked as she said, "Master... how could this happen..."
Xiao Fan didn't think anything was wrong with this.
Though Yun Shan had gone astray in his pursuit of power, as her master, he had indeed looked after Yun Yun for all these years.
It was only natural that Yun Yun felt something for him.
Besides, if Yun Shan died and Yun Yun didn't feel a thing, then she'd be the kind of woman one ought to keep well away from.
He stepped forward gently, reached out, and softly patted Yun Yun's shoulder. In a soothing voice, he said, "Yun Yun, don't be so heartbroken. This was his own choice. You can't blame anyone else."
Xiao Fan's voice was low and resonant, and hearing it gave people a strange sense of comfort.
After a long while, the sobbing gradually stopped.
At his words, Yun Yun quickly wiped away her tears, then turned her head aside.
She seemed embarrassed to have cried in front of Xiao Fan, who was so much younger than her.
Xiao Fan smiled at the sight. Then, he carefully took a jade pendant from his robes and held it out to Yun Yun.
"Take this. Just crush it, and no matter where I am, I'll appear at your side at once."
The jade pendant was a lustrous green, glowing with a soft, gentle sheen. Its finely carved patterns made it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary item.
What's more, it contained a formation he had painstakingly arranged, combining entrapment, illusion, and defense. Even against a Dou Zun expert, it could hold out for a while, as long as their cultivation didn't exceed five stars.
And once Yun Yun crushed the pendant, he could use the Secret of Travel to return to the Misty Cloud Sect in an instant.
Yun Yun looked up at the exquisite pendant, as though she'd thought of something.
A faint blush rose on her cheeks. Somewhat bashfully, she reached out and gently accepted the pendant, murmuring, "I... I understand."
As she spoke, she turned and took the sword from her waist.
She handed it to Xiao Fan.
"This is my sword. I... I'll give it to you from now on. I have a spare."
Yun Yun bit her lip. Her exquisite face was covered in a rosy blush, making her look even more captivating.
Xiao Fan looked at Yun Yun with a warm smile. "Can I take this as a token of our love?"
"N-no... I just thought you used that move quite well, so you seemed like you needed a sword."
Yun Yun turned her head aside, her gaze wandering.
[Joy +1 Joy +1 Shyness +3]
"I'm off..."
Watching the sect master, a woman who stood above countless others, act so meek and bashful in front of him, Xiao Fan chuckled softly.
Whoosh!
With a faint sound, Xiao Fan vanished from where he stood, as though he'd never been there at all.
Only a barely perceptible trace of his presence lingered, slowly fading into the air.
Yun Yun stood motionless, staring blankly in the direction Xiao Fan had disappeared.
She remained there without moving for a long time, her thoughts having long since followed Xiao Fan into the distance.
Xiao Fan streaked across the sky like a beam of light, returning to Wutan City at breakneck speed.
The city was still bustling and lively. Even at night, people filled the streets, and every lane echoed with all kinds of clamor.
But Xiao Fan's thoughts were nowhere near the noisy scene. His black robe fluttered in the wind as he quickly returned to the Xiao Clan and found Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was looking at Xiao Fan with curiosity, and hadn't even had time to exchange greetings.
Then Xiao Fan said, "Xiao Yanzi, hurry and call Yao Lao out."
Thinking something serious had happened, Xiao Yan didn't dare delay.
He quickly focused and summoned Yao Lao.
The moment Yao Lao appeared, his gaze fell on the young Xiao Fan before him, and his expression shifted slightly.
He keenly sensed that the aura around this fellow had grown even stronger, like a towering mountain rising up, too imposing to look at directly.
Yao Lao was secretly astonished. "This kid's improvement is so astonishingly fast!"
"What did you need me for?" Yao Lao asked, his voice carrying a hint of confusion, though there was also a trace of anticipation.
He quite enjoyed working with this fellow. Every time they did, Xiao Fan brought them something unexpected and wonderful.
Xiao Fan's lips curled upward. Then, he slowly took that soul from his Storage Ring.
Yao Lao's expression changed dramatically. His eyes widened as he cried, "A Dou Zong's soul?"
Xiao Yan was just as shocked when he heard this. His mouth fell open, and he stammered, "Y-you're already a Dou Zong? No, wait, how long has it even been?"
His heart pounded as if it might leap right out of his throat. He thought to himself, This guy's a monster. His cultivation speed is practically heaven-defying!
For a moment, Xiao Yan couldn't help feeling ashamed of how pleased he'd been yesterday when he reached Three-Star Dou Zhe.
Seeing Xiao Yan's stunned, almost dazed expression, Xiao Fan smiled faintly, his eyes full of amusement. "Xiao Yanzi, that look on your face is priceless."
As he spoke, he reached over and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
"This lord is destined to become a Great Emperor. A mere Dou Zong? That's as easy as lifting a finger!"
Xiao Fan held his head high, looking so proud that it seemed he was already standing at the pinnacle of the world, gazing down upon all living beings.
By then, Yao Lao had quickly finished examining the strength of the soul. His brows furrowed like a pair of tightly twisted ropes as he said gravely, "A Dou Zong from the Soul Hall, and he used a secret technique to raise his strength to five stars..."
His voice carried a trace of astonishment and disbelief.
The Soul Hall's people were notoriously hard to deal with, and their methods were extremely bizarre. After using their secret techniques, they were even more troublesome than ordinary Five-Star Dou Zong experts!
Xiao Fan had actually defeated one of them?
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was even more shocked and couldn't help asking, "Brother Fan, what's your cultivation now?"
"Three-Star Dou Zong..."
"Brother Fan, you're incredible! You beat a Five-Star Dou Zong despite being a whole level weaker. You're invincible!"
Yao Lao couldn't help looking at Xiao Fan in a new light either.
The gap in strength between Dou Zong experts mainly came down to the depth of their Dou Qi, the precision with which they controlled it, and their combat skills.
A Five-Star Dou Zong generally had far deeper reserves of Dou Qi than a Three-Star Dou Zong. That meant they could unleash powerful attacks for longer in battle.
In a fight, a Five-Star Dou Zong could rely on their powerful Dou Qi to crush their opponent, using mighty Dou Techniques to pummel a Three-Star Dou Zong.
Still, a Three-Star Dou Zong wasn't completely helpless. If they possessed a special Dou Technique or a treasure, they might be able to cause a Five-Star Dou Zong some trouble—or find an opportunity to escape.
But all in all, under normal circumstances, it was relatively easy for a Five-Star Dou Zong to defeat a Three-Star Dou Zong.
And Xiao Fan had actually won against the odds!?